WHITNEY HOUSTON--REFLECTIONS

Wow.

Was riding mass transit Sat. eve., heard a passenger casually mentioned that Whitney Houston died.

....??!!

Floods of memories flew by. For me, the second album, eponymously titled, "Whitney", made me an instant fan, and in my opinion, was her strongest effort. A friend played the whole LP (yes, once upon a time, there was vinyl). It was the strongest and most flavorable top 40 pop LP I had heard in a while.

My favorite: "Just The Lonely Talking Again", a jazzy ballad arrangement of the Sam Dees composition. She just put me into convulsions.

Then there was the duet with her mother, Cissy called "I Know Him So Well." Solid.

Another ballad that made me melt, the opener on side B "Where You Are". What control. She could throw it into over-drive, or pull it back into first gear. Just gorgeous.

I broke out of my my dance shell with "So Emotional", "Love Will Save The Day", and "I Just Want To Dance With Somebody". I practiced swing dancing to "Love Is A Contact Sport." I could not stay seated when these tunes were spun. 1987 was the heyday of melodic, flavorable, listenable songs. Along with Taylor Daynes efforts, that was it for me.

I'm fully aware there was a plethora of material after this release, along with film acting, and of course, she blew the roof off on "The Star Bangled Banner". But for me, this 2nd LP, simply titled, "Whitney" (not to be confused the eponymously titled "Whitney Houston", two years prior) ranks as my fav of all of her work. Going forward, it seemed like she tried to adjust to trends, starting with 1990's "I'm Your Baby Tonight".

_______________________________________________________________

So where did it all go wrong? This is not the first, nor will it be the last superstar to lose their life prematurely.

Not looking forward to all the tabloids flooding us with conspiracy theories and psuedo-scientific nonsense, not to mention the mere gossip ad nauseum.

I feel for her mother, to be pre-deceased by your daughter. Can't fathom what that feels like.

I  caught Whitney's act at the Garden State Arts Center coinciding with the release of the second LP. Live performance was not her forte, at least not then. I sat behind her mother, who walked out mid-way.

But for pure voice, strength, fluidity, power, control, octave range, she was indeed one of a kind.

May this gifted yet tortured soul find peace and be reunited with her maker

MR. MONTAGUE'S DIST. LIST--MY JOURNEY

                                                            


Mr. Montague's e-mail distribution list is one of several steps that is essential to either getting a job or re-entering the market for whatever reason you're "looking in" from the outside.

My personal journey: (and I elect  to still receive the list, even though I might not really "need" it)

Last  year, the list had a job interview offering at a nearby company. While I did not get the job, I met another applicant. She was working p/t nites, she gave me the number for that company, Guess what? That was my re-entry into the job market after being unemployed for months. The young woman became a  co-worker as well as a friend. The fact I got to chill with a bodacious 22 y.o with curves that haven't been invented yet, is besides the point.

Then, walking around the area near that first job, I saw a sign for a radio station. Went to their website. Now I volunteer there. Met someone who wants to help me break into a certain job market. So there. Just put yourself out there.

All of the above was put in place from the e-mail distribution list!

Inertia. Momentum. Set something into motion, and it grows.

Lesson #1: get out there, stuff happens. There's two ways to climb a tree. You can simply climb, get dirty, get roughed up.

Or you can look for an acorn, sit your lazy behind down on it, and wait for the acorn to grow.

Re: Job Connection and Distribution List: The reality is most of the jobs will not be for you.  Monte will  send me something and I will be like, "what the____?" Under-qualified. Over-qualified. This stuff is way out there.

But you never know. Let me give you an example.  Recently, the list had an opening for NJ Transit, directing interested applicants to their website.  My first thought was, "why bother? I'm no bus driver, I'm not 'Ralph Kramden' from 'The Honeymooners'. And I have no mechanical background". But something happened. You see, I've been riding NJT buses for a while, and had wanted to start giving them feedback. You know, compliment drivers, complain about late buses, and the like. So the ad on Monte's list triggered me to do it. And now I repsond with them regularly, made a connection there. So who knows, maybe something will open up that I'd be qualified for.

•  Reading that list is great experience. After a while, you know what to look for in a job ad. You can read a greater volume, get through more ads quickly and efficientyl, eliminate, and dig for the job you desire.

Also, while a particular job may not be for you, you may know of someone who would be perfect  for that job.

 Ever hear the expression, " you have to give in order to get?"

Use the Distribution List to network with those who don't receive it.

