I came across the following site when researching for this blog. It is mostly about setting yourself up to have fun by cleaning out the cobwebs of the mind.
Find tips like I did to help you.....Enjoy!
Highlight the script below and enter..... the link will appear.
http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.boxofcrayons.biz%2Ffree%2Fmovies%2Feightprinciples%2F&h=ZAQFYv-KK
Saturday, March 31, 2012
People Watching
People watching is a great sport when done creatively. I especially enjoy doing this whenever I'm waiting. Just the other day, I was standing in a very long line and instead of getting frustrated, I began making up stories of the people around me. This is so much fun and the stories can lead you to many conclusions....but remember.....this is not about judging anyone or criticising anyone. Instead it is really about letting your imagination soar.
Anyway, to get back to the person I was watching. He was a young man, perhaps in his mid-twenties. He was standing in front of me in line. He seemed quite concerned. Apparently his baby boy (probably less than six months old) was crying and seemed to have a hard time breathing. The infant was being held by a woman that was sitting down off to the side, I concluded that it must be his wife. I kept wanting to say blow into his face so he will stop crying and breathe. The young man asked if I would hold his place in line. I smiled and said of course. He went over to get some tissue to wipe his baby's nose and carrying his baby, came back to the line. The baby stopped crying and was breathing better, much to my relief.
I thought....WOW.....what a great father and husband. He didn't get upset....no he just calmly and lovingly carried his baby, bobbing and weaving to soothe his child. A few minutes later, another woman came up to talk with him and then took the baby from him. She looked to be the same age as the first woman. That's when my mind went creative. I was creating an exercise of fiction writing with a story line of a man with multiple wives. A man who loved his family and worked hard to support them by not only hunting and gathering means, but also with love and kindness.
Needless to say....the time went by very quickly and before I realized it...I was at the front of the line responding to the counter-person shouting "Next in line!" I bolted to the window and you know what? I wasn't in the least bit agitated for having to wait in the long line....such was not the case for the people that followed me. They were complaining and bad mouthing the system. I came away with a smile on my face....they went away frustrated vowing never to come here again.
My blood pressure was thankful for the experience and I had fun! Isn't that what life is all about?
Anyway, to get back to the person I was watching. He was a young man, perhaps in his mid-twenties. He was standing in front of me in line. He seemed quite concerned. Apparently his baby boy (probably less than six months old) was crying and seemed to have a hard time breathing. The infant was being held by a woman that was sitting down off to the side, I concluded that it must be his wife. I kept wanting to say blow into his face so he will stop crying and breathe. The young man asked if I would hold his place in line. I smiled and said of course. He went over to get some tissue to wipe his baby's nose and carrying his baby, came back to the line. The baby stopped crying and was breathing better, much to my relief.
I thought....WOW.....what a great father and husband. He didn't get upset....no he just calmly and lovingly carried his baby, bobbing and weaving to soothe his child. A few minutes later, another woman came up to talk with him and then took the baby from him. She looked to be the same age as the first woman. That's when my mind went creative. I was creating an exercise of fiction writing with a story line of a man with multiple wives. A man who loved his family and worked hard to support them by not only hunting and gathering means, but also with love and kindness.
Needless to say....the time went by very quickly and before I realized it...I was at the front of the line responding to the counter-person shouting "Next in line!" I bolted to the window and you know what? I wasn't in the least bit agitated for having to wait in the long line....such was not the case for the people that followed me. They were complaining and bad mouthing the system. I came away with a smile on my face....they went away frustrated vowing never to come here again.
My blood pressure was thankful for the experience and I had fun! Isn't that what life is all about?
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Six Degrees of Separation?
Long ago I saw a movie called Six Degrees of Separation. The plot eludes me now, but the concept stuck in my mind. The theory is that we are all 6 steps away from any other person on earth....kind of like a friend of a friend concept whereby you can connect any 2 people in 6 steps or fewer. Wikipedia lists this concept as originating from Frigyes Karinthy, a Hungarian author, playwright, poet, journalist and translator. In 1929 he wrote a short story about this called Chains.
Yesterday while having brunch with my best friend Shirley, whom I've known for close to 50 years, I had this huge "aha" moment. Have you ever had someone in your life that has this weird connection to you that they keep appearing in your life? Now, granted, I don't mean someone that you reconnect with from time to time....what I mean is that you have a few chance meetings or coincidences that are unexplainable....and you connect like that person was meant to connect with you throughout life. Yesterday, I realized that I have 2 such phenomenas in my life and I am now convinced that they are like my guardian angels.
While sharing stories about her childhood, Shirley talked about this favorite place she and her siblings played at and it turned out to be the place where my father worked all his life. It would be over 20 years before she and I met and Shirley is my dearest and best friend. We are better than sisters ever could be and I feel so fortunate to have her in my life.
