Stuart Wilde

May 11th, 2013 Frances

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There are those times when you’re going along your merry ole way, and something stops you in your tracks, and you forget what you were thinking or doing a second ago. That’s what happened to me when I read of Stuart Wilde’s passing. I remember many years ago when I first read his book, WHISPERING WINDS OF CHANGE, and was completely taken in by his wisdom, great sense of humor, openness, and teachings. How I wish I had managed to get to one of his workshops, but I’m grateful for his emails, newsletters in physical form (before personal computers), website, for all the insights from his wonderful books – for how to think differently about life and beyond.

I’ve read many times that’s there’s a fine veil between life and death, and so I’ve no doubt that Stuart knows about the many loving messages that are being sent his way. With a touch of sadness and lots of gratitude I want to add my name to the millions of names wanting to say: Stuart, thank you, thank you, thank you.

“Life was never meant to be a struggle, just a gentle progression from one point to another.”
- Stuart Wilde
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The following is the email that stopped me in my tracks:

Stuart Wilde
“A Soldier”

It is with deep sadness that I announce the passing of my dear friend Stuart Wilde. Stuart suffered a fatal heart attack on a scenic drive through Ireland on Wednesday 1st May 2013.

A private funeral service has been held for Stuart’s immediate family only …. larger gatherings for later in the year are currently being planned for the general public. Updates will be posted on this website and Stuart Wilde’s website (www.stuartwilde.com).

Blessings to you all,

Tom Lishman

Condolences

Condolences to Stuart’s family can be emailed to: tolemac.int@gmail.com

Flowers and Donations

No flowers please but donations, which will be used to set up a foundation supporting his work, can be sent to:

Tolemac Foundation Donation – Stuart Wilde

mettlers american mercantile, the mutter museum, di bruno, the dandelion restaurant/pub, parc restaurant, la colombe

April 30th, 2013 Frances

Did I hear you say you’re coming to Philly? Well then, let’s plan a lovely day. We’ll assume you’ve done the tourist sites, and, if not, another time.

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First a little shopping at Mettlers American Mercantile. If you’re deep in thought you might miss seeing this wonderful shop at 2129 Chestnut Street, and a chance to find exactly what you’ve been wanting — perhaps a great-looking hat, the perfect-sized tote bag in the right color, a soft nice-to-the-touch scarf, or a that’s-the-shirt-for-me shirt, perhaps a pair of jeans with a just right fit, or maybe you have an empty wall space waiting for a lovely vintage art piece, and let’s remember jewelry, furnishings, books, and more from the USA. Mettlers offers an easy and pleasant browsing and shopping experience. The selection is not overwhelming; that means it’s not difficult to zero in on anything that catches your fancy. The people working at Mettlers are very pleasant and ready to help if help is needed.
Shopping hours are: Monday-Saturday 10am to 6pm and Sunday 11am to 5pm. And the website at this we’re glad you’re here, rather new-to-the-neighborhood shop is:
www.mettlersamerica.com

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Mettlers touches elbows with the Mutter Museum of The College of Physicians of Philadelphia. I haven’t been there yet, but whenever I walk by on my way to Trader Joe’s, there are usually people entering and leaving. The grounds around the museum are lovely, and that includes the Benjamin Rush Medicinal Plant Garden with benches for relaxing in a delightful and peaceful setting.
www.muttermuseum.org

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Is there a question about going to the Mutter Museum, or eating before going? All right, let’s think about where to eat — Di Bruno at 1730 Chestnut Street is a few blocks from where you are now. There is an upstairs cafe and “weekend brunch is from10:30am to 3:pm and lunch daily from11am to 3pm, to go or to enjoy in our casual cafe.” There’s plenty of space upstairs for sitting, relaxing, and eating. Downstairs has a wonderful selection of prepared foods, including soups and sandwiches. I’m addicted to the Di Bruno caprese sandwich. The top-notch ingredients (tomato, basil, mozzarella cheese on panini bread) are simple and so tasty. The website shows that that’s not all there is at Di Bruno:
www.dibruno.com

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Another place is The Dandelion Restaurant Pub, at 124 South Street. It can be seen from the door nearest the Di Bruno meat section; it’s on a corner across the street. Here a hearty English breakfast is served. Have you had one of these? After consuming there’s usually no need to eat until evening. The Dandelion offers an excellent selection of beer, a menu that will appeal to different palates, and afternoon tea which is from 3:00 to 5:00. And the person at the desk said, with a lot of pride, that “they serve the 2nd best hamburger in town.” It’s a charming restaurant/pub. Just is case you’re interested, they know how to make a really good campari and soda with a twist of lemon. Indeed!
www.thedandelionpub.com
www.campari.com

