As soon as the word “diet” is mentioned, the subject of drugs comes up, as in expensive liquid “nutritionals,” weight loss supplements and burn-body-fat systems. The sellers of these products claim that they are natural, healthy, etc., but the manufacturers of these pills and powders spend significant millions to get approval by the Food and Drug Administration. Does that work? No. Thousands of drugs have been recalled after someone grew another head . . . or died!

If it’s “natural,” why does it need FDA approval? Also, just because it gets approval does not mean it will benefit you. In a recent court brief, former and current editors and authors of The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) said that companies such as Merck, Wyeth and Bayer Healthcare withheld important information from the FDA regarding the safety of certain drugs, costing many lives.

Bottom line: ANY food “product,” drug or diet plan that has to be FDA approved has chemical additives. It is NOT a natural product; it can’t be by definition. The following is quite scary:

The bulk of verification to the FDA is in the hands of the manufacturers. The FDA does not test drugs; instead the agency relies on the drug maker to submit studies that ensure efficacy and safety. For novel foods such as those developed through genetic engineering such as corn or soy, the FDA relies on the manufacturers for assurances of safety. Since new novel foods are “Generally Recognized As Safe”(GRAS) because they resemble conventional produce, any consultation with government is purely voluntary.

I learned long ago that what goes up must come down and vice versa. If you take a drug that speeds up your system, for example, your body will react by slowing you down, i.e. crash. It is unpleasant — ask any speed freak. Just because a doctor prescribes a drug does not mean it’s a great idea . . . Ativan, for example, has been prescribed for several years for “depression.” Leonardo DiCaprio messed with it in a couple of his movies. It isn’t well-regulated. A good friend was given free access to this drug through medical practitioners; she dropped this every night for more than a year . . . that is dangerous; her prescription should not have been refilled. When her doctor found out, my friend literally had to de-tox just as a heroin addict has to de-tox. A drug is a drug. Word is that Ativan is going to be recalled as it is considered dangerous.

We’re such a drugged-up Country. Some years ago my doctor prescribed medication for one of my rare colds and said “It won’t do much; the cold will have to run its course.” I asked “Wouldn’t hot tea and honey be better for me?” He said, “Yes, but most people don’t believe that and want a prescription.” THAT is a sad state on our citizenry.

Some foods have serious health and mind-altering side affects: Coca Cola, anything with too much sugar and dyes (M&Ms), lots of packaged “foods.” ALL drugs have side effects and, as such, all should be considered dangerous, whether or not they are prescribed.

If you’ve seen any of those guys on the right, stop using whatever you are using . . . or not — your choice — but please don’t drive, or get married, pregnant or sign your estate over to that person you met on the Mediterranean cruise last week! If you DO see those wonderful creatures, consider writing about it vis a vis “Alice In Wonderland.” Lewis Carroll, a mathematics professor at ChristChurch College, Oxford, England, was brilliant. I had the great honor of being escorted through his quarters and Alice’s garden (she was his daughter). Altered states of consciousness are to be honored, but NOT when some doctor/facility is trying to make a profit off your altered state, especially when it is a confused, non-voluntary altered state.

I counselled heroin addicts for a brief while at San Francisco’s Haight-Ashbury Clinic; the chemist told me that cigarettes are more addictive than heroin. But cigarettes are “okay,” apparently, with the FDA. PLEASE take time to read labels and type the name of your prescription or weight loss supplement into Google and see what turns up; go past the first 5-6 pages as a good eMarketing person (me, for example) will control those top pages. It could save your life. Literally.

Run your own game!

Also, just because a doctor prescribes a drug doesn’t mean it won’t harm you. The worst drug I’ve had in my life was doctor-prescribed Predinisone, a synthetic purportedly effective as an “immunosuppresent” drug prescribed for a number of issues . . . because this drug suppresses the immune system, you are more susceptible to infections. Prednisone was, for me, a dangerous drug. It comes with a list of 36 possible complications, 75% of which are serious. How did 36 possible complications pass anyone’s test? When I suggested to my doctor that he was pushing a dangerous drug, he mumbled, “Well it helps some people.” I’d LOVE to see those stats.

