Native American Art Show & Sale 2012

California artist John Balloue will be featured at the Alamo Native American Art Show and Sale coming May 19th and 20th to theAlamo Women’s Club (1401 Danville Blvd. Alamo).  John’s works have been shown in galleries and museums across the country and have been included in many published illustrations. Inspired by a photograph by John Choate (1848-1902) at the Carlisle Indian School in Carlisle, PA., John created “Delegates for Peace,” a painting depicting five Sioux Indian Chiefs from the Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota. This painting was chosen for the commemorative poster for the world famous Indian Market in Santa Fe, New Mexico in 2001. John was awarded the honor of being named artist of the year by the Indian Arts and Crafts Association and is listed in Who’s Who in the West, Marquis Publication, Providence, New Jersey.

Born in 1948 in Richmond, California, John is the son of a Cherokee father and a mother of English and Irish descent. He is a registered tribal member of the Western Band of Oklahoma Cherokee. After returning home from Vietnam, he attended California State University at Hayward graduating with a B.A. in art in 1975.

Although he began his career painting abstract canvases, he was gradually drawn to creating more realistic paintings that reflect his Native American heritage. “Not being raised on a reservation,” he says, “art is my way of understanding, keeping alive and honoring my Native Ancestors.” After painting in a realistic style for over 30 years, in 2003 he needed to try something new. He began experimenting with color and texture to create a more contemporary look and feel to his work.

“Now my work is more innovative and experimental in nature,” John explains, “Color is the primary means in which the change has occurred. Color is said to be a barometer of emotion and the strong use of color is reflective of a passionate approach to painting. Besides it just looks cool!”

John’s passion for his work and subject matter is evident in all his pieces. Many paintings will be available for sale and viewing at the Alamo Native American Show in May. John is looking forward to meeting the young and old and to share his experiences as a Native American artist.

I’m Playing Words with Friends (By Myself)

Words with Friends (“Words”, “WwF” or “Palabras con Amigos”) the mobile device app, has become insanely popular—so addictively popular that people of every race, religion and species are playing “words” everywhere; at home, while driving, in the gym, at their kids’ sporting events, even at church (I picked up 18 points for the word “heathen” last Sunday). The popularity of WwF was never more evident than when acclaimed thespian, Alec Baldwin, was thrown off an American Airlines flight for failing to turn off his game when asked to do so by a flight attendant. As popular as Words with Friends has become, we all do realize it’s just the game Scrabble played alone right? It’s Scrabble played on your phone or iPad or laptop, but it’s still Scrabble. The biggest difference between Words and Scrabble is that Words is played in cyberspace with supposed acquaintances while Scrabble is a board game played with actual friends who gather together to engage in communication, camaraderie and the consumption of Doritos or M&M’s.

While apps and online games have replaced the need to actually interact with real live people, once you’re engaged in a desolate and lonely game of WwF, it’s hard not to be competitive. Let’s hypothetically say someone, who will remain nameless, plays the word “conquistador” for a triple letter, double word, quadruple back flip for a total of 324 points, I, because of my poor draw of letters, can only play the word “dot” off her “o” for a whopping seven points. See, it’s still Scrabble, but now, as the popular 70’s singer Leo Sayer sang, I play “All By Myself.” For the purpose of this article, I am currently engaged in a game of Words with Friends with my wife, Julie, who is obviously not so nameless anymore. While most people might think my twenty-year career as a brilliant word crafting writer would give me an unfair advantage, those same people might also be surprised to learn I have never beaten the woman at this game of chance. However, as I organize my thoughts for this article, I will also be utilizing the Thesaurus of my brain to, once and for all, annihilate my competition in this Scrabble-like game.

Words with Friends, while highly entertaining, is just another example of our lone wolf society. When you have your phone or iPad, who needs actual friends? Our children have been playing computer games by themselves since they emerged from the womb. Nintendo DS was a favorite of our girls when we embarked on a road trip, when they tired of television, when they went to the bathroom or when they simply desired some down time. While the games do greatly enhance their hand/eye dexterity, it left them with thumbs the size of a corn dogs. Nintendo transcended into Play Station and Play Station eventually found its way to the bottom of a dresser drawer with the emergence of Wii. Fortunately, Wii did encourage some social interaction with family and friends, however once it was determined that Wii could also be played alone, my wife became a Wii widow. Speaking of my wife, she just played Quoz for 589 points. In what language is Quoz, a word? Bequoz I think she’s cheating.

