This morning, I received one of those chain mail messages from a friend. Typically I delete chain mail messages. This one though, I like enough to post because it has a good message regardless of religion.
May today be all you need it to be. May the Peace of God and the freshness of the Holy Spirit rest in your thoughts, rule in your dreams tonight, and conquer all your fears. May God manifest himself today in ways you have never experienced. May your joys be fulfilled, your dreams be closer, and your prayers be answered. I pray that faith enters a new height for you; I pray that your territory is enlarged. I pray for peace, healing, health, happiness, prosperity, joy, true and undying love for God.
Why I like it: Basically the message is about making the most out of your day. Life is short.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Why I love the Olympics
I am sorry to see the Olypmics some to a close but what a joyful ride it has been!
What I love most about the Olympics is - it is a time we can forget aboout the failing economy, the increasing joblessness, the overburdened healthcare system, oil prices, the presidential race and all that other downward spiral current event news that we are blasted with day in and day out. The Olypmics replace that junk food for the mind with nurtition for the soul. Inspiring stories, triumphs, defeats, sportmans like behavior , beating the odds, making the odds, surpassing the odds. Gosh - if you can't get inspired to be a better person after the Olympics - then that's a problem!
Ever since I was a little girl, I have loved the Olympics. Some games I have been able to immerse myself more than others. Althletes like Olga Korbut, Nadia Comeneci, oh who was the Italian skier that was so cute about half a lifetime ago? and the U.S. hockey team in all there glory wrapped in the American flag with the one guy asking "where's my father?" or the American speed skater with thigh like tree trunks....they were all amazing individuals with great character.
By the way, it is so nice to see the US Basketball Team demonstrate sportsmanship rather than displaying bad attitudes of (hopefully) the past. Hats off to Michael Phelps for being a champion and a humble one at that, to Liuken who accepted her silver medal with dignity and to the 41 year old swimmer who missed her gold but showed the world she is a champion.
Shortly after the opening ceremonies, I was on tech support to India for nearly 2 hours. To pass the time, I asked the operator what he liked best about the opening ceremony. For him, it was the awesome show of pagentry. For me, it was the Walk of Nations. Watching each country march by, to see how many countries there are that make up this world - and every 4 years I am amazed to hear countries announced that I have never heard of or know very little about. To see the uniforms, observe how many are on the team, see how they interact, I find this fascinating. This was more enjoyable than watching the awesome display of unified movement in the drummers - which to me - was awesome in it's miliary precision. If anyone noticed the drummers were wearing gold army boots. An interesting message.
Hats of to the the athletes for pursuing their dream with gusto.
What I love most about the Olympics is - it is a time we can forget aboout the failing economy, the increasing joblessness, the overburdened healthcare system, oil prices, the presidential race and all that other downward spiral current event news that we are blasted with day in and day out. The Olypmics replace that junk food for the mind with nurtition for the soul. Inspiring stories, triumphs, defeats, sportmans like behavior , beating the odds, making the odds, surpassing the odds. Gosh - if you can't get inspired to be a better person after the Olympics - then that's a problem!
Ever since I was a little girl, I have loved the Olympics. Some games I have been able to immerse myself more than others. Althletes like Olga Korbut, Nadia Comeneci, oh who was the Italian skier that was so cute about half a lifetime ago? and the U.S. hockey team in all there glory wrapped in the American flag with the one guy asking "where's my father?" or the American speed skater with thigh like tree trunks....they were all amazing individuals with great character.
By the way, it is so nice to see the US Basketball Team demonstrate sportsmanship rather than displaying bad attitudes of (hopefully) the past. Hats off to Michael Phelps for being a champion and a humble one at that, to Liuken who accepted her silver medal with dignity and to the 41 year old swimmer who missed her gold but showed the world she is a champion.
Shortly after the opening ceremonies, I was on tech support to India for nearly 2 hours. To pass the time, I asked the operator what he liked best about the opening ceremony. For him, it was the awesome show of pagentry. For me, it was the Walk of Nations. Watching each country march by, to see how many countries there are that make up this world - and every 4 years I am amazed to hear countries announced that I have never heard of or know very little about. To see the uniforms, observe how many are on the team, see how they interact, I find this fascinating. This was more enjoyable than watching the awesome display of unified movement in the drummers - which to me - was awesome in it's miliary precision. If anyone noticed the drummers were wearing gold army boots. An interesting message.
