Pewter Angels ~ A Review

Fifteen year-old Henry is a simple kid, but when he catches a glimpse of Jenny walking towards the country store his life changes forever.

Jenny just moved in down the road from Henry and he is instantly struck by her beauty and poise.  Henry jumps on his bike and follows Jenny to Mr. Engelmann's store where he blunders and trips.  Mr. Engelmann's kind nature and gentle personality helps the two and soon Henry finds himself, not only in love, but employed - Mr. Englemann is aging with a sick wife, so Henry feels he should help out after school and on weekends.  Little does he or Mr. Engelmann know this is about to have a very profound effect on the whole town.

Do you believe in guardian angels?  Pewter Angels is a must-read book about young love and self-discovery.  The author, Henry Ripllinger, has woven his own real-life experiences into a thought-provoking and magical tale.

This is one of the best books I've read this year - and I read a lot!  I can't wait until book two comes out.  Will Jenny and Henry find their way back to each other after Jenny's parents rip them apart?

Bravo to Ripplinger for weaving a story that not only speaks to the heart, but speaks to our very souls.

Check out Henry Ripplingers web site for more information on Pewter Angels and his other works of art and literature.

Draw Plus Science

Enhance Science Learning through Art Activities

Does your child love to draw?  Does your child love science?  Draw Plus Science, by Freddie Levin,  is an unique book that lets your child learn about basic science and breaks down the drawing process to the simple basics.

This book is based on concepts which include;

• Classification
• Measuring and Recording
• Life Cycles
• Seasons
• Variety in Nature
• Adaptations
• Inherited Traits
• Characteristics of Organisms

This would be a great educational tool, as well as a fun way to learn to draw and to discover.

Draw Plus Science is available on Amazon

8 Sure Fire Ways to Fail

America continues to be the world’s largest economy and boasts the lion share of global billionaires. In fact, there were reportedly 442 billionaires in America in 2012—the nationality majority of the record 1,426 people who have earned this laudable distinction around the world.  When considering the staggering success only an elite few attain in business, it begs the question “what do these billionaires know that the rest of us don’t?” And, as importantly, “how can we avoid failure as we aspire to achieve career success of any measure?”

“To achieve a notable amount of success at anything and certainly a notable measure of wealth, you must become a specialist at what you do. And, you must ‘do what you do‘ better than anyone else,” notes international business mogul Paul LeJoy.   “You must become indispensible—the go-to person because your results are superior.  In working towards this objective it is important employ a specific combination of essential elements that, combined, will make you a force to be reckoned with.”

With this in mind, LeJoy offers these 8 pitfalls to avoid to assist the proverbial 99% in their quest for success:

1) Short-sightedness: Every successful person at some point in their lives had a vision for what “could be,” and set out in relentless pursuit of their dream. From Thomas Edison to Steve Jobs and countless success stories in between, visionaries are filled with a passion and purpose that drives them every day.  Those who are short-sighted and unmindful of future consequences of their efforts, both the good and the bad, are more likely to fail than those who are thoughtful and perceptive in their approach. 

2) Inaction: Have a vision or a goal? The first step is to write down along with objectives and action steps related thereto. Now you’ve taken initiative, which is the critical first step to achieving success. Post it your vision statement in your bedroom, bathroom, office. Share it with others. And, be sure to follow your action steps. By taking these minor steps, you make yourself accountable and become the master of your destiny. Take quantum action and you will surely have a breakthrough. Or, find contentment with the status-quo and, well, remain there.

3) Contentment: You may have the vision. You may write it down. You may have shared it with others, but without passion, that vision will likely wither. Passion for what you seek to accomplish should be almost palpable to the extent that others can see and feel your drive.  The key is to match your vision with something you can be truly passionate about. Something that will keep you engaged every moment of every work day to bring you one step closer to the measure of success that you personally desire. Or, approach your job with a lackluster attitude and suffer the inevitable ominous consequences. 

