|
|
|
BLAINESWORLD
#548 4.2.2007 In this issue: 1. Reflections 2. FYI 3. Burnout 4. Reviews . . . THE NAMESAKE, etc. 5. TV alert 6. Concern 7. Websites 8. Computer tip 9. Life before computers 10. A quote I like 11. Thought for the day 12. Advance planning department _________________________________________________________ 1. Reflections A. Cynthia, my beautiful bride, and I are most appreciative for the many emails (see Section 2, part 2 for just a small sampling) and calls we've received about my mother. She made it through surgery last week . . . the doctors removed a tumor the size of an apple from her lungs and are hopeful that they got all the cancer . . . after a few painful days in the hospital, she is now in at a rehab facility--hopefully for not too long a period. Several readers have asked me about the possibility of sending a get well card to her . . . the thought, I'm sure, would be most appreciated . . . should you feel so inclined, your best bet is to write to her at her home address: Mrs. Muriel Greenfield 27110 Grand Central Parkway Apt 18 A Floral Park, NY 11005-1218 Many thanks, in advance! B. Aside from my mother being on the mend, we recently heard some other good news--this time about my daughter Risa . . . she called from Florida to tell us that she now feels officially engaged because she now has a ring . . . we look forward to seeing both it and her (OK, her fiance JP too) when they are come up in May for the wedding of JP's brother. C. On Saturday, amidst all our running around, we attended the memorial service of Jack Gevins--a longtime friend/colleague of mine at Bucks County Community College. His brother said some nice things about him and then he did something that we liked; i.e., he asked us all to pause and think about one memory that we had about Jack. Several came to mind for me . . . however, one in particular, stood out . . . many years ago, I heard him deliver a lecture on Van Gogh . . . I remember being sooooo impressed that he could be so passionate about the painter, and he helped make him come alive for me. That night, we went with a bunch of friends for dinner to The Kalamata Cafe (908.359.7144) in Hillsborough, NJ . . . the whole wheat pizza there was, as is always the case, particularly outstanding . . . from there, it was on to see our friend Gail play her violin with Dave Brahinksy and Friends at the Coffee House at Six Mile Run Church (732.297.3734) in Franklin Park, NJ . . . we never cease to be amazed at her virtuosity. D. On Sunday, we visited Cynthia's mother at Daughters of Israel Nursing Home in West Orange, NJ . . . one of the things we like is that there is almost always a weekly concert for the residents . . . on this particular day, we saw a performer we've seen before: Rick Knips (732.787.9382), a vocalist/entertainer . . . we like his singing, and perhaps even more importantly, we like how he relates to the audience . . . he was assisted by his friend Daryl, who ran the sound system and went above and beyond the call of duty to befriend many of those in attendance. ***** BLAINESWORLD BEST AWARD ***** This week, it goes to Jesse Ponnock--yes, the same Jesse Ponnock you've been reading about over the past several weeks. Thanks in large part to your votes, the 20-year-old nephew of Jean in Pennsylvania won the Best Music on Campus contest on MTV-U! For more information, please click: http://www.bestmusiconcampus.com
He now gets an EP recording contract with Drive-Thru records and a music video that will premier on MTV-u, MTV's channel for colleges and universities! To quote from part of an email I received from his proud aunt: Jesse started taking guitar lessons at around age 12, and also learned the piano as well. By 14 he was playing with a high school band, but they were mostly juniors and seniors, and after they graduated he found it easier to strike out on his own. While in high school he also interned at a recording studio. After graduating high school in Lower Merion in 2005, he went to Temple for his freshman year, then transferred to UofM for its prestigious music program. . . . Jesse always had a poetic soul, which is evident in the lyrics to the songs he entered. They touch upon heartache, missed opportunities, and life's lessons with the clarity of someone much older and wiser than Jesse's 20 years. He told his mom he got his ideas for some of the songs from Vonnegut and other things he's read. Top _________________________________________________________ 2. FYI The book DON'T RETIRE, REWIRE! (see also Section 4C) by Jeri Sedlar and Rick Miners had the following section that will help determine what you should be doing with your life--and not just at retirement: Dream-Catching