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vacations and labor day weekend

For many people Labor Day means closing a beach house, or leaving a rented villa in a beautiful European city, or summer day outings with family and friends, or, shall I count the endless vacation choices? Better not, you say. Okay, I understand; I won’t. In any event, it’s time to head back to a big city, a small town, or the countryside to greet autumn – time to unpack. I hope you’re all well-rested after a lovely summer. Now settle in and have a fun-filled Labor Day weekend. www.dictionary.com Labor Day n. The first Monday in September, observed as a holiday in the United States and Canada in honor of working people. (Australia, too?)

Ahh, but some people have yet to take a vacation; they like traveling during autumn and/or winter. Where are you all going? Will you travel beyond your borders or stay close by? In either case, I’ve got a few websites for you who have yet to pack.

Here we go, or rather, here you go –

www.yotel.com

www.ecuadorexplorers.com

www.casademariafelix.com

www.heartoftheinitiate.com

www.hiayh.org

www.wtgonline.com

a few lightweight clothes –

www.travelsmith.com

thoughts for the road –

www.mindmovies.com.

Wherever you go, enjoy.

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yellow mustard, vinegar and black pepper

Sometimes when you think you’ve found the right method for doing this or that, something comes along to knock it. For instance, Dr. Jonathan Wright (“Physicians honor Dr. Wright with medicine’s first LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD”) refers to yellow mustard as “THE MUSTARD MIRACLE” and he goes on, “So harmless you could (and probably should) take it every day just to be on the safe side!” Okay, why not? I think to myself, that’s easily accomplished. I mention this to a friend, who said, “No. No. I’ve read the opposite, vinegar, black pepper, mustard should be avoided. They irritate the stomach and are harmful.” I don’t want to know this; vinegar, black pepper, mustard are great with foods. “Tell me no more.” says I.

Well, I go through my books, they say good things about organic apple cider vinegar, and nothing about black pepper. To be honest though I’ve heard through the years that black pepper is a stomach irritant, but who wants to know that because what will replace the taste of black pepper steak, black pepper on fried eggs, etc.? I know the answer, it’s beneficial, wonderful cayenne, once you’ve gotten used to its bite. Cayenne to the rescue. Right?

Now about yellow mustard, I found a book hiding on my bookshelf, an old packed-with- information-and-wisdom classic titled The Original Back To Eden by Jethro Kloss – Healing Herbs Home Remedies Diet & Health. He healed countless numbers of people the natural way. He speaks highly of wonderful cayenne. And mustard? Well, Jethro Kloss wrote “. . . it is harmful to use mustard in food.”

So, my questions: why are two excellent sources writing contrary opinions about something that seems pretty straightforward? And does anyone out there have sound information about that delicious tasting seasoning called yellow mustard?

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emmet fox (1886-1951)

Seventeen years ago I bought a book titled The Sermon On The Mount The Key To Success In Life. A lot of years passed since I last read it. It was packed away, found, and recently read again because it’s a book with a lot of substance. The www allowed for further information about the writer of the book, Emmet Fox. He was a scientist, philosopher, and spiritual teacher who was born in Ireland, educated in England, lived and worked mostly in the United States, and died in France. His adult life was dedicated to spiritual teachings, people, traveling, and living life energetically. His books are easy to read, deeply moving, and immensely informative. He wrote with intelligence and heart.

Now with a new President of the United States on the horizon, there are two chapters of another of his books, Alter Your Life, that make for very good reading at this particular time in our history. The two chapters are: “The American Spirit – The Principles Underlying the Constitution” on page 166, and “The Historical Destiny of the United States” on page 188. If you’re thinking that you’ve studied it already, you might want to think about reading Emmet Fox’s words. Because to remember why and how the United States of America came into being, and to review the meaning of The Constitution and what took place during and after, and to connect with what our Founding Fathers were all about helps put our thoughts in order. And putting our thoughts in order is extremely important since it appears we’ve strayed far and wide from the original course.

And the rest of the book? Well, you just might want to keep reading.

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laughter

Many years ago I read that our bodies can’t tell whether our laughter is real or not. In either case, laughter helps heal. And, if that’s the case, let’s do it – let’s laugh loudly now. Watching the videos on www.laughteryoga.org will, well, you’ll see. And then there are all those laughing yoga clubs. Maybe one of us will want to start one. You never know.

Enjoy the day!

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tai chi and more

Tai Chi is exhilerating, it loosens muscles and joints, strengthens the body and mind, teaches correct breathing, and has other benefits as well. It’s also beautiful to watch.

I recently bought a Terry Dunn video to get an idea of where head, torso, knees, and legs have to turn. I know that a video can’t be compared to a good instructor. However, for a few more months I’ll stand in front of the video.

I enjoy Tai Chi. Walking is a great exercise, too, but summertime walking in hot and humid weather is challenging; plunging into the sea is far more enticing. I practice the Five Rites from the Ancient Secret of The Fountain of Youth book (love that title; love that book!), and they’re wonderful, but Tai Chi was also calling.

So, here’s to all the wonderful exercise choices we have, and to doing them . . . correctly.

Have a great day!

******* ******* ******* ******* ******* ******* *******

“Turn yourself inward. Correct yourself and your world will change.” – Kristen Zambucka

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a cup of coffee

The decision to drink coffee doesn’t come easily to some people. All the research and news about caffein in coffee, and the limiting of it to three cups, bring anxiety to those who can’t live with it and can’t live without it. Other people couldn’t care less, they just want it to taste really good. Still others will drink any kind from anywhere as long as it’s called coffee.

