Breakfast and Books
In the six years I have lived in Hollywood, I have never been to the IHOP on Sunset Blvd.
So after dropping off some books at the Library on Sunset and La Brea, I decided to give it a try.
Frankly, that part of town is not one of the best areas. And there is a bus stop right in front of IHOP so I always see strange people there.
But the IHOP itself is really nice.
There is plenty of free parking in the back. And inside the restaurant it is very nice.
They gave me that big pitcher of Coffee - so I drank to much caffeine. Fresh Orange Juice ...
And I got the Mushroom and Spinach Omelet - which had real fresh spinach and real fresh mushrooms.
Very tasty.
And I remembered to bring my vitamins with me. So I took those with my breakfast :)
|  | I am reading the book "It Works for Me: Celebrity Stories of Alternative Healing" by Heide Banks.
Its a very interesting book, with true stories of what alternative treatments celebs use for their health.
I think it gives a good overview of different alternative practices, for a variety of different health problems. |
Labels: books, food, hollywood, reading, restaurants
Books I Am Reading
As far as books go, I prefer history, biographies, self-help and religion.
But as far a religion and self-help go, I like to keep it somewhat mainstream.
I am a member of a Presbyterian church, and I just like to keep things that way.
But alot of people I know starting to recommend the Abraham books to me.
Abraham is a non-physical entity who gives these ideas to
Esther Hicks and Jerry Hicks.
And do I have trouble accepting advise from a Non-physical Entity ?
Yes, I do.
I think its alittle strange, and not the path I choose to follow.
But so many people where saying how great these books are.
And I open-minded enough, that I think I can read something and pick out what I need and leave the rest.
So from the Los Angeles Public Library I checked out:
The Amazing Power of Deliberate Intent
The Law of Attraction
and
Ask and It Shall Be Given
And yes, the books were good. There were alot of self-help tips in there.
And alot of what was said in the book makes alot of sense.
Alot of it just strikes me at Positive Thinking.
And I really do believe that its true - how you think and what you think, will make a big difference in your life.
I personally prefer the book "The Power of Positive Thinking" by Norman Vincent Peale .
This is a classic self-help, positive thinking book.
And Norman Vincent Peale bases his positive thinking on The Bible.
And for me, The Bible stands the test of time - more than that of a "non physical entity".
The Abraham books have some good ideas, and I think alot of people could benefit from the ideas. I personally just won't get caught up in what or whom they say is behind the ideas.
Labels: books, reading
Breakfast and Shopping
I'm back in Studio City this morning.. this time the city has power and there are no traffic problems to get there.
Breakfast at Dupars Restaurant.
I order the Veggie Delight Omelet. Filled with grilled zucchini, onions, tomatoes, mushrooms and Parmesan.
When it arrives, it smells absolutely wonderful.
And it was as yummy as it smelled.
I spent my breakfast time, starting to read a really great book.
Great Comedians Talk About Comedy by Larry Wilde.
This book contains wonderful interviews with famous comedians including Woody Allen, Milton Berle, Jack Benny and Phyllis Diller.
During the interviews these outstanding comedians give very interesting information on how they got started in comedy. They share the styles and techniques they use as comedians, and so much more useful information.
This book should definitely be on the "Must Read" list for any actor interested in performing comedy.
After breakfast, I made a grocery shopping trip to Trader Joes ,
since it is in the same shopping center as the restaurant.
I pick up three more bottles of the Trader Joes Cranberry Juices that I have started to love so much.
This time I decide to try the Cranberry Hibiscus Tea Blend.
I also treat myself to the Trader Joes Gingeroos - Ginger Cookies, which have real crystallized Ginger chunks.
Those will go great with the Trader Joes Organic Decaf Chai Green
Ginger is a great spice for improving your health.
After that, it is time for a brief walk, up and down a part of Ventura Blvd.
I take some pictures with my camera, and I will eventually post them on my Flickr account.
These days the Flickr account seems to be running behind, now that I am keeping the blog roughly one week caught-up. I just wish I had more time for internet things.
Links:
Great Comedians Talk About Comedy
Omelet Cookbooks 
Ginger cookbooks
Labels: books, food, reading, restaurants, shopping, studiocity
Ma'am, We Have Eggs Florentine
I grabbed the magazines out of the Los Angeles Times , and headed over to Dupar's Restaurant at the Farmer's Market on Fairfax.
