Hey everyone! Voting in this week’s round in the “Performer of the Year” competition at The Public Blogger has begun!
After six weeks of voting — and an unfortunate outbreak of salmonella — the field has been reduced from 12 nominees to five heading into tonight’s round.
This week’s challenge, titled “RAW,” was possibly the toughest yet, with each of us given just 24 hours to complete our presentation — which was to answer the following two questions:
1) What is your contribution as an artist?
2) Have you ever had sex while dressed as a Star Wars character?
OK, not really. Ha! Ha! I made the first question up.
Anyway, voting has begun and continues until 10 a.m. (PST) tomorrow (Monday). Just click on the image below and it will take you to the show, where you can see all five performances and vote for me your favorite at the bottom of the page *wink wink*
In all seriousness, I took this week’s challenge to heart and tried to come as close to providing a “live” performance as I could. No frills, fancy images or comedic devices — just me talking, unrehearsed, uncut and “raw.” It’s not smooth or particularly funny.
But it is completely real.
And so is my Han Solo costume, by the way.
Thank you so much for all of your amazing support these past six weeks, as well as your continued encouragement in comments, emails, direct messages and that note someone left in my cheesy Gordita.
You are all truly and sincerely appreciated.
Ned's Blog 
Wow, Ned. Very powerful message, and I could feel the truth of it as you talked. Long may you live “in the moment.” And rest assured that every day of your life, you help others do just that! Good luck, my friend. Hope to see you in the next round!
Thank You, Marcia 😉 It wasn’t a comfortable challenge, but one that forced me to really think about what I do and why. You know, as opposed to how I usually do things 😉
This was so RAW and well done. Humor is in the moment and thank you. We don’t take time to live in the now. We are always thinking about how could i have done this differently….or what is gonna happen tomorrow? Well, hopefully we wake up. I struggle to live in the present, but you have illustrated how it is important. Unfunny? Yes. Who cares?
I really appreciate that. Tonight’s performance was the first time in this competition I felt nervous. Not about “winning” the vote, but showing a side of myself I don’t often reveal. You comment makes me glad I did — thank you for that 😉
All I can say is… You Ned, are an incredible human being~Thank you for being such an inspiration🙌🏼
Thank you, Lisa. That means a lot. I’ve been very blessed with some incredible people in my own life — my wife (your friend) being one of my biggest blessings 😉
And I voted 4 times😆
That should do it! (Everyone, you can all go home now!)
Thanks, Lisa 😉
Oh, Ned. That was really quite beautiful. You do heart to heart even better than the laughs, which are still pretty significant. Good on you, friend – and also, pretty damned good for the rest of us.
Robyn, I truly appreicate that. I’ve been holding my breath all night, uncertain of how my candidness would be received. I suppose I should start breathing now 😉
Breathe, bud. I have a feeling you’ve unlocked some tightness for other people too. That’s another important contribution.
*deeeeeeeep breath*
I needed that 😉
I so love you! And not in a creepy old lady stalker way, but in I appreciate your talent way. A very touching video. Well done.
Okay, so you brought tears to my eyes (and my meds don’t usually allow that spontaneously). It might have been RAW but it couldn’t have been more well thought out or spoken. Being a Gemini, I often live in the moment (read: fly by the seat of my pants) but I do also lose myself in social media and the rush of the day-to-day. Thanks for the reminder and for being in the sphere. I’m so glad I found your blog. ❤ 🙂
“In the moment’
You have more than fulfilled your purpose. Powerful message, Ned. I’m so sorry to be late to the voting AND I’ve been off Facebook most of the day (I may do that permanently!).
How did the voting turn out???
Well, Oscar edged me out of the No. 1 spot this week, BUT I made the final four! Next challenge is Dec. 6, and the theme is “collaboration.” We are required to team up with another Public Blogger artist who isn’t in the competition. It took me about 30 seconds (20 to finish eating my bacon) to track down Stephanie Mark Lewis (Last year’s “Humorous Post” winner), aka, Little Miss Menopause. This is going to be a blast!
I can’t wait!!!!! Congrats, Ned 🙂
I think I had sex with a droid, but it could have been a mini-fridge.
Obviously, it wasn’t the droid you were looking for…
Nice.
Your version of “Raw” was extremely “Well Done!”
That’s a very tender comment, Stephanie. Thank You!
There are no words, except… good luck Ned.
Thanks, my friend. And yeah, with “raw” in the title, probably best to keep it short.