britney in the limelight

When I click on my laptop, news about Britney manages to surface, and from magazine racks in stores, pictures of Britney manage to surface. So many adult people writing, judging, and photographing her. Time to give it a rest? Let her find herself, so to speak. Are we really a society that takes so much pleasure in watching someone beat themselves up? If we’re not going to assist, then, at the very least, we could refrain from putting her in the limelight where she doesn’t belong at the moment. Perhaps the way to assist is to allow her to live her life in private for now. Give her time to sort things out for herself. And that’ll give us all a chance to do the same for ourselves – cause when we’re so busy with someone else’s life, we’re not really paying attention to our own. And why are we so involved in scrutinizing someone else’s life? Who’s responsible for keeping all this going?

As supposedly evolving human beings we could be asking ourselves questions that bring us to other places, different ways of thinking, and far better ways of living. We humans could be, can we say, should be, concentrating on becoming all that we can be. Knocking people down whether it be with pen and paper, camera, or fist doesn’t feel right.

On another note is Louise Hay’s movie, YOU CAN HEAL YOUR LIFE. We can “Watch a Preview of Louise’s New Movie at www.youcanhealyourlifemovie.com

Let’s do it. Yeah!

www.louisehay.com
www.hayhouse.com

highly entertaining

The world is indeed a stage. The presidential candidates in the US are presently preening themselves in full force – sprucing up their image, while attempting to determine what “the people” want to hear. How many coaches are involved in bringing them up to snuff with their rapport with the cameras, with the way they answer tv journalists, coaching them on displaying the right emotion at the right time, the proper stance, the right intonation, selecting topics they want to make their own, ignoring others as actors do with scripts sent their way, lots of money required, lots of spectators needed. Months and months and months of rehearsals on the campaign trail. With every candidate involved, it almost suggests the orchestrating of a Broadway extravaganza. Interesting, highly entertaining, very imaginative, but, a little strange, too, since it’s not at all about a Broadway show.

happy times

The holidays , they delighted the outer and inner. Four New Yorkers came to Philadelphia and we all stayed at The Four Seasons; it was a merry place. On Christmas day we walked a bit around Philadelphia (most everything was closed), played with seven-months old Sophie, had wonderful conversations, enjoyed carry-out from McCormick & Schmick on Christmas night as it seemed to be the only restaurant opened, watched Sophie sitting up straight opening her first Christmas gifts ever (mental note: tell Alicia and Michael she would have been completely happy with a piece of wrapping paper as a gift). Sumi and Toshi, – just teasing. Then, while Toshi put Sophie to sleep, we three – Sumi, Emi and I, quietly left the room for the lounge where The Four Seasons pampered its guests with scrumptious desserts and drinks on the house in a lovely setting.

The two days you were here were lovely, and I thank you, you New Yorkers, for coming to Philadelphia and making Christmas in Phila a truly beautiful one! www.fourseasons.com/philadelphia
www.mccormickschmick.com

The following Sunday I left for Raleigh on Southwest Airlines to spend New Year’s eve with nineteen-months old Sebastian, and Alicia and Michael. Southwest lets you choose your own seat. And that’s fine if you’re in the “A” line. I wasn’t, but that was all right, as one of the flight attendants had the kind of humor that kept us laughing for most of the trip. Don’t let it stop, flight attendant. It was good to see Michael’s smiling face at RDU Airport waiting. RDU is looking big and pretty spiffy. The city planners are keeping up with all the new residents moving into the Durham/Raleigh area. It wasn’t so long ago that a salad in Raleigh consisted of some lackluster lettuce leaves, a few slices of tomatoes, lots of bacon bits and croutons, and a heavy creamy dressing. Whew! Not anymore.
www.southwestairlines.com

Alicia and Michael spent New Year’s eve out and about on the town; Sebastian and I played until he was ready for bed at 7:30. During the week we spent time at a few well-designed playgrounds, drove to Earth Fare for some organic foods, cooked, talked and talked, ate carry-out from Cheesecake Factory at Crabtree Mall. Then on the day before I left, Alicia suggested Michael and I dine out. Thank you, Alicia. We went to Taverna Agora, 6101 Glenwood Avenue in Raleigh. Taverna Agora is cozy, comfortable, friendly, with pleasant service, and, of course, tasty food. It feels like a well-liked, dependable neighborhood restaurant. We had a good time. On returning we found Alicia happily sitting in a corner of a couch, surrounded by big fluffy pillows, spending some down time catching up on missed tv programs. Sebastian was fast asleep; his little body only stops for naps and bedtime.
www.earthfare.com
www.cheesecakefactory.net
www.TavernAagora.com

Michael, thank you for your post. It’s always interesting and enjoyable spending time with family in Raleigh.

