“A flower cannot blossom without sunshine,
and man cannot live without love.”
Max Muller
Shine On
Monthly Archives: August 2015
The Point of No Return
“No matter what people tell you,
words and ideas can change the world.”
Robin Williams
Robin Williams staring in The Birdcage.
For the past three decades I have kept a writing journal. These beautifully decorated covered journals consisted of my daily activities as well as my thoughts and ideas. I also carry in my purse a small hardcover note journal for special moments.
It was an unusually beautiful Friday evening in early March 1996. That evening, my husband and son wanted to see a movie. We all agreed to see Robin Williams new movie, The Birdcage. We are big Robin Williams fans of his humor and movies, so we jumped in the car and headed for the Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica.
After enjoying the movie, we exited the theatre, still laughing from numerous scenes in the movie. My young son wanted to visit his favorite Promenade toy store, The Puzzle Zoo. I dislike going into that store, because it is way too crowded for my claustrophobic nature. So, my husband handed my son some money, and we patiently waited outside the store for my son.
About twenty minutes later, my son exited the store with a bag and ran up to me to show me what he had bought. As I was inspecting the bag, my son grabbed my shirt and was tugging at my sleeve saying, “Mom, Mom, look, it’s Robin Williams.” I looked up and saw Robin Williams briskly walking by with an entourage of body guards. I grabbed my son’s hand and started running towards Mr. Williams.
As I got up next to him, I said, “Excuse me, Mr. Williams. My son just saw and loved your movie, Birdcage and he would love to get your autograph.”
Robin Williams stopped, looked at me, then he looked down at my son and with a smile asked my son, “What’s your name?”
My son just froze in his tracks. Unable to answer or say his own name. Starstruck and excited that he was looking at Robin Williams, I realized that my son couldn’t even speak. So I whipped out my small note journal book from my purse along with a pen, handed it to Robin Williams and told him my son’s name. He wrote in my book and handed it back to me. I thanked him as he quickly disappeared with his entourage in tow.
My son was so excited when I handed him the autographed book. That’s all he could talk about on the drive home and for days later. As the years passed, my son as well as our family would talk about that day I got Robin Williams autograph. We continued to enjoy Robin Williams’ humor in movies, television and on talk shows.
On August 11th last year, my son called me to ask if I had heard what happened to Robin Williams? “No,” I said “What happened to him?” He sounded upset and said, “turn on the television.” I was home, so I turned on the news. My son then asked me if I still had the book? I told him I did. My son and I talked about Robin Williams and he couldn’t understand why he would kill himself.
I don’t think any of us will understand why someone who is talented, loved, admired and universally successful would kill themselves. No one can truly understand the pain and torture each of us goes through or can endure. Unfortunately, we learn how bad someone is feeling much too late. Robin Williams death is just one of hundreds of thousands of suicides that take place every year. His was so poignant because he was a public figure and because we all felt that we knew him or who he truly was.
We all never really know someone or what someone is capable of doing. Often, even those nearest and dearest can become a stranger or someone we never knew. That’s why it’s important for everyone to be kind and gentle to everyone. We must have compassion for everyone.
You just never know when something that you say or do to someone could really push them over the edge. An edge so dark and deep that to that one person, can become the point of no return.
Shine On
Kill Our Negative Cravings
“Every form of addiction is bad, no matter whether
the narcotic be alcohol or morphine or idealism.”
Carl Jung
Addiction can come in many forms. It not only encompasses drugs and alcohol but also addiction can include food as well as sex.
All forms of addiction floods the brain with the feel-good neurotransmitter dopamine. This dopamine effects the regions of the brain that control pleasure and self-control. Over time, the function and structure of the brain change and dopamine receptors are reduced, making drugs, food and other substances less enjoyable but still desperately desired.
Recently, the American Society of Addiction Medicine has made an important breakthrough on the effect all of these substances and behaviors have on the brain. By accident, researchers in Australia and the United Kingdom found that playing the game Tetris for at least three minutes can take up all the mental capability of the brain to the point that is has no more room for imagining other things. This results in having less cravings for food, drugs, sleep and sex
Apparently, Tetris can reduce cravings by simply forgetting about the cravings while engaged in the game. Tetris could potentially be used as a support tool to help people manage cravings throughout their daily lives.
This finding is the first demonstration that cognitive interference can be used outside the lab to reduce cravings for substances and activities. There’s more research to be done, but it’s an interesting beginning to help people with addiction.
Who would ever thought that such a simple thing as playing a game to kill time, could actually be used to kill our negative cravings.
Shine On
The Great Neil Simon
“If you can go through life without experiencing pain
you probably haven’t been born yet.”
Neil Simon
There’s a small list of comedy writers that I’ve admired all my life. One of them is at the top of my list. That writer is Neil Simon.
Mr. Simon has written more than thirty plays and nearly the same number of movie screenplays, mostly adaptations of his plays. He has received more combined Oscar and Tony nominations than any other writer.
I thought I had seen every movie he had ever written, until today on TCM they showed, The Cheap Detective. The movie is a combination of Steve Martin’s, Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid and Mel Brooks, Young Frankenstein style of humor.
Neil Simon began writing comedy for television for such famous shows as The Phil Silvers Show and Your Show of Shows, for which he earned two Emmy Award nominations. He’s worked alongside other young writers including Carl Reiner, Mel Brooks and Woody Allen. Simons first play was, Come Blow Your Horn which was followed by Barefoot in The Park and my all time favorite, The Odd Couple.
One of the most helpful writing books I’ve read is written by Neil Simon. Neil Simon Rewrites: A Memoir, was written in 1996 and I still have my first edition hard copy. I also recently bought the e-book edition and read it again for the fifth time. For any aspiring writer, this is a must read.
Neil Simons’ comedy writing was influenced by Chaplin, Keaton and Laurel and Hardy. Simon has said that he often took refuge in movie theaters to escape difficulties at home. “I think part of what made me a comedy writer is the blocking out of some of the really ugly, painful things in my childhood and covering it up with a humorous attitude … do something to laugh until I was able to forget what was hurting.”
The Cheap Detective may not be a traditional Neil Simon movie, but it certainly holds true to the Neil Simon style of writing. It’s packed with double entendres and funny one liners in the charming, classy, clean comedy style of the great Neil Simon.
Shine On
#Holy Shade Balls
“Water is life’s matter and matrix,
mother and medium.
There is no life without water.”
Albert Szent-Györgyi de Nagyrápolt
Shade balls released into the Los Angeles Reservoir.
Unless you live on another planet, you must know that California is in a serious drought.
To combat the four years of drought, officials have released 96 million plastic balls. These plastic balls, shade balls as they are commonly known, are small black orbs that float atop the water creating shade to keep the water from evaporating.
The shade balls also help block sunlight and UV rays that promote algae growth, which would help keep the city’s drinking water safe. The balls slow the rate of evaporation, which drains California water supply of about 300 million gallons a year.
The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power said the balls are expected to safely float in the water without emitting dangerous chemicals.
Apparently, the black orbs are not new to California. They have been used for almost seven years. But, due to their name they are receiving huge attention from social media users. #Holy Shade Balls.
Shine On
Chronicles of a Blogaholic 