The other angel....appeared in my life at a very young age....probably before I was 10 years old. His name was Richard and he was the love of my life. He was my sister's classmate and she is 6 years older than me. He attended her birthday party at our home. While all the other guests were in the patio listening to music and dancing, Richard and I were in the living room playing piano and talking. I liked him right away.
The next time he touched my life I was already married and one night as my husband and I were sleeping, we heard this huge crash coming from the house below us. My VW beetle slid down a hill and crashed into a small brick wall and thankfully not the house. Well I found out years later after my divorce, that Richard was the man that repaired that wall. Who knew....that he would also become the man that repaired my heart after a very nasty divorce. Now we both knew that our relationship was not one that would lead to marriage....although we talked and daydreamed about it many times. Even though I dated other guys and had other marriage proposals.....I just couldn't budge this man from protecting me and loving me. I even thought putting distance between us would cure this situation but it didn't. He wrote me letters every day. He called every week and he came to visit me. He saw me through the death of my mother....who, believe it or not....had called him to come back and watch over me after she was gone. He kept his promise...he did. One day, many years later, after having no contact with him for years, a feeling came over me that he passed away. It took me a couple of months searching online obituaries and somehow I found it. He had indeed left this world.
For many years I thought that these meetings were simply coincidences, but yesterday I finally connected the dots and it made me feel so happy. Thank you God for taking care of me. I feel so loved!
Now....how is this connected to fun? My feeling is that when you can recognize the gift in any situation....that is the fun part. Everyone in your life is bringing you a gift and the fun part is finding that gift! Have fun doing that....even though the bearer may or may not be someone that you like....they are still bringing you that gift.....find it and it will give you happy thoughts!
Yesterday while having brunch with my best friend Shirley, whom I've known for close to 50 years, I had this huge "aha" moment. Have you ever had someone in your life that has this weird connection to you that they keep appearing in your life? Now, granted, I don't mean someone that you reconnect with from time to time....what I mean is that you have a few chance meetings or coincidences that are unexplainable....and you connect like that person was meant to connect with you throughout life. Yesterday, I realized that I have 2 such phenomenas in my life and I am now convinced that they are like my guardian angels.
While sharing stories about her childhood, Shirley talked about this favorite place she and her siblings played at and it turned out to be the place where my father worked all his life. It would be over 20 years before she and I met and Shirley is my dearest and best friend. We are better than sisters ever could be and I feel so fortunate to have her in my life.
The other angel....appeared in my life at a very young age....probably before I was 10 years old. His name was Richard and he was the love of my life. He was my sister's classmate and she is 6 years older than me. He attended her birthday party at our home. While all the other guests were in the patio listening to music and dancing, Richard and I were in the living room playing piano and talking. I liked him right away.
The next time he touched my life I was already married and one night as my husband and I were sleeping, we heard this huge crash coming from the house below us. My VW beetle slid down a hill and crashed into a small brick wall and thankfully not the house. Well I found out years later after my divorce, that Richard was the man that repaired that wall. Who knew....that he would also become the man that repaired my heart after a very nasty divorce. Now we both knew that our relationship was not one that would lead to marriage....although we talked and daydreamed about it many times. Even though I dated other guys and had other marriage proposals.....I just couldn't budge this man from protecting me and loving me. I even thought putting distance between us would cure this situation but it didn't. He wrote me letters every day. He called every week and he came to visit me. He saw me through the death of my mother....who, believe it or not....had called him to come back and watch over me after she was gone. He kept his promise...he did. One day, many years later, after having no contact with him for years, a feeling came over me that he passed away. It took me a couple of months searching online obituaries and somehow I found it. He had indeed left this world.
For many years I thought that these meetings were simply coincidences, but yesterday I finally connected the dots and it made me feel so happy. Thank you God for taking care of me. I feel so loved!
Now....how is this connected to fun? My feeling is that when you can recognize the gift in any situation....that is the fun part. Everyone in your life is bringing you a gift and the fun part is finding that gift! Have fun doing that....even though the bearer may or may not be someone that you like....they are still bringing you that gift.....find it and it will give you happy thoughts!
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Laughter Yoga?
Here's how some Vietnamese people stay healthy.....hmm....already the logical side of my brain is resisting....but it is sure worth the try!
http://youtu.be/nmXvdP8L-r4
http://youtu.be/nmXvdP8L-r4
"Take a Load Off" by Martha Beck
O Magazine contributor Martha Beck is one of my favorites. I love her writing style and the topics she writes on are easily read and down to earth and usually very inciteful. I don't know about you, but reading O Magazine is a wonderful experience for me. It usually takes me a very long time to get through each issue because it is like savoring a really great piece of chocolate. You just want to save that good feeling and spread it out over time.
