Camp LUCK Family Camp is right around the corner! We have 24 families totaling 105 people along with over 35 volunteers that will be participating in this Awesome weekend! Check out the new logo and visit us at www.campLUCK.blogspot.com and www.facebook.com/campluck.

Warrior Dash

Some Zulu Warriors invaded the Warrior Dash in Houston Texas last weekend! Good times.

Why is it so hard to lose the last 10 pounds?

Why is it so hard to lose the last 10 pounds?

Vail Good Times

ART SOCIAL

You are invited to join me for an Art Social next Friday, February 25th in Greenville, SC. Please let me know if you want to come so I can make appropriate arrangements with beverages. Feel free to invite some friends and let me know if you have any questions. Thanks, Bird

Live Love Festival to Benefit Camp LUCK

Check out www.bellalovecharlotte.com

This unique cultural festival will be held Saturday, February 19th and will benefit Camp LUCK!

2011

Whats in store for 2011?? Maybe just the best year of my life!...and yours too! A few of my resolutions and on-going missions for this year :

-Get certified as ACE Lifestyle and Weight Management Coach

-Postively Impact someone EVERY day!

-Focus on Family

-Complete Tough Mudder in April

-Complete 2 other adventure races

-Add 8 pounds of lean muscle

-Take care of my body and mind and be in best shape of my life!

-Take MuzzleJab to new levels on a national scene

-Incorporate Camp Luck and continue developing

-Cook at Camp Cherokee

-Do more coaching/training of kids

-Be featured artist in 2 shows

-Rock climb more

-Smile EVERYDAY!

-Read 2 books

-Be on time

-Practice the FOUR AGREEMENTS by Don Miguel Ruiz

-Write and publish a magazine article

2011 New Years Resolutions: #1 Do Something About It

Alrighty! Here we are... coming to a close of 2010 with excitement of what lies ahead in 2011! Did we achieve our goals? Did we empower ourselves?

One thing we can definitely control is the way we feel about ourselves. Through mental and physical exercise, we can attain the individual we know and expect to be. We owe it to ourselves to take care of our one body and our one mind that we have. We deserve to feel great!
What's stopping you? NOTHING! Now, make that commitment and let's get busy with our personal plan to achieve this!

Also, feel better about yourself by assisting others as well. Encourage each other (family, friends, kids, parents) to be the best they can and to push themselves to become/stay healthy!

Keep it rolling...one day at a time! Thanks. -JBird

muzzleJab Benefit

On November 13th, muzzleJab will host a Benefit for the K Rile Fund. The K Rile Fund was established for Keith Rile, a secret service agent that was recently diagnosed with Non Smokers Lung Cancer. We will also be releasing our Winter line and launching the brand new website!

Tricky Hoedown was a HUGE success!

Tricky Hoedown was a HUGE success!

We raised thousands of dollars for cancer research

at the event boasting bands, food, drinks, silent auction,

dancing and loads of good times.

Pimp My Pumpkin Contest

“KISS Cancer Goodbye”

Rockin Roll All Night in the name of breast cancer. Peter (“Cat”) Criss, original KISS

drummer is a breast cancer survivor! Since October is officially Breast Cancer

Awareness Month, Peter wants to go a step further and make everyone aware that males can get breast cancer too! So grab your facepaint and your platform shoes, and join The Cat in bringing awareness for both men and women fighting this disease and help to KISS cancer goodbye!

Jay (Bird) Thompson

www.birdllc.com

Tha QC

“You're only getting old when you find that your regrets are taking the place of your dreams.” 

– John Barrymore

muzzleJab

muzzleJab summer launch party!  July 10th at Lounge 201 in DC. For those that don't know, muzzleJab is a clothing company that was created to raise money to help individuals battling cancer. Check us out at www.muzzlejab.com.  Do it!

New Zealand Art Exhibition

Click on video for slideshow of art exhibition

Just putting a plug about my art exhibition at the GreenRice Gallery in NODA in Charlotte for the month of July.  I will be the featured artist and the show will consist of artwork inspired from my recent 7 

month trip to 

New Zealand.  Let me know if you would like a postcard or have any questions.  Thanks!

Opening Artist Reception: 

Friday, July 2nd 

6-9 pm

Camp LuCK video - WATCH!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtX4rsGz5Gs

Camp LuCK

Camp LuCK

This past weekend was unbelievable!  Camp LuCK, a camp for kids with heart disease, held it's inaugural family camp!  Along with Rene' Herlong and reps from the Levine Cardiac Kids (Kim Jackson, Lisa McKenzie and Julia Davenport), we planned, organized and implemented this great experience!  We hosted 21 families (88 total people) at Camp Cherokee and witnessed positive transformations of these kids as well as the parents!  The staff of volunteers was comprised of past Camp Cherokee All Stars and several friends... and they ROCKED it! 