My story: I got my first job in a long time thru Montague's job  distribution list. It wasn't my dream job. But it was a job nevertheless. Telemarketing for an insurance company. Most people won't do it. But it was valuable work experience. And it put me on the map. Resumes with active work experience have more intrinsic value with those that have gaps.

VERY IMPORTANT POINT: I was told that once you start working again, regardless of the job, you build momentum. You don't view yourself as a victim or someone who is un-marketable. You start to aspire to better jobs. I can tell you first-hand, that statement was on the money.

I've moved on from that first job. I'm making contacts to reach higher, to get my optimal job or business. I've met quality people, honorable, loving kind people. Those outside Brix city don't know it, but not everyone who lives here, works here, or rides NJ Transit buses is a clown (or buffoon, as Monte so succinctly put it), a street thug, or knucklehead. Most people are good.

And I got to meet Monte and learn what "rubbing the Black&Mild" means.

Summation: The e-mail distribution list is a resource. It's not "what you get out of it", but what it" gets out of you". It's what you make of it.  Remember, a fifty-cent silver dollar and fifty dollar gold coin have the same value if they're both lying at the bottom of an ocean.

SUPER BOWL XLVI--GIANTS 34 PATRIOTS 33

Giants trail entire game, Manning finds Ballard in end zone with 0:06 remaining to give the Mara-Tisch organization their fourth Lombardi trophy.

SYNOPSIS
Patriots 7 Giants 0
Patriots 14 Giants 0
Patriots 17 Giants 0 (Big Blue defense tightens up in red zone, clobbers Brady)
Patriots 17 Giants 7
Patriots 20 Giants 7 (another red zone stand, keep it to a field goal
Patriots 20 Giants 10 (Tynes 50yd field goal to end the first half).

HALFTIME--MADONNA TOES THE LINE WITH SALACIOUSNESS

Patriots 20 Giants 13
Patriots 27 Giants 13
Patriots 27 Giants 20 (Manning to Cruz-68yd. TD)
Patriots 30 Giants 20
Patriots 30 Giants 27 (5:33 remaining 4th qtr.)
Patriots 33 Giants 27 (1:45 remaining 4th qtr,. Giants have two time-outs remaining)
GIANTS 34 PATRIOTS 33--GAME OVER!

JEWISH SINGLES WEEKEND RE-LIVED

You can't make up what I'm about to share--

We're going back to the early part of the decade. In the poconos, the New Jersey Y Camps held mini-vacations on both Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends. Roughing it in the woods. Unlike the Catskills, where men and women wore their best oufits at dinner. More scaled-down. Shorts and t-shirts. Also,  this is before the internet allowed people to hide behind firewalls and engage in virtual socializing.

At this weekend of about fifty singles, on the next to last night, people were congregating in the dining hall, playing cards and schmoozing.  Next to me was a nice man named Moishe, a real mensch, who helped me carry my bags to and from the car. In addition, he was fascinated with my juice extractor--both the machine itself and the fact I had schlepped it some ninety miles.

 At another table, I saw a man in his 40's looking like Rip van Winkle,, who appeared to be counseling a young man in his 20's. Later I asked the young dude what was up. He said that Rip was trying to recruit him for.....are you ready for this?......Jews For Jesus.

I say nothing. I'm in shock. Recruitment for...Jews... For... Jesus?...at 1:00AM...at a Jewish Singles weekend...?...in the poconos......... somebody pinch me. I say nothing. I'll pass it off as an hallucination.

The next night, the final night, same scenario. I'm at the table next to Moishe, we're spectators to a card game. Off in the corner, is the Rip van Recruiter with his materials, only now he's got an audience of four. He's multiplying. My conscience is gnawing.  I look at Moishe,yarmulka and all.  I can't resist. For the record, I am motivated by both fiduciary duty and mischief. I decide to snitch.

Me: Moishe, you see that guy over in the corner? You're going to think I'm crazy, but he's Jews For Jesus. He's laying his rap on that kid.
Moishe: Get out of here! No way!
Me: Yes way. He's got materials, I saw them. I kid you not.

Well, to put it mildly,Moishe goes nuts. He immediately recruits me as his lead investigator. He wants to know Rip's name, rank, serial number, the name of the mohel who performed at his briss, etc. (ok, maybe not all of that, but you get the picture).

Now, at our table is another nice man named David, who bears a striking resemblence to Jerry Garcia. David served in the Israeli army. Wouldn't know it. Very laid back guy. Moishe lets him in on what's up.

