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BLAINESWORLD
#678
9.28.2009 In this issue: 1. Reflections 2. FYI 3. Ouch! 4. Reviews . . . BRIGHT STAR, etc. 5. TV alert 6. Penguins 7. Websites 8. Computer tip 9. Love story (a touching one from New Jersey) 10. A quote I like 11. Thought for the day 12. Advance planning department _________________________________________________________ 1. Reflections A. Cynthia (see also Section 12C), my beautiful bride, and I had fun celebrating our next-door neighbor Conor's seventh birthday . . . . we invited a bunch of other neighbors over and all enjoyed a delicious ice cream cake from Cold Stone Creamery . . see below for a picture of the birthday boy in the middle, along with his friend Chase:  B. Even as I write this, I'm still shaking my head over how fine life in Asheville continues to be for us both . . . we've just never lived before in an environment where there are so many friendly people . . . or that there was so much to do . . . as was the case on Saturday when we woke up to a pouring rain . . . so when the Fall Fling that was going to be held in our community got canceled, we just switched gears to head downtown for a day that included: * Massages at The Cosmic Groove . . . this is one of our many favorite activities to do; i.e., get a massage . . . prices at this place are very reasonable (starting at $29/session and $37 for the next one with packages available), and to date, we've never had a bad massage from any of the several therapists they have on staff . . . for more information, please click: http://www.thecosmicgroove.com/
* Dinner at Kubo's, a Japanese Fusion restaurant . . . my chicken teriyaki was perfect . . . Cynthia was a bit disappointed with her tofu and vegetable order, in that there was too much of the former and not enough of the latter . . . Nicole, our server, was both efficient and friendly . . . we'll definitely return . . . for more information, please click: http://kubosjapanese-asheville.com/ * We then went across the street to the Fine Arts Theater to see BRIGHT STAR (see also Section 4A) . . . what made the film memorable for us was the fact that it co-starred Asheville native Paul Schneider, who was there to introduce it . . . we got a kick hearing the applause that broke out several times when he was on screen . . . afterward, he stayed around for a very interesting Q-and-A session . . . he noted that "I can relate to the guy [his character, a friend of the poet John Keats] being next to the guy, sort of like Salieri was to Mozart." . . . . and in commenting on Jane Campion's excellent direction, he said she told him, "I don't know if you think you can do it, but I think you can." In general, we like this theater because of its reasonable prices . . . it is also the home for most of the art and independent films that we see . . . lastly, Cynthia told me that she even helped put up the marquee sign for the current films . . . when walking one day, she saw the guy putting up the letters . . . she asked if she could put up one, and he said "sure" . . .so she was given the long rod and actually put up an "E" . . . now that's a picture I would have liked to have been able to take . . . for more information, please click: http://www.fineartstheatre.com/ * And as you might expect, our evening concluded with some ice cream . . . we rushed to the only place that was still open, The Hop, and an employee was nice enough to let us in though we arrived a few minutes after the closing time . . . as is always the case, we liked the ice cream there . . . it is always creamy, and there are lots of flavors--some of them a bit unusual (including salty caramel, my favorite) . . . for more information, please click: http://thehopicecreamcafe.com/ Hey, I know . . . it's a tough life . . . but somebody has to live it, and it might as well be us! C. Professionally, I started Leadership Asheville . . . this is an organization that offers programs and initiatives designed to strengthen the region . . . I'm looking forward to working with the other 38 folks in my Class of 2010 . . . for more information, please click: http://www.leadershipasheville.org/ To get us going, there was an exciting two-day orientation . . . we learned: * How the Internet can be used as a community leadership pool from Sarah Benoit with Creative Original Online Marketing; * About the history of Asheville from Dr. Dan Pierce, History Department Chair at UNC Asheville; * How to speak clearly from Rick Fornoff with Message Clarity; and * About inclusive leadership from Patti Digh with The Circle Project. All the sessions were excellent . . . however, I'll remember the last one because of the several group exercises that Patti conducted . . . one had us partnering with somebody