There is one guaranteed, time-tested, never fail method for weight loss that works regardless of age, gender or amount of weight you need to lose: Burn more calories than you take in. To put it simply, eat less and exercise more. If you cut your calories and speed up your metabolism through aerobic exercise you will lose weight. Drink lots of water . . . at the recommendation of Cher (yes, the performer), I drink only FIJI Water. I admit I’m somewhat captivated by the story and where it’s from. Fiji. Pure water. Natural filtration from rainfall through volcanic rock. No processing. No run-off anything unless it’s in the atmosphere. It could be a marketing ploy, but I don’t think so. Yes, I have a problem with the plastic bottles, but that’s about it.

Everyone does have a different metabolism, but basics are basics. I was raised with a non-complicated diet that would work for just about anyone (perhaps with modifications for food allergies). It was simple in part because my parents worked long hours, had little time to deal with menus and were not good cooks in the first place. We were always healthy due to balanced meals and lots of exercise; there was no one to drive us around, so we walked. Meals were breakfast of cereal and fruit (eggs on weekends); lunch at school (sandwich and milk, generally); a small piece of meat, fish or chicken with potatoes or rice, about a cup of vegetables for dinner and Bordenave French Bread on weekends. Desserts, if any, were on weekends only. Minimal-to-no carbonated sodas (talk about a drug — carbonation causes calcium loss, which means issues with bones and teeth!). We were never sick.

Foods that will speed up your system naturally:

• Garlic
• Berries and apples: Berries are also full of brain-boosting nutrients. Blueberries are full of antioxidants that pack a wallop when it comes to protecting the brain. Strawberries are high in vitamin C and contain fruit sugar for quick energy. Boysenberries are excellent sources of anthocyanins and polyphenolics.
• Combine berries with apples.
• Cinnamon regulates blood sugar levels — put cinnamon in your coffee or tea or on those apples and berries.
• Cayenne pepper increases your metabolism — spinkle soups with cayenne for more flavor and for the weight-loss aspect.
• Edamame: High protein, nine essential amino acids the body can’t make, heart-healthy fat, lowers cholesterol levels, reduces risk of heart disease. Helps maintain bone density.
  • IMPORTANT: Soybeans (edamame) are natural. Soy/tofu, which is made from soybeans is a manufactured, highly processed food product; the processing includes bleach because Americans do not like the natural light-brown color. To make it worse, flavors and sugars are now added.
  • The benfits of soy products is published by self-interest groups such as the United Soybean Board; that’s akin to the tobacco industry telling you why tobacco is good for you.
  • New research by the FDA has brought up concerns about soy.
  • Reality: High concentrations of manganese found in soy formula can lead to brain damage in infants and altered behaviors in adolescents.
  • Reality: Most soy products on the market today are genetically engineered which creates a whole new set of problems. Government subsidies have enticed farmers to convert many of their crops from “real food” to genetically engineered soy.

At any age, brain foods will benefit you. They include dark organic chocolate (in moderation), grape juice, apples (again), leafy greens — especially dark greens such as spinach and avocados — organic coffee, barley, olive oil . . . I know these work. In my 68 years, I still test well, type fast (98 wpm), am quick-witted, etc. Please reconsider using “old age” as an excuse for bowing out of great experiences by letting your health suffer.

Food and Drug Administration approval does not confirm that a drug is the most effective or the safest drug you can take. It tells you that it has been shown to be effective for its proposed use and that its benefits purportedly outweigh its risks. It DOES NOT inform you that the manufacturer of the drug spent millions to be granted FDA approval because it (the manufacturer) expects to earn millions more from the sales of its product. Thousands of “remedies” are pulled by the FDA each year and many remedies do not get through because of lobbying against cures. Purportedly there IS a cure for cancer; it’s being held back because more money can be made by dispensing drugs and from operations, radiation therapy, etc. (And there are those mind creatures again!)

If you are this far, thanks. I know I am opinionated, but these opinions are based on extensive reading, lots of years of conversation with bonafide jocks, fitness experts (including two Mr. California’s), holistic practitioners, and significant experimenting. We are important; if we don’t take care of ourselves who will? If you are still having problems loving yourself, and some days it just isn’t easy, consider selections from Hay House’s Spiritual Cinema Circle Homepage Link. Just do everything you can to get you loving and valuing you.

If you’re really lucky, as am I, you will have lots of friends and family who send wonderful supportive messages at the beginning of any journey. For my current path, they could have just thought “There she goes again,” but they didn’t and since yesterday when I kicked off my self-makeover with Miss Lucky’s post, I have received a dozen responses on the blog and in eMails saying things like “you go girl.”