Hats of to the the athletes for pursuing their dream with gusto.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Lake George
It’s had been raining cats and dogs in Upstate NY but that did not stop an afternoon outing to Lake George. Before I was born my grandmother would join my parents for a picnic. If I recall correctly, they would pack a basket full of veal cutlets and other goodies. This trip we made our way to The Alogonquin which is a perfect spot to lunch that has an outside patio right on the water and has docks for boaters to tie off and enjoy a relaxing meal. A long, long time ago, when I worked one summer at Canoe Island Lodge, a couple of the staff and I made up a drink called The Red Stressor (basically vodka, cranberry juice and ginger ale) that we thought was a clever way to celebrate our difficult clients. I digress. The menu at the Alogonquin is simple but the food is solidly delicious. I ordered a Rueben with turkey which I never have in Los Angeles and it was glorious in all it’s sauerkraut, Russian dressing, turkey, cheese and rye bread. My mother had a burger with blue cheese and onion. This is one of my favorite spots for lunch....in the whole United States!
Just as we finished and headed to the Sagamore Resort – down came the rain. If you haven't been, you should go. The Sagamore is really a lovely property with great views. If it had been a nice day, we would have sat on the deck in Adirondack chairs and soaked up the sun.
Just as we finished and headed to the Sagamore Resort – down came the rain. If you haven't been, you should go. The Sagamore is really a lovely property with great views. If it had been a nice day, we would have sat on the deck in Adirondack chairs and soaked up the sun.
Bella Napoli
It’s been awhile but I had to make a pit stop into the best little Italian pastry shop. The store itself is a stand-along building located on the corner of busy intersection which mimics the feel you get when you enter the premise. There are cases filled, and I mean filled, with every kind of sweet imaginable. For those who tend to have American taste – there is the case that offers donuts, cookies, breakfast cake and bread. But where I stand in wonder, is in front of the display case with Italian goodies: almond horns, canoli, chocolate covered canoli, biscotti, cream filled pastries with the pasta fragla dough, ricotta filled cakes and the list goes on. I can never enter and order just one thing. It is inevitable that I will leave with a large box closed and bound tightly t with a lot of deli string. The best is when you arrive home to the happy exclamation of “oooh, what did you get?!” The second round of fun entails placing the assortment on a pretty dish and sitting outside on the porch, sharing all the yummy treasures.
Monday, August 11, 2008
3 Summer movies - My take
I haven't gone for the blockbuster summer videos like the dark and sinister Batman sequel (no thank you.) I've seen: "The Visitor" (2 thumbs up), "Mamma Mia" (2 thumbs up) and "The Swing Vote" (eh - one thumb up maybe).
What I liked about "The Visitor" - it makes you think, it is more than just a movie about illegal immigrants (and does not revolve around the most commonly discussed illegal immigrants), I believe it accurately depicts some of the bureaucratic non-sense that happens every day in this country and it's about relationships.
What I liked about "Mamma Mia" - it's fun albeit implausible, but is a kind of calgon-take-me-away type of experience. Meryl Streep is great in her part. The scenery, costumes and dancing were fun-fun-fun. It was like eating dessert without the calories.
"Swing Vote" - um, ok, well, it has a positive message that every vote counts. That as much of a compliment that I can give it. With all the beer drinking and pizza eating, it did whet my appetite and it dawned on me that Inferno pizza (see last entry) was only a call away.
What I liked about "The Visitor" - it makes you think, it is more than just a movie about illegal immigrants (and does not revolve around the most commonly discussed illegal immigrants), I believe it accurately depicts some of the bureaucratic non-sense that happens every day in this country and it's about relationships.
What I liked about "Mamma Mia" - it's fun albeit implausible, but is a kind of calgon-take-me-away type of experience. Meryl Streep is great in her part. The scenery, costumes and dancing were fun-fun-fun. It was like eating dessert without the calories.
"Swing Vote" - um, ok, well, it has a positive message that every vote counts. That as much of a compliment that I can give it. With all the beer drinking and pizza eating, it did whet my appetite and it dawned on me that Inferno pizza (see last entry) was only a call away.