David calls Rip into the kitchen. Now, I'm not expecting violence but nevertheless am curious. I join them.

David tells Rip on no uncertain terms, that what he's doing "isn't very nice", and then  states, "do you know what you are? You are a verbal ham-and-cheese sandwich",  a line which reduces me to a usless blubbering hulk the remainder of the weekend. Rip, meanwhile, rebutts David, standing on his first amendment privilege. We head back to our bunks well past midnight. No casualties.

On the front porch of my bunk, sprawled out in a lounge chair,  is my roommate, whose capacity for alcohol is oceanic. He says to me, "what's with you"? I plead ignorance. He replies, "I hear you're attending Jews for Jesus meetings. I just checked the schedule and I don't see it listed." 

I need to get home. And my roomate needs AA.

The next morning, we pack and go our seperate ways. But the story's not over!

FLASH AHEAD 8 MONTHS LATER.....

Memorial Day weekend. Back in the poconos. First day. I see David, our good Israeli soldier in the dining hall. He seems disturbed. He's pacing back and forth, seems he's muttering some expletives under his breath, totally out-of-character for him.

I approach him, tell him it's good to see him, hope he had a nice winter, etc.

Me: Dave, what's wrong, man? You seem upset. Did you see that Jesus head-hunter again? Don't tell me he came back after you confronted him.
David: It's worse.
Me: What do you mean?
David: He's my roommate

Now I'm really fighting for self-control. And I manage to get it, until David continues...

"He's really not a bad guy. I just wish he'd stop 'jesus-ing' everybody"

I have to excuse myself. I spend most of the weekend walking around like a giggling idiot.

Bring back the good 'ole days!

A.-

BEANS RE-VISITED--A TRUE HEALTH FOOD, DESPITE THE PUNDITS

The poor, lowly, peasant food, the bean,  is like the "Rodney Dangerfield" of foods.  It gets no respect.

And I don’t understand why.  Ever hear the expression, “if you tell a lie long enough, it will stick”?  That appears to be the case with legumes. Meanwhile, people will over-indulge in the worst food combinations possible, produce flatulence (sorry if you’re eating) that will result in evacuation in their homes, and yet these foods get a pass (no pun intended)

FACT: Beans, when prepared, combined and chewed well, are easily digestible, going through the entire gastro-intestinal tract in much less time than animal protein. (ciatition needed).

FACT: Beans are a GODSEND  for regulating blood sugar levels, a long-chain polysaccharide accompanied by a high amount of dietary fiber.

This statement needs clarity.  The problem is, due to the nutrition facts required  on  labels, people will look at a can of beans,see 40 grams of carbs, then avoid it like the plague.

Truth be told, and this is one of my few original observations—fiber is the rev-limiter on carbs.  Let me explain---years ago, when  the Acura division of Honda debuted its Integra automoibile, I was one of the first to buy.  The small engine had a red-line of 7,000rpm. And you had to rev it close to red-line it to get any power out of it.And I was concerned I could over-rev the engine. Turns out my concerns were unnecessary.  Because there was a rev-limiter built in. The engine would turn-off near the red-line

So what does this have to do with beans?  Fiber slows the absorption of sugars, lowering the glycemic index of the food (past footnote). And high fiber will cut body fat  (see book: Body Rx  by Dr. Scott Connelly).                       


KEYS TO ENJOYING BEANS—GAS-FREE

1.       For canned beans, place in large bowl, fill and rinse, repeat until the foam is non-existent

2.       For dried beans, soak, then rinse water until foam is non-existent.

BEST FOOD COMBINATIONS

1.  For dried beans, cook with diced root vegetables: carrots, onion, turnips, rutabaga.

2.  For meals, beans combine best with: grains, vegetables, soyfoods (tofu, tempeh), and  other  legumes and seeds.
3. Add a 3" strip of kombu sea vegetable--releases alkaline-forming minerals.
4. For larger beans such as chickpeas and black soybeans, the use of a pressure cooker will result in a tender bean, easy to digest.

WORST FOOD COMBINATIONS

1. Beans do not digest well with: flesh foods or raw fruit  While beans are often served with fish, it's a bad combination. I'll save you the labored detail

2. Beans and dairy--another invitation to flatulence.  In place of that dollop of sour cream on top of your black bean soup, try a mock version made from tofu.

OTHER SUGGESTIONS

Chew, chew, and then some! Beans must be masticated until liquified in the mouth.