This is wonderful. A few people asked if I’m going to post before and after photos . . . sure . . . here it is. That’s my right foot on vacation in Cabo San Lucas a couple of years ago.

I’m waiting for my buddy Paul McHugh (author of “Deadlines”) to weigh in ’cause he generally offers unasked for advice relating to health. And given that he kayaked California’s coastline from Oregon down and rides in the Maverick Surf Contest in Half Moon Bay, among lots of other feats, he’s entitled.

My house is filled with self-growth, expand-your-mind books. A favorite is R.L. Wing’s I Ching Workbook which has been part of my life since the 1980s. Occasionally I flip it open to see where it lands. This morning:

Prospering (Peace): The time resembles the exciting beginning of spring, when the cosmic forces are in inspired harmony. There presently exists the ideal conditions for new awakenings, healthy growth, and progressive plans. It is a totally co-operative environmental setting that leads to the flower and prospering of what is now aroused . . . Many things will become possible . . . Actions that you might now take, particularly those actions that are connected to the welfare of others, will meet with good fortune. You will attract others and find cooperation among those who have goals similar to your own.

Everything starts in the mind, so I’m adding How Your Mind Can Heal Your Body to my list of books such as Dancing Naked in the Mind Field
by Nobel Prize winner Kary Mullis (this is a great book; Mullis is crazy-brilliant . . . and surfs, of course). Yoga needs to be included in the regimen . . . probably with new books such as Hatha Yoga: The Body’s Path to Balance Focus and Strength. . . unless I can find the yoga journal I had years ago.

A couple of years ago I found Change the Way You See Yourself: Through Asset-Based Thinking. (The chapter entitled “Expand Your Influence: You Can’t Get There Alone,” got me out of the house to various workshops and classes, including the Small Business Administration’s invaluable NxLevel workshops.)

Birthdays. Pull out the calculator . . . today I’m celebrating the third anniversary of my 21st birthday plus 5. The image is me at 21 (or 22 or 23 — who remembers!) as Miss Lucky for Lucky Breweries in San Francisco.

Great job. We had a full tap room for our beer breaks. Great Union — Teamsters! Those two 15-minute breaks were required by law! We had to have our beers. I’m still a card-carrying Union member ’cause Chronicle staff were Union also and I was there for a few decades.

Becoming Miss Lucky wasn’t a competition; it was simply ’cause they liked my legs and I was willing to pleasantly smile in front of display panels, with kids and goats at San Francisco’s Cow Palace and with Sal Bando, Oakland A’s very handsome third baseman. And I had the pleasure of appearing on television with the gracious Joe DiMaggio at a baseball event in Los Angeles. As I uncomfortably paraded around during a Pebble Beach golf tournament, the wonderful Don Sherwood, San Francisco’s own DJ, invited me to join his crew table during lunch. My image was on billboards from Portland north into Vancouver. Never saw one, but heard about them for several months.

After a dozen appearances or so, I was too embarrassed to continue so gave up the “crown.”

I never thought I would live this long and haven’t particularly taken care of myself for the past few years, so it’s time to step back in time, return to good health, and continue travelling around the world. In looking around, it’s apparent that many are in this boat, so I’m going to chronicle what I have to do to better represent my youth and invite you to join me.

I have this recurring fear that some nice man who was interested in me 30-40 years ago will see me and think, “Thank God that didn’t work out.”

It’s embarrassing to openly discuss this on the one hand; on the other hand, many of us will be around for 70, 80, 90 or even 100 years and way too many of us are in poor health. Please feel free to join me.

Without the ability to nagivate the world — or at least a few blocks around the neighborhood or the mall — it isn’t going to be much fun. Also, no one should have to take care of you if you have abused yourself (sorry, preaching) and if you really think you are stuck somewhere through genetic disposition, birth right or act of God, PLEASE read at least one book on how you can change your DNA, i.e. No Es Mi Culpa: Who’s To Blame? People Circumstances Or DNA? The No-Excuse Plan To Put You In Charge Of Your Life.

A few years ago, my daughter and I overheard two 30-something-year-old women at the base of the Acropolis in Athens, Greece, complaining about how they could not get up those stairs due to recent knee operations. These young ladies were packing 200-275 pounds each and I’d wager THAT was why their knees blew out. Their conversation made me sad for them. The view from the top is stunning.

My father was an Olympic contender in swimming so I come from a jock family which could be considered an advantage. Dad’s idea of teaching us to swim was to go beyond the breakers at San Francisco’s Ocean Beach near the Cliff House. Undertow? What undertow? You swim across the rip tide parallel to the shore, find a weak point and swim back to shore.

