Ever feel like your Nav is laughing at you?…

What is it about GPS that requires you need a PHD to actually use the stinking thing? I swear it’s like the mad scientists who came up with the whole GPS idea spent too much time in Colorado worried about passing the law to allow legalization of marijuana or something because most of the time they just don’t work.

Okay, well maybe it could be operator error, or maybe it’s the blonde Greek thing.  Which in my world means I can be a bit dramatic and a little “challenged” when it comes to technology to say the least.  I would love to have my own personal full-time 24/7 techie-minion.  You know, someone who can make all my technology muckery go away.  Considering I’m on my 5th or even 6th iPhone I am stilly having enough a hard time working the dang thing.  You would think by now I would get it.  But no, those so-called “geniuses” had to go and change the Apps for the iPhone and come up with some cockamamy concotion they call “maps”.  Have you tried this thing yet?

What makes it worse is that I think the same “geniuses” worked on a scheme for VW built into GPS to make my life all that more difficult.  Did they not think about the fact that if “texting” and driving is a bad idea – using GPS while driving is probably not a good move either…  Hello?  Even the Blondie over here gets that.

So picture this.  I book an acting job outside the city somewhere in Connecticut.  It’s of course in a town I’ve never been to.  So what do I do?  I get my GPS in order.  Now, as simple as you may think this is, it’s not that straight forward let me tell you.  Instead of being a 1 or 2 step process, it is actually more like a 25 step process all to get me lost and late by almost an hour.  Can anyone say Oy Vey?!?

1. Check the address.  Check it again.

2. Print the address and check it again.

3.  Pull up Google Maps on my computer and check the address.

4.  Cross reference the address three more times and check for alternate routes.

5. Put the address in my iPhone and check the map that Apple provides and realize it’s not the same.

6.  Check Bing maps and see it’s not the same.

7.  Ask my sweetie to help me and make sure I have the right address and realize he’s just as challenged.

8.  Go for a walk to relieve the stress because I am going to have to drive myself there alone.

9. Print off the address and step-by-step directions just in case.

10.  Ask my sweetie to input the address in the GPS in the car.

11.  Verify the address is in the car all set and ready to go.

12.  Make sure the address is set in my iPhone and ready to go.

13.  Press start and realize the lady GPS guide’s voice is way too low and fidget with the dang thing to adjust it.  It doesn’t work so I just hope I don’t get lost.  Not really sure which Genius decided it was a good idea to set the GPS to have the “sound automatically turn to silent” after each use…

14.  Immediately realize the address is changing and the mileage is changing and it is telling me I am going the wrong way.

15.  Begin breathing slow and deep to avoid a nervous breakdown.

16.  Call my sweetie to make sure I am ok and not going to get lost.

17.  Take him at his word and keep going just before I realize the route changed “again”.

18.  Call my sweetie one more time to ask advice. (big mistake as he’s driving the other direction now).

19.  Listen as he tells me to avoid the GPS direction and take the next exit for a totally different highway.  Can anyone say OY VEY!?!?

20.  Follow the route just as he realizes he told me the wrong direction.

21.  Pull over in a panic in the middle of the highway and have that nervous breakdown I was avoiding 20 minutes ago.

22.  Call in a frenzy that I am going to be late.

23.  Push about 200 buttons trying to figure out the dang GPS and get to my destination once and for all.

24.  Attempt to follow the crazy lady in the GPS and see where on God’s green Earth she is taking me; over the river and through the woods – literally.

25.  40 minutes later arrive somewhere back in civilization and 20 more minutes get to my destination.

The best part is that at the end of it all, I had to go home and use the GPS yet again. Somebody please help me.  If only I had a techie-minion or a big-time record deal where I could hire a driver I would be all set.  Then I could be on time for more things.  Oh who am I kidding?  Everyone is just way too early. ;D

Blessings, Love & Music ~
Ava xo
http://www.avaaston.com

Doesn’t everyone garden in pink Coach boots? No way I would wear my sneakers out there. Hello?!?

No I am not talking about the movie “Trouble With The Curve” starring two of my favorite actors, Clint Eastwood and Justin Timberlake.  What I am talking about is the Greek Girl can be a procrastinator. Oh, who am I kidding everyone is always way too early and I’m on flip-flop time even when it is sub-zero outside.  I go at my own pace, not Gangnam Style but GreekGirl Style if you know what I mean.

One thing happened last year and the year before and every year leading up to this year: I missed out on getting my tan-lines in check on Memorial Day Weekend.  Why?  Because I was behind the curve and didn’t take care of the all-important yard work around my yard.  Now I know what you are thinking and yes I am insanely allergic to the poison ivy, oak and sumac factory that resides in my yard. For what it’s worth when I go outside to work in the yard I might as well have a bubble I can jump inside.  I wish I was like the Jetson’s and I could create a force field to keep the stuff away.

The other thing I am sure you are thinking is, “why is the great international superstar Ava Aston” doing her own yardwork anyway?  Well, because though I am great and all I am not an international superstar – yet.  For that matter some of my neighbors have no clue who I am.  So until this Greek Girl can shell out the dough to have a yard minion come and do my yard up right, I have to keep up my Greek Scootchin’ ways.

This right here is what you call thunderstorm mulch muckery people!

So here’s how I got ahead of the curve:

Step 1: Price out types of mulch at all local facilities delivered in bulk by the yard and compare them to the bagged mulch at Lowes and Home Depot.

Step 2: Realize it’s going to be a lot of money for the kind I want, and this Greek Girl don’t like to spend more than she has to on anything, except skincare, massages and sneakers.

Step 3: Hunt for the Deal.  Yep, just because this Maxxanista can’t get mulch at her local TJ Maxx doesn’t mean she can’t still find a deal somewhere else.  So I took my Greek Maxxinista skills from what I learned scouring the racks and applied what I learned and found a great deal on Craigslist.

Step 4: Convince my husband what a great deal it is and show him just how much money we are going to save by having to drive 40 miles to the next county to buy some mulch sight unseen.  (Oh yeah two times there and back that is).

Step 5: Clean out all the beds around the entire house and make sure no weeds are in sight.  If there is anything I can’t stand it’s “weeds”.

Step 6: Locate the cheapest rental vehicle I can to drive up and collect my bargain mulch.

Step 7: Dress like I work in the mines and head out to the local Enterprise Rental where we would have to wait around for an hour while Tweedle-Dee and Tweedle-Dum employees can’t find the keys to not one but two cargo vans.  Then have to drive across the county to another dealer to get a van.  (not before this Greek Scootch made dang sure to get a deal and cut the bill in half for our inconvenience.)

Step 8: Drive the other direction across the county to collect my loot with not just one but two vehicles.  Oh yeah, I wasn’t gonna let a deal go by without getting all the goods.  We drove the VW TDI SportWagon and a Cargo van through the woods and hills to Grandma’s house we went – almost.  Surprised we didn’t see Red Riding hood along this trail of muckery.

Step 9: Sort through broken wet bags of mulch that were piled high on pallets and stuff 150 of them into the cargo van and VW.  Do it all while trying to stay clean and cute at the same time.  Not easy you know.

Step 10: Convince my husband I am not crazy and that this was a really good idea and that he will be so glad I made him do this.

Step 11: Drive back home and unload all the mulch as fast as we can without getting struck by lightning.  Oh, did I forget to mention it started to downpour with thunder and lighting as we unloaded the bags?  Yeah we felt like two stranded golfers in our own front yard huddled under a tree.  Only thing was we had a ho and a rake not a 5 iron and putter in our hands.

Step 12:  Race back to the scene of the crime and get as much more of that mulch we couldn’t get the first trip in the cargo van as possible.

Step 13: Buy some scratcher lotto tickets and a PowerBall and MegaMillions on the way home just in case.  Figure if we win I can say it was all because I am a genius!

Step 14: Race back home and try to not slip off the road in the rain and stall the van at the same time because the gas is cheaper in New Jersey, right down the road from where we live. Did I say I was a scootch?

Step 15: go to sleep and start over in the morning.

Yes I am wearing two outfts the same day. Doesn’t everyone shower and change clothes in middle of a garden project?

Step 16: Spread the mulch all over the beds and make it look real pretty and thank my husband for not putting me in the garbage can with the weeds for making him run amuck for some mulch.