to plan an upcoming party . . . whatever the person said, we were first to say the words "yes, but" . . . you can probably imagine the result--not much enthusiasm . . . yet after a brief pause, we then changed the words to "yes, and" . . . this time, the room came alive with excitement! For more information about Patti's work, please click: http://www.pattidigh.com/ D. CONGRATULATIONS to Leslie Niven and James Lang on their recent engagement . . . they're slated to be married sometime next fall. ***** BLAINESWORLD BEST AWARD ***** This week it goes to the entire office staff at the Biltmore Lake Association--the group that manages the community where we live. Pam Phillips is the Community Manager . . . she has the often thankless task of making sure that everything runs smoothly . . . it somehow does . .. David Berry, Recreation Director, is the person with overall responsibility for the many social, hiking and waterfront activities that take place . . . he deserves special recognition for all that he has done recently, given that he also just got married (best to you on that, David!) . . . and Kerry Arzberger, Community Administrator, is the newest member of the team . . . she has jumped right into things and her enthusiastic, helpful nature has already begun making a difference for me and the others that she has already assisted. Consequently, in large part because of these three fine individuals, I was not surprised when I heard the news that Biltmore Lake has recently been named 2009 Community of the Year (Large, Mixed Use Community) in North Carolina! Back to Top _________________________________________________________ 2. FYI Want to eat and live like a thin person? Then follow these principles from THIN WTHIN (see also Sections 4C, 10 and 11) by Judy Wardell: Rub both hands on the entire area of your abdomen and stomach. Okay? On a scale of 0 to 10 being empty, 5 being comfortable, and 10 being stuffed, at what level of hunger is your body right now? Write down that number . . . And on a scale from 0 to 10, 0 being unpleasant, 5 just okay, and 10 feeling terrific, how do your feel right now? Write down that number . . . Do you notice any relationship between your level of hunger and of your being? All right--good work! The Hunger Scale Tool The information you derived from doing the preceding exercise regarding the degree of hunger you experience can conveniently be illustrated by the following, which we call the Hunger Scale: Stuffed: 10 Comfortable: 5 Empty: 0 Remember that 0 is empty, 5 is comfortable, and 10 is stuffed . . . you know, Thanksgiving stuffed-aching-belly-have-to-lie- down-on-the-sofa-can't-eat-another-bite-or-it-will-ooze-out-stuffed. At Thin Within when we say that we eat only when we're hungry and stop before we're comfortable, we mean 0 to 5 eating. We feel there's no such thing as "I'm just a little bit hungry." You're either at a 0 or you're not. And if you're not, don't eat. . . . If you eat 0 to 5 or less, you will lose the weight you targeted on Day 3. . . . If you start eating when you're at a 3 and eat to a 7, then you'll stay overweight. . . . And obviously if you eat from 5 to 10, you'll gain more weight. FYI, part 2 * Lorraine in New Jersey sent the SBDC's free newsletter that now features videos . . . this week the emphasis is on overcoming objectives . . . to see it for yourself, please click: http://tinyurl.com/ybzwgd5
* Pat in Pennsylvania (WITH A QUESTION): A recent ad to my Ipod was "Make Your Own Kind of Music" by the Mamas and Papas. The kind of song you can sing out loud when you are driving in the car alone. Ha! And it's amazing how you don't forget the words to certain older songs.. Amazing how when some of those old songs come on you know the words almost automatically. Incredible how the words and harmony comes back. Wow! Aside from still having a good memory, maybe there is some formal term for that? * Ward in Pennsylvania: What do all the following words have in common: alcohol, zenith, zephyr, nadir, algebra, zero and azimuth? Answer: They and many others we use are all of Arabic derivation. * Harvey in Pennsylvania: Think you're creative? Figure out how to balance a raw egg so it stands vertically on its broad end. Answer: There's an easy way and a hard way. First the easy way: Put a small amount of sugar on a hard stable surface and carefully place the egg broad side down on the sugar. Slightly rotate the egg to align with the crystals. Carefully position the egg so you can "feel'' the balancing point. Then, while gently holding the narrow side down, carefully blow away the excess sugar. Result: Egg standing vertically with no apparent means of support. Now the hard way: Grasp the egg firmly (not too firmly), and bring it up over your head. Come down