the current National Treasure movie

good movie.
go see it.
tell me what you think.
i say, thumbs up.
by the way, did santa come to your house this morning?
peace

hmm...

fire in dick cheney's office.
how terrible?
and/or how terribly convenient?
you decide.
and stay tuned.
you can't make better news up.
peace

i am legend movie review

thumbs up.
good film.
peace.

acupunctured

i did something yesterday that i'd never done in my 54 years.
actually it was done to me.
i got acupunctured.
i experienced acupuncture.
it was very relaxing and calming.
i was aware of each and every needle being inserted.
there was a slight unpleasant sensation, like somebody's just stuck a needle in you.
after they're all in, i had very little feeling or awareness of them.
i did feel some itching and the acupuncturist explained this was my chi balancing.
addicts who are unable to quit their addiction of choice by any other means, seem to be able to quit with acupuncture. i've seen a film of open heart surgery being done with only acupuncture as the anesthetic. there is definitely something to acupuncture. it's been around for thousands of years. as long as it makes people feel better, it's OK by me. it made me feel better and more relaxed. would i do it again? probably.
i do find a good massage more rewarding than acupuncture.
i've never been adjusted by a chiropractor, even though one has told me i'm "out of alignment", whatever that means.
if you're in pain, i recommend acupuncture. if you've never tried it, you'll never know.
next week i will not be skydiving. no interest there.
peace.

us

what does it say about us when:
we're not on time?
we don't do what we say we'll do?
we break our promises?
few things or people in this life are on time.
fewer of us keep our promises or do what we say we will do.
this often angers and frustrates people.
one fact is true. we're all interconnected.
when i'm late i impact somebody else.
few of us are islands. our actions and behavior have consequences that we sometimes don't realize.
what does it say about me if i choose to be angry and frustrated because somebody has broken a promise to me? most emotion is a choice. there must be times when we display emotion without thinking and choosing. no doubt.
the best we can do is this:
be on time.
keep our promises to one another.
do what we say we will do.
why this is so rare i do not know. i suspect it has become acceptable in our culture.
some people say being late is part of being flexible. i cannot buy this.
we must live in reality and that means that far too often promises will not be kept,
people will be late, and somebody will not do what they say they will do.
i believe our reaction is as important as the action. that is to say, my reaction to somebody being late is as important to why they are late. usually there is no good reason for being late, in my opinion. please don't tell me we're meeting at noon if you're going to show up at 12:15pm. i am learning that my reaction and my choices reflect greatly on me and determine my health and well-being. nobody can hurt my feelings without my permission.
flexibility is great, and can only be taken so far.
i continue to be positive and optimistic. i trust people will be on time and do what they say they will do. i can only do this until they show me otherwise. at that time i must choose carefully my reaction and response.
in the meantime, i continue to write about my feelings and experiences, and make a point of being on time.
peace

the golden compass

thumbs up.
don't miss it.
good movie.
peace

www.makeitrightnola.org

www.makeitrightnola.org
please give what you can.
thanks.
peace.

the joys of shaving or not

I've been shaving now for about forty years.
I have yet to find much joy in it.
Recently I've discovered the greatest joy of all:
having somebody else shave me.
For the last month, I've been going to my barber Kim from Cambodia (which is a whole other article).
He now shaves me every Friday.
It is pure joy.
The hot towels, the moisturizer, the after shave and the talc, oh boy!
I cannot begin to tell you how joyful the experience is.
One must experience this first hand or perhaps that should be, first face.
I only get shaved on Fridays.
The rest of the week I let it grow.
I understand the unshaved look is in.
However, I know only what I know about fashion, which is this, if I'm comfortable with it,
then it's OK.
I may never shave myself again.
I know I'll never shave myself as well as Kim shaves me.
If you're looking for something you've never done before, I recommend getting a shave.
Next time I will tell you about another joy of mine, getting a pedicure.
Peace.

article of the day

http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art54209.asp
thumbs up!

a few things i'm thankful for

my partner, my love, my soul-mate
my health
my positive attitude
my ability to see good in everything and everyone
i am grateful i have:
most of my own teeth
clean running water
a roof over my head
enough food to eat
warm clothes
shoes
soap
shampoo
a toothbrush
i am grateful i have lived in a time with martin luther king jr, jfk, and john lennon
i am grateful we'll elect a new president in about 349 days
i am most grateful i have:
a job
money in the bank
peace of mind
friends
flowers
a pot full of fresh basil
a pot full of fresh lavender
a pot full of tomatoes
i am grateful that:
most people are not at war

hugh's views

from time to time i post articles i think are worth reading and passing along.
here's one. enjoy. peace.

