BLAINESWORLD
#753
2.28.2011
In this issue:
1. Reflections
2. FYI
3. JOKE 1: Paying attention
4. Reviews . . . BARNEY'S VERSION, etc.
5. TV alert
6. JOKE 2: What women want
7. Websites
8. Computer tip
9. JOKE 3: International rules for men, part 2 of 2
10. A quote I like
11. Thought for the day
12. Advance planning department
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1. Reflections
A. Cynthia, my beautiful bride, and I had the pleasure of attending an Open Dress Rehearsal of an upcoming musical that will soon have its premiere in Asheville: A DREAM OF CAMELOT.
The session was held at our Biltmore Lake Clubhouse, and the 40 some individuals who attended all enjoyed the experience—and all felt that we were seeing something "special."
SPECIAL INVITE:
A second Open Dress Rehearsal has been scheduled for this play. So in case you missed the above, you want to see the talented actors perform a second time or if you just want to get a sneak preview, here's the information on what will be taking place this coming Sunday . . .
SART (Southern Appalachian Repertory Theatre) cordially invites you to a SPECIAL MEETING on Sunday, March 6 from 3-5 p.m. at the Owen Theatre on the Mars Hill College campus.
Please come join us to learn about the upcoming 2011 season and ScriptFest. In addition, as our way of thanking you for all your support over the years, you'll get to see an open dress rehearsal of an exciting new show: A DREAM OF CAMELOT. It features 24 original new songs written by local composer (and international recording artist) Richard Shulman, and it promises to be an unforgettable healing experience for all those who attend.
At the rehearsal, you'll get to hear many of these songs and see several scenes from the production that will run in Asheville from March 11-13 at the Masonic Temple in Asheville.
PLEASE RSVP SO WE CAN HOLD A SEAT:
As you may know, there are only 166 seats in Owen Theatre. So if you'd like to join us on March 6 (and we hope that you can), please send an email to: SARTplays@aol.com and put down how many seats you'd like to reserve--up to 6. Include your contact information. Consider that you have a confirmed reservation. We will only contact you in the event that there are no seats remaining.
And to get tickets for any of the performances at the Masonic Temple, please click:
http://www.richheartmusic.com/ADreamOfCamelotTickets.html
B. During the week, we also had a fun time with several neighbors at our friend Tammy's house when we got together to munch on some delicious Kettle Korn (from Earth Fare) and watch one of the AMERICAN IDOL shows from Hollywood . . . to date, I've been enjoying performances by three of the guys: Scotty McCreery, Paul McDonald and Casey Abrams, so I'm thinking that it might again be a guy who wins it all this year . . . what say ye?
C. CONGRATULATIONS to Carol in Florida on the publication of her memoir, LOVE FROM THE OTHER SIDE . . . to read more about it and/or to order, please click:
http://outskirtspress.com/webpage.php?ISBN=978-1-4327-6790-7
D. MR. CURIOUS HERE:
Tim in West Virginia often sends me interesting email . . . most recently, he sent me a great PowerPoint presentation that contained some phenomenal pictures that I wanted to share . . . but the problem: I can't seem to save them in a file . . . does anybody know a way to do this; i.e., if you are sent a PowerPoint, can you save a specific picture or two: And if so, how? Step-by-step instructions would be particularly appreciated.
***** BLAINESWORLD BEST AWARD *****
This week, it goes to Samuel Costilow--a server at Fatz Cafe in Asheville.
To quote Cynthia:
My ten-year-old little sister Amanda and I met Samuel for the first time a few weeks ago. He was very friendly and a great waiter--being both gracious and warm. Afterward, Amanda left a note for him, saying how much we appreciated his service. When he saw it, we both got a kick out of the fact that he said, “I will keep this forever.”
The next time we went to Fatz, we asked for him. We continued to be so impressed with him. When Blaine and I went recently to Fatz, again having Samuel as our waiter, he had put the entire menu on his phone with all of the ingredient information on it for the purpose of helping me order (as I am gluten free, dairy free and sugar free) He has never tired of my long list of questions and has even taken on the task of finding me interesting new things that I can eat so I won't be bored. Anyone who gets Samuel for a waiter is very lucky indeed.
MY TWO CENTS:
I was equally impressed with Samuel, though to be fair, the other servers at this eatery are excellent too . . . in the past, we've been pleased with the service we have received from such others as Ashley (cited in BLAINESWORLD #657), Steven and Chris.
