NEW AGE OBSESSION

POST HOLIDAY RE-RUN

Marion Pellicano Ambrose

I don’t know why, but I’m really into reading about psychics, past lives, and other new

age subjects lately. I’ve read Lives of the Rich and Famous (Sylvia Browne), Many

Lives, Many Masters (Brian Weiss), Another Door Opens (Jeffrey Wands) and various

books on Edgar Cayce and other fascinating people involved with this realm. These

books seem to place me into a kind of “dream world” where gemstones, crystals and

candles can give me control over my destiny. No matter how many I read, I can never

keep up with the flood of new books on the topic, coming out each day. I check my

horoscope and do my daily Tarot reading on Face book every day. Why are people, like

myself, so terribly interested in this sort of thing?

One reason could be the numerous TV shows, movies and stories that refer to this being

the “end times”. We all hear about the predictions of Nostradamus, the infamous Mayan

Calendar, the predictions of Medjugorje and other Marian sites, and of course, the

descriptions of the end of the world in biblical texts. People experience stress over the

possibility of nuclear war and the thought of its aftereffects. Somehow watching Ghost

Hunters reassures us that there is something else after this. Perhaps traditional religions

haven’t eased our fears enough and we are seeking answers elsewhere.

Personally, I believe that people are in search of hope. They need to believe that things can and will get better. Politics, the recession, joblessness, disease and natural disasters have robbed us of the real “dream” our parents and grandparents believed in: If you work hard enough you can achieve anything. They had the depression, that’s true, but they also had wonder and delight in simple things. We’ve lost that somewhere along the way. Our super high tech entertainment and recreation leaves little to the imagination. Our games are virtual, violent and often solitary. We often are overwhelmed by hopelessness.

Our jobs require constant in-service training to keep up. What happened to being in one

career for life? Few people have that luxury; most must evolve as they go. Employers ask

more and more and give less and less. The attitude is “You should be grateful you have

a job.” I’m sorry, but this doesn’t give permission to overwork and underpay employees.

We’re given laptops and cell phones so we can work, answer questions or conference at

home and on our own time. If we don’t do so willingly, we’re not “team players” and our

evaluation suffers. What happened to the American Dream? We’re working harder than

ever before but we don’t seem to be going anywhere, except maybe backwards.

So what solutions can I offer for conquering these depressing situations? I say we employ

the only ones we have control over: Pray, keep as positive an attitude as possible, keep

dreaming and dream big, and most importantly, cherish the gifts you do have in your life;

Family, Friends and life itself. Move from complexity to simplicity wherever possible,

(As Mother Theresa said, “Love simply so others may simply live.”) and never, never

give up on the possibilities in your life.

As for me, I think I’ll quit reading the books that put me in that “dream world”. Believe

it or not, my horoscope for today says: “Your tendency today will be to stay in the cocoon

of your little dream world, deep in your own thoughts. Obsessive thoughts, in particular,

will try and drown out some more pressing issues from the past that need resolution once

and for all.”(Horoscope.com: March 4, 2011 Cancer)

     

STICKY SWEET

THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY

Patty B

"Love may conquer all. But chocolate makes the fight easier".

WANNA LAUGH?!?!

TONY WALKER

A fireman is getting increasingly frustrated about the lack of sex he is getting from his wife so he decides to take action.

One day he gets home after work & sits his wife down. "At work we are trained to respond to bells," he tells her. "I want the same thing to happen at home. When I ring the bell once I want you to take off your clothes. When I ring the bell twice I want you to come rushing to the bedroom. When I ring the bell three times I want you to jump onto the bed so we can make love."

"Business" Trip - Part I

Ms. Jillian B. Hart

A Business Trip... Somewhere in Beacon Hill... 

He glances at a text that instantly creates arousal and intrigue.

"Where can I meet you?" 

His eyes blur the words on the screen as his mind jumps from thought to thought wondering if it is a text game or if an open invitation has now been engraved. 

The desire to respond must be calculated by the need to be professional, work day doesn't end for a few hours. A little while later, before the opportunity to text back arrives... his pocket vibrates again.... signaling another text message.  

Her again.  "Or shall I send you clues on where to find me?" 