Now we’re ready to give 2008 our best shot. Right?

happy, happy new year 2008

Are the holidays being good to you? Are you being good to the holidays? New Year 2008 is just about here. How will you bring it in? If that’s what you do, meaning do you see it as separate from all other days, or is a new year a flow from one day to the next for you – and nothing more? Interesting how some of us see welcoming in the new year as an invitation to get rip roaring drunk with a handful of friends, others travel to distant lands to be with strangers and take in life in another culture, some enjoy a Chinese meal with a few friends seen only at new year’s eve of every year, some spend new year’s eve meditating, either alone or with others, at a retreat, or a place of similar quietness, others dance the night away, some walk around a city simply observing and enjoying and return to their home to watch a movie, read a book, listen to music, have a glass of wine, others are paddling along the Amazon. Whatever you decide to do, may you do it wisely, and have fun doing it. May you enter the new year in a powerful way, and may love, harmony, happiness, health, compassion, understanding, forgiveness, abundance, fulfillment, success be yours. May you be outrageous some times, bold at other times, courageous always. May you be inspired and inspire, may beauty envelope you, and creativity have a hold on you. May you have many wonderful things to write about in your gratitude journal.

Happy, happy New Year 2008 to all of us!

seth speaks

Have you read SETH SPEAKS by Jane Roberts? It’s a book that opens one’s mind to an extraordinary way of looking at our selves, the way we think, the way we live, our world, the universe, etcetera. If you are a searcher and want to delve into other possibilities, this is a book worth considering. If, at the moment, you’re not a searcher, consider it an interesting novel. www.sethlearningcenter.org www.sethcenter.com

This is what’s written in the book about reincarnation: “. . . It is not correct, therefore, to suppose that your actions in this life are caused by a previous existence, or that you are being punished in this life for crimes of a past one. The lives are simultaneous.”

There’s more, lots more.

johnny cash

I have a fascination with Johnny Cash’s voice and his songs. Playing one of his CDs is pure relaxation. Strange because a lot of his songs are rather depressing – in an unbeat sort of way. Is it his gravelly voice? Is it the way he strung simple words together felt by the listener’s heart? His energy going out to the people? Do you feel the complications of his life in his songs and his singing? From the first time I heard his voice, his songs, I liked them. Wherever he is perhaps he knows that people are enjoying his music and perhaps he’s smiling.

And now I’m out the door for this ‘n that, grateful for the day, even though the sun can’t be seen, and I’m humming Johnny’s music. What are you humming at the moment?
www.johnnycash.com

holidays 2007 – it’s a breeze

You’re taking time for yourself during this December. Right? – not spreading yourself thin, not spending more than you have. We all know the ease of buying power with credit cards. It’s a breeeze to get carried away when shopping – the Christmas music lends itself to merriment, and a desire to please, people are walking around in stores, and along the streets, with prettily wrapped purchases peeking out of shopping bags, store windows entice, entice, entice, and you begin to believe if you don’t buy, buy, buy, you’re a cheapskate. Don’t believe it. Debt is a burden. And when the holidays are over and the bills come, the feeling changes. You don’t want it to change. There are ways to enjoy the holidays and keep your shirt on your back. It’s neat to see mainstream magazine articles promoting an amazing holiday with simplicity as the guideline, and giving ideas about how to shop in a smart way while remaining stress free and happy. Let’s go for the meaningful, fun, full-of-laughter memories, and avoid any burdensome ones. Enjoy it all!

If credit card bills can be paid in the blink of an eye, Ho Ho Ho pamper yourself, family, friends, treat a few strangers to a scrumptious meal. Enjoy it all!

new york city and philadelphia

Do you need a reminder that the holidays are coming? Just teasing.

Philadelphia is a sweet, doable city. And the information collected at this time as I’m trying to learn about this city is not necessarily written in stone. For instance, someone said there are no movie theaters in center city. But, as I walked on Sansom Street in route to Petulia’s Folly, I happened upon the Roxy Theatre. I was delighted to see this very small theatre looking like it has lots of character. It’s showing three different movies. I’m not up on movies lately, however, this I know – one stars Will Smith, the other is narrated by Sean Penn and is about war (and our government), and I’ve completely forgotten what the third is about. No one wanting to know what’s playing there would be too enlighted by this description, but it’s a hint of what’s playing. www.petuliasfolly.com www.gophila.com