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Another eating establishment is Parc Restaurant Bistro & Cafe at 227 South 18th Street. It’s two blocks south of Dandelion, and is across from lovely Rittenhouse Square Park. On a warm, sunny day it’s a fight to the finish:-) to get an outside table facing the park – to people watch, enjoy the greenery, and soak up the sun. If no outside seating is available, you’re still a winner because eating inside and enjoying the decor and ambiance is a pleasure, too.
www.parcrestaurant.me

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The coffee at Parc is good, however, if you want to go elsewhere for an equally good cup of coffee there’s la Colombe at 130 South 19th Street. It’s opened till 7pm. Sometimes the dessert is sold out, but there’s always the coffee and the friendly staff. La Colombe is a walk along Rittenhouse Square Park (on the side of Barnes & Noble Bookshop) to 19th Street – cross the street and turn right. Order your cuppa coffee, take a seat, relax, and enjoy.
www.lacolombe.com

Rittenhouse Square Park

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Is it time to see the Mutter Museum after a delicious lunch? It's a nice short walk back. Let's see if you can find it; I'm thinking that you can as you've only walked around a few blocks.

Enjoy! Enjoy!

Let's all have a wonderful day today.

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"A hundred times every day I remind myself that my inner and outer life depend on the labors of other men living and dead, and that I must exert myself in order to give in the same measure as I have received and am still receiving." - Albert Einstein, 20th Century Nobel Prize winning physicist
(As heard on the CD, The Power by Rhonda Byrn)

shin-ichiro terayama

April 19th, 2013 Frances

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The following is part of a story I read in Alan Cohen’s entertaining book, Enough Already. www.alancohen.com In his gentle, authentic, and persuasive writing he tells us stories of his personal and professional life, and those of his friends, and people in his seminars in order to help us transform our lives. I love stories with happy endings, and this one story about his friend, Shin-ichiro Terayama has a great ending. Shin was a physicist when he was diagnosed with cancer 25 years ago, and his doctor gave him a much shorter life expectancy than he wanted. I’m not sure what I would have done 25 years ago if those words had been addressed to me. But Shin-ichiro Terayama went to a Japanese garden “to meditate on the purpose of his life. There he decided to dedicate his life to appreciation and celebration. . . .”

And this is the ending of Alan Cohen’s story:
“. . . He began to say “thank you” for everything, including his cancer as a wake-up call. A few months later Shin was pronounced cancer free. That was 25 years ago. Now Shin teaches the power of appreciation. He is like a light bulb, always smiling and shining, teaching by radiance more than word.”

Of course this kind of healing doesn’t just apply to cancer. It’s written that whatever disturbs – whether it be feelings of limitation, finances, lack of love, anger, negativity of any kind – you name it, unconditional love and gratitude can turn it around and banish it.

I wanted to see the radiant face Alan Cohen wrote about, so I googled the name Shin-ichiro Tereyama, and it’s true, he’s glowing in all the pictures taken of him.

Now, that’s a good story, right?

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“If you want to find the secrets of the universe, think in terms of energy, frequency, and vibration.”
- Nikola Tesla

“Love is the Master Key that opens the gates of happiness.” – Oliver Wendall Holmes,
19th Century Dean of Harvard Medical School

“Meditation is the closest process to quantum leaping that we know.” – Esther Hicks

Marilyn Tam, Robert Holden, and Happiness

April 15th, 2013 Frances

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Yesterday was a beautiful Sunday! – a sunny and warm kind of day that makes people very happy. And today looks promising:-)

I think (and maybe you do, too) that even the spelling of the word happy looks, well, happy, and I’ve noticed that lately a lot of people are giving that word a great deal of attention. For instance, next to me is a happiness book, and the way it came to me was via my daughter Emi. She recently visited Philly (she usually arrives with a bag looking like it weighs more than her), and in that bag was a book called the HAPPINESS CHOICE by Marilyn Tam.www.marilyntam.com She had bought it at the well-loved by many, Strand Book Store in NYC at 12th Street and Broadway. www.strandbooks.com And when Emi left to catch a Bolt Bus www.boltbus.com back to NY, the book was somehow left behind, so I did a little hallelujah dance around my apartment because I wanted to read that book, too. No, I didn’t hide it!

