Brunch 4 Stars!

644 N Orleans, Chicago

Great breakfast and brunch spot. Try the red velvet and banana pancakes or the Chicago skillet. Delish! Open til 3.

Magnificent Mile Lights Festival Tonight! 5 Stars!

Chicago Magnificent Mile Lights Festival tonight 5:30 -7pm.  Concerts throughout the day.  Fireworks at 6:55pm at Michigan/Chicago River.

Also Navy Pier Fireworks tonight at 9pm.

Kickoff of Holiday Season Chicago Style.  I Love it!

More info @http://magnificentmilelightsfestival.com/index.php 

Today's Insight

"Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose," Steven Paul Jobs

Life of Steve Jobs

Will 2012 happen in 2011?

Make your own decision.

Today's Insight

It's going to hurt either way, so you might as well do it right  


Thaddeus Rego


These are the words I heard from my fitness expert as the burn from the abdominal circuit had kicked in and I struggled to complete my set of bicycles. The quote stuck with me because it was true then and I realized it is true about life in general.

No matter the choices we each make in life at some point we are bound to experience some form of hurt, physical or emotional.  We have a choice as to how we will react to the hurt and what we will take away from it.  I choose to acknowledge the hurt as temporary and not reflective of my true nature and know that if I move through life challenges in the right way I only grow stronger.

Today's Insight

I have learned silence from the talkative, tolerance from the intolerant, and kindness from the unkind. Yet, strange, I am ungrateful to these teachers.



Kahlil Gibran

My Grandmother Died, I feel something...

My paternal grandmother made her transition yesterday (my stepfather's mother).  I know our spirits are eternal and only her human body has perished.  She is truly free, enveloped in peace, love, and wholeness.  Still I have been feeling something all day.  I can't put a name to it.  As I made travel plans and informed my employer and others who needed to know I'd be out of town, I felt something inside.  I have not cried, because I know the truth of her life.  It is not sadness.  She had her 95th birthday just last week.  It was a long-life with lots of love.  Yet I feel something.... 

My guess is I need to do some forgiveness work.  Forgiving myself and releasing that I could have been a better granddaughter - called more frequently, visited more frequently, sent more pictures, just been better.  I love my grandmother and appreciate all she did to support me and my siblings throughout our lives. I am thankful for the love and pride I know she always carried for me.  I am thankful for knowing her and I am thankful for the peace she is now.  So there it is, I feel forgiven and thankful.  I love you Grandma.  Talk to you later.

Koran by Heart: 5 Stars!

The HBO documentary "Koran by Heart" is excellent: 5 Stars!

The movie follows several students from different countries who participated in the annual contest in Cairo in which Muslim children recite the Koran. As inspiring and uplifting as watching the youth prepare and participate in the National Spelling Bee in the United States.

You get a glimpse of the background of each student's culture, education, and parental influence. Great film that should leave you both smiling and thinking. Great to watch with children.

Today's Insight

Thankful for all that is my life, its continuous expansion, and the eternal support and supply of the source of all!

Tv & Movies

Finally saw King's Speech. 5 Stars! Beautiful cinematography, great acting, & witty!

Also caught up on the recent original Stars & HBO series Camelot & Game of Thrones. Stories of Kings, Queens, betrayal, loyalty, love, lust, fear, courage, superstition, and religion. 3.5 Stars!

Chicago Festivals This Weekend

• Chicago Blues Festival (FREE)
•  Ribfest Chicago
• Party at St. Mike's
• Neon Marshmallow Music Festival
• Old Town Art Fair
• Wells Street Art Festival
• Andersonville Midsommarfest

 Get details at http://chicago.metromix.com/events/article/chicago-festivals-2011/2450230/content 

 

 

Palm Beach Oyster Bar

Spoto's Oyster Bar in Palm Beach, FL: 4 Stars! Oyster's are fresh & delicious. Vibe is Florida casual chic. Outside seating available with a scenic view of PGA blvd near the Upscale Palm Beach Gardens Mall.

Today's Insight

What are you doing today to embody your vision for your life? Me, I am deciding my schedule for today & knowing all is blessed & easy.

Breakout Kings on A&E: 4 Stars!

“Breakout Kings” follows U.S. Marshals Charlie Duchamp (Laz Alonso) and Ray Zancanelli (Domenick Lombardozzi) as they form a special task force composed of the three most elusive convicts Ray ever captured: Lloyd Lowery (Jimmi Simpson), a former child prodigy and behaviorist/psychiatric expert whoexcels in psychoanalysis; Shea Daniels (Malcolm Goodwin), an ex-gangbanger who knows how to work the system, both in prison and on the street; and Erica Reed (Serinda Swan), a sexy expert tracker who learned her trade from her bounty hunter father. Charlie and Ray also employ the services of Julianne Simms (Brooke Nevin), a civilian who acts as the “funnel” for the group – all information, tips and data go through her.  (See http://www.aetv.com/breakout-kings/about/)


I love this show! Check it out On Demand or online.

J Bistro, Chicago: 4 Stars!

Chicago South siders come out to J Bistro (ignore J&J sign outside); 4 Stars!, 9836 S Western @ 99th next to Subway. 50 cent wings, $2.50 domestic drafts during Bulls Game. Sunday dinner today smothered chicken, garlic mashed potatoes, fresh sautéed green beans. 4 Stars!

Ruth's Chris 5 Stars!

I always love a Ruth's Chris meal!