Here are a few excerpts from the March 2012 issue entitled Take a Load Off. The topic is What's on your plate which talks about her friend that is dying of cancer and on her deathbed joked about having just one more thing on her to-do list. Martha retorts: "Instead of fretting about getting everything done, why not simply accept that being alive means having things to do?" Well.....as a "To Do Lister" myself....I truly love making to-do lists....for several reasons. First of all, if I don't make a list, I forget to do something and then I waste energy trying to remember what it is I forgot. Now at my age, that can be critical...if you know what I mean.
In the next excerpt from this article, the topic is about your face (and hips, and butt...) she refers to this as the "big kahuna of worries: our appearance." Her advice...."Instead of obsessing over your own appearance, try noticing--and mentioning--beautiful things about everyone else. This will make people adore you, which, last time I checked, is what most of us are hoping to achieve by worrying about our looks in the first place." Wow....with advice like that....how can one go wrong? Now mind you...I will have to really put elbow grease into this one.
Be patient...there's more! The next topic is about everything you're doing wrong....about people who worry about being perfect. Her take on this..."I love the Buddhist concept of enlightenment as living without anxiety over imperfection. You can strain every fiber of your being trying to be flawless, only to face inevitable failure--or you can stop worrying about perfection, which instantly makes everything feel great. Save time and tofu: Choose option two."
The next topic - the past. She writes: "When we fixate on something in the past, we grab our own histories by the throat, cutting off the flow of physical and emotional energy that keeps us fully alive. To start the flow again, look forward. Think how you can apply what you've learned." This would be a permanent "to-do" item.
What people are saying about you right this second is the new topic. Her advice...."Today, pretend you're a Martian gathering data on humans. As you notice what they do and say without focusing on your fear of their opinions, you'll feel less self-conscious, and they'll feel the nonjudgmental attention they've always wanted from you. Win-win." One basic thought came to mind....do unto others....well you know how that goes!
Last topic I found amusing is called your account balance. She calls this the "global sacred rite of worrying about money"....then follows that up with..."People, it has no payoff." She shares about the time in her life when she was unemployed....then she decided to try writing for a living...but was too worried to write. She pushed aside the worry and worked....then admitted that she didn't make money that day, yet felt that she made money sooner because she stopped worrying. But the prize quote was: "Did I enjoy my life more from that moment on, regardless of how much I had in the bank? Abso-freaking-lutely." Oh my God....I am going to add that word to my list of favorites!
Abso-freaking-lutely.....Have fun today!
Here are a few excerpts from the March 2012 issue entitled Take a Load Off. The topic is What's on your plate which talks about her friend that is dying of cancer and on her deathbed joked about having just one more thing on her to-do list. Martha retorts: "Instead of fretting about getting everything done, why not simply accept that being alive means having things to do?" Well.....as a "To Do Lister" myself....I truly love making to-do lists....for several reasons. First of all, if I don't make a list, I forget to do something and then I waste energy trying to remember what it is I forgot. Now at my age, that can be critical...if you know what I mean.
In the next excerpt from this article, the topic is about your face (and hips, and butt...) she refers to this as the "big kahuna of worries: our appearance." Her advice...."Instead of obsessing over your own appearance, try noticing--and mentioning--beautiful things about everyone else. This will make people adore you, which, last time I checked, is what most of us are hoping to achieve by worrying about our looks in the first place." Wow....with advice like that....how can one go wrong? Now mind you...I will have to really put elbow grease into this one.
Be patient...there's more! The next topic is about everything you're doing wrong....about people who worry about being perfect. Her take on this..."I love the Buddhist concept of enlightenment as living without anxiety over imperfection. You can strain every fiber of your being trying to be flawless, only to face inevitable failure--or you can stop worrying about perfection, which instantly makes everything feel great. Save time and tofu: Choose option two."
The next topic - the past. She writes: "When we fixate on something in the past, we grab our own histories by the throat, cutting off the flow of physical and emotional energy that keeps us fully alive. To start the flow again, look forward. Think how you can apply what you've learned." This would be a permanent "to-do" item.
What people are saying about you right this second is the new topic. Her advice...."Today, pretend you're a Martian gathering data on humans. As you notice what they do and say without focusing on your fear of their opinions, you'll feel less self-conscious, and they'll feel the nonjudgmental attention they've always wanted from you. Win-win." One basic thought came to mind....do unto others....well you know how that goes!
Last topic I found amusing is called your account balance. She calls this the "global sacred rite of worrying about money"....then follows that up with..."People, it has no payoff." She shares about the time in her life when she was unemployed....then she decided to try writing for a living...but was too worried to write. She pushed aside the worry and worked....then admitted that she didn't make money that day, yet felt that she made money sooner because she stopped worrying. But the prize quote was: "Did I enjoy my life more from that moment on, regardless of how much I had in the bank? Abso-freaking-lutely." Oh my God....I am going to add that word to my list of favorites!