Step 17: Now I can relax and get out my bathing suit to lay out on my back porch on Memorial Day.  I can sit and drink an iced cup of Magic a la Dunkins while admiring my newly mulched yard!  This way instead of getting Poison Muck I will be getting my tan-line.  That is unless I am out singing somewhere cool.

Blessings, Love & Music ~
Ava xo
www.avaaston.com

Disqualified not for doping or cheating but because he praised God for all of maybe 5 seconds. What is wrong with this picture?

I am a Christian, there I said it. So does that mean I am disqualified? Does that mean I can’t participate?  What if I pray in public, will I be put in jail?  What about if I accomplish something amazing like winning a race and out of pure emotional excitement accidentally raise my hand to the sky and thank God for being with me?  Will I be told I can’t compete and I just lost the race that I just won?

Well, that’s exactly what happened to a High School Track team in Texas.  After winning an extremely important race a kid celebrated by thanking God.  Can someone tell me how this makes any sense whatsoever?  Why is it that someone thinks it is appropriate to punish someone for doing this?  It’s not like he committed a crime?  It’s not like he cheated or murdered anyone.  No, he simply raised his hand and thanked God.  Meanwhile we have a trial of a barbaric butcher who literally killed babies born alive and hardly anyone in the media will cover it.  Yet some Einstein at a High School Track State-Meet Qualifier thinks it’s a crime to raise your hand to God thanking him? Enough so that the entire team is disqualified.  Hmmm… could our priorities today be just a little askew anyone think?

What I don’t understand is that every day we as Christians are being disqualified time and time again.  No matter what we do or where we go we are constantly being pushed down, shoved out and not allowed.  We are told our beliefs are wrong and we must somehow get along and agree with everyone.  We are to “Coexist”.  Coexist?  What in the world does that mean anyway?  That is unless you’re gay, muslim, or basically anything but a Christian.

It amazes me because we have a society and media that is determined to punish people for wanting to be positive role models, Godly individuals with integrity, decency, morality, obey the laws and help their fellow man.  Somehow that is wrong.  Somehow we are disqualified.  Meanwhile we celebrate and reward mediocrity.

Jason Collins an NBA Player not very well known for his basketball playing I might add comes out as being gay and is celebrated all over the media like a hero.  He even got a phone call from the Oval Office.  On the flip side, NFL Football player Tim Tebow is criticized by the media for being “too Christian” and they think he should just keep that to himself.  So let me get this straight: bedroom behavior is important to know about and something worthy of celebrating/broadcasting, but one’s religion is not.  Oh wait, unless the religion is Islam that is.

Just this week I learned that President Obama made it so it will soon be illegal to promote or talk about Christianity in the military.  In his first year in his first term he canceled national day of prayer.  God has been removed from our schools, public buildings and anywhere else he might be able to offend anyone.  What they don’t realize is that God is Good.  Goodness blots out evil and darkness.  We have evil and darkness all around us and it’s growing faster by the second as we keep getting disqualified and we wonder why.

A man was fired from Home Depot a few years ago for having a “Christian” cross pin on his orange Depot apron.  Meanwhile a Muslim girl sued Abercrombie & Fitch for not letting her wear a “burka” while on the job.  Check me if I am wrong, but if she were truly practicing her “religion” she wouldn’t even dare step foot in an Abercrombie & Fitch Store, let alone want to work there.

So, why is it we have to bend over to “appease” all the non-Christian groups and interests but “We Christians” are constantly told we have to look the other way, shut up and learn to “coexist”.  Even with people who want to kill us for our beliefs.  (Hello read the Koran, it’s in there.)  If you ask me, those “Coexist” stickers are targeted at only one group of people, “Christians”.   Christians are the reason Muslims are killing Americans, Christians want to cling to their Guns and religion.  Christians don’t support abortion or paying for it with tax payer money.  So why is it that Christians can’t pray in school but the Pentagon and other government buildings allow prayer rooms for Muslims?  Hypocrisy much?…

It’s high time people do a little reading up on how exactly this country was founded. Because some people are a bit confused on the whole Freedom of Religion thing.  America was founded on the Freedom “of” Religion not Freedom “from” Religion.  The goal was to avoid a tyrannical government who would impose a “State Run Religion” on it’s people.  It was to be free to practice whatever form of religion you wanted, ie: Catholic, Protestant, Methodist, or nothing.  What we have though is a whole bunch of people in the government who are twisting the founding documents, taking them completely out of context and are hell bent on turning the government into a God and the end all be all source “for the people”.  I don’t know about you, but I am sick of being disqualified.  I think we need to stop turning the other cheek and start standing up once and for all.

The scary thing is that I wrote this song three and a half years ago, yet it is becoming more and more fitting by the day.  You see the more we take God out of everything the less we are “One Nation, Under God, Indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for All.” and the more we become: “One Nation Divided, Without God, with Fairness and handouts for only the politically correct.”  Or those who are not disqualified.

Blessings, Love & Music ~
Ava xo
www.avaaston.com

Everybody’s doing it, dontcha’ know…

So I open up my Yahoo a few weeks ago and see a photo of her Highness and hubby yucking it up in Cuba.  I actually almost spit my hot cup of happiness a la Dunkins onto my laptop.  The photos looked as if they were doing a Cuba Tourism ad.  What’s wrong with that you might be thinking?  I mean we are talking about Beyonce and Jay-Z, everything they touch turns to gold.

They are good and upstanding people, a wife, a mother, pop stars, a clothing mogul, and they are besties with The Obama’s.  They should be able to go anywhere they want for their anniversary, right?

This is the message the mainstream media would like you to believe.  Honestly if I didn’t know better, I would begin to wonder if the screws in my noggin were coming lose.  Thankfully my parents raised me to use that thing in between my ears, and any American with even a half an ounce of intelligence no matter which way they lean politically knows what the problem with Cuba is.

Um, HELLO… there is this little thing called “The United States Embargo Against Cuba”.  Which has been in effect since October 1960, long before those two numbskulls were even thought of.  Honestly I don’t think they would know what to do with a brain if they had a place to put one.

Let’s see, you’re living your dream, worth a gazillion dollars (roughly $775 Million Dollars to be exact), have the ability to touch and influence so many people.  And what do you chose to do?  Visit a country that is run by a dictator where the people live in utter poverty.  So much so that they have risked their lives for decades trying to escape to America, crossing shark infested waters on barges for crying out loud! Just ask Marco Rubio, and these two think it’s a good idea to make it the destination for their Fifth Wedding Anniversary.  Anyone see the problem here?

Why is it that so many ultra wealthy entertainment celebrities think Socialism, Communism, and Marxism is so stinking cool?  Poor Sean Penn, he’s probably still in mourning over Hugo Chavez’s death.  The irony is these hypocrites seem to have no problem with Capitalism working to build their business or brand and be the catalyst that made them what they are today.  For anyone else though, that’s not acceptable.  We have to share the wealth.  Give me a break!

In all seriousness there are questions that need to be answered.  Who approved this trip?  Besides the Human Rights Violations, there’s a long list of why any American should and would know better NOT to travel to Cuba for a Vacation!

According to the U.S. Department of State: “Cuban Assets Control Regulations are enforced by the U.S. Treasury Department and affect all U.S. citizens and permanent residents wherever they are located, all people and organizations physically located in the United States, and all branches and subsidiaries of U.S. organizations throughout the world. Regulation does not limit travel of U.S. citizens to Cuba per se, but it makes it illegal for U.S. citizens to have transactions (spend money or receive gifts) in Cuba, under most circumstances. Since even paying unavoidable airfare ticket taxes into a Cuban airport would violate the transaction law, it is impossible for ordinary tourists to visit Cuba without breaking the monetary transaction rule.

The regulations require that persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction be licensed in order to engage in any travel-related transactions pursuant to travel to, from, and within Cuba. Transactions related solely to tourist travel are not licensable.”

So tell me because enquiring minds want to know… How exactly did his and her highness get to Cuba… Osmosis?  Never mind get a “license” to travel to Cuba for Tourist purposes?  That is unless they have become students or religious missionaries, or one of the other exceptions that Obama opened up in 2011.  Could it be perhaps that their new bestie had someone in the Department of State wave the “Magic Obama Pen” and make it happen?

They are very good at “preaching” fairness.  Everyone must be held accountable to the same standards, blah blah, yada, yada…  Question is, do they walk the walk or just talk the talk?