As kids, we biked all over San Francisco’s hills, including the five Divisadero hills starting from Lombard straight up. I was placing in ocean kayaking races into my 50s, including paddling under all three bridges in one day starting from Sea Trek Ocean Kayaking Center in Sausalito (Golden Gate, San Francisco-Oakland, Richmond-San Rafael). To my knowledge no one else has done this — they just talk about it.

Am I going to be embarrassed about writing this tomorrow? Oh, probably. Am I going to stay with it to force myself to get back to excellent health? Yes.

So, because I will probably need to be drop-kicked to get this going and keep this going, I hope to get help from Xavier McClinton, one of Marin’s top trainers. With his wife Nadia, X owns Body By X in Corte Madera. We talked about my current dreadful state. All X said was “I don’t know what you’re doing, but it isn’t working.” With my innate ascerbic wit, I’m sure I responded with “Really! You think?”

I’m going to avoid uploading a current photo. But I’ll tell you that the weight is not good: Body fat around 42% (and I used to average 15-17%). 44.9% water. Muscle mass 18.7. My bone density isn’t very good, much to my surprise ’cause I actually feel fine and eat well. My heart is excellent, undoubtedly due to all the red wine.

I’m starting to read everything I find to learn what doctors, scientists and experts in the field believe is the key to living long and well.

A few weeks ago, knowing that something has to be done, I took Dr. Weil’s vitamin recommendation test. It’s free and I ordered my cal-mag pills to help with the poor bone density.

With the help of various friends who are jocks, health and fitness experts and just plain nags, this will be chronicled along with their recommendations of stuff that works for me and might work for others. A long-time associate is a Navy Seal who trains civilians for fitness; perhaps he will send along his view on stuff that will work for “Redesigning Dianne.”

In the event you do not have time for dozens of more eMails, albeit useful, we’re going to list the best we’ve seen from Dr. Weil’s Tips for a Healthier Lifestyle during April and May . . .

• Super Food: Wild-caught Alaskan salmon is one of Dr. Weil’s favorite foods (and one of mine also). It is an excellent source of high-quality protein and essential omega-3 fatty acids.
• Dr. Weil’s Organic Vegetable Garden: Cultivating a home garden is an enjoyable way to de-stress, get back to nature and ensure a steady supply of the freshest possible produce. Every home garden should be organic; that is, maintained without the use of synthetic chemical pesticides or fertilizers.
• Berries: If you are looking for a delicious way to add fiber and antioxidants to your diet, look no further than berries. Raspberries, blueberries, strawberries and blackberries are sweet, easy to pop into your mouth as a snack and a much healthier choice than a candy bar.
  Right is the recipe for an old-fashioned Berry Rich Dessert that most people thoroughly enjoy eating. The baked fruit filling is crowned with a thin biscuit topping. It can be eaten warm or cold, plain or topped with vanilla ice cream.

  Peach & Blueberry Cobbler Ingredients FILLING 5 peaches, peeled and sliced 1 cup fresh blueberries 1/4 cup freshly squeezed orange juice 1/2 cup sugar Pinch nutmeg (less than 1/8 teaspoon) 2 teaspoons cornstarch BISCUIT TOPPING 5 tablespoons softened butter or Spectrum Spread 2 cups flour plus 1/4 cup flour for rolling out 1 tablespoon sugar 1 tablespoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 3/4 cup milk GLAZE 2 tablespoons sugar Instructions Preheat oven to 400°F. Bring all the filling ingredients to a boil in a large saucepan, then turn down heat and simmer until the filling becomes thick. Spoon the thickened fruit filling into a medium (at least 10 x 8-inch) baking or casserole dish, and spread it around evenly until it meets all sides of the dish. Pinch the butter and the flour together between your thumbs and forefingers until the flour and butter become crumbly. Mix in the sugar, baking powder, and salt and slowly stir in the milk to make a soft dough. Sprinkle a work surface with the 1/4 cup flour, knead the dough lightly a few turns on the floured surface, and roll out to a perimeter approximately the size of your baking dish. With a cookie cutter or a glass cut out 10 biscuits and lay them slightly overlapping on top of the fruit filling, using scraps of leftover dough to fill in any uncovered spots. Sprinkle the top with the sugar. Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes until biscuit topping turns golden brown. Cool for 10 minutes. To serve, scoop out a biscuit and fruit filling and transfer to a dessert bowl or plate.

