Vent

Best In Show And A Norwich Terrier

2013-05-24T00:00:00.000-04:00

If I were ever going to have a dog, I would want a Norwich Terrier.

My love for this ADORABLE breed (from the United Kingdom) all started back in 2003, when I first saw the movie, Best In Show.

If you’ve never seen this film, PLEASE (I beg of you) watch it because it’s my favorite movie (mockumentary) by writer/director/actor, Christopher Guest, who in my opinion is pure, insane GENIUS! I guarantee you will laugh your ass off through the entire 90 minutes of this film. I actually own Best In Show, and no matter how many times I view it (like 5 billion times already), I will laugh as hard as I did the first.

Christopher Guest possesses a keen ability to know WHO to cast in his films, which is a big part of his brilliance.

People like: Parker Posey, Eugene Levy, Michael McKean and Jennifer Coolidge, to name but a few. All of whom are stellar at improvisational acting.

And from my own experience, improvisation is the most challenging type of acting because you have to fly by the seat of your pants; able to think and react spontaneously, with little or no script.

Anyhow, as you can tell from my initial post photo, this movie has to do with the Mayflower Kennel Club Dog Show and five hilariously eccentric contestants, who enter their dogs in the show.

My two personal favorite characters are portrayed by Parker Posey (as Meg Swan) and Jennifer Coolidge (as Sherri Ann).

The Norwich Terrier (named Winky), is my favorite dog in the movie. I had never seen a Norwich before watching this film, but instantly fell in love with it because they have the most precious little face, wiry hair, and short, stubby legs. OMG…I wanted to reach through the TV screen; grab the dog and then squeeze and kiss him to death. I read an article online about Norwich Terriers, which said they have a very friendly, affectionate and good-natured personality; getting along with other dogs and people.

And I can believe it too, because they just emanate a sweetness.

Here, let’s take a look at a Norwich…

Right after getting groomed. Look at those sweet little eyes that say, "Okay...how do I look?"

The little pink tongue hanging out is killing me. Doesn't he look HAPPY?

I wanna pick this one up and EAT it. Tooooo damn cute!

So tell me, don't you just want to kiss that black button nose?

This one looks like a little toy that you would put batteries in.

Look at those precious stubby legs.

BEYOND adorable!

Wishing you a BEST in show weekend everyone!
X

Interview: Autism Is A Journey

2013-05-20T00:00:00.000-04:00

Today I am very excited and honored to share an interview on a topic that I have wanted to post about for the longest time.

Autism touched my life 16 years ago, when I became close friends with, Diana, who I met while living in Florida who has a son that is autistic.

Up until that point, I had no awareness of autism.

Several years ago, I had the immense pleasure of meeting fellow-blogger, Bijoux at Bytes From The Burbs, who also has a child with autism. Periodically she will share posts about her daughter, which have always touched me. Such as it was last month, when Bijoux shared about a project her daughter was working on in college.

It was then that I got the idea of hosting an interview with her because I thought it would be educational and enlightening to those of you who might not know much about autism. So I contacted Bijoux and asked if she would agree to share an interview on my blog, and she did.

I have never met this lovely lady in person, but can tell that she is a kind, compassionate, open and VERY humorous soul. And I can also tell that she's an outstanding Mom.

So without further ado, I give you, Bijoux.

Welcome, my friend, and thank you for sharing this interview.

Please tell us some of your initial thoughts and feelings, when you first discovered that your daughter was autistic.

Oddly, I knew something wasn’t quite right in the first few weeks. She was my second child, and I found it disconcerting that I couldn’t get her to make eye contact or smile. Then we discovered she had some eye and heart defects, so we attributed her behavior to those medical issues. Starting at age 2 ½, we began the process of getting her evaluated, but it wasn’t until age 5 that she was formerly diagnosed. Even though I had suspected it for years, it was still difficult to hear. In 1997, there wasn’t a lot of information out there. From my previous career as a continuing education coordinator for medical/social workers, I knew quite a bit about classic autism. People with autism in those days were confined to group homes and institutions. Since this was pre-Internet, I spent my days researching autism at the library, gathering every piece of information I could get my hands on. My husband and I were committed to providing her with the most normal life as possible, so we started speech therapy, occupational therapy and at-home interventions immediately. As far as my feelings, there was a lot of crying and fear. There was definitely a period of grief for the loss of the ‘normal child’ I thought I had given birth to. I did not know how others would react, so we kept her diagnosis to close family members. It’s hard for me to admit this, but there was definitely an aspect of shame and not wanting anyone to know.

I know there are different functioning levels of autism. Please share a bit about your daughters.

She was diagnosed with Pervasive Developmental Disorder-Not Otherwise Specified by a neurological psychologist. She is considered high-functioning. She did not have enough of the characteristics of Asperger’s to get that diagnosis, nor is she as high-functioning as many Aspies we know. She is completely verbal, though she suffers in her pragmatic language skills and she also has a dysfluency problem (stuttering) that is non-related. Her gross and fine motor skills are below average (never able to ride a bike, although I am taking her to a special bike camp this summer, so keep your fingers crossed), can’t catch or hit a baseball, has trouble with scissors, zippers, etc. and is generally messy at most tasks. Has difficulty in social situations (can’t start a conversation or keep one going, no clue on how to join in) and is emotionally immature for her age (extreme difficulties spending the night away from home or in any new situation). Her strengths are in music and creative writing.

Overall, how do your daughters peers react and respond to her autism?

She was generally accepted by her peers from preschool to about grade 5. She had a nice group of friends and was invited to birthday parties, etc. I had her involved in Girl Scouts, so she also had that as a social resource. Unfortunately, after about age 10, her lack of social and emotional skills made her stand out. It was as though all her friends matured and she stayed the same. A big part of this is that her interests are immature for her age. She still played with American Girl dolls in middle/high school and watched the Disney Channel. She is also small and has a baby face, so even at age 21, she is still given a children’s menu at restaurants. She survived with one best friend in high school and a few outliers, who were really just friends with her best friend. Her one best friend has been a lifesaver though. She is a girl who had a brother (who has since passed away) with severe cerebral palsy, so she is extremely sensitive to those with disabilities. I do not know how my daughter would have gotten this far in life without her. A girl with Asperger’s at her community college also befriended her in a class her first year. Those are currently her only two social contacts. She did not have much trouble with bullying, it just got to the point where she was ignored by most classmates. It would have been nice if her peers had made an effort to include her (she WANTS to socialize, she just doesn’t understand HOW), but I also realize that teens aren’t known for maturity in social situations. Most are just trying to survive themselves.

What has been the biggest challenge?

For me, it has been the ‘perpetual childhood’ aspect of the disorder. I still feel as though I have a preschooler at times, driving her everywhere, reminding her to clean her mouth and take a shower, picking up after her because she is oblivious to her messes, calming her down when something is not working (like her Kindle). When you have children, you have hopes and dreams for them, and the knowledge that they will one day leave you and be on their own. We will never have that with our daughter. Even though she’s in the process of earning an Associate’s Degree, I can already see that she will not be able to hold a regular job and her lack of motor skills and common sense don’t make it likely that she will ever drive. It’s a worry that never leaves you….what will happen when I am gone?

What has been the greatest joy?

Watching her try so hard to do something and finally succeed. It’s usually the littlest things that bring the greatest joy. I remember how much she wanted to blow out her birthday candles at age 5. She struggles with any task that requires verbal explanation, so imagine trying to explain how to blow out a candle. It’s hard to explain or demonstrate (you can’t see air!), especially because we really didn’t understand why she couldn’t do it. She was finally able (though to this day, it still takes her a number of tries) and the look on her face, followed by the exclamation, “I DID IT!” was priceless. There is also a lot of joy in the humor that she brings to our family. Most people with autism are brutally honest. It’s actually difficult for her to lie, and when she does, she will immediately tell on herself. Her viewpoint is so different from the rest of ours, she can be quite hilarious at times, without meaning to be, and she also has trouble understanding when someone else is trying to be funny. This year she took college biology and she told me, with a straight face, “Today in class, we looked at a healthy pig’s lungs, and the lungs of a pig who smoked.” After I regained my composure, I asked her if she really thought a pig had smoked. She thought about it and then said, “No, but that’s what the professor said!”