Exercise #1: For exercise #1, imagine you have five years to live. Write down everything you've ever dreamed about doing. Don't spend a lot of time thinking about this. Write down the first ideas off the top of your head. Now imagine you have one year to live. Write down everything you would want to do. Again, work quickly. The last step: Imagine that you have only three months to live. Write down everything you dream of doing. Now look at your answers for five years, one year, and three months. Circle the answers that are the same. Which answers did you write all three times? Which did you write least? The things that you wrote down more than once provide clues as to what your dreams are. Make a note of what you wrote. You will come back to your answers later. Dream-Catching Exercise #2: If you've completed exercise #1, you're ready to continue. Answer the following questions: Think back to your childhood. What excited you? What did you want to be when you were 5, 10, or 15 years old? When you hate your job, what do you wish you could do? What are your "someday" activities? When you can do whatever you want, what do you do? If money were no object, what would you want to do? What do you do with your personal time while on vacation? Were there any themes that popped out? Are there any similarities in what you wrote in exercise #1 and exercise #2? Write down any answers that were the same. Dream-Catching Exercise#3: Look over your answers in exercises #1 and #2. Note the recurring themes. The following are common phrases people use to introduce their dreams. What have you heard yourself say when you've used one of these phrases? Fill in the blanks of these phrases by writing your answers on a piece of paper. It's never too late to . . . One day I'll . . . One of these days I'll . . . If I had the money I'd . . . If I had time I'd . . . You never know, I just might . . . If only I could . . . Your someday is now. You're ready to declare your dream. What have you decided to no longer delay? FYI, part 2 * Barbara in Pennsylvania: So very sorry to hear about your mother’s cancer! Does she have a smoking history, is this “second degree” from your Dad’s smoking history or is she one of the unfortunate few to develop lung cancer for no apparent reason (which means she'll be barraged with unsolicited and inappropriate lectures from the otherwise well-intentioned)? Tell her I'll be especially thinking of her on Wednesday. IN RESPONSE: My mother spoke for a large part of her younger life . . . she gave up the habit many years ago; by then, it may well have been too late . . . I also don't think my father's smoking helped the situation, but only God knows . . . and she doesn't tell us! * Kathe in New Jersey: I was particularly touched regarding the special evening with your mother and wanted to share a candle tip that I've been using for several years at the breezy shore--flameless candles. They flicker, available in a variety of sizes and appointments, and are battery operated. Snipes has carried them; they're featured in direct mail catalogs; and they'll be highlighted this evening on QVC (I think it's in the 7 p.m. timeframe). * Barbara in Pennsylvania: I'm so sorry to hear the health news of your Mother. My dear friend is a Franciscan Nun who I will ask to say prayers for your Mom. I've asked similar favors of her and she's more than happy to oblige. What she will do is go to the Nuns and asks for daily prayers to be said. . . . And by the way, I was gasping while reading about your fall off the horse until I got to the "April Fool's Day." You haven't lost your sense of humor!! That's what makes your newsletter so much fun to receive and read. * Deb in Colorado: Sorry about your mom. She is in my prayers, as are you and Cynthia. I wanted to tell you I bought a beautiful Hummel for my mother from your friend's e-Bay auction. I am saving it for her birthday in October. Also, it is now five months and one day since I quit smoking. Thought that would make you smile. * Meaghan in Pennsylvania (with a REQUEST FOR HELP): Thank you for reading this email! We are experiencing a dramatic drop in Volunteers at BRT. Such is the case, particularly, for our Red Hat Extravaganza on Thursday, May 10. Help is needed for a variety of tasks including (but not limited to) decorating the lobby, welcoming guests, handing out flowers and ushering. Volunteers are entitled to 2 complimentary tickets to a performance of Forever Plaid (April 17-May 13). This offer does not include special events such as the Red Hats Extravaganza, Opening Night, Wine Down Wednesday or Friday Festival. This offer also excludes Sunday Matinees. Volunteers must sign up in advance by contacting Meaghan Crawford, BRT Group Sales Manager, at 215-785-6664. PLEASE HELP by forwarding this message to your friends--or even better--VOLUNTEER! Your priceless support is essential in our continued success as Bucks County's only premiere, professional theatre. I look forward to your response! Thank you!!!! Meaghan K. Crawford Group Sales Manager Bristol Riverside Theatre Phone: 215-785-6664 Fax: 215-785-2762 MCrawfordArts@yahoo.com http://www.BRTstage.org