It took nothing to picture her smile as she typed the words or the gleam and sparkle in her eyes as she pressed send. Just the right mixture of impatience and enticement.  His mind now racing around with the finishing thought being, she's here.

BOOK REVIEW

DO YOU BELIEVE IN GHOSTS?

Marion Pellicano Ambrose

Do you believe in ghosts? Spirits? Poltergeists? Well if you do or even if you don’t,
you’ll still enjoy Sylvia Browne’s new book Afterlives of the Rich and Famous!

I happen to be a believer. I’ve actually been to see Psychic Jeffrey Wands (of Maury
Povich and A&E fame and author of several books). There was no denying his accuracy
and detailed accounts of people in my life both alive and dead. As with most psychics
I’ve seen or read about, his approach was spiritual, and spoke of self improvement,
consolation and prayer. He was more help than a counselor in helping me get through the
death of loved ones.

STICKY SWEET

THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY

Patty B

"Its rumored that chocolate will stay fresh for three weeks. 

Has anyone ever been able to test that theory?"

"Notice how you never hear the phrase"leftover" chocolate."

"Having your taxes done? Make sure you've got plenty of chocolate. It will counteract the heartburn and headache."

 

 

         

YUM!

YUMMY!

YUM!

YUMMY!

YUM!

YUMMY

LUNCH TIME POLL

So often we hear and use animal expressions; 

"It's a dog's life"

"Stop monkeying around!"

"It's raining cats & dogs!"

"Something's fishy."

"Sly as a fox!"

"Drunk as a skunk!"

"The early bird gets the worm."

"Hungry as a bear!"  Etc.... Etc... Etc....

It seems animals have the life.

If you could be an animal, what would it be and why?

WANNA LAUGH?!?!

TONY WALKER

What do you call a man who lost 95% of his intelligence?

Divorced.

http://www.dropdeadcomedy.com

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Drop-Dead-Comedy/124058930987437

POOR DUMB MOM

Marion Pellicano Ambrose

Social Networking. When I was a kid no one ever used the term. Sure we had friends, and we kept in touch. We wrote letters (with actual pens and paper) and we talked on the phone until our parents yelled about us running up the bill. I grew up in an attached bungalow and we even communicated with our friends next door by banging on the wall! But computers? They were the big room-filling monster machines we saw on “I Dream of Jeanne” when Major Nelson went to NASA. No one dreamed they would become the indispensable communication and information devices that they are today.

SOUL FOOD

Barbara Ward-Finneran

Work hard. Expect and choose success - it will change everything. Creating a vision for the future that ultimately settles for nothing less them your best. Follow your hearts insatiable desire to dream big. Make your spirit soar to dwell in the place where wishes come true.

Keep the promises that you make to yourself!

Photo Courtesy of Barbara Ward-Finneran and Drawn 2 Designs, LLC

All Rights Reserved

FOR ME, IT'S MY LITTLE GIRL

Tony Walker

Almost everyone has a connection to someone with autism whether it's a family member or the family member of a close friend. For me it's my little girl Sami.

Sami will be 12 in a week and a half. She is very high functioning for someone with autism so the past 2 years or so Sami's become aware that she is different from most of the other kids around her. Recently we introduced the word autistic to her.  Now she's so curious about that word.  About a month ago I came across an ad in Newsday about a movie that was playing at the Huntington Arts Cinema called "Wretches & Jabberers".  It's about two men.  One in his 40's the other in his 50's, and they are both autistic. I decided to take Sami to see this movie.

WANNA LAUGH?!?!

TONY WALKER

A burglar broke into a house one night.
 He shined his flashlight around, looking for valuables when
  a voice in the dark said,
 'Jesus knows you're here.'

  He nearly jumped out of his skin, clicked his flashlight
  off, and froze.

  When he heard nothing more, after a bit, he shook his head
  and continued.
 Just as he pulled the stereo out so he could disconnect the
  wires, clear as a bell he heard. 'Jesus is watching you.'

PUTTIN' ON MY TOP HAT

Marion Pellicano Ambrose

I’ve always been an old movie buff. My sister, Mary and I would sit up till all hours to watch the glamorous Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers films. One of my favorite songs is Top Hat (1935) from the movie of the same name. After today, the words to that song have taken on quite a new meaning for me.

