Help Ban TRANS FATS in RI restaurants

I've been very interested in helping stop the use of trans-fats in restaurants here in RI. As you are likely well aware these play into a host of serious and life threatening medical conditions, including but not limited to heart disease, stroke, high cholesterol, arterial damage, and many more listed below.

Why I am concerned is that as a health conscious individual while I can moniter how I prepare foods at home and which foods I choose to purchase, restaurants can put these transfats in foods which we the customer are unaware.

I would like to mobilize our elected officials and state government to follow NYC and the discussions in MA re banning trans fat use from restaurants. Please help me do so by contacting your elected officials, and the RI Dept of Health. There is also the RI Dietetic Association at www.eatrightri.org

Below is an email re this from Rep Kennedy...

You can find your elected official at http://www.ri.gov/government/index.php?subcategory=29&linkgroup=3


This is the top 10 list of where you're most likely to get your trans fats:

1. Margarine. Try to choose tub margarine, which will have the least amount of both trans and saturated fats.
2. Packaged foods. Things like cake mixes, Bisquick, they tend to add fat into the mix. Do-it-yourself baking allows you to reduce the fat.
3. Soups. Both dried and liquid soups can contain very high levels of trans fats. Try making your own.
4. Fast food. Primarily I mean those foods deep-fat fried, even when some chains indicate they use liquid oil instead of partially hydrogenated oil sometimes trans fats are sprayed on products in the food manufacturing. Order grilled chicken or skip the fries.
5. Frozen food. This included products from frozen dinners to frozen chicken, frozen breaded fish or chicken, pizzas. Check the label. Even if it says low fat, it can still have trans fat. Choose frozen food with the lowest grams of total fat.
6. Baked goods. Donuts, cookies, cakes, frostings, all have plenty of trans fats. Make them at home or eat them less often or in smaller quantities.
7. Candy and cookies. Lots of trans fats lurking in this area. If it contains chocolate or coconut or other high-fat items, satisfy your sweet tooth with things like hard candies or jelly beans, which don't have any fat.
8. Chips and crackers. Go for baked if you must have your chips. Choose low-fat crackers. Think pretzels and other alternatives that have no fat.
9. Breakfast food. From cereals to breakfast bars, trans fats can be found in this category. You need to read the label and choose cereals that have no fat and breakfast and granola bars that are low in fat.
10. Toppings, dips, and condiments. These would be things like salad dressing, mayonnaise, gravy, whipped toppings, nondairy creamers, hot fudge. Wherever you can, try to substitute a lower-fat alternative. For example, use oil and vinegar instead of a creamy salad dressing; low-fat milk instead of nondairy creamers.

Definition of Trans fat

Trans fat: An unhealthy substance, also known as trans fatty acid, made through the chemical process of hydrogenation of oils. Hydrogenation solidifies liquid oils and increases the shelf life and the flavor stability of oils and foods that contain them. Trans fat is found in vegetable shortenings and in some margarines, crackers, cookies, snack foods and other foods.

Trans fats are also found in abundance in "french fries." To make vegetable oils suitable for deep frying, the oils are subjected to hydrogenation, which creates trans fats. Among the hazards of fast food, "fries" are prime in purveying trans fats.

Trans fats wreak havoc with the body's ability to regulate cholesterol. In the hierarchy of fats, the polyunsaturated fats which are found in vegetables are the good kind; they lower your cholesterol. Saturated fats have been condemned as the bad kind. But trans fats are far worse. They drive up the LDL ("bad") cholesterol. which markedly increases the risk of coronary artery heart disease and stroke. According to a recent study of some 80,000 women, for every 5% increase in the amount of saturated fat a woman consumes, her risk of heart disease increases by 17%. But only a 2% increase in trans fats will increase her risk of heart disease by 93%!

-----------------
Forwarded Message:
Subj: Re: Question re RI Govt..
Date: 12/27/2006 12:47:32 P.M. Eastern Standard Time
From: rep_kennedy_rilin_state_ri_us@yahoo.com
To: TJFronczak@aol.com
Sent from the Internet (Details)

Dear Tom,
I've been following with interest the recent New York City transfat ban and the discussions in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for a possible statewide ban on transfats in prepared foods. I would expect that a couple of similar bills will be introduced in Rhode Island during the 2007 session.

Within Rhode Island State Government, the best place to inquire about healthy eating issues, is the Department of Health. I don't know if they're focused on the transfat issue at this point in time, but I'd say that would be the first avenue to pursue.


