BE PREPARED...

I have always admired the Boy Scout's motto: BE PREPARED.  After reading my own blog about getting organized, I have decided to take action...

When the agents do call, I want to be ready, with nothing holding me down. Furthermore, I have been talking about feng shui for years, and would love to wake up to a home that flows with good energy instead of one filled with clutter.

Needless to say, this blog will be spring cleaning for the rest of the week. Ageless will return May 3, this blogger's birthday. I can not think of a better gift to give myself than a clean and organized home. When my big break comes, I will be ready!

Check back next week. I plan to post about my run in with another famous person...

HAPPY EASTER...

We are always the same age inside...

Aunty loves her Easter chicks. They sing and dance We Got the Tweet, to the rhythm of the Go Go's We Got the Beat.

The Easter Bunny, that would be our friend Lori, brought us another glorious basket. We have church to go to, songs to sing, family to visit, and candy to eat. What could be better? We are grateful for every glorious second of this blessed holiday season, and for our readers.

So many wonderful things are on the horizon, my head is spinning. Agents are seriously considering my work. The secret product (idea) that I want to develop is miraculous. And, the blog is growing! Aunty has been joyous and happy. Things keep getting better and better, as we live more and more in the moment, and in deep gratitude each day.

Please come back to Ageless next week. And hit FOLLOW. We do not share email addresses. By hitting the FOLLOW button, (right there to your right) you are simply giving us a thumbs up. When you do become an official follower, Ageless Aunty automatically sends all good karma your way. Just ask any of our followers already. Each one of them has been blessed. So, tell your friends too!

Happy Easter and Happy Trails.

THE NAME GAME...

You have heard some of the nicknames I have given others. I promised to share some of the pet names people call me. Instead of telling you, I will show you, and explain later. The latest one is pictured above. Each name has a story behind it, and is uttered in love and friendship. I answer to them all...

this one is said three times

a family thing

My Uncle D always called me

a college roommate still grooves this one

Why not give someone you love a nickname today...

One of my favorites is what my friend Trish calls her hubby...Cranky Yankee!

BECAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR...

just following my dreams

The agents are coming, the agents are coming..... it's true. I am happy to say, I have been requested by a well known New York Literary Agent, with Hollywood connections, to send what they call a partial...the first fifty pages of my book. I am excited, but I have not left my desk in the last few days.

Writing is re-writing, and the book is never complete until it is on the shelf. I was so glued to my desk that one friend insisted to stay on the phone with me until I got up and took a twenty minute walk. After my three day shut in, she knew I needed some fresh air. Lori has been spending some time with Aunty, and my dear friend Rory made sure I had food. He showed up at my door last night with enough soba, udon, and tofu to last a few days.

Needless to say, the post about nicknames will be continued shortly.
I have got to get back to work. I want my manuscript, cover letter, bio and synopsis to shine. One friend who has written ten books told me to just let the work speak for itself. And the work he is referring to has to be outstanding. The competition is fierce. But, I truly believe I have what it takes. The story of my first book is heartfelt, refreshing, and real! I am calling it Where There's a Will, There's Renee. It might be the first celebrity memoir by a non-celeb:)

"Decide that you want it more than you are afraid of it." ~ Bill Cosby.

WHAT'S IN A NAME?

Renee (right) with Adi-Shakti

As far back as I can remember, I have amused myself and others, by making up nicknames for my friends and family. Best part of all…they stuck. Turns out, other people started calling them by that name too.

When I was twelve I felt like my mother watched my every move. I started calling her The Fox. This may not be a nickname, but eventually my sisters started to call her The Fox too. And, I felt really cool.

My grandmother's long time companion’s name was Bucky. Longing for a grandfather, and just being Renee, I always called him Pappy. Soon the whole family did. I can still hear my mother saying..."Come out back. Pappy's playing his harmonica."

My cousin Kim, was, and still is, called Ella-though-Mort-ee. Her passionate Greek grandmother would scream out something that sounded similar to this, whenever she saw Kim at her door. I thought it was hysterical, and so, I started to call Kim…nothing but, Ella-though-Mort-ee. Kim’s mom and brothers do the same.
When I realized my cousin Gregory’s middle name was Angelo, on the spot, I started calling him Ang (pronounced like Angie without the ie). I think even his wife calls him Ang now.

My sisters and I have a dear friend named Steve. He is a pretty silly guy, and he showed up one year at a Halloween party dressed as a huge white egg. If you combine that with the fact that Steve doesn’t usually go in the sun, I started referring to him as White. Now we call him nothing but. Here is the email I just sent to my sister Val. Is White joining us on Easter?

White (center)after some fun in the sun

My friend Lori’s brother, Stewart, who always shows up to help fix my computer is God-B. I don’t have a brother and, Stewart is so powerful with his computer skills… I started calling him my God-Brother…G-B for short. And now Lori calls him that too. Side note, Lori is really Lynne…but, I call her Lori.

There is an entertainer my family and I enjoy seeing called James Montgomery. Naturally, I started calling him Jimmy Mont, and the girls followed suit. I have a phone message from one of my sisters that says, Jimmy Mont is playing in Providence tonight…

When my God-son Ryan was in a band, I called them Love-Nest, while they went by another name all together.

The list is endless, and my head spins at the thought of all the names for people and places I have come up. Some are private, and some will be mentioned in my books…But, for now I can say, Bettye is Be, Brian is Bre, Diane is DD, and Carroll is C. When I go to New York with White, we call it New Nork, and Jimmy Mont’s song Down in Florida, is referred to as Flor-fee-dah.