I knew it would be delightful to read, and it seemed like a light-weight, and fast read, but it’s not a book that wants to be read in quite that way. One wouldn’t think that someone who came from a background of abuse, and devoid of any real nurturing, would eventually write the HAPPINESS CHOICE. But it appears that Marilyn Tam came into the world with the ability to understand, to forgive and forget, and to go on to create an extraordinary personal and professional life.

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I’m going to take the liberty of quoting from the HAPPINESS CHOICE, and leave us all meditating for a few minutes with the happiness guru, Robert Holden’s:

Your Heart’s Prayer
Before you dedicate your life
to a person, a marriage, a family;
to a corporation, a political party, a peace campaign;
to a religion, a revolution, a spiritual path;
make one other dedication first.
First dedicate yourself to LOVE.
Decide to let Love be your intention, your purpose and
your point.
And then let Love inspire you,
support you, and guide you
in every other dedication
you make thereafter.

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“Life is reciprocal exchange. To move forward, you have to give back.”
- Oprah Winfrey

“Take the first step in faith. You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.”
- Martin Luther King, Jr.

bdgs at gramercy park and eataly at the flatiron district

April 11th, 2013 Frances

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This past Sunday found Emi and Jessie having six carefully chosen and funny comics for their show Bad Date Great Story at Gramercy Theatre. www.baddategreatstory.com Are you thinking: Of course they’re “funny”? Well then, I’m asking: Have you ever watched an unfunny comic? I have, and it’s a rather agonizing experience because you feel for the struggling unfunny comic. Happily, that wasn’t the case this past Sunday. Which is the reason I want to say thank you! for the laughs, and fun, to: Joe DeVito, Katina Corraro, MadDog, Charla, Christie Walsh, and Matt Mercier.
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My cousins, Pauline and Diane, came from New Hampshire to watch and enjoy the BDGS show. They decided to drive to the outskirts of NYC on Saturday, find a hotel there, and come into the city Sunday morning. I met them then, and we meandered around waiting for the theatre doors to open at 1:00pm. Though while waiting for me to come in from Philly, they saw a street festival on Broadway between 23rd and 14th Streets, and thoroughly loved eating their way to 14th Street – and back. If you met them you’d wish they were your relatives, too.

And as we were meandering around the neighborhoods, I said to my cousins: “The show is a little on the risqué side; are you all right with that? Their uproarious laughter was followed by Pauline’s tongue-in-cheek humor: “No, we’re not; we’re two virginal sisters, and you’ll have to explain everything to us.” – the laughter continued. And I know in my bones that that question of mine will haunt me, and bring lots of laughter to our family. Whatever was I thinking? I’m prepared; it’s okay, laughter is good for mind body spirit.

It’s not possible to be in the Flatiron District and not go to Eataly, at 200 Fifth Avenue. www.eataly.com it’s an impressive “50,000 sq. ft. Italian marketplace.” And to say it’s impressive is an understatement. For this we have to thank Mario Batali, and his business partner Joe Bastianich, along with their partners, Lidia Bastianich and Oscar Farinetti.

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I made a mental note that, sometime during the day of the next Bad Date Great Story show in June, I’ll meander over to Eataly to take in a little more of the eating and shopping experience. That sounds like a wonderful plan to me.

I’m wishing everyone a lovely full-of-laughter and fun kind of day.

joel osteen

April 10th, 2013 Frances

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Did you read about the preposterous spam: “Joel Osteen Hoax: Man Allegedly Behind Ploy To Discredit Leader Wants Televangelist To Change His Message”? It had Joel Osteen abandoning his faith, and fleeing his congregation. And I ask myself, does the spammer have nothing else to do than to waste that amount of time doing what he did by sending biting words – supposedly from Joel Osteen’s mouth, along with pictures seeming to agree with the words – around the online world?

The following was Joel Osteen’s response to this pretend headline: “I’m really not angry; I don’t feel like a victim. I feel too blessed; life is too short to let things like this get you down.” Now that’s a perfectly simple response – one that we might want to memorize, and say with gusto, whenever we feel like a victim. Because we, in the modern world, tend to get offended rather easily.

