Raymi and I watched the movie, "Juno" last night.  I had heard some good things about it and the screenplay was written by a local writer (supposedly in one of the many St. Paul Starbucks that are tucked away in Target stores).   After seeing it, I could tell by the dialogue that Diablo Cody was probably hopped up on 6 grande mocha latte depth charges while penning it.  Great movie though....very fresh and a nice break from some of the "canned" stuff being churned out of Hollywood.   Oh and Diablo...thanks for not giving your characters ridiculously thick Minnesota accents (a'la "dough-cha knoooow" as in the movie Fargo). 

I was watching public TV this afternoon and found Will Marre's documentary, "Reclaiming Your American Dream"  (http://www.willmarre.com/).   I connected so much with what he was saying.  He spoke of the kind of consious capitalism that we hope to achieve with our little tea business. 

If enough of his ideas about what is truly important in life catches on the future will be a very good place to be.

I'm just a Gen- X'er 

defining what it is to be me

my success isn't measured

by the same yardstick

memorable experiences trump material excess every time

Country club membership?  Not interested

Cadillac? It's not worth a heart attack

In my book happiness is not a final destination

but a state of knowing that all things, they happen for a reason,

I'm trying to keep my eyes open and be thankful for each breath

for each heartbeat is a gift and a chance for dreams to be achieved

happiness is not something to squirrel away

for some distant day that isn't promised anyway

true freedom is our birthright

and can be realized in a nanosecond

once your switch is flipped, don't take my words as truth

become a Spiritual sleuth

go inside, quiet your mind, shut off the world

and you will know that no one else defines you

when living this way each second can be golden,

I proclaim all the time I have left

as my "golden years"

from now until my last breath.

• Two teaspoons, accidentally placed together on the same saucer, points to a wedding or a pregnancy.
• If two women should pour from the same teapot, one of them will have a baby within the year.
• Tea spilling from the spout of the teapot while being carried indicates a secret will be revealed.
• Undissolved sugar in the bottom of your teacup means that there is someone sweet on you.
• If the tag falls off the teabag while it's in your cup, you will lose something within a week.
• To stir the pot counter clockwise will stir up trouble.
• To make tea stronger than usual indicates a new friendship.
• To spill a little tea while making it is a lucky omen.
• If the lid is accidentally left off the teapot, you may expect a stranger bringing bad news.
• To put milk in your tea before sugar is to cross the path of love, perhaps never to marry.
• Bubbles on tea denote kisses.

Steep yourself in the culture of tea at:
http://www.theperfectpause.com/

 

Part Two of my 2008 entry for the Thurber Treat Writing Competition (modeled after James Thurber's, "Pet Department")

Q:  I'm hoping you can help me. For the last two weeks Mr. Muggs has seemed to be lethargic and not interested in much of anything. He sits and stares at himself longingly in the mirror for hours on end. Any suggestions would be much appreciated.  - At Wit's End in Columbus.

A:  Dear, "At Wit's End", Although canines can dazzle us with many astonishing feats of intelligence, they have a tough time recognizing their own reflection in the mirror.  Mr. Muggs is, without a doubt, suffering from severe melancholy and feelings of rejection. As far as he's concerned, his amorous glances are being ignored by the ballerina on the other side of the glass.  Removing his tutu should promptly clear up the issue.

negativity surrounds

rushes to low ground

like water searching

for the most minute crack

in our shells

only our energy can shield us

once in it multiplies like a virus

left unchecked it can wreck a life

with its many trysts and turns

it will shrivel your heart,

turn you cold before your time

to the light, you'll be blind

and find yourself ostracized.

separated from all but it,

negativity.

you will still remember when

it was reviled like bitter poison

instead of embraced like a lover's kiss

you alone have the power

to break yourself free from this false bliss

We watched tonight's episode of, "60 Minutes" and they revealed that the Danish people are the happiest on Earth.  The U.S. falls a paltry 23rd.  The average Dane pays a tax rate of 50% of their income but only works 37hrs per week (on average), has six weeks of  vacation annually, six month maternity leave, and gets PAID TO GO TO COLLEGE!  It was surmised that their blissful state stemmed from the fact that they've figured out that money isn't the key to happiness and the fact that "more" isn't truly more.  I haven't felt this way about a country since my fantasies of living in France after watching the documentary, "Sicko".  All joking aside, it's a wonderful feeling to know that such a place exists.

You'll often read that Shen Nung, a Chinese emperor who lived some 4,700 years ago, discovered that tea leaves falling into boiling water make a refreshing drink. Alas, the emperor — credited with numerous discoveries in medicine, pharmacy, agriculture — is likely a myth himself.

The earliest authenticated record of commercial cultivation of tea in found in 4th century Chinese documents. However, it's generally accepted that people in East Asia were brewing and drinking tea hundreds of years before. In those early days, tea was drunk mostly for medicinal purposes. Green tea leaves were formed into small cakes, roasted, then pounded into small chunks. Brewed tea must not have tasted very good because the drink was typically flavored with ginger, onion, mint, and orange. Infusing tea leaves in a teapot became a widespread practice in China early during the Ming dynasty (1368-1644). Thus "modern tea drinking" is probably less than seven hundred years old.

Steep yourself in the culture of tea at:
http://theperfectpause.com/

As many of you know I'm a member of Self Realization Fellowship and have been for years.  They send out a quarterly magazine with an audio cd of lectures with different themes.  My commute to and from work the next day after receiving the magazine is spent listening to the lecture.  The one I most recently received really resonated with me.  The topic was banishing fear from your consiousness. 

Since my earliest of memories one of my most haunting fears has been fear of failure.  Sometimes I feel like I'm standing still on the freeway of life and others are passing me by at 80 miles per hour.   After listening to this a question arose in my mind, "What would you attempt if you KNEW that you could not fail?"  "What would you attempt if you were absolutely guaranteed success?" 

This was very profound to me because it opened me up to a new paradigm of thinking.  I urge you to ask this question of yourself.  Whatever the answer is could very well  be your life's purpose.

Are you looking for a refreshing relief from the summer heat?  Try this great tasting cooler:
 

1 Cup of our Blue Mango* green tea (at room temp.)
2 kiwis, peeled and diced
1 banana, cut into four pieces
2 Cups honeydew melon, diced
1 Tablespoon sweetener of choice (we recommend honey or agave)
5 ice cubes

Blend until smooth, enjoy promptly!

*Our Blue Mango tea can be found here:  http://theperfectpause.com/products-page/?category=2