CURRENT EVENTS

Making the World Better

You need to ask yourself, what are you doing to make the world a better place.

PLEASE CONSIDER

I appreciate the personal emails I receive on the weekly posts, but so often I wish others could see them too.  Why not share your opinions with all of us by making a blog comment.  

My thanks to Christy, Samantha & Simona for commenting on last week’s post.  To leave a comment, just click on “Comment”, scroll down to the “Leave a Comment” box.  Type in your comment and then click on the “Post Comment” box.

Also, please consider passing this blog on to others. My thanks to Cynthia, Darlene, Debra, Diana, Don, Joanne, Kelly, Lizzy & Shirley for sharing my post last week on Facebook.

Be Extraordinary in 2017

Tired of being ordinary and want to change things up for 2017.  If so, this is the book for you.

PHYSICAL TRAITS 

Honor Thy Temple

I know it is the Christmas and New Years holidays, but try to go easy on the desserts.

CHARACTER TRAITS

The Foundation for Being Extraordinary

There is much to be learned from cats.

SOCIAL TRAITS

Getting Along with Others

You should always be polite and respond to any invitations you receive; not doing so is simply rude.

LEARNING TRAITS

Growth Keeps You Extraordinary

Don’t be bound by the tradition that this is the way we have always done something or thought about something.  Look and think carefully and you may find a better way.

MISCELLANEOUS 

The Odds & Ends of Being Extraordinary

SELF-HELP BOOKS

SPQR

by Mary Beard

This book on Roman history is well written, but it is a long book.  I believe it would be worth every thinking person’s time to read this book.  I really enjoyed it.

MOVIE OF THE WEEK

Serendipity

If you like love stories, this is a good one. Two strangers meet while Christmas shopping, are attracted to one another and leave their romance to fate, which plays a few tricks on them.

MUSIC OF THE WEEK

Rest in peace George Michael.

Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go

Wham! (George Michael)

LAST WEEK’S POLL – Were you nice or naughty in 2016?

     

57% – More Nice than Naughty

29% – Nice

14% – Equally Nice and Naughty

THIS WEEK’S POLL – What are you going to make of 2017?

  

ART OF THE WEEK

Christmas Tree

by Everyone

Christmas trees are art that almost all of us have had a hand in creating.  The photo below is just one of the many Christmas Trees on display at Navy Pier in Chicago.

If you have never been to Navy Pier around Christmas time, you should consider it.  There are all kinds of Christmas type events going on in the exciting city of Chicago.

EXTRAORDINARY PEOPLE

Bryant Greene

If you look, you will see that you are likely surrounded by extraordinary people, you just need to take the time to notice them.  If you don’t, you’ll be sorry you didn’t.

I got to spend a lot of time with Bryant, who was one of the most wonderful people I have ever met.  For a number of years he and I and sometimes one or two others got together for lunch each month.  I miss those lunches, as Bryant is no longer physically with us.

THIS WEEK’S JOKE

You probably have had to been on earth for a while to get this joke.

BLOG & FACEBOOK

My thanks to Alyssa, Evelina, Jasmine, Kksea, It Is What It Is, Pirate Patty, Siddhi, Regina & Whitney,  who started following my blog (Currently 133 followers) and Christina & Lori, who liked my Harmony Books & Films Facebook page (Currently 210 likes).

MY BOOK

Looking to change your life, perhaps you will consider my book.

If you enjoyed my book, why not say a couple of words about it in an Amazon evaluation.

My book is available on-line from Amazon and Barnes & Noble.  The Kindle version of my book is $4.95.

http://www.amazon.com/Tired-Being-Ordinary-Are-You/dp/0990388697

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/im-tired-of-being-ordinary-are-you-wm-allen/1120528064?ean=9780990388692

CURRENT EVENTS

Merry Christmas

PLEASE CONSIDER

Why not share your opinions with all of us by commenting.  

My thanks to Christy & Samantha, for commenting on last week’s post.  To leave a comment, just click on “Comment”, scroll down to the “Leave a Comment” box.  Type in your comment and then click on the “Post Comment” box.