NOTE: If you call, and I strongly encourage you to do so, mention that you heard about this opportunity through BLAINESWORLD. * Emma in Pennsylvania: I finished the book and quit smoking on Saturday. I have to say this has been the easiest time I have ever had quitting thus far and usually the first few days are the hardest. His concept that you are not giving anything up is brilliant; I think it was the thought that I was sacrificing something that made me go back in the past. Will keep you post and certainly make a donation as well. Thank you for getting this book to me and helping me change my thinking in this area of my life! * Eleanor in Florida: I can appreciate the child story. Here's another one for you. This happened to me this week with my son. He had to pick out classes for school for the upcoming year and get them registered. When I asked him for the paper that he was to have written his class choices on, he went to get it. He handed it to me and what do I find on it: one class for his foreign language, Chinese-Mandarin I. When I asked him why he chose Chinese as his language, he told me it was because it was a new class option and that the book they used would probably be younger than him. So, at the age of 14, we had a bigger discussion about class choices. Needless to say, I went to the school with him to talk to the counselor. Keep in mind that he has been an honor student since he was in kindergarten. * Deborah in New York: You got me on the horse thing. I had an awful experience--years and years ago . . . seems horses have an unspoken rule on the order of their formation; for example, if the horse you are riding on usually is in the 3 place and the 4th horse in the line gets a head of the 3rd one, they get upset! My horse freaked out and started bucking . . . and no, I didn't fall off . . . but it did scare the sh*t out of me . . . so I walked my horse back to the stable . . . LOL . . . and haven't been on one since, nor do I care to! Top _________________________________________________________ 3. Burnout The dad in the supermarket clearly had a bad case of parental burnout. His toddler would not sit down in the grocery cart, and finally he snapped. “If you fall and break your leg,” he scolded her, “don't come running to me.” Top _________________________________________________________ 4. Reviews A. Find THE NAMESAKE if you can . . . it is a touching story about an Indian couple who after an arranged marriage, move from Calcutta to New York . . . their love grows as they struggle to adjust to this country and the birth of two children who have little respect for their ancestry . . . the film shifts back and forth between the two generations, and as it does, I developed a real feeling for all the characters . . . Kal Penn showed me that he is more than just a comic actor; his performance here was outstanding . . . Tabu and Irrfan Khan, playing his parents, also excelled . . . rated PG-13. B. VOLVER is now out in DVD format . . . my review from BLAINESWORLD #545 follows: Forget the great reviews you may have seen for VOLVER . . . this is a film you'll want to miss--at least in my opinion . . . it is a convoluted melodrama about the trials and tribulations of women that had me angry with myself that I stayed around to the very end of the film . . . I didn't care for any of the characters, and though Penelope Cruz got favorable press for her work, I was glad that she didn't get an Oscar for her starring role . . . it just didn't move me, though that said, I kept thinking of a young Sophia Loren every time I saw hr on screen . . . rated R. C. For the first time, I'm eligible to take a retirement incentive from my full-time teaching job . . . though not quite ready to take advantage of this option right now, it has gotten me thinking as to what I want to do next with my life . . . so I was most interested in discovering DON'T RETIRE, REWIRE! (see also Section 2) by Jeri Sedlar and Rick Miners. This excellent book got me questioning whether I just wanted to continue teaching indefinitely--or perhaps try something else . . . the key: to be able to find a work situation that was and is both financially and personally rewarding, whether it be a part-time job, volunteer work or even a second career. Like many