Department of Health
Office of Food Protection
Room 203
3 Capitol Hill
Providence, RI
02908-5097
(401) 222-2749
FAX:(401) 222-4775
Ernest Julian, Ph.D., Chief

Sincerely,
Brian Patrick Kennedy
District 38-State Representative
Chairman-House Committee on Corporations

TJFronczak@aol.com wrote:
Dear Rep. Kennedy

Quick question.. Just talking with family and friends about the trans fat ban in restaurants in NYC... Its a great idea we all thought having just found out that one of our favorite pizza places uses trans fat in their pizza dough and to grease their pizza pans! Trans fat! And we never knew.

Who or what is the best branch of RI Govt to send letters, email to to try to get a similar ban here in RI?

Thanks for your help and attention to this matter.

Discussion Group Beginning in January: A Course In Miracles

A Course In Miracles is "a unique, universal, self-study spiritual thought system that teaches the way to Love and Inner Peace is through forgiveness".

This discussion group which will meet twice a month for one hour is open to participants interested in studying more about A Course In Miracles. Day and time are yet to be determined. We could meet in my office or perhaps and more comfortably, rotate meeting locations at members homes. Again, this is an informal discussion group and the details will be determined by the interested members. Limited to 10 participants. If you are interested respond in the comment section below or be in touch with me by email only.

I am looking forward as a peer participant to join in the learning with you all.

So what is A Course In Miracles? Here is a summary from the above website.

A Course in Miracles is a complete self-study spiritual thought system. It teaches that the way to universal love and peace—or remembering God—is by undoing guilt through forgiving others. The Course thus focuses on the healing of relationships and making them holy. A Course in Miracles also emphasizes that it is but one version of the universal curriculum, of which there are "many thousands." Consequently, even though the language of the Course is that of traditional Christianity, it expresses a non-sectarian, non-denominational spirituality. A Course in Miracles therefore is a universal spiritual teaching, not a religion.

A Course in Miracles was "scribed" by Dr. Helen Schucman through a process of inner dictation she identified as coming from Jesus. A clinical and research psychologist and tenured Associate Professor of Medical Psychology, she was assisted by Dr. William Thetford, her department head, who was also a tenured Professor of Medical Psychology at the Medical Center where they both worked.

What exactly, then, is A Course in Miracles? The summary introduction, which appears in its Text, is quite succinct and brief. It reads:

"This is a course in miracles. It is a required course. Only the time you take it is voluntary. Free will does not mean that you can establish the curriculum. It means only that you can elect what you want to take at a given time. The course does not aim at teaching the meaning of love, for that is beyond what can be taught. It does aim, however, at removing the blocks to the awareness of love's presence, which is your natural inheritance. The opposite of love is fear, but what is all-encompassing can have no opposite.

This course can therefore be summed up very simply in this way:

Nothing real can be threatened.
Nothing unreal exists.

Herein lies the peace of God.

Laughter Yoga

I am in the process of registering to become a trained Laughter Yoga Teacher. CNN recently did a story about the healing power of laughter which caught my attention. I am also very aware of the relationship between laughter and a sense of interpersonal connection. Since so much of my work is relationally influenced, I thought this would be a fantastic modality of transformation toward emotional health and wellness.

Keep your eye open for Laughter Yoga experiences in 2007. Just put your name on my email list and I will keep you updated.

hahahahahahahha
LOL!
hee hee hee.... hahah..

Did you know it takes less muscles to smile than it does to frown?!

The True Meaning of the Season!

Click here to view my festive holiday expression.

Life tends to be so full this time of year. I'm feeling it just like you are. As opposed to becoming overwhelmed by it, I'm actually enjoying just NOTICING and BEING WITH it all. (This yoga does pay off!)

In the end it's all about making room for the full range of our human experience and maybe even laughing at the intensity we can all bring to our lives sometimes. My greatest wish for you all is for a very happy, blessed and peaceful holiday season.

Holiday season 2006 only comes once. Don't miss it. Life follows our thoughts. What are your thoughts regarding the holiday? Better yet, what kind of holiday do YOU want to take responsibility for creating?

Namaste!

Charity Yoga Class - The true meaning of GIVING

Hey everyone. I am thrilled to let you know that as of today, the money still keeps coming in for Keep A Child Alive.

It was very well attended and what a great group of people. Men and women alike who all really took time out of busy lives during holiday shopping season, on a Sunday no less from 3-5pm and used their lives to make a difference in the lives of children and families living with HIV in South Africa. The theme was one of using our lives to make a difference, what Seane Corn coined as "Spiritual Activism", getting off our mats and moving out into the world. Well let me tell you, these folks did it. We went thru bottles of water, sweat flying and I dont even want to know what these folks hip flexors are gonna feel like tomorrow!! haha.. but it was fun. I enjoyed presenting it and for those of you who were able to show your support and attend I appreciate that very much.