I for one have never been a fan of Beyonce, or Jay-z.  Not only because of this latest public display with an episode of “we can do whatever we want” but because I am morally opposed to the themes and messages in their music.  Especially her latest Pepsi commercial, which is chock full of Satanic themes, as well as witchcraft/the occult.

It does bring to light though the equally important issue people are faced with.  Pop Culture is a big machine run primarily by the ultra left.  The majority of mainstream Film, TV, and Music figures today love and adore Obama.  Even Kelly Clarkson succumbed to pressure from her twitter followers backing down from her original support for Ron Paul and ended up supporting Obama.  I find it sad when people are afraid to “think” for themselves and let others do it for them.

The fact is, a large portion of Americans are uninformed voters.  They pay more attention to Pop Culture than they do to politics.  What they don’t realize is these pop icons are contributing to the disintegration of society.  They see their favorite movie, TV, or music star, Matt Lauer on “The Today Show” and all the others drooling over Obama in the media, and think he must not be that bad, then end up thinking Anyone who doesn’t is a nut job.

What am I saying?  What I’m saying is, it’s time to put your money where your mouth is.  Stop feeding the hand that bites you.  If you don’t like what you see happening in the country morally, socially and economically, then you can do something.  Stop buying products from these self-absorbed mind numb pop icons that support things that you oppose.  Start buying and supporting the work of people who are creating and promoting works via pop culture that do share your values.  Doing do will start to prop up those creating values based projects, and ultimately change the tide.

When people stop buying, listening to and watching the music, films, and TV shows starring those pop icons, then eventually their celebrity will dry up.  No one wants to hire a person who is not selling.  No it won’t happen overnight.  Why on earth would you want to buy products from people who are using their celebrity and fiancés to support things you are opposed to?  Just makes no sense.  It’s a giant machine with a lot of little working parts.  When little parts start to break down, eventually the entire machine will stop working and need to be fixed.

This is where we are today folks.  Our society is morally broken; the values being celebrated are in the toilet.  We have to make special rules and provisions for homosexuals and Muslims, yet at the same time we cannot say the word “God” or we will offend someone.  We had a half naked Beyonce dancing like a stripper on a pole flashing the illuminati sign at the Super bowl, and now we have His & Her Highness doing a publicity stunt practically doing a tourism ad for Cuba.  It’s time to Stop the insanity.

Blessings, Love & Music ~
Ava xo
www.avaaston.com

The components of a muckery sandwich.

I’m beginning to wonder if I have been cast in the sequel to the movie Groundhog Day starring Bill Murray.  Only this time the story focuses around a Greek Blonde girl who has been sick with Bronchitis and laryngitis for about a month that just goes on and on and on and on.  Can you guess what the title of this sequel is?…. “Bronchitis Muckery”.

Seriously.  It all started when the yearly “Babysit Moms Dogs Episode” was coming to an end.  See my mom has to go away for training every year for her job with the Purple Heart.  So guess who watches her two fur kids?  Yup you guessed it….  Which was so much more fun this year since now instead of four of our own fur kids, we have five since we rescued little “Pepe” back in October.  Well as much fun as it was taking care of Seven, yes I did say SEVEN dogs for three weeks was… I was quite happy when my mom came to get her fur kids to take them home to her house.

That was until my mom and step dad walked in the house hacking their brains out.  So after a short trip out to eat they loaded up their fur kids and off they went.  The next morning… I woke up feeling a little off.  Wasn’t really worried as mom said they had both taken a full week of antibiotics while she was away and they were “not contagious” anymore.  Yeah Right Mom!  Forward to the next day… I start to sound like a chain smoker and it all went downhill from there.

So here we are about a month later and not one but three trips to the Dr., three rounds of antibiotics, and after a chest x-ray to make sure I didn’t have a pneumonia, now add to that steroids to help break up the muck in my chest, Nasonex nasal spray, Allegra, MucinexDM, and an inhaler… And I still feel like I have an iron lung.  Good grief!  The worst part is the Dr. even told me this time I have to hang up my sneakers until I’m better.  No more working out, too much stress on my body while it’s trying to heal. ;( Total Muckery!

It was so bad that the other night while doing updates to social media I had a coughing fit while drinking Green Tea (I know you were expecting it to be Dunkins decaf) with my mac laptop on my lap.  At the same time the tinniest of the Aston fur kids “Itty Bitty” had a mini nervous breakdown when the Oreck Air machine made a zap noise from a piece of dust going into it.  Well during his little breakdown he jumped out of the covers up onto my lap knocking the tea where?  Onto my laptop of course.

Yeah it was pleasant…. So the following morning it was off to the Dr., pharmacy, then to Apple to replace the damaged parts.  Thank God it wasn’t worse, I think it was saved by a new track pad and battery.  Time shall tell.

So after all this Muckery you could say Greek Girl is sick and tired of being sick!  I did get my voice back (not for singing yet) but the bronchitis lingers.  I’m am hopeful that this last round of medicine and being hunkered down with the humidifier almost 12 hours a day is going to get it out!  All’s I’m sayin is July and 85 degrees can not come soon enough for me!

Moral of the story… keep the liquids away from the laptop.  Or better yet don’t watch your moms fur kids ;D Either way, hope you have a smile and a beautiful day!

Blessings, Love & Music ~
Ava xo
http://www.avaaston.com

One for You and 19 for me… Kind of sounds like someone we know, dontcha think?

What?… I can’t be the only one who waited until the very last minute to do my taxes.  I know this may be a surprise since I don’t really seem like the kind of person to put things off until the eleventh hour.  Miss workout every day, eat healthy, super organized…  Well what can I say, Greek Girl needs to get an Accountant Minion.

A What?… you heard me, an Accountant Minion.  Before I can do that though I need to sell a lot more CD’s and iTunes downloads.  Oh yeah and book some more acting jobs.  No wonder I wait until the last minute to do my taxes.  So many different things to enter in and they make it so stinking complicated.  Remember… Greek is another word for “Thrifty” So I do my taxes the way any thrifty Greek Girl would – do them myself with H&R Block Premium Business.

See it all started when we decided to start an LLC for entertainment stuff.  Well little did I know that would lead to a big fat Muckery Sandwich.  In order to even do your personal taxes you need to do the LLC first to get a Schedule K form, to use when you do your personal taxes.  So after all kinds of searching and phone calls I found that H&R Block’s Premium & Business has the Schedule K form that I needed… one small problem.  They don’t make the H&R Block program for Mac, it’s only available for PC.  So what do I do?  Borrow my moms PC laptop of course  Only thing is mom lives three hours away, Good thing I have a good mom!  she met us half way to let me borrow it!

Kinda makes you appreciate that song from the Beatles “Taxman”.  Now don’t shoot me but I’ve never really been much of a Beatles fan.  I mean there are a few songs I like, and “Taxman” is one of them.  A very clever song I have to say.  Really, think about it:

“Taxman”

(1, 2, 3, 4 Hrmm! 1, 2.. 1, 2, 3, 4)

So with all this work to get our taxes done “on time” and make sure we’re all paying our “Fair Share”… Kinda makes you wonder huh?  Just think and this was written way back in the 1960′s.  Imagine what the lyrics might be like if it were written today. ;D Hope everyone got the Taxman off their back for another year in time!

Blessings, Love & Music ~
Ava
www.avaaston.com

Good grief, No No No, This Show Wasn’t Cancelled,              Thank God!

Dang it…  I woke up this morning to find out the breaking news that The Kathy Griffin Show was cancelled.  I can’t figure out why in the heck Bravo would decide to cancel such a great example of what’s not funny, vile, obnoxious, and just plain ugly behavior in a television show?

Seriously though in my humble Greek opinion this is a good thing.  Especially when Bravo has a whole lot of actual funny TV shows to compete with.  What do I consider good comedy on TV?  Hello AETV of course!

What can compete with Duck Dynasty and Storage Wars?  Now That is good TV, and not only is it funny, but it isn’t highlighting a mean nasty person making fun of people and cursing the entire show.  (Hmmm maybe just a thought for your next show idea Bravo)  Between those two shows it’s a wonder I can get anything done around my house.