Abso-freaking-lutely.....Have fun today!
Monday, March 19, 2012
Just Got This Joke From My Cousin on Facebook!
If you have a joke to share....please spread the FUN!
King Khan: Actor with Billions of Fans!
Shahrukh Khan....an actor from India, who has been in the business for 20 years....the man has fans all over the world....that numbers over a billion....(not in the millions....but OVER a billion....the count I last heard was 4 billion!)...and I am proud to say that I am one!
Watching movies has always been my favorite pastime. After years of watching strictly American films.....in the last 2 years....I have fallen in love with Hindi musical films and just last year discovered Korean dramas and romantic comedies. American films have definitely taken a back seat!
Recently I've noticed that American iconic idols have visited India.....Oprah (who even wore a sari), Tom Cruise, Lady Gaga, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie...to name a few. Is it any wonder?
Granted....Bollywood is no where close to the technology and story lines of American films....and yet how can this man have over a billion fans around the world? My take on this is that American cinema has been too graphic in their portrayal....I'm talking about not only sexual content but also every violent masochistic aspect one can imagine, and then some...and we call it art. Bull cookies! I don't know about you...but I loathe ultra-violent movies! What happened to the innocence in our movies? I want it back!
Shahrukh Khan is a man that is loved and revered all over the world...some people even see him as a god (well that is extreme even for me). He is humble to his fans....he is so loving with his family and he is known to be a hen pecked husband. He is actually a shy person....he works very hard and very long hours. Yet he still has time to talk to fans on the street. His Facebook comments are quite introspective. He talks about how he misses his family when he is travelling....and special times that he has with his children and their friends. Although a Muslim himself...his wife is a Hindu and they worship both in their home. He attended a Christian school and has studied the Bible. He has raised his children to respect and study all religions. Now I realize that last sentence could spark a lot of debate....but let's see....how many wars can be attributed to religion? How can we denounce something that we haven't taken the time to study? How can we call all Muslims violent....or for that matter condemn all Jews, Catholics, Protestants or whatever religion you may have feelings and emotions against?
Sharukh has a Bachelor's degree in Economics. He has acted both on the big screen and on television. He has hosted game shows, emceed award shows, modeled and promoted products. Although he has acted in several musicals....he admits that he can't sing and has a backup singer that does sings for him in all of his movies. His dancing has definitely improved over the years and it has been because of the many movies and performances he has been in. In his last 2 movies, he has acted, directed and even produced through his company Red Chillies Entertainment.
In Ra.One, he wanted to take Indian cinema to a whole new level with the help of technology. He and his wife Gauri took risks that others would not and could not take in order to give back to the industry that has given them so much. The marketing of this movie was tremendous....the music was a huge secret and when leaked caused such a stir. Before long, a lot of people were dancing the Chammak Challo...a catchy tune!
Here is the official promo from the movie Ra.One for the Chammak Challo....I hope you enjoy it.
http://youtu.be/yh2K9VlGj9Q.
Shahruk looks pretty goofy in the movie...especially goofy hair...but it is all part of his charm.
I am also posting for your enjoyment...his latest performance at the 2012 Filmfare Awards. It is a must see as well!
http://youtu.be/Phnv-Eu2jfQ
There is so much one can say about this man....I watched many of his interviews about his life, his family, his movies...his love of sports.....and have thoroughly enjoyed them all.
There are several movies he has starred in that are my favorites...in no particular order or excellence...Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna (KANK), Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, Kal Ho Naa Ho, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (DDLJ), Veer-Zaara, My Name is Khan, Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi....just to name a few. You can probably watch a lot of these movies on YouTube.
Enjoy and by all means have fun!
Thursday, March 15, 2012
The Accidental Life
What a deal! I just signed up for a free month's trial of Amazon Prime this morning. It was either this or the Netflix free trial....well, I'm glad that I made the correct choice! With Amazon Prime, not only do I get free books for my Kindle, through their library, but I will also get 2-day free shipping when I order books/merchandise through Amazon, and literally thousands of free movies to watch....for only $79 per year. The frosting on the cake is that the books I have stored on my Kindle...I can also now read on my computer. Thank God for technology!
So right off the bat....I watched one of my all time favorite movies.....Showboat, starring Kathryn Grayson, Ava Gardner and Howard Keel. This was a 1951 film classic and again, I thoroughly enjoyed the movie, especially the singing and dancing!
Well...of course I couldn't stop there....I chose another movie called The Accidental Husband, starring Uma Thurman, Colin Firth (loved him in Bridget Jones' Diary), and Jeffrey Dean Morgan (he looked familiar....but I didn't recognize the name). Such a funny movie! The unexpected frosting on the cake here is that it also had a bit of India in it too....and we all know how I love Bollywood movies! The plot was so cute and funny....if you like romantic comedies, you just may find this enjoyable.