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2. FYI
Enabling questions are also magnificent momentum builders for children’s spirits. Here are some simple momentum-building questions to ask your children each evening before they go to sleep. (Incidentally, these same questions are equally valuable to ask yourself or any teammate you want to help build unstoppable positive anticipation about tomorrow!) I call these the Upward Spiral questions.
“What did you do today that was really great?”
“What about that made it so terrific?”
“How did it make you feel?”
“What did you give today that made someone else feel happy?”
“How did giving make you feel?”
“What did you learn today that you are excited about?”
“What are you looking forward to tomorrow?”
SOURCE:
IT’S TIME FOR JOY! (see also Sections 4C, 10 and 11) by my good friend Brian Biro
FYI, part 2
Clips:
Jean in Pennsylvania: Old Rock Star Songs from comedian Tim Hawkins
Pat in Pennsylvania: Take 1?
Annie in North Carolina: Not your usual beer ad
Carrie in Florida: The Fake Woman Song
Janeen in Pennsylvania: Best glue commercial ever
Nelson in North Carolina: Beethoven 5th symphony (graphical score animation)
George in Pennsylvania: STAGE Magazine Interviews M.P.E.G. Attendees
Other:
Dianne in Pennsylvania: Our Asheville home is for sale
Catherine in Massachusetts: The new format is delightful
Julie in Pennsylvania: Friend/singer now on Facebook
Nelson in North Carolina: Realize how much of life has been wasted
Natalie in Pennsylvania: Opinion of TRUE GRIT
Arlene in Pennsylvania: OUT OF STEP review
Nancy in North Carolina: The War on Women (editorial)
Diane in Pennsylvania: UNKNOWN was excellent
To read about the above, please click:
http://bginbc.wordpress.com/2011/02/28/blainesworld-753-section-2-part-2/
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3. JOKE 1: Paying attention
The math teacher saw that Larry wasn't paying attention in class. She called on him and asked, "Larry! What are 2 and 4 and 28 and 44?"
Larry quickly replied, "NBC, FOX, ESPN and the Cartoon Network!"
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4. Reviews
A. BARNEY'S VERSION is a quirky, fascinating look at the life and memories of Barney Panofsky . . . he is a hard-drinking, cigar-smoking, foul-mouthed 65-year old television producer who has been married three times . . . only his last one brings him any joy and even then, he manages to mess up things . . . Paul Giamatti gives a marvelous performance as Barney . . . he should have at least gained a Best Actor nomination . . .
Rosamund Pike is excellent as one of his wives . . . rated R.
B. LOVE AND OTHER DRUG is now out in DVD format . . . my review from BLAINESWORLD #741follows:
LOVE AND OTHER DRUGS is a romantic comedy/drama that starts off great, then drags about halfway through . . . I've also seen somewhat similar endings to the film, but nevertheless liked it--in large part because of the great chemistry between the stars (Jake Gyllenhaal and Anne Hathaway) . . . based on the real-life memoir of a guy who finds himself in the middle of the explosion in the sale of male performance enhancement drugs, it could have also used a better job of editing . . . some characters disappear after a very short time on screen and one scene still has me baffled; i.e., wherein the main characters are driving somewhere and you have no idea of what happened before or after . . . rated R.
C. I agree with the premise behind IT'S TIME FOR JOY! (Morgan James Publishing) by Brian Biro; i.e., it is indeed time for joy.
Biro, a popular motivational speaker, proceeds to show you what you need to do to get this joy in your life . . . you can start with this simple exercise:
* Wherever you are, sit up really tall. Straighten your backbone. Put a big toothy grin on your face for a second, and open your eyes a little wider. Now, fill yourself up with a rich, deep breath. Did you feel a rush of energy surging inside you? Emotion is created by motion, and you've just felt the truth of that adage. Suddenly, just by sitting up, changing your facial expression, and taking a rich, energizing breath, billions of cells in your body received new messages filled with vibrancy, creating the instantaneous result of heightened vitality and alertness. If we can transform our energy level so quickly simply by deciding to use our bodies differently, imagine what we can do if we consistently make better choices about our health, our nutrition, and our physical vitality.