of my colleagues, I've been thinking about this subject for quite some time . . . but that said, I didn't know quite where to start in determining how to pursue the subject further. I now have some good ideas, largely because of the many useful exercises that DON'T RETIRE, REWIRE! guided me through . . . among them was the following Legacy Quiz: Imagine your funeral. Who will attend? Who do you want to deliver your eulogy? What would you like that person to say? What would you like your obituary to say? How would you like to be remembered by others in your town or community? I also liked the stories and lessons that the authors shared from more than 300 real-life retirees they've known. And I found myself thinking that wouldn't be great if this happens: When you rewire, you'll have the chance to become the person you were meant to be, if you aren't already and to do the things you've always dreamed of doing. Rewiring is your time to focus on your discarded dreams, uninvestigated interests, delaying discoveries and any of the stuff you haven't done or pursued because you were too busy "doing life." No longer is retirement so scary, in large part because of DON'T RETIRE, REWIRE! . . . I strongly recommend it to anybody still working who is 50 years or older. D. Heard the taped version of EVERYMAN by Philip Roth, a short but powerful novel that begins with the protagonist's death . . . it then shifts backward through his life, which included three marriages, an advertising career and numerous health problems. Naturally, it being a book by Roth, there's some sex thrown in for good measure. I kept thinking that much of what I was hearing was Roth describing his life (or at least large chunks of it), but then again, I could see bits and pieces of my life too . . . as it has been and, alas, as it will probably be. The writing, in many parts, nearly took my breath away . . . it is that powerful . . . for example, there was this one passage describing a yearning for the strength and joy of youth: Nothing could extinguish the vitality of that boy whose slender little torpedo of an unscathed body once rode the big Atlantic waves from a hundred yards out in the wild ocean all the way in to shore. Oh, the abandon of it, and the smell of the salt water and the scorching sun! Daylight, he thought, penetrating everywhere, day after summer day of that daylight blazing off a living sea, an optical treasure so vast and valuable that he could have been peering through the jeweler's loupe engraved with his father's initials at the perfect, priceless planet itself--at his home, the billion-, the trillion-, the quadrillion-carat planet Earth! It is now several days since I finished EVERYMAN, but I still find myself thinking about it--always a good sign that a book moved me. This one certainly did. George Guidall ably handled the narration . . . listening, it felt almost as if Roth was speaking directly to me. Top _________________________________________________________ 5. TV alert A. THE WORD ACCORDING TO WHOOPI features the Oscar- winning funny lady in an hour of stand-up . . Thursday at 10 p.m. on BRAVO. B. If you're a dog lover, then you'll want to check out AMERICA'S CUTEST PUPPIES on Saturday at 9 p.m., followed by DOGGIE DAYCARE on Saturday at 9:30--both on WE . . . in the latter show, cameras follow the staff and four-legged clients of Downtown Dog Lounge, a full-service canine-care center in Seattle. C. MASTERPIECE THEATER has Bob Hoskins starring as Badger in a live-adaptation of Kenneth Grahame's THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS, the timeless children's tale . . . Sunday at 9 p.m. on PBS . . . check your local listings because times and dates often vary on PBS shows. D. Sunday also marks the return of THE SOPRANOS at 9 p.m. on HBO for its final nine episodes . . . at 10 p.m., also on HBO, ENTOURAGE resumes for its third season. Top _________________________________________________________ 6. Concern I had a voice my concern when a co-worker said she found dates using the Internet. “Don't worry about me,” she said. “I always insist we meet at a miniature golf course.” “Why there?” I asked. “First, it’s a public spot,” she said, “Second, it’s in broad daylight. And third, I have a club in my hand.” Top _________________________________________________________ 7. Websites A. If you're a student or teacher/staffer at any school and you have a valid .edu address, you can get access to THE NEW YORK TIMES for free . . . just click: http://www.nytimes.com/gst/ts_university_email_verify.html This is a great deal, if just to be able to have access to all articles in the archives . . . the only restriction is that you can only get 100 per month. B. Kick