Notice how I didn't give you a summary of the movie....when I choose a movie, the first criteria is the actors. The second criteria is the genre....I especially love romantic comedies, mysteries, and dramas/intrigue. The last criteria would be the reviews/comments of people that have watched the movie. Sometimes just the title of the movie catches my interest.
When I choose a book to read, first I go to my favorite section in the bookstore....the Self-Help section....then the look of the cover and lastly would be the topic of the book. Hence, my collection of books have titles like.....Life is Short, Wear Your Party Pants by Loretta LaRoche ...or Excuse Me, Your Life is Waiting by Lynn Grabhorn....or The Life Organizer: A Woman's Guide to a Mindful Year by Jennifer Louden....or Soul Coaching: 28 Days to Discover Your Authentic Self by Denise Linn. Now, mind you...my attention span is very short...so I will read a chapter or two...and will put the book down for months. Even when I read my favorite O Magazine, I have never read it from cover to cover in one sitting. Nowadays I make sure to read my favorite section first...Oprah's "What I Know For Sure" article. However....all of this has nothing to do with a book of fiction. If the story grabs me from the beginning....I will read the entire book within a week or two...depending on the number of pages.
The way I explain this phenomena is that with fiction...it is like a movie or a TV show.,..I get so involved with the plot and I have to finish it. With self-help books....I can only absorb a little at a time. A self-help book is something to savor, to be read and then reread again...and I will get this important bit of information in perhaps a different meaning or context....wherever my life may be the next time I read it again. The kicker and definitely not the frosting on the cake.... is that after I have completed the book....I could not in all honesty tell you about it....my memory is so bad....so don't ask me to tell you about it! Does that make sense?
Oddly enough it does to me...and I can now stop beating myself up for not reading books from cover to cover. I live only in the moment when I am reading a book...Hallelujah and on to the next!
So right off the bat....I watched one of my all time favorite movies.....Showboat, starring Kathryn Grayson, Ava Gardner and Howard Keel. This was a 1951 film classic and again, I thoroughly enjoyed the movie, especially the singing and dancing!
Well...of course I couldn't stop there....I chose another movie called The Accidental Husband, starring Uma Thurman, Colin Firth (loved him in Bridget Jones' Diary), and Jeffrey Dean Morgan (he looked familiar....but I didn't recognize the name). Such a funny movie! The unexpected frosting on the cake here is that it also had a bit of India in it too....and we all know how I love Bollywood movies! The plot was so cute and funny....if you like romantic comedies, you just may find this enjoyable.
Notice how I didn't give you a summary of the movie....when I choose a movie, the first criteria is the actors. The second criteria is the genre....I especially love romantic comedies, mysteries, and dramas/intrigue. The last criteria would be the reviews/comments of people that have watched the movie. Sometimes just the title of the movie catches my interest.
When I choose a book to read, first I go to my favorite section in the bookstore....the Self-Help section....then the look of the cover and lastly would be the topic of the book. Hence, my collection of books have titles like.....Life is Short, Wear Your Party Pants by Loretta LaRoche ...or Excuse Me, Your Life is Waiting by Lynn Grabhorn....or The Life Organizer: A Woman's Guide to a Mindful Year by Jennifer Louden....or Soul Coaching: 28 Days to Discover Your Authentic Self by Denise Linn. Now, mind you...my attention span is very short...so I will read a chapter or two...and will put the book down for months. Even when I read my favorite O Magazine, I have never read it from cover to cover in one sitting. Nowadays I make sure to read my favorite section first...Oprah's "What I Know For Sure" article. However....all of this has nothing to do with a book of fiction. If the story grabs me from the beginning....I will read the entire book within a week or two...depending on the number of pages.
The way I explain this phenomena is that with fiction...it is like a movie or a TV show.,..I get so involved with the plot and I have to finish it. With self-help books....I can only absorb a little at a time. A self-help book is something to savor, to be read and then reread again...and I will get this important bit of information in perhaps a different meaning or context....wherever my life may be the next time I read it again. The kicker and definitely not the frosting on the cake.... is that after I have completed the book....I could not in all honesty tell you about it....my memory is so bad....so don't ask me to tell you about it! Does that make sense?
Oddly enough it does to me...and I can now stop beating myself up for not reading books from cover to cover. I live only in the moment when I am reading a book...Hallelujah and on to the next!
Saturday, March 10, 2012
Fun is Cooking?.....I Disagree!
My new issue of O Magazine arrived yesterday....who knew Oprah cooks? I sure didn't. I had always imagined her having a full time chef. If memory serves me....Rachel Ray was one of them.