Back in the day, the neighborhood kids (Clifford, Terry, Felicia and Angela) and I would gather together on a rainy day in Cliff’s sunroom to play board games for hours on end. When you’re a “gamer” or “board playa” in kindergarten, the games we rocked included Chutes and Ladders, Candy Land and Hungry Hungry Hippos. Granted, we did live a little fast in those early days. Games become much more interesting when you’ve got something riding on them. Not money of course, because a six-year old can’t really get his hands on cash, no instead we would stake a game with Oreo, Chips Ahoy! or Nutter Butter cookies. Playing board games was a chance to develop our social skills, which was crucial to our adolescent development. I recently read about an eight-year old child in Florida who proclaimed her best friend was her Droid cell phone.

As my underground game gang matured into our tweens, our board games of choice naturally evolved along with us. Me and the boys (Jeff, Derek, Troy, Luis and Mark) moved our high stakes games into the backyard fort at Jeff’s house. It was really his older brother’s fort, but he allowed us to rent it for $2.00 an hour because he had taken up heat lamp gardening. Chris became quite the businessman selling his extremely popular and odiferous plants to the neighborhood teenagers. Games such as Clue, Masterpiece, Life and Yahtzee were now our thrill of choice. Of course the stakes also matured and the grift became items such as firecrackers, cassette tapes and Playboy magazines (“for the articles”). Our conversations also moved away from topics such as cartoons to sports, girls and girl sports. Julie just played “dominatrix.” Let’s see, with her three double boggy letter and four triple word squares she just scored 713 points. Fortunately for me, I was able to follow that weak play with the word “dirt” capitalizing on her “t” for a nifty 11 points.

Perhaps the Godfather of all board games is Monopoly. Monopoly, a game of high stakes real estate, requires a player to exhibit guts, strategy, negotiation and a knack for getting out of jail free. Monopoly marathons in college were commonplace. Often following a wicked fun night of partying, we would commence a rousing game of Monopoly at the FRAT house around 2:00 a.m. and go until dawn. Assuming we could convince a few Sigma Chi little sisters to join us, the stakes became clothes and it was mandatory to down a shot of Jäger every time someone passed GO and collected $200. Oddly, I remember losing my pants when I landed on Park Place one too many times, but I was usually the last one to lose my dignity. Of course, there was more to the game than alcohol consumption and naughty voyeurism. There was deep, meaningful dialog on topics such as Reagan-ism, the Magic Johnson versus Larry Bird rivalry and of course, MTV’s hair band rotation. Julie played on my word “dirt” and her word “dominatrix” and scored 666.5 points in two different directions with the seldom-used word, “ambidextrous.” I strategically countered with the word “farter” using six letters for a total of five points. How did that happen? Score – Julie 1,594 points and Mike 26.

I’m not saying that there aren’t positive aspects of a game such as Words with Friends (or Mobile Scrabble as I like to call it) which does require that the participants utilize their brains far more than say Brick Breaker or Bejeweled, but my question is where does it stop? Will our children’s children eventually engage in youth sports online instead of actually going to a park or field to participate in a game of soccer, softball or lacrosse? Will virtual swimming take the place of swim team? My fear is that our society will become a bastion of overweight, socially inept computer hackers that’s can’t communicate in the real world. We’ve got to force ourselves to promote meaningful interpersonal interaction and it might start with a hard copy board game Darn it, Julie just played the word “gortex” for 214 points and I’m left with five “U” letters, a “Q” and a “Y.” I quit this stupid game and am going to the closet to find Apples to Apples, Balderdash or Sequence. Hey kids, “Daddy’s done working and it has just become Family Game Night. Tell mom to “put down her iPad and join the fun.”

Spring Cleaning—Inside and Out

Okay, am I the only one, or do you too sometimes struggle with letting go of old possessions? Oi vey…I’ve lived in my home for 27 years and have managed to acquire a whole lot of “stuff.” Although I regularly donate and recycle items, it is an ongoing process to downsize possessions and clear old clutter. Whew!

Now, the great thing about this time of the year is that we have an opportunity to do some Spring Cleaning. Yep, there’s something in the air that gives many of us energy to “spring” into action and assess the things that physically inhabit our homes.

Did you know that there is another type of Spring Cleaning beyond the physical? Yep, I call it emotional Spring Cleaning. Emotional Spring Cleaning is what I often do with clients in my private practice—year round. I ask the ones who are seeking tools for stress relief or weight loss, “What are you carrying in your life that feels like a burden?”

Then, our work consists of hoisting the burdens off the client’s shoulders, and onto the floor between us. We metaphorically let the burdens gently spill onto the floor allowing each one to receive some light. From this higher perspective…we now let the “lightening-up” process begin.