Is there any advice or support you can give to parents with autistic children, as far as things that you have learned through this journey?

Read as much as possible on the topic, attend conferences on autism, find a support group of parents who can relate to what you are going through and be a network of exchanging ideas, and never give up on your child. They will always surprise you! The biggest thing I’ve learned is that autism is a disorder with a myriad of symptoms. Although some of the general characteristics may be the same, no two people with autism will present the same way. Erase Rain Man from your head. My daughter is horrible with numbers!

Thank you so much, Bijoux....x

*Please feel free to direct your comments to Bijoux, as she will be responding to them personally.

More information: Autism Speaks

Bar Soap Versus BodyWash

2013-05-17T00:00:00.000-04:00

When I was a youngster, the two most popular brands of bath bar soap were Zest and Irish Spring.

I can remember how my mother would buy them in those family size 8-packs, which she would store in the hall closet with the bath towels, wash cloths, and toilet paper.

And to this day, I can still recall how each of those soaps smelled.

Zest had a fresh; almost summer breeze at the beach aroma.

Irish Spring had a clean, crisp; almost citrusy-piney aroma. The bar had green and white stripes running through it, which were reminiscent of Ireland I suppose. So whenever I used it, I thought that I would eventually turn into a green leprechaun and start dancing the Irish gig, naked in the shower; covered in soap bubbles.

Also, both of these soaps had such corny TV commercial advertisements that would run through my head every time I bathed.

Then, sometime during the 80’s, bar soap went to wayside while shower gel (body wash) came to the forefront.

And I have to admit, I was a little resistant at first to using body wash, because psychologically, I felt like bar soap was the only thing that would clean my body thoroughly.

But the first thing I noticed when I started using body wash versus bar soap (including Zest), was that it didn’t leave any kind of yucky residue on the shower. Do you know the residue I’m talking about? That white, pasty film that glues itself to the shower tiles and curtain, which can only be removed with 2 tanks of gasoline and a box of stick matches.

Ever since I started using shower gel, I no longer have to deal with that. My shower stays cleaner – and so does my skin. Also, with as many showers as I take in a day, I seem to save more money using body wash instead bar soap because bar soap dissolves so quickly and gets all mushy.

And I have figured out a way to use ONE product instead of two. I simply buy a big bottle of shampoo (for $4.99) and used it for my hair AND body. Viola!....I kill two birds with one stone. And a bottle will last me a month.

Yes, I know, I sound like a CHEAP little leprechaun, don’t I?

Yet, with today’s economy, every dollar counts.

But still, I do miss those cheesy bar soap commercials…

Wishing you a squeaky clean weekend everyone!

Rapper Ronnie And The Cupid Shuffle

2013-05-13T00:43:00.000-04:00

Last week we had a special event at work, which included a DJ who played an awesome variety of music.

One of the songs was, Cupid Shuffle, which I'm ashamed to say I had NEVER heard before.

Well, ever since, I’ve been listening to the song on You Tube and line dancing around my apartment; doing the Cupid Shuffle moves. I even do it while I’m washing the dishes. You haven't lived until you've seen a soapy fork FLY out of your hands and across the room while trying to dance.

I COULD NOT get that song out of my head because it had such a great beat.

In fact, at one point during the middle of the night on Saturday, I woke myself up dancing the Cupid Shuffle in my SLEEP.

“To the right, to the right, to the right, to the right…to the left, to the left, to the left, to the left…now kick, now kick, now kick, now kick…now walk it by yourself, now walk it by yourself.”

Please don't tell anyone this yet, because it's a secret. I’ve decided to quit my job and become a professional rapper and then tour the world.

I’ll call myself, Rapper Ronnie, The Gift Wrapper.

Who knows, maybe I'll get some gigs at the geriatric community centers in Miami Beach, Florida. But I may have to dye my hair BLUE first.

What do ya think? Have you ever seen or heard of a 57-year old rapper?

Well, now you have…

Women And Steel Magnolias

2013-05-10T00:00:00.000-04:00

Having recently lost my mother back in November, I honestly didn’t know what I was going to share for my traditional Mother’s Day post this year because this will be the first Mother's Day without her, and I was suddenly at a loss for words.

But then earlier this week, I read a post by Lisa at Peripheral Perceptions, which inspired me to share something.

So thank you, Lisa….x

Lisa brought up the movie, Steel Magnolias, which I had ironically just watched the night before I read her post, so I knew it had to be some sort of 'sign' because the words for this post suddenly came to me.

Here are a few quotes from her stunningly beautiful post on women becoming mothers...

“We’re a lot stronger than we look, aren’t we? To the outside world, most of us look like little magnolia flowers; one good storm away from being destroyed.

But inside.….inside we rival the man of steel. Once women become mothers, they quickly learn about inner strength as well as unparalleled fear. And, Southern or not, we all become steel magnolias to some degree.

Yes, through our mommy experiences, our resolve and determination become strong as steel, and as beautiful as a magnolia.”

If you go back into my May archives throughout these past 6 ½ years, you will pretty much read my thoughts and feelings not only about my own mother and motherhood, but women in general.

I adore and admire women so.

And the main reason why I feel this way is because of their strength.

As Lisa shared, to the outside world, most women appear fragile and weak. But it has been my experience that women are anything BUT fragile and weak.

When I think back to my mother and all the things she taught me through quietly observing her, it was her inner strength that impressed me the most - and not only through her life, but also through her death.

I never saw someone so bravely accept and embrace her transition from this world to the next; in spite of any fear she might have had.

She never complained. She never allowed herself to become bitter. She never once said, “Why me?”

In fact, she moved through the final chapter of her life as she did all the other chapters.

With grace, faith, gratitude, and humor.

And like a magnolia, soft, delicate and beautiful, she also contained the inner strength of steel.

So to all you awesome women out there; whether mothers or not.

I would like to take this time to thank you for your beauty and strength. You add so much power to this world.

And know that you are very much respected, admired and loved.

You are steel magnolias…

Happy Mother and Women Day!

People Photographs

2013-05-06T00:00:00.000-04:00

For me, there is something so intriguing about photographs with people in them.

And I don’t even have to know the people in the photos to find them interesting, because I like looking at any and all people in pictures. Especially vintage photographs that date waaaaay back in time.

People add a life force to a photograph. Don't get me wrong, I love pictures of a beautiful landscape or cityscape, but viewing photographs of people are my favorite. Because it's like looking at a single moment in someones life that has been captured through the click of a camera; knowing that moment will never happen exactly the same way again.

And sometimes if there are two people together in a photograph, I'm often curious as to who they are in relationship to each other.

Are they a couple? Are they just friends? Are they related?

I will often pause longer while looking at a people photo, to examine it closer.

One of the things I enjoy about city life is that there are always a lot of people to notice, look at and interact with. City life can be one of the most enjoyable, but intense human experiences, because you live in very close quarters with other city dwellers.

Overall, I am a person who truly enjoys being around and interacting with other humans in a city setting. But there are times when I like to become invisible and simply observe; without ever speaking. And oddly enough, you CAN do that in a city. And probably easier than in a more rural area where there are less people, so it's harder to become invisible.

Today I would like to share some photographs, that were taken over the past 6 months...of people.

Please enjoy.

This photo came out blurry, but I like it because it seems to enhance the freezing cold temperature, and it also adds an unsettling emotion to the image.

A photographer I spotted taking photographs on Broad Street.

5th Avenue in New York City. Manhattan is a city of movement. And as insane as it looks, it's a beautifully choreographed movement that you intuitively tune into and dance with.

Love Park in Philadelphia. You will often spot tourists taking photographs here.