The latest issue is about Oprah's favorite recipes. It is so cute....they also interviewed Stedman....her boyfriend of 25 years....about her cooking. She prepares something that they refer to as their "love sandwich" made with thin slices of tomato, avocado, melted cheese, sauteed scallions, lemon basil and smoked turkey...on a whole grain bread...yum sounds great....I think I will try that recipe....I do miss Eric's Deli in Santa Cruz...my favorite lunch place while I was attending college. I loved their DelMonte sandwich made with sprouts, avocado, tomato, cheese, onions...and their clam chowder soup. They had a deal for half a sandwich and a cup of soup....just right for me....of course the student discount they gave was a plus factor.
Oprah also mentions rosemary rice....which is rice and fresh rosemary mixed together. My recipe was buttered lima beans mixed with rice....or chopped parsley with rice. The lima bean recipe was not a hit with my grandkids.
All well and good....Oprah cooks on weekends only....when you have to prepare meals 3 times a day, 7 days a week...believe me....it is "slam bam thank you ma'am" when it comes to me in the kitchen. The least amount of time spent in the kitchen is my goal...first and foremost.
The next criteria is.....I do refrigerator diving for inspiration. Of course this only works when you shop like I do....buy only multi-purpose ingredients. Chili was my grandkids favorite....I had my own recipe using frozen okra, kidney beans, artichoke, ground beef, beef bullion, chopped tomatoes, tomato sauce/paste, chopped jalapeno peppers...most of the ingredients were canned...it was definitely the way to go. Rachel Ray would call it a stoup....because it was chunky. Of course....don't forget the garlic and ginger. For years I could not make stew like my mother made. I was missing the key ingredient....ginger!
Nowadays....living in Las Vegas....I usually just have one meal at home and snacks....if I'm not out and about. If I am on the go with friends....we will have a meal at a restaurant and that would be it for the day...as we tend to have huge meals....like all you can eat buffets! Time goes by so quickly here....it just seems like I can't fit 3 squares in my schedule! I'm sure my waistline appreciates that.
Oh....coupon eating is fun too....the local casinos or restaurants offer very inexpensive cuisine...and there are some fast food places that send coupons in the mail/email.
Well hey....if the economy is on the fritz as the news reports state....the pocketbook has to be the third criteria.
Warning....don't try doing a buffet if you have less than an hour to get to the movies....believe me that is definitely a no-no! I speak from personal experience!
The latest issue is about Oprah's favorite recipes. It is so cute....they also interviewed Stedman....her boyfriend of 25 years....about her cooking. She prepares something that they refer to as their "love sandwich" made with thin slices of tomato, avocado, melted cheese, sauteed scallions, lemon basil and smoked turkey...on a whole grain bread...yum sounds great....I think I will try that recipe....I do miss Eric's Deli in Santa Cruz...my favorite lunch place while I was attending college. I loved their DelMonte sandwich made with sprouts, avocado, tomato, cheese, onions...and their clam chowder soup. They had a deal for half a sandwich and a cup of soup....just right for me....of course the student discount they gave was a plus factor.
Oprah also mentions rosemary rice....which is rice and fresh rosemary mixed together. My recipe was buttered lima beans mixed with rice....or chopped parsley with rice. The lima bean recipe was not a hit with my grandkids.
All well and good....Oprah cooks on weekends only....when you have to prepare meals 3 times a day, 7 days a week...believe me....it is "slam bam thank you ma'am" when it comes to me in the kitchen. The least amount of time spent in the kitchen is my goal...first and foremost.
The next criteria is.....I do refrigerator diving for inspiration. Of course this only works when you shop like I do....buy only multi-purpose ingredients. Chili was my grandkids favorite....I had my own recipe using frozen okra, kidney beans, artichoke, ground beef, beef bullion, chopped tomatoes, tomato sauce/paste, chopped jalapeno peppers...most of the ingredients were canned...it was definitely the way to go. Rachel Ray would call it a stoup....because it was chunky. Of course....don't forget the garlic and ginger. For years I could not make stew like my mother made. I was missing the key ingredient....ginger!
Nowadays....living in Las Vegas....I usually just have one meal at home and snacks....if I'm not out and about. If I am on the go with friends....we will have a meal at a restaurant and that would be it for the day...as we tend to have huge meals....like all you can eat buffets! Time goes by so quickly here....it just seems like I can't fit 3 squares in my schedule! I'm sure my waistline appreciates that.
Oh....coupon eating is fun too....the local casinos or restaurants offer very inexpensive cuisine...and there are some fast food places that send coupons in the mail/email.
Well hey....if the economy is on the fritz as the news reports state....the pocketbook has to be the third criteria.
Warning....don't try doing a buffet if you have less than an hour to get to the movies....believe me that is definitely a no-no! I speak from personal experience!
