MY 49 DOLLAR SUMMER VACATION...

You have heard me say this before…but, every once in a while I have a temporary blue spell in August. I long for a summer vacation. It’s honestly been so long I can’t even remember when I had what we would call a real summer holiday. By this I mean one week of pure relaxation under the sun and with friends or family by your side.

Well, the good news is I have a happy heart so I don’t stay down for long! And, because I focus on the positive (and am doing that at an even higher frequency) in return I get supported by the Universe and keep myself in alignment with all the good energy and wonder that is waiting for us to simply step into.

I was riding in my car last week and for a moment I yearned to be in a beautiful setting and simply relaxing. My body ached too because I have been working so hard. I am working on the world’s most incredible project. And I promise you WILL hear about it soon. I was craving a massage too. But, I stayed upbeat believing something good would come my way soon. Just then I passed a lovely little house with a sign that read “Massage Daily.” I pulled in and parked.

Take a look at these pictures. The place is called The Abbott Center. It’s in Westwood Massachusetts right off of 128. Please go there. The place is Life Affirming. They offer professional massage. You get to indulge yourself (before and after) under the sun in padded chase lounge chairs in a spacious backyard full of serenity! I relaxed. I was pampered. I was given homemade cookies and green tea. I meditated by an angel. Sitting by a vase of fresh cut flowers I read excerpts from one of Jon Kabot Zinn’s books. Appropriately the one called Wherever You Go There You Are. I had the most relaxing one day summer vacation you could ever dream of having. And, it only cost me 49.00 (the introductory summer special)! I would pay that much just to spend a few minutes in their spa-like sea-shell themed bathroom.

If I were you, before summer is over…get in your car (if you live in Massachusetts) and treat yourself to something that I can really call sublime. Those outside of Massachusetts why not look into finding a place like this. They are out there. Many have intro rates and it’s worth any effort to find them.

The day was so spectacular and the energy there so wonderful the place keeps calling me back! And, like my ol pal Van Morrison likes to ask....Did ye get healed? Yes, sir, I did!

Click your way to happiness and bliss….

http://abbottcenter.com/

 

OPRAH AND SCOTTY...

Countless Millions watched

122 Million people voted

Yesterday when I watched Oprah’s last show, and later that evening, American Idol, I was exhilarated not only with how brilliant the two shows were, but with what the stars said.

Oprah gave all the glory to God, and, Scotty McCreery, the winner of American Idol, said, "I gotta thank the Lord first." Yes, these two talented, wonderful people gave it up to the Lord!

I am not as famous as Oprah or Scotty (well not yet anyway) but, I hear them loud and clear. Not a moment of my life goes by that I do not feel the power of the Holy Spirit.

Waking up this morning to my favorite song ever, George Harrison’s, My Sweet Lord, I kept thinking of Oprah uttering the word Jesus, and my man Scotty, thanking The Lord. It made me happy that two people as famous and as popular as Oprah and Scotty, praised God on National TV, in front of millions of people. Maybe billions!

Yesterday, after both shows, and something I often do, I raised my hands in the air and danced around my living room to O Happy Day. The lyrics go…Oh Happy Day, when Jesus washed...washed my sins away. I followed that by playing my own personal theme song, Full Force Gale by Van Morrison. The lyrics: Like a Full Force Gale, I was lifted up again; I was lifted up again by the Lord! I smiled. It feels good having something in common with Oprah and Scotty.

You heard it here first. I predict Scotty will do a remake of Van’s Full Force Gale.

Now give me a big AMEN! And, will someone please explain to me why the words "Jesus" and "God" are not allowed in any post labels? That is outrageous. After I wrote the post above, whenever I tried to type in the words "God," or "Jesus" below here in the label section, a flashing neon warning came on and blocked me from posting. This makes me ecstatic that I have a blog and I can say whatever I want! Like I just did.

I love you dear readers...and thank you for letting me express myself.

ALL PRAISE TO ST. PATRICK...

Happy St. Patrick’s Day…


Not many people know I have a deep longing to go to Ireland…so; I am celebrating this day by first, going to my local bakery for a Green Bagel. Then after I put in a hard day’s work for two (remember, with Aunty’s dementia, I often have to think and do for two) I will sit down to watch Rick Steve’s DVD of Ireland. Throughout the day, I’ll be sipping Irish Breakfast tea, feasting on Irish Soda Bread, and listening to Van Morrison sing.