What’s not to love about Duck Dynasty?  You have a show about a family that built a business into a Million Dollar empire, a good old fashioned success story.  Like every family it’s full of characters… mix in that they are a family of hillbilly characters trying to work together…. and you get a whole lotta funny.   Not only all of that but they embrace family values, and God.  Wow what a concept… anyone hear of that before.  I mean I know almost every other media outlet is busy banning the word to make sure we don’t offend anyone… but Duck Dynasty not only stands up on their values and convictions and makes us laugh while they do it, they end every episode gathered around a meal as a family in prayer with their heads bowed.  We have a word for this in Greek…. Kudos! ;D Reminds me a little bit of a show from days gone by “The Walton’s” if I’m not mistaken it was quite a successful show… just sayin.

Then there is my other guilty pleasure “Storage Wars”.  What’s so great about Storage Wars…. Well first off it doesn’t have Kathy Griffin on it.  No seriously it’s about getting a good deal on a storage locker that’s possibly filled with treasures the cast can sell and make a profit on.  HELLO this is a perfect combination!  Remember I’m Greek which is another word for “thrifty” ;D  The show is just plain addicting.  You just never know what they are going to find in the lockers, and the cast is always wrapped up in the middle of some drama between each other.  From Barry’s crazy getups and schemes and plots to distract the other buyers to Daryl’s Sheets’s constant “That’s a $20, $30, $40 dollar bill right there” every time he picks up some odd ball item he’s found in his locker.  I laugh so hard sometimes my stomach hurts.

So the moral of the story, what’s the magic formula for a hit TV show?  Don’t put Kathy Griffin or for the Love of God the Kardashian’s in it.  Have a smile & a beautiful day!

Blessings,
Ava
http://www.avaaston.com

Have you ever changed your mind?

Well maybe it has something to do with the fact that I came down with what feels like the bubonic plague two days before Easter and spent the better part of Easter Eve in the Walk In… I dunno, but whatever it is, I sure did wake up feeling different today.

Maybe it’s the combination of the antibiotics, the inhaler, the Mucinex/Delsym for the chest congestion & couching, the Sudafed (to dry the fluid in my ears) the zinc lozenges, emergenC powder, the humidifier… all to treat the magic combination of Laryngitis and Bronchitis I have come down with.  All while being out of town visiting my mom for Easter (did I mention that part)?

So when I woke up I just had such a different take on things than I used to.  Normally I drink coffee all day long just about, and the day does not start until I have had a cup of Dunkins.  Not today… I wanted Green Tea.  Usually I watch Fox News, but today I started flipping through the channels and stopped on MSNBC, and you know what, I kind of liked it.  Now I know you guys might think I fell off my rocker when I tell you this but when I heard them talking about Obama and all the great things he is doing for our Country, I got to thinking… you know I don’t think he’s really that bad of a guy after all.

The next thing I usually do is workout, but today I just didn’t feel like it.  You know what, I kind of liked it.  It felt great to not “have” to workout.  Then I went on my facebook page and I saw all the equals signs in my newsfeed, and it got me to thinking again… maybe they have a point.  Why can’t gays get married?  I mean who are we to decide what God meant when he gave the Ten Commandments anyways?  I mean after all that was how many years ago?  Whose to say he hasn’t changed his mind?

Then I decided I wanted to hear some music and so I went to iTunes wanting to try something different and downloaded a Beyonce CD.  You know what… it was flipping Awesome!  I don’t know why I never cared for her before… I can’t believe I used to say that when she sang she sounded like a dying dead screeching off key cat.  Then someone emailed me a video from this week’s American Idol episode and I said what the heck, I’m going to click on it.  Now I’m hooked, I think that show is brilliant!  It’s just too bad I’m too old and can’t sing good enough to get on it.

After a while I felt like going outside for a bit of fresh air, and it occurred to me that Global Warming is so dangerous.  That Al Gore was so smart to alert us all to the horrors that are Global Warming and even the snow here in upstate NY is melting…  We really should do something about this, I mean make some more strict laws to protect the environment… Dontcha think?

By now if you have not figured out that Greek Girl is playing a Humungous April Fools joke on you, then I m sorry for scaring you.  No worries people, your favorite Greek Girl next door is still a Bible loving, Gun Rights Supporting, Constitution defending three percenter.  So if you ever hear me talking like that then either I fell down and hit my noggin Real Hard… or I got kidnapped and brainwashed.  Either way, hope you have a happy April Fools day!  Now lets pray Old Man Winter has died for the last time this year!

Blessings, Love & Music ~
Ava xox
www.avaaston.com

When God winks it’s like He is saying, “I have you in the palm of my hand”.

When you have a dream or goal, sometimes it can seem like it’s taking a long time, or like nothing is happening.  Anyone who knows anything about Greek Girl knows that I have been going after my dream and goal for a long time.  Yes, even your “Happy the Glass is Always Full Greek Girl next door” can come down with the blahs every now and again.  Happens even to the best of us.

Well this weekend I performed at an event in NJ where Governor Chris Christie was speaking.  One thing you might not know about me is that I got my start performing by doing National Anthems.  Starting with High School sports games, College and local events.  Then I got my courage up and started reaching out to Professional Sports Teams.  I got a reputation for showing up on time, singing it on key, respectful (that’s without a lot of crazy ornamentation that dilutes the original melody of the song for anyone who might be wondering), and for doing it in the time they asked for, either 90 or 120 seconds.  One of the teams I developed a great relationship with was The NJ Devils Hockey Team.

Back to present day, Saturday at the event.  Someone I had not seen in over 10+ yrs. wasn’t aware that I was performing.  When I started singing in his head he went “That’s AVA!”  He recognized my voice.  After I was done I went back to my seat at a table in the front.  So I’m sitting there waiting for the program to begin and I see a face I recognized scooting up to our table with a Great Big smile on his mug.

He said “Do you remember me”?…  Talk about a Godwink.  One of my very favorite books is “Godwinks” by Squire Rushnell.  If you’ve never read it, here’s my short interpretation: It illustrates through a series of unique stories from all kinds of different people in different situations and walks of life – that although at the time we might not see it, God always has us in the palm of his hands.  He is there lining up the details, arranging things, the right people, the right breaks, all of it.  He knows the end from the beginning, and when you look back on a situation it is clear that God was there all along.  Some might brush these stories off as coincidences…  but when you have an “ah ha” moment about a person or situation looking back on it, that at the time was difficult or confusing…. you have a feeling, a knowing a peace.  It was God, and all along he was there giving you little winks of encouragement, as if to say “I’m here, trust me, I have you in the palm of my hand.”  If we watch for them we can spot them, it’s amazing to have these moments in our lives.

After pursuing something for so long, something that I know was put in me for a reason, that seems in the natural to be taking way too long…  what happened Saturday for me was a total Godwink.  Turns out that smiling mug was the very same guy who used to book me to sing The Anthem for the NJ Devils.  To have a person from the past who has not heard me sing in over 10+ years, not have any idea Who was singing, to hear me sing and “recognize my voice” from the way way way back of the ballroom.  To be excited enough to walk all the way up to the front of the room, seek me out to tell me – for me, that was confirmation.   It was like God saying to me, “Chill out Greek Girl, I have you in the palm of my hand’.

There are times today when it can be hard sometimes “not” to be discouraged.  Things are going faster, the world is getting crazier by the day, and all too often we are bombarded with so much of the bad news that it can be hard to see the “good”.  In these times, it is more important than ever that we keep on the lookout.  Remember the one who cares for us, loves us, is there with us.  Holding and guiding us, Godwinks like a little smile from heaven signaling everything will be alright.

Blessings, Love & Music~
Ava xo
www.avaaston.com

Time to see some Lamb weather – just sayin.

Most people who have been reading my blog for a while know one thing, I loathe the Winter.  What you didn’t know that?…  Well now you do.  So why do you live in the North East Greek Girl?  I don’t know and every year I keep asking myself the same question.

Is it just me or does March seem like it’s taking entirely too long to get to the “Out Like a Lamb” part or what?!  Oh it definitely got the “Coming in Like a Lion” part right this year.  Let’s see we’ve had one, two, three, nope make that Four snow episodes so far this March, and it is only March 17th.  Good grief, seems like every time the snow melts all the way off so I can finally see the grass again… guess what – more snow.  Oh goodie gumdrops.

So in case anyone can’t understand why Greek Girl loathes the Winter, here are ten reasons why.

1. Too cold to go for a nice long date with my sneakers, the road and my iPod.

2. Too cold for Flip Flops.

3. Mud.

4. I have five furkids (that’s dog for those who are not animal savvy). Therefore when five furkids come in from going potty ten to fifteen times a day… there are oodles of paw prints all over the house to clean up.

