Peace Through Music – Playing For Change

I don’t know about all of you, but to me the world is looking more and more like politicians need a good old fashioned “time out,” wanna-be-reality celebs need to be grounded for a long, loooong time without dinner or dessert, and business leaders actually need to mow the lawn and take out the trash before being automatically handed their next gazillion dollar allowance. Is it all just a case of the world needing to grow up and realize that, um no, tantrums and bribery are not the means to get your way?

Just as I’m about as cynical as I can be from the ever-relenting headlines this week, along comes an amazing video posted on Facebook by a friend. If you’re an FB lover like me, you’ll know that the platform has its share of fun YouTube videos. But this is one of those rare gems that stops everything I’m doing or thinking in the moment.  Call it around the world in 5 minutes or less, the series of videos from Peace Through Music Playing for Change is what music is all about: the universal language of heart.

Street musicians from LA and New Orleans to Zuni tribal drummers to rocking-out sitars in India and Nepalese and South African singers, Playing For Change has for the last 4 years gone around the world recording and filming highly different types of musicians playing, singing and improvising off of tracks already recorded by the previous musician. The result is rich yet seamless and truly a reminder of how connected we all are no matter where we call home. Check out PFC and who knows, maybe we’ll get lucky and see a concert live here in Mesa one day. I hear there’s a really great harpist and singer who lives in a little old house in downtown Mesa ; )

Everyone Needs Someone To Stand By Them

Don’t Worry

Chanda Mama

Help With Your 401k?

A colleague turned friend of mine sent over some info regarding his services through Edward Jones for 401k reviews and rollovers. If you feel like you need a little extra help, education or simply an extra set of eyes on your 401k account, contact Scott. He’s a great resource!

A Little Financial Help Can Go A Long Way…

1. Many people are talking about “not understanding’ their 401K at work… generally there is no one to sit down with and review it to make sure you are in the right product mix for your risk and age. I am offering to anyone to review their at-work 401K’s at no charge: you can fax a copy of your recent statement to 866-816-2225 (no cover letter needed) and I will contact you to review face to face or via phone long distance (on my dime).

2. Also many folks have lost or left their jobs recently and have “old” 401K’s sitting around not making them any money… I make it easy by helping you rollover your old 401K’s into your own self-directed IRA with Edward Jones. Then YOU with my help can decide the best product mix to make your money GROW! Again you can fax your recent statement or call me at 480-986-2258 and discuss what you have. I’ve helped lots of folks do this and have plenty of time to help you!

People think that it’s expensive to use a Financial Advisor… we have the lowest costs in the Industry, have been around over 100 years and have a squeaky clean record. No crazy investments, just rock solid products with proven track records. I am adding 80 new households to my account base and would like for you to be one of them….

Couple other things: College Savings 529 plans, Small Biz plans, Estate Planning, Wealth Management, Budget Reviews…. we have a WONDERFUL set of tools on our system that are all free for me to help you plan out for years to come!

Thanks for taking the time to read and listen….

Scott VanHoogstraat, Financial Advisor, Edward Jones
480-326-7965 Cell
scott.vanhoogstraat@edwardjones.com

Happy Music & Good Thoughts

Excuse me, but what? It’s already the middle of October?! Time isn’t just going incredibly fast – it’s melting away. Can you believe 2009 is almost over? Blink, and it will be Christmas! And so out of the ten million things to do, find, go to, think about, remember, remind someone else to remember, here’s a chance to just chill – if only for a minute!

Enjoy a couple of links I found that are sure to make you think good thoughts, good love and good music : )

Say Hey by Michael Franti

Dalai Lama Renaissance (On DVD)

Deals Overheard On Twitter

Truthfully my relationship with Twitter as @sparklesthesky is much less a love-hate affair and more one of patient tolerance. Nonetheless here are a few tweets that may actually come in handy!

@HomeDepot: Be the first to hear about special seasonal promos and our Black Friday deals! Sign up here http://bit.ly/bAMbZ (via @HomeDepotDeals)

@BikeLady: Thanks. It’s my new travel guidebook, released this month, BACKROADS & BYWAYS OF ARIZONA. Fun, affordable trips. You can visit my blog: http://bikewithjackie.blogspot.com There’s a direct link on the top right-hand side.

Another via me: @sparklesthesky: Nice! If you’re a Cozi (free online calendar and family organizer) user, they’re giving away a free Shutterfly photo book valued at $29.99 through Nov 4, 2009 http://ow.ly/urh1

October Family Events

For the last several years, we’ve done the usual Halloween thing: dress-up, go trick-or-treating around our neighborhood. This year we decided to mix it up. After scouring the Net, I found some great activities throughout October. Here are a few that caught my eye:

Luv Shack Ranch Horse Rescue Fall Festival: Fri, Oct 16 & Sat, Oct 17, 2009 4:30 – 8:30pm. Fifth Annual Fall Festival including a horse kissing booth. In Cave Creek. Yes, it’s far from Mesa but anything for the horses : )

Apache Jii (Day) Celebration: Sat, Oct 17, 2009 9am – 5pm. Get out of town (quickly) and see some traditional Apache festivities. In downtown Globe.

Mesa Ghost Tour & Historical Walk: Sat, Oct 24, 2009 10:30am – 12:30pm. Walking tour of tunnels, old territorial jail cells and likely the ghosts of my family past ; ) Advance purchase required.

MacFest: Sat, Oct 24, 2009 10am – 4pm. Free weekly art festival outside of the Mesa Arts Center.

Mesa Storytelling Festival: Sat, Oct 24, 2009 10am – 5pm. Free storytelling festival celebrating the art of storytelling, the love of reading and the power of imagination. At the Mesa Arts Center.

Gilbert Family Halloween Carnival: Sat, Oct 24, 2009 5-9pm. At Freestone Park Ball Field Complex.

Boo! at the Zoo: Sat, Oct 24, 2009 & Sun, Oct 25 9am-5pm. At Phoenix Zoo. Young children’s Halloween event.

Native Fall Harvest Festival: Tues, Oct 27, 2009 4-7pm. Across from the Central & Campbell Light Rail Stop in Phoenix. Native American foods, crafts, dance performances and more. Free.

Dia de los Muertos Celebration: Sat, Oct 31, 2009 10am-5pm & Sun, Nov 1, 2009 12pm-5pm. Day of the Dead events at the Mesa Arts Center. Free.

Howl-O-Ween: Sat, Oct 31, 2009 6:30pm-10:30pm. At Phoenix Zoo. New evening Halloween event for kids 8 and older with (count ‘em) 3 levels of scare activities : )