La Grotta in Richmond, Virginia, The clean program, the joe cross film fat, sick, & nearly dead, tinkyada pasta

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Over two weeks of scrumptious food was savored during a visit to Alicia’s and Michael’s happy and lovely home in Richmond, Virginia, None of us had the wherewithal to lasso in the others when it came to choosing where and what to eat during the times we ate out at Richmond’s many excellent restaurants. One evening we ate at La Grotta, and were immersed in old world charm. I would definitely return; being there was a pleasure. For dessert I recommend the coconut cake. You might have to make sure that those with you have something tasty in front of them, otherwise it becomes all about sharing, and you know what that means. www.lagrottaristorante.com

After that kind of eating we agreed that once again the Clean Program from the book CLEAN by Dr. Alejandro Junger would be a delight. We were ready for the lightness and clarity that comes with the program – the juicing, the smoothies, the meals from the menu section of the book, and the suggestions for detoxing.

Also, watching the Joe Cross Film, FAT, SICK & NEARLY DEAD (and crying for the people when listening to their stories) is an incredible incentive when wanting to change eating habits. Viewing this movie can change the way we look at food when seeing the suffering faces of people who are sick and overweight, but don’t have a clue as to how to help themselves. The film makes us understand that it’s within all of us to be able to make powerful changes, and shows what can happen when we’re open to change, and ready to take action. It’s beautiful! www.fatsickandnearlydead.com

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And when it comes to enjoying pasta, what a joy it is to know about “WHEAT FREE GLUTEN-FREE GOOD CONSISTENT TEXTURE NOT MUSHY AL DENTE” Tinkyada Pasta. Alicia prepared a meal this way – more or less: She sautéed chopped onions in olive oil, and added lots of garlic. Other ingredients added to the big cast iron pot were mushrooms, kale, spinach, and fresh peas. Also, stirred into that pot were two handfuls of pine nuts, a sprinkling of good quality sesame seeds, shakes of Celtic salt, and twists of tasty pepper. Then the cooked Tinkyada spaghetti was mixed into those ingredients. If you like avocados, slice one and serve with nori along with the pasta meal. Absolutely delicious! Now here comes the hard part, we Americans have to try very hard to remember two words, and the two words are: PORTION CONTROL. www.tinkyada.com

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Let’s enjoy this fine misty rain of an evening.

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“Your progress depends on your ability to eject old ideas and set opinions. You are fortunate if you have no set opinions.” – Venice Bloodworth

Yes! Magazine

I read last month’s issue of YES! With relish and It helped me to understand what’s going on in the world. I don’t know why I didn’t come across this powerful and practical magazine before last month. YES! writers are well-versed; they tackle the nitty-gritty of today’s very important topics, those that affect all of us, and inform us about issues that are not necessarily aired in quite the same way in the media. YES! readers are given a no nonsense account of how the important issues work, or don’t, on behalf of we the people, and the many ways in which those things that pertain to us are changing due to the creative endeavors of citizens the world over. Knowing what’s actually happening, as opposed to thinking we know, lends power to daily living. www.yesmagazine.org

Check it out, there’s nothing to lose and a whole lot to gain. If you’ve been reading YES! all along, good for you, and next time you discover something of interest, tell us about it;-)

I hope you all had a marvelous weekend.

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Dying To Be Me

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taken from: www.nderf.org

Here it is- one more post about the book DYING TO BE ME. Are you saying, why, oh why? Here’s why: In it are words that soothe the human spirit, and the words come alive because Anita Moorjani experienced something utterly magnificent when she had a Near Death Experience unlike any other, and returned to her body with the understanding that it would soon be healed of lymphoma cancer. To not read her book is to not give ourselves the benefit of viewing life in a completely different way. Fear seems to permeate too many areas of life on planet Earth. It doesn’t have to be this way; it shouldn’t be this way. But it is because at every turn, much of what we hear, watch, and read puts fear into us. And although freedom should be ours on planet Earth, it’s really, really not, unless with eyes wide open we make it happen.

We’re also in fear when we sweep sickness and death “under the rug,” facing them (or not) only when a loved one is sick or dying, or when we are. Over and over it’s been said through the ages that opening ourselves to life, to love, allows us to shed the fear and live a fearless life. This is what the message in DYING TO BE ME is about. The words in the book bring us to an understanding very different from what we’ve learned about life on planet Earth. It’s not good enough to just read what others say about DYING TO BE ME. Anita Moorjani’s words as she felt during her experience – her words describing this experience, leave a definite impact on the reader.
www.anitamoorjani.com
During the time of her near death experience family members and doctors were nearby, or down the corridor. In her NDE her consciousness became expansive – able to zero in on conversations and feelings in the “other realm” and on planet Earth. When she returned to her body, and slowly put the pieces together, family and doctors were shocked at what she was telling them, and confused.

DYING TO BE ME, well, it’s quite a book.

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Shall we begin right now to experience life lived without fear?

