Spring 2007 – Agenda Magazine Archives

Brazillian Tropicana Boca Raton, Florida

Marilyn Anderson’s
Romance on the Road goes to….

Brazilian Tropicana
Boca Raton, Florida

Some nights are for intimate romance, and some are for pure fun. On this night, we grabbed another couple, Harvey and Barbara, and headed for a lively evening with a traditional Brazilian meal and an energy-filled show.

Upon arriving at the restaurant, we started off with a pitcher of Sangria, which was cold, sweet, and filled with fruit. Next, we headed up to the cold salad buffet, where we piled our plates with spinach salad, beets, hearts of palm, artichokes, and various other salad fixings. They also had salmon, which I literally “forgot” to taste. Me, forget food? Oh well…next time.

After the salad course, the servers bring you fresh plates, and put hearty family-style helpings of rice, black beans, and fried bananas on the tables.

Then, the waiters come around… and around… and around… with long skewers of chicken, steak, and sausage. There was top sirloin, regular sirloin, garlic steak, spiced chicken, and bacon-wrapped chicken. As they cut slices for each person, you “catch” the slice with your individual set of small tongs. All you have to do after that is eat, eat, and eat some more. The servers keep coming back with skewers – until you tell them to stop!

A tray of desserts included chocolate cake, strawberry shortcake and tiramisu, but we were encouraged to try the homemade Brazilian desserts: flan, passion fruit mousse, and coconut pudding. We’re glad we did. Especially when we learned that Rosa, our gracious manager, had personally made the flan and pudding; and the owner’s wife and choreographer, Dalva, had made the mousse.

The entire staff for this Brazilian restaurant and show was almost like family. It has been in business for two decades. They were located in Pompano Beach for years until five months ago when they moved to Boca Raton. Mike and Dalva own the restaurant, but most of the wait staff and show people have been with them for years, as well. Rosa, our manager, told us she has been with them for 19 years. Rosa is a real sweetheart, so be sure to say hello to her from us when you go.

After satiating ourselves with food and drink, we settled back to listen to the band for a while. There’s a dance floor, and I was ready to jump up and move to the beat of the drums, but alas, Dennis and my crew weren’t budging. Next time, I’m bringing my boogey buddies! On Tuesday nights, guests get a special low-priced package for the meal, band, and dancing—and I’m guessing the dance floor is hopping.

Wednesdays through Sundays include all the above, the buffet, the Bossa Nova band, and dancing, along with the Brazilian Tropicana Show. And what a show it is! I must admit I wasn’t expecting it to be that good, but what a terrific surprise! There’s singing, dancing, and a martial arts specialty called Capoeira. It’s all energy-packed and loads of fun, sort of a mini-Las Vegas Revue.

I absolutely loved the Capoeiristas. These were 5 amazingly built guys doing a combination of fighting, dancing, and gymnastics… and they were sensational. One of the Capoeiristas looked very young, and when I asked afterwards, it turns out that he was 13! I was told that sometimes one of the female dancer’s daughters joins them as well—and she is only 9! The other Capoeiristas were older—and wow—what pecs!

Barbara and I loved watching these guys. Dennis and Harvey liked them too, but better still, they liked the dancing feather-head-dressed and sequined and beaded bikinied showgirls who moved their stomachs, torsos, and buns in twenty directions at a mile a minute!

It was all a delight to watch. And even more so when the lead singer, in a Carmen Miranda tribute, danced through the audience and cuddled up to men at different tables. Then she took one of the guys back to the stage to dance. Guess who the lucky guy was? Dennis! It was a hoot, especially when she asked him questions, and one of the Brazilian guys from the band put the answers in Dennis’s mouth—literally! The audience roared, and Harvey, Barbara, and I got a great kick out of it. When Dennis got back to the table, he thought I had “set him up.” But no, I didn’t have anything to do with his being chosen. Actually, it’s usually mewho bounds up to the stage when they ask for a volunteer. Finally, this was HIS turn!

With regard to atmosphere, the room itself isn’t fancy or stylish; but once the food and fun begins, it doesn’t matter. Everyone there was enjoying themselves.

Before the show started, I got to chat with one of the dancers, Heather. She is the only one in the troupe that isn’t Brazilian, and she’s been dancing with them for three years. I’m a sucker for a good romantic story, and I love how Heather met her hubby of two years. She started taking Capoeira lessons—and he was the teacher! He has also been a part of the show for 12 years. Unfortunately, he wasn’t in the show the night we saw it; he had broken his leg (I knew that looked dangerous!). Heather made sure to tell us he didn’t injure it in the show, but at his CapoeiraAcademy, where he teaches.