We sit patiently together, identifying, sorting, and clarifying what each burden represents in his or her life. “Paths not taken,” is a recurring topic of discussion. Sometimes, even when outwardly a person’s life looks rich and fulfilling, inwardly he or she may be experiencing a sense of emptiness…a proverbial hole in the soul.

Guilt, shame, and regret are commonly uncovered during this inquiry process. For example, painful feelings due to:

  • Unrequited love
  •  Job challenges
  • Self neglect

In addition, many clients are carrying emotional burdens for other people—burdens over which they have no control or any power to change. The recently Oscar-nominated German documentary feature film Pina depicts several examples of “burdensome challenges” expressed as dance.

One surrealistic scene shows a woman struggling while carrying a man (dressed in black) on her back. This poignant piece is an excellent literal depiction of “carrying another” or another’s burdens. We watch the woman struggling to move forward, teetering from the weight of the man on her back, as she attempts to walk barefoot across a sandy beach. This unique (and quirky) 3D film, shares snippets of dancer/choreographer Philippina “Pina” Bausch’s colorful life and her fascinating personal perspective on a variety…of joyful and challenging life issues.

For the challenging life issues that are referred to me by doctors and other health-care professionals, I offer numerous tools, including hypnotherapy. The tools I share often assist in lightening emotional loads. The good news is, I see a recurring gift that many clients receive after they’ve gone through this process of sorting through their burdens with me. Once a layer of the emotional Spring Cleaning is complete and they have clarified and compassionately addressed burdens that are not appropriately theirs to bear — a clearing appears. After they’ve created some emotional space and added breathing room, they then have an opportunity to invite more balance into their lives today.

This empowering process can be a great way for each of us to update our “internal environment” and continually address burdens we have no control over. When we dive in to release and renew both physically as well as emotionally, we are honoring who we are in this precious moment—mind, body, and spirit. Finally, from this recharged place we can declare that indeed we’ve accomplished another year of Spring Cleaning…inwardly and outwardly!

To receive Trina’s FREE newsletter “Transformational Tips for Mindful Living,” sign-up on her website: www.TrinaSwerdlow.com
Trina Swerdlow, BFA, CCHT, is a Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist, an artist, and the author of the 2-CD set, Weight Loss: Powerful & Easy-to-Use Tools for Releasing Excess Weight.
She is the author and illustrator of Stress Reduction Journal: Meditate and Journal Your Way to Better Health. Trina has a private practice in downtown Danville. She soulfully shares her creative approach to personal growth and passionately supports her clients in reaching their goals. You can reach her at: (925) 285.5759, or info@TrinaSwerdlow.com
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Certified Clinical Hypnotherapy services in California can be alternative or complementary to licensed healing arts, such as psychotherapy.

Market Watch – Time to Rebalance

Investor optimism has risen a bit lately and it is easy to see why. The world’s equity markets have rallied quite dramatically since October of last year. While such positive sentiment is by no means unanimous, optimism clearly is climbing. This is hardly a surprise given such strong gains over the last few months. Of course, there is considerable debate over the staying power of this bull market. I don’t know what the future holds, but I feel now would be a good time to consider rebalancing your accounts.

The process of rebalancing forces an investor to sell high and buy low. Many people recommend rebalancing on regular intervals. Some say to do it at least annually and some as often as quarterly. I believe it is better to let the market tell you when to rebalance. I preferred to rebalance after we have seen a sustained period of either strong or weak returns in the markets. This helps keep the risk level of your portfolio consistent with your plan and avoids being overexposed to stocks before a downturn or being underexposed during an upturn. Think of the markets like you do your health.  When are you most likely to catch a cold? After a sustained period of good health. When do you get better? After you have been sick a while. Markets are not much different.

Let’s take a simple example from the last few months; suppose an investor’s portfolio stood at $1,000,000 just a few months ago on October 1, 2011 and on that day the investment mix was right at their risk targeted allocation of 60% stocks (represented by the S&P 500 Index) and 40% bonds (represented by the Barclay’s Capital Aggregate Bond Index). By the end of February 2012, only five short months, the strong relative performance of stocks over bonds would have increased the stock allocation to 64% and resulted in a portfolio value of $1,132,168. That’s an over 13% gain in just five months! While it is always nice to enjoy positive returns like this in a short period of time, it is also an appropriate time to consider rebalancing. Taking profits on the stock portion and reallocating it to lower risk bonds in this example would make sense for an investor concerned with maintaining a consistent risk level in their portfolio.