** If you were not able to attend but would still like to contribute, its not too late. You can certainly do that and its most appreciated at www.keepachildalive.org. And its time to call in some favors, For all of you I have sponsored in marathons and 5K runs -- Its YOUR TURN!!! In one of the cutest donations ever, Henrys 14 yo daughter took $10 of her baby sitting money and gave it to me for "the kids". People who could not even attend the class left off or sent in donations. This really hit a nerve with folks. (you can even have KCA debit a cc or debit card monthly to keep one child alive for $30 a month..... How much are you spending on junk food, snacks, coffee per day???

In our yoga, when we say Namaste we realize that that child in S Africa is US! And as long as anyone is living with HIV, we all are! Thanks for whatever help and support you can offer.

I am very pleased to say that we raised $1420.00 all of which goes directly to KCA. This is what a group of yogis did while on their mats for 2 hours! I thank all of those who contributed so generously and gave of themselves so completely for this event. Based on the turnout and outcome - look for the 2nd annual Keep A Child Alive yoga event around World AIDS Day 2007.

In a way to give back to those who supported us we had a raffle and raffled off 3- 60 massage sessions. (Thank you Raffa Neuromuscular Treatment Center, Henry Przybylowicz LMT, Phil Matos LMT, and 2 personal training sessions with my trainer Matt Fontaine ACE CPT and yoga accessories). Thank you to everyone who donated their time and services to make this successful. Thank you of course to Christine Raffa for donating the space and developing signs to promote the event and to all the Raffa yoga instructors for letting folks know about the class.

Gifting: As an act of appreciation and celebration

Birthdays. Holidays. Mother's Day. Father's Day. Bosses Day. "The calendar says December 25th, gotta get him/her something". Are they going to get me something? How much should I spend? Last year he spent $25.00 on my gift; maybe I should stay in that price range? What is appropriate? Is it too soon in the relationship to buy a gift for someone? What does Miss Manners say about all this? It can be all so confusing.

Sound familiar? It's all meaningless! People are driving themselves crazy. Of course its confusing because people (not necessarily you, but maybe people you know or have read about!!!!!!), are allowing external influences to impact the desire and wisdom of their hearts.

Society says this. Our cultural traditions say that. "But my parents always did it this way". "My teacher used to always tell me.......", its utter and literal nonsense and crazy-making.

Whenever we live a life driven and controlled by the expectations of others or influences outside of us we have just given control over to "them". We no longer live a life that is authentic and genuine, but we respond as robots in empty habitual empty ways. So the calendar says his birthday is November 2. "I better buy a gift". Flip the page and the calendar says December 25th. "I better buy a gift".

WHO SAYS?

Do you want to live a life designed and scripted by someone else, even if that someone else is the society or culture at large? Take your life and hang it up "in the closet" because let me suggest you are NOT living your life, but a life dictated by others.

As a gay man I can tell you the first 26 years of my life were about pleasing others. Doing what others expected, what they needed, and not living in a way that was true to myself. It was all about filling that role that I inadvertently took on and/or others expected or needed of me. I may as well just handed the keys to my life over to someone and let them sit in the drivers seat.

It was at the point of "coming out" that I truly began stepping into the experience of living fully and honestly with myself and others. No longer was I consumed with what or who others needed me to be, but I became my own man and began moving to the beat of my own heart.

For me, to give a gift because the calendar says I should, or someone expects I should is such a non-starter these days. More important to me is that I am in ownership of my thoughts, feelings and actions. My friends and family will let you know I am a fairly generous guy. I don't give out of expectation, but from a sense of desire. I have chosen to step into the role of chief choreographer of my own life. What this means is that frankly, I don't care to give a gift because it' s someones birthday or a holiday. I choose to give a gift because I am thinking about someone and want to share my appreciation, love and care to them. For me its about becoming aware of what I am feeling and finding a symbolic way to express that outside of simply verbally sharing it with someone. Now mind you it may throw some people off. "But it's not my birthday, why did you buy me this?"

I challenge you this holiday season to look at your giving pattern and style. It is one that is internally or externally motivated and influenced. Are you in ownership of your desire to give? Do you need validation or praise for your giving or do you do it because it feels natural and right for you?

The older I get the more I frankly care less about giving based on the calendars mandate. I prefer to give today because who you are touched me today. Maybe this is also the influence of my yoga practice - to be IN THIS MOMENT. To pay attention and with great awareness move in a way that is truthful and congruent to what I may be feeling inside.

Honor yourself and live in your truth. Buy the gift today, because today is all we have. Tomorrow while expected, is not promised.