Exercise also helps, according to the author--and he recommends that you follow the principle of progression:
* For exercise and movement to become a basic part of everyday life, it must become habitual. Generally it takes thirty days of conscious, consistent action to build a new habit. If over the course of those thirty days you see genuine progress being made physically, emotionally, and mentally from your chosen exercise program, you will have a far greater likelihood of sticking with it. You'll establish the habit of that exercise program as a vital part of your day. For example, when I first began running, I was in poor physical shape. I ran a total of four minutes the first time out and thought I was going to keel over, but each day following that initial "marathon," I used the principle of progression to heighten my inspiration. My plan was very simple. I ran one more minute on the front half of my route for that day, which meant I ran two full minutes more by the time I returned home. I progressed to six minutes on my second day, eight on the third, ten on the forth, and so on. Within two weeks, I was running over half an hour without stopping. My weight began to drop and my energy and spirit rose. By the end of my first thirty days, I had build up to over an hour of continuous running, and I was hooked.
Lastly, he warns that comparisons are rarely the best way to motivate or lead:
* Many parents can fall into the destructive habit of using comparison as a way to motivate their children. Statements like "You should act more like your sister," or "Your brother wouldn't do that!" tear down your children's self-esteem and fuels their need for outside approval to feel worthy. If you practice comparison enough as a parent, your children will never feel they are good enough in your eyes. This fear of not measuring up will follow them wherever they go. In business, many managers and executives use the same approach of comparing employees to one another to motivate and ignite performance, with the same damaging results. The truth is there is no need to use comparison in your parenting or leading. Instead you can simply focus on helping others make better choices and behave positively. Letting go of comparison doesn't mean you can't learn from others by examining best practices and successful solutions to challenges. The key is to no longer place those you lead on some sort of rating scale. You can help them learn that giving their best and being fully conscious in the present moment is perfect, complete and deeply satisfying. In this way you will guide them to peace of mind, confidence and appreciation rather than envy. You will create an environment both at home and at work that moves from ego to "we go!"
So consistent with that last tidbit, I won't rate IT'S TIME FOR JOY! in terms of similar books that I have read on the subject . . . however, I will tell you that you won't go wrong in reading it, and you'll get a lot of useful ideas that you can put into practice in your role as a parent, employer or employee, or volunteer member of any organization.
D. Rick Perry, the popular three-term Governor of Texas, has joined many other Republican leaders in becoming an author . . . though this might not indicate that he is running for the Oval Office in 2012, it certainly raises that possibility (to me at least) that he is considering this option.
So does the book's title: FED UP! OUR FIGHT TO SAVE AMERICA FROM WASHINGTON (Hachette Audio) . . . according to Perry, he doesn't want to be misunderstood . . . he believes America is great . . . yet he feels we are being overtaxed and overregulated, and he feels that our nation can be great in the future if government will just get out of the way.
In listening to this book on CD, it was very easy to see the author stood on various issues . . . for example, he wrote:
* It is the government closest to the people that best guarantees the blessings of liberty.
* Once politicians taste power, like an alcoholic, they gulp it down and seek more.
* The effective legislator is the one who prevents money from leaving the state.
* In the end, states know best how to punish criminals for their crimes.
* [on the challenge to Arizona's immigration law] The judge essentiality made this policy up. And in the process, spit in the face of federalism and the right of the people to govern themselves.
What I especially appreciated was the fact that while he is obviously a very conservative Republican, he took on his party as well for things that he felt it could be doing better:
* President Bush is a special human being, but he did not fight for fiscal conservatism with the same fervor in which he pursued the freedom agenda in his foreign policy.
My only disappointment with the CD had to do with the fact the Perry did not do the narration; instead, it was done by a professional actor by the name of Ric Rietz . . . it was fine, too; I just think it could have been done every better by the author himself.
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5. TV alert
A. AMERICAN MASTERS: TROUBADOURS features the story of Carole King, James Taylor and the singer-songwriter movement, featuring a wealth of clips . . . according to THE WALL STREET JOURNAL, [this] "is a pleasing walk down memory lane to the formative musical years of the average baby boomer. Amazingly, astoundingly, it manages to find fresh ground along that well-trodden route to youthful nostalgia. This makes the indulgence invigorating." . . . Wednesday at 8 p.m. on PBS; repeated on Friday at 3:30 a.m.
NOTE:
PBS dates and times often vary, so check listings . . . when I did, I found this other AMERICAN MASTERS program that I'll be taping: SAM COOKIE: CROSSING OVER . . . if you were a fan of this talented singer-songwriter, and I was, this is one show that you won't want to miss! . . . Friday at 3:30 a.m.