The only way this day could be any better, is if I were doing all this by the Lakes of Killarney in County Kerry, with my sister Lauren, who has an affinity for all things Irish.

And, to my charitable Ageless Readers please consider making a donation of green to the Japan Relief Fund (http://www.redcross.org/) or text REDCROSS to 90999. 

ALL THE WORLD'S A STAGE....

On the suggestion of my friend Kittie Howard, from The Block, I have just entered my first blog-fest. This brings other bloggers to my site, and gives me a chance to connect with them. Nicole Ducleroir, of the blog One Signifigant Moment at a Time came up with this clever idea. She's asked us to answer some questions first, and post them on our site. Since we love entertaining our readers, as well as ourselves, we have complied.

Anyone who's watched Inside the Actor's Studio will be familiar with the questionnaire. The shows host, James Lipton, asks it of every celebrity guest at the close of the interview. The questionnaire was originally created by Bernard Pivot, a French journalist, for the cultural series he hosted on French television from 1991-2001, called Bouillon de Culture.

Here goes... I am ready for my close-up.

What is your favorite word? TRANSCEND

What is your least favorite word? HATE

What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally? Music, and, just the right partner

What turns you off? ASSUMPTIONS

What is your favorite curse word? Any curse word in Italian!

What sound or noise do you love? VAN MORRISON SINGING

What sound or noise do you hate? LEAF BLOWERS….they SHOULD BE BANNED. Do you agree?

What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? ACTING…my mom tells me I am a natural. My second book has a story that might prove her right. It involves a tour bus, various locations in Vermont, and me dressed as a Rock Star.

What profession would you not like to do? DIVORCE LAWYER…that has to be tough…for a million dollars a year, I couldn't do it.

If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? "YOU HAVE A ROOM WITH A VIEW NEXT to UNCLE D, and We're Playing all your favorite songs."
                                                       
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Take a few moments and see how you would answer....it's fun. It can also be revealing...

With lots of new people checking out Ageless...your comments are appreciated more than ever.

I will be back soon with a full report on my BIG NIGHT OUT! I took the title of this post to heart....

WHAT'S YOUR BOOK CONNECTION?

I just got excited lining up my summer reading. As I stood there thinking about each book, I realized I had a direct connection to each one.

Let’s start with The First Tycoon, by T. J. Stiles. This is a grand book about Corneilius “Commodore” Vanderbilt. Amazon describes it as A gripping, groundbreaking biography of the combative man whose genius and force of will created modern capitalism.


Founder of a dynasty, builder of the original Grand Central, creator of an impossibly vast fortune, Cornelius “Commodore” Vanderbilt is an American icon. In The First Tycoon, Stiles offers the first complete, authoritative biography of this titan, and the first comprehensive account of the Commodore’s personal life. It is a sweeping, fast-moving epic, and a complex portrait of the great man.

My amusing connection is mentioned on page 570. I often visit the Commodore’s grandson’s house, Cornelius Vanderbilt II, in Newport Rhode Island. You can too. It’s called the Breakers. And it’s the mightiest of all mansions. Last weekend, I simply stood on the grounds and was moved.

Second summer reading book is Listening to Van Morrison by the insightful Greil Marcus, one of America’s most dedicated cultural critics. Singer/songwriter Elvis Costello states, "For a Protestant from East Belfast, Van Morrison has a lot of the Holy Ghost in him.” That is one of the reasons I adore Van. I can not gush enough over how much I love his music, but, I will try. I like to say, “If the molecules inside of me were to jump out of my body and form a sheet of music, it would be a Van Morrison song.”

Aside from the title being one of my greatest pleasures: Listening to Van Morrison, I have met Van the man on several occasions, and even had lunch with him in a roped off area of a restaurant. You will have to put my books (when they are published) on your summer reading list to find out more about this fan and Van!

Last, but certainly not least on my summer list is actually a re-read. The Italian Summer is a book by one of my favorite authors, and my friend Roland Merullo. All of Roland’s books are meaningful to me. This prolific author writes with heart, and great wit (plus I love the inscriptions he pens to me). I highly recommend any of his twelve books (including Breakfast with Buddha and Revere in Those Days). The Italian Summer (a true story) finds him in Italy, golfing, eating, and trying to enjoy life with his family. Who wouldn’t want more of that?

For more info on Roland Merullo go to www.rolandmerullo.com

Do you have an interesting connection to your favorite book, or author? A favorite Roland Merullo book? This inquiring mind wants to know…. type in a few words below...