To gift or regift? That is the Question

Through out the year we walk to and fro along crowded sidewalks, with hardly enough space to breathe. People focusing on nothing more than the next cup of coffee, work, or their finances. In today's world when credit cards are a dime a dozen. Receiving enough fake plastic in the mail to decorate a Christmas tree. Temptations creeping into the mind like nuts in a peanut cluster. Why is it so strange that gifts have become so important? Whether to buy name brand...how much to spend, are you spending enough, is that too cheap? Curiously questions arise of what to do with those totally needless terrible gifts you receive from Aunt Laudie or Uncle Claud. Should one regift? Isn't regifting a form of free commerce and capitalism? Or is regifting an ungrateful extension of materialism. Affluenza symptom: regifting those gifts that just don't jive with your tastes. Rude? Or Enterprising? Look to the wisdom of your Elders: My Grandmother Juanita was an avid regifter. She literally regifted everything she was ever given. She only kept what she bought herself...but the trick was in her old age, was not regifting the same gift to the person who gave it to her. Now that was a mighty tough task when you are 83 and have 6 children, and numerous grand and great grand children with a slight bit of senility. I on the other hand often forget what I have for breakfast and have to write all birthdays and anniversaries on the calendar know the answer to that question is: No regifting. Yet all the papers, bows, ribbons, buttons and tissues of bright ruby and emerald....I reuse so that I can call my self a Green Elf....so that all our future generations my enjoy the Holidays.

Tis The Season For Thought...

Have any of you watched the American sitcom Golden Girls? It's what the younger generation refers to as an old show. (Golden Girls: re-runs on daytime and late night TV) Tonight I watched an episode. It really made me think. The episode was about the girls going to a homeless center to look for a lottery ticket. Disturbingly, it really made me think about how much we ignore the needy. IN the USA we think of homelessness as a problem that is at the root of it a personal problem. Our answer is to prescribe 'pull yourself up by your boot straps' or occasional charity. Really, How dare we sleep in our warm houses every night and shrug off helping those who need it. The least we could to is give our time in volunteering or donating money for shelters, medicines, hosing, job training, life enrichment programs. The majority of homeless in the US is Mentally ill and Veterans of the armed forces. How dare we turn our backs on them? During this holiday season...give more than just one glance when you see a chance to help. No matter how small the act, everything counts. A warm blanket, a cup of coffee, a few cents or just a small smile, Give dignity and respect to all. You think your so different, that just in one minute you could be sharing their circumstances. We are all fellow servants on the journey of life.

Hostage to Negoiater

Yesterday, I had the honor to attend a private speech given by Terry Waite. This man was one of the most inspirational speakers I have ever had the pleasure and honor to hear.Mr. Waite was taken hostage in Beirut, held in solitary confinement for 4 years and 1 year in confinement with others. On returning to Beirut in 2003, Mr. Waite harbored no resentment to his captors. For a world traveler and International renowned figure and a survivor, he was surprisingly down to earth and kind. He laughed and smiled quite often. He is who every person should want to be. One of my fellow students asked Mr. Waite about his feelings towards his captors and If he would forgive if he could? Mr. Waite said "You must not loose hope, their is always hope, because bitterness is like a cancer that gets into the soul" Wow...I don't know what else to say...I have to let these thoughts stew for a while. Stay tuned for part two of "Inspiration in Waite"

Naughty Pleasures!

Who isn't a fan of BBC? I love Blue Planet...Sherlock Holmes, Hercule Poirot, Miss Marple...numerous shows of the yester year and a few new. I have a confession to make to all BBC humor fans: I found the Monty Python films very disturbing, and vowed never to watch anymore after the Search for the holy grail. I thought I had put to bed any love I had for BBC humor. I was wrong...I confess I have found a well of humor in FAWLTY TOWERS. I believe it was first aired in 1975 and only aired for a short time ,but its wickedly humorous and terribly naughty.The episodes are not the least bit Politically correct...but I nearly laughed myself into the hospital after the episode "The Wedding Party." John Cleese is spectacular...his legacy shall be remembered forever. It should be illegal to have as much trouble as poor Basil does! Fawlty Towers has redeemed BBC humor and given me the itch for a bit more.Now..I may not go in for Hotel Babylon or the Office, but Fawlty Towers will go down in the Softhearted handbook of hilarium. Any recommendations?

P.S Starbucks has their Gingerbread back! Having soft fresh slices of gingerbread at a coffee house should be illegal...there are probably 400 calories...in one slice. What I would do for a pill that would make those 400 calories disappear with no work...