  A study at Tufts University found that blueberries have the highest antioxidant content of the 60 fruits and vegetables analyzed. The antioxidants in blueberries – anthocyanins – are responsible for this berry’s dark blue hue and its ability to reduce free radical damage to the body’s cells. Just one-half cup of blueberries provides the antioxidant power of five servings of peas, carrots, apples, squash or broccoli. Peaches, with their bright orange flesh, provide different kinds of antioxidants: carotenes such as lutein and zeaxanthin. At only 40 calories each, peaches are a good source of vitamin A, vitamin C, potassium and zinc.

• 3 Reasons to Eat Peas: Fresh green peas are a naturally sweet and delicious addition to any spring meal. They are a good source of vitamins K and C, manganese and fiber, and may help promote bone, cardiovascular and gastrointestinal health.
• Weight Loss: We all know the “secret” of successful weight loss: Eat less and exercise more. It’s not always easy, but by adopting healthy eating habits and a regular exercise routine, you are sure to lose weight without depriving yourself of nourishing, satisfying food. When stressed out or anxious, some people turn to food as a way to comfort themselves. However, what may be soothing at the time can make you feel worse – and weigh more – in the end. As part of your “health makeover,” try Dr. Weil’s Vitamin Advisor. It’s free.
• Yoga is included in Dr. Weil’s Tips for a Healthier Lifestyle weight loss recommendations: While any form of physical activity will help to burn calories and thus support weight loss efforts, some exercises are gentler on the body than others. Yoga is an effective and enjoyable way to burn calories, increase muscle mass (which in turn burns more calories) and enhance stretching, which is important for keeping joints limber and preventing injury. Yoga, along with almost any form of meditation, is also one of the more effective ways of calming oneself during stressful times.
• Carbs for a healthy weight. It makes sense, if you choose the right kind. A study published in the January 2008 issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition suggests that including whole grains in a weight loss plan could help dieters drop belly fat.
• Warm Weather Herb: Aloe Looking for a cost-effective, natural treatment for a variety of outdoor-related ailments? Check out aloe (Aloe vera). The gel extracted from aloe leaves can be used topically for the treatment of sunburn, mosquito bites, and rashes from poisonous plants, as well as first and second degree burns, skin irritations or inflammation.
• Eat More Carrots: Carrots aren’t just for rabbits – these inexpensive root vegetables are a versatile, delicious and nutritious addition to a healthy diet, and are an excellent source of antioxidant compounds.
• Celebrating Cilantro: Summer is an ideal time to try fresh, seasonal herbs in your meals, and one of my favorites is cilantro (Coriandrum sativum). This herb is easy to grow in containers on your windowsill or in pots in your garden. Considered a healing herb, cilantro is traditionally used in India as an anti-inflammatory agent and studied in the U.S. for its cholesterol-lowering properties. Few things are better than a chicken salad with cilantro.
• Should You Try Tai Chi? If you’ve been searching for an exercise that is great for your overall health and provides mental and physical stimulation, try tai chi. Considered by many to be a gentle martial art, the term “tai chi” refers to a harmonious balance between the yin and the yang – the two forces of the universe. In large cities such as San Francisco, you will see dozens of people practicing tai chi during early mornings in Golden Gate Park and Dr. Weil includes tai chi in his Tips for a Healthier Lifestyle. It is an elegant way to greet or end the day.

Following is from “Tara,” my favorite online tarot person. Tara’s site is registered to “Head Web Ltd.” in Hong Kong, so I have no idea as to whether or not there is a real Tara. However, I have been working with Feng Shui successfully for many years and Feng Shui was birthed in China. So perhaps there is some truth to Tara’s readings.

“She” sends me her thoughts weekly. I skip over “her” ominous tone, as in “your life will fall apart if you don’t contact me,” which means pay for some service or another or face darkness. However, each of the eMails comes with solid advice; following is one of them and this one did NOT have anything about “contact me or face trouble” so I’m sharing it:

Many people seek happiness the wrong way. Either they think there’s nothing they can do against external circumstances, or they just sit there and wait for Luck or Destiny to come to their aid, thinking someone else can show them the way. They could wait for a very long time, because that kind of mentality never accomplishes anything.

You create your own happiness, and it depends solely on You. The first thing you have to do is decide what you want to do with your life, and set at least one goal for yourself.

