Old Braun Toothbrush Heads Find Earth Friendly Uses

I have often wondered to do what to do with the used heads from my Braun toothbrush. Eureka! A penny size of baking soda, some water and a piece of silver jewelery.

Tarnish dissolved!

Watch the tarnish dissolve. Good use of our earth resources, your time and old brush heads.

A quick dip in the Lake of Consciousness

Click here to listen to our show Uncommon Wisdom and the Journey to the Heart with Patricia Murray

Heinlein’s recipe for Relationships in Business

Bill Patterson’s new book on the live of Robert A. Heinlein (Volume 1) did wonders to explore this man and his life.
One of the things I found most delightful was Heinlein’s recipe for relationships (see pg 208)

Show warmth and welcoming.
Establish a connection between your life and his.
Offer him an extended contract that will bind him into your group.
Introduce him to someone who has something else in common they can chat about and let him become more comfortable with your group.
Collect the information you can use to follow up the initial contact and cement the relationship.

Check out this book on Amazon

90% Is Just Showing Up

Lemongrass Chicken Rice Paper Roll

What does Robson Street have to offer on a COLD July afternoon. Lunch of Lemongrass chicken rice paper roll (a nice change from sushi) and delicious Vietnamese Coffee (iced or hot) with a full picture window view of the go-ings on of the Street.

The reason for coming into town was to meet entrepreneurs at the monthly Biznik meeting at Kin/Resto.Bar. So far its a “no show”.

How to turn this into a Win? Pretty easy really. A lunch of great food, amazing Vietnamese coffee, unhurried people-watching in the city, great music, friendly staff and time to blog.

If the day were warmer I would be on their patio. 1500 Robson Street, Kin/Resto.Bar.
BON APPETIT and enjoy People Watching.

Hello Doctor…

Some the things I get to do with my since retirement are most important to me. My friend Kasim Al-Mashat recently faced his final oral examination for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy for Counselling Psychology.

These examinations are open to the public! What a great way to hear what the thinkers of today are bringing to the world.

Kasim and Hunter

These folk are the Stephen Pinkers and Elizabeth Gilberts of our future.

Kasim believs that healing occurs in community and talked about post-traumatic growth. Individuals can healing within community, and communities as groups can heal. My healing takes place when I release my own grudges towards others.

His use of narrative inquiry (storytelling) made his presentation enjoyable and understandable: Dream of the Hanging Gardens: Iraqi Refugees and Exiles in Jordan, Their Migration and Adaptation Experiences. This is a presentation I would like to hear again.

Some thoughts I was left to ponder:

• Coping is incorporating action
• What is the role of employment in the transition phase?
• How do I honor the experiences of others?
• Am I transparent of my biases?
• What do I really understand about social justice in the context of voices of people who are tweeting, Facebooking or blogging?
  What is viral media?

Date Night at the Chef’s Table

What to do that is just a little bit different from the run of the mill “take her to dinner” date?

American Grille Amuse

The Marriott Vancouver Airport’s Junior Sous Chef, Michael Gonzales presented in the month of June Date Night Chef’s Table at the American Grille.

What a treat. A delicious menu that included visits from Chef Mike to our table. He took us through our special menu course by course. I think the Amuse (appie) was my favorite. With the prosaic name of Grilled Cheese Sandwich, this delicious brioche sandwiched cambozola cheese and was topped with fresh bruschetta.

That heavenly first bite was followed by Coconut and Saffron Veloute Fritter of Mussel and Chive Blossom. The best fritter this side of Digby Harbour.

Our third course of braised lamb shank was infused with Chef Mike’s secret ingredient. (You’ll have to ask him). Such a generous portion led me to asking for a doggie bag. There is something about noshing leftovers that is always a special treat. Like extending the date.

Dessert came and I was glad I had worn a “relaxed” dress. Mmmmm a Peach Melba with a creative touch of streusel crumble. I told Chef that if I worked in his kitchen the crumble wouldn’t be safe. I’d be munching it and leave none for the customers.

While the Date Night run is over, watch for their next promotion. As always, the American Grille at the Marriott was worth the trip.
Enjoyd

Long Term Vision 80% in just 6 years!

I went through my Long Term Vision guide this afternoon. One that I wrote in March 2005 while being coached by Andrew Barber-Starkey of Procoach Success Systems. 

Wow! Can you believe that about 80% of my intentions have come to pass.

In being able to look back over these past 6 years, I have to say that it is miraculous.  And an integral part of my process was having a coach.

Some of the successes?

