Compliments From The Heart

“There was something more enticing here…the thrill of the hunt.”--John DiCarloIn ‘Telling Tales Out of School’Compliments from the heart elevate others’ spirit and will often result in an encouraging word from someone else…a domino effect.Twenty-five years ago:Tuesday, February 28, 1984I am in a new section at work now. My new supervisor is black. Her name is Gerri Rogers. There is something about her that ‘grosses me out’. I can’t quite put my finger...

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Easy Come, Easy Go

1929: The Great Depression of 1929 began on ‘Black Tuesday’ with the Wall Street crash in October 1929 and rapidly spread worldwide. The basic cause was a sudden loss of confidence in the economic future. Sound familiar?Some of the 1929 Depression era explanations include high consumer debt, ill-regulated markets that were permitted by banks and investors, cutbacks in foreign trade, lack of high-growth new industries, and growing wealth inequality,...

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City Life Isn't Easy

"Surprising the number of human beings without a purpose."-as heard in the 1975 Australian film,'Picnic at Hanging Rock' & based on the novel byJoan LindsayI came across an article in the Boston Globe in early January 2009 by Jonah Lehrer that I have been meaning to share. He wrote about how the city hurts your brain and what you can do about it.I laughed because after my first few days of returning to New York City I do feel a sudden 'head rush'...

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Dance, Sing, Floss and Travel

Communication is complicated. Each person is raised in a different family with a different definition of every word.Love.Jealousy works the opposite way you want it to.Nature wants us to be mediocre because we have a greater chance to survive and reproduce. Mediocre is as close to the bottom as it is to the top.Be creative. Do one thing a day that scares you.Take various vitamins. You never know what small mineral can eliminate the bottleneck...

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The Caterpillar & The Butterfly

The young see what they wish to see.The old see what they do not wish.What must happen before a caterpillar can become a butterfly?"The caterpillar must weave a cocoon, and live within it alone. It becomes chrysalis, always changing, waiting until the proper time.Then the cocoon is broken.The butterfly escapes.It is beautiful.And it flies.-Bette Bao Lord,'Spring Moon'PHOTO: A caterpillar I photographed on the island of St. Lucia on April 19, 2004.Twenty-five...

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Live For The Moment

The 1719 published novel by Daniel Defoe (Robinson Crusoe) is about a man shipwrecked alone as he struggles against hardship, privation, loneliness, and cannibals in his attempt to survive on a deserted island. “All this while the storm increased, and the sea, which I had never been upon before, went very high, tho’ nothing like what I have seen many times since. I expected every wave would have swallowed us up...and in this agony of mind I made...

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Hollywood Glimpse

"Do not think that beauty means much in life."-Bette Bao Lord"Spring Moon"It is the 81st Annual Academy Award presentation tonight. Hugh Jackman is the master of ceremonies. I saw him in the 2008 film AUSTRALIA. I absolutely loved it. I would have chosen it as a 'Best Picture' nominee. He has great showmanship and I believe him to be a great choice.It will be interesting to see who wins the coveted Oscar this year. My personal choices for Best Supporting...

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The Mini-Reunion

"What is life but foolish desires and imperfect choices."-Bette Bao Lord"Spring Moon"PHOTO: Cyndy Whitmore-Davis, Michael J Armijo, Julie Roth at our mini-reunion dinner on February 20, 2009. Photo taken by Alan N. Freiman.During the summer of 1970 my parents, two brothers and I moved away from '1447 16th Avenue' in Oakland, CA to '356 Magnolia Drive' in Alameda, CA. The first night of adjustment in our new home is easily remembered. My little brother,...

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To Abide and Endure

He threw me a quince.I gave him a jade pendant;No, no just as requitalBut to make our love lasting.He threw me a peachI gave him an emerald;No, not just as requitalBut to make our love endure.He threw me a plum,I gave him a black jade;No, not just as requitalBut to make our love abide.-The Book of SongsTwenty-five years ago today:February 20, 1984, MondayIt's Washington's Birthday. It is also the fourth day in a row that I have spent partly with...

