Welcome Don!

Welcome to the blog Don!  Be sure to check out Don's blog by checking out his link in the followers box.

ShrinkWrap...This week's Audio Update!!

Please Press Play to enjoy this week's Audio Update

HBO hits homerun with Rock & Roll concert ...

....I had heard a bit of hype about this HBO special but I got a lot more than I expected when I tuned in last night. Within minutes, the volume went all the way up and there was not a down moment. The format was theatrical genius with musical superstars taking and then sharing the stage with other greats.

     The show opened with Crosby, Still, & Nash busting out a couple of their own hits and then bring on Bonnie Rait, Jackson Browne, and  James Taylor. Super Group brought on Super Star one after another with Bruce Springsteen wrapping things up with Billy Joel and an encore by the entire line up    This show is bound to repeat with sound tracks available from the usual suspects. If you like Rock 'n Roll, you'll love this show!

Welcome Cathy and Ellie!!

     Please be sure to say hello to Cathy and Ellie the newest followers here. All followers can be found at the top of the left side of the page - if you click on the images for any follower, you will obtain their email and links to their web sites, (this only works if you complete your profile to include your email and web address(es). Take a quick look to see if you share other interests and, if you find any Google ads on a site, click through a few of them as Google pays by the click and we all appreciate the support. As my grandma said, "Michael, you take care of the nickels and dimes and the dollars will take care of themselves!"

Enjoy ShrinkWrap - This weeks Audio Update

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!  Press Play and listen.

The Law of Attraction....

     I am amazed by this subject and how much it can mean to our daily lives. With Thanksgiving approaching, I generally start leaning in the direction of gratitude for all that we have and I also know that, many times, we all get stuck in our wants and wishes. Hey, there's nothing wrong with asking when, ask and you will receive has been extended to us. This year, I am so very grateful for how the Law of Attraction has accompanied me like  faithful friend ... giving me the benefit of the doubt and hanging with me through worry, doubt and uncertainty. 

     This article started with the early entry I made about Deepak Chopra and Wayne Dyer and I invite you to visit the Personal Growth website for the rest of the story ...  click here and enjoy. Your comments are welcome and sincerely appreciate. 

Greeting to Fernando ... new follower this week!

Say hello to Fernando and check out his profile, blogs and contact info...our newest follower here.  Hola Fernando!

An indication we may have longer than 2012?

With all the fuss about the world coming to an end in 2012, I found this comment on the Mayan's one that gave me new hope. There's no way a society as advanced as the Mayan's would have missed the idea of using the other side. Flip this puppy over and we've got another 2,000 years!

Speaking of Twitter, I happened to see ...

....Deepak Chopra saying an online hello last night. I posted a noted about his work with Wayne Dyer on the Law of Attraction to which he replied, "@MichaelNajarian It is a favorite.i@DrWayneDyer is my spiritual brother. Many thanks for sending that to me xo" You can follow Deepak, Wayne Dyer and me on Twitter by clicking the links above. Another great way to say in touch!

Telling the whole truth...

     I think if we were all more open about the truth in our relationships, the whole intimacy thing would become so much easier. Every time truth is missing, it gets replaced by space that pushes us further apart. More honesty ... less space. (prompted by a blog entry,The Road with Hubby).

Weekly Audio Update - ShrinkWrap!!!

Give Jimmi about 20 seconds for the intro ... the update follows!

DYER & CHOPRA .... STILLS & YOUNG....

     There is absolutely no doubt my age has something to do with this ... but, this morning I was working to find the best way to explain my views about The Law of Attraction. I am always drawn to pages 107-108 of Chopra's, Ageless Body, Timeless Mind and  Chapter 5 of Dyer's, Manifest Your Destiny. As I reviewed passages in each book, I could hear Stills and Young ringing out their dueling leads, trading licks and making awesome music. Check back with me here and at my web site for more on the Law of Attraction. Please share your thoughts, comments and questions and I will be happy to help. Just as gravity draws the apple to earth or the buoyancy allows the submersed article to find water's surface, the Law of Attraction is at work in all our lives. UPDATE:  Click here for my new article on the Law of Attraction. 

Thinking about...........

     There's no way you'd be reading this blog if you did not also know about, and probably be actively using our good friend, Twitter. So, just in case you are not following me, or worse, I'm not following you...please comment here with your twitter address so we can all follow each other! As always, if you are a first-time visitor or you have not yet signed in to follow this blog, check out the Google button at the top of the left side column of this page and join us. 

     As you comment, feel free to share thoughts about how to best use Twitter; things you have found beneficial, success stories, new or interesting relationships and more. Please, do not leave links or notes about how to obtain a million followers or make $500 a day. Hackers are having a field day with user names and passwords that are entered thinking the info is going to a trustworthy source. Like anything else, it its too easy, there's a reason. Have a great week!

