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...

TRANSCEND YOUR NEXT THURSDAY...

Channeling my inner "Aunty"

“I can’t take her anywhere.” No, that is not what my friends say about me, ---- well, okay, maybe sometimes. But, that is what I say about Aunty. She goes just about everywhere I go, and she always creates a stir. It might be the way she smokes her fake cigarette, the high-heels she still manages to strap on, her trendy sunglasses, the sly way she says, “I’m going with the guys,” or a swear she might blurt out with a mischievous grin. But, most often it’s her simple childlike joy that turn moments of every day living into something sublime. Take for example last Thursday night. We went out to get a bite to eat, and according to our friend Lori, “Aunty created another magical night.”


The three of us were sitting in the back of the restaurant eating our salads when a jazz quartet walked in and started setting up right next to us. Naturally (as someone who is into live music) I jumped up in revelry when they started playing.

 Sure, I was in a restaurant, but, it was a friendly neighborhood establishment, the kind of place where you usually have good food and fun.

As the band jammed so did Aunty. Everyone started clapping and cheering as she swayed in a groove from her seat. As the music continued to move her, she got up and danced. There were waiters, cooks, chefs, fellow dinners, who each wanted a glimpse, or a moment with Ageless Aunty.

Our quiet night of eating and chatting turned into a party. But, with Aunty, things always get good. She lives her life with pure bliss and it is contagious. By now I am used to hearing the sweet words…

“Aunty is the happiest person I have ever met.”

Ageless Tip of the Week, Get in touch with the Ageless Aunty in you, and take any night of the week up a notch. Who knows, a jazz band might show up and play your favorite song!

What did you do last Thursday night while Aunty hit the bull’s-eye of living in the moment? Please share your comments below. And if you don’t remember, well, take a cue from Aunty~ it’s time to kick up those heels. And, if you are past a certain age, you can’t use that as an excuse any longer. Look at Aunty go, go, go… She inspired this blog. Let her inspire you…

WHAT'S YOUR GUILTY PLEASURE?

Aunty + 5 Guys = Hamburger Heaven

My guilty pleasure involves five men and a cow. Before I explain, you must promise not to tell Alicia Silverstone (who I told her to her flawless face that I would eat less meat) or strict vegetarian, Sir Paul McCartney, whom I hope to meet one day. I don’t want to give him any reason not to like me.

I recently tried a burger from the chain called Five Guys. It is the best hamburger I have ever had. And, I realize as someone who eats mostly chicken and fish for protein, I have not had all that many burgers, but, it was amazing just the same. The meat was lean and fresh, and cooked just right. The toppings are my absolute favorite. I choose mushrooms and onions, but you can have anything you want, and they are included in the price. The darn thing was so good I went back three times in the first week. Okay, that is a bit much…but I didn’t eat the bread. I only went in twice last week, and plan to eat there only once more this month…. I should be okay. The rest of the time I am exercising, staying out of the sun, avoiding alcohol, sipping medicinal teas, meditating, breathing deep, smiling, connecting with others, and steaming kale…. I think if I indulge in a nice juicy burger once in a while I can still be Ageless…

Look at Aunty. She has been enjoying hamburgers and hot dogs for more than 86 years!

I shared my guilty pleasure…Now, what’s yours? Have you ever eaten at Five Guys? Please comment below.. just click the word comment and tell us. Aunty wants to know…

I DID IT AGAIN...and so can you...

Before I tell you what I am referring to, I will say this blog is pretty powerful. The more I follow all the guidelines and thoughtful suggestions I have set forth for others, my own life improves.

A few weeks ago (before all the talk of turning Japanese) my dear friend Lori told me not to make any plans for Saturday June 5th. She had a surprise, belated birthday gift for me. I circled that date on my calendar and carried on with my busy life; care giving responsibility to Aunty, and all my writing (including this blog). Then, as I mentioned, my cousin from Japan showed up, invited me to tea. He also brought me sake (labeled in Japanese) and a fancy fan. However, my friends believe my karma is so good, and because I don’t let obstacles keep me down for long....> fun, exciting, and extraordinary things keep showing up in my life.

I had been so excited about re-connecting with my cousin, expanding the Japanese theme I had been creating, and open to more, well, needless to say, another serendipitous occurrence…..

This past weekend, June 5th, I found myself with two of my closest friends, in an authentic Japanese tea room, called "The Flying Heron." It's run by a man who studied the art of tea with a Japanese sensei named Kaji Aso. Our sensei prepared a traditional Japanese tea ceremony just for us. My belated birthday gift had appeared!

I was treated to a meditative and tranquil tea (the green matcha powder whipped up slowly with a whisk in the most precise way). There was bowing, sipping, ooh-ing and ahh-ing. I was in my element,  soaking up the culture, and the froth.

My friends continued the celebration by ending the day at a nearby Japanese restaurant. On the way there we stopped in a well-stocked consignment shop where I spotted a piece of jewelry I had been searching for… a sky blue cocktail ring. That particular hue, the shade of the sky, is the color of the popsicles Uncle D would bring me as a little girl. The ring fit perfectly, and was well priced. I walked out with my new belonging, strolling in-between two friends. Later, while sipping one of my favorite drinks (a rare sparkling sake called Moon Rabbit) my new bauble sparkled too. More good fortune can not be too far away.

Things keep getting better when you know they will. Surrender…. Let everything go… So it can all fall into place just for you!

Arigato

A GREEN MOMENT...

Cousins Connecting Over Tea and The Continents...

Many of you have probably heard the accurate statement, what you think about expands. I have also found that what I blog about expands.

Take for example my love for family, tea, and the desire to go to Japan. I always talk about tea, and just the other day I wrote about my affinity for Japanese Culture. After that post, I continued thinking about how much I would love to attend a real tea ceremony in Japan.

This is where the laws of attraction kick in. By doing this writing, thinking, focusing, and visualizing … suddenly I was there (well, in a way). I am not in position right now to spend two thousand dollars, jump on a plane for fifteen hours, and head for Japan. But, none the-less… I was putting all this energy into the universe with my laser sharp thoughts and visions.

As it turns out, I emailed my long lost cousin who lives in Japan. He immediately responded by telling me he was in the states. He had just given a talk for his dissertation at none other than Harvard University. He was not too far away from me. He invited me to tea. He had brought along some of the real thing... the green matcha powder, the whisk and the bowls, (the utensils used for the tea rituals). Before I knew it, I was in a hotel room in Boston drinking green tea out of a bowl with my Cousin Joe from Japan! Speaking to me in Japanese, he served me up as an authentic Japanese tea ceremony as possible. It was a well manifested green moment.

This is why I share with my readers, and ask them to see good things for themselves. Imagine your dreams. Believe they can happen. For me it might have just involved a traditional cup of green tea with my cousin. But, next time I am going to imagine  sitting down discussing my book deal with a savvy agent. I will be so alert and full of life… one of the many benefits of green tea. The tea alone might not land me an agent, but if I drink enough I will have the stamina to write for a life time.

AGELESS TIP OF THE WEEK: Anything is possible when you drink green tea and stay positive~

And for more on the amazing health benefits of green tea *including how to prevent gum disease, go to:

http://www.hibiki-an.com/

http://www.rishitea.com/