It doesn’t matter whether you set material or spiritual goals. What does matter is that you have a direction to follow. Once you determine what your goals are, don’t count on anyone else but yourself to reach your destination.

Do everything you can to move forward with your plans. Think, speak and act in ways that bring you closer to attaining what you want, if only for a few minutes a day. That will keep you on the right track.

Each day that passes without you thinking, speaking and acting to further your objectives is a day lost. But if you keep your mind focused, you’re sure to succeed.

Don’t wait for events to become favorable, or for other people to come along and help you. Just do what you need to do, at your own speed, and be constant in your efforts. That way you’re sure to reach the shores of happiness. Give up on the idea of Luck or Destiny – your life is what you make it!

Don’t wait for life to start smiling at you. Instead, put on a happy face and smile at life!

Your devoted friend, Tara

Find inspiration where you can. It’s all around us in nature, friends, family, pets, and in books such as
Pearls: A Collection Of Inspirations And Wisdom from Simon & Schuster. “Pearls” contains quotes from Proverbs and inspirational thoughts. It is small enough to tuck in a pocket or purse. This little book would make a welcome gift and it is small enough for someone who is sick or in the hospital to hold.

God, the Universe, whatever you would like to call that supreme power, does in fact hear us and put what we need in front of us. It is up to the individual to grab on.

I drank too much wine last night. I woke up again wanting to never drink again. Somehow my thought patterns need to be changed with regard to alcohol. Many of us spend so much on such luxuries that we deny ourselves things we would really like to do — in my case, it’s get my body back to looking healthy and travel even more than I already do. I love our world and wandering around it. Every road leads somewhere fascinating. Cutting back on eating out and alcohol consumption could probably afford me one more week somewhere in the world. I’m heading for yet another birthday, so this is time to set the tone for major change.

So, while pondering this, I wandered through this Web site, which is my Web site, but still sometimes I forget what I’ve written here because I have several others Web sites to work on (not including those for clients).

I clicked one of my own links and found Lumosity which states: “Lumosity.com has been clinically proven to support brain health. Our users report profound results: faster name recall, greater attention to detail, better concentration, and quicker problem-solving skills.”

Lumosity.com was designed by neuroscientists, and has a web-based training program makes brains smarter, faster and more flexible. Their team works with researchers at Stanford and UCSF to design cutting-edge tools and they claim 14 million users around the world. They’ve been featured in the Wall Street Journal and New York Times. You can try the Lumosity Brain Training Program. They have a free 3-test sampler and then go to Only $6.60 a month.

Tomorrow is Mother’s Day and my child is in the Philippines attending the wedding of one of her friends. I just received photos of the lovely bride and her handsome groom via cellphone!

A family friend said that she was sorry that my daughter would not be home on Mother’s Day and asked if that bothered me. I wondered about that for a few seconds and realized that “no” it doesn’t upset me at all.

Why? It’s obviously ’cause I’m extremely lucky. Some Moms see their children only on Mother’s Day and, on occasion, those days are stress-filled. Some families are so disparate that they don’t even see each other on Mother’s Day or any other day for that matter. (My heart goes out to them; nothing is more precious than family and good friends . . . and good health.)

However, how often to I get to see my daughter? Oh, a few days every week. Why? ‘Cause about five years ago we found two homes for sale on one lot and we invested together on this property.

Another reason everyday is Mother’s Day for me is that I love my child and my child loves me. There are families where that just isn’t true and I hope for them that something will change to bridge that gap. There are also families who, due to circumstances like having to live in another state or country for reasons of employment or serving in the military makes it impossible to see each other often enough.

In addition to being friends and neighbors, my daughter and I go to dinner and a movie a couple of times a month; if I’m short on funds, she treats. And we watch American Idol and Dancing With the Stars while having dinner after work.

She still travels around the world with me even though now she has to cover her own airfare. I thought sure that when that came up, she’d say, “Sorry Mom. You’re on your own.” She didn’t and she has covered her costs during a Mediterranean Cruise a couple years ago, and a two-week long cruise through the Caribbean while we chased Hurricane Thomas to nine different ports. We’re also talking about trips to India, Russia, back to Ireland (that’s Blarney Castle hidden behind the trees) . . . oh, or anywhere else. The only major change is that we now look for heavily discounted travel packages and rates so we can travel as much as possible to as many ports as possible (and we receive discounts ’cause I write about this on the International Harbors travel site, and sometimes on the The Maritime Heritage Project site).

