(THANKS to Marilynne in North Carolina for graciously sharing this photo.)
 
In contrast to the aforementioned play, this event exceeded our
expectations . . .  . . . Cohen, a very young 75, was fantastic . . .but so
were the six musicians who accompanied him, as well as the three backup
singers . . . the event ran for well over two hours and then he came back
for another 45 minutes of more songs--and more standing ovations . . . we
especially got a kick out of how Cohen danced around on stage . . . it was
up there among the best concerts we've ever attended.
 
You may not know him by name, but you'll be familiar with his work . . . to see
for yourself, please click: 

http://tinyurl.com/aejusd
 
or

http://tinyurl.com/5n3n2k
 
And the for background on that song ("Suzanne"), you might want to read:

http://tinyurl.com/ycwku9s

D. CONGRATULATIONS to Monica Fly . . . she competed in the recent
Sydney World Masters Games, capturing a gold medal in synchronized
diving and a bronze in the 1-meter springboard . . . all totaled, there were
over 28,000 competitors from more than 100 countries who competed
in 28 sports . . . you have to love the competition's slogan: "Fit, Fun
and Forever Young" . . . that's Monica!

***** BLAINESWORLD BEST AWARD *****

This week, it goes to Sarah Sparboe Thornburg--the Asheville attorney
with McGuire, Wood & Bisette that we have been working with to update
our wills and other legal documents.

We have been impressed with both her friendliness and competence,
as well as the speed in which she has been able to turn things around.
She has also been able to answer our many questions with respect
to the changes we needed to make (in order to comply with North
Carolina law).

Sarah can be reached at 828.254.8800 or for more information, please
click:

http://www.mwbavl.com/attorney?id=16

In addition, I would be remiss to not mention Hayley Roper--my
Leadership Asheville classmate . . . she is also an attorney in the above
firm and the person who gave me the recommendation to contact
Sarah . . . Hayley specializes in employment and labor law . . . for more
information about her, please click:

http://www.mwbavl.com/attorney?id=26

_________________________________________________________


2. FYI

When hypnotizing clients, I always conclude with information
on self-hypnosis.

Does it work? I emphatically contend YES, but try it for yourself
by following these simple guidelines:

Self-Hypnosis

1. You need a 3X5 card or a business card, which you can easily carry
with you at all times. You are to write the suggestion you've prepared
for yourself which meets the  criteria of being Positive, Simple,
Believable, Measurable--and it should carry a Reward.  Always state
your suggestion in the present tense.

Example:

I am feeling relaxed and comfortable. With every breath, I am becoming
more relaxed and more comfortable.   

2. Sit down in a comfortable chair and choose a spot opposite you,
slightly above eye level. Hold the card in front of the spot and read the
suggestion to yourself 3 times.

3. Make sure the words on the card are believable to you and allow
yourself to imagine accomplishing what is written on the card. Use
your imagination.

4. You've written your suggestion on a card . .  .chosen your
spot . . . read the suggestion to yourself 3X . . . now, drop the card
and take your first deep breath. Exhale. Take your second deep breath.
Exhale. Now, take your third deep breath . . . hold it . . . close your
eyes . . . and count backward from 3 to 1. Exhale and go deep into
self-hypnosis.

5. Now allow the suggestion to repeat over and over in your subconscious
mind. At the same time, imagine that you are carrying out your
suggestion.

6. You'll find that at times the words start to break up and become
fragmented. That's perfectly okay. The important words or phrases
will come through to you.

7. Do this for approximately 25 times (or 2-3 minutes). You should then
feel it's time to stop and wake up. At this point, just count forward:
1 ... 2 ... 3 ... open your eyes and go about your business, feeling refreshed
and relaxed in every way.

8. Give yourself time to allow the suggestion to take hold. It can take up to 21 days
to start getting the benefits related to your suggestion.

CONSIDER:

* Using an alarm or timer to make sure you don't do Step #7 for any more
than 5 minutes.

* Doing self-hypnosis at least once a day (but not right before you go
to bed). Two times a day would be ideal.

* Posting your suggestion 3-5 places around your home and/or work;
e.g., on your bathroom mirror, on the refrigerator, car dashboard, desk, etc.

***** REMINDER *****

If you'd like to have me hypnotize you, give a holler . . . I can help you
lose your baggage without even going to the airport . . . you stop smoking,
lose weight or drop any other habit you'd like to shake . . . this can be
done in person or if you're not near Asheville, via Skype if you have
access to a webcam . . . for more information, please put HYPNOSIS
in the subject line of an email and send it to me: bginbc@aol.com.