vigorously and come to a full stop. Do this 6-12 times. There are two ligaments in an egg holding the yolk in suspension. The lift and full stop breaks the upper ligament within the egg allowing the yolk to settle. Now the egg can be balanced vertically but this still takes a lot of patience. It may not work with every egg. Simply try with a few more. Good for a party trick. Have fun. * Dan in North Carolina: This is good advice, especially with respect to checking emails: http://tinyurl.com/yafdoyx Movies seemed to be on the mind of several readers this past week. * Kelly in North Carolina: I really liked COLD SOULS. Paul Giamatti is a wonderful actor to behold in that role. It's an existential sci-fi comedy and right up my alley. * Jim in Pennsylvania: Just got back from seeing movie Fame. Awesome talent there! Left dancing out of the theatre. MY TWO CENTS: I haven't' seen it . . . or at least not yet . . . to tide me over, though (and you too), please click below for the theme song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mx-vI1j9plM * Kevin in Pennsylvania: Walked out of THE INFORMANT . . . poorly written, acted, scored and filmed. Got my money back though . . . hooray for Regal Theaters! Much better is NPR interview of the real people the movie is about: http://www.thisamericanlife.org/Radio_Episode.aspx?episode=168 GREAT MINDS THINKING ALIKE: I also walked out on this film . . . my only regret is that I saw Kevin's email after I had done so. * Natalie in Pennsylvania: Saw a great movie we rented from Netflix called SOMETHING THE LORD MADE. It's based on a true story and was deeply moving, I know it’s your kind of movie. We also saw LILLIES OF THE FIELD, which I had never seen. I loved it. Just can't get enough of Sidney Poitier. CORRECTION: Last week, some of you may have received the newsletter with a name that I butchered . . . Section 4A should have referred to the new film from Tyler Perry (NOT Petty, as I inadvertently typed) . . . that serves me right for listening to Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers when I should have been concentrating . . . THANKS to Jean in Pennsylvania for bringing this to my attention. Back to Top _________________________________________________________ 3. Ouch! My doctor swore that my colonoscopy would be painless, but the nurse made it seem otherwise. “The lab,” she said, “will call to set a date for your screaming.” Back to Top _________________________________________________________ 4. Reviews A. BRIGHT STAR (see also Section 1B) is a period drama set in London, 1818 about the love affair between John Keats, a 23-year old English poet, and the girl next door . . . their relationship soon became complicated by the fact that Keats had no money, and that's the part of the movie I liked best; i.e., how it portrayed the life poets had to endure then--and now, too . . . Ben Whishaw is excellent in the main role, and Abbie Cornish shines as his neighbor Fanny Brawne . . . Paul Schneider steals almost every scene he's in as Brown, the best friend, who has a deep attraction for both the Whishaw and Cornish characters . . . the film is a bit slow-moving at times, but stick with it . . . rated PG, though methinks that those under 13 would prefer seeing something else. POETRY CORNER: I don't typically run poems in this missive, but the preceding movie got me wanting to revisit . . . Bright Star by John Keats Bright star, would I were stedfast as thou art-- Not in lone splendour hung aloft the night And watching, with eternal lids apart, Like nature's patient, sleepless Eremite, The moving waters at their priestlike task Of pure ablution round earth's human shores, Or gazing on the new soft-fallen mask Of snow upon the mountains and the moors-- No--yet still stedfast, still unchangeable, Pillow'd upon my fair love's ripening breast, To feel for ever its soft fall and swell, Awake for ever in a sweet unrest, Still, still to hear her tender-taken breath, And so live ever--or else swoon to death. For more information about Keats and an analysis of this poem, please click: http://academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu/english/melani/cs6/star.html B. AWAY WE GO is now out in DVD format . . . my review from BLAINESWORLD #666 follows: Enjoyed AWAY WE GO, a sweet and quirky film about an expectant couple who travel the country in search of the perfect place to eventually live . . . along the way, they reconnect with an assortment of friends and relatives who help them discover what is important in life . . . there's some great dialogue, along with two winning performances from John Krasinski and Maya Rudolph . . . the soundtrack--featuring the music of Alexi Murdoch--is outstanding . . . rated R. C. Imagine achieving permanent weight