Enjoy the day and let’s all of us dive right into Life.

Dying To Be Me by Anita Moorjani

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Have you heard of Anita Moorjani’s Near Death Experience (NDE), and her book, DYING TO BE ME? An amazingly different NDE was what she had, unlike any other on record. And the kinds of things she learned while in “the other realm,” and later wrote and talked about in interviews are making the heads of people swirl. The gist of her story is that she had lymphoma cancer for four years, and from the base of her skull to her abdomen everything was swollen, and all through her body she had tumors the size of lemons. Her body was ready to die. And so she did, more or less. In the NDE she was able to know what was happening on earth also. So when she returned to her body she filled in all the details, leaving family and doctors completely baffled. A few days later, she had fully recovered. I’m thinking that DYING TO BE ME must be one enthralling book – a book unlike any other. From watching videos and reading interviews, and without yet reading her book, I can only imagine how her story can expand all of our views about life and death, and possibly teach us to see it all in a new and exciting way.
www.anitamoorjani.com
www.nderf.org

 

Sweet dreams everyone. I used to say: Don’t let the bed bugs bite, but, since twice getting them, I don’t say that anymore:-)

tea & sympathy

Tea and Sympathy www.teaandsympathynewyork.com is a tiny place, a very cozy place, located at 108-110 Greenwich Avenue in Manhattan. Have you guessed that it’s an “english restaurant”? If you decide to go, be prepared to wait. Remember, waiting is fine. The service is friendly and efficient. I’m at a loss as to how to describe its interior. You’ll have to see for yourself. Suffice it to say that it’s charming and informal.

When my daughter Sumi and I decided to meet one chilly sunny Sunday, it was for a salad. We were being good with that suggestion. But then, after meandering along the streets, Sumi suggested we try Tea and Sympathy. I’d not been there in awhile, and I always got a special feeling at the thought of going there — so off we went, two in agreement. The menu is definitely interesting, the food is tasty, the customers always seem in a good mood, even though space is tight. It’s almost like dining at the small home of an obliging relative who’s invited too many guests and everyone is determined to be comfortable no matter what. There are lots of choices on the menu: Soup, Salads, Starters, Side Dishes, Entrees, Puddings, Sandwiches, Desserts, Daily Specials, Sunday Special, Tea Time and Teas.

To be more specific, you’ll find a variety of good salads like stilton and walnut, smoked trout with horseradish sauce, fresh beetroot salad, there’s shepherd’s pie, tweed kettle pie, bangers, lentil dishes, steak and kidney pie, steak and guinness pie, welsh rarebit, sussex chicken, etc. There are scones with clotted cream and jam, good selection of teas with everyone having their own different appealing teapot. Beware, the desserts will gently call to you, Order me! Order me! They seem to be saying. Or is that my imagination? Next door there’s a “Take Away Menu.”

It’s really nice; it’s really enjoyable. You might really like it.

the life you were born to live by dan millman

Have you read the book, The Life You Were Born To Live by Dan Millman? www.danmillman.com

When we bought it, it became an instant success in the family, and also with visitors who came to our apartment. I know they enjoyed the book because there would usually be a phone call a day or two later saying, “I was at the bookstore and picked up that book we were looking at a few days ago.”

What is the book’s appeal besides being entertaining? Because entertaining is not a good enough reason in this instance. So why do people go out and buy it soon after spending a few hours with it? Maybe because the book, the “Life Purpose System,” gently guides. It doesn’t dictate, or get you into a dark mood because it’s complicated and heavy. Rather it suggests and informs. The words, and what they’re expressing, grab the reader. You see a quizzical expression, a smile, a nod, an agreement from the one reading.

I’m not the best person to point to why a book is good reading, or why it isn’t. Every word that’s written about a book, person, movie, restaurant, or place is just someone else’s opinion. And because it’s an opinion, one opinion is as good as another. Perhaps this opinion will bring you to a bookstore. Perhaps it won’t.

And so it goes.

imagine

July 9, Saturday, was a perfect day to go to Strawberry FIelds. A steady stream of people, mostly tourists from many countries, strolled past and took pictures or sat quietly. A guitar player sitting on a bench steadily played the Beatles music. And I was surprised to see so many people staying to enjoy the stillness and the music. So, I sat and watched and stayed for a long time. A man in his thirties got up from time to time to rearrange the roses and remove any little leaf or paper that fell. I wondered whether he appointed himself caretaker of the area. I stayed because I didn’t feel like leaving that pocket of quietness. Pictures continued to be taken and when the guitarist played “Imagine All The People Living Life In Peace” we sang, we hummed, we reflected. I was so glad to be in this place at this time. It was a fine place to reflect on peace for our world.

A second guitarist arrived to play, and the one who’d been playing placed his guitar on the ground. I didn’t want to leave, but it was time. It was a lovely peaceful Saturday afternoon in Manhattan. And the peace was felt by all those who were there. And that’s very good.