Another thing we learned about Capoeira was from our friend Harvey, who was with us. Harvey had taken six years of Martial Arts, so he knew the history of the Capoeiristas. It seems when they were slaves, their owners prohibited them from having weapons or practicing any kind of martial arts because they didn’t want the slaves rebelling or having an uprising. So instead, the slaves started dancing and put their martial arts into dance so their masters didn’t know what they were doing. Yes, there were some rebellions, but they were all to a dancing beat! Besides having a background in Martial Arts, Harvey told us that he has lots of Spanish-speaking relatives from Columbia, and he can’t wait to bring them all for a night at Brazilian Tropicana!

The supper club is great for couples, families, and groups. There are lots of tables for people celebrating birthdays and other occasions. Organizations can book the entire room for banquets and private parties on off nights.

Meanwhile, now I’m deciding whether to practice my samba and gyrate my buns, or try Capoeira with all those marvelous spins and high kicks. Hmmm…you think if I practice them I’ll work off some of that food and end up in the great shape those gals and guys were in? Oh… if only!

Brazilian Tropicana
7880 Glades Road
Boca Raton, Florida
(561) 477-5421
www.braziliantropicana.com

Marilyn Anderson
Romance on the Road

ELECTRICITY IN THE AIR… AND POWERING CARS, TOO!

ELECTRICITY IN THE AIR… AND POWERING CARS, TOO!

By Marilyn Anderson & Dennis L. Lanning

An expectant crowd turned out on Thursday night, March 1, at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles for a momentous occasion in the world of environmental automobiles: the unveiling of Phoenix Motorcars’ new electric SUT. The evening was hosted by six-time Emmy-nominated actor and environmentalist, Ed Begley, Jr., and his wife and co-star of HGTV’s Living with Ed, Rachelle Carson.

Approximately 400 environmentalist investors and celebrities of stage and screen were on hand for the launch party, including Bruce Davidson, Adrienne Janic, Linda Gray, Vincent Gallo, Boti Bliss, Lee Reherman, Patrika Darbo, and the beautiful Darryl Hannah, who was photographing all the happenings.

The real “star” of the night, though, was the new Phoenix Sport Utility Truck, all dressed up and ready to go with a special customized red and black paint job. The SUT is the only five-passenger, electric, freeway-speed vehicle in America. It’s a state-of-the-art truck that is ab-so-lutely cool!

Able to carry five people and all their gear in quiet comfort, the Phoenix utilizes new lithium battery technology that powers the vehicle for about 130 miles at freeway speeds before recharging, and can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 10 seconds. A special charger enables it to fully recharge in a few hours. That rate of acceleration is at the top end for vehicles of this type. True to its roots, the people getting Phoenix off the ground have successfully designed an eclectic utility vehicle that runs and appears conventional in every way, but is transcendent in its environmental effects. Finally!

Ed Begley, Jr., enthusiastically endorsed the Phoenix. The environmentally devout Ed owned several previous electric cars and hybrids, and has put his name on the top of the list to buy one of the first 500 Phoenix Motorcars scheduled for delivery in 2008.

The Petersen Automotive Museum is a mecca for car enthusiasts. Rare is the museum that stays true to its mandate but is consistently able to put on a variety of shows that fascinate.

In addition to the Phoenix event, there was an outstanding exhibit of 74-year-old Ford coupes, entitled “32 Days of 1932 Fords.” Their selection of vehicles is not just meant to tantalize, but also to instruct us in the history of the automobile. Some of the cars are long forgotten, but their impact on car design, engineering, and utility remains. A fantastic exhibit of electric and environmentally sensitive vehicles makes us wonder, “Why did we standardize on fossil fuel?”

Soooooo, ride on down in whatever you drive now—and hitch a ride on a tour of this fascinating and compelling venue of our automotive history. And make sure you tune in to Living with Ed on HGTV.

* * *

Marilyn Anderson
Romance on the Road

Wine, Women, and…. COSTUMES from the Movies!

By Marilyn Anderson

‘Twas the night after Valentine’s Day—and what a great night it was! On Thursday, February 15th, Women & Wine(www.womenwine.com) sponsored a fantastic event at the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising Museum.