I had a really, nice, young, gay-type waiter. He was very helpful and knowledgeable.
Looking at the menu, trying to figure out what to get - it was almost as if he read my mind.
"Oh, its not on the menu, but we do have Eggs Florentine", he said.
"Eggs Florentine ! Thats what I will have", I responded happily.
Ah, my favorite brunch meal of all time.
I was sitting at a table that was pretty close to the table of some scruffy internet geek-looking types. Our tables were so close, and we kind of looked at eachother. But what to say ... except a half-smile...
I guess they weren't internet geeks, because their talk revolved around business at a beauty salon. And one of the beautiful female employees who was having an affair with a very wealthy married man. And he rented her a ridiculously expensive apartment, and bought her a ridiculously expense car.
Both men were quite amazed at how something like this could possibly happen.
I read my Los Angeles Times magazines.
I ate my delicious Eggs Florentine, with a glass of fresh squeezed orange juice.
Did you know that the Vitamin C in the Orange Juice will actually help you absorb the iron in the spinach in the Eggs Florentine ? Its actually a very nutritional brunch.
But my very nice young waiter kept addressing me as "Ma'am".
"Ma'am, can I get you more coffee?"
"Would you like anything else Ma'am?"
Ok... I knew I was way older than he was - and from the conversation he had with the two scruffy guys next to me, my waiter was new in LA from the East Coast.
On the East Coast maybe it is considered proper etiquette to call a woman in her late 40s by "Ma'am".
But this is Hollywood, and there is very little etiquette. Flattery is much more impressive and appreciated.
Always call a woman "Miss". It doesn't matter if she is 102 year old.
If you call her "Miss", she will assume she is looking younger than she really is, and she will be very happy.
Calling an older woman "Miss" actually will make her day. Well, at least in L.A.
But my waiter was still very nice, young and innocent - so I decided to not be offended by being called "Ma'am", chalked it up to him just getting here from the East Coast, and I left him a good tip on the bill anyway.
Labels: food, hollywood, losangeles, reading, restaurant
Amazing Grace
Over at the Arclight this evening.
I wasn't really sure what I wanted to see. I just arrived in the lobby, and stood there looking at the marque.
I decided on seeing "Amazing Grace" .
I am so glad I picked that movie !!!
Very inspirational and moving - and it made me want to go out and save the world.
 |
Just one warning - it is an English Period Drama taking place in the 18th century - you know, the types where the male characters are wearing white wigs and the female characters are in long poofy dresses. So if those kinds of movies are boring to you, then grab a big cup of coffee before you go, but I recommend that you still check it out.
William Wilberforce leads the fight to end slavery in 18th century England. The movie shows how he basically had to teach English society as to why it was wrong to capture and ship slaves to England. The movie also shows the physical pain he was in while he lead this fight. He suffered from the stomach ailment colitis . And the only thing to treat it back then was Laudanum , which is made from opium.
He was also the founder of Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, though the film only briefly touches on this.
William Wilberforce is a man who did alot of great things in his day. |
Its a wonderful movie, the acting was outstanding. And the costumes and 18th century period setting was perfect.
I highly suggest that you go see this movie, to learn about an important piece of history, and to learn about William Wilberforce.
|
After the movie, I decide to look up William Wilberforce on the internet.
I ordered the book, 365 Days With Wilberforce from Amazon.com. This is a daily devotional book, of Wilberforce's writings.
It arrived just a few days after I ordered it, and I find his writings very inspiring.
|
Then I went to the the Los Angeles Public Library website, and placed "holds" on the following books:
Real Christianity
William Wilberforce, God's Politician
Amazing Grace in the Life of William Wilberforce
Amazon.com has many more books about and by, William Wilberforce.
Here are a few other links about the man and the movie:
amazinggracemovie.com , the official site
and
IMDB.com
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Labels: books, cinema, film, movies, reading, spiritual
Currently Reading
I am currently listening to a book on tape of
Sailing the Wine Dark Sea... Why the Greeks Matter
by Thomas Cahill
All this ancient greek history ... its reminding me of my college Theatre History classes.
Dern, those Greeks were smart for their time.
I think I am going to check out more of Thomas Cahill's books from the Los Angeles library .
Labels: books, reading