FYI, part 2

* Natalie in Pennsylvania:

Bucks County Community College’s Student Life presents John
Smitherman on Saturday, November 14,  at 7:30 p.m. in the Gateway
Auditorium, Newtown Campus in Pennsylvania.  Tickets are $10.00 and
can be purchased online at:

http://www.bucks.edu/tickets.

For information, contact Natalie Kaye, 215.968.8015.  

John Smitherman who's being hailed as “the next Mario Lanza” was most
recently seen at the Bristol Riverside Theatre. He puts on an amazing
performance and has brought together a group of very talented musicians,
including a drummer, bassist, pianist, sax, trumpet and trombone players. 
John has performed the title roles in The Student Prince, Phantom of the
Opera, and Jekyll & Hyde and has appeared in well over 100 different roles
on both the professional opera and musical theatre stages, including such
roles as Sid in The Pajama Game, Curly in Oklahoma, Johnny Brown in
The Unsinkable Molly Brown, Tony in West Side Story, Danny Zuko in
Grease.  John will be performing songs made famous by Mario Lanza,
Perry Como, Tony Bennett, Tom Jones, etc. with music from Showboat,
South Pacific, and Phantom of the Opera.

John has assembled an outstanding group of musicians to accompany him,
including a pianist, bassist, drummer, trumpet, trombone and sax player.
He will rock the house. 

* Molly in New Jersey:
 
Southern Regional DECA Competition is looking for judges!  Jan.8th from
8:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m.. at the Crowne Plaza in Cherry Hill. 
 
1300 High School Students competing in various marketing competitions. 
Contact Mkervick@verizon.net.

* Risa in New Jersey:

Saw THIS IS IT, and it was sooooo good!

* Kimberly in North Carolina had the same opinion about this film:

We loved "This is It" and would recommend seeing it. . . . Very inspirational.
Michael Jackson was truly a gifted artist with tremendous vision, passion and
love. It inspired us to be the best we can be in all we do.

That being said, if you go, make sure you stay until the very end--after ALL
the credits have rolled since there are some good bits that many in the
audience did not see because they left as soon as the credits started to roll.

* Joe in Las Vegas:

Here's my newest article on focusing on your strengths with an animal flair.
Couldn't have done it without you!

http://tinyurl.com/yas8bqx

* Catherine in Pennsylvania also wrote an article I thought readers would
like to see:

http://tinyurl.com/ybqa7uv

* Jason in Pennsylvania:

I never thought I would get involved with a Hot Sauce website, but since
I started developing the Sweat 'N Spice site, I've enjoyed great BBQ sauces,
fresh ground spices, and of course hot sauces. See:

http://www.sweatnspice.com

for great reviews of the latest (or dare I say hottest) sauces and an extensive
list of products from the extreme to the mild. Use coupon code BW-LAUNCH-25
and save 25% on all purchases until Nov. 15th.  Warning : These seasonings
and sauces are addictively delicious. Ruth and I are addicted to the Dean
Jacob's Misquite Grill All Natural Seasoning and have it on Mexican food, eggs
and vegetables. Enjoy!

_________________________________________________________

3. It's never too late

Here's one guy who lived by the credo, “It’s never too late to make a sale,"
as evidenced by his obituary:

Dimmick, Chuck P. Passed away suddenly on April 18,2009, while
attending a NASCAR race to watch his favorite driver, Jeff Gordon.
Chuck was a loving husband and devoted father. Chuck was the director
of marketing for the Lund Cadillac group. We are sure he would want
you to know that 0.9% financing is still available on all new 2008
Hummer H2s.

_________________________________________________________

4. Reviews

A. AMELIA was a very flat biography of aviation pioneer Amelia Earhart,
the first woman to fly across the Atlantic . . . I felt very little interest
in her marriage to promoter and publishing magnate George P. Putnam,
and if you blinked, you would have missed the affair she had with
longtime friend and lover Gene Vidal . . . Hilary Swank, doing what
seemed to be a Katharine Hepburn imitation, and Richard Gere
had little chemistry as Earhart and Putnam, respectively . . . Ewan
McGregor was wasted in the Vidal role . . . only toward the end of the
film--about the attempt to take a solo flight around the world--did
the action come alive . . . rated PG.