Guests enjoyed five wonderful wines along with hors d’oeuvres and a tour of the FIDM Museum’s “Art of Costume Design” exhibit, featuring costumes from 20 top movies of 2006, including The Queen, Marie Antoinette, and Dreamgirls. My personal faves were a dress that Naomi Watts wore in The Painted Veil and the magnificent costumes from The Curse of the Golden Flower.

What made it even more special were the “Quick Culture” guides in front of each exhibit, giving guests the info, gossip, and dish on all the costumes we were viewing. Hmmm… the only disappointment? None of the divine outfits from The Devil Wears Prada were on display. It seems they were all auctioned off previously. Too bad I didn’t know about it—I would have looked “mahvelous” in them, of course!

This exhibit at the 11,000 square-foot FIDM Museum and Galleries is the 15 th annual “Art of Motion Picture Costume Design Exhibition,” which runs through April 5 th . The Los Angeles campus also houses a Permanent and Study collection of over 10,000 costumes, accessories, and textiles from the 18 th Century through the present day, including film and theater costume. Top designer holdings include Chanel, Yves Saint Laurent, Dior, and Lacroix. And get a whiff of this! The Annette Green Perfume Museum, America’s only museum dedicated to the historical and cultural roles of fragrance around the world, is housed at the FIDM Museum and Galleries. So come on, ladies, who wouldn’t want to visit this fabulous place!

And the fun of the gala didn’t end there. Guests received swag bags filled with all kinds of goodies to keep them happy long after the night ended. We each got a complimentary copy, hot off the presses, of “The 2007 Academy Awards Preview,” the guide that predicts Oscar winners. Not to mention a CD of the original score of The Queen and a DVD of the wonderfully funny Academy Award nominated comedy, Little Miss Sunshine. No question—Women & Wine really knows how to throw a party!

Women & Wine presents all kinds of fabulous events, travel ops, great articles, wine club, and a monthly e-newsletter. It’s free to join at www.WomenWine.com.

So let’s meet up at their next event to sip some wine and have some fun. See you there!

Marilyn Anderson
Romance on the Road

THE HUNGRY AND HORNY SHOW

Reviewed By Marilyn Anderson

If the title sounds funny… well, the show is even funnier! Be prepared for three extremely talented and witty ladies telling all—and I do mean “all”—about their voracious appetites, both food-wise and sex-wise.

Lori Alan, Marianne Curan, and Wendy Kamenoff are all seasoned performers who let us in on the stories of their sex-lives, past and present. The show switches from pure performance to gossipy girl-talk, and the audience is invited into the women’s circle to hear them dishing about their lives.

Lori is a single woman who enjoys it that way. She is a natural comedienne whose every word and expression is pure fun. One of her hysterical bits is when she shows large illustrated caricatures of the pros and cons of dating her. It’s unique, creative and guaranteed to make you laugh. She’s terrific all through the evening, and as a bonus, she does a delightfully quirky impression of Liza Minelli.

Marianne Curan is the married one of the trio—but she did manage to dump one philandering husband along the way to her current hunka-hunka-hubby. She does a rousing and rowdy “infomercial” on husband #1: “No wider than a corkscrew, Mr. Party Penis fits anywhere. Order yours today and get a George Forman grill and a free STD!”

All the actresses talk about their “first time,” and Marianne shows her two very opposite sides: The shy Catholic virginal Marianne and the wickedly seductive “baaad girl” Marianne, who’s dying to get it on with Biff. She picked him because if she wanted to stop and he didn’t, she “could beat him up.” Marianne also does a spoof of Martha Stewart that you don’t want to miss.

And then, there’s the inimitable Wendy Kamenoff. Wendy is the energizing force behind “The Hungry and the Horny.” She got the idea for the show while taking a shower threeyears ago, and started developing it at her “Tasty Words” salon, a monthly performance that celebrates spoken word from assorted writer-actors.

Wendy is chatty and sweet, with a comedic take on everything from her adolescent obesity to her marriage misery and her more recent single adventures. Wendy admittedly falls in love every ten minutes, and we get to hear about a slew of her loves, from the English flower-bearing guy with surprisingly “good” teeth, to her one-and-only horrendous Internet date—and then happily, to the new honey she’s now hooking up with on a regular basis.

The audience is invited to join in by answering sex questions picked from a fish bowl. Volunteers are rewarded with an assortment of hilarious (possibly useful) goodies from the Pleasure Chest. Even with simple sets and staging, there’s a lot going on in this show. Never a dull moment, “The Hungry & Horny Show” is fast-paced and ably directed by Richard Hochberg.