5. Did I say Mud?…

6. Shoveling snow.

7. Sleeping in the equivalent of an eskimo outfit and still being cold.

8. Outrageous $400+ utility bill every month of the winter.

9.  Greek Girl needs some Vitamin D.

10. Winter is too dang long… Time for some warm weather already!

Here’s to March going “Out Like a Lamb” sooner rather than later.  ;D

Blessings, Love & Music ~
Ava xo
www.avaaston.com

The Greatest Story is not just a story it’s who we are and what makes us so.

So I was all excited to settle down tonight with a hot cup of Dunkin’ Donut’s (decaf of course) and a few Pekingese to snuggle up with and watch History Channel’s “The Bible” by Mark Burnett and Roma Downey.  Now, I know it’s the second week of the 5-part series, and yes I did watch last week.  That’s why I was so excited to get to watch it this week.  In case you haven’t tuned in, which I can’t imagine why you wouldn’t, this is a really neat and one of a kind production.  Instead of a full length film about one character from the Bible we are getting to see and meet the main characters throughout the entire Bible.  It’s actually pretty cool to see it like this.

Now, because I ‘love’ Roma Downey from Touched By an Angel and I used to watch that show whenever I could, I am not surprised she is a Christian and would want to produce this project.  What I did not know is that Mark Burnett was a Christian and would also be involved in making this project.  So for that, I say Kudos! That’s Greek for “two-thumbs up” in case you didn’t know.  What is even more interesting was that after reading about the production aspect of the mini-series, I learned the crew insisted on having prayer-circles and really dedicating the production to the guidance of God’s hand in making it come to life.  One other thing I didn’t know but find interesting is that when they produced it they wanted it to be engaging from the perspective of both those who are of the faith and for those who may not know the Bible story and therefore find it interesting.  So instead of making it over-dramatic with an overtly religious tone they insisted on it being made as a tool to minister to those who would possibly come to know Jesus and God through the Bible mini-series.

But then during the commercial break I made a mistake.  I opened my facebook to read my thread only to be completely disappointed.  If any of you know anything about me you would know how much it upsets me that our society is going down the drain with all the Beyonce, Housewife of Whatevertown, Lady Gaga and the idolized overpaid criminal gangster athletes leading the way.  So like I was saying, all I see in my newsfeed is a bunch of Christians complaining about how bad The Bible mini-series is and how it’s so inaccurate. Some people were saying how they should be ashamed and that they can’t watch it because it was blasphemous or whatever.

Let’s just say, this kind of attitude really irked Greek Girl.  I was a bit perturbed to say the least.  Here I am thinking, “Isn’t this great, we have a Hollywood Powerhouse couple making an effort to impact society through producing Godly Christian content in the mainstream arena and it falls in line with my ideals.  Meanwhile a whole bunch of miserable Christians are bashing it as if it were Beyonce flashing the Illuminati sign while half-naked during the Super Bowl.  Ironically, most people didn’t even complain nearly as much about that as they did about The Bible mini-series.

So, I just have to ask, “What in the heck in the world is wrong with some people?”  Seriously, if we have any desire to change the way people act and behave in society and the direction of where we are taking, we have to start somewhere.  I tip my hat off to Burnett and Downey for taking a risk and trying to connect with both believers and no-believers alike while trying to honor the message and story of God and Jesus at the same time.  Here’s my Greek Girl suggestion, instead of “bashing” what others are doing about spreading God’s message of love and faith why not embrace it and promote it for what it is and encourage more content like it to be produced.  By doing so, we just might actually start to see this country begin to slowly turn around and just maybe we can start seeing morals and values come back “into fashion”…  Just a thought.

Blessings, Love & Music~
Ava xo
www.avaaston.com

“Creature” The Hero Pitbull

Anyone who knows me knows one thing, Greek Girl loves animals, dogs in particular.  What else could explain how I ended up having five of them?  So it’s not surprising to me when I see a story like the one I’m about to share with you.

Recently a Pitbull named “Creature” saved an elderly woman with Alzheimer’s Disease in New Jersey.  The woman had wandered off, her daughter and son in law called the authorities.  They came in droves, and even had helicopter’s aide in the search to find her.  They were having no luck at all.  Meanwhile an unsuspecting woman was walking her Pitbull “Creature” that evening.  Creature kept taking her back into the woods, she would try to leave and he would turn back leading her to the woods.  She came upon the elderly woman trying to get up, but every time she did the branches she was lying on would break and she would fall back down.

So heartwarming, and so special one might say.  Really it is not uncommon of a Pitbull at all.  Despite being the world’s most misunderstood breed of dog, they are also immensely intelligent.  How do I know all this stuff about Pitbulls you might be wondering?  ”Pitbulls and Paroles” on Animal Planet of course! ;D  Seriously though… I have rescued many a dog in my day (Pitbulls included) and all dogs are good dogs.  There are not “Bad Dogs”, just bad people.

People who abuse, mistreat, neglect, do not spay/neuter, backyard breed, abandon, torture and do unthinkable things to animals.  I can not understand it, they are God’s creatures.  All dogs want is to love us and to make us happy.  A safe place to sleep (preferably in our beds) lol, food in their little bellies, and love.  It’s that simple.  Too many people view them as dispensable, and get rid of them if it becomes inconvenient.  Or they think maybe they can make a couple of bucks by breeding them.  Not realizing that those are not cupcakes.  Chances are not all the puppies in that litter will have a long happy life with the owner who bought it.  Many will end up in shelters, and that is why thousands upon thousands of dogs are euthanized every single day.

There are dogs living in the streets who have been discarded.  The cat situation is even worse.  The Ferrell cat problem is almost epidemic in some ares.  They are not vaccinated, not people friendly, and just breed out of control.  So many things like feline leukemia, feline aides, rabies, and a whole bunch of other things that are all preventable.

Not everyone has the patience to deal with a dog that has been abused.  Some you would never know they had been abused, they are so loving, like it never happened.  Yet others like my “Pepe” are so scarred, even after almost five months in a loving safe home he still does not fully trust and is afraid.  Our poor guy had his fang tooth knocked out, burns all over his back of his little body and weighed only 9 lbs when we took him in.  He’s now a plump 14.5 – little chow hound.

It’s not the dogs fault the people do bad things.  Just like it’s not the Pitbulls fault they are bred to feed the disgusting industry of dog fighting, and are treated like garbage.  They are not “Bad Dogs”.  Yes temperament and health issues can be passed along especially in backyard breeding.  But to label and entire breed of dogs “Bad” just because people have abused it for decades it not right at all.

Creature is a hero and just one example of the incredible Pit Bull.  Right now there are dogs in shelters across the country waiting to get a second chance.  Waiting for someone to love them.  My little “Pepe” is not a Pitbull, but I can tell you that when I see him sleeping on his side, doing his little exhale and in full relaxation.  My heart breaks a million times over for what he went through.  To see his little face light up when we go for a walk or in the car for bye bye, his life is changed forever.

Could you imagine someone abusing this little face?… Well they did. I’d like to meet them in a dark alley. Just sayin.

I’ve rescued and helped place all kinds of dogs including Pitbulls and they are so special.  If anyone is thinking about a companion… before you shop, please won’t you consider adoption?  There are rescue’s all over the country, and all kinds of breeds, including mutts.  Visit http://www.petfinder.com, type in your zip code, what kind of pet you are looking for, and you are on your way to saving someone’s life.

Blessings, Love & Music ~
Ava xox
www.avaaston.com

A good story is a timeless and beautiful thing to enjoy and share.

Well here I am plopped on my couch watching the Oscars.  Are you really surprised? I mean I am Greek… We did invent “Acting” remember?  That along with the windex, politics and good food of course.

So it’s got me to thinking about the whole process.  The glitz, the glam, who gets nominated, who doesn’t.  Whose wearing what and whom.  Who is so and so’s date and on and on…  We all know so much of what goes on Oscar night boils down to a popularity contest.  Yet there are so many amazing stories that because of popularity do not get the attention they deserve.  So many stories yet unseen, and even more stories who are yet untold.

There are screenplays from countless storytellers from all over the world that are waiting to come to life.  Not only that but the world is full of great storytellers.  Almost everything we experience on a daily basis is a story.  Not just the movies, but TV, animation, music, blogs, newspapers, and magazines.  Stories are everywhere.