I'm reminded of the story of a wonderful but very frugal woman who bought a red dress that she saw in a dress store window and fell in love with. She saved her money, got the dress and took it home (keeping it in its plastic wrap) and awaiting that special day where she would wear it and feel like the belle of the ball. Her husband offered to take her out to dinner so she could wear her dress, but she chose not to since she did not want to soil it. At their son's wedding he encouraged her to wear the dress which she admired so, but she told him she was afraid she may step on it and rip it while dancing. Well years went by and the perfect and safe time to wear the dress never seemed to materialize.

As the woman became older and more frail, one day she was rushed to the hospital and never made it out alive. Many mourned for her. The funeral director, while very gentle, asked some important questions to prepare for the wake and funeral. When asked about what he should bury her in, her widowed husband turned to his son and said "do you think it would be ok to bury mom in the red dress she loved so much?".

Don't wait till your death bed to wear the red dress. The time is NOW.
Don't wait till the holiday to buy someone a gift to show your love and appreciation. The time is NOW.
Don't wait for the birthday to buy the card. Do it NOW.

In fact do it often. When you go to Starbucks, leave an extra $5.00 with the server at the counter and have her put it toward the woman behind you in lines tab. Give the bus boy a few dollars on the side to keep for himself for refilling that water glass. We've all be 15 and 16 and a few bucks can feel like $100.00 sometimes. Offer to pay for dessert for the couple at the table next to you, in fact tell their server on the side, that you insist. Rake the elderly woman's leaves next door for no reason other than to help and let her know you are thinking about her. Can you imagine how long she will tell that story at subsequent bridge games. The list goes on and on. How do we give? When should we give?

Throw those questions out. Breathe. Listen to your heart. Come from a place of ownership in your life and how you express yourself in the world.

LIVE LIFE NOW and share your love today. Tomorrow, while expected, is not promised!

Namaste!

Teaching at Raffa Yoga this Saturday

Hi everyone. Just checking in to say hi. Hope all is well with you. Definitely a busy time of the year, isn't it? That is always a great cue to make sure you are taking good self-care. If you are available, in addition to teaching a 9am yoga class in Providence (Richmond Square), I will also begin teaching fairly regularly at Raffa Yoga (1145 Reservoir Ave, Cranston, RI). My December teaching schedule at Raffa Yoga looks as follows: Saturday Dec 2 and again on Saturday Dec 16 at 4:00pm - 5:30pm. Stop by and take some healing time for yourself! See you on the mat! Raffa Yoga class is $13.00 and $3.00 for a mat rental if needed.

Happy Thanksgiving

A day off, a day to catch up, a day to connect. It can be all this and so much more. Sitting here at my computer this morning after making what looks to be a wonderful Pumpkin Apple-Butter pie (recipe from Paula Dean, the 'stick of butter' lady - God Bless her arteries!), I find myself reflecting on many different things.

There is so much that takes place in all of our lives that we simply just take for granted. We woke up this morning! Do you know what a big deal that is. And in truth, many did not wake up this morning. Or some, even in the USA, woke up hungry and not knowing where their next meal was coming from. It's a truth, yet so far from our awareness unless attention is drawn to it. We have computers to read such blogs! Some are without homes, jobs, enough money to even buy a single Holiday gift for a their child. Yet we don't necessarily think about that every day. Many of you know I love the Keep A Child Alive organization that gives needed HIV/AIDS meds to children and their families in Africa. I wonder as I sit down to a wonderfully healthy, tasty and over abundant meal today, what will that child have for dinner or worse yet, will they have even ONE meal today.

I don't find any of us wrong for not holding such thoughts and awarenesses in our minds throughout the day. We are "very busy" after all. But once the awareness is there, then we can't act as if we don't know. Of course then we are confronted with a sense of overwhelming inadequacy - "I'm just one person - what can I do"? Or "I already gave" (somehow absolving ourselves from a need to be present to what continues to occur today)!

Some of you have heard me speak of the wonderful story about the little boy walking along the beach at low tide when all he could see for miles were starfish washed up upon the beach, destined to dry out in the sun or be eaten by the sea gulls. Being of kind heart and unlimited potential, he began walking down the beach picking up starfish one at a time and tossing them back into the water, back into life. Now an elder man was walking down the beach and saw the boy and say "hey sonny, what do you think you're doing". The boy replied "I'm saving the starfish". The older man laughed and said "you can't do that. Look, down the beach there are thousands of starfish, you will never be able to save them and make a difference". With that the little boy bent down. Picked up a starfish. Looked at in inquisitively. And tossed it back into the water. The boy looked at the older man and said "I made a difference in that one's life".