So, that is why I am blessed and Everyday is Mother’s Day for me.

New on our horizons are versions of alkaline therapies, including food choices. We just came across this chart, which ties in with Oxygen Therapy now included on our Reading List.

Public radio reporter Lisa Napoli moved to Bhutan in 2007 to help develop a national radio station targeted toward the country’s youth.

Her book, “Radio Shangri-La” vividly and poignantly portrays the adventures and revelations that ensued, as she encounters both the country’s venerable riches and the fault lines of modernization.

It started when Lisa was invited to a cookbook party in New York where she was working at a radio show as a staff reporter. There, she was introduced to “Sebastian,” by her friend Harris; they were leaving for Asia the following week to cover a story for “Gourmet Magazine.”

At one point during their conversation about Bhutan, which was included in his impending journey, he said “Hey, get a visa and come with us. Harris and I will be your guides.”

They went their ways and he later sent a note inviting her for a drink before he left New York. She did what any bright person would do (in my opinion), she Googled him to find out about him.

“Exhausting what I could dig up about him, I then searched for ‘Bhutan,’ and realized his offhand comment about my tagging along was a joke. There was no just ”getting a visa” to this remote Himalayan nation. Tourism to Bhutan had been permitted only since the 1970s, a time when the nation began to step out of its long-imposed isolation. An airport hadn’t been built until 1984, and even now there were many restrictions; the government-run airline owned only two planes. You couldn’t just tool around the country unescorted; you had to hire a guide to travel with you, and some areas still remained off-limits. To keep out all but the wealthiest visitors, a $200 per person, per day tourist tax was imposed.

Three weeks later, she returned to Los Angeles. One particularly frustrating day at work, she was sitting around, trying to invent some idea for a fifty-second story that would please the editors and fill the news hole in the next morning’s show.

“Once the idea was approved, I’d begin chasing down sources by phone and begging for just five minutes for an interview. At least this wasn’t one of the weeks where I had to go to work at 1:00 a.m. That shift required a different sort of madness than wrangling sound bites into radio news blurbs. Sebastian’s name in my inbox provided relief once again. It was ridiculous how excited I got just seeing an email from him. I didn’t think I was capable of being so smitten.

“Hi Lisa. How are you? Hope all’s well in L.A. Harris is being an excellent sherpa on this trip.

“How would you like to go work for a start-up radio station in Bhutan? If so, let me know and I’ll make an introduction to a friend of mine here who knows someone who needs help. Seems like a good way to get to Bhutan and up your alley, too?”

—Sebastian

And so, in January 2007, I embarked on my journey to Bhutan. Where I would be working with the eager young staff of newly launched radio station Kuzoo FM. Which I took on faith actually existed. To do what exactly wasn’t clear. All because of an email introduction from a devastatingly attractive man I’d met once, for twenty minutes, at a party I almost didn’t bother attending.”

The rest is now history and recorded in her book Radio Shangri-La: What I Learned in Bhutan, the Happiest Kingdom on Earth

I borrowed the image from Barbara Sansone’s Original World Travel with whom I worked a short time. She leads tours to “Forgotten Tibet” and other exotic seldom seen (and disappearing) places. If you are intrigued with ancient cultures, Original World provides tours to the various regions, including Bhutan

The The Visa Black Card offers Travel with No Blackouts or Restrictions and a place to “hide” during airport layovers, which happen during long flights such as this one.

What would your future look like if you spent seven days reinventing your life?

Jack Canfield will be giving a week-long seminar in August of this year in Scottsdale, Arizona, focusing on just that. He is proof that you can have what you want; you simply need to find out what that is and how you unlock the door to your future.

Mr. Canfield has made so much money off of his brilliant marketing of wonderful “Chicken Soup for the Soul” series of books — now in 40 languages and millions sold throughout the world.

That isn’t why he’s a role model . . . he’s a beacon of light because he is now a multi-millionaire, he could sit by the pool and sip Mojitos, but he doesn’t. He has helped and continues to help thousands of others through his books and seminars such as “Breakthrough for Success.” His question to us: What Would Your Life Look Like If You Spent Seven Days Reinventing Your Life?

I’m saving now to attend his conference and I hope to meet each and everyone of you there: August 14-20 in beautiful Scottsdale, Arizona! Click through for details.

If you’re looking for a new level of success and achievement in your life . . . whether it be in your physical, financial, mental, emotional, or spiritual life . . . I firmly believe that Jack Canfield can help you get from where you are to where you want to be!