loss without dieting, calorie counting, special exercises, pills or gimmicks . . . that's the premise behind THIN WITHIN (see also Sections 2, 10 and 11) by Judy Wardell, a book that has helped many folks--including my wife Cynthia. You'll learn (to use the author's subtitle) HOW TO EAT AND LIVE LIKE A THIN PERSON . . . the ideas are presented in 30 short chapters that can easily be read within a month, and I liked the accompanying exercises that are given for each day. Nothing on the surface is particularly profound . . . however, the author presents them in ways that make such common sense that you'll wonder why you never thought about them before . . . for example: * Eat only when my body is hungry. This is the fundamental key to weight mastery. We eat only when we're hungry. We feel there's no such thing as a little bit, or kinda hungry. We either are or aren't. When in doubt, don't eat. At Thin Within we pay attention to our body's messages. They can be trusted. And if we eat only when we're hungry, we'll lose weight and we'll feel good. * Eat only when I'm sitting. There is no joy in eating on the run. Such eating is not very satisfying and it encourages picking. It's interesting how when you eat on the run, the mind erases the meal but the body doesn't. If you sit down at the table every time you eat, you will naturally slow down and pay more attention to your food, which is precisely the point. It is an invitation to conscious eating. And then there was this tidbit that I especially liked: * Pay attention only to my food while eating. When you're eating alone that will be easy to do. However, when you're with another person, it might seem difficult to pay attention only to your food. When eating with others spend about thirty seconds focused on your food, then put your fork down and focus your attention on the other person and the conversation. I have noticed that I cheat the person I'm with if I eat while conversing, and I deprive myself of the pleasure of my food if I talk while eating. So alternate eating and talking. This will allow you to receive optimum pleasure from the food and your relationships. In addition, I appreciated how the approach set forth in THIN WITHIN can and should be used in all aspects of our lives . . . as Wardell notes: * Examine and question all parts of your life, since you deserve pleasers everywhere. Is your home a teaser? Your car? Your job? Your relationship? How can you change a teaser into a pleaser? . . . Some people are afraid to have a perfect life because they believe that such happiness is always followed by some sort of disaster. This kind of thinking isn't supportive; it is living in the past. UPDATE: I read an original edition of THIN WITHIN that was written in 1984 . . . sometime after, the author and her husband, Dr. Arthur Halliday, wrote SILENT HUNGER . . . this expanded the proven weight management program and brought God into the picture . . . this book, since republished as THIN AGAIN, emphasizes how the Holy Spirit empowers the individual with God's transforming love and grace to live as a naturally thin person. In 2002, a new and revised THIN WITHIN was reissued . . . around the same time, a national non-diet faith based weight loss and wellness program was launched with individual lesson materials and a national network of support groups . . . for more information, please click http://www.thinwithin.org/ If religion is NOT your thing, see if you can get the 1984 hardcover or 1985 paperback edition of this book online . . . however, if you can't, get the 2002 edition and feel free to gloss Biblical references . . . you'll still find it extremely worthwhile. D. Heard THE GINGERBREAD GIRL, a novella by Stephen King . . . it's the story of a heartbroken mother whose baby has suddenly died . . . she takes up running to escape her depression and eventually runs away from her husband to a deserted spot in Florida . . . there she discovers a secret about one of her neighbors that's he's willing to kill to protect. The first half of this two-hour tale had me hooked . . . I actually cared for Emily and wanted to see what would happen to her as the suspense built . . . however, the second half disappointed me . . . I felt nothing for the villain; there just wasn't enough written about him to get into his character . . . and the violent ending was just too predictable. Yet that said, Mare Winningham's excellent job of narration kept me interested throughout . . . in fact, I just put her name down as somebody I'd like to listen to in the future--reading some other author. Back to Top _________________________________________________________ 5. TV alert A. NATIONAL PARKS; US'S BEST IDEA is a five-part series directed by Ken Burns . . . tonight's episode, "The Last