If you don’t mind hearing women talking dirty onstage—and quite simply, if you want to laugh non-stop, this is the show to see. We saw it at the Whitefire Theatre in Sherman Oaks, but it will be at a new venue soon.

And by the way, the guys in the audience were laughing just as hard as the gals! So bring your guy, or bring a girlfriend. And if you don’t go out to dinner first, you’ll go home “Hungry & Horny,” too!

The Lyric Theatre,

520 N.La Brea Ave.,
Los Angeles, 90036

For tickets, go to: www.lyrictheatrela.com or call 323. 939.9220

Upcoming Shows:

Tues. April 3rd & 10th, @ 9p.m.,
Wed. May 9th Tues, May 15th, Wed May 23rd and 30th at 8:00pm,
June 6th and 20th @ 8pm

For more info, visit:

www.myspace.com/thehungryandhornyshow

www.thehungry&hornyshow.com (Website coming soon.)

Reign Over Me – Movie Review

Reign Over Me

Movie Review

You have to see the new Adam Sandler and Don Cheedle movieReign Over Me. I found myself at about 1:00 p.m. yesterday trying to go to a movie, and nothing was playing at a decent time that I hadn’t already seen, but that. And I really didn’t plan to see an Adam Sandler movie. But was I glad I did!

The movie had all the elements I believe a good and even great movie should have. I don’t understand the critics giving it low marks because it is a good movie. It has great dialog, realistic and believable. There are places in the movie where there is great monologue, and it doesn’t sound annoying like in a Woody Allen movie. The monologue sort of caters to the less sophisticated moviegoer. I think the writer took some great elements from Woody Allen and tailored those elements to fit this movie.

Sometimes a movie seems disconnected, like the movie is speaking and saying, look at me. Look at my great dialog between these two great actors here. Well, in this movie, you almost forget that you are looking at Don Cheadle and Adam Sandler. They perform well together. Adam Sandler’s performance is not a long trail of great comedic monologue. He becomes the character so well, that you forget you are looking at Adam Sandler, the actor. The same can be said for Don Cheedle. There are moments in the movie where he doesn’t speak a word, but says reams in his expressions and visual performance. Because of this, the movie becomes not so much a pasting together of scenes, but a harmonious construction of themes flowing together.

The subject matter is handled well. If you’ve seen the trailers, you know that Adam is having some problems coping with his grief. Don Cheadle’s character is facing some bumps in his marriage and in his career. These two issues are not handled in a stereotypical way, although there is some coverage of common themes known to everyone… a man feeling stifled in his marriage, a man suffering a great loss.

In the end the main theme is shown in the action, and the audience should walk out feeling very satisfied. I did something I don’t always do after seeing a movie. I didn’t fidget and I sat in my seat through the final credits. I both laughed out loud and cried as I sat through the entire movie.

We expect humor in an Adam Sandler movie—and he did not disappoint—but what was totally unexpected was his range of emotion and physical, nonverbal expression.

The music fits the movie so well I find myself wanting to own the soundtrack.

I guess I’m not a sophisticated moviegoer because I don’t always agree with the critics, but this one, in my opinion, is worth watching.

Lisa A. Trimarchi

You Won… Have You Been Scammed Lately?

You Won! How many times have I read that in an email! Like a stampede, daily I received these little notices. At first I was honored, until I realized they weren’t prizes but traps. I had initially attempted to claim my prizes, which consisted of $500 gift cards, laptop computers, Tide samples, makeup kits, designer handbags, digital cameras, hotel stays…. The list is endless. I even received a check in the amount of 1 million dollars! All I had to do was respond to a few offers. I attempted on several occasions to fill out these offers to receive my free gift(s), but every time I tired of the endless surveys and subtle manipulations to get me to make an un-needed purchase. Occasionally I did pull out my credit card and pay for shipping of an item here and there, and I was even lured into buying a magazine subscription, or a diet pill—always giving up and never completing these offers, thus never receiving my prize.

Just like any other day, I had a sea of emails asking me to claim my prize. But this time I was determined to walk away with something worthwhile. I followed the link and embarked on a wild ride. If I completed all the offers, surveys, and shipping fees, I would receive a $500 Visa gift card. I could certainly use that gift card.