“I'm puttin' on my top hat, Tyin' up my white tie, Brushin' off my tails.
I'm dudin' up my shirt front, Puttin' in the shirt studs, Polishin' my nails,”

This morning I got up early, showered, had my morning tea and began to get dressed. Not in my usual clothes, but in a black jumpsuit with a white tuxedo shirt front sewn on, a big red tie around my neck, a pair of black panty hose (worn robber style but with the face cut out) a large red and white top hat and of course, a tail! Far from being Fred Astaire – I was the Cat in the Hat!

LUNCH TIME POLL

Jillian B. Hart


Recently having written about the "one that got away", left me wondering if your circumstance allowed...

Would you rather have the chance to hang out or hook up with a former lover or the famous celebrity or your choice?

STICKY SWEET

THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY

Patty B

"Since chocolate chips are smaller pieces of a bigger bar, you have to eat more of them."

"When you were younger, you used to listen to your favorite music, think about boys and eat chocolate. Your favorite music is now on the oldies station, the boys are paunchy and balding, but the chocolate will never change."
 

THESE THINGS ARE GOOD

DAWN BOYLE

Have you ever noticed that there is truth to the saying your junk is someone else's treasure?? I learned that again from my little girl today. We recently went through our closets and drawers. A little pre-spring, spring cleaning. I gave both girls clear plastic bags and told them not to fill them yet, start a pile of stuff that is garbage and a pile that is not. I came back about 15 minutes later and there were about 5 different piles growing into the hallway. I asked what was the story with all the piles and was told, "just cause it might not be my favorite anymore it might be someone elses".

I SAID IT OUT LOUD

Barbara Ward-Finneran

It wasn't long ago when smiles reigned on my face and I was consistently a sparkling eyed, the glass is half full kind of girl. I can't put my finger exactly on when, and certainly there's no date to circle, but somewhere on the way to my mid- life, despite my mostly happy existence, the milk spoiled.

That sour liquid has slid across the counter, dripped onto the floor - and I'd like to cry. But in the chaos of everyday life one would need to schedule time for a good cry. The tears must wait. Everything "important" can't be postponed, put off or pushed aside. In a moment like that the voice inside my head screams, "When did you lose control of your life?!" It echos into every fiber of my being. I knew I'd had enough.

The resurrection coincides with passing the sign stating "forty this way". Time to reclaim the path less chosen. Find the girl who felt alive when chasing a dream. Who would wear red opened toe FMP's just because, damn, they look good! The dulled eyed refection in the mirror rooted in practicality and reality - be gone. Ironically my life was good; loving husband, beautiful kids, a nice home and a decent job, (economic wage freezes and pay cuts aside of course). Yet, done with each today being a rerun of yesterday. Time to rescue my twenty-something optimism. "I want more, and only I can make that happen." There, I said it out loud.

Reacquainting myself with the girl who made things happen a nervousness overcame me that was exhilarating. Much like running into an old friend, those first moments being slightly awkward before slipping into the ease of familiarity.

The journey to forty seems to create questions. The jaunt to forty-something establishes the opportunity to embrace the answers. Life is a work of art in progress. Raise the bar. Envision new dreams and goals. Visualize your masterpiece and "make that happen". After all we are only half way there. Time enough to commission your own gallery show.

FInd the courage to "say it out loud".  Two years later... I'm so happy and proud that I did!

If I can do it... so can YOU!

BLOOM WHERE YOU ARE PLANTED

Marion Pellicano Ambrose

I peer out my front window through the whisper of frost as the first honey colored rays
of sun peek over the horizon. The lawn is a Florida winter carpet of brown scattered with
green, and squirrels dart happily in and out of the branches of the small red maple my
husband and I planted in the yard. I take a closer look at this little tree. The spot where
it sits was inhabited by several holly and water oaks before it. For some reason, none of
them survived. My husband fertilized, sprayed, watered and coaxed but each one became
a brittle brown twig after the first winter.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DR. SEUSS!

In honor of Dr. Seuss' birthday, let's have some fun and post a comment of your favorite quote or quotes from a Dr. Seuss book or from the author himself...


Oh, the places we'll go!!!