back your shoes and take a nostalgic trip back to the 50s by clicking: http://oldfortyfives.com/TakeMeBackToTheFifties.htm Make sure your sound is on! C. BLAINESWORLD, the website, remains up and running . . . to view it, please click: http://www.blainesworld.net To see pictures of yours truly (along with Cynthia, my daughter Risa, etc.), go to the left and click "Blaine's Best" and then "Pictures" . . . make sure your sound is on so you can hear what is arguably the greatest rock song of all time. Top _________________________________________________________ 8. Computer tip It's always a good idea to have a backup email address; e.g., in case your primary server ever shuts you down (even if by accident). A friend recently found herself unable to get or receive mail from her Verizon account . . . fortunately, she still kept her AOL account, so she was able to at least contact her address book to let everybody know. So if you're using, say, AOL, methinks you should also have an account with hotmail, gmail or with your Internet service provider. Top _________________________________________________________ 9. Life before computers Memory was something that you lost with age. An application was for employment. A program was a TV show. A cursor used profanity. A keyboard was a piano. A web was a spider's home. A virus was the flu. A CD was a bank account, A hard dive was a long trip on the road. A mouse pad was where a mouse lived. And if you had a 3 ½ inch floppy, you just hoped nobody found out. Top _________________________________________________________ 10. A quote I like We either make ourselves miserable, or we make ourselves strong. The amount of work is the same.---Carlos Castaneda (1925-1998), author of several best-selling books about the mystical teachings of don Juan Matus, a Yaqui Indian shaman from Sonora, Mexico Top _________________________________________________________ 11. Thought for the day Eight gifts that don't cost a cent The gift of listening But you must REALLY listen. No interrupting, no daydreaming, no planning your response. Just listening. The gift of affection Be generous with appropriate hugs, kisses, pats on the back and handholds. Let these small actions demonstrate the love you have for family and friends. The gift of laughter Clip cartoons. Share articles and funny stories. Your gift will say, "I love to laugh with you." The gift of a written note It can be a simple "Thanks for the help" note or a full sonnet. A brief, handwritten note may be remembered for a lifetime and may even change a life. The gift of a compliment A simple and sincere, "You look great in red," "You did a super job" or "That was a wonderful meal" can make someone's day. The gift of a favor Every day, go out of your way to do something kind. The gift of solitude There are times when we want nothing better than to be left alone. Be sensitive to those times and give the gift of solitude to others. The gift of a cheerful disposition The easiest way to feel good is to extend a kind word to someone. Really, it's not that hard to say, Hello or Thank You Author unknown (if you know who wrote this and/or the source, please let me know.) Top _________________________________________________________ 12. Advance planning department A. Cynthia (see also Section 1A): PLEASE JOIN ME AT EITHER AND/OR BOTH OF THESE PROGRAMS: * Saturday, April 7 Move Your Body class. This is a fun, rejuvenating movement experience where you follow simple dance moves to soul-filled music from around the world. FREE. Love donations accepted for the rental space. 1:30-2:45 p.m. at Princeton Center for Yoga & Health, Skillman, NJ. For more information, please click: http://www.princetonyoga.com
* TREASURE YOURSELF A Woman’s Circle of Discovery and Adventure with Janet StraightArrow and Cynthia Greenfield Saturday, April 21 (rescheduled from March 17 when it had to be postponed because of the snow) 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Princeton Center for Yoga 50 Vreeland Drive, Suite 506, Skillman, NJ 08558 609.924.7294 For directions, see link under April 7 listing. Cost: Free. Love donations accepted for the rental space. Bring your little girl self and wise woman self. Be ready for mystery, magic and fun! Woman of all ages welcomed and appreciated! Janet holds a circle of Love, Laughter and Joy: Rediscover who you are as a soul, as a woman and as a magnificent being. Increase your energy, awareness, memory and connection to self, spirit and others. Janet teaches you tools she has gathered--to awaken, empower and live your gifts and your dreams. Move Your Body with Cynthia: A fun, rejuvenating movement experience where you follow simple dance moves to soul-filled