The corner of 18th Street and Locust. I love how this attractive lady dressed in black, seems to be waiting for someone. I also love Europe, and this photo reminds me of that.

I see this gentleman walking in the city a lot. Those two dogs he has are two of the most aggressive canines I have ever seen. I’ve actually watched them attack and try to BITE the tires on a moving public bus, while the owner pulled back on the leashes, as if he were trying to tame two wild boars. It was freakin' hilarious!

Peeking through a gate at two women having lunch in a cafe'.

A view from my apartment window of a Spanish street festival.

I took this shot of four photographs of people within the windows of a house. Isn't it COOLLY CREEPY? They almost look like four ghosts staring through the windows!

Happy Monday, y'all

Have You Ever Noticed About Coupons?

2013-05-03T00:00:00.000-04:00

I’m not really a big coupon user because I either forget to put them in my wallet, so I never have them when I need them, or the coupons never include anything I need at the time I need them.

Take for instance the coupons you get from CVS, Rite Aid, or Walgreens drugstores, if you’re a club card member.

First of all, their dates for use are as narrow as a drinking straw, so unless you need to purchase something on THOSE dates, you're out of luck. And usually with CVS drugstore coupons, they expire in 2 days.

And they always seem to say something like this:

-$5.00 off savings: can only be used on a month with a double full moon and only on Wednesday or Friday, between 9:30 AM and 12:24 PM or 2:30 PM and 5:53 PM, and only if the weather is sunny and 75 degrees with no more than 2% humidity.

*okay, I know that’s a bit of an exaggeration, but not by much.

And then when you go to read all the EXCLUSIONS on the coupons, it really doesn’t leave you with anything to use them for.

*purchase must total $500.00 or more and cannot be combined with sales or discounts. Excludes: milk, bread, alcohol, prescriptions, tobacco products, aspirin, electronics, tampons, condoms, magazines, or any item that is contained in a cardboard box that hasn’t been recycled at least twice.

*okay, I know that’s a bit of an exaggeration, but not by much.

Excuse me, but what does this coupon leave anyone to purchase?

500 bags of $1.00 Starlight Peppermints?

And I also love the coupons for $10.00 off any purchase of $50.00 or more. Because if let’s say, you were only going to purchase something that equaled $30.00, but then got some other things for $20.00 to equal $50.00. Even with the $10.00 off coupon, you’re still spending $10.00 more on things you really didn't need or want to begin with - JUST TO GET THE DISCOUNT.

Nope, unless it’s a buy one, get one free, I don’t use many coupons. I’ll use them if I just so happened to be in the store and need to purchase something. But other than that, I don’t take advantage of them.

However, this is a coupon I WOULD take advantage of.

Yup, in a lickety split minute…

Now THAT'S a coupon.

Wishing you a special weekend everyone!
X

On God And The Bible

2013-04-29T00:45:00.000-04:00

In the 6 years I’ve had this blog, I have periodically shared about my own spiritual beliefs, but have always done so in a way that I’ve never forced them on others or made people think that MY way was the ONLY way.

Yet, it never ceases to amaze me how the extreme born-again Christians will perch themselves on city corners and in public parks, or even walk up to me in a Starbucks while holding a bible in their hands and begin spooning scripture down my throat; telling me that unless I follow “the book” and believe that Jesus Christ died for my sins, I will never be saved.

Um....really? And who asked you?

And what I find utterly amusing about these devout and devoted Christians, is that they seem to quote the bible as if they were robots; having been programed. They just repeat the words like they’re trying to believe it themselves and making ME believe it at the same time.

And do you know what? I’m really over these people doing this while holding my tongue; trying to be respectful of their beliefs, when they have absolutely no respect for mine.

So here’s my vent to all you trying to save me born-again Christians, who know the ONE and ONLY way to God.

Now it’s my turn to speak.

The Bible

Has it ever occurred to any of you that the bible is a book that has been trampled on and revised a hundred times by MAN to manipulate and control you into not really understanding God at all, but rather what MAN wants you to believe?

And if you truly believe that God gave me a free will, why would He try to manipulate and control me?

And if you truly believe that God made me unique and individual, why would He tell me that there is only ONE way to know Him?

And if you truly believe that God is a loving God, why would He judge the way so many of you do?

You see, I KNOW that I judge. I ADMIT that I judge. But I am well aware that my judgment comes from my own human judgment, not from a book that I have twisted into God’s judgment and then preach about it in His name.

And another thing, you all believe that the version of the bible you carry is THE bible. Yet, if there are so many versions of the bible, what makes you think that your version is the correct one?

Many years ago when I was on a 7-day solo spiritual retreat, I heard a voice while I was meditating one day that said to me, “Don’t ever read the bible, Ron. In fact don’t even pick it up, because that book has nothing to do with me. If you really want to know me, listen to me in your heart because I speak to everyone differently.”

God

Throughout my 57 years on this planet, I’ve had many one-on-one conversations with born-again Christians about God that have always ended the same way. They will say they are open to hearing it, yet they will never look me in the eye, they always look away. And at the end of the conversation they will immediately go back to that ROBOTIC way of speaking, and say there is only one true way to know God.

So really, there is no point in speaking with them about God at all.

I always get the feeling while talking with a born-again Christian that they feel sorry for me, thinking to themselves, “Until you believe the way I do, you will be lost.” Not ever realizing that THEY are the ones who appear lost.

You see, the God I know has never preached or forced me to believe anything.

I have a free will to either believe in Him or not believe in Him.

And just for record, I DO believe in a God – very much so. And I also believe in a Christ.

But the God I know doesn’t come from a book. He comes from inside me.

And even if I didn't believe in God or Christ, that still wouldn't delegate whether I go to heaven or hell. Because God comes in many forms.

So dear born-again Christians, allow me to conclude this post by saying one last thing…

You are free to believe whatever you wish. And I’m happy you know the ONE way to God and that you're saved.

But will you do me a big favor?

For the love of God, stop preaching to me because I’m already friends with Him.

As a matter of fact, He’s the one who told me to write this.

Amen.

Shit I Found On The Ground

2013-04-26T00:00:00.000-04:00

As I’ve shared in a previous post how often we forget to look UP in order to capture some surprisingly unexpected photographs, I feel the same about looking DOWN. Especially if you live in a city because you can spot a potpourri of unusual things beneath your feet.

Over the past month, I took some photographs of stuff I found on the ground. And it was amusing to observe people watching me aim my camera at the sidewalk and street while snapping images of odd objects. I actually had several people stop and stare with a suspicious and paranoid look on their face while clutching their iPhones, like, “What the HELL is he doing and should I 911 the police because this guy looks mentally deranged.”

I felt like saying, “Look busybody, I’m a photographer for Newsweek on a special assignment to take photographs of shit I find on the ground. Now mind your own business and buzz off!”

And what I thought most interesting about taking these shots was my inquisitiveness about the backstory of how some of these objects got there.

So here you go, folks, photographs of things I found on the ground.

This is interesting. A banana peel sitting directly next to a piece of chewing gum. It looks like an ad for bubble gum - “Gum that tastes like a banana, only it’s BLUE.”

I wonder if whoever dropped this was on their way home from the produce store and when they got there, realized they were minus one red pepper for dinner.

Evidence of hair loss from a faulty hair weave.

I bet this sock belonged to a man who was in hurry to get away from a very angry husband who walked in on him and his wife doing the nasty; dropping one of his socks in the street while running away.

A fabric softener sheet and an oriental fan. I have NO idea what to make of these two objects, other than they belong to a Geisha girl who works in a laundromat.

SCARY! Reminds me of the Stephen King book, Bag Of Bones. Either that, or the remainder of a Kentucky Fried Chicken 1-Piece Happy Meal.

I discovered this cute, little bumblebee just sitting on the sidewalk in a park. It was deceased, but fully intact. How odd. I wondered how it got there. Did it suddenly have a heart attack in mid-flight, and then made a smooth crash landing? And I honestly felt sad because I love bumblebees.