WALKING


Recently I learned of a study comparing the average walking speed of people from different countries. The people with the fastest pace are in Japan. The U.S. is in the top five, which also includes other industrialized nations. At the bottom of the list—the slowest pace—are people from Malawi.

Now that I am semi-retired and have more leisure time, I have decided to do more errands by foot rather than by car. I have always done a lot of hiking and walking recreationally, but this is something different. When I need a haircut or have to go the post office, I go out my front door and hit the pavement. There’s a lot within a mile and a half of my home, and I truly enjoy walking the three-mile round-trip. Because of this behavioral change, there is quite a difference in how I feel, and I’ve noticed that my pace is probably getting closer to the folks in Malawi than to those in Japan.

Walking provides an opportunity to see things that I never would have observed when I traveled by car. It is interesting to see the variety of plant life along the path, and how houses have such interesting designs. There are scores of things I see now that before were just a blur as I hurried in my auto to get to the next place. It’s also far more civil when one walks. We fellow walkers generally greet each pleasantly, as opposed to the tension and disregard that typifies interactions between fellow drivers competing for position. Sometimes even a conversation develops with others, or if you see someone you know, there’s an opportunity to get reacquainted. I expect all this has reduced my blood pressure, pulse rate, and irritability quotient, as it feels to me like the rat race is occurring on some track that I am not on.

On the negative side, there’s the smell of gas fumes and the sight of litter that one would not be aware of if not walking. But the worst observation is how hurried and harried people seem to be while driving. No one appears to have enough time to get where they are going as they speed along, using up fossil fuel, not getting any exercise, and feeling tense on the roadway. Believe me, I know from where I speak, as that was surely a picture of me for a very long time, and occasionally still is.

I suppose in an ideal world we would all live about a 10-minute walk to our jobs and we would have enough discretionary time to feel unhurried. It’s difficult in a metropolitan area to slow down our pace, observe the world that surrounds us, and interact pleasantly with others. There are times that nothing but our automobiles will do, but there are times when we probably do not need a car, yet are just in the bad habit of using one.

Similar to starting a diet, developing new, healthier habits can take time. But depending on your living situation, walking more to do errands may be a habit worth considering. It might even make your life more interesting and pleasant, and perhaps lengthen it as well because of the cardiovascular health benefits. Just think, if the worldwide supply of oil continues to be less available and more expensive, you could be well ahead of your friends and neighbors if you get started right now on this new 21st century essential behavior called walking.

Hugh R. Winig, M.D.
www.hughsviewsandmore.blogspot.com

american gangster

good movie.
thumbs up.
i recommend it.
peace

fred claus

just saw this film and i give it a thumbs up.
very sweet and cute.
this holiday season let's really remember what it's all about and live it each and every day.
peace and love and peace on earth.
peace

Kid Nation

Kid Nation is one of the best shows on TV, in my opinion.
it's on CBS, at 8pm, on wednesday.
check it out.
peace

people we meet

i meet remarkable people from time to time in my work. as a cab driver, i never know who will be getting into my cab. the other day i met somebody worth telling you about.
this is a ninety year old woman who was a member of the women's air corps in world war two.
that is a remarkable story alone.
there were over a thousand women in the WAC, (women's air corps). there are now about three hundred and many of them recently attended a reunion in palm desert, california. i chauffeured one of these woman to the airport. she had many tales to tell, all remarkable and interesting. i cannot begin to relate them here.
the women of the WAC essentially flew missions that men could not, because all the men were in combat duty. without the WAC, i doubt world war two would have ended the way it did. these women made a huge difference. i personally thanked this woman for her patriotic contribution and sacrifice to her country, to our planet, and specifically to me. who knows, had it not been for such women, perhaps i would never have been born.
since the end of the war, these women were rarely recognized, compensated or even thanked. in fact, it wasn't until about 1985 when these women were officially made veterans who could then qualify for health care and a pension.
that is another sad story.
this pilot was joyful and grateful and full of life even for 90. she taught me many lessons on the thirty-five minute cab ride to the airport. and she gave me a good tip. i will never forget this hero of history who was so humble and kind.
when you think about it, we all meet hero's and remarkable people every day. we must recognize and be sure to thank them in the moment. we must be aware of every moment and be mindful to live and love within each and every second.
peace

Halloween!

BOO!

into the wild

good movie.
i predict Oscar.
i give it thumbs up.
bring kleenex, you'll be crying.
peace.

two films to see and an evening visitor

i recommend seeing the films "millions" and "the game plan".
both are sweet.
and have a look at our recent evening visitor.

3:10 To Yuma

i saw this movie today at the IMAX.
thumbs up. worth seeing, especially at the IMAX.
peace.

flip flops

every day is a good day to wear flip flops.
peace