The first round of offers seemed harmless. Most of them were free offers, only asking me to pay shipping and handling. I selected the required 2 offers and moved on to the next step. Step 2 offered a few magazine subscriptions and asked me if I was planning to buy a new car in the near future or if I wanted to go back to college to start a new career. What the heck, I’d been contemplating getting a new car, so I responded to those offers, too. At that point I had already spent about $22 in shipping and knew that I was going to get a slew of phone calls offering me rates on financing a new car. Step 3 was more challenging. I had more choices, but fewer free offers. Shipping at this point was no longer the option. I had to purchase 3 offers. I bought a language program for $75.00, a magazine subscription, and a 30-day trial for a Pitney Bowes postage meter.

I devised a plan. I would immediately cancel these purchases and be out no money, yet still receive my $500 gift card. The last step had finally arrived an hour and a half later. I patiently responded to everything, and I was almost done. There was a flashing sign on the web page stating that I was almost done. I was overcome with excitement. I was actually going to receive my prize. I got it. I realized that these sponsors were hoping people would give up halfway through and never claim their prizes, and still make purchases during the process. But not me, I was determined to finish. Step 4—all I had to do was respond to 4 offers. I scanned the page and quickly spotted the freebies: a free trial subscription to Netflicks and a one month free supply of Relastin skin firming cream. Just two more offers to complete. I looked all over the page and the only offers left were Discover Card offers. There were 4, each with different card themes, but nonetheless, the same card. I already had a Discover credit card, but held my resolve and decided to apply for 2 more. And that’s when I realized I would never receive my $500 gift card. As I filled out the information for the first Discover card, I noticed in fine print that only one card application per customer was allowed—no exceptions! There was absolutely no way I could ever win my prize. This was a hoax, a con, a big fat lie! I was incensed, and determined to expose these charlatans.

If I could have successfully cancelled my orders, I might have escaped this scam unscathed, but I was not so lucky, and my credit card was the unfortunate casualty. Two months later I am still dealing with the repercussions. I called the toll-free numbers and canceled through voice mail, I sent emails asking them not to ship the order(s), and when they still came to my home, I marked them “return to sender.” But my bank statement and credit card bills told a different story. These people charged me anyway, ignoring my requests for cancellation. I have spent hours trying to remove charges, never receiving satisfaction. I was stuck with more than a few unwanted bills.

What did I win? Not the $500 gift card, not even the supposed free stuff for which I paid shipping. I have constantly to scrutinize my billing statements and guard against the continuous charges that appear every month. I guess nothing is for free.

The next time you receive one of those emails claiming you won, spam it and never look back. And if you really just want to spend your money, get in your car and drive to the nearest mall. It’s a lot more exciting and takes a lot less of your time. But ultimately you choose your purchase. It doesn’t choose you.

If you think you’re being scammed, visit the following websites:

www.ftc.gov

www.scam.com

www.sitereviewauthority.com

www.sarahs-scams-review.com

Below are the top ten online scams targeted by law enforcers:

Internet Auction Fraud

Internet Service Provider Scams

Multi-level Marketing / Pyramid Scams

Business Opportunities and Work-At-Home Scams (Beware of companies offering you a job that requires an up-front fee.)

Paid surveys

Investment Schemes and Get-Rich-Quick Scams

Travel/Vacation Fraud

Telephone / Pay-Per-Call Solicitation Frauds (including modem dialers and videotext)

Health Care Frauds

They say buyer beware for good reason. Nothing’s free, you get what you pay for, and there’s no such thing as get rich quick!

Staff Writer

The Measure of a Man Sidney Poitier

Book Review
The Measure of a Man

Sidney Poitier

Having always thought of Sidney Poitier as a gifted, consummate actor, I was pleasantly surprised to discover the trials he went through to become that way. A current Oprah’s pick, his memoir,The Measure of a Man, is the story of how a young man with so limited advantages and resources rises to become the consummate actor.

The consummate artist interprets rather than play acts, Poitier learned very early in his career, and in spite of acting lessons, turned to other artists to emulate, while achieving through imagination and daydreams (210). Thus, his outstanding, memorable performance in such movies as Blackboard Jungle, Cry the Beloved Country, Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner, To Sir with Love, and others. Among his many awards for his performances both on stage and in the movies is the Academy Award he received in 1964 for best actor in Lilies of the Field.

With a back and forth movement—moving from the present to the past, then back to the present—the memoir shows how his past shapes or explains his being. This memoir could be called an intellectual study into who Sidney Poitier is, how his past defines his measure as a man.