Welcome Johnpatra, Marija, Chris and John!

Thanks so much for joining us here!  Please leave your comments when you have a few minutes. You'll find an audio update each week on Mondays, TravelTuesday has a running story on Peru and new destinations soon. During the week, I post notes on the news and am always looking to share thoughts on relationships and personal growth.  If there is something you would like to see, let me know.Remember, you can always click on the avatars in the Google Follow Box to obtain information with links to followers blogs and emails.

My blog receives an award...and my Bank rains on my parade...

Yes! I've received paychecks and grades for my writing but never an award...and so, thanks Brian for your continuing support. Be sure to check out Brian's list of things he wants to know, inlcluding why the bank charges you an NSF fee when they know you do not have any money in your account. My bank goes even further but in a manner that is supposed to be helpful. First, they pay the overdraft by charging the amount to a credit card. Of course, since I did not initiate the transaction, they charge a fee, ($30.00). The amount due accrues interest at almost 30% compounded what seems like every second until paid. Two months ago, the interest and fees for a couple of days raised the amount due to more than I had calculated and before I noticed, the .32 cents I did not pay went over 30 days past due. Yep, they send a ding to my card company and combined with an erroneous report they filed about my mortgage, led them to "proactively" cancel my card. I know I have responsibility here - who would be stupid enough to use a credit card with such a high interest rate in a time of emergency...I should have known better. Financial help from a bank has become the same as airline food - either non-existant or it tastes terrible! Who would be dumb enough to eat food from an airline anyway? (Same guy that used a credit card for NSF!)

City Lights Dark in Rio and Sao Paulo...

The lights in the photo at right that normally light up beachfront Rio de Janeiro have been dimmed tonight by a massive power failure.  The more inland metropolis of Sao Paulo has also been affected by what has been attributed to unspecified problems at the Itaipu hydroelectric facility. The blackout follow a CBS News, 60 Minutes report that previous outages have been caused by hackers. I'm worried about the challenges presented by rampant poverty that will exeraservate conditions for many as crime is always a challenge for local authorities. The news is limited at this time...click here for story.  Please leave your comments.

ShrinkWrap...This week's Audio Update!!

Enjoy this week's Audio Update and sorry for being a day late with this one. By the way, I'm having fun with the music, honing my editing skills without the help of my good pal and sound engineer Michael James, now at WestStar Radio and bringing you today's radio superstar of the tech industry, Kim Komando. Be sure to check out Kim's site and enjoy the smooth listening provided by her top notch man behind the scenes. I miss you Michael and as those that listen can tell...I need your help to smooth over the fades in and out. Speaking of, I included a little music at the 3 minute mark so be sure to hand in for the report to resume a few seconds later.  Until next week..............

Welcome to Gunnar, Morty, Valy, EcoDiva, Jon Wallace, Jelly, George Robinson, Nursarah!!!

     Hi guys and thank you for following the blog. My work life has consumed me of late but I endeavor to keep a steady flow of information and inspiration. If I have missed writing to you directly or greeting you here, please accept my gratitude for following these writings and please respond at any time with your comments and questions. I am behind a day with this week's ShrinkWrap, (Audio Update), and will have it up later today.

Trave Tuesday in Peru...News of Anton and Samana Wasi

In place of this week's segment, I have discovered an email address to Anton and his son, (in order to translate),  and sent a letter to help clarify the details of my trip to Peru. In looking more closely at the Anton's first book, in which he personalized a message to me, I found what appears to be the date of February, 1988. I had not been able to recall the specific year or month and am now hoping I bring more clarity to my account of what transpired. Interestingly, I found a web site belonging to Samana Wasi, Italia, or what appears to be a sister location in Italy. The proprietors in Italy provided email addresses to Anton and I have asked if there is any chance that someone from this company in Italy was the person visiting Anton when we first met and described in the earlier parts of the details of my travel. Please click here for parts one through four.

Obama's Afghan Plan: About 40K More Troops

Click here for the latest from ABC NEWS. Like many things that present themselves as a challenge, I want to give myself some time to think this one over. My first reaction is bewilderment about what is the a major reversal of campaign promises alluded to one-year ago. I'm sure we will hear how this is not a change of policy but, rather, an adaptation to constantly changing circumstances. Still, I know the average Obama pre-election supporter would say they believed the new President would not be increasing troops, regardless of location, to resolve the conflict in the Middle East. I also believe in the need to support the decisions of our elected officials with the caveat of making them aware of our position on every decision. You will begin to hear about parallels now between the LBJ Vietnam decisions and the pressure now on the President to keep our soldiers and country safe. Just as the population made its voice heard years ago, we must take the same responsibility now to make informed contributions to the formation of national policy. What you believe, counts. Please share your thoughts here and allow this forum to be a place where democracy works and each citizen heard.