• Business and Career – I work and travel in comfort around the globe
  
• Money & Finance – I feel confident and proud of my financial achievements
• Primary Relationship – Wow! I have the most wonderful and supportive partner
• Family & Friends – Family and I have found a happy place to meet
• Recreation & Lifestyle – I am given gifts of clothing and gems and watches (all top of the line) and in turn am able to give the same
• Personal Development – I have grown to a depth and understanding that I could not conceive of in 2005
• Contribution – I sometimes give $$ but often fund spiritual development, arts, education in business, etc by giving my time and sharing knowledge
• Spiritual Connection – Doesn’t the above say it all?

Mange Italia ~ Mange Turino

The food in Italy is Heaven! And at Reginella Ristorante & Pizzeria I found  bliss.

On via Arsenale, near Porto Nuova railway station, I found myself returning time and again to the Reginella.

In Italy, eating is like a sacrament and I was willing to prostrate myself before that altar every chance I could.

The Reginella’s pizza had the finest crust, a lavash-like bread smoothed over with a light

Pizza Margarita

sprinkle of mozzarella and parmesan, tiny garden tomatoes – pomodorini and fresh basil.

A far cry from our loaded Canadian pizzas. The difference between a fine courtesan and a common whore. There is a place for both.

Returning another night, I experienced my first ever gnocchi, with a little pitcher of house rosso.

The House Wine - Rosso

Aaaah, time for sipping wine, a bite here, a nibble there, enjoying the view of the world from my table.

Whether the beginning of the evening (7PM) or a line-up outside to get in, once you have landed a table, it’s yours for the night.

My waiter comes to offer me Dolce – the sweet. Tiramisu, or baba. What a choice! I ask him to make the decision.

Delicious Baba

I receive the baba, soaked in a light sugar syrup, a coronet of whipped cream and 3 rubies-like slivers of strawberry.

I top my evening off with cappuccino.

And wish I could have this every evening.

Arrivedercci Turin. Till we meet again.

An Afternoon of Wonder in Turin, Italy

On Monday May 23, after returning the keys  of the studio apartment on Via Massena to Senore Fasoli, I found an affordable hotel for my last night in Italy, just around the corner;  Hotel Italia. A perfect little place on Corso Stati Uniti, just blocks from Porto Nuevo train station.

After settling in to my hotel room, I went in search of the beauty salon I had been passing each day.

At this unassuming little salon, the Giglio on Via Assietta I was greeted by a smiling Veronica.I mimed cutting hair and kept saying “corto corto” – meaning short in Italian.

Hunter with Stylist Claudia

She placed me in the expert hands of Claudia and so began my first Italian salon experience. I relaxed. Over the next hour Claudia shampooed, cut, clipped and razored my hair into a wonderful, short, sporty, sexy Mod style. Perfect for the 30 degree temperature in Turin.

I wanted more! After thanking Claudia, I returned to Veronica and mimed massage pointing to their salon menu “con olio olivo”.

Veronica led me in my relaxed stumble through a low lit hall to a little room with narrow massage table. I was give a towel and panties and left alone to undress.  In came Julia who offered me a larger double mattress to relax on, but all I wanted to do was climb on the massage table.

The next hour heaven. Sprinkled with olive oil, limb-by-limb I was stroked, pummeled, stretched and slapped, by the fantastic massaging hands of Julia.

I have enjoyed great massages in every city I’ve traveled to around the globe since 2005

I award Turin the title for Best Massage on Planet Earth, winning out over Cusco Peru, Nairobi Kenya, Ocean Spring Resort in China and Varanasi, India.

The cost of shampoo, hair and one hour massage? Euro 38. Visit Giglio on Via Assietta

I have a Millionaire Mind.

Go ahead and provide your comments. Thanks

Countdown Timer Efficiency

Today I worked with Step 3 of Alex Mandossian’s  Marketing Minute – the use of a countdown timer during my prime-time hours. on my iPhone I set my timer for 1 hour. Then I worked on editing our new soundtrack from Spirit of Nematona.

Old Growth at Nematona

Titled “Sounds From The Dry Shed” this was  recorded at my mother’s home in Ontario from her 100 acre tree farm called Nematona.

Nematona, the goddess representing sacred groves is appropriate for this wonderful property.  Quiet, serene, calm and vast, with old-growth trees, and young newly planted seedlings. Ah, what a wonderful place to visit in the spring.

If you would like a free mp3 of Sounds From The Dry Shed, just write a comment on this blog post below, and I’ll send it along.