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Breathe & Sweat

'Men should always wear a white undershirt.'-as read at Hipinion.com Advice for the day:Breathe: This lets you live in the moment.Stretch: This releases toxins from your muscles.Do yoga so you can 'Remain Active' in physical sports as you age.Wear sunscreen.Listen, Listen, listen, and then ask strategic questions.Sweat once a day to regenerate your skin.Twenty-five years ago today:Sunday, February 19, 1984I woke up at 10:30am when the telephone rang."Do...

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The Importance of Water

"Water is life's mater and matrix, mother and medium. There is no life without water."-Albert Szent-Gyorgyi(Hungarian Biochemist, 1937 Nobel Prize for Medicine, 1893-1986)PHOTO: Jardin du Luxembourg (Luxembourg Gardens) in Paris had a public photo exhibition of various photography from various decades. I was quite taken by this photo of the spiritual monks amidst the water falls. I had to take a photo of 'the photo' as a memento.Drink FRESH water...

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Confidence & Courage

Like any man who succeeded by his wits, he had his own sources of information.-Bette Bao LordI recently finished an epic novel about old China called 'Spring Moon'. There were so many good lines. I shall share a clever tale that I took from the book that is quite inspirational for 'confidence and courage':A tiger came upon a fox and was about to devour him when his meal shouted in a most regal manner, "Take care, my friend, do you not realize that...

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Fire In The Hole

"Your gift is like no other," he said, and to himself, I shall treasure it always.-Bette Bao Lord,in her book Spring MoonFor the last few years one of my photographer friends has shared words of wisdom and her expertise of 'floral photos' with me. Her name is Andi Hardwick. In her portfolio at EyeFetch.com she wrote:'You'll see a lot of shots of flowers for a reason. When I was laid off from my job as a PC designer, for the third time, my partner...

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The Divided Path

"If you expect too much of people you'll always be disappointed."-as heard in the 1949 film,The HeiressTwenty-five years agoTuesday, February 14, 1984Today is Valentine's Day and I have to say it was a "blast". I had a great time at work, receiving a number of Valentine's from co-workers (Rose, Judy, Sonora and Don). The day had me in a 'good mood'. I gave Valentine's to all of the girls in the office.My Art class was 'okay'. I learned 'paste-up'....

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Couldn't You Use A Hug ?

"I think of you constantly."-Montgomery Cliftin the 1949 film,The HeiressPhoto: Strangers-This photo was taken in Paris, France in July 2008. The three flirtatious fellows asked me to photograph them with the two blond tourists. I obliged. When the three mischievous fellows asked to use my camera to take my photo I did not oblige. I could easily envision them running off with my camera. All I have left is the memory of their faces and the random...

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The Clutter Removal Project

"I want to understand other points of view."-as heard in the film"Daniel Deronda"I laughed when my dear friend, Barbara Reynolds, advised Alan and I of a book called "It's All Too Much". She heard the author (Peter Walsh) on Oprah. The advice isn't too far-fetched from what we are trying to do. We are in the middle of a 'clutter removal project' at our home in Marina Del Rey, California. Things just seem to collect and we don't throw out enough....

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Valentine, The Friend of Lovers

"It's like Oscar Wilde says. We regret only those things we didn't do."-Christopher Bramin his novel, Surprising MyselfIt was about one year ago that I was vacationing in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Alan and I were dining at a restaurant on Valentine's Day 2008 called 'Patagonia Sur' with great friends (John & Pamela). http://www.concierge.com/travelguide/buenosaires/restaurants/15365While I was there a story was written, attached to the menu (which...

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I'm In Heaven

'All endings are also beginnings. We just don't know it at the time.'-as heard in the film 'The Five People You Meet In Heaven'A special someone recommended I read the book 'The Five People You Meet In Heaven', written by Mitch Albom.When I realized there was a Hallmark movie version I recently added it to my NetFlix movie list. I'm so glad I did. I saw it during this past week. It's one of the best films I've seen this year.There were two songs...

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I Like Boys

“You’re a different fish in a sea of sameness.”-Jason F. WrightIn his novel, ‘The Wednesday Letters’I read a book called ‘Telling Tales Out of School’ about a month ago. The following excerpt inspired me to write my very own ‘write-up’ of when I realized I was gay:“I knew I liked boys more than I should. I had already had a torrid, if one-sided affair with Montgomery Clift and several other actors I saw in late-night movies on TV.”-John DiCarloIn...

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