Song A Day Keeps The Dull Away

For all those Starbuckians out there...have you heard of the new Starbucks partnership with itunes. Each day Starbucks gives its customers a free itunes song download. To me there is no better way to relax than sitting with a cup of coffee listening to wonderful music. Music not only heightens but intensifies the warm sensation coffee gives me. Music opens the mind to numerous avenues of exploration while coffee delights the senses. For me this is a refuge from stress, the rat race, life and work. In a world where we are expected to build an island for the self to reside in which were a totally individualistic and with out connection building material and success, the refuges of connection, exploration and relaxation are not only a comfort but necessary. The human existence is one of communion spiritual, emotional and sensual. To deny the existence of anything except the present is to deny humanity. After weeks of stress, fast pace and disturbance I crave refuge through word, connection and love. Although coffee and music only give comfort and exploration, they relax the body so that the mind can be released from the prison of life. Freeing the mind to search out refuge and procure friendship and connection. We are all interrelated whether we wish to be or not. Celebrate interrelation through engagement, responsiveness and openness....find refuge and pursue life with new meaning.

Be not a loner all the time for sometimes the spirit craves to be human---Anonymous.

Refuge...From...

In a world where chaos, selfishness, desire, pain, greed....the many human weaknesses flourish with ravenous speed. I look hard in the hope of discovering places of refuge. Refuges where peace can be sought if only in a second. At times they are far and in between. Sometimes the only peace I can find is in the confines of a brief glance. Life is a mumble jumble mess of to and fro movement, here and there constant noise. One can loose themselves and all they believe in an instant. I look to family, friends, neighbors, people on the street, writers of blogs.....anywhere. An Oasis in the desert of the hustle and bustle, where the thinking mind delves into the true self. Self exploration, Compassion, Empathy, Beauty, Creativity.....spots of color among all the gray. Rosebushes are a refuge from the rows, blocks, yards of square well watered and manicured plots of lawn. Almost like coffins waiting to be buried in plots of cement, with mourners all alike standing in mournful attendance....I can't stand tract housing. Tract housing eats up farm land, animal habitats, peace and quiet, spoils the water, clogs the streets....and for what...to destroy just one more refuge. Today they broke ground with gleaming golden shovels on one more tract of a 100 or so houses. People need houses, but why empty out houses and move to little burbs outside of town? To waste more gasoline, leave ghost neighborhoods, string out Albertsons and Starbucks into the prairies...why not slow down...plant roses and fix what makes the city an impossible place to live. How about creating communities, neighborhoods and parks where people don't have to wear bullet proof vests or carry pepper spray? When will the world see that humanity needs refuges of the mind, the body and soul.

Fresh Basil!

I love Basil! With a scent sweet and spicy. A flavor reminiscent of anise. My taste for Basil has matured into an addiction. I eat Thai two days a week during the fall, winter and Spring quarters. I don't know how I survived before, if you've never tasted a true Thai curry you haven't lived. Do you know that Basil makes or breaks a true Stir Fry, Pad Thai, and Curry? Now I am the proud owner of Cinnamon Basil, African Blue Basil, Holy Basil, Red Basil and Italian Basil. Who knew that it was more than just a spice? That it was powerful, amazing and beautiful. Basil has a powerful history riddled with myth and holiness. To certain cultures it is holy herb that can heal, protect, and bring good fortune. The etymology of 'basil' comes from the Greek word for King: its fabled that Basil grew on the spot where St. Constantine and Helen discovered the Holy Cross. Basil is the symbol for love in Italy (I wish someone would send me a bouquet of Basil) and hatred in Greece. Religiously it purifies water in the Orthodox church, revered as holy by Buddhists and Hindus. Jew's believe basil strengthens resolve during fasting. African mythology asserts that basil wards off scorpions in the desert. Mysteriously Basil in many cultures protects one after life providing them safe passage to the underworld. Never eat to just eat, Eat to Live! Know what you eat! Life is more than what meets the eye!

Urgent Update...Resilence Hides In Strange Places

Amazingly, My Sister's laptop went back together with only one left over screw. Can you believe it? I couldn't. Do you believe in Miracles? You should now, IT WORKS! Do you need a laptop? Pick a Dell XPS M1210, they can survive anything! I had to give her congratulations, I don't know that I could have accomplished that feat. My only question is What did that screw do?

The Master of Innovation must be Stubborn Craziness! If you see flying pigs...or ice in death valley during the summer...let me now...Life never ceases to amaze me.