B. MANAGEMENT is now out on DVD . . . it's a quirky romantic
comedy about a man with little ambition and lots of heart who
falls in love with a traveling saleswoman . . . you wonder about
the attraction, but somehow you'll be touched by it . . . Jennifer
Aniston is fine in one of the leading roles, yet it is Steve Zahn
(usually a sidekick) who steals the film . . . like me, you probably
missed it when in the theaters; however, MANAGEMENT
makes for a good rental . . . rated R.

C. Sometimes, I'll be attracted to a book just by its title . . . such
was the case with THE MAN WHO LOVED BOOKS TOO MUCH
by Allison Hoover Bartlett . . . the subtitle further intrigued me:
THE TRUE STORY OF A THIEF, A DETECTIVE AND A WORLD
OF LITERARY OBSESSION.

Reading it, I became enthralled with the story about John Gilkey--a
thief who stole not for money but for love--the love of books . . . equally
fascinating was how the author's account of how Ken Sanders (the
self-appointed "bibliodick") would stop at nothing to catch him.

I also liked how  Bartlett informed me about a world I knew
little about . . . one in which:

* If you collect what you love and enjoy, and always buy the
best you can afford, and buy copies in the best condition
available, your books will always prove to be a good investment.

In addition, I learned about how rare books get priced:

* Much of a book's value depends on literary fashion, and tastes
change. Supply and demand also affect value. The first printing
of Hemingway's In Our Time, for example, was very small
(1,225 copies), in contrast to the fifty-thousand-copy print run
of The Old Man and the Sea. Pricing reflects that. Further
factors include whether there's a dust jacket (if not, the value
is negligible), and if those jackets are price-clipped, worn, torn,
or soiled. Modern first editions in poor shape can be worth as little
as ten percent of a "perfect" copy.

And perhaps most interesting was a look into the mind of
the criminal himself, as when he was being interviewed about
his thought on whether what he had done was right or wrong:

* "In terms of a percentage basis," he said, "it's not like I'm
one hundred percent wrong. I'd say it's more like sixty
percent wrong and forty percent right. I mean, sure, that's
their business, book dealers, but they should make books
more accessible to people that like them."

Seeming to anticipate my reaction to this, he added, "That's
the kind of warped thinking I have." But just as quickly, he
returned to his self-centered logic. "I mean, how am I
supposed to build my collection unless I'm like, this multimillionaire?"

THE MAN WHO LOVED BOOKS TOO MUCH might not
motivate you to become a collector, but it will certainly
give you a deeper appreciation for that particular hobby.

D. Do you suffer from minglephobia, a secret terror of large parties?

If so, then THE ART OF MINGLING--written and read by Jeanne
Martinet--is the book for you . . . you'll learn dozens of field-tested
tricks, tips and lines and maneuvers that will help you in any
size gathering.

I thought I knew a good deal about the subject, but even I
was reminded of some useful things from listening to the CD
version, including these tidbits:

* Your primary goal at any gathering should be enjoyment.

* Pretend to be happy wherever you are. An amazing thing will
happen. You will actually feel that way.

*  Practice your mingling skills on the socially challenged; e.g., a party
misfit who appears lost.

* A good question that works as an opening line: How'd you get
here? (Ask with a smile.)

* Never, never use: What do you do for a living? It could be a real
dead end.

* Offer to help others get food and drink.

* You never have to mingle with a drunk unless you want to. To remove
yourself a simple "excuse me" is fine.

* Avoid political discussions. You're not there to solve the world's problems.

Only one thing bothered me about Martine's book--her belief that it's OK
to lie . . . I think that such a practice should be avoided, if at all possible.

_________________________________________________________

5. TV alert

A. In BROKE AND FAMOUS: WILLIE AMES, the former child star
(EIGHT IS ENOUGH) works toward getting his house out of foreclosure
and his electricity back on by working with financial planner and life coach
Sarano Kelley . . . Thursday at 10 p.m. on VH1.

