The Little Soul and the Sun

I was introduced to the parable of the little soul and the sun while reading the book Conversations with God (see previous post for more information about that book).


This is really a wonderful parable for children and adults alike, as it explains perhaps why people do "bad" things to us on earth. This offers an alternate explanation of people's behaviors, suggesting that possibly it's because they are helping us to know and experience something about our own selves. Without their help we might not remember Who we Are.


So maybe experiences we observe and label as bad, traumatic, terrible, and intolerable are really necessary to help us along this journey we call life.


I know I'll be reading this to my own children someday. I read it twice today, and both times there were tears in my eyes. It's beautiful.

Conversations with God, Book3

WARNING: You need to read this book with an open mind.

Something happens to you and you get really mad and you lash out at God in some way. Who, at some point in their lives, hasn't had this happen? The author of the book was in a really bad place in his life and he was angry with God, so he let God know. He wasn't expecting what happened after that. God responded. Clearly and audibly. So the author wrote down what he heard, asked more questions, and kept writing. Those pages became this three part series.

Don't wonder about whether you should or shouldn't read this book. You WILL read it when you are supposed to. And that may not be in this lifetime.

This book is the third part in a three-part series. The first book focuses on some major issues humanity is facing today in their personal lives, spirituality, and how they function in today's world. The second book goes into a bit more detail, and this third book goes into more detail about more specific things like (don't laugh) life on other planets, more highly evolved beings (HEB's), and how we are treating our bodies and our environment. Everyone can learn something by reading this book (or the other 2). You really should start by reading the first in the series.

The main message from "God" in the book is to remember Who You Are and Who You Choose To Be. If you make all your life decisions based on that idea you will lead a more fulfilled life. You will let go of all fear (False Evidence Appearing Real) and doubt because you will realize that they are the opposite of what God is. You will start to really LIVE andyou will enjoy it, all of it. The things you used to determine as "problems" will be seen as blessings. We are not human beings having a spiritual experience, rather we are spiritual beings having a human experience. God is with us all the time because he can't NOT be. He is everywhere, ALL the time. When we understand that, we can really let go and let God.

There are many powerful messages to be received in this book, no matter your background, religious or not. It's powerful and life-transforming. I'd say that based on recent global events our species could use some inspiring, powerful words to change what we're doing because IT'S NOT WORKING! And if it ain't working, we need to FIX IT. It starts here, with this book series.

Midnight in Paris

Ok, so even though this blog is supposed to be about books I read I am posting today's blog about a movie I saw today. But in all fairness it's a movie about writing and writers and books...sort of.


I just came back from viewing Midnight in Paris, and if you haven't seen it I've included a link to the trailer at the bottom of this post. Some people don't enjoy Woody Allen films. I think this was my first Woody Allen film, actually.


I enjoyed the movie for several reasons. One, it takes place in Paris - which most of you know is very near and dear to my heart. Two, the main character (Owen Wilson) is an aspiring novel writer and we have that in common. Three, it showcases the 1920s, which is such an interesting and important time period. Four, it introduces the audience to geniuses who transformed our culture by gracing the world with their brilliant talents: F. Scott Fitzgerald, Gertrude Stein, Salvatore Dali, Pablo Picasso, Ernest Hemingway, and many, many more. People may not have enjoyed the story, but it would amaze me if people didn't leave the theatre feeling just a little more inspired than they were before seeing the movie.

If you can look past the time travel situation (which I happened to think was a very creative idea), there is great meaning and inspiration to take from this film. Some people live in the past, while others take what they feel is important from the past and learn from it and use it to better themselves. And other people are just oblivious to anything meaningful and live very shallow, incomplete lives. I think part of life is about trying to figure out which category you fall into and deciding if you're ok with that.