When all was said and done, it was reported that the spammer said: “Joel doesn’t talk enough about the environment and poverty. He’s just too positive and smiley.” You gotta laugh; what else is there to do? Though the question that comes to mind for the spammer is: Why did you spend so much time doing what you did when there’s a call for ALL OF US to do our share, in whatever way works for us, to fix what’s been called, “our broken down” world.

Upon hearing the words: “he’s just too positive and smiley,” I thought, and what a different world it would be if we were all “just too positive and smiley.” Maybe we could all give it a try just to see what would happen.

When I had a TV, I enjoyed seeing Joel Osteen’s contagious smile and listening to him, because he has a talent for getting his message across with stories and laughter. What’s not to like?

I suppose the spammer thinks Joel Osteen came into this world just as he is. Think again, he’s had an interesting development, and chances are he continues to expand on it. Oh, yes.
www.joelosteen.com
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“Why are you unhappy? Because 99.9% of everything you think, and of everything you do, is for yourself, and there isn’t one.” Wei Wu Wei

“Joy is not in things. It is in you. – Richard Wagner

“As human beings, our greatness lies not so much in being able to remake the world . . . as in being able to remake ourselves.” – Mohandas K. Gandhi

“We choose our joys and sorrows before we experience them.” – Kahlil Gibran

lobster murder!

Have you ever made your own lobster sushi rolls… from a living lobster?

April 2nd, 2013 Emiko F.

This past year, one of the most memorable nights I had was held by a New York City experience company called Sidetour. It was called: Crack the Japanese Food Making Code with a Lobster Lesson
the meal! at misa cropped

The experience was led by a lovely, charming Misako Sassa. (A chef who, coincidentally, when I mentioned the cooking class to my roommate, was actually in a column she had fastened to our fridge from Chopsticks NY Magazine.)

liz with misa article

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Misako (or Misa) floated around the open New York City space, showing us the best way to de-pit an avocado, teaching us about the perfect kind of rice that she specially orders, and letting us learn as she fanned the rice to the perfect temperature for use. We learned about how to quickly blanche the lobster meat, and put just enough cucumber and rice on the nori sheets, so that it would roll smoothly, and still taste full of fresh flavors. But, I’m actually leaving out the best part…

misa fanning rice

The beginning of the lesson started with our cooking stations set up in front of us. Clean mats, towels, knives, and a bowl of moving, living lobsters.

Since we were making the freshest possible kind of lobster without the use of hot water, something had to be done, we had to kill them ourselves first.

Now, this might sound impossible (or easy, I guess it depends on who you are!). I felt game to jump in, but became a little bit of a wimp while holding the lobster belly in my hands – it moved while I was trying to pinpoint the exact spot where I was supposed to give a quick jab with the knife. But as soon as Misa saw my hesitation, she gave a great quick example. Once you see this petite, delightful woman handle a lobster with speedy, dexterous craftsmanship, you feel a lot less able to wimp out, and much more empowered to seize control and finish the job!

The rice Misa had selected tasted nothing like what you’ll usually find in any ordinary sushi place (or even the places that are always packed on weekend nights). It had a multi-layered rush of flavors, nutty, sweet, and satisfying, and hard to forget. She made the miso soup with the heads of the lobsters for flavoring, and it was the most delicious miso soup I remember having in a long time. And the lobster rolls, which all the guests rolled, were unbelievable. I had wondered if I would feel a twinge of regret participating in the end of the lobsters life, and then eating it, but, as my friends and I had discussed that week, it’s really a much more honest and authentic way to come to the table. And it was delicious! I am really looking forward to getting a few of my friends together and doing this again very soon…

the sushi! cropped

Autism Awareness Month

April 1st, 2013 Michael

Today kicked off Autism Awareness Month. While this issue continues to grow and affect families globally it is also getting the attention and focus necessary to at least try and keep pace with the huge number of people touched by this disorder. There are still many people slipping through the cracks and in need of help.The resources being put into the fight against autism are finally getting in line with the scope of this ‘problem’. However until there is some progress in being able to clearly identify the culprits it will never be enough and the battle will continue with many determined and good people fighting the good fight.

Educate yourself about this issue and see what you can do to help on a local level.

Cheers.