Also, please consider passing this blog on to others. My thanks to Cynthia, Dave, Deb, Denise, Jen, Julietta, Lily, Llene, Maureen, Nandini, Ron, Sarah,  Shawn, Shirley, Susan & Wendy for sharing my post last week on Facebook.

Looking for a Christmas Gift

Having a hard time selecting a christmas gift for a niece or nephew or someone who is going through challenging times, please consider

PHYSICAL TRAITS 

Honor Thy Temple

I know it is the Christmas and New Years holidays, but try to go easy on the deserts.

CHARACTER TRAITS

The Foundation for Being Extraordinary

Many of us are rushing around looking for Christmas gifts to give people.  Please remember the greatest gift you can give someone is a little of your time.

SOCIAL TRAITS

Getting Along with Others

LEARNING TRAITS

Growth Keeps You Extraordinary

MISCELLANEOUS 

The Odds & Ends of Being Extraordinary

If you believe or if you don’t believe, either way, you are going to be right.

SELF-HELP BOOKS

A Christmas Carol

by Charles Dickens

MOVIE OF THE WEEK

It’s a Wonderful Life (Updated)

MUSIC OF THE WEEK

No one, not even Santa could come down Santa Claus Lane like Elvis could.

Here Comes Santa Claus

Elvis Presley

LAST WEEK’S POLL – Which do you say?

       

74% – Say Merry Christmas

17% – Say Seasons Greetings

9% – Say Ba Humbug

THIS WEEK’S POLL – Were you nice or naughty in 2016

  

ART OF THE WEEK

Snow Man or Snow Woman

by Everyone

It is art that almost all of us that live in a snow area, have created at one or another.

EXTRAORDINARY PEOPLE

Santa Claus

THIS WEEK’S JOKE

BLOG & FACEBOOK

My thanks to Azra, BookUp, Lily & Resa, who started following my blog (Currently 123 followers) and  Darlene, Greg, Ismo, Jackie, Jennifer, Kernita & Marisa, who liked my Harmony Books & Films Facebook page (Currently 208 likes).

MY BOOK

Looking for a Christmas gift for someone, perhaps you will consider my book.

If you enjoyed my book, why not say a couple of words about it in an Amazon evaluation.

My book is available on-line from Amazon and Barnes & Noble.  The Kindle version of my book is $4.95.

http://www.amazon.com/Tired-Being-Ordinary-Are-You/dp/0990388697

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/im-tired-of-being-ordinary-are-you-wm-allen/1120528064?ean=9780990388692

CURRENT EVENTS

Online Arguments

It doesn’t take much to start an online argument:

I think arguments are a waste of time, since those convinced against their will; remain unconvinced still.  

But if you must argue online, here is a way to win any online arguments and not just political arguments.

PLEASE CONSIDER

Why not share your opinions with all of us by commenting.  I think many of us could learn from different perspectives.  

My thanks to Carol, Chris & Christy, for commenting on last week’s post.  To leave a comment, just click on “Comment”, scroll down to the “Leave a Comment” box.  Type in your comment and then click on the “Post Comment” box.

Also, please consider passing this blog on to others. My thanks to  Carol, Darlene, Elizabeth, Julietta, Lestra, Maria,  Nandini, Nicole, Lou,  Shirley & Susan for sharing my post last week on Facebook.

Looking for a Christmas Gift

Having a hard time selecting a christmas gift for a niece or nephew or someone who is going through challenging times, please consider

PHYSICAL TRAITS 

Honor Thy Temple

Many people benefit from massages, please consider trying.  As you can see below, it looks very relaxing.

CHARACTER TRAITS

The Foundation for Being Extraordinary

I know there is a philosophy out there that thinks everything should be easy.  I wouldn’t recommend adopting that philosophy; most things of value take hard work and things that come to easily are usually assigned little value.

SOCIAL TRAITS

Getting Along with Others

Learn to say “no” if you have doubts about doing something–you will make things easier on yourself and the requester.  Not replying is not a “no”, it is simply disrespectful.

LEARNING TRAITS

Growth Keeps You Extraordinary

Going on a media diet may bring you more peace without the non-stop stream of media divisiveness. 

MISCELLANEOUS 

The Odds & Ends of Being Extraordinary

Love is a choice, sometimes a very difficult choice; please put some thought into you choice.

