Don Osmond: In my opinion…

November 3, 2009

The sounds of the city

Filed under: Musing and Writing Projects — Tags: , — donosmond @ 2:43 pm

I’m here in California working and, when I get the opportunity, enjoying the city. This morning, I awoke early to chat with Keith Stubbs, radio personality with 101.5 The Eagle, and talk about last night’s Dancing With The Stars performance. But, that’s not what I want to write about.

Since I was up so early, I was able to enjoy a little peace and serenity before the city began its rush hour cacophonous symphony. The contrast between the hours of 6 am to 7 am was astounding. Within minutes of the clock striking seven, a whole host of noises echoed in the streets.

Car alarms reverberated between the various levels of the parking structure across the street. Hotel hops blasted their whistles in an effort to hail a taxi for waiting suits. Bus brakes squealed in agony as the drivers positioned their vehicles precariously close to the curb as awaiting pedestrians jockeyed for position in an effort to be on time to work.

If it had been any other day, I might have begged for another hour of sleep. But, today was different. Today, I realized the excitement life has to offer; so long as you get out there and do something.

With that said, I got to thinking about my next blog for Mormon Times. Don’t get me wrong, I love Provo. But, for those who may haven’t gotten out of The Bubble to experience new surroundings… Well, I’m not going to give my article away. Watch for it next Monday.

August 15, 2009

My two cents of $4,500

Filed under: DonSense — Tags: , — donosmond @ 6:22 pm

Last week, I thought about trading in my ol’ clunker for something a little nicer. Why not? The government is handing out money in a billion-dollar car allowance program. Did I hear “free cash”?

Sweet! Not only is my trade-in worth the government’s $4,500, but the dealership will throw in the car’s scrap value. That’s some money guaranteed.

Buying new cars — that should help stimulate our economy, right? Not to mention, purchasing a more fuel-efficient car is environmentally conscious. Who wouldn’t want to drive more miles on less gas, and save the planet?

Well, not to burst the perfect bubble, but I think this is the equivalent of putting a Band-aid on an injury requiring a tourniquet.

I’m all for being environmentally friendly and energy aware (and that’s the over-arching message of this program), but how can people expect to purchase a new car while foreclosures loom?

Maybe we should be a more concerned about creating jobs rather than finding experimental ways to spend credit. Logic would conclude; if we make money, we’ll spend money. Not vice versa.

Speaking of ridiculous spending, $1 billion started this program, and we’ve tapped that out in about a week. Now the government wants to throw in another $2 billion. Does money finally grow on trees? I love deficit spending. (Sarcasm.)

I can see the political cartoon already: Grown men sitting around the dinner table eating cars, and in the background, a toddler reviewing the bill.

Obviously, this only scratches the surface. Remember the old axiom: If something looks too good to be true …

It may be free now, but we’ll all pay for it later.

August 10, 2009

What happens in Vegas…

Filed under: Cresting 30 — Tags: , , — donosmond @ 5:43 pm

…stays in Vegas.

A line that epitomizes what the city is all about. It’s no wonder the coined nickname is “Sin City”.

When I told my friends my 30th birthday would be celebrated in Vegas, eyebrows raised and questions abound.

“How do you celebrate your 30th in Vegas when you’re a Mormon? You do realize we’re going to see it all on Facebook.”

At that moment, I was so grateful I wouldn’t be embarrassed to share what was planned for the week. However, getting “tagged” on Facebook pictures didn’t excite me, but the imminent photos loomed no blackmail over my head.

It’s unnerving to think that nothing is secret. Anything we do is often forged into the tablets of the World Wide Web by innocent bantering friends.

Although our actions can’t always be perfect, we can try our best to make sure we are doing what is right.

So, the week in Vegas is over. I’m 30; here begins a new decade. No regrets! (Except for that really awful picture Jeremy took of me — can we get that off Facebook, please?)

I suppose the point of all this is: Whether we are aware of it or not, we’re accountable for everything we do — to ourself, family and God. Thanks to the Internet, the realization of accountability is that much more tangible.

What happens in Vegas, may stay in Vegas; however, the electronic evidence is there for all.

July 20, 2009

Simplifying celebrity

Filed under: Cresting 30 — Tags: , , — donosmond @ 9:10 pm

Events within the entertainment industry hit my family pretty hard during the past couple months. Untimely deaths often give reason for reflection, especially when they involve those whom we’ve had a close relationship with.

Most everyone knows my family associated with the Jacksons throughout the years, as well as entertainer Danny Gans, who co-produced the Donny and Marie show in Las Vegas. However, when a celebrity is lambasted by the limelight of media attention, sometimes the simple things they do go unnoticed.

Interestingly, when our time is up, it’s the kind and simple things we are remembered by.

During Danny Gans’ memorial service, personal stories were shared of how he always looked for ways to give back to a community that gave him so much.

One such story described his daily trip to the theater. He would travel the same route every day, and would regularly visit with a man who had been left homeless.

Often, Danny would take a couple minutes to stop and chat. During these visits, it became apparent to him that this man had difficulties walking. Danny decided to purchase a wheelchair the following day, and give it to him.

No one ever heard that story until Danny’s memorial service. Why? Because those stories don’t sell magazines and newspapers. Those stories are not what the media thinks the public wants to hear.

When Michael Jackson died, the media kicked into a whirlwind frenzy. They unleashed the stories of yesteryear and tapped every aspect of his life.

Now I’m not here to vindicate or condemn a celebrity for the way the media portrayed them. And, thankfully, I’m not the judge of salvation — I leave that job for God.