Divine Pizza found at "Inferno"
The truth is you just can't get really incredible pizza in Southern California. Or maybe I just haven't found the Holy Grail yet. Fast forward to Inferno pizza. It's delicous. Ask for thin crust and that is what you get. Perfectly cooked, a little chewy and very tasty. Ask for pepperoni and you don't get the minimalist L.A. style of one pepperoni slice to a slice, you get 3 pieces of pepperoni to one slice. Ask for extra cheese and you get high quality delicious cheese. The red sauce is good too. If you add Sam Adams beer - the summer brew - which is in limited distribution - you have a divine dinner.
The staff is very friendly and couldn't be nicer. The pizzeria has expanded since I was a kid and now has several locations. As frequent customers, I recall my mother engaging in conversation with one of the brothers behind the counter...and he said if he had a college education he would have chosen zoology. It was playful banter. It was fun. If I remember correctly, his hard work allowed for his younger brother to go to college. This is the kind of place, business and family values, I feel is worth writing about.
For more information: http://www.infernopizza.com/
The staff is very friendly and couldn't be nicer. The pizzeria has expanded since I was a kid and now has several locations. As frequent customers, I recall my mother engaging in conversation with one of the brothers behind the counter...and he said if he had a college education he would have chosen zoology. It was playful banter. It was fun. If I remember correctly, his hard work allowed for his younger brother to go to college. This is the kind of place, business and family values, I feel is worth writing about.
For more information: http://www.infernopizza.com/
Sunday, August 3, 2008
Swimmer's Ear - Home Remedy
Swim class is over for the summer. I have really enjoyed it but I am left with an ear ache and after googling to confirm my suspicions regarding "swimmer's ear" I headed to the drug store.
You can buy a product called "Swimmer's ear" which is 95% rubbing alcohol or buy rubbing alchohol and put it in a dropper.
Here's one link to a remedy that advocates equal parts of rubbing alchohol and white vinegar.
http://www.mothernature.com/library/bookshelf/books/19/222.cfm
You can buy a product called "Swimmer's ear" which is 95% rubbing alcohol or buy rubbing alchohol and put it in a dropper.
Here's one link to a remedy that advocates equal parts of rubbing alchohol and white vinegar.
http://www.mothernature.com/library/bookshelf/books/19/222.cfm
Friday, August 1, 2008
29 Day Giving Challenge
There's a movement underfoot and it is about giving. I think it is worth sharing.
If you are a TV watcher, then you probably caught Oprah's Giving Challenge, or the show about building houses for needy people. (I'm not that big on TV so the name escapes me.) If you are movie enthusiast, you probaby heard of "Pay it Forward." Personally, I think it is great that the media is exposing and supporting this movement. Personally, outside of the cooking and travel channels, the rest of TV is filled with junk food for the mind. But I digress..
There's a social network that deserves attention. It's called the 29 Day Giving Challenge and you can check it out at:www.givingchallenge.ning.com
Here's the blurb on the website: Give one thing away each day for 29 days. Why? Because to see the world change, we have to do something to change the world.
GOAL: Inspire at least 2,000 people to commit to the 29-Day Giving Challenge by 9/29/08.
For those of us who are givers, you may think, "I do it everyday, why sign-up?" Personally, I think it makes us more aware of giving, how to give, what to give and when to give and where to give. Your own answers may suprise you!
If you are a TV watcher, then you probably caught Oprah's Giving Challenge, or the show about building houses for needy people. (I'm not that big on TV so the name escapes me.) If you are movie enthusiast, you probaby heard of "Pay it Forward." Personally, I think it is great that the media is exposing and supporting this movement. Personally, outside of the cooking and travel channels, the rest of TV is filled with junk food for the mind. But I digress..
There's a social network that deserves attention. It's called the 29 Day Giving Challenge and you can check it out at:www.givingchallenge.ning.com
Here's the blurb on the website: Give one thing away each day for 29 days. Why? Because to see the world change, we have to do something to change the world.
GOAL: Inspire at least 2,000 people to commit to the 29-Day Giving Challenge by 9/29/08.
For those of us who are givers, you may think, "I do it everyday, why sign-up?" Personally, I think it makes us more aware of giving, how to give, what to give and when to give and where to give. Your own answers may suprise you!
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