We are all on this earth for a reason. It is no accident. It is no surprise that you are reading this sharing now, nor that I am thinking of this today on this day of Thanks. It's time to roll up our sleeves EVERYONE and look out into the world, beyond the boundary of our own being and experience. It's time to begin to think about what difference can we make, be it for a starfish, a homeless person, someone living with HIV, wild and domestic animals without a voice, or the middle aged neighbor or old friend who is home lonely today. Who have you not called for a while?

How dare we not use our lives to make a difference in this world. Who are we to allow our talents, skills, love and ability to go to waste. On this day of thanks, lets pause together for a moment and appreciate what we have.............................................................(no really... pause!!!)

And now think about the difference that you can make today in the life of another or the world.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Poz.com poll results on HIV disclosure

In a recent poll (7/06) on poz.com the question was asked of those living with HIV: Have you ever withheld your [HIV] status in order to have sex with someone?

Results:
Yes - 45%
No - 55%

As you can see it is nearly half of the folks living with HIV who are not sharing their HIV status. Did neither partner talk about HIV and safer sex before their experience with each other? Whose responsibility is it? Just the person living with HIV? In the end, each person is responsible for their own sexual health, safety and behavior. Care enough about yourself to ask the important questions within a relationship of trust.

Whether two or more people agreed that a sexual encounter is simply a casual one time 'hook-up', designed to be playful, fun or in celebration of your sexuality or an experience of emotional connection and deeper meaning, be sure to consider the value and worth of yourself as a man or woman and take responsibility for your sexual health! You are worth it!

Your comments and feedback are always welcome. This could be an interesting discussion thread.

Anonymous Gifting for no reason! Make a difference in someones life today!

Illness unmasks generous ‘Secret Santa’

Missouri exec gives money to needy, reveals ID to pass mission to others

The Associated Press

Updated: 10:08 p.m. ET Nov 16, 2006

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The answer to one of the happiest mysteries in the Kansas City area is being revealed this year.

A man who has given away millions of dollars and become known as Secret Santa for handing out Christmas cash to the needy is allowing his name to be publicized after 26 years.

But the reason for the revelation is an unhappy one. Secret Santa has cancer. He wants to start speaking to community groups about his belief in random acts of kindness, but he can't do that without telling people who he is.

The man who has spread cheer for 26 years is Larry Stewart, 58, of Lee's Summit, who made his millions in cable television and long-distance telephone service.

Stewart told The Kansas City Star that he was the man who would walk up to complete strangers, hand them $100 bills, wish them "Merry Christmas" and walk away, leaving astonished and grateful people in his wake. He handed out money throughout the year, but he said it was the Christmas giving that gave him the most joy.

Devoted life to returning favors
Now, he wants to inspire others to do the same. He said he thinks that people should know that he was born poor, was briefly homeless, dropped out of college, has been fired from jobs, and once even considered robbery.

But he said every time he hit a low point in his life, someone gave him money, food and hope, and that's why he has devoted his life to returning the favors.

Stewart grew up in Bruce, Miss., reared by his elderly grandparents, who survived on $33 a month and welfare staples. They heated water on the stove for baths and used an outhouse.

After he left home and college, he found himself out of work in 1971. After sleeping in his car for eight nights and not eating for two days, Stewart went to the Dixie Diner in Houston, Miss., and ordered breakfast. When the bill came, he acted as if he'd lost his wallet.

The diner owner came to him.

"You must have dropped this," the owner said, slipping a $20 bill into the young man's hand.

He paid, pushed his car to the gas station, and left town. But he vowed to remember the stranger's kindness, and to help others, when he could.

Triple failure
He arrived in Kansas City because he had a cousin here. He got married and started his own company, with money from his father-in-law.

But the company failed in 1977 and he couldn't pay the bills. It was the lowest point in his life.

"I was a failure in business. I was a failure as a husband. I was a failure as a father," he remembers thinking.

He got into his car with a handgun and thought about robbing a store. But he stopped and went home — and got a call from his brother-in-law, offering him money to tide him over.

After being fired from two jobs on two successive Christmases, Stewart stopped at a drive-in. Although he had little money himself, Stewart gave a cold and miserable carhop the change from a $20, much to her delight.

That's when Stewart's mission to secretly give away money at the holidays began.

Eventually, Stewart became a success and started Network Communications in 2002. The firm used independent sales agents to enroll customers for Sprint long-distance service.

In 1996, an arbitration panel ordered Sprint to pay Network and its sales agents $60.9 million in commissions it owed. Stewart got $5.2 million.