SELF-HELP BOOKS

The Wind Is My Mother

by Bear Heart

There is a lot to learn from Bear Heart, a Muskogee Creek Indian medicine man.  

For instance his observation: By nature bears are very playful, even when they are hunting or fishing.  When they fish, they’re not fishing to make a living, they fish in order to live and, in so doing, make a game out of it for enjoyment.  This is something humans can learn from.

I hope you are having some fun at work and enjoying the people you come into contact with; life is short, enjoy it as much as you can.

MOVIE OF THE WEEK

Love Actually

The screenplay delves into different aspects of love as shown through ten separate stories involving a variety of people, many of whom are shown to be interlinked as their stories progress.

The story begins five weeks before Christmas and is played out in a weekly countdown until the holiday, followed by an epilogue that takes place one month later.  (Source: Wikipedia)

MUSIC OF THE WEEK

This is unusual Christmas song, but I believe the Ramones had their heart in the right place when they made this song.  There is way too much disharmony in the world and in the USA.

Merry Christmas (I Don’t Want to Fight Tonight)

Ramones

LAST WEEK’S POLL – Unfriending

     

Unfriending

81% – Have not unfriended someone on Facebook because of their political posts

19% – Have unfriended someone on Facebook because of their political posts

Being Unfriended

88% – Do not believe they have been unfriended because of their political posts

6% – Believe they have been unfriended  because of their political posts

6% – Don’t know if they have or have not been unfriended because of their political posts

THIS WEEK’S POLL – Which do you say

  

ART OF THE WEEK

American Gothic

by Grant Wood

American Gothic is a painting by Grant Wood in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. Wood’s inspiration came from what is now known as the American Gothic House, and his decision to paint the house along with “the kind of people [he] fancied should live in that house.”

Painted in 1930, it depicts a farmer standing beside a woman who has been interpreted to be either his wife or his daughter. 

It is one of the most familiar images in 20th-century American art, and has been widely parodied in American popular culture. [Source: Wikipedia]

Did someone say, “Widely parodied”

EXTRAORDINARY PEOPLE

Mother-in-Laws

I think mother-in-laws get a bad rap; most of them are absolutely wonderful people.  I liked my mother-in-law so much that I gave her a trophy that said “World’s Best Mother-in-Law”

I’m so glad I did, because the following December she died.  We already had a gravesite for her and Carol bought the marker for her mother’s grave and this year we decorated the grave.

If you had a wonderful mother-in-law like I did, I would urge you to do something for her this Christmas.

THIS WEEK’S JOKE

BLOG & FACEBOOK

My thanks to Bird, Christy & Renuka, who started following my blog (Currently 122 followers) and  Arva, Cathleen, CJ, Elaina, Elena, Jackie, Leslie, Linda, Michael, Naomi, Ray, Shala & Tammy, who liked my Harmony Books & Films Facebook page (Currently 198 likes).

MY BOOK

Looking for a Christmas gift for someone, perhaps you will consider my book.

If you enjoyed my book, why not say a couple of words about it in an Amazon evaluation.

My book is available on-line from Amazon and Barnes & Noble.  The Kindle version of my book is $4.95.

http://www.amazon.com/Tired-Being-Ordinary-Are-You/dp/0990388697

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/im-tired-of-being-ordinary-are-you-wm-allen/1120528064?ean=9780990388692

CURRENT EVENTS

Trump

¿Of course, you know I was referring to euchre, right?

PLEASE CONSIDER

If you enjoy this blog, please consider commenting.  My thanks to Chris, Carolyn, Renxkyoko & Samantha, for commenting on last week’s post.  To leave a comment, just click on “Comment”, scroll down to the “Leave a Comment” box.  Type in your comment and then click on the “Post Comment” box.

Also, please consider passing it on to others. My thanks to Aggie, Annette, Barbara, Bill, Carol, Carole, Christie, Cindy, Cynthia, Donna, Gwen, Julie, Kristie, Leslie, Nandini, Nicole, Norma, Patty, Shirley, Steve & Susan for sharing my post last week on Facebook.

Having a hard time selecting a christmas gift for a niece or nephew or someone who is going through challenging times, please consider

PHYSICAL TRAITS 

Honor Thy Temple

In case you want to start your diet before the Christmas Holidays or recover from your Thanksgiving feast, this will get you off to a start.