Clearly, it is important to review your mix of assets from time to time. Rebalancing the mix back to an appropriate level will help an investor guard against being over or under exposed to equities at the wrong time. This is especially important at moments like now when optimism has increased and everything is beginning to feel fine.

Damien helps individuals invest and manage risk. He is a Certified Financial Planner™ professional and a principal of Walnut Creek Wealth Management. These are the views of Damien Couture, CFP® and should not be construed as investment advice. Rebalancing may be a taxable event, before taking any specific action be sure to consult with your tax professional. All information is believed to be from reliable sources; however we make no representation as to its completeness or accuracy. Not all recommendations are suitable for all investors. Each investor must consider their own goals, time horizon and risk tolerance. Your comments are welcome. Damien can be reached at 925-280-1800 x101 or Damien@WalnutCreekWealth.com.

 

Flashback Fashion

It’s an ‘80s flashback! I can almost hear my favorite Wham song, “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go,” while eating frozen yogurt with my college BF (boyfriend) who is now my H (husband) of 25 years. The spring trends of 2012 have taken me back to my “bang-wall” days—a serious fashion déjà vu.  So, what do you do when trends come back, and in some cases, haunt you?  Follow these tips to successfully navigate the ‘80s AGAIN:

Photo 1

*Wear ‘80s trends in small doses, especially if this is your second time around.  Bold floral prints are everywhere this season—jackets, tops, bottoms and accessories. Start with one bold piece, and complete the look with modern elements (photo 1), not a jumpsuit featuring a head-to-toe ‘80s garden of delight (photo 2).

Photo 2

*Color, especially neon, was a must-have in the ‘80s, and it’s back like crazy. My favorite take on color this season are jeans in every shade of the rainbow. Kelly green jeans (photo 3) are a fun and easy way to put POP in your wardrobe. A hint about neon: make sure the color compliments your skin tone. Otherwise, a girl can appear less chic, more sick.

 

*Lace is back. This time, it’s more lady-like and polished than the edgy way Madonna wore it thirty years ago. And, if you prefer an even more classic look, a lace top (photo 4) with colorful pencil pants will give you more of an Audrey Hepburn vibe. Who doesn’t love that?

Photo 3

*Lastly, do not grab your old clothes out of the attic (or heaven forbid, your closet!) and wear them again. Over the course of the last 30 years, life experience has taught me one thing…I am not a girl anymore. As much as I would love to fit into my acid wash Guess jeans with the ankle zipper, I know that my sense of style has matured. And I like it! However, I will enjoy watching my 20-year-old daughter find her way through the colors, floral prints, and over-sized, off-the-shoulder tops, and she’ll emerge just like I did, with her true personal style intact.

Photo 4

If I see you wearing a scrunchie, I’ll have to “Get Physical!”

For style tips and trends, go to Carolyn Rovner’s blog at C2style.com/blog and subscribe by clicking the “subscribe” button on the right side of the page.

Lessons From A Scandal

The Dirty Dui/P.I. Moms/Contra Costa Narcotics Scandal just won’t quit.

In the latest bomb a former New York state deputy turned actor, who moonlighted as a private eye (or was it the other way around?), went on the record with the San Francisco Chronicle talking about how he is the informant in the case against Butler and disgraced former county narcotics commander Norman Wielsch. The two and other law enforcement associates are accused of running a soup-to-nuts criminal enterprise that would make Harvey Keitel’s character in The Bad Lieutenant blush.

I never knew Chris Butler other than having a professional relationship with him over the phone and talking a couple times a year. I knew him as a competent, professional private investigator skilled at both video recording and setting up video systems. Let’s just say he had advanced technical and investigative abilities.

Butler used his skills to sting unlicensed private investigators, shown by ABC-7’s investigative team. In a case where we had a common target, he used an undercover investigator to get a covert recording of a psychic offering to make cancer go away if she was paid hundreds of dollars.

The first time I ever thought something was odd with Butler was when The East Bay Express ran a glowing profile of him and his firm in May 2007. The article was called “The Honeytrappers” and it detailed how Butler used attractive female operatives to catch cheating husbands. Many of my professional colleagues looked sideways at this. And yes, there was some professional jealousy. But most private eyes feel uncomfortable using undercover agents in garden variety domestic cases. (A cheater is going to cheat, it just might take a few times to catch him or her.)

One potential red flag in the Honeytrappers article was that it said he had been on the Antioch Police Department but just resigned and cashed out his pension to start his agency. Most private investigators who are former law enforcement come to the private sector after long, long careers. Some of the others perhaps were forced out. I don’t know the circumstances of Butler leaving the force, where he had worked with co-defendant Wielsch.