When I see people walking along the street holding a cup of iced or hot coffee, they look as though they’ve just found their best friend. Coffee does that for some people. It’s not the same as holding a bottle of water. And at the train station passengers with only a few minutes to spare before boarding will hurry over to a coffee counter not wanting to board without what’s to be their last cup of the day. They’ll spill some of it running for the train and that’s okay.

Then there are those delightful scenes of people sitting in cafes, often two or more to a table, coffee cups between them. They take small sips as if to prolong the stay, while smiling, conversing, relaxing as though they haven’t a care in the world. And there are people alone in cafes in cities and towns throughout the world scanning a book, a laptop, or a newspaper reaching for a coffee cup, eyes never leaving book, laptop, newspaper – good, sweet moments are these.

A cup of coffee brings pleasure to a lot of people; it would seem the enjoyment of it more than makes up for whatever it is caffein might or might not do to a coffee drinker. So, no matter what the latest research indicates, coffee continues to delight for many different reasons.

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shhhh. . .

Shhhh. . . is the title of Ode Magazine’s July/August 2008 issue – Everything you always wanted to know about peace and quiet The Silence Issue. www.odemagazine.com Books and magazine articles toot the many benefits of silence. They write that the world is getting noisier. mystics have said the silence is where answers to our deepest questions are often found. If this is so, silence seems a very good idea. Once upon a time people hungry for quiet time found it in monasteries. Now reserving space is not always possible. There are, however, silent retreats led by innovative leaders taking place not only indoors, but outside as well – no limit there. According to some people who have been on silent retreats, silence speaks volumes to them. Nice! Not everyone knows what to do with silence though – for some it causes anxiety even though they’re seeking it. And beginning on page 69 is a neat article called “Because God Whispers” written by Tijn Touber, Ode’s senior editor. Ah, – so many reasons to find your way to this magazine.

Last year I read a very good article in Yoga+Joyful Living November/December 2007 issue www.yogaplus.org on silence called My Accidental Silent Retreat by Alexandra Starr, and in the article five silent retreat places were listed. And they are:

Insight Meditation Society, Barre, MA, 978-355-4378; www.dharma.org
Mount Madonna Center, Watsonville, CA, 408-846-4064; www.mountmadonna.org
Abbey of Gethsemani, Trappist, KY, 502-549-4133; www.monks.org
Spirit Rock Meditation Center, Woodacre, CA, 405-488-0164; www.spiritrock.org
Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health, Stockbridge, MA, 866-200-5203; www.kripalu.org

Shhhh . . .

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a bag of letters

Last night I read a few of the letters I’d placed in a Tiffany’s bag long ago. They’d been in storage in another State and recently retrieved. The letters were separated according to writer, and put in chronological order and tied. They were special – these six different packets from six different people – and as I read, the words seemed to jump out at me. Five of the people have since died, to reread their letters is to be with them; it’s a priceless experience.

It’s easy to send an email in place of a letter. It’s not the same though. The simple process of choosing the stationery, selecting a favorite pen, setting apart the time and the place, and focusing thoughts leading up to writing a letter ties in with the end result, and allows the writer to be connected to the act of writing. Then off goes one’s energy to a friend (or in comes the energy needed), when a child is misbehaving, an unsolved problem needs a solid opinion, congratulations is in order – a wedding, a baby, a career move, a trip of a lifetime, or a letter needs to be written because someone’s getting a divorce, someone’s sick, someone’s dying, someone needs to feel loved. A huge life expereince is taking place, and a letter that will be read over and over again needs to be sent or received.

Having the letters before me is a reminder of how extraordinary life is. The letters from people now dead were of life, of whatever they were feeling and thinking at the time.

Many people must be writing letters, I have three beautiful pens given to me as gifts, so I know beautiful pens still exist. And in stores I see all kinds of stationery – beautiful, funny, original, stationery with photographs of nature in all its splendor, photographs of people in all situations and with all kinds of expressions. Yes, someone must be writing – still. And perhaps one day another someone will be holding, reading – maybe laughing; maybe crying – and most likely appreciating that letter. Wonderful!

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a small list

What will we find at the following in no particular order websites? You’ll never know til you click on. Could be exactly the site you want or need. They come from reliable sources; they do indeed.

www.wowowow.com

www.revolutionhealth.com

www.manu-wildlife-center.com

www.laduree.fr

www.martinguitar.com

www.apartmenttherapy.com

I was going to add www.richart-chocolates.com from France to the above list. They’re considered to be excellent. Buit we don’t want chocolates. Do we?

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noises

There are lots of people up and about in the wee hours of a weekend morning though not the people going to or coming from work, but those ready for a whole night of socializing in whatever form that takes. The noises come loud and clear from the streets below and into my apartment. I don’t hear the noises though (well, I do and I don’t). A part of me is aware of them, and another part doesn’t acknowledge them. Maybe that’s from years of living in New York City, or just my way of processing things. The part that is aware hears screams, shouts, uproarious laughter, loud honks – weekend noises – of people who’ve come to Phila for night life, or perhaps people living in Phila trying to shake off their work week. The strong noises continue til sleep comes for me, the night owl, – not the outside night owls. After departing restaurants, bars, theatres, jazz spots, etc. weekend revelers seem to stop anywhere along the way to gather and have another drink to just prolong the evening. Some are single and can sleep the next day; Others with children, well, loss of sleep is the tradeoff for a night of ease and enjoyment. To the part of me that doesn’t acknowledge and is not sensitive to city noises, I say, halleluia. Otherwise, I’d need an assortment of ear plugs and a good sense of humor. Actually, I hope I have the last, and, if I do, I want it forever.

Now those country noises are an altogether different matter. I hear all of them that are soft and of nature, and I hear the silence, too. And they’re all acknowledged. Oh, yes.