The poor boy from Mississippi now had a family, lived in a nice house and drove nice cars.

So, he started giving away more money, to dozens of causes. The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. The Salvation Army. The National Paralysis Foundation. The ALS Foundation. He supports the Metropolitan Crime Commission's Surviving Spouse and Family Endowment program.

And, all along, he gave away money to needy strangers.

But Christmas was special. He'd distribute thousands of dollars during visits to coin laundries, thrift stores, barbershops and diners.

People shouted with joy, cried, praised the Lord, and thanked Stewart repeatedly.

But Secret Santa moved on quickly to avoid attention.

Reporters sworn to secrecy
He did sometimes invite newspaper and TV reporters along, if they promised not to reveal his identity. It was reporters who dubbed him "Secret Santa."

In 1989, after some people chased his car when they saw the cash he carried, he decided he needed protection. He called Jackson County Sheriff's Capt. Tom Phillips.

"I thought, 'OK, this guy's nuts,'" recalls Phillips, now the Jackson County sheriff. "But at the end of the day, I was in tears — literally — just seeing what he did to people."

Eventually, Secret Santa took his sleigh ride to other places.

In 2001, after the terrorist attacks, he went to New York. The New York cop who accompanied him said he'd never forget the experience.

In 2002, Secret Santa was in Washington, D.C., victimized by the serial snipers. In 2003, it was San Diego neighborhoods devastated by wildfires. And in 2004, he was in Florida, helping thousands left homeless by three hurricanes.

Last Christmas, Secret Santa went back to Mississippi after Hurricane Katrina battered the Gulf Coast.

He stopped in Houston, Miss., where the diner owner had helped him so many years ago. On a previous visit he had surprised the owner, Ted Horn, with $10,000. This time, they stamped $100 bills with the name "Ted Horn," and gave Horn money to distribute. And Horn took money from his own bank account to give away, too.

Secret Santa’s ‘elves’
Stewart has enlisted "elves" for years — George Brett, the late Buck O'Neil, Dick Butkus. He's already inspired copycats.

Four other Secret Santas plan to distribute a total of $70,000 of their own cash this year.

And Secret Santa plans to give away $100,000 this year. Since he started, he estimates he's given out more than $1.3 million in Christmas cash.

But this will likely be the last Christmas for Stewart's tradition. In April, doctors told Stewart that he had cancer of the esophagus. It had spread to his liver. He needed treatment, fast.

With help from Brett, he got into a clinical trial at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Texas. Doctors tell him the tumors have shrunk, but they can't say whether the cancer is in remission.

"I pray for that man every single day," former Kansas City Chiefs star Deron Cherry — one of Stewart's elves — says. "There's a lot of people praying for him."

© 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

George Carlin's Views on Aging

Do you realize that the only time in our lives when we like to get old is when we're kids? If you're less than 10 years old, you're so excited about aging that you think in fractions.

"How old are you?" "I'm four and a half!" You're never thirty-six and a half. You're four and a half, going on five! That's the key.

You get into your teens, now they can't hold you back. You jump to the next number, or even a few ahead.

"How old are you?" "I'm gonna be 16!" You could be 13, but hey, you're gonna be 16! And then the greatest day of your life . . . you become 21. Even the words sound like a ceremony . . YOU BECOME 21. YESSSS!!!

But then you turn 30. Oooohh, what happened there? Makes you sound like bad milk! He TURNED; we had to throw him out. There's no fun now, you're Just a sour-dumpling. What's wrong? What's changed?

You BECOME 21, you TURN 30, then you're PUSHING 40. Whoa! Put on the brakes, it's all slipping away. Before you know it, you REACH 50 and your dreams are gone.

But wait!!! You MAKE it to 60. You didn't think you would!

So you BECOME 21, TURN 30, PUSH 40, REACH 50 and MAKE it to 60.

You've built up so much speed that you HIT 70! After that it's a day-by-day thing; you HIT Wednesday!

You get into your 80s and every day is a complete cycle; you HIT lunch; you TURN 4:30; you REACH bedtime. And it doesn't end there. Into the 90s, you start going
backwards; "I Was JUST 92."

Then a strange thing happens. If you make it over 100, you become a little kid again. "I'm 100 and a half!" May you all make it to a healthy 100 and a half!!

HOW TO STAY YOUNG:
Throw out nonessential numbers. This includes age, weight and height. Let the doctors worry about them. That is why you pay "them."

Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down.

Keep learning. Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever. Never let the brain idle. "An idle mind is the devil's workshop." And the devil's name is Alzheimer's.

Enjoy the simple things.

Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath.

The tears happen. Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person, who is with us our entire life, is ourselves. Be ALIVE while you are alive.