And now for the final photo, one of which is literally shit I found on the ground. I dedicate this photo to my buddy Katherine at Shoot Me Now.

Warning: I hope you're not eating breakfast while viewing this. And if you are...STOP.

Isn’t this a lovely sight? And no, it's not a Tootsie Roll. Thank god I saw it before stepping in it.

*note: this is a scratch and sniff photo, so feel free to try it. But be sure to use hand sanitizer afterward.

Apparently the dog owner didn’t see this only a few feet away. Or they saw it and didn’t care.

I had no idea they even had things like this, a Mutt Mitt. How ingenious! From the illustration it looks like a kitchen mitt.

Oh well, like I said, at least I saw it before I stepped in it.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone. And don’t forget to look DOWN.

Bobby Darin, My Father, And Mack The Knife

2013-04-22T00:00:00.000-04:00

Our strongest memories come from smelling and hearing.

Just like when you smell something (such as a perfume) it will remind you of a particular time or person in your life, it's the same when you hear a piece of music.

You are instantly transported in a time capsule, where the memory is so clear and sharp, it’s almost as though you are back there; living it again.

And isn't it funny how "back there" you never really appreciated the music until you hear it again, and think, "Damn...that was some fabulous music!"

For the past month and a half, I’ve been going though boxes of old family photos and experiencing such warm memories of my mother and father.

Now that my parents are gone (my birth mother, father, and stepmother), it’s been a rather sentimental period in my life, looking back on the wonderful childhood I had through photographs; remembering how blessed I was to have had THREE awesome parents.

My father was such a lover of music. I remember hearing him either whistling or singing a tune when he was in the shower. He always said that he wished he had been graced with an exceptional voice because he would have loved to been a professional singer.

I can vividly remember hearing the voices of Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra, Patsy Cline, and Bobby Darin playing on the console stereo we had in our living room. Back then we only had LP's and 45's. Could you just DIE!?!?

This is exactly what our console stereo looked like when I was a kid

Over the weekend I spent some time on You Tube, listening to Bobby Darin sing some of my father’s favorites. One of which was, “Mack The Knife.”

I don’t know whether you know this, but the song Mack The Knife was originally created for the 1928 musical, The Three Penny Opera. However, Bobby Darin made it more mainstream and popular in 1959. Many other vocal artists have recorded it, but Bobby’s rendition will always be my favorite.

Listening to Mack The Knife brought back such feeling memories of my father. So I decided to create a short video, by using the song as a backdrop to share some old photographs of my father AND Bobby Darin.

And I have to tell you, making this video was VERY challenging because I had to splice the music to fit the number of photographs I had. And I also wanted to shorten the song or the video would have been over a minute longer – so you will hear a jump in the music. As much as I tried, I couldn't get it to splice smoothly with the movie software I have.

But the frustration was worth it because after I finally finished, I smiled…remembering my father.

So please enjoy this tribute to two awesome men who have touched my life.

My Dad and Bobby Darin.

I love ya, Dad!

And thanks for the memories, Bobby!

For The Love Of Doors

2013-04-19T00:00:00.000-04:00

I dedicate this post to my delightful UK blogging friend and writer, Valerie at A Mixed Bag, who shares a similar fascination with doors.

X ya, Valerie!

Before posting this, I went online and Googled the symbolism of doors because I have always envisioned my fears as doors and mustering the courage to walk through them. So I was curious to see if doors held some esoteric meaning.

And here is what I found out:

Doors

Hope; opportunity; opening; passage from one state or world to another; entrance to new life; initiation.

It can be an entrance or an exit. A door can represent a new challenge or opportunity. It can represent a closing of the past, or a passage to a new future.

I love doors. I love looking at them, touching them, and am curious to know what's on the other side of them. I also like to notice what type of door handle and locks they have, or if the door has a window or if it’s just one sold piece of wood or metal.

Sometimes I’ll walk around the city and go door looking. And it’s interesting how a door to a home will often give me a sense about the people who live inside, because the front door is the first thing you see when walking into a house. It’s almost like an introduction to its inhabitants.

Some doors seem open and welcoming, while others seem closed off and kind of cold; almost giving you a feeling of DO NOT ENTER.

I am especially attracted to older doors, because they contain the life history of those who walked through them prior.

I know this sounds silly, but to me doors contain a personality.

Here are some photographs I took over the past two months of various doors.

I tried to get a bit of variety, to show you how vastly different they can be.

Please enjoy…

#8

“I feel very adventurous. There are so many doors to be opened, and I'm not afraid to look behind them.”
― Elizabeth Taylor

Have a faaaaaabulous weekend everyone!

The Reconstruction Of My Eyebrows

2013-04-15T00:00:00.000-04:00

I think when God was creating me he got a little heavy-handed and overzealous in the eyebrow department.

I bet he was thinking, “Okay, let’s see how bushy I can make Ronnie’s eyebrows, so that they resemble two large caterpillars walking across his forehead. Just for the hell of it.”

But I think he knew that I would eventually discover eyebrow tweezers, a comb and a pair of scissors to reconstruct his handiwork; having the freewill to “Do with them what you wish, Ronnie.”

Here are some photos I found when I was younger, with my eyebrows in the RAW.

High School Photograph:

*See? Didn't they look like two caterpillars on my forehead?

An Old Passport Photo:

*Yeah I know, this looks like a mug shot of a drug trafficker from Columbia wearing a polyester Disco shirt, but it IS me.

Later, when I began my acting career, I had an agent suggest that I groom my eyebrows so that my eyes would look more polished. And she was right. So I purchased a pair of eyebrow tweezers, a comb and small pair of scissors, and began a task that I would have to do for the remainder of my life.

And if you only knew how much time I spend on my eyebrows each day, you would slap me. Grooming my brows turned into a full time vocation. But if I didn’t do it, I would quickly revert back to my original blueprint.

Here is a photo collage, after I first started coiffuring my eyebrows. These are two photos from an old headshot composite. Don't I look like a combination of Greg Brady from The Brady Bunch and Tom Jones in his Las Vegas act?

*As you can see, I plucked a clean space between my brows, and also shaped them a bit.

A photo collage of my brows, presently:

The problem is, as I’m getting older, my eyebrows are actually getting thicker - and not only thicker, but LONGER.

I’m sure you’ve all seen older men with those bushy, camel-like eyebrows that stand out about 12 inches from their face. You know the ones I’m talking about, right? The ones that when you're talking to them, you keep staring at their eyebrows, watching them go up and down and up and down; creating a wind. And your only thought is that you wish you could grab the nearest weed-whacker and CHOP THEM OFF.

I mean if he’s going to leave them THAT long, he at least needs to use some hair gel to flatten them out. Because eventually he's going to POKE some innocent bystander in the eyes.

However, I can only imagine that as I progress in age, when my eyesight gets so bad that I can no longer even use a 100x magnifying mirror to pluck and cut my eyebrows because I can’t see them anymore, I know I’ll probably get to the point of saying, “Oh, screw it….just go back to your original blueprint, Ron!”

And end up looking like one of the Muppets…

Happy Monday everyone!

The Body Speaks

2013-04-12T00:00:00.000-04:00

Rob, over at Luna Park Gazette, expressed an interest in one of his comments a few weeks ago that I share more about the work I have done involving alternative therapy.

Therefore, I owe my inspiration for this post to Rob. Thanks buddy!

I would like to start by saying that what I am about to share might make some people uncomfortable because it involves a very raw subject - spouse abuse and its damage to not only the body, but to the mind and spirit as well.

Never has it been more evident to me, through the work I have shared as a certified Reflexologist and Reiki practitioner, that if our feelings and emotions go unexpressed, they will root themselves within our body; causing a “ping-pong effect” from the mental to the physical, and from the physical to the mental, until these feelings and emotions are acknowledged and healed.