Monday, March 5, 2012
Take a Walk Down Memory Lane
Thanks to YouTube....here are some videos that will take you back to when some of us were in school....some oldies in music and dance. Remember the Continental? The Twist? The Mashed Potato? Well it's all here. Enjoy!
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Meditation
Have you ever thought about learning to meditate? I know that I have many times! However, the left side of my brain...the analytical side....somehow always gets in the way. I have noticed how people who meditate daily have such a look of peace about them. They usually have a nice complexion too. I want that....left brain...get out of the way!
There was a guy in my Comparative Religion class at college. His name was James. He shared on the first day of class that he meditates every day. Well....I kept that bit of news in the back of my mind. One day our class was cancelled and as I was driving out of the parking lot, I saw him headed to class....and started up a conversation.....now that was brave of me and so outside my normal behavior...because first of all he is in his mid 20's perhaps....nice looking, long blond hair and blue eyes....and...most embarassing of all....I was missing 2 front teeth....but we talked at great lengths about meditation and life that day. How fun! We both shared about how after meeting a person for the first time, we quickly forget their names and we vowed to work on that.
Subsequently, whenever we met in class....we would call each other by name, say hi and smile....what a nice way to start class....such a nice man and what a flirt. Well, I started to meditate....I wanted some of that peaceful charm he had!
In the past, whenever I thought about learning to meditate....I would get books on the topic...but never got around to reading them....well, that wasn't the case this time. Remember me saying that my left brain always got in the way?
Well...meditation involves quieting the mind...closing your eyes...or simply focusing on one object...like a candle perhaps. After many years of trying to get this going....I knew that if I had to close my eyes it wasn't going to work...because then I would start to wonder...hey what's going on around me....and that was a distraction in itself....silly huh?
But I was determined this time....I even went so far as to get incense....a singing bowl....the grandkids got a kick out of that one...I started to meditate, but used quite a lot of effort to try and stay focused. There were chapters that I needed to read for school and so many things that cluttered my mind...what to cook for dinner....what time to pick up the grandkids from school....you name it...I had it. Never the perfect time or place.....these are the things that clutter my mind.
So, I decided to set a goal...write it down and meditate on that...I don't know if that's what a person should do...but I did it anyway....stuff like going to India and meeting my favorite actor Shahrukh Khan. Well after a couple of times doing that....I met a woman in my Art History class whose parents were from India and who herself has travelled to India many times to visit family...not quite the same but we had fun talking about Bollywood films and our favorite actors. Kinda missed my target goal, but oh well cest' la vie (spelling?)...or is it Karma?
There was a guy in my Comparative Religion class at college. His name was James. He shared on the first day of class that he meditates every day. Well....I kept that bit of news in the back of my mind. One day our class was cancelled and as I was driving out of the parking lot, I saw him headed to class....and started up a conversation.....now that was brave of me and so outside my normal behavior...because first of all he is in his mid 20's perhaps....nice looking, long blond hair and blue eyes....and...most embarassing of all....I was missing 2 front teeth....but we talked at great lengths about meditation and life that day. How fun! We both shared about how after meeting a person for the first time, we quickly forget their names and we vowed to work on that.
Subsequently, whenever we met in class....we would call each other by name, say hi and smile....what a nice way to start class....such a nice man and what a flirt. Well, I started to meditate....I wanted some of that peaceful charm he had!
In the past, whenever I thought about learning to meditate....I would get books on the topic...but never got around to reading them....well, that wasn't the case this time. Remember me saying that my left brain always got in the way?
Well...meditation involves quieting the mind...closing your eyes...or simply focusing on one object...like a candle perhaps. After many years of trying to get this going....I knew that if I had to close my eyes it wasn't going to work...because then I would start to wonder...hey what's going on around me....and that was a distraction in itself....silly huh?
But I was determined this time....I even went so far as to get incense....a singing bowl....the grandkids got a kick out of that one...I started to meditate, but used quite a lot of effort to try and stay focused. There were chapters that I needed to read for school and so many things that cluttered my mind...what to cook for dinner....what time to pick up the grandkids from school....you name it...I had it. Never the perfect time or place.....these are the things that clutter my mind.
So, I decided to set a goal...write it down and meditate on that...I don't know if that's what a person should do...but I did it anyway....stuff like going to India and meeting my favorite actor Shahrukh Khan. Well after a couple of times doing that....I met a woman in my Art History class whose parents were from India and who herself has travelled to India many times to visit family...not quite the same but we had fun talking about Bollywood films and our favorite actors. Kinda missed my target goal, but oh well cest' la vie (spelling?)...or is it Karma?
Saturday, March 3, 2012
Gorgeous Outfits from India...I Just Love Them!
Check out this link to a fashion show in India.
