Each Day Counts - Words & Images by Ruben Porras - About a guy with a new life, high hopes and big dreams.

A shiny new article was just published!

Supporting local business and creating awareness for Cancer research in Redding! See the entire article here: http://www.redding.com/news/2010/aug/03/go-pink-n-man-dyes-hair-to-raise-breast-cancer/ Thanks for reading!

Need a reminder that Each Day Counts? Check this out!

My friend Lisa of Juella Designs is a talented local artist based here in Redding. I commissioned her last week to make the first ever "Each Day Counts" bracelet for a very special friend of mine as a birthday gift. If you are reading this, you have inspired me to keep up the good fight in regard to my health and my art and that means the world to me. The top of the bracelet reads simply, "I Inspire" and the inside reads, "Each Day Counts." I have had a few ladies interested in these and if you are interested also, I would gladly have one made for you. I am not making any profit from these at all. I am asking $49.95 per bracelet and that pays Lisa and allows for a $10 cash donation to go toward Donate Life California. I am going to ask Lisa to work on a piece for men soon. I am thinking about a rustic copper piece if she can do that. Email me at ruben@eachdaycounts.com if you would like to purchase one of these unique reminders of how important that life is. They are made of Sterling Silver and include a decorated gift box, cleaning cloth and special button to let others know that you support handmade art. This would make a special gift for anyone that has inspired you!

Click here to download:

Need_a_reminder_that_Each_Day_.zip (91 KB)

We are clearly way too serious! A new blog post featuring my girls!

I have so much to write about in regard to the amazing weekend that I just had! I will start with this post. Maybe I should loosen up more with my kids and not be so darn serious all the time. Clearly, they look drastically over stressed in these photos! I will post more photos and words about the trip after I sleep for a few days! Thanks for reading!

Click here to download:

We_are_clearly_way_too_serious.zip (1794 KB)

New article published! - Oh! Carousel

Click here to read the entire article: http://www.redding.com/news/2010/jul/17/businesses-spin-off-an-artsy-twist/

Amazing! A new blog post! I need everyone to take a sec to read this one.

You might recall a few months ago when I created a video for Donate Life Colorado. Well, today I received a package from them that really means a great deal to me. This is an official copy of the actual plate that donors can receive in the State of Colorado. This thing is amazing and will always serve as a reminder of the hell that I have been through.

Let me explain something-

I am not perfect. I have made more mistakes than damn near anyone that I have ever known. I can be honest right here and right now and say that it was not until the last month that I have actually become a person that I am proud of. It is not just the words and the pictures. It is not the people that call themselves my fans. It is not the few dollars to be made and the notoriety that I get when people see my goofy face all over.

Look, I messed up. My kids live a million miles away. I drive a scooter and not a car. I live with roommates because I am scared for a million reasons to live alone. I was broken and I still have a long way to go, but I would give you my last dollar if you needed it. If we were in Mexico I would give you my last even though it would not be worth much at all.

I will say now that I am faulted, broken, often lost, utterly lonely much of the time and painfully scared to move forward most of the time. Wow! I feel so good about letting all of this go. You are witnessing what feels like a real awakening! A new life! A silly, hairy, dimpled, confused little man trying to say that he is sorry if he ever hurt you. I am thankful for you. Every reader out there is someone that I am blessed to have anything to do with.

We can do this. Life is rough. Love comes and goes. Money comes and goes. Pickles are better crunchy. Ice cream tastes amazing with sea salt. Little smiles are usually attached to big hearts. Closed minds are usually attached to broken hearts. Ants climbing the pyramids in Mexico really hurt when they bite. These are the facts that I have learned. I love my broken, lost, sad, happy, tender, hard, disturbed, amazing little life and I like you. You are good people.

Watch the video if you have not seen it please. It is all about me and how I came to be who you came to see. Thank you from the bottom of my newly opened heart.

Ruben Porras - Modestofamous - Reddingfamous -Motown Mojo or Just "Ruben James" to my Mama.

Pretty pictures I have taken of ugly things. A shiny new blog post!

I tell people that I take "pretty pictures of ugly things." These 11 shots offer examples of that. Sure, people think that I am nuts/off my rocker/crazy as a loon half the time, but that is part of the fun of living like every day is your very last! There is beauty in everything if we look closely enough. Give things a chance. These were taken at a flea market in Anderson, CA. More info. here: http://www.yelp.com/biz/epperson-bros-auction-and-flea-market-redding#hrid:4SPeQAktHrkOleZuneNepA

Click here to download:

Pretty_pictures_I_have_taken_o.zip (544 KB)

New article published! - not an Airplane

This article gave me a chance to help promote a band that I have been following for a very long time. It is not often that I can cross-promote between Redding and Modesto but I love to do it when I can. It is all about supporting local music!

Read the full article here and please recommend it to to others so we spread the word: http://www.redding.com/news/2010/jul/09/look-out-on-the-horizon-its-not-a-bir...

Check out not an Airplane music on iTunes. The band is incredible!

New article published! - Jesus Culture Band

In Redding, the town that I am currently living in, we have a church called Bethel that attracts thousands of national and international visitors every year. Their worship music band is getting hot right now and just debuted on the iTunes pop chart on the same list as Eminem, B.O.B and Tom Petty.

Check out the story that I wrote about the Jesus Culture band that was just published here: http://www.redding.com/news/2010/jul/05/passion-of-jesus-culture/

Buy their latest full album at Amazon or download the featured EP at iTunes. This music is very intense, full of color and well-produced. Support local music!

Nice to wake up to! New photo!

It feels pretty good to make some of my goals come true! I really appreciate the support of everyone out there! If you have not read the article yet and are curious, you can read it here: http://www.redding.com/news/2010/jul/01/sculptural-eccentrics-work-to-be-featured-in/

I would appreciate if you could leave comments on the article. Shape me! I want to do the best job that I can for the community!

Ruben

Life words and a new tune...

I have spent the last couple of days with my oldest daughter and my emotions are all over the place. I truly believe that I was emotionally accepting of losing her during my liver battle. Now that I am alive and here for her, I am really at a loss. Somewhere along the line she developed the most beautiful face that I have ever seen, a kind and soaring spirit and an amazing sense of whimsy. My little tiny girl is now a lady and that is forcing me to try to hold on as tight as possible while walking the tightrope between father and friend. Is it supposed to be this damn hard? Grace Rose, my youngest will be 10 in October. Will I be doing all of this over again? The attached song reflects the mood that I am in lately. I have been busy like always but I am missing something real and whole deep inside. I need something that is unshakable and comfortable. I need something that is deep and real. Where do I go from here? Hold someone close today and refuse to let them go for a second or two. Feel love. Breathe in passion. Dream big. Make each day- each second- count. Take care of you.

(download)