I know many people feel that mind/body/spirit correlation is a bunch of bullshit. But I’m here to tell you that it’s not, because have I witnessed it firsthand. And not only with clients, but within my own life.

I’m not saying that every single time we have a negative experience or unexpressed thought, they immediately manifests into a physical illness, or that ALL illness is attributed to our mindset. What I am saying is that over time, if we keep repressing or denying our emotions out of fear of speaking up, they will begin to affect the physical body.

The work I share is a combination of energetic, spiritual, and bodywork. Therefore, it addresses the WHOLE.

As you might have read a few weeks ago in a post I shared, I volunteered for 4 years with an organization that offered alternative therapies to those infected with HIV.

Not only were my clients dealing with AIDS, but many of them were also dealing with substance abuse, spouse abuse, and rape. And what I learned from volunteering with these individuals was not to JUDGE them for whatever situation they were in and how they got there. I was merely there to stand present and share my work; remaining neutral.

I very rarely speak during a session, unless a client wishes to speak to me. Also, I work with my eyes closed and do everything through the feel in my hands.

Many years ago I had a client who came in for an hour session of foot Reflexology and could sense, just from our initial meeting, that she was emotionally and spiritually broken down. She appeared a fragile sparrow.

When I began the session she talked incessantly for the first 10 minutes, but I knew it was because she was nervous and anxious. So I just let her talk, while I worked on her feet.

Soon, she began to tell me her story.

She had been married to the same man for fourteen years. And for most of those fourteen years, he physically beat her. He beat her to the point of being hospitalized several times. And while she was in the hospital, she was tempted to tell the hospital staff why she was there, but was always too frightened to say, in terror that once she got home he would beat her more.

And to top it off, not only did he beat her during their marriage, but he also infected her with HIV from someone who he had been cheating with.

The prior year, she finally found the strength to leave him, after he threatened to take a hot clothes iron and burn the skin on her back.

She then told me that he was currently in the hospital dying, in the last stages of cancer due to HIV.

After about 20 minutes, she stopped talking and fell into a deep sleep as I continued with the session.

It was at that point, her body began speaking to me. I could hear it within every fiber of my being - and not only hear it, but feel it as well.

All the pain, both physical and emotional, that had been suppressed for all those years, finally found a way to voice itself.

Crying. All I could hear was her body crying out in pain and begging for release - every cell within her muscles, bones, and organs cried out at the same time.

The energy force from the pain within her body, hit me like a ton of bricks.

I then had a vision of her spirit. A vision of a little girl who was curled up in the corner of a room with woeful eyes, that said, “Someone, please help me. Please.”

You have no idea how hard it was for me to keep it together because I was so overcome with emotion, that I wanted to just break down and sob. In all the years I had been practicing alternative therapy, I had never experienced anything like this.

I finished the session and then sat there quietly until she woke up.

When she opened her eyes and looked down at me, it seemed as though something had shifted inside her. Her face glowed and her whole body seemed more relaxed.

With tears in her eyes, she softly said, “Thank you. You have no idea how much that helped me.”

I walked over to the side of the massage table and took her hand in my hands, and said, “You are so welcome. And thank you.”

Then she said something that totally blew me away and made me realize how powerful this alternative therapy stuff is.

She said, “Tomorrow I’m going to visit my husband in the hospital, and I’m going to forgive him and myself before he dies. I need to do this, so that I can go on living.”

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

Wedding Photographs: Godfather Style

2013-04-08T00:00:00.000-04:00

Over the weekend I was going through a box of family photos, and came across several vintage wedding photographs.

And I couldn’t help but smile, because for some reason they reminded me so much of the movie, The Godfather.

I don’t know if you’ve ever attended one, but most Italian weddings are openly emotional.

Lots of crying, laughing, and screaming.

Italians do that normally, but during a wedding the emotions are turned up about 150 decibels.

And being from a VERY Italian family, I always remember the weddings (both the church service and reception) simultaneously having a joyous, yet serious ‘feel’ to them.

Joyous because it's what Italian people do best… celebrate LOVE as if they invented it.

And serious because I couldn’t help but notice a look of worry and warning from the mother and father of the bride, to the mother and father of the groom, as if they were saying…

“Your son better take good care of our daughter, because if he doesn't…WE'LL HAVE HIS KNEE CAPS BROKEN BY THE MOB!”

All in all, Italian people mean no harm; they’re just very protective over their family.

Protective to the point of hiring a hit man with a rope and two cinder blocks.

Here are some photographs I scanned of my mother and father's wedding. And also a few from family members that I honestly don’t know WHO they are because I wasn’t even born yet.

*notice the style of the bridal dresses.

Center: my mother and father. Right of my mother: her father.

Isn't it funny how back then, not everyone smiled in photographs? Whoever the woman is in the front row left, she looks as though she hit the BAR several times before taking this photo. OMG...she looks as though she's going fall over onto my mother's train!

My mother and father: Mary and Frank

I have no idea who these people are. But look at the SERIOUS look on the father of the bride's face. And look at those BIG mafia cars in the background.

Right: the same gentleman (father of the bride) in the photo above.

Right after that photo was taken, I bet he took his new son-in-law into his private office and gave him an extra pep/warning talk.

Brando as Don Vito Corleone:

"Look goombah, you better take good care of my little girl. Or ELSE."

I Might Have To Become A Gigolo

2013-04-05T00:00:00.001-04:00

I’m sure you’ve noticed in your parts of the globe, frozen yogurt stores that offer self-serve yogurt sold by weight.

And can I just give you my own personal opinion?

I think they're a RIP OFF. Especially if you're someone like me who can eat A LOT of food. For as small as I am, I have the appetite of a quarterback for the New York Jets. Therefore, if I had to eat most of my food by weight cost, I would have to take on a part time job as a middle-aged gigolo to supplement my income.

And the thing about these 'sold by weight' places is that they know they have you because you'll never know how much it will cost until you get to the register, and then it's too late.

It would be much better if the yogurt machines were more like a gas station pump, and displayed the amount for the weight, as you poured.

Anyway, one of these self-serve frozen yogurt establishments opened across the street from where I work about a year ago, so I decided to check it out. And as I walked in, I saw a young lady standing behind the counter who was too busy TEXTING to even look up when I asked, “Hi. Okay, so how does this work and roughly, how much is a small cup of frozen yogurt?”

And without missing a text or lifting her head, she motioned to the yogurt machines and said, “You take cup; place it under yogurt dispenser; pour; I weight it; you pay.”

*yeah, like please don’t exert yourself or anything, girl, because god forbid I distract you from texting to actually WORK.

To which I said, “Yes, but generally speaking, about how much does a small cup of plain yogurt normally run?”

Again without looking up she said, “Oh, it could be maybe, too dallah, foh dallah, fie dallah, sehven dallah; depending on weight.”

Well, I decided to wait until the customer in front me filled her small yogurt cup before I tried it myself because I wanted to see how much it would cost.

A few minutes later, I watched her walk back to the counter where the young lady weighed her cup, which totaled almost FIVE dollars. The customer said, “Whoa!! $4.98?!?! For what? I barely have any yogurt in the cup!”

At that point, I was curious to see just how much yogurt she had dispensed.

She had no nuts or fruit toppings. It was just a plain cup of frozen yogurt with three small dollops of chocolate, vanilla and strawberry.

Kind of resembling this:

The customer looked at me and said, “Well, this is last time I’ll be purchasing any yogurt here!”

Snarkly I retorted, “They probably have small fishing weights hidden inside the underside of the cup.”

I could only image what THIS cup would have cost:

Probably, fifty dallah.

Nope, if I want some frozen yogurt, I’d rather go to the grocery store and purchase a PINT of Yoplait for $3.99.

Needless to say I looked at the girl behind the counter and said, “No thank you.” Then walked out.

And do you know what the BEST part of this whole experience was?

Miss Text Girl actually had a TIP JAR sitting next to the cash register.