I was in Manhattan this past weekend. It’s crowded there! The tree at Rockefeller Center is dressed beautifully in blue and stops people in their tracks. Saks Fifth Avenue is so congested it’s hard to meander up any aisle, and people stand patiently in line waiting to see the holiday windows. At La Bergamote, 169 Ninth Avenue in Chelsea, I enjoyed a cup of coffee and a duck rillette on the best crusty, non-doughy bread. And at le Gamin, 183 Ninth Avenue, Sumi and I ate tasty salads and delicious soup. I’ve never seen Chelsea Market as busy as it was this past weekend. On Sunday baby Sophie and I walked around Chelsea for one hour. I wanted her to see the world, but, alas, she fell asleep on our way to Integral Market at 227 West 13th Street. After buying onions and celery at the market, we stopped off at Integral Yoga Bookstore to pick up their January & February 2008 catalog. It’s looking good. Check it out at: www.iyiny.org

Later in the day I caught a bus in Chinatown for $10.00 for the trip back to Philadelphia. It took 50 minutes to get out of the city, and a little less than 2 hours to get to Philly. I’ve got to say that it’s a fast and pleasant ride. There’s no stopping, so, before you know it, you’re in Philadelphia’s Chinatown. Anyone unable to get a reservation anywhere in NYC and wanting to visit NYC should try Philadelphia. I say this because people commute daily from Philly to Manhattan. And, if you catch a bus in NYC around 88 East Broadway, you’ll be back and forth in no time at all. Additionally, you’ll be able to enjoy both cities. There are many hotels and B&B places in Philadelphia. Hopefully, they’ll be a lovely room waiting for you. www.Apexbus.com www.2000coach.com
www.hellophiladelphia.com

on misspelling ophra

Alicia, thank you for noticing that I spelled Oprah’s name wrong. I couldn’t quite put my finger on it, but I did know something wasn’t quite right with my spelling of “Ophra.” It’s strange that the website came up even though I misspelled her name. I think I’ll remember from now on. It’s much easier than the way I spelled it. www.oprah.com

about certain emails

I’m seeing email warnings about not placing pocketbooks on restaurant tables because they collect huge amounts of bacteria from public places, e.g. the floor in a toilet stall. So, placing them on tables could “make us very sick.”

Okay, let’s continue with this line of thinking. There’s the ketchup bottle, mustard container, salt and pepper shaker, utensils and plates – where have all the hands been that have held these items? We touch the chair we’re sitting on, and the table we’re sitting at. How clean are they? We’ve probably grabbed doorknobs along the way to the restaurant, or in the restaurant after washing our hands, before we reach our table. Perhaps the person at the next table has sneezed or coughed in our direction. On and on we can go about the ways in which bacteria can reach us. Hmm, what else? Oh, yes, the bread that’s been going from table to table, and don’t forget, we don’t know what’s going on in the kitchen where our food is being prepared – shall we send an email warning people about all this, too?

The thing is that human beings have lived through the holocaust, war, destruction of homes by weather and fire, are born into horrible conditions,, etc., leaving them vulnerable and certainly not able to wash their hands. But they live to tell entertaining and inspiring stories, and are stronger from having had those experiences. This is our world and we can either go out and play in it or find one thing after another to ruin the day.

Want to drive yourself nuts? Keep reading emails that warn against this ‘n that in an attempt to bring us to a new level of fear. Meanwhile, the owners of companies whose products are in the market place – you know the products, antibacterial this, antibacterial that – are laughing all the way to the bank because once again, the public has bought into fear.

The wise ones have said that if something is true for one person, it should be true for everyone. Oftentimes people have had similar experiences, and only one person “gets sick.”

Though the thing about pocketbooks and hats on dining tables: – not esthetically pleasing.

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“. . . Bacteria will not flourish destructively in an atmosphere into which they have not been “invited.” The calm, quiet, loving approach to life – at the same time backed by strong faith and belief in the essential goodness of human nature will prove to be the greatest mental-spiritual safeguard against any bacterial invasion.” ‘ Harry Douglas Smith, THE SECRET OF INSTANTANEOUS HEALING

“Perhaps one’s fear is of disease or germs. Then one should be fearless and undisturbed in a germ laden situation, and he would be immune. One can only contract germs while vibrating at the same rate as the germ, and fear drags men down to the level of the germ. Of course, the disease laden germ is the product of carnal mind, as all thought must objectify. Germs do not exist in the super conscious or divine mind, therefore, are the product of man’s “vain imagination. . . . Finally the army of the aliens is dissolved and dissipated because you do not give it your attention. You have starved the aliens out. Starve out the fear thoughts by not giving them your attention and acting your faith.” – Florence Scovel Shinn