We have such a strong connection to stories.  Really who doesn’t want their life to be like a story?  The good guy wins, gets the girl, and the dog finds his way home again.  If only life were that simple.  Stories help us to find our way through life through the good times and the bad.  And the greatest storyteller of all… Jesus.

He used stories to tell us how we are to live and how to navigate through this life according to his plan and purpose for us.  It was his primary message of communicating with us and delivering God’s message.  Modern theatre was birthed from the Church (the Greek one of course – the “Correct Church” that is – LOL) ;D Think about it…  That is why most churches are designed in the way they are.  The pastor is telling a story, conveying a message and most times the choir helps drive home that message with songs, that also tell stories.  Which is ironic because that very industry (the film industry) was birthed from the church, and it is doing everything it can to keep God out of it.

Geeze… it’s a good thing there are people like me ;D Who desire to tell stories using my talents through music and acting that invoke thinking and promote morals, values and yes even Godliness into our Pop Culture and into society.  Yes I said it that bad word that might possibly offend someone “Godliness”.  The best part is, I’m not alone.  There are so many amazingly talented artists out there who create and produce thought provoking stories that are also funny and entertaining.

At the end of the day… isn’t that what we all want anyway?  To be inspired and to smile… I will say that the entire cast of Les Miserables singing the finale song on stage – that sure did make Greek Girl smile.

Blessings,
Ava xox
www.avaaston.com

If you stop Gargamel just might get you, so you have to keep on going!

Did you ever have one of those days?…  Of course you have.  I mean that is unless you’re one of the Smurf’s living in a cartoon world where everything is drawn out for you.  I mean imagine if you were a Smurf, what’s the worst thing that could ever happen?  You get chased by Gargamel?

Seriously though… if you’re not a Smurf and you’re a real person living in the real world it is highly plausible that at one time or another you’ve had a bad day.  So what do you do when that happens to you?  Are you the kind of person who just buries their head under the covers to hide until it has passed?  Or do you dig your heels in and push back when the world pushes at you.

Because no matter who we are, where we live, or what we do or are trying to do, there always comes a point where we have to make a choice.  Chose to keep going or give up.  For me there is no other option, I keep going.  Maybe it’s that Greek “Stubborn” gene I was born with, you know the same Greek gene that invented the Windex, Acting, Politics, or any of the other cool stuff that came from the ancient Greeks.  Or maybe it’s because I have spent my entire life chasing the same goal, I don’t know.

For some people it’s not that easy.  Some people find out what they are made of early on in life, for others it comes later.  Some, however never discover how strong they really are.  That makes me sad.  Some people give up before they have ever really reached their true potential, and even worse some do the unthinkable, they kill themselves.

How is it that so many celebrities have committed suicide lately?  Some have flat out killed themselves.  Others did it slower with drugs and alcohol and overdosed.  My question is, how is it that so many people with seemingly so much to live for and to look forward to could give up so easily?  I think part of it, well maybe a big part of it is because as a society we are living in very negatively infused times.

The media is quick to prop up, chew up and spit out sensation or celebrity of the week.  While the powers that be are pushing the idea that hard work should not be rewarded and everything in life is fair.  But in reality – life is not fair at all.  The good guys don’t always win, and the bad guys don’t always lose.  So when life beats down on the people who do not have a strong sense of who they are and where they are going, what happens?  When God has been removed from everywhere he might be able to “offend” anyone, what do these people who do not know where to turn do?  Sadly we see the results all around us.

Many people are so much stronger than then give themselves credit for.  Quick to assume they can’t do something, when in reality they have no idea how strong they really are until they push themselves past where they thought they “couldn’t” go.  I just have one wish for everyone who is having a bad day… Don’t quit.  You might not “feel” like you can do it, you might not see how now.  But if you quit, you will never reach your goal.  If you keep going, there is always hope.

One of my favorite quotes from one of my fitness heros:

“Your legs are not giving out, your head is giving out, keep going.” ~ Jillian Michaels

Blessings, Love & Music ~
Ava xo
www.avaaston.com

So I was getting ready the other day to head Upstate NY where I would be working on my new music video for, “I Don’t Even Care” when I was shocked to read the latest news blurb.  It turns out, yet again in an unfortunate scenario a young and aspiring artist jumped to her death off the George Washington Bridge.  What’s so awful about this is that she did it out of being “bullied” in the workplace.  She apparently also had a history of being bullied early on in both high school and while working as a model.

Now you might be wondering why Greek Girl is blogging about such a sad story.  Well, it’s simple: I HATE BULLIES!

Here’s my point:  Unless you have heard the song you wouldn’t know, “I Don’t Even Care” is written about this very issue.  In my own life I have faced bullies for as far back as I can remember.  It wasn’t because I came from a lower income family or that I was the little “fat-kid”, it was with my music.  Even now I face it with the know-it-all so-called “experts” and critics who say I am too old to have a music career, or that my political views are wrong and even that I am a Christian.  I mean what is this world coming too?

Take this girl who killed herself for instance.  Here she is trying to build a life in the Fashion Industry.  Meanwhile her colleagues are tearing at her and beating her up verbally so much that out of some twisted sense of revenge and self-pity she ended her life.  Why?  What is going on in our world that we are so obsessed with having to make other people feel bad about themselves in order to puff our own selves up?  What is it that we must despise people and treat them so poorly that they would do something such as kill themselves?

I know all too well what it’s like to face these giants in life.   I am often faced with being unaccepted, mocked or ridiculed and I am not even in any major spot-light like the typical “celebrity”.  It’s for this reason I wrote this song and am now working with my husband to develop the music video.  It’s with a passion I want the world to know it’s not okay to bully people and for those who are being bullied they can stand up and they are not alone.

For whatever reason we as a society have gone in the wrong direction. On one hand we celebrate people because they can sing or dance, hit a ball or run the fastest and even have lists for the “100 Hottest” of whatever.  Meanwhile the media is out there doing everything they can to destroy the very people they are putting on a pedestal.  So it’s a twisted web people have been indoctrinated into.  We praise those for superficial greatness then can’t wait to tear them down.  Everyone is vying for the most attention and greatness.  Everywhere we turn there is another reality show promising to make “stars” out of anyone and everyone and that it doesn’t take hard work to succeed.  Then we glamorize the demise and destruction of these same “stars” and like cannibals we feed off of and relish in the idea of watching someone fall and fail.

My question to you is, “when are we going to start turning the tables?”  When are we as a society ever going to wake up and realize we need to celebrate hard work and intelligence.  We are becoming a self-obsessed society that is focused on stardom and pick on and beat up on the “nerd” who will most-likely one day be your boss and write your paycheck.

God made us all with unique talents and unique abilities and unique looks.  Each of us is made special for our own purpose that God has for us to fulfill.  But because we live in a society full of celebrating the wrong kind of success most forget or lose track of what great things they can become and never know why God put them here in the first place.  We need more Doctors and Rocket Scientists not more Justin Bieber’s or Kim Kardashian’s.  On top of that the last thing we need is more Michael Vick’s and cheaters like Lance Armstrong.

Now some of you may say “What about you Greek Girl? Aren’t you chasing the same stardom?!?” But it’s not the same thing.  I have been working as a singer and actor for many years.  It’s not a pipe-dream or something I want to just “try out”.  This is who I am and what I know God put me on this Earth to do.  To sing and perform as a positive role model, to be salt and light in this crazy messed up world.  This is why I am working tirelessly to win in the VeeWall Original Song Contest.  Winning will give me the chance to connect with more people and organizations in an effort to share my message.  It’s the same message found in my song, “I Don’t Even Care”.  You can Click Here to read the entire story about me and what I want to do with my music career.  So, if you want to help me in making a difference and help me start a change in our society,  I would very much appreciate it.  Winning is far more than the prize money.  It is a tool I need to put my message out there and help maybe stop the next bullied person from taking their own life and making a positive difference in a world so full of hate.

Click here to vote for my Song.

Blessings, Love & Music~
Ava xo
http://www.avaaaston.com

Like they say, a picture is worth a 1000 words. Oh to only hear the Greek Girl’s “inside voice” on this one.

Being that the Patriots didn’t get in the Superbowl this year Greek Girl decided straight away that she was watching the Superbowl for the commercials, music and the eats prepared by Mr. Aston (today was our wedding anniversary after all). ;D I admit I expected some pushing of the envelope, but I wasn’t quite prepared for what I was about to see.