So let me get this right. You offer self-serve yogurt at the cost of a 2 carat diamond ring per ounce, and then you stand behind a counter TEXTING, and you want a TIP?

For what? Inhaling and exhaling?

Um....no wonder it was empty.

Have a faaaaaaabulous weekend everyone!

Be Your Own Note

2013-04-01T00:00:00.000-04:00

Last week I watched an extremely inspiring video, which I discovered at Gala Darling.

The video was entitled, Rethinking the Bucket List, with guest speaker Kathleen Taylor, who is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor for a nonprofit hospice organization.

Being someone who has worked as a volunteer for hospice, as well as offered my services as a Reflexologist and Reiki practitioner to an organization that provided alternative therapy to those infected with HIV, Kathleen’s video reminded me again why I find being around those who are dying or seriously ill with a life-threatening illness, such a beautifully sobering experience.

I once had an interaction with an elderly patient at hospice, who had only a few months to live. And while I was talking with her, she said to me, "Ron, do you know what I'm going to miss after I die? Looking at trees and flowers and grass. So I've decided that I'm not going to die until I get my fill of them. And then I'll die. But I'm going to miss all the beautiful things to look at on this earth."

Up until that point, I can honestly say that I had taken trees and flowers and grass for granted.

As I have shared in past posts, in as much as it can be very emotional, I don’t find it at all depressing to be in the presence of individuals who are in their final chapter of life. Because what these individuals have taught me about living through dying has been transformational.

I think the main thing about Kathleen’s video that touched me the most, was when she spoke of how we are forever asking ourselves the frustrating question, “What am I supposed to be doing with my life?”

Kathleen suggested that perhaps the better question we should be asking ourselves is, “Who am I being with my life?”

“Doing and being intersect, but being comes first because if you’re being who you are, then doing will just naturally flow.”

And I think she’s absolutely correct. Many of us spend our lives DOING; usually trying to emulate or please others, believing that everyone else has the answers and solutions. We’re so busy doing, doing, doing, yet often forget to notice if we’re being authentic to ourself.

According to research being done at hospice, one of the biggest regrets that dying people have is…

“I wish I‘d had the courage to live a life true to myself, and not the life that others expected of me.”

Kathleen concluded her talk with an exquisite analogy, which I have to share with you.

“If we’re all collectively one symphony, then we’re all as individuals different notes. And every single note is important in creating the whole symphony.”

So I say to you, as I say to myself…

BE your own note. Because you're greatly needed to compose the symphony.

*If you have some time this week, please take a moment to watch this video. It will LIFT you, I promise.

Easter, Spring And Reboot

2013-03-29T00:00:00.000-04:00

photo from the web that my brother Tom emailed me

This is the time of year when nature begins to awaken from a long, deep slumber.

Trees begin to bud; flowers begin to blossom; the earth begins to spout a fresh green carpet.

In as much as I relish fall and winter, I truly enjoy this time of the year because for me it represents a time of rebirth – wiping the sleep from my eyes and viewing the world anew.

Spring lets me know that I can begin again, taking what I have learned in the past and apply it to the present. There are no such things as mistakes or wrong choices, as long I learned something.

The seasons of nature are the perfect analogy to the cycles in life.

I live. I rest and gestate. I am altered and then rebooted.

Earlier this week I took a long walk around the city; snapping photographs. And it was a stunning day! The sun was shining, the air was crisp and dry, and there was a buzz of excitement in the energy that surrounded me.

Here are some images I captured, which reminded me that spring has sprung; bringing with it light, color, fragrance, and reboot.

Please enjoy…

a bright, spring sky shedding light into the city

pink blossoms

yellow blossoms

street vendor flowers

inside Macy's Flower Show

calla lilies - one of my favorite flowers because they're so simple, yet elegant

a spring bouquet of color

Allow me to conclude this post with a smidgen of Easter humor....

Happy Easter everyone!

Wishing you a beautiful season of reboot and humor.

Review On Apothic Wine

2013-03-27T00:52:00.002-04:00

*this is not a sponsored review

Back in November while I was in Florida, a friend of my family invited me over to her condo one evening for a glass of wine and some conversation. And before she went to the store that afternoon to pick up a few bottles, I suggested that she look for a particular brand of wine that I normally drink because it was awesome and wanted her to try it. However, they didn’t have the brand I suggested there, so she tried a brand that one of the employees in the store highly recommended.

Personally I enjoy trying different wines and brands, so when she offered me a glass of Apothic, I didn’t hesitate.

Well, after I took my first sip….I thought I had died and gone to HEAVEN.

Have you ever drank a wine that smelled and tasted so incredible that you felt as though you were having an “out of body” experience?

I’m serious, I sat there with my eyes closed after taking my first sip, and could have sworn I heard someone beckoning, “COME TO THE LIGHT, RON….COME TO THE LIGHT!”

Yes, it's THAT good.

What I love so much about Apothic Red is that it’s full-bodied, yet smooooth as satin. I don’t think I’ve ever tasted a red wine that had that much flavor without it being too sweet. I prefer wine slightly on the drier side. This red wine contains the perfect balance of four different grapes. You can drink it alone, or pair it with food.

Apothic Red

The brambly spice of Zinfandel, dark fruit flavors of Syrah, the bold notes of Cabernet Sauvignon and the smooth elegance of Merlot unite to create this captivating red blend.

Apothic Red reveals intense fruit aromas and flavors of rhubarb and black cherry, complemented by hints of mocha, chocolate, brown spice and vanilla. The plush, velvety mouthfeel and the smooth finish round out this intriguing, full-bodied red blend.

--------------

Now because I don’t drink white wine, I honestly can’t give you first-hand feedback on Apothic White. However, someone I know very well has tried it and said that it was BEYOND fabulous.

Apothic White

This latest release brings tropical aromas and flavors together with hints of spice, creating an enchanting white blend.

Apothic White is an approachable blend that combines Chardonnay, Riesling and Moscato to create a luscious, vibrant wine in the bold style of Apothic. Intense flavors of peach, pineapple, honey and vanilla spice make this smooth white blend unforgettable.

Average price: $11.00 - red or white

So if you’re like me and enjoy trying different wines, you’ve got to try Apothic.

You will LOVE it. I swear.

Cheers!

*please drink responsibly

Swan Lake And Tutus

2013-03-25T00:00:00.000-04:00

There are two things I cherish about my job.

1. The company that I represent and the product I sell.

2. And the people I work with.

As most of you know, the people you work with can make or break your workday. Therefore, if you really enjoy your coworkers, it makes going into work so much more pleasurable.

My coworkers and I are very diligent in our jobs, but we like to have fun at the same time.

I sincerely believe that when people bring humor into their workplace, it makes for a more enjoyable work experience, so you produce more.

You will often hear laughter coming from our department because we’re forever cracking each other up with funny stories or crazy shenanigans. And we're fortunate, because we all seem to enjoy a similar sense of humor.

I also need to add here that these same people were extremely loving, caring and kind to me when my mother passed away last November, both emotionally and financially. While I was gone for two weeks, they all pitched in and supported and promoted my business so that my figures wouldn’t go down during my absence.

I feel very blessed to work with such an awesome group of ladies and gents, because the business I'm in, you don't find that too often.

True Confession

I’ve always had a secret desire to put on a tutu and dance in the ballet, Swan Lake.

Yeah, I know...I ain't right.

To me there is something so thrilling about the feel of a tutu around my waist, as I perform 32 continuous fouettés en tournant without getting dizzy and throwing up.

Now mind you, I’ve never danced ballet in my life. And because I’m 57 years old and MALE, I will probably never get a chance to put on a tutu and dance in ANY ballet, let alone, Swan Lake.

HOWEVER...

Last Friday my dream came true, when I was finally able to wear a tutu and dance to the music of Swan Lake.

One of the gentlemen I work with is involved in theater as a choreographer and show director, who just so happened to have a few TUTUS at home, which he keeps on hand as costumes for the dancers in his shows.

