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fanny

I watched the movie Fanny this past weekend. To my delight, it fell into my hands quite unexpectedly from my daughter, Sumi. There’s something extremely pleasant happening when seeing a movie of this calibre.

For one thing, it doesn’t start out with a bang, and it’s not about how many people can be killed, maimed, or attacked, or how fast can a city be destroyed from some unknown thing hovering about, and it’s not about a virus that can’t be contained running rampant throughout the world, or a story about someone in a rage whose only thought is how many people can be killed with a gun he’s been embracing for a few hours. No, Fanny has none of these things that we’ve come to expect from many movies. I’m happy enjoying this old movie and munching on lots of unsalted, raw sunflower and pumpkin seeds bought at Sahadi’s in Brooklyn. www.sahadis.com

Fanny very slowly takes us into a gentler world as we get acquainted with the characters and the story, soak up the marvelous views of beautiful Marseilles, and delight in viewing simple things thoroughly enjoyed. Step by step the story evolves – not with a bang – but, sort of with a kindness and respect for the way a good story develops. And when the story ends there’s a feeling of having spent an evening in good company. Oh, yes, good company indeed with Leslie Caron, Maurice Chevalier, Charles Boyer, Horst Buchholz, and other excellent actors.

It’s a DVD that one doesn’t return quickly because watching it again would be very nice. Are you reading this, Sumi? haha

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paris, but not just

I’ve been thinking about where I would go IF I were going somewhere outside the USA. When I read Adrian Leeds eletters, I want to right away gather my things and be on my way. She lives in France and is very honest about how it is to live there. Her love for that area of the world shines in every eletter, even when reporting on things that could be, shall we say, improved, the reader knows she’d never move because of, – oh, so many reasons. For foreginers who make the move to France, for those wanting to learn the French language, for someone desiring to buy or rent in France, for a list of quality reasonable hotels, (or pricey ones), and for quality cafes and restaurants at reasonable prices (or not), she’s an excellent source because she’s ever alert to what’s happening over there. Over there where life is different from over here. This is not to say it’s better, just different – over there.
adrianleeds.com

Ode Magazine has an interesting concept called And now for the good news, and it’s this: from around the world, enjoyable, insightful, informative, newsworthy articles chosen for their upbeat slant, usually four at a time, are sent to a subscriber’s email box. Recently in And now for the good news, I read these words, The Kindness of Parisians?, and clicked on to the article in The Economist, from INTELLIGENT LIFE magazine written as, PARISIANS, RUDE? PAS DU TOUT! by bureau chief Sophie Pedder. It shed light on a few questions I had, and then I read the comments which were almost as good as the article. They were, for the most part, intelligently written by people with first-hand knowledge, and having varied opinions about the subject. www.moreintelligentlife.com
Morning coffee, delicious toast, wonderful bilberry jam, and And now for the good news is a nice way to begin the day.

This taken from PARISIANS, RUDE? PAS DE TOUT! by Sophie Pedder – for you, should you be going there –

Where to Stay:
Hotel de la Bretonnerie
22 rue Sainte-Croix de la Bretonnerie, 75004 Paris. + 33 (0)1 48 87 77 63
reasonable prices
www.hotelbretonnerie.com

Le Montalembert
3 rue Montalembert, 75007 Paris. + 33 (0)1 45 49 68 68
steep rates
www.montalembert.com

Where to eat:
L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon
5 rue de Montalembert 75007 Paris. + 33 (0)1 42 22 56 56
steep rates

Chartier
7 rue du Faubourg Montmartre, 75009 Paris. + 33 (0)1 47 70 86 29
reasonable

And:
“Leave touristy places and take the metro instead to St. Paul, in the Marais and wander the narrow back streets off the rue des Francs – Bourgeois and the exquisite Place des Vosges. Or head for the left bank, starting at Saint-Germain-des-Pres metro, with a coffee at Cafe de Flore (172 Boulevard Saint-Germain. +33 (0)1 45 48 55 26)-far less touristy than Les Deux Magot’s next door. Don’t miss the little Place Furstenberg, hidden off the rue Jacob – magical when lit up at night.”

There’s a lot more to read.

If you go, enjoy!

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acceptance

Acceptance is a good word, and a soothing word; it’s a word that’s effective when used verbally or silently. When applying acceptance to a particular situation, we’re inclined to wonder whether we’ve done enough, and whether it’s time to  stop guessing, thinking, worrying, trying. Yes, stop so that the mind is free of the energy we’ve created around a situation or person, and free of blockages – hands off; it’s time to trust.

Becoming comfortable with acceptance allows the mind arguments and blockages to eventually disapper. Practicing acceptance will lead us to intuitively know what’s best in a situation. Then we trust. Acceptance and trust go hand in hand. We know that things are not okay at the moment, and we trust the tide will turn. Trust.

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it’s a day for. . . .