Refuge (1890-1915)," focuses on the time when many Americans feared industrialization would negatively impact the country's pristine ideas . . . Monday at 8 p.m.; repeated at 10:30 p.m. . . . PBS times and dates often vary, so check local listings or please click: http://www.pbs.org/tvschedules/ The above is episode two . . to see episode one, please click: http://video.pbs.org/video/1258704633/program/1072181584 B. THE MIDDLE begins Wednesday at 8:30 p.m. on ABC . . . this comedy stars Patricia Heaton and Chris Kattan; it's about a woman car salesperson whose married with three children . . . when her youngest complains that the pancake is still frozen, she tells him, "Well, lick it. It'll last longer." According to THE WALL STREET JOURNAL: What makes this a standout family show is not the absence of dirty words. Who needs those when there's an abundance of eccentric humor and bright writing? C. MAN v FOOD has a special baseball episode, featuring visits to three baseball stadiums where the food is among the most unique and delicious in the country . . . one that I'll have to see: a stadium in Illinois where they serve a juicy bacon cheeseburger on a Krispy Kreme bun . . . Wednesday at 10 p.m. on TRAVEL. D. I've watched the JAY LENO SHOW, off and on, for its first few weeks . . . there were some interesting guests and a few funny bits . . . but after a promising beginning, it seems to have settled into a familiar routine that very closely resembles the previous version . . . weeknights, 10-11 p.m., on NBC. Back to Top _________________________________________________________ 6. Penguins Did you ever wonder why there are no dead penguins on the ice in Antarctica? And, if so, where did they go? Wonder no more! It is a known fact that the penguin is a very ritualistic bird, which lives an extremely ordered and complex life. The penguin is very committed to its family and will mate for life, as well as maintain a form of compassionate contact with all offspring throughout its life. If a penguin is found dead on the ice surface, other members of the family and social circle have been known to dig holes in the ice, using their vestigial wings and beaks, until the hole is deep enough for the dead bird to be rolled into and buried. The male penguins then gather in a circle around the fresh grave and sing: "Freeeeze a jolly good fellow." (Then they kick him in the ice hole!) Back to Top _________________________________________________________ 7. Websites A. THANKS to Bob in Pennsylvania for sharing this website for book junkies: http://www.goodreads.com My older daughter, Sara, turned me on to it, and I keep all my book reading in order there. It's good as a social networking site as well, if that's your interest (not mine, particularly), but it's also a nice way to keep tabs on what your friends are reading, and what books are around in the various categories that appeal to you. B. Is it possible to double your pleasure while dancing? This guy certainly seemed to think so; see for yourself by clicking: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEli2rrrJwI Make sure you have your sound on and whatever you do, make sure you stay with this clip past the first minute. C. BLAINESWORLD, the website, remains up and running . . . to view it, please click: http://www.blainesworld.net For those who missed my recent seminar, at which I discussed my Four-mula 4 Success, you can read about by moving your cursor to the left of the homepage to "Consulting" and then "Article Samples" . . . choose the first one, "How to increase your business by 10 percent or more," and you'll learn about some of the ideas that I shared. Back to Top _________________________________________________________ 8. Computer tip If you get an email and want to save it on your hard drive, all you need to do is go to File, then Save As . . . give it any title you want and after you click once, you now have the file where you can retrieve it easily. Back to Top _________________________________________________________ 9. Love story (a touching one from New Jersey) A young woman in Wildwood, New Jersey was so depressed that she decided to end her life by throwing herself into the Atlantic Ocean. She went down to Morey's Pier and was about to leap into the frigid water when a handsome young sailor saw her tottering on the edge of the pier, crying. He took pity on her and said, "Look, you have so much to live for. I'm off to Hawaii in the morning, and if you like, I can stow you away on my ship. I will take good care of you and bring you food every day." Moving closer, he slipped his arm around her shoulder and added, 'I'll keep you happy, and you'll keep me happy." The girl nodded yes. After all, what did she have to lose? Perhaps a fresh start in