And when he told me that he would bring TWO tutus in last week (one for me and one for my coworker, Lisa) I reacted with such excitement and enthusiasm, you would have sworn he was bringing me the Holy Grail.

On the day that the tutus arrived, Lisa and I INSTANTLY put them on and started posing, twirling, and dancing as if we were prima ballerinas.

But as you will see in the video clip, I’m MUCH prettier than Lisa.

Anyway...

A bunch of my coworkers took out their iPhones and snapped photos and video clips of the two of us.

OMG…it was SO. MUCH. FUN.

Here is a short clip I put together with photos, video and music of prima ballerina, Lisa and Ron, getting ready to perform, Swine Lake.

Please enjoy…

Blanche Pulls Her Back Out

2013-03-22T00:00:00.000-04:00

Okay, picture this…

Joan Crawford as Blanche in the movie, Whatever Happened To Baby Jane, painfully crawling along the floor without the use of her wheelchair because she’s trying to get to the phone to call her doctor to tell him that her sister, Bette Davis as Jane, is trying to slowly kill her.

Yup…that was me last Sunday afternoon.

Well, not EXACTLY me, because no one was trying to kill me, but I DID painfully crawl on the floor while attempting to get to the bathroom because that’s where I keep the Advil, which I desperately needed after pulling my back out.

Now, HOW did I pull my back out? By lifting a large, heavy box off the floor? Noooo. Did I do it from rearranging the furniture in my apartment? Noooo.

Do you want to know how I did it? But you have to promise not to laugh.

I did it by simply opening a window in my apartment.

Yes, you heard right – by opening a window in my apartment.

The pain hit me so hard that I dropped to the floor and started writhing around as if I was hit in the lower back by a semi truck on the turnpike and left as roadkill. I must have over-extended my back while doing this because no sooner did I lift the window, a searing pain enveloped me.

OPENING A WINDOW FOR GOD SAKE!!!!

And thank heavens I had off work for three days because I could barely move the lower half of my body. I stayed home and did nothing but apply warm compresses with eucalyptus oil on my back; took Advil; also attempted to massage the reflexology points on my feet to help with the pain and healing.

And it worked, because by the third day I finally felt some relief and could move around like a halfway normal person, without having to grab onto the walls and furniture in my apartment in order to walk only 2 inches.

If any of you have ever pulled your back out, I know you understand what I mean about how utterly painful and inconvenient it is because it effects your whole body.

*Note: Isn't it ironic how whenever you pull your back out, it seems that you keep dropping things on the floor so that you have to bend down to pick them up?

Here are a few things I had difficulty with while my back was out of whack:

Going to the bathroom:

As most of you already know, I’m one of those strange men who prefers to SIT and pee. Therefore, do you have any idea how LONG it took me to sit on the toilet seat, pee, and then try to stand up? It took me like FIVE HOURS because it took 2 ½ hours to lower myself onto the seat, and then another 2 ½ hours to raise myself off.

Yes, I DID try to pee standing up, but I couldn’t stand completely straight, so I ended up tinkling everywhere except INSIDE the toilet.

Taking a shower:

Well, let’s just put it this way, I didn’t properly shower myself for three days because I couldn’t move my body around to use shower gel and a wash cloth. So do you know what I did? I just POURED shower gel all over my body and then stood under the shower nozzle, rinsing it off. I had soap bubbles EVERYWHERE. I looked like a commercial for Mr. Bubble. And because I couldn't maneuver my body to dry myself off with a towel, I just walked around my apartment NAKED and drip-dried for 30 minutes.

Sleeping:

First of all it took me 8 hours to actually lower my body into bed every night. I normally like to sleep on my side, but I couldn’t, so I had to sleep on my back because any other position caused such tremendous pain, that I would yell out. I’m sure that if anyone walked past my apartment door, they probably thought I was having a passionate night of carnal knowledge because all they heard were primal moans, “Aah! OMG! Aah! Aah! OMG!” And then a climactic, “Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!”

Yeah, so that’s how I spent the greater part of this week.

Mending my lower back.

Now I know how Joan Crawford felt…

Have a TERRIFIC weekend everyone!

X

Update: Please know that I as we speak, I am feeling almost 100% better! Thanks so much for your well wishes...x

Valerie Harper Is Living In The Moment

2013-03-18T00:00:00.000-04:00

As I’m sure most of you have read, actress Valerie Harper has come out publicly with her recent diagnosis of a terminal and incurable form of brain cancer.

And I have to say, upon hearing this news last week, I was devastated and felt extremely saddened.

I also think that because of the recent passing of my mother with a cancer that eventually went to her brain, hearing this hit close to home. And ironically, my mother and Valerie were almost the same age.

Valerie Harper is most known for her role as, Rhoda, on the Mary Tyler Moore Show, and then later went on to have her own show, Rhoda.

Yet, she is also a seasoned stage actress as well.

Valerie Harper as Tallulah Bankhead in the Broadway show, Looped

I guess because I have been following her career through the mediums of television, film and theater for so long, it seemed as though I was hearing this news about someone I knew personally. Also, because Valerie Harper has such an amazing way of expressing herself so genuinely through interviews that I’ve watched throughout these many years, she has always come across as someone I would adore hanging out with and being friends. There is something very lovable and comfortable about Valerie Harper.

Last week I spent a lot of time reading articles online and viewing video clips of Harper speaking openly about her diagnosis, and how she’s dealing with it. And it finally dawned on me WHY, for all these years, I have sensed her as someone special.

It’s her unbelievable attitude and perception.

Valerie has taken what has been a very shocking piece of news from her doctors and decided to share with the world, what it is that she is learning through this diagnosis.

And what has impressed me the most is that she is not only speaking candidly about all the various emotions she’s feeling of her fear in not knowing how long she has left to live; the possibility of experiencing pain; the grief in leaving her family and loved ones, but more so how she has made the choice to embrace this chapter of her life and live it with a positive attitude – and to the fullest. In spite of her fears.

And another thing that has impressed me about Valerie is the way she looks - physically. Even though she has a terminal illness and may only have three months to live, she looks so vibrant, healthy and alive. She literally glows with an internal light.

Here are some quotes from Harper:

Valerie is doing something that I myself try to exercise in my own life, but sometimes struggle with.

Perhaps we can take what this extraordinary lady is trying to convey with the time she has remaining; learning from what she is sharing with us.

Live the moment.

Because really, that’s where life happens.

In the now.

I leave you with a short video clip of Valerie Harper.

Thank you, Valerie. Thank you for sharing your journey with us. And for sharing it so openly and honestly. Live on, girl, and know that you are LOVED!

Tomatoes And Cucumbers

2013-03-15T00:00:00.000-04:00

I love the culinary marriage of tomatoes and cucumbers.

Especially when you slice them; sprinkle a bit of oregano and grated Romano cheese over them; then finish it off with a heavy drizzle of olive oil.

TO. DIE. FOR.

And after I’m done eating the tomatoes and cucumbers, I like to take some nice Italian bread and dip it into the remaining olive oil on the plate and then gobble it up.

It's almost a 'spiritual' experience for me because the whole time I'm eating this, I'm saying, "Oh my god...oh my god...oh my god...I'm ready to come to heaven!"

I don’t why I’m telling you this other than I just found two photographs in one of my computer files that were taken last June, when I got together with my three east coast blogging buddies (Meleah, Valerie, and Kathy) in Phillly. Part of our city get-together included going to the Reading Terminal for lunch. The Reading Terminal is a wonderlust of culinary treats. You can find most any kind of ethnic food to eat, from Mediterranean to Soul food. The Terminal also offers fresh meats, fish, baked goods, flowers, and produce.

After eating our lunch, the girls and I took a walk through the terminal. Meleah and I stopped by one of the produce stands to check out the various fruits and veggies, and then took photographs of ourselves, while giggling like two delvish little kids.