Officials: U.S. Aware of Hasan Efforts to Contact al Qaeda

Click here for ABC News Report. With U.S. anti-terrorist agencies now being asked to preserve all documents related to Army Major Nidal Hasan, I'm now concerned what happened was not just a matter of failing to connect the dots but rather an ill-fated attempt to obtain additional intelligence. My views on the trail of events and information leading to the shootings have not changed since last week and are only made more frightful by this morning's disclosures that Hasan had identified ties to al Qaeda. If the appropriate officials had given a small percentage of the effort we will now see committed to this investigation it is possible the shootings would have never taken place. For more insight, listen to this interview with a co-worker of Hasan although you will have to put up with the interruptions of an unskilled reporter.

...and now for some GOOD NEWS!!

Imagine this...you are about to miss one of those five small meals a day that we are all supposed to be consuming and instead of junk, you find a vending machine full of snacks that are actually good for you! Check out h.u.m.a.n., (helping unite man and nutrition), Healthy Vending providing healthful snacks across the planet and giving 10% of what they make to charity. As I work at home, I'm wondering how much to put one of these in my home for me and the kids. Anything to reduce the challenges of post-Halloween snack attacks. I will have more for you as I get to know these guys better. Have you seen these in your neighborhood?

Orlando office is site of shooting...

This Orlando office building the site of yet another dreadful event. In what is apparently the actions of an employee that lost his job, at least one person has died and others have been injured by gunfire. A suspect has been apprehended and is now in custody. Click here for associated stories.

Now, I'm angry! Ft. Hood fiasco has already...

...provided us with many answers to difficult and known challenges. Unfortunately, it appears the choice to ignore available information is forcing heads further up the backsides of those that already chose the bliss of ignorance. One headline report describes the shootings as an isolated incident. Perhaps the officials in question should have read the morning newspapers, or better, the numerous pleas by shooter, Maj. Nidal Hasan. The question mark to the left is not because the information is sparse...it is for all of those that turned their backs on what appears to be a plethora of information that may have prevented this unnecessary loss of life. For more, please see my thoughts at PGP.com.

Has this ever happened to you? Sex, then...amnesia!!

     Understanding the human body is a never ending challenge. I'm curious if any of you have ever had such an experience or know of anyone with this experience. Read about it here and comment below.

13 Dead, 30 Wounded at U.S. Army Base....Will I be working there?

The photo above is the Soldier Readiness Center at Fort Hood in Texas. About a month ago, my application for employment with the Army was approved for work at Ft. Hood and the most likely work space would be the center that assists soldiers immediately before or after deployment....please see the rest of the story at the Personal Growth Productions Web site.  For news story, click here.

Yankees Win!!

I love this game!

Travel Tuesday in Peru - Part 4 - Law of Attraction

Travel Tuesday, continues in Peru.

This week, meet...Anton Ponce De Leon, (pictured above).

Weekly Audio Update - ShrinkWrap!!!

Please Press the play button for this weeks audio update

New Collage Art and Encaustic Paintings now availble

I was looking at Susan's Blog this morning and noticed she has given some focus to a collage technique that has recently drawn attention at her Etsy site. Etsy is the online, handmade goods store that carries Susan's encaustic paintings, jewelery, art dolls and now these unique collages. Check out the blog for her notes on the items and visit the online store. The top two pieces pictured above are collages and the bottom, Blue Bird is an encaustic, (pigment suspended in beeswax), painting.

Peak Experiences....

Sometimes, there are opportunities in life that if you are not looking will pass you by. The sad thing about these opportunities is that, if you cannot see them, you never know what you missed. Tonight, I am so happy I was looking this time. Please go to the Personal Growth web site for the rest of the story.

Agassai admits he lied to tennis officials...

...Andre Agassai has written an autobiography where he admits to lying about the use of Crystal Meth in 1977.  I bring this up only to initiate discussion about drug use and specifically the most insidious side effect - lying. In the book, Agassai, in an attempt to protect his career, blame an assistant. Lying is to drug abuse what a sneeze is to a cold. No one doubts the sneeze will accompany the cold but lying seems to surprise those closest to friends and relatives using drugs.

Travel Tuesday continues in Peru...this week I finally...

...met with Anton Ponce de Leon. Anton was furtively engaged in conversation with a student that had flown to Peru from Italy to visit with him. On the day I arrived in Cuzco, the two men had travelled here to the Urubamba to stay at Samana Wasi, (roughly translated, The House of Rest). For Part 3, go to Personal Growth Productions, featured topic.