Surround yourself with what you love, whether it's pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever. Your home is your sanctuary.

Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity.

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

Immune Booster Soup

4 cups of mushroom or chicken broth
1 small yellow onion, chopped
4-10 cloves garlic, to taste, crushed and chopped
2 carrots, grated
4-8 shitake mushrooms, sliced
3 tablespoons grated gingerroot, to taste
1 fresh lemon, juiced
3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

1. Bring the broth, onion, garlic, carrots, mushrooms and gingerroot to a slow boil. Reduce heat and simmer on low, covered for 15 minutes or until the vegetables are soft.
2. Remove from heat; add the lemon juice and parsley. Cover and steep for 5 minutes.

Recipe adapted from Yoga Journal. Provided by Debra Brammer, N.D.

This soup is easy to make and delicious. The freshness is evident from first taste. The fresh lemon juice makes a difference. There is a near immediate warming feeling inside after eating. I love it!

LOGO channel coming to RI? I think so!

Hi everyone. I just got off the phone with the gentleman I've been speaking with for what seems like almost a year now regarding bringing LOGO (MTV's GLBT channel) to the Cox digital lineup.

This update is the most promising I have heard to date.

"It's going to happen" I was told. They are in contractual agreement talks right now with MTV/LOGO. It's an issue of bandwidth and trying to balance the cost/bandwidth issue without raising cost of cable to the viewers. Serious negotiation has been going on for the past 2 months!

I was told the response has been "huge" and that the channel has been "highly requested".

So a special thank you to all of you who have worked so hard by calling, emailing, and sending letters to bring LOGO to RI. Well done!!!!

So get excited! And see what's coming! LOGO website

Presenting 'Keep A Child Alive' at Raffa Yoga Today

I'm excited to be announcing the special Keep A Child Alive Charity Yoga Class this morning at Raffa Yoga. In a class of about 40-50 people to be able to spread the word about the worthy and critically urgent and important work this organization does feels so good! It will allow for even more expansive range of awareness and assistance! You can help too by donating at keepachildalive.org.

Here are some of the highlights I want to present this morning:

In South Africa there are an estimated 5.5-6.5 million people infected with HIV

Largest number infected in the entire world

Of those, there are an estimated 230,000 children living with AIDS in South Africa
The reality is without medication 50% of these HIV infected kids die before the age of 2. And unfortunately, 80% die before the age of 8.

In South Africa there are over 1 million children are orphaned as a direct result of parents dying from AIDS related causes. 200,000 children are orphaned every year. This leaves children literally raising children. Entire generation is being wiped out. Grandmothers are also helping raise these kids.

Keep A Child Alive works to get life sustaining antiretrovirals (ARVs) to these children and their families and can do so for under $1.00 a day.

Join such celebrities as Alicia Keyes, Bono, Elton John, Cher, Nelly, Dave Matthews Coldplay, and others.

Fall is in the Air: Autumn Apple Streusel Recipe

Autumn Apple Streusel

Streusel
1/2 cup soy margarine
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 cup rolled oats
1 cup flour
1. Combine margarine and sugar until mixture appears fluffy.
2. Add remaining streusel ingredients and mix well.
Set aside.

Filling
6 apples, peeled and sliced
1/3 cup sugar
2 teaspoons cornstarch
2 tablespoons apple cider
1. Combine apples with sugar, cornstarch and cider.
2. Pour apple mixture into a greased baking dish.
3. Crumble streusel dough over the apple mixture and
bake at 375 ° for 40 minutes, or until streusel
is golden brown.

Whale Rescue Emergency Help Needed Now

Many of you know that I have been a long time supporter and contributor to the Provincetown Center for Coastal Studies. Today I just received a letter which I am clipping and posting here about the need for assistance with the funding of their EMERGENCY WHALE RESCUE FUND.

"As I write this, and just as the humpback population is headed south, dozens of critically endangered right whales are on their migration path back towards Cape Cod Bay for the winter. It is more than likely that at least one or two of them will show up encumbered by fishing gear, requiring an all-out rescue attempt by our team.

As the only organization authorized by the National Marine Fisheries Service to perform this difficult task, we are always at work developing new techniques and equipment, so that the next rescue event is just as likely to save the lives of those individual right whales, which in turn are crucial to the survival of the species itself. Remember that we have a pretty good track record; the network has a success rate of about 75 percent once rescue team members have reached a whale in distress.

It is your commitment and support that helps us toward success. To donate click here.