I recommend the movie, especially if you're an aspiring anything - musician, poet, artist, writer, etc. Find your muse and make it happen. I know I plan to.


http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi853581081/

Lies That Chelsea Handler Told Me

WOW. I'm thinking I'm pretty safe because I don't live anywhere near L.A. and I'm a total nobody, but I sincerely hope that I NEVER have to meet her. Never. Seriously. The stuff she does to people is effed up, and I definitely couldn't handle it if she did it to me. Imagine PUNK'd times 100,000. Ashton Kutcher's got nothing on Cheslea Handler.

My first introduction to Chelsea Handler was on a flight to Maui. I had downloaded her audio book My Horizontal Life onto my MP3 player. It was THE most entertaining flight I ever had. Fellow passengers continusouly stole glances at me while I laughed uncontrollably out loud. On more than one occasion I found myself whispering "What the f-?" She is one crazy mo-fo and her antics will leave your head spinning. If you're looking for funny, I highly recommend her stuff.

I had a hard time putting this book down. Supposedly it's written by Chelsea's family, friends, and other victims, but she adds a little paragraph at the end of each chapter. I'm suspicious that she didn't write more of it than she's admitting because each chapter is written in her voice and, well, she's a constant liar (see what the book taught me?).

She gets her jollies humiliating other people. She's sick in so many ways. But I couldn't help but love her at the same time. Isn't that twisted? She's like the friend you want to have but of whom you're also scared to death. After reading this book I keep asking myself, can somebody possibly be that demented? I fear that the answer might be yes.

Here is a little sampler platter to whet your appetite:

"It must be Christmas because I just gave you a Nut Cracker" after administering a massive wedgie to a co-worker

The pranks she has pulled on people are truly unbelievable. You will laugh hysterically, trying to regain your breath, and then when you've had time to digest what you were laughing about your jaw will hit the floor and you'll reread that section only to find yourself laughing just as hard as the first time. Then you'll ask yourself if you're just as sick as she is for thinking her prank/lie/joke was actually funny.

You will not be able to put this book down. 'Nuf said.

I have yet to watch her show, Chelsea Lately, on E! Do I dare?

Next up, Are You There Vodka, It's Me, Chelsea.

There's a Spiritual Solution to Every Problem

I am beginning to believe that anything by Wayne Dyer is amazing, but I may be partial. I love his soothing voice, his wonderful sense of humor, and his brilliant messages. If you are struggling in any area of your life, or if you're having a great time and want ti to get even better, then you really shoudl consider this book. According to him, there are no problems in life. We create the problems. I had to listen to this part several times because it's difficult to grasp. Life doesn't have to be struggle - we create our problems through our thoughts and how we react to things happening around us. (I'm also reading through Conversations With God - Book 3 and the message is synonymous with that of Dyer.) Nothing is real. Everything is an illusion. When we understand that we can let go of fear and doubt and negative thoughts and really start to LIVE the live that we were intended to.

There was a segment in the book that was particularly intriguing to me. Dyer references a man by the name of David Hawkins, who performed kinesthetic tests on people using things that would be bad for your body and things that would be good (i.e. Sweet&Low artificial sweetener and natural vitamin C). He tested people's individual strength when one of these things was held by each person. Amazingly, each person appeared weaker in strength when holding the product of chemicals, and stronger when holding the item found naturally in nature. Dyer suggests reading Hawkins' book titled Power Vs. Force, which explores this in much greater detail.

I highly recommend this book to everyone. Don't be put off by the word "spiritual" in the title. This isn't a religious book. In fact, you don't even have to believe in God to get something from this book. It's an inspiring book chock full of positive suggestions on how to lead a better, happier, more rewarding life.

Mother Teresa: In My Own Words

I borrowed this book from the library so that I could learn more about Mother Teresa and her work to help make the world a better place. This book didn't really do that. The introduction was interesting as it gave a couple quick snapshots of her early life and how she ended up in Calcutta taking the poor, sick and dying from the streets and offering them food, comfort, and love. But re rest of the book was really just a collection of quotes from her life that the author categorized into chapters about love, faith, poverty, etc. Since they were used out of context, they weren't really that helpful in providing me with an insight into her life as a missionary of charity. I've requested two more books about her form the library that look like they have more potential to provide me with the information I seek! If you've read one about her that you've enjoyed, please don't hesitate to let me know.

