Update 9-16-08

Hi,

The Los Angeles train accident was four miles from where I live and two, short, suburban blocks from one of the houses I tutor in.  My student's mother said the area has been like a war zone for the past three days.  I'll see it tomorrow though I don't particularly want to.
        The accident was also less than a half mile from the famous rock where the Lone Ranger stood his horse on its rear hooves and shouted, "Hi-ho, Silver!"
   
    In your letters, whine and you shall receive -- from Liz King Giordano:  I've been meaning to send you the details of the Tampio / Gibson award recipients from June.  Attached is a brief bio of each student – Rebecca Topol and Amy Kim.
        I hope you all enjoyed your summers.  With school starting so early this year, it seemed to slip away too soon.
   
    The recipient of the Vince Tampio Scholarship has been seen on the South stage since the seventh grade.  She has had leading roles in Annie, Guys and Dolls, Oklahoma, Kiss Me Kate and most recently as Winifred in Once Upon a Mattress.  She has had leading roles in South’s dramatic productions, which include The Woman Who Came to Dinner, Much Ado About Nothing, Harvey, and Twelve Angry Jurors.  She brings polished professionalism to each role she undertakes.  She is also active in a variety of extracurricular activities, most notably the production team of the Falcon Report.  Her academic record speaks for itself – she is the class salutation.  We are proud to award the Vince Tampio Memorial Scholarship to Becky Topol.
   
    This student has been playing the violin for ten years.  She has been a member of the South High School Orchestra and Chamber Orchestra since the seventh grade, and she has a natural ability to lead an entire orchestra.  This student was the concert mistress of the South High School Orchestra in seventh, eighth and twelfth grade and principal of the second violin section of the District Orchestra in ninth grade.   This student has also participated in many extra curricular musical activities including the Valley Stream District Music Festival, the Pit Orchestra, and is a member of the Rockaway Five Towns Orchestra.  This student runs that extra mile to do what is above and beyond required of her.  Her acceptance into the Athletic Honor Society and as president of the Tri-M Music Honor Society also show her dedication and leadership qualities.  This student will continue her musical career at the Berklee School of Music in Boston.  We wish her the best of luck.  The Booker Gibson Scholarship goes to Amy Kim.
   
    [Rich -- And while I had Liz in an e-mail conversation, I asked her about South's school colors.  It appears they're now -- and have been for quite a while -- red and white, no longer red and gray.  I suspect the reason is economic.  Red and gray uniforms probably had to be custom made.  I'll bet red and white is a fairly standard school combination.]
   
    A request for a deserved correction from Barbara Blitfield Pech:  I know we have often discussed your choice to edit our input, but in rewriting mine, you cut out the "for the record" at the beginning of the sentence.  That made "mentioning records" at the end a matter of..."Huh?  What?  Who said anything about records?"
   
    [Rich -- As I wrote Barbara:  "I felt I had to remind people that you were answering Barnet's question from last week.  That's when "For the record" got changed to "In answer to Barnet's question..."  Then I forgot that didn't make a connection to "records."  I'll fix it next week."
        And now I have.  Again, sorry, Barbara.]
   
    Also from Barbara:  In my quest to find Bass Weejun "penny loafers," I was directed to the following site.  Needless to say, the loafers never got ordered, but I had a great few minutes back traveling to the 40s, 50s, and 60s, and I found quite a few good bits of information and nostalgic quips to share.  The site:  www.skooldays.com

    From Betsy Fels Pottruck:  I know that you are going to get sick of me responding week-after-week, but here goes.  This past week I had just finished working out, and I was having my egg white omelette at the cafe at my gym, when I looked up to watch the local morning news show, and who should be on the TV talking about the 49ers and Candlestick Park but Andy Dolich.  It was so much fun to see him up there on the TV, and he was very impressive.  I know that he is the COO of the 49ers, but it was a kick to see him up there on the big screen TV.
   
    [Rich -- As I wrote Betsy:  It's always good to hear from everyone.  Write as often as you like.  Other people are shy.]
   
    From Peter Rosen's cousin, by way of Peter:  From Stephen Verona -- We would like to head back to France for a while and have listed our art-and-antique filled Bel Air home for lease.  Check it out at:  www.stonecanyonbelair.com   Please tell everyone you know.  Thank you.
   
    Finally, "Tips for a Better Life," forwarded by Ginny and Ed Schmidt:
    1.  Take a 10-30 minutes walk every day.  And while you walk, smile.
    2.  Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.
    3.  Sleep for 7 hours.
    4.  Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm, and Empathy.
    5.  Play more games.
    6.  Read more books than you did in 2007.
    7.  Make time to practice meditation, yoga, and prayer.  They provide us with daily fuel for our busy lives.
    8.  Spend time with people over the age of 70 and under the age of 6.
    9.  Dream more while you are awake.
    10.  Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants, and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.
    11.  Drink plenty of water.
    12.  Try to make at least three people smile each day.
    13.  Don't waste your precious energy on gossip.
    14.  Forget issues of the past.  Don't remind your partner with his/her mistakes of the past.  That will ruin
          your present happiness.
    15.  Don't have negative thoughts about things you cannot control.  Instead, invest your energy in the
           positive, present moment.
    16. Realize that life is a school, and you are here to learn.  Problems are simply part of the curriculum that
          appear and fade away like algebra class, but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
    17.  Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, and dinner like a beggar.
    18.  Smile and laugh more.
    19.  Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.  Don't hate others.
    20.  Don't take yourself so seriously.  No one else does.
    21.  You don't have to win every argument.  Agree to disagree.
    22.  Make peace with your past, so it won't spoil the present.
    23.  Don't compare your life to other people's.  You have no idea what their journey is all about.  Don't
            compare your partner with other people's, either.
    24.  No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
    25.  Forgive everyone for everything.
    26.  What other people think of you is none of your business.
    27.  However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
    28.  Your job won't take care of you when you are sick.  Your friends will.  Stay in touch.
    29.  Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful, or joyful.
    30.  Envy is a waste of time.  You already have all you need.
    31.  The best is yet to come.
    32.  No matter how you feel, get up, dress up, and show up.
    33.  Do the right thing!
    34.  Call your family often.
    35.  Your inner most self is always happy.  So be happy.
   
    And still no joke from Robert Fiveson.