However, I don’t think any of us realize the private lives of a celebrity until we hear a young girl say, as Paris Jackson said of her father, “Daddy has been the best father you can ever imagine, and I just want to say I love him so much.”

Michael’s sister Janet Jackson summed it up best when she said, “To you, Michael is an icon. To us, Michael is family and he will forever live in all of our hearts.”

These comments struck me, and got me thinking.

Life is not about celebrity, or being adorned with countless accolades; it’s about the legacy we leave behind. May we all consider the lives we touch well before our time is called.

July 4, 2009

My Birth Month

Filed under: Day in the Life of... — Tags: , — donosmond @ 1:31 pm

Call it self-centeredness.

Call it ridiculous.

Call it over-the-top.

…but, I’m going to celebrate my birthday this entire month.

This is a big one for me. And, to be honest, I don’t think I’m looking forward to turning 30. I mean, when I look back at the past 30 years, what has really been accomplished?

OK, probably a lot. However, I don’t think I’ve even scratched the surface of everything I wanted to have done before I turned 30.

Then again, this is not the end of my life, but the beginning. There are so many things I’ve wanted to do, and these are the years that I’m going to do them.

So, in the most self-centered, egotistical, and humble way possible… Happy Birth Month to ME!

June 22, 2009

The emergence of necessary luxuries

Filed under: Cresting 30 — Tags: , , , — donosmond @ 6:00 pm

While preparing a talk for church a couple of weeks ago, a thought sneaked into my mind. The talk was on sacrifice, and I was trying to come up with items we purchase but don’t really need to have. My hope was to help everyone consider living within their means — a topic that frequently comes up during every general conference.

Enter my sneaky thought …

Isn’t it interesting how quickly we, as a society, will transition luxuries into necessities? The cellphone is a perfect example.

Before I left on my mission, the only people (at least that I knew) who had cellphones were business executives. Two years later … everyone had one, and for, what seemed to be, no apparent reason. It was as though the temporary excuses for having one slowly became validated reasons. Can you even imagine life without your phone?

Being a college student at that time, what purpose would a cellphone give me?

I fought the idea of owning a phone for a year. Even the thought of someone getting in touch with me whenever, wherever, didn’t appeal to me. A cellphone was more of a luxury item; nice to have, but unnecessary.

Eventually, I succumbed to external stimuli and bought my first mobile phone in 2001. Life has never been the same since.

Leaving my phone at home alone makes me sick to my stomach. No longer is my cellphone a luxury, but a necessity. All of my excuses for owning one quickly became validated reasons.

Truth be told, I’m a cellphone addict. My mother thinks the phone is permanently attached to my hand, and my friends joke about how frequently I get phone upgrades.

Today, cellphone users are becoming younger and younger. Who would have thought that grade school teachers would need to implement no-texting rules in their classrooms.

Since when were 9-year-olds running multi-million-dollar companies? Guess they take calls during recess.

Just like the cellphone example, we all face the challenge of discerning between needs and wants. Taking a step back and thinking about my intended purchases has recently helped me realize the difference. Do I really need it, or is it something I just want?

Although I haven’t done this every time, when I do, it saves me from a heap of debt.

Here’s a thought: Maybe we could simplify life by getting rid of a few necessary luxuries.

November 2, 2007

The Dog Days

Filed under: Musing and Writing Projects — Tags: — donosmond @ 11:49 am

I had a brief texting conversation with a close friend of mine today. He just got dogged for his date this evening. So, this one is dedicated to you. (You know who you are.)

I hope that something better comes along! :)

Traveling at the Speed of Time

Filed under: Day in the Life of..., Musing and Writing Projects — Tags: — donosmond @ 10:41 am


Why is it the older you get, the faster time rushes past?

It seems that in your adolescent years time drags on. Minutes seem like hours; hours seem like days. Then, as the years pass, there seems to be an inverse transition. Days pass like hours, and weeks just fly by.

I pose the question, because we are nearing the end of 2007! Where has this year gone?

I’m concerned with what it is going to seem like 20 years down the road. Am I going to welcome 2027 one day and say goodbye the next?

October 30, 2007

The Case of the Missing 30 lbs

Filed under: Day in the Life of..., Musing and Writing Projects — Tags: — donosmond @ 4:20 pm

If I were referring to 30 lbs of fat, I don’t think many people would try to find where that lard went wandering off to. However, I’m referring to dumbbells. Not the guy… you get the point.

Everyday, I take a few minutes out of my day to get a little exercise. It’s a nice break from work, and helps to get the creative juices flowing again. (Not to mention a reduction in waistline!) It’s amazing; the side effects of exercise.

Today was no different, except for the fact that the 30 lbs dumbbells were missing! I don’t mean to complain, but these weights are community property. Whoever has them sitting at their cube, please return ASAP! You are seriously infringing on my, and others’, workout.

Thanks! :)

October 29, 2007

Tricks Without The Treats

Filed under: Musing and Writing Projects — Tags: — donosmond @ 4:26 pm

All right! What’s the deal? Halloween is one of my favorite holidays throughout the year. It’s a time to get dressed up in an otherwise despicable outfit that you wouldn’t be caught dead in any other of the 364 days of the year. I love dressing up and scaring the youth as the travel from house to house pleading for their sugar-filled booty. I look at it as my responsibility to provide the TRICK, while the neighbors produce the TREAT.

Unfortunately, I’m in no howling mood this year. And to think, I had concocted the most horrifying experience I would have ever pulled off in years past. But alas, I’m just going to watch it slip by. Why?

Has it actually happened? Have I become too old to be overcome in the holiday of howls?

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