Sidney Poitier was born on Cat Island in the Bahamas, where he lived until ten and a half years old, when the family, of necessity, moved to Nassau. Until he went to Nassau, the outside world for him did not exist. Cat Island was a small, idyllic island, where the only threats Sidney met were those posed by nature and the strong discipline of his mother and father. Though very poor, his family was close. It was in Nassau that he was introduced to the prejudices toward blacks and the limitations racism placed upon them. Cat Island was idyllic, as opposed to the obvious haves vs. the have-nots of Nassau. He wore clothes made from flour sacks but loved and respected his parents so much he did not make a big deal out of the teasing he took from his schoolmates: “…knowing that my mom and dad were doing the best they could gave me the strength to suck it up and move on” (39).

He dropped out of school by the age of thirteen and was sent away from this environment—friends, even his older brother, were sent away because of the trouble they had gotten into because of the influence of the environment. (On Cat Island, the only dangers he had faced were those posed by nature.) Little Sidney was jailed briefly for stealing corn. So his father sent him to Miami to live with a brother ten years older than he. There, he also encountered race issues but did not let them interfere with what he had chosen for himself; so “the Jim Crow way of life had trouble overwhelming me” (42).

Sidney Poitier never compromised his values, refusing to play parts he did not believe in. Yet, this is exactly what his own race accused him of (118). Of course, he’s angry about what he and other blacks had to endure, but “… I’ve learned that I must find positive outlets for anger or it will destroy me. I have to try to find a way to channel that anger to the positive, and the highest positive is forgiveness” (128).

There are lessons to be learned from this memoir on how to achieve in spite of the obstacles life and society may place in the way, for one’s response is the measure of a man; and I agree that once again Oprah is right on in her selection. For example, hurt over the failure and breakup of his first marriage, he does not fail in fulfilling his father’s legacy: the measure of a man is how well he takes care of his children (181). He is quite proud of his six talented and intelligent daughters he helped raise in spite of his divorce from their mother. Poor though he was, his own father, Reggie Poitier, always took care of his family, and in this respect, as well as others, Sidney chose to emulate him.

I would say “the measure of a man” is one’s response to all of the opposition one is faced with in society, and Sidney Poitier certainly lives up to his measure as a man in all the racial opposition he encountered as a black man on his journey to becoming the consummate actor, beloved by so many.

Reviewed by Lee L. Peoples

Son-Rise – The Miracle Continues

Book Review
Son-Rise – The Miracle Continues

Barry Neil Kaufman

There’s nothing like a true story made into a book, made into a television movie to get one inspired, and Barry Kaufman’s Son-Risedid just that for me. This is the story of a child with autism. Barry and his wife Samahria Kaufman gave birth to Raun, who exhibited all the characteristics of a normal child. He was developing normally, but at four weeks old, Raun battled with an ear infection that spread thoughout his nose and throat, Raun was treated with antibiotics, which caused a severe dehydration, eventually landing him in the hospital for several days. The treatment had severe side effects and the doctors feared he would have permanent hearing loss. Finally, the Kaufmans were allowed to take their infant home. At first, Raun developed normally, but eventually he started exhibiting unusual behavior, giving Samahria and Barry cause for concern. He was detached and shunned all human touch. Raun was eventually diagnosed as severely autistic.

Samahria and Barry went through a series of tests only to be told there was no cure. The best they could hope for was that maybe Raun would eventually learn a few skills, like dressing himself and uttering robotic responses. But eventually he would be institutionalized. Against the odds, Samahria decided to take action, ignoring the doctor’s advice. She decided that she was going to reach her son, no matter what it took. She had no expectations, only acceptance—she wanted to connect with her child. The best way that she knew how to do that was to enter his world in hopes that he would feel safe enough to eventually enter hers.

Samahria spent every waking hour mimicking Raun’s behavior. If he spun a plate, she spun a plate. If he threw his food, she threw her food. If he jumped up and down, so did she. And she did all this in the tiny bathroom of their home. She chose the bathroom because there wasn’t much in there that Raun could destroy, and it was a place where they always had their interaction. Eventually, Raun began to respond. The Kaufman family eventually all got involved, including Raun’s two older sisters, Byrn and Thea. The Kaufmans elicited help from volunteers to get involved with treating their son. And with time, patience, and a few setbacks, Raun began to develop like a toddler and eventually showed no signs of autism.

The doctors who had diagnosed him as autistic were astounded. Caseworkers and teachers of special education programs came to observe Raun’s daily routine. In their opinion, it was a miracle.

What moved me the most about Son-Rise, The Miracle Continues is the amount of love this family had for their child. They gave up a lot to be able to connect with him and to be in his world. They also took a big chance, not knowing the outcome. Their methods were unorthodox, but safe. There were no drugs involved, only dietary changes.