Fun is fashion...and I love the splendor of these outfits.....Enjoy!
What is Fun Without Some Witty Jokes
I've decided to add some jokes to this blog from time to time. I found this joke online on the photobucket website with leslie-aguilar credits....hope this covers all of the copyright rules!
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Laughing Fits With My Friend Shirley
The continuing saga of my friend Shirley.....her life is like "The Perils of Pauline".....only it turns into the comedic version. We are so connected sometimes that it is actually scary. I had a thought to call her after the episode of the latest Korean drama I was watching ended, to ask her about the condition of her eye....since at lunch yesterday she kept rubbing it and it was very red....but before I could call her....she called me from work to tell me that now both her eyes are swollen, red and itchy. I thought.....OMG...just 2 months ago she was bitten by some kind of spider and ended up in the hospital because her arm was so swollen and her entire body was itching. The emergency room doctor commented that if she had waited any longer....she would be dead.
Well...after reflecting on that....for some reason my mind immediately flashed back to the time she was dying her hair and the dye came streaming down her face and left her with what she described to me over the phone as raccoon eyes. She sent her boyfriend to the drug store to get some kind of dye remover. Now bear in mind the woman is now 75 years old....and this happened about 5 years ago! I'm ashamed to admit that she has a more active sex life than me! What was the name of that elderly sex therapist who lived on a boat that had a sign that read....."when the boat is rocking....don't come a knocking!" I used to love her late night TV show. Focus....Audrey....focus!
I reminded Shirley of the raccoon eyes story and we started laughing so hard....I know I had tears in my eyes and hopefully she did too for her eye's sake....a natural eye wash. Where my mind went next is true genius....because for weeks I've had to listen to her complaining about her husband's complexion. It is very red and itching and no matter how much she tells him to go to the doctor....he's being stubborn and chooses not to go. Well...as they say in Hawaii...."bachi" (spelling???) which loosely translates to "back at you." When I said that.... we started to laugh all over again. She was laughing so hard that her co-workers were wondering what was going on and who she was talking with....just then a customer walked up to pay his bill and Shirley ended the conversation. This happened about 4 hours ago and I still have a smile on my face about it all.
The next flashback took me to the time when Shirley was involved in an auto accident and had to lay in the hospital with a full body cast. Although I wasn't living in the same state at the time the accident occurred....when I heard about it, I just knew that it probably was torture for her....not because of her injuries....but because she just can't keep still for very long. As the body cast dwindled away to only being a cast on her leg...they released her from the hospital with a cane and low and behold...she was in the casino gambling before the day was over...and she went via a handicap van all by herself. Her daughter related the story that they didn't even know about Shirley's plan till the van drove up the driveway to pick her up. Yup...that's my friend.
They say that laughter is good for the soul....and my friend Shirley really knows how to feed my soul! She is like my own personal comedic relief God granted me.....Thank you God!
Well...after reflecting on that....for some reason my mind immediately flashed back to the time she was dying her hair and the dye came streaming down her face and left her with what she described to me over the phone as raccoon eyes. She sent her boyfriend to the drug store to get some kind of dye remover. Now bear in mind the woman is now 75 years old....and this happened about 5 years ago! I'm ashamed to admit that she has a more active sex life than me! What was the name of that elderly sex therapist who lived on a boat that had a sign that read....."when the boat is rocking....don't come a knocking!" I used to love her late night TV show. Focus....Audrey....focus!
I reminded Shirley of the raccoon eyes story and we started laughing so hard....I know I had tears in my eyes and hopefully she did too for her eye's sake....a natural eye wash. Where my mind went next is true genius....because for weeks I've had to listen to her complaining about her husband's complexion. It is very red and itching and no matter how much she tells him to go to the doctor....he's being stubborn and chooses not to go. Well...as they say in Hawaii...."bachi" (spelling???) which loosely translates to "back at you." When I said that.... we started to laugh all over again. She was laughing so hard that her co-workers were wondering what was going on and who she was talking with....just then a customer walked up to pay his bill and Shirley ended the conversation. This happened about 4 hours ago and I still have a smile on my face about it all.
The next flashback took me to the time when Shirley was involved in an auto accident and had to lay in the hospital with a full body cast. Although I wasn't living in the same state at the time the accident occurred....when I heard about it, I just knew that it probably was torture for her....not because of her injuries....but because she just can't keep still for very long. As the body cast dwindled away to only being a cast on her leg...they released her from the hospital with a cane and low and behold...she was in the casino gambling before the day was over...and she went via a handicap van all by herself. Her daughter related the story that they didn't even know about Shirley's plan till the van drove up the driveway to pick her up. Yup...that's my friend.
They say that laughter is good for the soul....and my friend Shirley really knows how to feed my soul! She is like my own personal comedic relief God granted me.....Thank you God!
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