Today's Insight

My intention for today is Gratitude ! I am thankful for this continuos present moment and all that this gift is.

At The Movies

Jumping the Broom: 3.5 Stars! It's a funny romantic comedy with good acting & not entirely predictable.

Thor: 3.5 Stars! Go see in Real 3D, this movie is actually enhanced by the 3D effect. Great action sequences & costumes. Good & generally fun.

Fast Five: 4 Stars! Awesome action thrill ride & very funny. Great to see all the actors in one movie. And who doesn't love Vin Diesel & The Rock (who is super huge again in this movie) on the same screen?!

Today's Insight

What other people think of me is none of my business!

Love This Song, Great Lyrics!

Today's Insight

"I am the only shadow that blocks my light."

I heard this from one of the Top Chef Allstars contestants. Don't hide your light!

My Quick Take on The Wisdom Teaching Islam

Islam

Why

I choose to write my thoughts about Islam for several reasons.   One, although it’s the world’s second largest religion, until recently I knew very little about it.  Two, Islam has received so much attention in America in the last ten years, as a result of the events on September 11, 2011.  Three, during my recent trip to Egypt I visited the Mosque of Mohammad Ali and I had my first formal education about Islam, and was completely surprised by what I discovered and how it affected me spiritually.  I saw my soul.

The Basics

In that Mosque in Egypt I learned the the very basic fact that Islam is a religion,  Muslims are people that follow the principles of Islam and Arab is a culture.  It seems I should have known this, but I admit I had used the words interchangeably.  Islam is the belief that there is one God called Allah and Muhammed is it’s Prophet.  I love the etymology and meaning of the word Islam.  Islam means “submission” or “surrender” and is derived from the root “slm”(1).

  Practically, Islam is the belief that there is only Allah and that man should submit/surrender to it’s will and follow the word of Allah.  The teachings of Islam, as revealed to Muhammad the Prophet (circa 570-632) as the word of Allah through the Angel Gabriel, are contained in the Qur'an. 

The primary principles of Islam are the Six Articles of Faith.  Generally they are the following:

1. Belief there is only one Eternal, Infinite, Perfect, Supreme, Loving God, the Creator of All
2. Belief in Angels
3. Belief in Scriptures/Holy Books as the word of God revealed to messengers
4. Belief in prophets/messengers of God from Adam to Muhammad
5. Belief in a Day of Judgment and resurrection for all humans
6. Belief in Al Qadar, Divine Predestination,(2) but that humans have free will.

In Egypt I first learned some detail about about the actual practices of a Muslim, which are the Five Pillars of Islam.  

1. Faith (Shahadah). Statement of Faith “There is no god, but Allah, and Muhammad is the Prophet of Allah.”
2. Prayer (Salah). Pray five times daily - dawn, noon, afternoon, sunset, and night.
3. Charity (Zakah). Give 2.5% of annual savings to charity or those in need.
4. Fasting (Sawm). Fasting during the month of Ramadan from sunrise to sunset.
5. Pilgrimage (Hajj). Annual journey to Makkah, Saudi Arabia at least once in a lifetime, for Muslims who can afford it.

It’s Application to My Life

I have always known that the violent actions taken by individuals in the name of God are never representative of one who believes in and surrenders to God (no matter the name).  I know that the wisdom teaching of Islam and the Qur’an are absolutely opposite to the violent actions taken by some humans who call themselves Muslims (followers of Islam).  I have most of the same fundamental beliefs of Muslims.  I too believe there is one God that is supreme to all, loving, all providing, perfect, all knowing, infinite, eternal, creator of All.  I too believe that God does not favor one being over another. I agree that knowing truth is to know that there is only one God and God is the only power in life, and in what I call my life.  I too thankfully surrender/submit to that power because it is infinitely and eternally all good.  To me, the word Islam sums-up my call as a mystic,  which is to know, submit and surrender to the reality of my oneness with God through my actions (mental and physical) and active spiritual practices.(3)  A mystic is one who realizes and practices the truth of their Oneness with God.  One who knows God is within and that every human, animal, vegetable, mineral is an individual expression of God.  As a mystic I am conscious of the I Am that I Am, through me as me.

⁽¹⁾ See also http://quranicteachings.co.uk/islam-meanings.htm The root of the word Islam is s-l-m (seen-laam-meem), which leads to the following meanings:

• to be in sound condition, well, without a blemish
• to be safe and sound, unharmed, unimpaired, intact, safe, secure, in peace
• to be unobjectionable, blameless, faultless, certain, established, clearly proven (fact)
• to be free (from defects, fault, imperfection, blemish or vice) [particularly, with the preposition 'min']
• to escape (from a danger)

The word has a much wider meaning than mere peace and also involves prosperity, good health, wholeness and completeness in every way.

⁽²⁾ See http://www.islam-guide.com/frm-ch3-16.htm  (The belief in Divine Predestination includes belief in four things: 1) God knows everything.  He knows what has happened and what will happen.  2) God has recorded all that has happened and all that will happen.  3) Whatever God wills to happen happens, and whatever He wills not to happen does not happen.  4) God is the Creator of everything.)

⁽³⁾ Other Sources: http://www.quran.or.kr/Islam/1_3.html, http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/cultural/religion/islam/islam.html, http://www.islam-guide.com/frm-ch3.htm, http://www.islamicbulletin.org/newsletters/issue_24/beliefs.aspx

Neonu's Insite Blog Update

Expect more regular postings on my thoughts, experiences, and InSite's.  Thank you for your support