In Philadelphia it’s a soft, completely cloudy, cool with a little rain, kind of day. It’s a great day for gathering energy by putting on Matthew Cohen’s Qi Gong DVD, and following his voice and movements; it’s a wonderful day to bring a book or a magazine, and a smile, to a favorite bistro, a tea salon, or a friendly neighborhood diner; it’s a walking meditation kind of day with no particular destination in mind; it’s a day to spend a few hours in a big, used bookshop to find that special book – all for the price of $2.95; it’s a perfect day to forget about the happenings on the outside, and placing attention on what’s happening on the inside – so that when it’s time to be part of the outside, a happy, loving, kind, peaceful person shows up; it’s a kind of day to get in touch with people who like to laugh; it’s a day to put 10 one dollar bills in a pocket, so as not to pass by a homeless person without offering a human connection; it’s a kind of day for watching Peter O’Toole in Lawrence of Arabia; and it’s an accepting kind of day with a silent thank you to go along with it.

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tv news as we know it

The 11 pm news came on as I was involved in light paper work. On and on it went about disease, murder, verbal and physical attacks, and vandalism. Keeping abreast of happenings in the world is important, but it’s also important that the news be presented in an unbiased way; that it educate, not disturb; and that the day’s developments not be about sensationalism and stress. If when we watch the news as it’s being presented year after year, and determine that it has enlightened many, and somehow contributed to positive changes, we’d have to agree that the news is worthy of air time. Mostly, however, it seems to bring fear and tension to the lives of viewers. Thankfully, there’s always the off switch. Whew! Peace restored.

Now there are people who have their own tv or radio talk shows whose main purpose is to project anger at, or deride most anyone with views contrary to theirs. Are they necessary? Can’t we think for ourselves? Why listen to them? At one time I tuned in when a certain person began his radio career, then I began thinking that it was all very unpleasant, and stopped. Last year as I got into a taxi, I heard once again the voice of that particular radio personality. Nothing changed; he’s still unpleasant.

The only reprieve on the night I listened to some of the news was the voice of a 90 year old woman being questioned. An arsonist’s hand was at work on the street where she lives causing tragedy. Listening to her was easy though. Her hair was wrapped in rollers, her posture was ramrod straight, there were no tears in her eyes, and her voice was strong as she spoke about the damage to neighbors’ homes. She said she was prepared to vacate her place – just in case. She was on the screen for only a short time, but somehow her presence was a breath of fresh air. I can only guess where her strength comes from.

We know there are great things occurring throughout the world. And should the news become more than what it now is viewers listening would feel more relaxed and grateful to be living in a fascinating world, and perhaps more clarity about issues would result. A mingling of the positive and the negative is important. By this is not meant stories of “celebrities” – their clothes, relationships, marriages, divorces, lifestyles. No. No. Positive news are stories of people going beyond the everyday to a place often read about, and achieved by just a few – although many can join. There’s a whole lot of beauty in the world, and a great many wonderful people. One day should the news media begin to report more expansively on this, the mass consciousness of the world would change. And that can only be a very good thing for all of us. Otherwise, if we’re focused on the worst of things, how will we ever get to the best of things?

We are what we think
All that we are arises with our thoughts.
With our thoughts we make the world. – the Buddha

It is well known that emotions of the soul affect the body and
produce great, significant and wide-ranging changes in the
state of health. Emotions of the soul should be watched
regularly examined, and kept well balanced. – Maimonides, twelfth-century Jewish sage

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octuplets, children of the mountains, the smile train

Watching the unfolding drama of the octuplets recently born to a woman who doesn’t seem to understand what she’s done is difficult. She appears to need protection from herself. I wish we lived in a society where people who are compassionate, well-connected, wise in the ways of the world, and capable of righting a situation that, without intervention, will only get worse could step in. It’s apparent that the tiny babies are in need of help, and lots of love and care is a good start. This country has so many who have much to give. How will the babies thrive without their help? I know this can be said about many babies in the world.

I felt the same way last week when I watched the Diane Sawyer Special: A Hidden America, Children of the Mountains. It’s about families who live deep in the Appalachia Mountains – about their lack of nurturing, lack of education, lack of community, lack of hope, lack of parental guidance, lack of nutritious foods. Most of the parents of these children are addicted to alcohol or prescription drugs. Jobs are few, and most men work in the coal mines. Nothing changes there; it’s been this way for many generations. Their homes are surrounded by garbage. A doctor from India said it’s worse deep in Appalachia country than in some of the poorest places of India.

Some doctors and nurses are changing the lives of many children in a huge way. The movie SMILE PINKI www.thesmiletrain.org tells of kind-hearted doctors who instinctively know how to help others. In India where every year 35,000 children are born with clefts, they’re out searching for these children whose parents are poor and unable to help their children who are generally ostracized from their communities. The Smile Train is there to change all that, and that’s something to smile about. Wouldn’t it be a different world if every child born could be swaddled in love and care. Yes, what if.