I can already say that I can't wait for next year!

Well, well, well...

They say all good things must come to an end...Damn!

I am officially back on US soil... Bittersweet I would say as my adventures in NZ/Aus have been unbelievable.  But it's good to be back nonetheless to see family and friends and create some fun experiences here.  The last week in Aus boasted an array of events including a Sydney Swans AFL match (legit) and officially surfing some waves(legit)!!  That's right, I caught my first waves and was PUMPED!  I can see how that mysterious drive to catch the next big one swells inside all surfers.  I want to be in the 'green room'..in tha tube!  What a feeling that must be.  

So here I am back in the Queen City and reflecting on the past 7 months...the friendships, the laughter, the adrenaline nervousness, the gorgeous countryside and landscapes, the incredible people watching, the work experiences, the conversations, and the list goes on and on.  Thanks to all those wonderful worldly individuals that made my experience a Killer one!!

What's next??  Well the blog 'ain't' over just because I am not traveling.  I am always looking and searching and seeking for adventures...that's the only way to be!  Currently I am working on 3 projects: 

-developing and directing Camp LuCK, a camp for kids with heart disease (may 21-23, 2010)

-Art Exhibition"New Zealand Experience" as the featured artist in the Green Rice Gallery in Charlotte (month of July, artist reception Friday July 2)

-Aggressive Launching of MuzzleJab Clothing Company, a clothing line that benefits cancer research

So I am excited to be back and indulge in life via other adventures.  Stay tuned and keep in touch!  And remember... "Twenty years from now, you'll be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bow lines. Sail away from the safe harbour. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." 

Sweet As!

Mr. Cookie

Probably one of the most exciting yet insignificant persons we indulge in... he gives us hope without any tangible reasoning... but nonetheless, isn't that what life is about... the positive potential... the hope you contain in yourself and in others.  

I speak of Mr. Cookie!  Everyone knows Mr. Cookie!  He gives us inspiration in an outer shell. Don't we all search constantly for that motivation wrapped up in a tasty treat... whether it's via another person, a material thing, or a concept?  Yes, the most simple thing can help guide us into this "positive potential."  This is the power of attitude!  Attitude is the way you mentally look at the world around you. It is how you view your environment and your future. It is the focus you develop toward life itself.

  

Another avenue that also applies in addition to the seriousness of this, is the side of humor.  The funny take of it is the attachment you can add to the saying... put the words "in bed" at the end.  For example, my latest fortune was ... 'Versatility is one of your outstanding traits...in bed!'  HA!  Last night we were sitting at the dinner table and passed out the treats for everyone to be enlightened.  It was funny watching Tish's dad and his girlfriend add "in bed" at the end of theirs while Tish is sitting there and vice versa...Tish and her fiance' Ron had to add "in bed" to their sayings.  It was such a great moment.

So whether you believe in them or not, attitude and simple revelations can entirely swing your persona and life!  It can give you what you need... hope and laughter. 

His sur name is Cookie... his first name is Fortune. He rules!

people watching

Fascination!!  Random... Hilarious... Crazy... Eccentric... Smooth... Unpredictable... Beautiful... Not so much... Are you serious?  

I have a secret fascination...I am an Official unofficial Anthropologist!  Besides eating good food, studying people has to be my favorite hobby!  I like it so much that I actually enjoy a four hour layover at an airport!  Ahhh, people watching brings such a joy to my inner soul... looking, watching, observing various mannerisms and styles and walks.  So exciting to indulge in this art. 

We have been at the Blues and Roots Festival here in Byron Bay Australia for the past few days.   The music has been phenomenal with talented musicians like John Butler Trio, Gypsy Kings, Jack Johnson, Donovan Frankenreiter, Fat Freddy's Drop, and my new fav Ozomatli.   But the people watching has been equally enjoyable!  Thousands and thousands of individuals dancing to a beat of a different drummer.  Actions, sayings, colors, what they have on and what they dont have on, matching schemes, old school styles, futuristics, things I have never seen, characteristics, personalities and the list goes on.

It's absolutely fascinating!  I invite you to take a minute next time you are waiting somewhere... and instead of being impatient and getting frustrated with whatever you are waiting on... take that opportunity to play the people watching game.  Only one rule with this game...No judgements... just fun observations.

You will be surprised at the enjoyment you can have.  Sweet as!