November 2012Life, Health & Home WordPlay: Vocab Rehab by Marcia Singer


This Month’s Word: BLESSINGS (bless-ings)


SANTA ROSA, CA. ~ The Thanksgiving season sits me down, makes me look at what’s to appreciate about my life --and what needs work. November means mak- ing time to meditate on what I have to be grateful for --as well as what I com- plain about or overlook. This is a meaning- ful


endeavor,


since what we appreciate clearly, what we praise and bless, comes around and stays around.


My trusty dictionary tells me that a blessing is “some- thing [or someone] promoting or contributing to happiness, well being or prosperity” – endowment.


I’d sure like


more of the fabulous feelings I get when I’m focused on the blessings in my life. Feeling prosperous is a natural high. I had a peak moment this


morning. Driving home from a happily interactive musical gig, I was feeling lucky for my big little life. Just a surge of being thankful to be alive, blessed to work in a reward- ing way, having and being ‘enough’


to be able to


share


my bounty with others, a kind of enough-ness high.


Years


ago, living in L.A., I’d meet with a couple of women friends to develop our prosperity conscious- ness. We were attract-


ed to possibilities for personal abundance,


affluence, and


had a desire to support each other’s blossoming.


While I


had the least money, I felt rich having great, helping friends and blessed by opportunities to be well, to grow. I liked our “abun-dance”


thanks, writing in my journal before bed the way ordinary events look through extraordi- nary eyes. I promise myself to say, “Isn’t that divine?!” more often, and devise more ways to turn my light on instead of off, regardless of externals. Even the most distressing, confus- ing or painful episodes in my life have spurred me on to becoming a more appreciative and forgiving human being, freeing myself to love bigger. And isn’t loving the essence of what feeling blessed is all about?


Last Note: The first


Thanksgiving in 1621 was shared by the colonists and their First Nation Wampanoag allies (“people of the first light.”) These Natives spared the English from starvation by teaching them to farm, sharing skills and supplies. The spirit of “mitakuye oyasin” (mee- tah-koo-yay oy-ya-sin) which means “all are relations” in Lakota Sioux, reminds us to share our gifts throughout the year, for we’re all part of the great web of life.


together, and


getting out of “scare-city.” Each new day I try to practice remembering giving


Shine deLight, Marcia


www.lovearts.info lovearts@att.net


SRJC PRESIDENT FRANK CHONG TO BE HONORED BY ASIAN & PACIFIC ISLANDER AMERICAN SCHOLARSHIP FUND


Santa Rosa, CA. ~ Santa Rosa Junior College President Frank Chong will be the recipient of the 2012 Asian & Pacific Islander American Scholarship Fund Higher Education Award. He will receive the honor


at the organization’s annual scholarship event Thursday, November 8 in New York City. Chong will be recog- nized for his commitment to higher education and the con- tributions he has made to the Asian American and Pacific Islander community. The organization cited


Chong’s years of leadership at community colleges and his work at the U.S. Department


of Education, and in its announcement of the award highlighted policies Chong has supported that have had positive impact on students


nationally. The APIASF raises funds to support scholarships and services, and during the last


Continued on page 22...


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UPBEAT TIMES • November 2012 • 21 Topaz & Citrine


"flashed". More likely, Pitdah is derived from Sanskrit words (pit = yellow,


dah =


burn), meaning "Yellow burn" or, metaphorically, "fiery". The Greeks believed it had power to increase strength and to make its wearer invisible while the Romans believed it had power to improve eye- sight. The Egyptians wore it as an amulet to protect them from injury. Pure topaz is col- orless and transpar- ent but is usually tinted by impuri- ties; typical topaz colors are wine, Yellow, pale Gray, Reddish- Orange, or Blue- Brown.


For the


faceters, Topaz has a hardness of 8 on the Mohs scale with a Refractive Index (the angle the light refracts) of


Continued from page 17...


1.63, a Critical Angle of 38° and the main facet angle for Topaz is 41° to 42°.


And just for the real “Collectors”. You are a rock hound if;


You have listened to a descrip- tion of an archeologists' field work and thought; "Wow, I could get PAID to do that?"


You are really


starting to enjoy the taste of mud from licking all those rocks you just had to get a better look at.


Paul Forster is owner of The


Uncarved Block, at 110 North Main Street in Sebastopol, California.


The fragrance always stays in


the hand that gives the rose. Hada Bejar


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variety of salads. We have a full service bar so that you can enjoy your favorite cocktail, beer, or glass of wine along with your meal or simply share a drink with your friends!


Williebird’s Restaurant Hours: Monday - Saturday


7:00AM - 9:00PM • Sunday 7:00AM - 8:00PM


Our Menu is online at www.williebirdsrestaurant.com 1150 Santa Rosa Ave ~ Santa Rosa, CA • 707-542-0861


UPBEAT TIMES • November 2012 • 21


Happy Holidays!


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