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african bird cayenne and a coffee wand

I have been hearing that African Bird Cayenne is the best quality of any cayenne that can be bought. It is not easy to find. After calling around the Philadelphia area, I was told Penn Herb is the place to check. I did, and it is true. www.pennherb.com There is a lot on their website, and it looks all good. Over three generations have operated this worldwide company, and I bet the quality is excellent. Initially, I thought things had to be ordered online, however, the website lists two retail stores in Philadelphia.

When checking out the Penn Herb website (highly recommended), I found a link advertising a coffee wand which seemed like the perfect gift for a coffee lover. I was curious. Well, may I say that www.singleservecoffee.com is very special.

Perhaps you will think so too.

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a good reason

Today is the 6th day of The Master Cleanser by Stanley Burroughs for me. I am not going to say that it has been exactly easy. I will just say it is entirely doable, and as the days go by it gets easier. Food thoughts come and go, and everyone handles them differently. When thoughts of food come, I remember two things, and when I do, I am okay. They are: 1) The reason for going on the cleanse, and 2) It is temporary. And a nice thought about temporarily givng up food is that some of us suddenly have free time from something that is done two or three times every day – shopping, preparing, cooking, and, of course, eating.

Today I went to University City in Philadelphia, opened the door to Penn Bookstore, and headed directly to the cookbook section. For some peculiar reason it is rather satisfying for me to read cookbooks when on the cleanse. There were three of Madjur Jaffrey’s on the shelf. She inspires in the way she writes about food, in the mouth watering pictures, and in the clarity of her recipes which tend to give the reader confidence in creating them with the same results.The book is worth buying just to look at those beautifully photographed pictures. It was eye-filling.

Now if one morning you wake up, and your first thought is: I want to go on the cleanse, there is a thin, yellow book by Stanley Burroughs waiting for you at a bookstore. It is to be followed without any exceptions. And if you want a coach in the form of a book, I have a good one; it is called Lose Weight, Have More Energy, Be Healthier in 10 Days by Peter Glickman. Also, here are a few interesting websites for support, if they are needed:
www.thelemonadediet.com
www.themastercleanse.com
www.healsa.co.za/cayennepepper.htm
www.curezone.com

Be well; be happy.

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a happy birthday

When I reached the age of 40, I decided 40 was a good number for me, so 40 I stayed – in my mind. It dawned on me this past weekend, however, that I have to move on up because in three years my son will be 40. Now I’m forced to wonder, where does that leave me? Actually, it was all in jest, the truth is if I were granted an opportunity to go back in time, or continue as I am, I’d say forget going back, moving forward suits me just fine.

This past Saturday was my birthday and Michael, Sumi, Emi, Toshi, Alicia, Sebastian, Sophie, and Clover – the order in which they came into my life – arrived in Philadelphia to celebrate with me. I find it impossible to express the happiness I felt at having us all together; it was a grand feeling, and a beautiful and fun weekend.

Was the weekend busy? Was it hectic? Yes, wonderfully so. There were three little ones under age three. Did we drink champagne? Did we thoroughly relish eating the scrumptious chocolate birthday cake from The Chocolate Room in Brooklyn? Hmm, let me think about that one. . . .

The pink roses laid on top of the refrigerator at Windsor Suites because even though the rooms were spacious, things are arranged differently when some guests are under the age of three. We were informal, we are usually informal, so no one cared that at the table someone was either getting up or sitting down.

I received the perfect gifts, and besides enjoying their physical forms, I see in them their own stories of strength, beauty, charm, love, tranquility, creativity, thoughtfulness, solidity, caring, and wisdom.

A birthday can be significant – depending on the birthday person. At this time in my life, when another year is added to it, I feel stronger, richer, and more able to understand where I want to direct my energies. While I’m alive I intend to use my Life Force in a way that contributes to helping our earth, and also to understanding the connection we all have to each other, and to all of nature. How will that happen? I ask that question in silence just about every day, and I’m beginning to discover a place within myself that’s well-able to answer questions when I allow it. Allowing is to make room in the day for quiet time. And I now believe that to not allow is to flounder.

So, I say happy birthday to me, and happy birthday to you – may we embrace whatever age we are, and wherever we are in life, and in pure delight may we all continue to move on up from there.

* * * * * *
“It’s foolish how we rush through life and cry that time is on the wing. We’re living in eternity, and time is just a clockmade thing.” -R. McCann

“Too often people set their lives by the calendar. It takes all the fun out of life.” -John Glenn, After His Latest Shuttle Mission

“Learn to see, and then you’ll know there is no end to the new worlds of our vision.” -Carlos Castaneda

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

We can’t wait to see you on your special day Mom! Happy birthday to a beautiful woman! You touch the people around you in more ways than you will ever know.

Love,
Michael