Another of Butler’s marketing tools was the “P.I. Moms” for a reality show. It seemed that he was everywhere. Butler had all the tools and abilities to make an excellent living doing corporate or legal investigations but is alleged to have engaged in: running a brothel, selling methamphetamine and other drugs and the now infamous “Dirty Duis” where his undercover agents drank with subjects who drove off and were arrested by Butler’s associates in various area police departments. It seemed like he was bent on being a television star.

As private investigators, we are business people. I admit, I have an ego and like some publicity. It’s just that serious private dicks don’t want to be too well-known. The Chris Butler story is a cautionary one about ambition. He was using methods that amount to short cuts. If a case is going to be in a court it’s all about having the moral high ground and getting evidence legally. Any client such as a lawyer, a business or a private party should know their investigator and how they operate. Ignorance is not bliss.

Beauty News – Burberry Cosmetics are Stylish and Elegant

Burberry fashions have always been a favorite of mine. It is a luxury brand with a distinctive British sensibility, all while being effortless, trendy, and classic. I love their structured designs and beautifully tailored trenchcoats. Their stylish look is well known and has been seen on A list models and celebrities worldwide.

Inspiration is everywhere, you just have to look for it and, of course, have the openness to be inspired. Christopher Bailey, Chief Creative Officer of Burberry has continued to keep the design fresh and innovative with a new concept…Cosmetics! Burberry Beauty was born. In 2010, Burberry Beauty celebrated its worldwide launch with a gorgeous campaign shot in London featuring British models Lily Donaldson, Nina Porter and girl du jour Rosie Huntington-Whiteley.

Early this Spring I was asked to do a review of the Spring Burberry Beauty Collection, since it was launching at Nordstrom in March, I was intrigued and honored. I find for myself that the worlds of art and fashion often collide, inspiring me daily, sometimes consciously, sometimes by happenstance. When I received the package of the beauty collection I was excited about the cosmetic treats and opened it with curiosity. The packaging was gorgeous with the iconic Burberry check stamped on each of the glossy metallic beauty tools. As I opened the lipsticks I noticed the magnetic closure and beautifully handcrafted embossed check they engraved on the lipstick as inspired by core Burberry icons and fabric details.

The new spring lip colors are very neutral and soft as reflected in their clothing line. I liked the fact that you can add them to your existing cosmetics and it will enhance them. Anyone could wear these hues with confidence; yet have their own personal style. They are subtle, breathable, lightweight and modern. The lip-glosses are nice and hydrating and have a cute glossy metal engraved at the top. The Nude Rose lip-gloss was a hit with all the girls at The Rouge; it looked natural yet different on everyone.

When you’re out on the town wearing your Burberry trenchcoat, slide out your Burberry Beauty lip-gloss and be oh-so-chic with your new up-to-date British style. Now all I need is a Burberry Trenchcoat and a Burberry cosmetic bag to go with my new lip-gloss!

Timeless, Elegant and Classic = Burberry

Find a Place for Joy

Native American PaintingHave you ever felt guilty doing something you enjoy? You know the feeling — I’m doing “X” but I should be doing “Y.” I’m working on my quilt but I really should be working on next month’s budget forecast. I’m reading (or writing) another chapter when I really should be studying for next week’s test. I’m going for a bike ride when I really should be cleaning out the garage.

To one degree or another, we all share in a day to day struggle to manage our time (or more accurately, our actions) in terms of “must-dos,” “should-dos,” “want-to-dos,” and “like-to-dos.” Time management gurus tell us that if we are grounded in what we value most, managing time is simply a matter of dividing our activities into categories like urgent, important, trivial and useless.

As many people likely define their highest values in terms of things like family or duty to God or country, these are expressed in terms of a hierarchy of responsibilities. For example, because one places a high value of providing for their family’s physical needs, they spend a great deal of time working in some career or job. While this is all very natural and I won’t suppose to know what you value most, I do believe we are sometimes prone to under-valuing essential parts of our character that contribute much to our humanity—those parts of us that are emotion, creativity and artistic expression.

Our dramatic cover and the accompanying article about Native American artist, John Balloue reminds us that there is so much more to life than our “should dos.” What are the things that enrich our life experience? What contributes significantly to joy and fulfillment for ourselves and others?

My message this month is simple: regardless of what you consider to be most important, forget about feeling guilty. Find a place in your schedule for joy and artistic expression. In your own way you will be contributing to the richness of life’s experience for yourself and for everyone around you.

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