The Kaufmans eventually created their own institute, showing parents how to work with their autistic children—the main medicine being unconditional love and acceptance. And to this day, The Option Institute has helped thousands of children rise above autism, as well as a host of other related and non-related disorders. Raun, who is now completely recovered, is the director of The Option Institute.

Son-Rise was first published over thirty years ago. A television movie about autism was based on that book. It offered hope to those families who were told there was no cure for autism. The newly published Son-Rise, The Miracle Continues has three parts. The first part is about the struggle and the eventual success of Raun Kaufman. Part two of this book explores Raun’s development from childhood at age four to becoming a young adult.

Part three interviews five other families who went through similar circumstances and were victorious over their child’s diagnosis. All five families have inspiring success stories, and their once unreachable children are now happy, thriving, and functional beings. These testimonies offer hope along with the limitless opportunities.

This is a must read. I read the 346-page book from cover to cover in just 48 hours, unable to put it down. Autism is a growing epidemic, and could affect you or someone you know. Son-Rise, The Miracle Continues teaches us to be more accepting of people’s differences. It teaches us to love unconditionally, and it is a true testimony to what the human mind is really capable of.

Son-Rise, The Miracle Continues can be purchased at most bookstores everywhere.

Reviewed by Kaylene Peoples

When special-education teacher Torey Hayden wrote her first bookOne Child almost two decades ago, she created an international bestseller. Her intensely moving true story of Sheila, a silent, profoundly disturbed little six-year-old girl, touched millions. From every corner of the world came letters from readers wanting to know more about the troubled child who had come into Torey Hayden’s class as a “hopeless case,” and emerged as the very symbol of eternal hope within the human spirit.

NONFICTION

Description by Amazon.com

Fall back ten and punt

Insights
Fall back ten and punt.

Florida gave me a lot. I got my degree. I gave birth to my youngest daughter. I found myself and solidified my identity. However, over the past few years I have been suffering losses. My oldest children are grown but did not leave the nest, and along with maturity there had been contention. I found myself giving more and more and receiving back resentment.

My oldest son left for Thailand 2 years ago and I was worried. How will this guy make it in a foreign country where he did not speak the language? He barely had a job. How would I ever be able to reach him there?

This was the beginning of my growing up and facing that at some point my little ones would have to leave the nest and flounder on their own in order to grow.

My oldest daughter had a baby not too long before that and I found myself taking care of her, the baby, and my other son still in high school. My youngest daughter barely got the attention she needed because I was pulled in so many directions.

I tried to do everything at once, including working on a degree in Math, working a full time job, taking opera lessons, and maintaining a household. At some point a house of cards will fall, and so did mine.

It hit me one day: I can’t do everything. Then I shook myself and tried to do more. I found love or so I thought and tried to juggle that, too. Well, a juggler can only keep so many balls up in the air, and unfortunately, mine came tumbling down.

I have a lot of energy, and well, I didn’t lose it. But I kept trying harder and harder. I was moving in circles and getting nowhere.

I had to sit down and rethink some things. Like, how when you do everything for your children, they naturally expect you to do everything. I had created an intolerable situation. I was expected to do everything, including cooking, cleaning, paying the bills, advising, comforting… everything!

I tried backing off. Having been raised by my mother to be a very nice person, I tried to be compassionate and understanding. I slowly clipped the apron strings. I suggested to my grown children that they move out, find their own place, and create their own life.

I was born with a lot of patience, but when I’ve had enough, I’ve had enough. After you’ve had enough, you endure. I endured. And endured and endured.

No one moved out. They were defiant in their resolve to maintain the status quo, that is, Momma does the cooking, cleaning, paying of the bills, advising, comforting… everything!

I suffered abuse. I received insults, and after all I’ve done for them, I had to accept their abusive friends and disrespectful behavior.

At some point you have to teach your abusers that they are getting nowhere trying to abuse you. My way of doing that was resisting. Arguing, refusing to move. By doing this I made my abusers stronger. My children were able to push harder and harder. Their muscles became that much bigger and I found myself unable to push back.

I had to learn to yield. Not to my children, but to myself. I had to begin to read the signals my heart was sending me. I had to cut my losses.

For several months I felt despair. Where did I go wrong? My youngest son would only voice his resentment toward me. My oldest daughter would only disagree with and defy me. I would cry when no one was near. I would call my mother and cry on her shoulder. I would call my friends and cry on their shoulders.

