Have the Feeling Something is Wrong?

and you not sure what? Well,there is something wrong. My sense these last few weeks is that most of the people I work and play with are in some heightened state of agitation. Some more than others but all worked up. Careers, money, marriages, relationships, family pressures, all over the lot. More than usual? I think yes.

Each person has a reason that seems cogent but when you drill down on it, I think it may be because they have forgotten who they are. Forgotten what they are trying to accomplish in this particular life time and slipped into the "I" mode.

Perhaps we should all breath deeply, do yoga and get in touch with the inner being. Perhaps we should stop coming from FEAR and come from LOVE. Fear brings out all the worst instincts and behaviors. "I" must win. "I" am threatened, "I" am not appreciated. "I" need and deserve to be richer, more famous, more loved: I, I, I.

Can you step back from this behavior and thinking? Yes,if you decide to react from LOVE, one can never be threatened.

In the end, we each create our own reality. If I am not happy with my reality, I am free to change it. Are you?

Who is Lying?

Are you trying to follow the health care reform debate? Can both the Democrats and the Republicans both be telling the truth? Are both groups lying? Are death panels contemplated?, Will the billions cut from Medicare and the plans being formulated result in less care for the elderly? Will illegal immigrants get free health care? Will a government sponsored health care company really be competitive to the existing providers? Is such a company the first step toward a single payer government run provider and then to socialized medicine? Are the French, Swedish, Canadian systems working?

Have I missed any thing?

Guess what friends, I don't have the answers. I will say this however, we best do our own research, decide what direction to go in and TELL SOME ONE WHO CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE. If you don't do your own research, you will be influenced by the demagogues on radio and TV who are not researches or even decent journalists. Make no mistake they are entertainers. They each, left or right, are in business, on air and in your homes to stir you up and have you think they have the answers. Or in one case, has uncovered a link between some politician and a communist, socialist, or conservative group and is exposing the agenda! What horse shit!

We are lazy, we Americans. Just want to go about our lives and not get involved until our ox gets gored. Then we react.

Come on folks, do the research, make up your own minds. Stop listening to those around you who spout what they have picked up from the media, entertainers, or politicians.

Challenge: ask the next person you are in contact with and health care reform comes up, how and where they got their information?

Hmmmmm!

The best Summer of all!

Why? Because it was bitter sweet. Filled with stress from family health issues, joy- being in Slovakia, Laura preparing for major roles in wonderful productions ranging from Mozart's Clemenza di Tito to 21 st century scary stuff. I have already sent out info so I won't do it here except for the poster for one:

Empire Opera presents
La Clemenza di Tito
by Wolfgang A. Mozart

Two Performances:
Saturday, October 10 and 17, 7:30PM

Advent Lutheran/Broadway Church
2504 Broadway at 93rd Street

NYC

Directed by Nicole Lee Aiossa
Susan Morton, piano


Cast

Tito: Patrick Hogan, tenor

Vitellia: Heather Michele Meyer, soprano (10/10)

Susannah Stayter, soprano (10/17)

Sesto: Parker Burton, counter tenor

Servilia: Maria Alú, soprano

Annio: Laura Federici, mezzo soprano

Publio: Dennis Blackwell, baritone



Tickets - $20

www.empireopera.org

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That said. The joy of seeing The Boys going to school. Yeah, Nicolino began kindergarten and Adriano nursery school. However, Adriano says he is in first grade and in fact 6 years old!

Now on to politics or what passes for politics these days. Here is what I think: America is still a deeply racist country. Whether you think the economic bail out, or health care reforms that the present administration is wrestling with are going in the right direction, it is sad that the rhetoric is peppered with racist hatred having little to do with the merits of any proposal.

The political parties are running true to form: Republicans forgetting the last 8 years of deficit spending, wars, disinformation and no ideas to move us forward. the Democrats in disarray, fighting among themselves, no ideas to move us forward and unable to win the day. Really sad.

The hate mongers on radio and TV rule the day and there is not a ray of sunshine beaming through that will change direction. President Obama is trying to be too many things to too many ideologies and has yet to show any back bone for what he believes.

Where are the Linclons, Roosevelts and Trumans when we need them?

Have a nice day

So much Happening, it can take your breath away!

This past weekend was so special. There was a two day birthday celebration for Rob Berkley at places such as Union Square Cafe and Shun Lee Palace. Rob has the unigue quality of finding then holding the dearest people on the earth close to him. I met four of his life friends who gathered at Union Square to regal Rob and eat tuna burgers: Union's signature dish.Don't miss a lunch or dinner there. It is one of New York City's best restaurants.

In the evening at Shun Lee, more special people yet not the same as the lunch crowd. Deb had prearranged a ten course Chinese dinner that was perfection. Another land mark restuarant on East 55th, not to be missed either.

What a tapestry of personalities, accomplishment and love! Deb, Rob's wife, organized and orchestrated the events and is herself a most special person. Be sure to see their website at www.groupmv.com to see who they are and what they are accomplishing in life.

In between celebrations, Laura and I shuttled to NYP Hospital to do breakfast runs for young Mathew Federici and his parents each early morning. Matt has been there several weeks due to surgery and some post operative complications. To see his face light up when the french toast or pancakes are unpacked is a joy. Laura, we hope, made the final breakfast run this morning as we hear that the boy leaves for home today. What an ordeal and what parents!!! Laura, by the way, took the 5:47 am train from Center Moriches to make the breakfast run. You know, when the going gets tough, the tough get going.

Michele and Bob have each and sometimes both spent every night in the hospital ensuring not only proper care but dispensing love and comfort. They have set the bar high on parenting this trip. By the way, when I use the phrase " ensuring proper care", it is not idle. Even in a world class facility such as NYP Hospital, there are major foul ups that can easily kill you, no exageration.

A visit with the Conecticut Federicis filled us with more love and joy as we spent Sunday with Nicolas and Adrien and their wonderful mom and dad. A great dinner prepared by Yoanna and Drew, time at the Greenwich Beach and a fabulous ferry boat ride across the Sound and home to Center Moriches finished the day. A one hour ferry ride across LI Sound where we read the Times and chilled.

Speaking of dinners, Laura prepared lamb burgers this weekend(believe it or not we spent Friday at home) that were superb. Here is the recipe: it is called MEGUEZ

1 POUND GROUND LEAN LAMB
3/4 TEA SPOON GROUND CUMIN
1/2 TEA SPOON THYME
1/8 TEA SPOON GRATED NUTMEG
1/2 TEA SPOON HOT RED PEPPER FLAKES
1 TEA SPOON MINCED GARLIC
1 TABLESPOON OLIVE OIL
1 TABLESPOON BUTTER, MELTED

1.IN A MIXING BOWL COMBINE THE LAMB,CUMIN,THYME,NUTMEG, RED PAPPER, AND GARLIC.
2.SHAPE WITH YOUR HANDS INTO 4 PATTIES. DONT SQUEEZE TOO TIGHLY, LET THE AIR FILL THEM
3.COOK ON A GRILL OR SKILLET 3-4 MINUTES EACH SIDE DEPENDING ON HOW RARE YOU LIKE THEM. TRY THEM THEM MEDIUM RARE IF THE LAMB IS FISRT CUT.
4.BRUSH LIGHTLY WITH MELTED BUTTER AND SERVE ON A SEEDED BUN.


MORE LATER THIS WEEK