Well… where shall I begin?  Was it the sudden burning of my eyeballs – or the piercing in my ears that was worse?  Listen I’ll be first to admit I’ve never been much of a Beyonce fan, I just think she is way over rated.  But being an artist I am always fair to give credit for talent where credit is due, even if I don’t agree with the message.

In this case there is just so little to offer.  First I realize that “Sex Sells”, however someone needs to give the memo to Miss Thang that she is idolized and looked up to by millions of little girls.  So when you’re doing a show with millions of these little kids (and adults I might add) watching, it might be a good idea to do the show with a bit more clothing on your body than just your skivvies.

I’m not sure why anyone with a functioning organ in their coconut would think it is appropriate or cool to perform in a getup fit for a stripper.  Call me crazy, or maybe I should have just been born in the 1940′s to grow up in the 1950′d because the line is being pushed so far, heck as I see it – it’s on the verge of being erased.

As for the “singing” what little their was of it, the best part was when she was singing with Destiny’s Child.  Still even then the content was beyond trashy.  And what was the point of the little publicity stunt the other day at the Superbowl press conference with the Acapella National Anthem anyway…?  In case you missed it: She comes out and sings it (the most on key I’ve ever heard her sing in my life btw) then gets done and asks “Any Questions”.   Well um yeah I do have a question?  Why is it acceptable to lip synch at a Presidential Inauguration? Ever…?  Because “There was not time to rehearse with the Orchestra?…”  She said.  Well um it’s called – You make time.  When you’re combined net worth with your husband JayZ is over 775 Million Dollars…  and you’re best buddies with Obama, I’m pretty sure you can figure out how to facilitate rehearsing with the the Orchestra “ahead of time”.  She did have “time” though to schedule the recording of the National Anthem and arrange for it to be played ahead of time.  Ironic dontcha think? Or was it just that she couldn’t be bothered?

People, I might not be at Beyonce status yet… but I have performed our National Anthem everywhere from high school football games, to college games, to AAA Baseball Games, to Professional Sports Teams across the country – and even on Greatest Day in Mets History Day at Shea Stadium for The NY Mets.  I have performed with the flu, strep throat and even food poisoning…  It’s called suck it up – you just do it.  You do not lip synch the National Anthem at an Inauguration, I’m sorry.  What kind of message does that send?  Oh whatever we feel like doing, or whatever is easiest.  Great lets just keep rewarding and encouraging mediocrity.

While I’m at it lets discuss writing the words on your hands so you don’t forget them Kelly Clarkson… not cool either.  If you don’t know the words to our National Anthem (which as a professional singer should qualify for A Stupidity Award in the first place) then how about – don’t accept a gig singing it on national television with billions of people watching.

I’m sick and tired of seeing celebrities being rewarded for acting like crazy people.  Newsflash to Media & Law Makers: Guns are not the problem in this country, the decline of Morality is.  The everyone gets a trophy way of doing things, the Decline of the family unit, celebrating and promoting alternative lifestyles and families, giving TV shows to the most outrageous immoral people so they can in turn influence the culture – that is the problem.  Kardashians in Miami getting drunk, breaking dishes, partying acting like ho’s.  Well… why is that bad, I mean our favorite music artists give concerts in their undies – even Ga Ga donned a Gun Bra a few weeks ago.  These people can not even demonstrate the intelligence to dress themselves to get out of the house properly without looking like they belong in a brothel, yet they somehow feel qualified to speak out about politics.

Yup these are exactly the kind of people we need to keep rewarding.  So you know, the next time you turn on the Superbowl, or sit down to watch TV with your kids or family, open a magazine or movie and are bothered by the trash you see in front of you… Greek Girl has a very simple suggestion.  Change the channel.  If you want to stop seeing trash, then stop buying, rewarding and participating in trash.  When people stop buying it, then trust me, they will stop selling it.

Blessings.
Ava
www.avaaston.com

Do what makes your heart happy!

I wanted to take a minute to share what is on my heart.  Most of my friends and fans know what Greek Girl is all about.  You know what I stand for, what my values and ideology are, and what I feel I have been put on this earth to do, and for how long I have been working towards it.

However there are people who are new to my music and message and for those people I wanted to take a minute to explain why the average person would want to help me in this endeavor, and tell you my story.

As a Christian my goal is to be a positive influence to people using the talent that God Blessed me with.  In all honesty my desire is to be a singing philanthropist.  To be able to use my voice to lift people up and to give to those in all kinds of situations who are in need.  There are several organizations I am passionate about helping which are linked to my website.  I am married to a Veteran, and my mom works for the Purple Heart helping Veterans.  I have given free concerts to all kinds of people including Veterans, and given away literally thousands of CD’s to our Veterans serving over seas, to kids, sick kids and people.  Because that is what is in my heart to do.

Ever since I was a little kid, from the time I started to talk, I have been getting lost in music.  I was like a little Tina Turner with the hairbrush in the mirror giving concerts in my bedroom, writing songs in my journal.

However when I was growing up people were not going on youtube and then the Ellen Degeneres show at 7 years old getting record deals. So I kept on singing, practicing and honing my skills by recording when I could, writing and singing anywhere and everywhere I could.  I have sang everywhere you can possibly imagine, from nursing homes, to funerals, to weddings, to National Anthems starting at local high school sports games, AA baseball games, College and on up to for Professional Sports Teams all over the country.

When I was growing up – when people listened to music all they cared about was when they heard a song was if it made them feel something.  Did the singer invoke emotions?  That was it.  If it makes you feel something you like it.  If not, you don’t… simple right?

Then something weird happened in the music industry…  One day I woke up at 28 years old and I was “too old”.  Huh?  Britney Spears came on the scene and followed by American Idol with it’s 28 year old age limit and although it had been creeping in for years before – everyone in the industry from potential producers, to managers and anyone who could open up any kind of door… All they were concerned about was the number.

Before they ever heard me sing, and even after they heard something and liked it, it all came down to the million dollar question - ”so how Old are you?”…  Silly I concur, but once they hear the number – it changes the entire conversation.  Ridiculous… what are women supposed to do after the age of 28? Jump off a bridge?   It seemed inconceivable to me that anyone would think anyone, a woman specifically is supposed to give up on their dreams and goals after a certain age because they are considered “Not Valuable or not Talented or Marketable”.

So I did what any stubborn Greek Girl with a fire and a dream in her gut would do – I stuffed cotton balls in my ears and ran around singing… “La la la la la I can’t hear you”. I continued to pursue my dream, regardless of what the gatekeepers told me.

So I started to just let people think what they want, I just avoided the topic.  I am also an actor which is about “pretending”.  You can be young and play old or old and play young.

I did even sneak into an American Idol audition one time with a fake id only to be pulled aside after I sang by the casting director and told: “Honey you have a gorgeous voice, keep on singing and do not ever stop. However you are never going to be picked by one of these shows… This is TV we have to start in one place and show an arch to the top.  You are way too polished”.  My heart sank on the verge of tears.  So I picked myself up by my bootstraps and pressed on.

I still audition for the ones that do not have an “age limit”, even though I know that they have already made up their mind about me before I have ever opened my mouth to sing based to the answer to question #2 on the application – my age.  I go because I think maybe just maybe this one time they will put talent ahead of a sad shocking story.  It also does not help that I have a website with a large following on social media, so they google me and see all this stuff, and think I do not need any “help”.

I don’t have a sad shocking story… the most shocking thing about me is how long I have been working toward my dream without once ever considering giving up.

So… what is a girl with morals and values to do?  I keep going.  I keep making music, when and as I can and putting it out to you guys.  I am not complaining by any means – please do not get me wrong. I chose to follow my dream and to not give up after almost everyone says it is not going to happen, if it were it would have happened by now.

Because I believe that if you have a dream – if you have a purpose, if you know like you know like you know that you were put on this earth to do something, that if you Never Give up, you Can achieve it. Whether it is to lose weight, to be an astronaut, whatever it is… You can do it.

So… how does this tie into this contest you might be wondering?  Well… making the music is not the only thing that takes resources; it is also putting it out to the masses. There is no way an independent artist such as myself can possibly compete with the resources of a Beyonce, Kelly Clarkson, Katy Perry, Rihanna or any of the other artists who are on labels.