B. BY THE PEOPLE: THE ELECTION OF BARACK OBAMA documents
Obama's historic rise to become the first African American president
of the United States, examining American politics and culture through
the prism of his candidacy . . . Friday at 6 p.m. . . for other times during
the week and in the future, please click:

C. ANN RULE'S TOO LATE TO SAY GOODBYE stars Rob Low
in the true story of a marriage gone deadly wrong . . . I read the
book, and if it's anywhere near as good, the movie should be
riveting . . . Saturday at 8 p.m. on LIFETIME MOVIE NETWORK.

http://tinyurl.com/ygn5fdr

D. THE WANDA SYKES SHOW debuts on Saturday at 11 p.m. on
FOX . . . panelists play off the week's news stories on a lounge-type
set with a bar . . . here's a sample joke from a test show: "This
is my home away from home. But just don't tell my wife about it
because right now, she thinks I'm out in the garage putting
together a high chair." 

_________________________________________________________

6. Quick thinking

A man boarded a plane with six kids. After they got
settled in their seats, a woman sitting across the
aisle from him leaned over to him and asked,   "Are
all of those kids yours?"

He replied, "No. I work for a condom company. These
are customer complaints."

_________________________________________________________

7. Websites

A. To find out what's great and not so great about your area,
please click:

http://www.yelp.com

You'll find real reviews by real people, many quite informative.

NOTE:

Above might take you to San Francisco or some other city, but when the
website loads, just type-in whatever area you want to learn more about it.

I did this for Asheville and naturally found some favorable reviews for the

chocolate and ice cream at Kilwin's:

http://www.yelp.com/biz/kilwins-asheville

B. If you've ever had a colonoscopy or know somebody who has
one, you'll get a kick out of clicking:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QI1go72c5H8

Make sure you have your sound on!

C. BLAINESWORLD, the website, remains up and running . . . to view
it, please click:

http://www.blainesworld.net

By the way, you're not the only person viewing this website . . . in
fact, check the counter at the bottom left of the homepage determine
just how many others have viewed it.

_________________________________________________________

8. Computer tip

Be EXTREMELY WARY of any mail that begins: Did you get my
invite? . . . this warning applies even if you know the person who
it seemingly comes from . . . I recently got a bunch of such
email, all inviting me to be a friend with somebody who is registered
with a firm called Desktop Dating . . . in each instance, I checked
with the person the invite came from--and not once did the person
give approval for Desktop Dating to send out such an email.

Checking further, I found out that the above is a scam . . . for
more information, please click:

 

http://tinyurl.com/ylz7za9

What apparently happens: Once Desktop Dating gets you to register,
your address book gets "captured" and everybody in it gets sent
bogus invites to join . . . another company that sends out similar spam
is My Yearbook.

_________________________________________________________

9. Saving the economy

You've read much about the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
of 2009 . . . but do you understand this very exciting program? If not,
I'll explain it to you:

Q. What is an Economic Stimulus payment?
A. It is money that the federal government has or will give back
to taxpayers; e.g., via tax cuts in 2009.

Q. Where will the government get this money?
A. From taxpayers.

Q. So the government is giving me back my own money?
A. Only a smidgen.

Q. What is the purpose of this payment?
A.  The plan is for you to use the money to purchase a high-definition TV 
set, thus stimulating the economy.

Q. But isn't that stimulating the economy of China?
A. Shut up.

Below is some helpful advice on how to best help the U.S. economy by
spending your stimulus check wisely:       

*  If you spend the stimulus money at Wal-Mart, the money will go 
to China or Sri Lanka
         
*  If you spend it on gasoline, your money will go to the Arabs.

*  If you purchase a computer, it will go to India, Taiwan or China.  

*  If you purchase fruit and vegetables, it will go to Mexico, Honduras
and Guatemala .

*  If you buy an efficient  car, it will go to Japan or Korea.   

*  If  you purchase useless stuff, it will go to Taiwan. 

*  If you pay your credit cards off, or buy stock, it will go to management
bonuses and they will hide it offshore.

Instead, keep the money in America by:

1. Spending it at yard sales or 
     
2. Going to ball games or
  
3. Sending it on prostitutes or
    
4. Beer or    

5. Tattoos.

(These are the only American businesses still operating in this country.)

Conclusion:

Go to a ball game with a tattooed prostitute who you met at a yard sale
and drink beer all day.

_________________________________________________________

10. A quote I like

There is only one corner of the universe you can be certain of improving,
and that's your own self.--Aldous Huxley (1864-1963), English novelist 

_________________________________________________________

11. Thought for the day

It's OK to quit
by Veraunda Jackson*

1. Quit arguing with people about the same old foolishness! Respect
their position and keep it moving!

2. Quit telling people your secrets when you know they are not going
to keep them! And if you keep telling them, then quit getting mad when
they tell your secrets!