Now if you know anything about Meleah and me, we are probably the two most “too much information” bloggers on the Internet. She and I jokingly call each other the Queen and King of TMI because we hold little reservation about sharing too much. Our lives are pretty much an open book when it comes to sharing stuff about ‘ourselves’ on our blogs.

Some may think, you share too much. Yet, Meleah and I feel that how we are on our blogs is exactly how we are offline.

What you see and read on our blogs is what you would most likely witness if you interacted with us in person.

We share our personal life ups and downs, our light and dark, and also our spontaneous and sometimes crazy off-color sense of humor.

So, without further ado, I give you….Meleah and Ron, sharing their tomatoes and cucumber in public.

Produce never looked so good.

Or so BIG.

Big Mama

Big Daddy

Bone appetit!

Have a faaaaaaabulous weekend everyone!

On Feeling Wealthy

2013-03-11T00:00:00.000-04:00

I struggle with the uneven path of finances like a great percentage of the population does.

I live from paycheck to paycheck and have learned how to stretch each dollar into three.

There are periods in my life when I seem to have more than enough money and am able to relax; not concerned about how I’m going to pay my bills. But there have been other times when I’ve had to take a little from Peter to pay Paul, so that I could come up with my rent.

I’ve become a financial juggler.

Yet to be perfectly honest with you, this is how I’ve lived most of my life so I’m used to it, because I have always been drawn to professions that are not considered 'stable' when it comes to making money. But for as unstable as they can be at times, I like the freedom they give me to not conform to any set schedule.

As I kid, I was told to select a career that would give me security and longevity, so I would have a guarantee that my job would always be in demand.

Well guess what? In today’s world and economy, no one has a 100% guarantee with their jobs. I’ve heard countless stories of people who have worked over 25 years for a company, yet they were let go without so much as a two week notice. They were suddenly banished as if they never existed.

So, as unsettling as my career choices have been throughout my life, they have given me the perfect training that I will never be secure in ANY job.

This brings me to the topic of my post.

Feeling wealthy.

Before going on, I would like to share that many people have told me that because I’m single, I have it easier because I only have myself to worry about. True, I only have myself to worry about, but that also means I only have myself to support myself. I don’t have a partner who I can share expenses with. All my bills are paid by me.

There are also a lot of single mothers and fathers, who in addition, have children to support. Therefore, it’s an even bigger challenge for them.

So it’s not any easier being single.

Through all the ups and downs of my careers and financial status, I’ve learned something.

Even in the lowest times of struggle and worry, I have always been wealthy.

My finances will vacillate because that’s just how life is. But that doesn’t define my true sense of wealth.

The first thing most of us do when we hit a low in our finances is that we end up getting depressed about our lives, which makes us go deeper into a dark funk because we feel like we’re never going to pull out of it, which in turn makes us feel even LESS wealthy.

Also, struggling with finances makes us feel scared because we’re so vulnerable; not knowing where the money is going to come from.

And trust me, I’ve been there; not even knowing if I would have enough money left over to buy food.

But as corny as this may sound, I’ve had to closely examine myself in times of financial struggle and FIND the wealth in my life. The wealth that is always there. In spite of how financially secure I was.

The thing that helped me most during those times was to focus my attention on the things in my life for which I had to be grateful, because somehow it filled me with confidence and hope that things would turn around. And ironically, they did. And they always have.

For me, even at times when I'm struggling financially, if I can sustain some sort of creativity in my life, whether it be photography, writing on my blog, or learning something new, it gives me a sense of wealth. Because it keeps me passionate about my life.

We currently live at time in which financial security is about as certain as to whether Santa Claus exists.

Hence, I choose to feel wealthy.

Regardless.

Happy Monday everyone!

The Big Apple Revisited

2013-03-08T00:00:00.000-05:00

the Apple Store in the Big Apple

If you’ve been reading my blog for a while now, you know that I LOVE, WORSHIP and ADORE New York City as much as I do the invention of Caller ID and York Peppermint Patties.

NYC is my ‘soul’ city because it’s where my heart was born.

I guess you could say that after my first visit, when I was in my teens, I became a ‘born again’ New Yorker.

And for those of you who might be new to my blog, I lived there for five years.

Wednesday I spent the day in NYC, which was work-related, but ANYTIME I go to that city it’s a treat because simply walking the streets and taking in all the magnificent energy it provides, I always come back with a reboot of ‘life force’ and creativity.

I barely had enough time to enjoy the city because I had work to do for the time I was there, however, I did manage to take 118 photos (and don’t ask me HOW, but I did). I just kept snapping photos wherever I walked, like a crazy person. The thing about NYC is that no matter where you go, there are always so many different things to photograph. The Big Apple is a ham for the camera because it’s one MASSIVE photograph of such extreme diversity, that it entices you to take its picture.

The cool thing about taking photographs in NYC is that there is always a picture within the picture.

Yes, photographs do it much justice. But in order to fully experience the city you have to BE there. Because it’s not only what you see, but also what you FEEL when your feet make contact with the ground.

The key to enjoying NYC as a visitor is to throw yourself into it; allowing it to give you the thrill ride of your life.

But I guarantee that the ride will be one you’ll be glad you took because you will step off being altered.

It might not be a city that everyone could live in, nor a city that everyone enjoys as much as I. But it’s certainly a city that should be experienced at least once in your life.

Because there's nothing like it.

Please enjoy 11 (12 including the top one) of the 118 photos I took...

the ice skating rink at Rockefeller Center

the Paris cinema theater

a glimpse of the past mixed with the present

the Chrysler Building

the Empire State Building

Henri Bendel

St. Regis Hotel

window display at Versace

a beautiful church I discovered, while walking down a side street

an illuminating serpentine bracelet on the store front of Bvlgari

a view from across the street

Have a spectacular weekend everyone!

Toy Story: Mr. Potato Head And Buzz

2013-03-04T00:00:00.000-05:00

For as child-like as I am, I don't watch a lot of cartoons or animated films. But there are two that I worship.

The Jetsons and Toy Story (the first one).

I can still remember the night I went to see Toy Story with a friend of mine in Florida, not ever imagining I would enjoy it as much as I did.

Not only was the computer-animation BEYOND brilliant (such as, the army men), but I also found myself laughing so hard at the hilariously clever dialogue throughout the entire movie.

Truthfully, I think Toy Story was also geared toward adults because much of the quick and subtle humor went over a young child’s head.

I know that anyone who has ever seen this film probably has a favorite character, which is so hard to choose, because they’re all so wonderfully delicious. However, my two favorites were Mr. Potato Head and Buzz Lightyear.

Mr. Potato Head

When I was a kid, I loved playing with Mr. Potato Head, rearranging his body with various eyes, ears, lips, arms, and accessories. My favorite silly thing to do was to place his ears where his eyes belong and his eyes where his ears belong, and also switched his nose and mouth, making him almost look like a Salvador Dali painting.

I think the most ingenuous thing about the movie Toy Story was that they gave Mr. Potato Head a voice, which to me, sounded exactly how I thought he would talk if he were to come alive - with a thick, New York accent - kinda like a New York City cab driver.

I also loved his sarcastic and snarky sense of humor. My favorite Mr. Potato Head moment was when he proceeded to take off his lips; giving an “ass-kissing” gesture.

Every time I see this, I HOWL!

Buzz Lightyear

I have to confess….I’ve always had a ‘boy crush’ on Buzz Lightyear.

I mean come on, have you ever seen such an adorable plastic hunk of man in all your living days? I loved the way Buzz raised his eyebrows whenever he talked. And I also found the little cleft in his chin, so damn cute.

The thing that was so endearing about Buzz was that he took himself so seriously; believing to be a real space ranger on a mission to return to his home planet, rather than an action figure. Yet, I will never forget how it broke my heart when he finally discovered that he was a TOY.

The expression on his face was priceless.

There is a wonderful life lesson in the character of Buzz.

Because regardless that he was a toy, Buzz had the spirit and inner belief that he could accomplish anything.

And because he believed that, he did....

You GO, Buzz!