The Venus Project

If you read any of my earlier posts about The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins, you'll remember that I was feeling a little unprepared should some apocalyptic event throw us into survival mode. I consider myself to be good at a lot of handy things. For example, I can knit, I can cook, I can bake, I can garden (flowers and vegetables), I can mow the lawn, I can read, I can do athletic things, and the list goes on. However, what I've realized is that NONE of those things is going to come in handy if we're one day left without any electricity or ways to communicate. So, I decided that this summer I am going to learn more useful survival tactics.

Now my dad, he'd survive. He is a fishing maniac who spends hours upon hours day after day rowing his boat up and down the reservoir trolling for massive brown lake trout. I've gone with him several times, and caught a fish once. But fishing would not help me to survive, because you see I have a severe allergy to fish and seafood. My skin itches and swells, hives develop, and in some cases my throat has been known to close. So I carry enough Benadryl to drug myself into a coma if taken all at once, along with an Epi-Pen. Relying on fish would not be an option for me, and that's assuming that the water sources wouldn't be contaminated with whatever caused the desperate need to survive. So fishing is out. My dad is also a successful hunter, both with a bow and rifle. I am not one of those people that winces when someone says the word "venison", because I am actually quite fond of the stuff after growing up on it. Simmer some cutlets in cream of mushroom soup and serve along rice and you've got yourself a tasty meal! But I don't know how to hunt. So I'm adding that to my list of things I want to learn how to do this year, you know, just in case. I should also learn how to gut the animal properly and then cook it. Otherwise, there is very little point in leanring ot hunt.

Lastly, I want to figure out and identify plants in my region that are edible because let's face it, I wouldn't be able to garden asmost likely I would be on the move. It is highly likely that people would get crazy and start looting and killing in order to survive. I know this because I watched the movie The Road by Cormac McCarthy and I gave a similar assignment to my students, encouraging them to come up with ways to survive: most groups declared they'd loot people's houses and stores and become cannibals. Very nice. One group consisted of three Boy Scouts, and they had a very plausible plan in place. I'm glad they'd survive. Anyway, so my husband keeps mentioning The Venus Project, so I took some time to look it up on wikipedia (my go-to source for quick information even though many will argue its validity) and I found it to be an interesting movement. I learned that the creator once revealed in a fiery argument that the purpose of The Venus Project is not to change today's society because it really isn't feasible (Who runs our country? Filthy rich people. Who wouldn't want to see money become a thing of the past? Filthy rich people. So we're screwed there.), but to leave a post-apocalyptic society with specific instructions about how to create a better, more advanced society without using money. I like the idea.

There are also links on the site to the Zeitgeist Movement, which if you haven't watched the Zeitgeist movies (I believe they are still free to view online), you might want to. I've only watched the first one, and not the part about religion. Prepare to have your world rocked, your values shaken, and your current beliefs thrown right out the window. A positive is that you'll start to listen to that voice inside you, otherwise known as your soul, as it tells you everything you've already known about Who You Are and what you want to do. I'll include the links at the bottom for your viewing pleasure. Enjoy and feel free to comment.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Venus_Project
http://www.thevenusproject.com/
http://www.zeitgeistmovie.com/

Mr. Maybe

I had heard a lot of good things about author Jane Green but had never actually read anything by her. I marked a handful of books "to read" on my goodreads.com account, so I was more than pleased when a very kind and generous friend sent me a box full of books and one was Mr. Maybe by Green.

When I sat down to read this I was very excited! Goodreads gave it an average of 3.03 stars (out of 5), so I had some expectations. However, after reading it I can understand why its score wasn't higher (average compiled from 37,000 reviews!). It wasn't easy to read through. The Bristish English was challenging to read through, especially when I'm used to reading books written in American English.

