Beauty Tips For Life

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL. The world has changed much this year but there are still much to be thankful for. May we be thankful for all that we have and all that we are.

Below are the "Beauty Tips" of Audrey Hepburn that I always find inspirational.

For Attractive Lips: speak words of kindness...

For Lovely Eyes: seek out the good in people…

For A Slim Figure: share your food with the hungry…

For Beautiful Hair: let a child run his/her fingers through it once a day….

For Poise: walk with the knowledge that you never walk alone. People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed; never throw out anyone….

Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, you will find one at the end of each of your arms.

As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands; one for helping yourself and the other for helping others.

Signs of the Times (#2) - Even Dim Sum Goes On Sale

And why not? There is a price for everything. One of my favorite restaurants in Chinatown – Grand Harmony on 98 Mott Street is now running a Dim Sum on sales special - $2.25 for all sizes on weekdays only, excluding weekends and public holidays. Normally a small dim sum dish goes for $2.25, a medium one costs $3.50 and a large one commands $4.75. So your best bargain would be to order the large ones and it will cost you only $2.25 per selection. That said, most people I know don’t usually order dim sum based on size, but rather, based on whether they like a particular item or dietary restrictions. Surely a vegetarian would not order a roast pork bun even if it free?

While we are on the topic of food, OpenTable which allows you to book restaurants online is now running an “Appetite Stimulus Plan” at a number of NYC restaurants November 17-21 (similar to the annual Restaurant Weeks during the summer), with 3-Course Menus & Double Dining Rewards Points (not sure what you can redeem the points for). Costs: $35 Dinners, $24 Lunches.

Deflation is everywhere. And bargains will be had everywhere too.

The Worst Compliment......

That someone can pay you is to look at an old photograph of yours and say "wow, your photograph looks so pretty"; or “is that really you?". Ok, this has happened to me twice in the past year and each time it took place when I went shopping in my sweats, hair uncombed and sans make-up, and I was asked for an ID as a proof of my identity (I probably did look like I was homeless). I presented my driver's license - with a photo that was taken 16 years ago - face artfully made-up, hair properly coiffured, and body designer - suited up.

Each time the cashier took a double take to see if indeed I was the person whose picture was on the driver's license! Well it isn't my fault that the New York State DMV grants automatic renewal of one's license with the same photo and no requirement of retaking the photo to reflect the rite of aging! I suppose I can always volunteer to take an updated photo that would show that I am now 15 lbs heavier than 16 years ago; and certainly time has gallantly and graciously added a few lines of life's trials and tribulations to my face. But then I thought, why bothered? It surely beats getting the opposite reaction whenever I presented one of my expired passports at immigration counters. That passport photo had me looking like a drugged-out convict or a refugee with Don King hair (it was taken on a very windy day). For 10 years it took me unusually long to clear customs every time I traveled overseas, as agents are trained not to comment about my appearance but will search on their computers high and low to see if my mug shot will appear on some terrorist list!

I revel in the shock value that a photograph can generate!!

Signs of the Times (#1): Recession Special - $5 for a Single Tan

As I stroll thru the streets of NYC I can’t help but begin to see signs of carnage from the fall out of the sub prime crisis (shuttered retail store fronts, homeless folks on the rise, etc) hitting NYC, albeit slowly. Between now and the end of this crisis or the beginning of an economic recovery (whenever CNN or CNBC make that pronouncement), I endeavor to go around NYC or wherever my travels will take me to chronicle real life “Recession” or “Sales” specials in these tough economic times. Hopefully in 2 years I will look back onto this blog and find the photo-journal documentation of this period an enlightening one.

So the first entry goes to Hollywood Tan’s Recession Special - $5 for a single tan.

Exactly what does a single tan mean?

Does it mean you tan only one side of your body only? One arm, one leg?

Well, the info was posted on the window: depending on the type of machine that you use to tan yourself – the cost ranges from $12 to $30 per session. Alternatively you may sign up for an UNLIMITED monthly package of between $39.99 to $99.99 per month depending on the machine.

A Reflection on the Election

It has been 2 days since the dawning of a new chapter in American history, and I am feeling two very profound emotions.

I am profoundly moved that some of my overseas friends who do not know our President-elect Obama have shed tears of joy for the American people when we elected him on Nov. 4th. A fellow passenger whom I met on the Royal Scotsman Train recently emailed me to say as he and his family was watching the US election on TV in Italy, they cried in joy for the American people. And he told me a recent poll in France showed that 93% of the nation would have voted for Obama.

It is then that I am equally profoundly disturbed that in our own nation, people have become so polarized during this entire process where (correct me if I am wrong), many supporters of McCain / Palin are so hateful of Obama that one could feel the venom of abhorrence for him and for his supporters (just witness all the exchanges on Face Book between the 2 camps of supporters and editorials in newspapers). However much one dislikes Obama on policy, experience or ideological grounds, one must give this junior senator enormous credit of galvanizing a team of smart and focused lieutenants and a record number of people to work on his campaign and executing an impeccable campaign. If a CEO of a corporation has the ability to galvanize his or her people to garner record market share or earnings, he or she would be deemed successful. And if such is the criterion by which one judges the CEO of the USA, then I say Obama is showing early signs of being a successful president. I voted for Obama based on my belief that he has the ability to EXECUTE his strategy because he is smart, and he will by and large pick the right team to help him with the enormous task of rebuilding America both on the domestic and international stage.

So to the anti-Obama folks, I implore you to do the following: instead of calling names or making judgments about the people who supported our President-elect, or calling for the early demise of his ability to do a good job, why don’t we all unite behind him and help him restore America’s respectability and economic prowess? If we are living in this country (and I am assuming we are living here by choice), then why don’t we stand behind Obama and prove the rest of the world that they are right – that the American people made the right choice. The alternative is simple, we can always leave the country if we don’t like what we see.

UNITE WE STAND, AND DIVIDE WE SHALL FALL (OR FAIL)!!

http://www.aarp.org/issues/dividedwefail/