3. Quit trying to pull people on your journey who don't want to travel with
you. Either they believe in you and value you . . . or they don't!

4. Quit complaining about things you can't and won't change!

5. Quit gossiping about other people! Minding our own business should
be a full-time job!

6. Quit blaming each other for things that in the big picture aren't going
to matter three weeks from now! Talk solutions . . . and then implement
them!

7. Quit eating things you know are not good for you! If you can't quit . . . eat
smaller portions!

8. Quit buying things when we know we can't afford them! If you don't have
self-control, then quit going to the stores! Quit charging things, especially
when you don't NEED them!

9. Quit staying in unhealthy relationships! It is not okay for people to verbally
or physically abuse you! So quit lying to yourself! It is not okay to stay in the
marriage for the children! Ask them and they will tell you that they really
would prefer to see you happy and that the misery you and your
spouse/partner are living with is affecting them!

10. Quit letting family members rope you into the drama! Start telling them
you don't want to hear it! Quit spreading the drama! Quit calling other
relatives and telling them about your cousin or aunt! Go back to
#5  . .  . minding your own business should be enough to keep you busy!

11. Quit trying to change people! IT DOESN'T WORK! Quit cussing people
out when you know that they are just being the miserable and jealous people
that they are!

12. Quit the job you hate! Start pursuing your passion. Find the job that
fuels your passion BEFORE you quit!

13. Quit volunteering for things that you aren't getting any personal fulfillment
from anymore! Quit volunteering for things and then failing to follow through
with your commitment!

14. Quit listening to the naysayers! Quit watching the depressing news if
you are going to live in the doom and gloom of it all!

15. Quit making excuses about why you are where you are or why you can't
do what you want to do!

16. Quit waiting on others to give you the answers . . . and start finding the
answers for yourself! If what you are doing isn't working for you . . . then
quit it!

17. Quit settling and start making your dreams a reality! Quit being afraid
and START LIVING YOUR LIFE! CREATE THE LIFE YOU WANT! If you
want something different than what you have had in the past . . . you must
quit doing what you have done before and DO something different! JUST
QUIT IT . . . and START DOING something to create the experience
you want!

* Reprinted with the gracious permission of Veraunda I. Jackson,
Esquire . . . she is a motivational speaker and author . . . you may
visit her website at:

 

http://www.ehapinc.com 

_________________________________________________________

12. Advance planning department

* Triplets are back! Catch us at the Temperance House, 5 S. State St.,
Newtown, PA, on Friday, November 6 from 6:00-7:30 p.m.--just in time
for Happy Hour! Rock and Roll!

* Laugh with Mr. Rubberface and others . . . one click will find your
funny-bone in any of the Delaware Valley Comedy Clubs:

 

http://www.comedycabaret.com/main.html#showtimes

* Forum on Afghanistan in Swarthmore, PA

Delaware County Wage Peace and Justice, CFPA's affiliate in Delaware
County, PA, is holding an excellent Forum on Afghanistan: Which Way Out?
on Sunday afternoon, November 8. After a screening of Robert Greenwald's

documentary Rethink Afghanistan, there will be a panel that includes David
Wildman of the Board of Global Ministries of the United Methodist Church
and Peter Lems of the American Friends Service Committee, both of whom
have traveled to Afghanistan repeatedly; and Joanna Nathan, Former Senior
Analyst for the International Crisis Group in Kabul (2005-2009). Free and
open to the public. Click for more details:

http://tinyurl.com/yhyq6na

* Princeton Center for Yoga & Health presents a different kind of sex
education

Yoga & Sex
Saturday, 11/7, 6-9 p.m. with Kristin Boccummi
Discover how yoga enhances sex on mental, emotional, physical, and
spiritual levels and the importance of overall sexual health. Learn about
philosophy and lovers in Hindu mythology, how yoga can enhance
sensuality and sexual experiences, enjoy a yoga practice of asanas
with benefits for sex, an introduction to tantric yoga and explanation
of the Karma Sutra. 

 

Hatha Yoga & the Power of Sexual Energy
Sunday, 11/7, 3:15-5:45 p.m. with Andrew Reece
Explore the concept of sexual energy as an important gift to your Hatha
Yoga practice, and learn how to use it as a storehouse for energizing heart,
mind, body and spirit.

For more information, call609.924.7294 or click:

http://tinyurl.com/ya2odek

_________________________________________________________

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!

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