CHARACTER TRAITS

The Foundation for Being Extraordinary

Don’t wish, take some meaningful action every day to make your dreams come true.

SOCIAL TRAITS

Getting Along with Others

If you want peace in your life:

LEARNING TRAITS

Growth Keeps You Extraordinary

It is so important to see and hear what is actually there and not what you want to be there.

MISCELLANEOUS 

The Odds & Ends of Being Extraordinary

Ever wonder what is the key to happiness, well here it is.

SELF-HELP BOOKS

Great Again

by Donald J. Trump

Whether or not you like the next President of the USA, I think you should read his plan, if you wish to be informed.

MOVIE OF THE WEEK

Scrooged

Staring Bill Murray

This 1988 film is a modern update on The Christmas Carol classic and well worth watching.

MUSIC OF THE WEEK

I love today’s world, but I am so grateful I was around in 1962 for music like this.

Loco – Motion

Little Eva

LAST WEEK’S POLL – Goal Setting

     

28% – I set specific goals that are objectively measurable

21% – I have wishes like stay in closer touch with my friends, but nothing specific

19% – I don’t bother with setting goals for myself

17% – I periodically monitor via action plans, my progress on accomplishing my goals

15% – I set specific goals and develop action plans to accomplish those goals

And here are the results of last year’s poll:

25% of you have wishes, but nothing specific

22% of you set goals that are specifically measurable

19% of you monitor via action plans your goal accomplishment progress

17% of you don’t bother with goals and another 17% set specific goals and develop action plans.

THIS WEEK’S POLL – Unfriending

ART OF THE WEEK

Stonehenge

Stonehenge’s ring of standing stones are set within earthworks in the middle of the most dense complex of Neolithic and Bronze Age monuments in England, including several hundred burial mounds.

Archaeologists believe it was constructed from 3000 BC to 2000 BC. The surrounding circular earth bank and ditch, which constitute the earliest phase of the monument, have been dated to about 3100 BC. Radiocarbon dating suggests that the first bluestones were raised between 2400 and 2200 BC, although they may have been at the site as early as 3000 BC.

One of the most famous landmarks in the UK, Stonehenge is regarded as a British cultural icon. It has been a legally protected Scheduled Ancient Monument since 1882 when legislation to protect historic monuments was first successfully introduced in Britain. The site and its surroundings were added to UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Sites in 1986. Stonehenge is owned by the Crown and managed by English Heritage; the surrounding land is owned by the National Trust.

Stonehenge could have been a burial ground from its earliest beginnings. Deposits containing human bone date from as early as 3000 BC, when the ditch and bank were first dug, and continued for at least another five hundred years. (Source: Wikipedia)

EXTRAORDINARY PEOPLE

Ed Turowski

There are extraordinary people all around us, we just have to learn a little about the people who we come across to realize just how extraordinary many people are.

I met Ed in the very early 1980 and did busy with him off and on until he passed away in 1997.  He was a fantastic guy, a good honest business man who took pride in his work.  He was the type of person that made America great.

Ed’s father died when he was just four years old. In WWII he was a SEA BEE in the U.S. Navy.  The SEA BEEs were a combat construction unit, responsible for tasks such as underwater piping to fuel naval vessels and airplanes.

THIS WEEK’S JOKE

Which fluffy white pet do you think said, “There is only room for one fluffy white pet”?

BLOG & FACEBOOK

My thanks to Ek Rxasta, Kittens, Humans & Tommy, Mess Up Dress Up, and Quill, Parchment & Tanya, who started following my blog (Currently 119 followers) and  Sheen & Trish, who liked my Harmony Books & Films Facebook page (Currently 181 likes).

MY BOOK

Looking for a Christmas gift for someone, perhaps you will consider my book.

If you enjoyed my book, why not say a couple of words about it in an Amazon evaluation.

My book is available on-line from Amazon and Barnes & Noble.  The Kindle version of my book is $4.95.

http://www.amazon.com/Tired-Being-Ordinary-Are-You/dp/0990388697

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/im-tired-of-being-ordinary-are-you-wm-allen/1120528064?ean=9780990388692