Tara, an online medium (truly — she reads Tarot cards)  just sent me an eMail indicating that “my hard times are over”  and that a “period of unprecedented luck is going to inundate your life and bring  you all the changes you desire.”

So I’m passing this along to you . . . we might as well all have “a period of unprecedented luck,” don’t you think?

I have a slight fear of Tarot as it reaches, in my opinion, into dark arts and, as in all interpretations of one’s future, they are just that: Interpretations. I have suggested to Tara the Tarot card reader that she try optimism or stop eMailing me. Some of her “predictions” have been frightening and I don’t appreciate that. 

Since I believe we can and do create our future and fortunes, I’ve taken out anything negative in Tara’s Tarot reading and left the positive so that we can all benefit. Rather than getting caught in in “what could go wrong,” we are going to focus on “what will go right.” 

Following are the cards she drew and, in my opinion, luck is better shared than held by one person. So here we go:

Right after my vision about you I drew 3 Tarot cards to confirm the first impression I got when I saw your name. Here’s what they revealed:

FIRST CARD: Positive energy having a beneficial influence on your Destiny

THE LOVERS: This is card number 6 of the Tarot. It represents a choice you have to make in life. The positive aspects of this card are its sincerity, and the many solutions it will place on your path to attain success and happiness. This card tells me something very important about you:

First, you’re a sincere person (and that’s true!). You hate it when people hide their intentions (also true). You like them to be frank and open. Unfortunately, life has taught you not to place your trust in just anyone. The card told me something else that’s important:

Life has already planted many opportunities for emotional understanding and prosperity on your path. But it seems you made some bad choices, and have had to endure some difficult situations. Now you keep thinking about the past, about what might have happened if you’d acted differently. It doesn’t do any good to dwell in the past.

It’s the future that’s important. And your future will be brilliant . . . The last impression I got from this card, is that I see you as an enthusiastic person, someone who has the energy and willpower to obtain what you want. It’s the frustrations you’ve suffered in life that have all but extinguished your dynamism.

How can I say this in simple words . . . I get the impression that I’m dealing with someone who is almost ready to give up and accept their lot in life. You mustn’t do that. I’ll explain why you find yourself in this situation, and what you can do to remedy it.

SECOND CARD: The negative energy working against your Destiny

THE BLACK MOON: This is card number 18 of the Tarot. It represents illusion, fantasy and unattainable ideas. It tends to let you be “manipulated” by others, so that you fall into their trap and get taken in by lies and false promises. You see no future for yourself. Isn’t that the basis of your problem?

You’re coming to a point in your life when you’ll have to break the chains that have been holding you back: This is one of the effects of the Black Moon, which creates a net of illusion around you that makes you lose sight of reality and the magnificent opportunities that have already been presented to you in the past.

That’s why you absolutely have to act and not wait any longer!!!  I know you’re still strong enough to do it. I feel immense energy in you, energy you’re perfectly capable of using to extricate yourself from this situation of immobility and frustration, if someone shows you how. Frankly, don’t you want things to change? Wouldn’t you like to experience happiness, understanding and financial security, once and for all?

Don’t deny it! You want something else, you want changes to happen, and that’s completely normal and logical with the third Tarot card:

THIRD CARD: The verdict: what will your future be like? WHAT ARE THE SOLUTIONS?

THE CHARIOT: Card number 7 of the Tarot represents rapid and lasting change, moving forward to something better, a better position, success, prosperity and understanding. This is one of the most beneficial cards in the Tarot. With the appearance of this 3rd card, it’s almost perfect. Above all, it provides a true picture of your Destiny.

You are on the verge of accepting the unacceptable. You must react. You absolutely have to do something if you want things to work out in your favor. Imagine two forces fighting each other. On one side you have the energy of Card Number 6, which creates all kinds of opportunities for gain, understanding and success in your life. On the other side you have the energy of Card Number 18, which masks the paths you should be following. Like an opaque curtain, the Black Moon prevents you from choosing the paths that lead to your happiness.

On the one hand you don’t want to change anything in your life, because a veil of illusion is preventing you from taking advantage of any opportunities for Luck, Love and Money that arise. On the other hand, your entire being is crying out for freedom and change.

Right now the energy of the Black Moon has the upper hand.  That’s right, your life has to change. And to make that happen, you have to provoke Luck and make it work for you. That way love, money and everything else you aspire to will become part of your life.