Charity Yoga Class for KEEP A CHILD ALIVE December 3, 2006

Join me as I present my signature Freestyle Vinyasa Class as an offering devoted to KEEP A CHILD ALIVE. Know that 100% of ALL money received for and during this class will be donated to KCA. This worthy organization, supported by such artists as Alicia Keyes, Bono, Rod Stewart, Nelly, Dave Matthews, Coldplay and so many more, is dedicated to the provision and delivery of needed HIV/AIDS medications to children in Africa. Just $1.00 a day gives needed HIV meds to these children. That's just $30 a month. How much are you spending at Starbucks each month? Consider giving a 'month's worth of medications' as your donation for this special class designed around the theme of love and service.

With your donation you will receive a raffel ticket and at the end of class we will raffel off such items as 60 minute stress relieving massages, gift cards to Starbucks and more. This is truly is a win-win event.

Date: Sunday, December 3, 2006
Time: 3:00pm - 5:00pm
Location: Raffa Yoga in Cranston, RI.

Minimum donation $20.00. Encouraged donation of $30.00. (Make check payable to "Keep A Child Alive" - this way you also win by being able to deduct this on your taxes as a charitable donation).

Look forward to you showing up on your mats and using your life, body and spirit to make a difference, not just in the life of a child in Africa, but in the world! Our thoughts, intentions, and actions are all vibrational and can work toward healing this planet. Email me with any questions. This will be an all levels class.

A tremendous thanks to Christine Raffa and Raffa Yoga for donating the space for this charity event. Be sure to check out the variety of classes offered by Raffa Yoga and the National Yoga Workshops up and coming!

Special thanks also to the following businesses for donation of gifts for raffle:
Henry Przybylowicz LMT, Donation of a One Hour Massage, 120 Wayland Ave., Providence, 401.434.9080
Phil Matos LMT, Donation of a One Hour Massage, 120 Wayland Ave., Providence, 508.951.9329
Christine Raffa LMT, Donation of a One Hour Massage, 1145 Reservoir Avenue, Cranston, 401.943.2500
Matt Fontaine, ACE Certfied Personal Trainer, Donation of (2) separate Personal Training Sessions, Matt's Email or 401.663.7585
Raffa Yoga, Gift Certificate for one FREE yoga class @ Raffa Yoga.

Oprah Show - HIV/AIDS in America

So I just got done watching Oprah that I had DVR'd from last week featuring Magic Johnson his wife Cookie, 6 women living with HIV and a group of African American men living on the D/L (Down Low). The show was called HIV/AIDS in America.

It was amazing to me to see that the number one cause of death for African American women aged 18-35 is HIV/AIDS. And the CDC suggests that there are a quarter of a million (250,000) people who are infected with the virus and unaware. For this reason in the last few weeks the CDC has made a recommendation that EVERYONE aged 13-65 be tested at least once for HIV, regardless of believed risk.

POZ magazine (September 2006)shared information regarding a poll they ran on poz.com in July 2006. The question asked of those living with HIV was - "Have you ever withheld your [HIV] status in order to have sex with someone?" 45% responded YES and 55% responded NO. So basically nearly half of those living with HIV have not shared their HIV status with a sexual partner at some time. This is particularly troubling and scary information, especially for our younger gay men or anyone for that matter.

Contributing risk issues for may gay men include: A poor sense of self (lower self esteem) so often seen in any marginalized group; A desire for emotional and physical connection with another, often times at a cost of giving up important aspects of themselves in order to be connected to another; alcohol and or other recreational drug use; and the perception that 'this cannot happen to me' or a misperception of risk with a novel partner.

We can all spread the word to our friends and in particular take on the responsibility of educating younger gay men we may meet along the way. If you are with a sexual partner and the issue of safer sex or condom use has not come up, rest assured it has not come up in his past sexual experiences either, leaving you potentially at risk.

You are worthy, deserving and a valuable human being. Take responsibility to raise the bar for self-love and self-care. When we care enough about ourself we take action to care for our bodies, relationships and life. For more information check out my website on this topic - HIV Resources and Testing Locations in RI

Your comments always welcome.

My New Blog

Hi everyone! I am thrilled to finally catch up with the technology available to be able to stay connected with you between the times that we may meet in person or via email.

In this space what I plan to do is share my thoughts on topics of interest and issues I find particularly important to bring awareness to. I will always own these thoughts as my own, and not THE thoughts on a topic. Issues of ideas and philosophy will always be up for debate which is fine and to be expected.

As most of you know I am committed to each of us finding our voice, sharing the fullness of our experience with each other and making a difference in the world.

I look forward to hearing back from you in the comment post section below. (Please know that due to the number of responses I will not be able to respond to each one individually, but this does not mean that your comments are not important, valued and welcome).

So thanks for checking in and showing up!