music from around the world. Let go and drop expectations of looking any particular way while dancing. Moving in this class honors your self, enjoying pleasure in movement, letting go of your mind and allowing free expression from your soul. Enjoy! Have Fun! Experience spiritual renewal and healing. Community is an important aspect of the gathering. We learn from each other as mirrors and teachers. Future programs will be available for the group to deepen their connection to themselves, soul, spirit, your life and purpose. Bring friends, sisters, mothers or any fabulous women you know. B. Natalie in Pennsylvania: I'd love to share this FREE event with you. If you want to attend the presentation, contact me and make a reservation as the space truly is limited. No reservations required for the movie, just first come, first served until we fill the 336 seats in the auditorium. Filmmaker, actress, writer, and producer Fay Ann Lee is coming to BUCKS to talk about and show her soon-to-be-released movie “Falling for Grace”. On April 12, Lee will discuss her experiences as a filmmaker at 6:30 p.m. in Penn Hall, Room 257. Her independent film, to be shown in the Library Auditorium starting at 7:30 p.m., was shot in New York City. It is a romantic comedy about the cultural complications that occur when an Asian-American woman realizes her Cinderella fantasy by dating one of Manhattan's most eligible bachelors. Lee wrote the script for the movie and stars as Grace, a female Wall Street whiz with a Chinatown background. C. Amy in Pennsylvania: We're back at the Washington Crossing Inn on Saturday nights! As many of you know, the Washington Crossing Inn is a GREAT place to eat. If you are planning to have dinner, please call in advance for reservations, request seating by the bar for the band and please mention SECOND NATURE. Here are some upcoming dates for you to update your calendars: Saturday, 04/21/07 Saturday, 06/23/07 Saturday, 07/21/07 New Time! 9:30 p.m. – 1:30 a.m. Routes 532 & 32 (River Road) Washington Crossing, PA http://www.washingtoncrossinginn.com
215.493.3634 SECOND NATURE--Celebrating music from the 60's thru today's future standards, featuring talented "seasoned" musicians who cover an eclectic mix of tunes from The Beatles to Bonnie Raitt, Santana to Joe Jackson and Joss Stone to Los Lonely Boys. Members include Amy Baker (lead vocals), Bill Corfield (guitar/vocals), Brian Schiefer (bass/vocals), Kenny Pesile (drums), and Richie Petronio (keyboards and vocals.) Come on out and listen to Second Nature's Rock, Funk, R&B and Soul styles and be sure to bring your dancin' shoes! D. Adrienne in Pennsylvania: HOLD THIS DATE: On Friday, June 8, from 6:30 – 9:30 p.m., the Bucks County Community College Foundation will be hosting Tyler Tasting’s 19th annual premier food and wine tasting event, along with musical entertainment and a silent and live auction at the Newtown Campus. New in 2007: In addition to sampling food from Bucks County’s finest restaurants, guests will also have an opportunity to sample some of the “Greatest Beers of the World” presented by Gretz Beer Company. Beers such as Rogue, Victory, Michelob, Newcastle, Moretti, Paulaner, Carlsberg Jacobsen, Grolsch, and Warsteiner will be available. Another new vendor this year is Southern Wine and Spirits Portfolio. For your pleasure, they will be serving Absolute, Cruzan, Sauza, the Jim Beam Family, and Starbucks™ A new and exciting auction item this year is Chef Barry Sexton, who recently appeared on the Food Network’s “Dinner: Impossible” show, will assist Chef Robert Irvine to prepare dinner for 12-18 people. For more information or to order tickets, call 215.968.8224 or send an email to: foundation@bucks.edu. Top _________________________________________________________ PS. Please join me in wishing all my Jewish readers a very happy, healthy Passover . . . to see what the excitement is all about, please click: http://one.revver.com/watch/193542 Also, please join me in wishing all my Christian readers an equally happy, healthy Easter . . . for a lovely rendition of "The Easter Song" from Annie Herring, please click: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ny7cyPk1DEc And don't forget to continue praying that we soon get our remaining soldiers back from Iraq and that peace resumes in Israel . . . make it a great week, too! ---------------------------------------------------------- SUBSCRIBE/UNSUBCRIBE INFORMATION If you or somebody you know wants to subscribe to BLAINESWORLD, have them drop me an e-mail to that effect . . . new readers are always welcome . . . my address is: bginbc@aol.com In the unlikely event you wish to unsubscribe, notify me at the same email address.
|