Winning the $100,000 in the Veewallvocals Contest, will enable me the chance to for once in my life to be able to put my music and message out to the masses.  To be evaluated for my art and talent, not for the day I was born.

No one can control what opportunities they have had or not had in their life.  Just because I have not yet had the legitimate proper “opportunity” does not mean I am not talented.  It just means it is not my time yet.  I know that God did not put music into me for no reason.

Winning, will give me the chance that the Mainstream Industry will not give me: 1. Because I am a Conservative 2. Because I do not have Pink hair and a Sad Shocking story 3. Because I am not 15 years old.

Talent is what matters, not age.  Age is irrelevant.  You can package a rock to sell if you need to, anything can be “packaged” and it is not like there is something wrong with my package anyhow. However the music industry has a nasty little habit of putting the age, “package and sad shocking story” before talent.

If you are tired of seeing trash everywhere you look, on TV, on the radio, in magazines… If you are not happy about the new season the Kardashain’s, and wonder as I do when and why it became cool to sing in your underpants for guys or girls.  Society is manipulated by Pop Culture.  It has been going on for years.  If you desire to see a change in the moral fabric of our society, then there needs to be people in the Mainstream pop culture who actually have decent morals and values.  Actor goes to rehab, great give them another movie or TV role, singer beats his girlfriend – awesome lets give him another Grammy.  Better yet lets buy more of his singer girlfriend’s records after she goes back to him… Someone please stop the insanity.

So If you would like to see someone who has a dream in their heart – who has morals and values and does not sing in their underware to finally after 25 years of banging on doors get an opportunity. Then I am asking you to please join me in voting in the veewall contest.

It is Simple, Easy and Free.

1. Visit Veewall.com & register.
2. Confirm Registration via email
3. Vote Once Daily Through 4/29.

Ava Aston “I Carry You With Me” is up for voting now:

http://www.veewall.com/vocals/video/avaaston

Thank you for your support helping to get my music & message out to the masses.

Blessings, Love & Music~
Ava xox

P/S: Greek Girl doesn’t usually do “voting” contests, but hey for 100K this girl has got to try!

if you don’t care… someone else will and you may not like the results.  just sayin’

Yep – the Greek Girl is trying to win $100k to help boost her independent music career.

What In The Heck In The World am I up to now?…  Well I’ll tell you what I’m up to.  It’s like this.  Greek Girl loves to sing and write songs.  Ever since I was a little kid I have been singing in the mirror with my hair brush like Tina turner in the movie “What’s Love Got To Do With It”.  I’ve been writing down songs in journals, and singing anywhere and everywhere I can.

There were even times when (if you believe it that I sang so much it would actually annoy people) :D Yes there were those times in high school where a friends parents would pick us up from sports practice, squished four girls in a backseat and I’m there with my track gear on my lap singing at the top of my lungs to whatever song was on the radio at the time.  My friends dad would be like “Hey Ava… who sings this song?” I’d say whoever it was and then he would  answer while holding back a giggle “Then Let Them…”.  

They all liked my singing and they all supported me through every talent show, contest, National Anthem, and through the years my friends have never given up belief that I will  achieve my goals.  Now for whatever reason, it has not happened yet.  Will it happen?  Yes.  It just hasn’t been my time yet.

In todays fast paced world where literally anyone can make a record if they have the dough and anyone can put up a video on youtube and overnight have a record deal, or show up on on reality TV with a sad story… we know what goes on.   Unfortunately Greek Girl does not have a money tree in the back yard to make new records, promote and tour as often as I would like to.  So I do as much as I can as often as I can.  However… You can help change that.

I just heard about a new contest called Veewall.  As described on their website: “VeeWall Vocals is a free online vocal performance contest where the public decides who the winner is. There are no judges so all you have to do is record your best original performance and get as many votes as you can. The entrant who gets the most votes will be awarded $100,000. No gimmicks and no promotions. The money is all yours.”

So I figured Hey Why Not?  Why not rally up all my friends, family and fans on social media and try to get the $100k?  Normally I don’t enter these kind of contests, but you know $100k is a lot of money.  It could literally change my career.  It would allow me to record a record without having to skimp on production or promotion.  It would allow me to make new videos and to hire a publicist.  Most importantly it would give me the chance to really get my music and message out to the world.

So would you please join me?  It is simple and Free.

You can vote Once a day every day from 1/14 – 4/29.  The artist with the most votes wins $100k.  A basic performance version (as per contest rules) of my original song “I Carry you With Me” is up now.

Click Here to Register & Vote: http://www.veewall.com/vocals/video/avaaston

Your Daily Vote would mean the ability to get my music & positive message out to the world!  Sharing via email, facebook, twitter, etc. is greatly appreciated!  Thank you so much for your support and for your time.  I know everyone is very busy and your help means the world to me.

Blessings ~
Ava xox
www.avaaston.com

It finally arrived… the day I had been waiting for ever since I heard it announced (on my Birthday of all days) that one of my most favorite fitness hero’s ever – Jillian Michaels was set to make her return to The Biggest Loser after a two season hiatus.

I had been so excited all through the holidays as it was getting closer and closer.  Tick tock, tick, tick tock.  Today when I woke up I felt like a kid on Christmas.  You see not just for me, but for so many people who love fitness and working out and even those who have yet to make that change in their lives, Jillian is an inspiration.

Those of us who watched saw that she did not disappoint.  She steamrolled back onto the show by throwing not one or two but three contestants out of the gym.  She does not take any bull, and she does not want to hear excuses.  Over 10,000 people submitted applications to be on this season, and I do not blame her.  If a contestant is there they should be grateful for the spot and the opportunity to once and for all fix what is broken and change their lives forever.  If they are giving her resistance, not doing what she says, whining, complaining, and still having a victim mentality then they should leave.  They are taking up a good spot that one of those 10,000 would only love to have.

Yes it is hard, yes the people have health issues, yes it is going to hurt.  The thing that Jillian whips into each and every contestant if they have the backbone to dig in and really grasp what she is there giving her time to show them is that – there is no “TRY” you either do something, or you don’t.  It’s that simple.  All the chatter in your head, if you do not tap into your will and find the why – you will not find out how strong you really are.

We have seen it season after season.  Just when you think you have seen it all, in comes another heartbreaking story and inside my head at least I’m thinking, my gosh my heart is breaking for these people who have lost their will.  Jillian has a way to break through all the crap and get to the heart of person and help them to find their “why” and push and push them to reach their goals.  That is, if they can get past her tough exterior.

There are those that like to bash her in the media for this or that, methods, yada yada.  Muckery I say.  I used to be a little fat kid, just like she was.  The kids picked on me, and I struggled with weight my entire life until I was an adult.  (That is until I discovered my love for sneakers ) Her methods – they work.  Because I like to workout at home (as I’m not really into being ogled at the gym when my face is all red like a tomato head) I have every single DVD she has put out, and trust me I have every workout system you can think of just about.  P90, p90x, insanity, slim in 6, tapout, turbofire, rev abs, urban rebounder, the firm, tae bo, Bob Harper, Jackie Warner, and on and on.  I love them all, and I always no matter what I’m doing incorporate Jillian’s workouts.  Why? Because Jillian’s workouts are effective and do not waste time.  You do not have to be super coordinated or able to do a bazillion push ups in order to do them.  You just have to keep going even when you do not “feel” like it.  She has workouts as short as 20 minutes, from beginner on up to advanced, all give results you can see and feel.

Anyone can go buy any one of her DVD’s or systems, put in the DVD, push play when the calendar says to and see the results for themselves.  The best part, they do not cost a fortune.  So literally anyone can workout at home and watch along with the Biggest Loser week after week and see her help people while they are getting in shape at the same time.  I don’t know about you, but for me, it is so inspiring.  To see people with serious weight issues change their entire lives.

Some Awesome Jillian Quotes:

“Unless you puke, faint or die, keep going.” 

“Transformation isn’t a future event, it’s a presant activity.” 

“Pain is fear leaving the body.” 

“Your legs are not giving out, your head is giving out, keep going.” 

“When you have a Why, you can tolerate any amount of How.” 

So it’s no surprise that this Greek Girl gives The Return of Jillian (also a Greek Girl) a great big Giamungo Thumbs up!  Can’t wait to see what this season has in store.  Happy losing.

Blessings, Love & Music ~
Ava xox
www.avaaston.com