Hawaii would give her life new meaning. That night, in the darkness, the sailor brought her aboard and hid her in a life boat. From then on, every night he brought her three sandwiches and some fruit, and they made passionate love until dawn. Three weeks later, during a routine inspection, she was discovered by the Captain. "What are you doing here?" the Captain asked. "I have an arrangement with one of the sailors," she explained. "get food and a trip to Hawaii and in return, he's screwing me." "He certainly is," the Captain said. "This is the Cape May Ferry!" Back to Top _________________________________________________________ 10. A quote I like Take this book [or any book] and set it on a table or the floor. Don't touch it. Now, try to pick it up. No, no, no . . . don't pick it up. If you pick it up, you're actually doing it and no longer "trying"--just try to pick it up. No, no, no . . . now you're not picking it up at all. You see, there is not such thing as "trying." You either do it or you don't. SOURCE: THIN WITHIN (see also Sections 4C, 10 and 11) by Judy Wardell And that above reminds me to extend the following . . . ***** SPECIAL OFFER ***** I'll personally help you lose your baggage without even going to the airport; i.e., I'll hypnotize you if you want to lose weight, quit smoking, etc. . . you need to be serious about this, and you must commit to working with me over three sessions . . . it is obviously best if you're in the Asheville area . . . if that be the case, send me an email with the words SPECIAL OFFER in subject line . . . if you're not local to me but in NJ or Bucks County, PA, send me the same email, and I'll see if we can schedule something when I'm next up North. Back to Top _________________________________________________________ 11. Thought for the day When I REALLY like a book, you can tell by the fact that I mention it in four different spots in BLAINESWORLD . . . that's exactly the case with Judy Wardell's THIN WITHIN (see also Sections 2, 4C and 10), the source for the following passage: Once, there was a poor man walking sadly along a road, and a very rich man came up to him and handed him a golden nugget. The rich man told him that the nugget would make him very rich. The poor man went home and, indeed, became very rich. A few years later as he was walking along the road, he saw a poor man and gave him the nugget. This poor man immediately rushed off and had the nugget appraised. And do you know what he discovered? The nugget was only painted brass. He remained a poor man. The moral of the story is that he who believes himself to be rich is rich. This story is a wonderful illustration of how an affirmation works, and it also demonstrates the Thin Within principle of Belief (leading to) Action (leading to) Result. Back to Top _________________________________________________________ 12. Advance planning department A. Save $10 on tickets this Friday, October 2, at the Comedy Cabaret's new location in South Jersey by clicking: http://www.comedycabaret.com/newjersey.html If you'd like to see the Comedy Club Entertainer of the Year and/or read about other news, please click http://www.comedycabaret.com/news.html B. Charlotte Schatz invites you to her studio: 1627 N 2nd Street, Philadelphia, as part of POST-Philadelphia Open Studios Tour (East of Broad St) . . . Saturday and Sunday, October 3rd and 4th from 12-6 p.m. . . . for more information, please click: http://www.charlotteschatz.com/ C. Cynthia (see also Section 1A) will be conducting a JourneyDance session in the Asheville area that's open to ALL for free . . . so here's hope "y'all" can join her . . . it will take place on Sunday, October 11, at 1 p.m. at Congregation Beth HaTephila in Asheville . . . both dancers and non-dancers are invite to join in on the fun; guys are welcome, too . . . for more information or to reserve a spot, please send an email to bginbc@aol.com and put OCTOBER 11 in subject line. D. THE PRODUCERS open at Mercer County Community College's Kelsey Theatre in November . . . plan to be there, if just to catch Betsy Sell in the orchestra and Lou Woodruff conducting . . . for more information, please click: http://www.mccc.edu/kelseytheatre/producers.shtml _________________________________________________________ PS. Please join me in praying that we soon get our remaining soldiers back from Iraq and Afghanistan and, also, that peace comes to Israel and her neighbors. . . make it a great week, too! ---------------------------------------------------------- SUBSCRIBE/UNSUBCRIBE INFORMATION To subscribe to this publication, please send an email to: bginbc@aol.com and put SUBSCRIBE in subject line . . . if you wish to unsubscribe, just send an email to same address and put UNSUBSCRIBE in subject line. |