B. COOL HAND LUKE, starring Paul Newman as a born loser on a chain gang and George Kennedy in an Oscar-winning performance as the convict leader, airs on Saturday at 8 p.m. on TCM.
C. CELEBRITY APPRENTICE has its season premiere on Sunday at 9 p.m. on NBC . . . I'll at least catch the first show, if just to catch the eclectic range of performers including Jose Canesco, Meat Loaf, David Cassidy, Dionne Warwick, Matlee Matlin and La Toya Jackson.
D. TAKING ON TYSON features former boxing champ Mike Tyson taking on the competitive world of pigeon racing . . . he estimates that he owns 2,500 pigeons at his various birdhouses . . . season premiere on Sunday at 10 p.m. on ANIMAL PLANET.
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6. JOKE 2: What women want
Tammy bought a new book recently entitled "What Twenty Million American Women Want."
Seeing the title, Doug grabbed the book out of her hand and started thumbing through the pages
Astonished and not just a little bit irritated, Tammy stared up at him and asked, "What in the world are you doing?"
Doug replied, "I just want to see if they’ve got my name spelled right."
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7. Websites
A. THANKS to Barbara in Pennsylvania . . . she wrote me that "this [the following website] is not a joke" . . . it most certainly isn't; rather, you'll find some useful information from the Department of Homeland Security on how to protect yourself and your personal information when making purchases online.
http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/tips/ST07-001.html
B. THANKS to Pat in Pennsylvania who wrote, "You're never too late to Rock and Roll!
See for yourself by clicking on the link below and make sure you read the text below the video. Keep your eyes on the band. Enjoy!
You're never too old to enjoy Rock and Roll!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WV5SJREqcLU&feature=related .
C. BLAINESWORLD, the website, remains up and running . . . to view it, please click:
http://www.blainesworld.net
In case you've ever wondered how many people actually view my website,
make sure you check the counter in the bottom left corner.
D. Are you on Facebook? In the unlikely event we have not yet contacted as friends there, please feel free to send me an invite by clicking:
www.facebook.com/blainegreenfield
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8. Computer tip
If you want to increase your chances to have your email read, avoid using "FW" in your subject line . . . it typically means that you are just forwarding stuff and that you really don't care who is it going to . . . a better approach: eliminate the FW and put something more original in the subject line; e.g., Great article on getting your emails read. Best, Blaine . . . oh, and one more tip . . . even if you forward stuff, delete all the other names and emails preceding the stuff that you want others to read . . . that way, your recipient will get a much shorter email--and one that he or she is much more likely to read.
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9. JOKE 3: International rules for men, part 2 of 2
(Concluded from last week.)
15. If a man's fly is down, that's his problem, you didn't see anything.
16. Women who claim they "love to watch sports" must be treated as spies until they demonstrate knowledge of the game and the ability to drink as much as the other sports watchers.
17. A man in the company of a hot, suggestively dressed woman must remain sober enough to fight.
18. Never hesitate to reach for the last beer or the last slice of pizza, but not both, that's just greedy.
19. If you compliment a guy on his six-pack, you'd better be talking about his choice of beer.
20. Never join your girlfriend or wife in discussing a friend of yours, except if she's withholding sex pending your response.
21. Phrases that may NOT be uttered to another man while lifting weights:
a. Yeah, Baby, Push it!
b. C'mon, give me one more! Harder!
c. Another set and we can hit the showers!
22. Never talk to a man in a bathroom unless you are on equal footing: i.e., both urinating, both waiting in line, etc. For all other situations, an almost imperceptible nod is all the conversation you need.
23. Never allow a telephone conversation with a woman to go on longer than you are able to have sex with her. Keep a stopwatch by the phone. Hang up if necessary.
24. The morning after you and a girl who was formerly "just a friend" have carnal, drunken monkey sex, the fact that you're feeling weird and guilty is no reason for you not to nail each other again before the discussion occurs about what a big mistake it was.
25. It is acceptable for you to drive her car. It is not acceptable for her to drive yours.
26. Thou shalt not buy a car in the colors of brown, pink, lime green, orange or sky blue.
27. The girl who replies to the question "What do you want for Christmas?" with "If you loved me, you'd know what I want!" gets an Xbox. End of story.