The story idea was engaging and relatable: woman in late twenties feels rejected by men and decides to just go for a fling (and in all honesty, what woman at some point in her life hasn't felt rejected or turned down by some member of the male species?). Her best friend does her best to convince her it's a bad, very bad, idea, but Libby - the main character - doesn't agree. So off she goes in lust after Nick, quickly falling in love with him only to have him tell her "he isn't ready for a serious relationship." Many tears later and she's coerced into joining the club scene once again, and a not so handsome but seemingly kind man requests her number. She gives it to him and he calls the very next day, but she keeps him waiting because she is still hung up on Mr. Fling who broke her heart, A.K.A Nick. Finally, with the coaxing of her best friend (again) she returns Ed's calls and they go out. He picks her up in his Porsche and she's in heaven. He's a big thing in England, one of the most eligible bachelors, and he's as rich as they come. Naturally her mother is ecstatic! They date, he buys her beautiful flowers and Gucci bags, along with a VERY expensive dress for a ball. The sex, she discovers is awful, but she tells him and he tries to improve. Truth be told, though, he's an old "fuddy-duddy" and it irritates her to no end. He says he loves her constantly (and rather early on in the relationship, too), but she feels smothered. He proposes, she accepts. Her mother is delighted and warns her not to mess this up. Libby is getting excited about planning a wedding, but something inside her is telling her this isn't right. She ignores the feeling until she spends a day with Mr. Fling. Suddenly her passionate side re-emerges and she realizes what she's going to miss out on if she marries Ed the "fuddy-duddy". Declaring it the hardest thing she's ever had to do, she breaks things off with Ed and finds out that her friends and most of her family didn't ever like him - they say him as pompous and condescending. She's just getting used to being on her own when...you'll have to read the book to find out!

Here today, gone to Maui!

Let me just begin by saying how much I LOVE Maui! I have had the good fortune of vacationing there twice in the past 5 years (once for my honeymoon - best decision - and the second time last summer with my in-laws). There really is no other place like it on earth (judged against the places I've been, anyway). It is what I imagine heaven to look like.

Anyway, I LOVE Maui (Kauai's pretty great, too, but Maui beats it by a hair) and was just THRILLED to catch a glimpse of this book by Carol Snow while staying at a little inn-like hotel on Little Sodus Bay off of Lake Ontario. I devoured it in less than 48 hours, and I must say it's a read-anywhere book. Of course, it would be a fantastic beach read, given the setting. The very beginning of the book takes place in California, but the rest is all on the tropical island of Maui. Having been there twice myself, it was entertaining to read about specific places I traveled to while there: Honolua Bay (fantastic snorkeling spot according to my husband - not a big snorkeler myself), Slaughterhouse Beach (the name alone would deter me from entering the water there), The Cannery Mall, Lahaina, Whaler's Village, Black Rock, Kaanapali Beach, North Shore, and the list goes on and on. If I ever hit it big somehow, I imagine myself leaving the rat race, moving to Maui, and enjoying a slower pace of life. (One of my favorite inspirational and spiritual people, Wayne Dyer, lives there, and that just affirms for me the tranquility that island can offer.

If you're looking for a cute, yet mysterious story set in the most beautiful and relaxing place on earth (in my opinion), then grab this book and read it!!

Mockingjay

(Blogger wasn't allowing me to upload my posts until today, so I'm a little behind and my posts may be out of order! Sorry for any confusion.)

I read Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins, which is the third and final book in the popular series The Hunger Games. For themost part, I enjoyed this book. However, I strongly maintaint that the first book grabbed and held my attention and interest from page 1. Sadly, Mockingjay was more challenging for me to read through. There were boring, drawn out parts that lasted much llonger than they needed to. There was enough action, although some could probably have been cut out, and then it just ended. Collins gave so much detail throughout all three books that it was easy for me to clearly picture every character, every tree, every piece of food, however she completely glazed over the ending. I found it to be an ending that just skimmed the surface, but it was satisfying and I was not left with questions.

I am excited to see the first movie!