And one day I stopped crying. Instead, I took action.

I have a great friend named Ralph. He doesn’t like sports much but he will watch football occasionally. One day when we were talking, and I was listening, he told me about a term in football, “fall back ten and punt.” He told me sometimes you have to cut your losses and make the most of a situation. That punt, if successful, could give you the extra points you need to either give you an edge, get you above zero, or even defeat your opponent. And of course, friend that he is, he said I was a very strong person and was smart enough to do the right thing.

Well, coming from Ralph, that meant a lot because he’s a very smart person, a physicist and an engineer.

Fall back ten and punt.

A few months ago I attended a funeral… my uncle’s. I started thinking about my family and how these people I hadn’t seen in years showed me so much love and support. I thought about the possibility of myself going home and starting over. But I wouldn’t be starting over, I would be moving forward.

I have this wonderful car, a Ford Taurus station wagon, and it’s big enough to hold plenty of boxes. I packed my car with a few boxes and my suitcase, and kissed my loved ones good-bye. I decided I would move from Florida all the way to California… alone.

Having to leave my youngest daughter behind was very difficult because she is as mellow as I am and we have a lot of fun together. So I hesitated. We cried. We held each other. I told her I would return for her later. I hugged my oldest children and told them I love them. Then I started on my journey.

I’m in California now. I am working part time tutoring kids and about to pick up some of those balls that I had to drop before. Sometimes it pays to let go. Sometimes risks pay off, and I am sure everyone will be better off in the long run.

Lisa A. Trimarchi

The “F” in Fashion Is for Fun

Talking Chic
The “F” in Fashion Is for Fun

…Let’s step back a sec and pretend that Britney’s sole reason for shaving her head was because she was eager to spark a young Hollywood trend in baldness. Did that ever cross anyone’s mind? Well, it crossed mine—I am a firm believer in having fun with fashion.

Just as award show season has occupied much of the E! Network with pre-show coverage, post-show coverage, and Fashion Police disses, my few hours between sleep and work consist of watching beautiful hosts talk to beautiful people time and time again. In doing so, I have come to the conclusion that not only “hair” has become the “ultimate accessory” in A-list credo, but so is a star’s stylist. And from what I’ve heard, I have gathered that there are many celebrities out there with really bad taste; however, thanks to the professional stylists, America can barely pick out who is clueless and who wishes they could have more spunk in their swang. So bringing it back to Britney, couldn’t one say that she is simply being herself but just getting ridiculed for it? Or desperately daring to be herself despite the commotion she has stirred?

So with a stylist as a sidekick, are other celebs misleading the public into thinking that they actually know a thing or two about real style? Truth is, we care…but we really don’t. All in all, we just want a celebrity to look good and maintain the holier-than-thou status that society continues to hold them to. Yet when a star—aperson—steps out of the grips of Hollywood and dares to take a chance on the raw emotion she is feeling at the moment, we point, laugh, exploit, make fun of, and chastise them because they are defying what and who a celebrity is supposed to be.

Since when did fashion get so serious that a girl can’t shave her head and not make it on every gossip magazine at the grocery store? It’s just hair, people, really. But Britney’s move was definitely shocking…for me to watch, at least. I’ll admit it. I myself enjoy playing around with braids, weaves, and scarfs; how my hair looks is nearly as important, if not more, than the jeans on my butt and the shoes on my feet.

I understand the symbol of femininity engrained in the look of a woman’s hairstyle. And for me, I gotta feel confident before I step out the door. So for many of us who watched actual news coverage over Britney’s lock chop, which in itself is sad—(Hello? Aren’t there troops in Iraq to cover? What about the burglar down the street to show on the 10 o’clock news?)—it seems like the real issue is that without her hair, she has lost any sort of sex appeal that may have made boys twist in their seats and girls buy her music to feel as empowered as they may have believed her to feel.

Maybe the real empowerment was in Britney’s forgetting about what her stylist, her family, and her management team wanted for her. Despite any sickness or help she might need, I actually felt a sort of envy in the fact that she let all of her inhibitions go and lived for the moment. Whatever that moment held for her, Britney is still the Mickey Mouse Club tyke and the I-kissed-Madonna chick—but possibly for one of the first times in her life, she became the I-think-for-myself Britney.

So with the insistence of our dear friend, I am actually going to extend the “F” for fun to the “F” for “F&#% you.” Now, that’s what I call a role model.

Elana Pruitt