Brian...your name was drawn as the winner shortly after noon today!! Congratulations...and, as I pictured a charm in one of the announcements we drew another name as well - congrats Laurie!!

Please send an email to us by clicking here and include your name and shipping address. Thank you to everyone that participated. Both Susan and I enjoy hearing from you and it is a continual inspiration to see your smiling faces in the group of those following.

The month is not over as yet and and still....

...October is deadliest month ever for U.S. troops in Afghanistan. This is becoming painfully reminiscent of Lyndon Johnson's good intentions to end the war in Vietnam. This is a different time and place and I mean no disrespect to our President or to the soldiers in conflict but we must continue to question and seek the best answers.

FBI rescues 52 children in prostitution ring sting....

This story makes me sick. We are given precious time and have the opportunity to choose how we spend each hour...each minute. Is it greed alone that has people making these kinds of decisions about what to do with their lives? In the last 36 hours, the FBI have rescued numerous children and made nationwide arrests in Operation Cross Country IV. Details here - more later.

Stephen Stills...his voice and guitar as pure as ever....

We all have one of these in our lives and this one is the one I grew up listening to...well, him and his pal Neil Young. In the last week, I have heard both of them in live appearances...Young at FarmAid and Stills this morning on Stern. Stephen's singing voice was sterling even at 8 AM. Both guys play guitar like the instrument is an extension of their soul....effortlessly and still hot. Stills speaking voice and the discussion was painful at times reminding me of age and years past. In answering a question about prostrate cancer he described how he regained some sexual function by saying that every time you cry, the tears help you rebuild....I'll have more at the Personal Growth Productions site soon.

The plot thickens on wayward NorthWest pilots....

....the investigation into the circumstances leading to overshooting Minneapolis gathered a bit of steam today. Seems the guys were using laptops to go over schedule changes due to the recent merger of NorthWest and Delta. With holiday bids now being submitted, anything is possible. The problem: it is way against policy to use a personal computer in the cockpit or do anything that distracts a pilot from doing the job...and not the part where you try to figure out your days off. Without the data from the flight recorder...remember, it only keeps a 30 minute loop, we are not going to know any more than the content of the pilot's testimony.Unfortunately for these employees, the info so far may already call for dismissal. I'm betting this kind of thing goes on more than we might like to know as passengers but when you overfly your destination, it is going to be problematic. This could be one of those very tough public example kind of situations.

Some spooky photos from Susan's recent collection.....There is still time to enter the Halloween give-away...an original, encaustic painting. See details below the photos.

Check out my favorite artist's blog and her home site. Ghoolishly delicious! Remember, to leave a comment on Susan's blog as well as mine and enroll to follow me and win an original, encaustic painting.  See my previous entry for more details.

Join Blastoff Today!!

Hi everyone...if you have not hooked up with Blastoff as yet, you can do it right now! There's good info in this week's audio update but the here's the short story. Blastoff is an online shopping mall with a myriad of online product and service companies available. Once you enroll, you earn cash back for every dollar spent while logged onto the site. You also earn a portion of anything spent by all of those enrolled under you. You cannot join directly but I have obtained an membership and you are welcome to enroll along with me. Then, take some time to enroll your friends before they sign up elsewhere. News is still limited about the site so if you jump on this now, you can create a little extra income.

To save you a little pain, the site is slammed right now and the server is slow and some of the functionality is not yet ready. I have been unable to use the import links for address books and that is why I am putting the word out like this...the facebook link is also not working. Take a minute and enroll today and when things calm down, you can go back and customize the site and use the functions.  All the tutorial videos work and the help staff is on overdose...I saw some pretty fried people trying to answer questions.

Just do this much...click on this link to enroll. You will see my name at the top of the screen to enroll you...pick a user name, password and leave your email and get a few friends on board.

Weekly Audio Update - ShrinkWrap

....be sure you give the music 20 seconds for me...I got a little carried away with the intro.

Ballon Boy Questions...What do you Think?

Do you have the parents face the criminal charges and call it good? Or, should Child Protective Services intervene regardless of the outcome of the criminal complaint? Should the children be separated from the parents and if so...for how long and under what circumstances? Does separating the children from their parents simply extend their roles as victims of their caregiver's behavior.

Do we need to turn around?

     Yesterday, a NorthWest Airliner flying from San Diego to Minneapolis overshot its destination by about 150 miles before the pilots realized what had happened. Seems they were engrossed in a discussion about company policy. Presumably, the subject was not pilot attention span. The news was a difficult reminder of the story I posted here previously.