We hope this clears up any confusion,
The International Council of Manhood, Ltd.
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10. A quote I like
The greatest gift you can ever give your children is to be an example of happiness.—Brian Biro, author of IT’S TIME FOR JOY! (see also Sections 2, 4C and 11)
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11. Thought for the day
When I REALLY like a book, I'll mention it four separate times in any one issue of BLAINESWORLD . . . . therefore, when you read the following passage from IT'S TIME FOR JOY (see also Sections 2, 4C and 10) by Brian Biro, you'll know that I thought the author had a lot to say that I found of value and/or interest:
I love my family more than life itself. They are the center of my world, the starting point for my calendar, and the source of my greatest joy. So when a speaking engagement meant that I would be two thousand miles away from my daughter Kelsey on her sixth birthday, my insides ached with guilt, disappointment, and remorse. I would be home in time for her party on the weekend, which was all that really mattered to Kelsey, but to me I couldn't help but feel that I had really let her down.
The instant that my seminar finished, I rushed to the telephone to talk with my little girl and wish her a happy birthday. I broke into an unstoppable grin when I heard her precious voice answer the phone. Little did I know I was about to receive a lesson from this six-year-old sage that I would never forget.
"Hi, Kelsey! Happy Birthday, honey!" I exclaimed.
"Thank you, Daddy!"
"I miss you so much, sweetie. Tell me, what was the best thing that happened on your birthday?"
"Well, mommy took me and Jenna to the Red Robin for dinner."
Knowing that was one of her favorite restaurants, I figured that was her complete answer. "That's great, Kelsey. So going to the Red Robin was the best thing that happened all day."
Then she corrected me: "No, Daddy. That wasn't the best thing."
I began to see there was more to the story. "Well what was?" I asked, now quite curious.
"When we got to the Red Robin I had to go potty really bad."
I chuckled and asked her, "Now don't tell me that was the best thing?"
"No, Daddy!" she exclaimed in that "don't be goofy" tone I loved so much when I teased her.
"So what was it then?"
"Well, when I went into the bathroom, there was a big line of ladies waiting to use the potty."
I couldn't resist joking, "Kelsey, I certainly hope that wasn't the best thing that happened on your birthday."
"Oh Daddy, you're silly. No, the best thing was when I saw the line, I told them it was my birthday, and they let me go first!"
Her triumph and joy was so real, I did my best to keep from cracking up until after we said goodnight and hung up the phone. Then I sat there in my hotel room rolling in laughter, completely in love with my little girl.
But as I flew home the next morning, I began to see the magnificent wisdom that Kelsey had shared with me through her simple delight at moving to the head of the line. She awakened me to the truth that I, and nearly every adult I knew, would have completely missed the magic of such a birthday moment. First of all, we never would have had the confidence and exuberance to share with a line of "focused" individuals all intent on the same "mission," that it was our birthday. Even more important, I realized we would very likely have missed the enjoyment and preciousness of a moment that for six-year-old Kelsey was better than any other present. Her secret was that she was present for the moment, and therefore open to receive the simple joys that makes life truly rich.
From that day forward, I have made it my habit to end every correspondence, email, and phone message with a simple reminder of my daughter's wisdom: Remember to enjoy every precious moment. It's a thought that will move you to the front of the line in your life, where the view is the best and the possibilities the brightest. May it serve you well and help you to lighten up in all those times you tend to tighten up and find the WOO even in the most challenging of times.
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12. Advance planning department
A. North Carolina events:
Ted and Kimberly Ross: Competing at the Heritage Classic Dancesport Championships
Lawrence in North Carolina: Benefit Concert for Evergreen Community Charter School
Bob in North Carolina: Speaking on the Pirates of Somalia
For more information about the above, please click:
http://bginbc.wordpress.com/2011/03/03/blainesworld-753-section-12a/
B. Pennsylvania/New Jersey events:
A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC at MCCC's Kelsey Theatre
Two films showings/discussion
NET comedy, THE RAINMAKER
Comedy competitions
For more information about the above, please click:
http://bginbc.wordpress.com/2011/03/03/blainesworld-753-section-12b/
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PS Methinks that we need to pray for the speedy recovery of Arizona Congresswoman Giffords, as well as for the other 13 who were injured and the families of the 6 people who were killed in the horrific shooting rampage in Tucson . . . then, perhaps most importantly, we should all cherish our loved ones and make it a great week!
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