Autism Speaks
lightitupblue.org/Markslist/showHomePage.do
generationrescue.org
ourfirstborn.com

your soul’s plan by robert Schwartz

March 27th, 2013 Frances

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It was late last night when I clicked on to www.afterlifetv.com and found a video in which Bob Olson is interviewing Robert Schwartz, the writer of Your Soul’s Plan. There are two videos, and it may be wise to listen to the first one first. I saw the title of the book, and read what Bob Olson wrote about its author’s biography, and thought, why not? After that, it didn’t take long before I was nicely settled in and glued to the screen watching, listening, learning – the concept of pre-birth planning is hardly new. Though when Robert Schwartz began digging for the answers to questions that wouldn’t let him rest, he wasn’t expecting the kind of answers that his tireless delving uncovered. Listening to him talk about pre-birth planning seemed natural, and a part of me understood, and was in complete agreement about what he was saying from the get-go. Last night I went to sleep with a big smile covering my entire body. Oh, yes.

It’s fair to say that many of us have many questions about life on earth. The thing is that I haven’t heard life on earth explained in quite this way before. The answers to the questions asked by Bob Olson of Robert Schwartz don’t necessarily veer from what we know; they just seem to profoundly enhance what we know. And it all makes perfect sense. Now, there are a number of very good self-improvement and spiritual books, and videos that, when read or listened to, have you thinking, yes, yes, I understand now. And then a week later you barely remember any of it.

I feel this is different. I could give you a synopsis of the video, but it’s so much better to hear Robert Schwartz’s own words. He speaks articulately, and he has a desire to help us understand so that we can help ourselves, and others, heal and evolve. There’s no need for me to try to explain what he does so beautifully. The following is his website, enjoy. www.yoursoulsplan.com

I really hope that you thoroughly enjoy watching, listening, learning, as I did.

Have a wonderful day!

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“Your own soul is nourished when you are kind; it is destroyed when you are cruel.”
- Solomon, 10th century BC, Biblical king of Israel

“Talk only about what you love; refuse to talk about what you don’t love.”
- The Power by Rhonda Byrn

“If children grew up according to early indications, we should have nothing but geniuses.”
- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
From the book: Enough Already by Alan Cohen

“I am convinced all of humanity is born with more gifts than we know, most are born geniuses and just get de-geniused rapidly.”
- Buckminster Fuller
From the book: Enough Already by Alan Cohen

” . . . However, they don’t realize that it is their feelings that are the cause of what happens to them. To change anything whether it’s the circumstances of money, health, relationships, or any subject whatsoever you have to change the way you feel. Blame, criticism, finding fault, and complaining are all forms of negativity, and often bring back nothing but strife.”
- The Power by Rhonda Byrn

“proof of heaven: a neurosurgeon’s journey into the afterlife with dr. eben alexander, III”

February 27th, 2013 Frances

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When Bob Olson interviewed Dr. Eben Alexander, lll on www.afterlifetv.com my eyes and ears were glued to my little iPad listening to him eloquently tell of a most unusual NDE – the way it all happened – and what occurred after. I don’t want to spoil it for you by telling too much of the story. Besides the story is far better told by the person who had the life-changing event. And it just so happens that Dr. alexander makes listening easy on the ears, and this is important because there’s a great deal to assimilate. During the interview with Bob Olson, Dr. Alexander talks about, among other things: the brain, higher soul, prayer, infinite love, the voice in our head, earth life, the Creator, butterflies (a beautiful story), evil and free will, belief, Om, divine plan, true reason for being here.

He was a different person before his NDE. This seems to be the case with just about everyone who experiences a NDE. If you visit afterlifetv and give your attention to Dr. Alexander’s words, you might feel like a different person, too.

Of course, there will always be the naysayers; they make life interesting. They say, still there is no real proof. Well, there are those things in this world that are based solely on belief. It’s a personal journey we all have to take, and, as with most things, it’s our choice to believe or not. We have only to listen deep within ourselves to know. And when we train ourselves to listen to the other parts of ourselves, we’ll know.

“For a deeper understanding” visit the following websites: www.eternea.org and www.lifebeyonddeath.net
And take a peek, or read, The New York Times bestseller: Proof of Heaven

In this month’s The Intelligent Optimist magazine there’s a very interesting question and answer article with Eben Alexander titled Near Death, a physician discovers life. AND in May 2013 there will be a three-session online course with Eben Alexander and Pim Van Lommel called Life Goes On, “which promises a lively and revealing dialogue on life, death and consciousness.”
For more information check out: www.theoptimist.com

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“There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio,
Than are dreamt of in your philosophy.”
- Shakespeare

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