Purees are not recommended because it replaces the chewing process. Leave at least 50% of the beans whole.


MARRYING THE BEAN WITH RIGHT SPICE


One of the most inaccurate pieces circulating in the nutrition world is the indictment of spicy foods.
FACT: spices are digestive aids The culprit is the fatty foods it's added to. Furthermore, the science supports the health benefits of curcumin, curries, ginger and other spices, from home remedies to anti-inflammatory properties.


Here are some optimal bean/spice combinations


BEAN                                                                 COMBINE WITH


white beans (lima, navy)                            dill
black bean                                                        cumin
lentil                                                                    cilantro
red beans                                                           chili
split pea                                                             curry


VARIETY


So, you browse the isles in the store and see the same old, same old...black beans, red kidney, pinto, chickpea, etc.

How about these: black garbanzos, swedish brown, black  beluga lentil, anasazi, mung, butterscotch calypso, giant peruvian lima , green flageolet,  and more!

So, go get some! Cool beans!

TAX SEASON OVER! KRAMDEN AND UNGER WENT THROUGH IT, TOO

Don't know your tax situation, none of my business. But I'll tell you, two of the funniest sit-coms to deal with this subject were both The Honeymooners and The Odd Couple.

In the Honeymooners episode, "The Worry Wart" (April 7, 1956), Ralph receives a letter from what then was called the Bureau of Internal Revenue. He believes he's getting a refund. No check inside, but a letter telling him to report to their office.
This happens during dinner, and he can't sit still. Meanwhile, Norton, his slim friend with the voluminous appetite, oblivious to Ralph's stress, keeps ordering Ralph to the fridge for various condiments ---ketchup, piccallilii chow-chow. But it's the request for bread that causes Ralph to blow a gasket.


Ralph compounds his worries by having Norton assist him in his tax audit defense.. Things immediately get off on the wrong foot when Norton, checking Ralph's return for accuracy, mistakes Ralph's social security # as either a dollar amount or Ralph's weight. And although Ralph tosses Norton out of his flat for the umpteenth time for his ludicrous summation ("stand on the 18th amendment-tell them you were drunk when you did your taxes"), Ralph nevertheless accepts Nortons' offer to accompany him down to the tax office. And although Norton, as only he can do, nearly indicts Ralph ("he's Kramden, I'm clean"), it all works out in the end.
For the few who have actually not viewed these twenty-four minutes of hilarity, the ending at the IRS office is priceless (just remember in your own life, when in a bad situation, to remain "calm and cool").

Now, almost 20 years later, The Odd Couple tries its hand at tax comedy ("The Ides of April", 4-19-73).  By 1973, the Bureau has changed its name to the IRS.

Felix, too, gets a letter of what he believes is an office audit. Upon arriving there, before verifying  the nature of the inquiry, he erupts in a diatribe of the injustice of being called down. He then elaborates about the great accuracy of his returns and the pains  he goes through. And how does the IRS have the gall to audit him, when they should be "auditing people like his roomate, Oscar Madison, who 'doesn't care what figures he puts down on his return'."

Turns out, like Kramden before him, Felix was not in any kind of trouble. To the contrary, the IRS was so impressed with his flawlessly neat, tidy and accurate returns, that they longed to meet the man behind the pencil. The supervisor bellows, "everyone get out here, Mr. Unger is here!". To show their appreciation, the entire office gives him a standing ovation. It is then the character of Felix Unger utters one of the corniest lines ever, that only he could say: "many happy returns!".

However, before he gets out the door, the supervisor then inquires for the name of the man who Felix said, "puts down any amount on his tax return". Felix pleads amnesia but to no avail--("get me the file on Oscar Madison".)  Felix then returns home to break the news to Oscar how he inadvertently  ratted him out.


Like Norton to Kramden, Felix offers his tax preparaion services to Oscar, whose plan is to "just go down there and beg for mercy". Fortunately for Oscar, Felix is much more competent than Norton. And the ending of this episode is classic.

TIP-TRONIC TRANSMISSION

Wanted to get this off my chest for a brief---

Walking past sports sedans or coupes, take a peek inside, see a leather shift boot and a knob, resembling a manual transmission...
Then, closer scrutiny reveals, on the side of the boot,the letters R-D1,N, etc.

It's an automatic transmission! "Tip-tronic"? Shift with it?...NOT! Marketing hype.

If you don't depress a clutch pedal, deep-six that boot and knob.

And to actually own a car with a sport suspension and put on that facade...

This should be outlawed.