In this crazy and scary world… a little lightness goes a long way. I smiled all the way through this post. And, I know my friends who are reading this will chuckle too. I hope some of you will share your favorite nicknames.

This works both ways. I just counted seven fabulous and precious nicknames that others have given me…needless to say; this post will be continued…

And, dear sister Pam, who is P.M., help me think of a few names I might have missed. You can leave it in the comment section. I hope to hear from you all.

Adi-Shakti's name means All Power, to be able! I believe that was the name given to her by her guru.
Did you know that onomatology is the study of names?



WE DON'T MISS A BEAT...

When it comes to being fully alive.....Aunty and I don't miss a beat. Between sessions with Tonia, watching Totoro, and now drumming, we have added years to our life! Why not be a bit outrageous and try sitting in on a drum circle...

If Aunty is banging a drum at 87 with arthritis and dementia, you can try something new too. It's scientifically proven that changing your routine, playing an instrument, or studying a new language, will help keep the mind active and help prevent Alzheimer's.

 I found my groove 

Aunty was going strong. She only stopped once for some water. This drumming thing is fantastic. She urges others to give it a try. There are drumming circles all over the world. The beat will grab you and move you along. All you have to do is show up. They provide the instruments, and instruction. This is what I would call FUN! Your spirit will soar...

For more information on where you can go to try this moving experience go to: http://www.drumsforoneandall.com/
and http://www.drumcircles.net/

A Drumming Circle is something the whole family can enjoy.

If your hands are not too tired from drumming...please take a moment to vote for us in the More Magazine Beauty Search

You can vote once a day!

(just click the words magazine beauty search above)

~Contest ends soon~

PICK UP YOUR FORK AND FORGO THE KNIFE...

Can you keep a youthful radiance without plastic surgery?

I believe anyone can stay young looking for as long as they want. My dear Aunty is 87, and she has never had even a stitch of plastic surgery. She not only glows, but is truly stunning.

Everywhere, people continue to look outside of themselves for the answers. I think it’s a wise person who knows instinctively, that good health and real beauty come from within. I feel so lucky and ageless to have been blessed with the realization that if you go within you will never go without! And, you won’t need plastic surgery.

To avoid the knife, put foods like kale and salmon on your fork, and, buy a good mattress. From what I can see, anyone, regardless of their age, who does some form of exercise daily, avoids alcohol, or uses it only in moderation, enjoys their work, gets along with their family, feels a sense of connection to others, drinks plenty of fresh water, eats an abundance of green foods, a colorful, balanced diet, is grateful for what they have, and gets at least seven hours sleep, will glow! Generally speaking, a person who nurtures him or herself like this should not need plastic surgery. Also, doing things that boost your confidence, and helping others, is a much safer way to feel better about yourself, and yields longer lasting results than any “procedure.”

I make a split second appearance in this video

I look up to and admire the renowned Kundalini Yoga guru, Gurmukh. She is Ageless, and I know why. She is a perfect example of everything I mention, and then some. She gets up before dawn every morning in praise and thanksgiving. Due to the joy of movement, many yoga teachers and dance instructors look much younger than they are. Happy People look better too, and those in good relationships ooze youth. Julia Roberts had a good take on this when she said, “The secret to beauty is to always be looking at someone who loves you.”


Next time you think you might want to consider any plastic surgery, try changing your job, what’s on your plate, how you move your feet, and what you put on your face. A good quality skin care regime can go a long way too, like a good multi-vitamin. High quality natural products, with soothing aromas, do something for the senses that I believe has a cumulative effect. Investing in a good face cream is worth it. And sip plenty of green tea…Rishi's Organic is choice. http://www.rishitea.com/


For more on Kundalini Yoga and Gurmukh go to http://www.goldenbridgeyoga.com/
For amazing skin care products go to http://www.luvalla.com/

MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO...

In my last post about Tonia, I promised to tell you about Totoro. So, we go from Tonia to Totoro….

Totoro is the star of one of my favorite films of all time, My Neighbor Totoro, or, since it is Japanese…Tonari no Totoro.
This stunningly animated film by the legendary Japanese animator, Hayao Miyazaki, is a whimsical adventure fueled by the innocence of a little girl. Watching My Neighbor Totoro is a big night out for your inner child. Totoro is a gigantic, lovable, forest spirit, who resembles an enormous bunny rabbit. He guides and protects two young sisters while their mother is recuperating in the hospital. You will find him holding an umbrella over the girls when it rains, letting them sleep on his soft cuddly belly, flying them through the sky, and calling the Cat Bus when they need a lift. It’s a magical and mystical film where the natural and spirit world is embraced. This film is a rare delight. I recommend it so highly, I feel like I am shouting down to you from a bright blue sky!
                                                
For anyone nine months old to 109, looking for some real movie magic, or to simply feel good, rent the DVD My Neighbor Totoro. There is now a Disney version in English, or, you can look for the Japanese version with subtitles. Both are enchanting and truly ageless….


I love the Japanese culture. My heart has been deeply saddened lately with the devastation and subsequent disasters resulting from the tsunami. The Japanese people are resilient and strong. It is in their honor I watch Totoro again and again…..

May I mention too, the Totoro Forest Project:
A fund raising exhibition/auction to support the national trust Totoro Forest Foundation that Oscar winning film maker Hayao Miyazaki has been helping over the years, featuring original art created by internationally acclaimed artists in the fields of animation, comic books, and illustration. http://www.totoroforestproject.org/

~photo from Totoro Forest Project~