4) Instability: Many have vision and passion, but lack the self-discipline required to stay the course. The pain of living a life of discipline is less than the pain of regret for what “could have been if.” Those who are self-disciplined motivate themself to continue with their action steps and persevere amid adversity, asserting sheer willpower over their more base desires and instincts to give up or turn attentions to something more enjoyable in the moment.  This requisite self-control will channel emotions, behavior, and desires toward obtaining the reward of success and, as importantly, to avoid the punishment of failure.

5) Doubt: You have the vision and you take action to write it down. You may even embellish that vision with passion and be quite disciplined in your approach. However, without the will to endure you may not get too far. Life and work can be hard and even cruel. Remember, the race is not for the swift but rather those who persevere. Rather than allowing doubt to seep in and poison the process, you owe it to yourself to remain confident in your vision and your methodologies to get you there. Sure, you can adapt as needed along the way, but always know that success will ultimately be yours.

6) Going it Alone: No one is an island and there's strength in numbers. A mastermind group, coach or mentor is an excellent way to get motivated. Meeting regularly can be a great boost to your morale and provide new perspectives on your approach. The Internet makes it extraordinarily easy to find a coach or mentor and join a mastermind group that can help propel your vision to new heights and facilitate invaluable networking opportunities.

7) Dishonesty: While it sounds cliché, honesty is indeed the best policy in business. Integrity is of paramount importance for those seeking to find and sustain long-term success. True success comes when you are a person of your word, when you have a pure conscience, and when you have not cheated others on your way to the top.  Dishonesty has a tendency to sneak back up on you causing far more problems than the risk was work taking in the first place.

8) Arrogance: Humility, like patience, hard work and integrity, is a virtue. So, when you finally reach your destination of success, when your vision becomes a reality, do not forget your humble beginnings and all those who helped you to get to the top of the hill.  Extend an attitude of gratitude and thankfulness. There is no such a thing as a self-made millionaire. People get there because others helped them get there.

“If you have a vision, passion, take action, are determined and disciplined; if you get a coach or mentor; get in the right environment; and are honest and humble you be well positioned to achieve your dream...whatever that may be,” Paul says.
About the ExpertPacific Realty Partners Founder and Principal Paul LeJoy is a revered real estate investor and top business building expert who has earned the reputation as a motivational leader in helping others duplicate his success and create wealth.   LeJoy believes it is impossible to be poor in America, and he speaks on topics such as being successful with real estate and how anyone with the passion and desire can create wealth in America, regardless of their situation.  Among other distinctions, LeJoy is currently one of the top 20 REO Brokers in the San Francisco Bay Area and considered a top expert in the real estate industry at large.  LeJoy’s success in real estate is empowered by his business skills and no-excuses approach to success.   LeJoy may be reached online at www.LejoySolutions.com.

The Sun Did Come Out for Sunny the Shaggy Star of Annie

 

It's a barking great show!  Annie came up from the comic pages to a Broadway hit with it's first big time production in 1977.  Many girls have played the spunky role of Annie, including Sarah Jessica Parker.  She was just 14 when she adorned the stage in her fiery red locks and big voice in 1979.  However, her playful, lovable mutt Sandy should also share in the limelight.

Animal lover and trainer, William (Bill) Berloni, also got his start at just 19 years-old on the first Annie theatrical production.  Berloni, knows the ins and outs of this tricky trade.and lets us in on some of the details;

“Up until Annie, there had never been an animal that played a character in a play,” said Berloni. “No one thought that you could train an animal to do the same thing eight times a week. You could do a film with an animal, but not a theatrical event. But we were young and naive and we didn’t know that, so what I devised was a way that they [the dogs] would look forward to coming to the theatre.”

Currently, director James Lapine has once again resurrected Annie to the big stage with a newly turned 12-year-old, Lilla Crawford, as the feisty Annie and a newcomer to the stage, Sunny, playing the role of her shaggy tagalong pet pal, Sandy.  

When the perfect pup was required for this onstage musical, Berloni once again turned to the pound to find his next big shaggy star.  It was a good thing for Sunny who was only two days away from euthanization when Berloni snatched her up and began her training for Sandy.

However, taking a dog from shelter to star isn't always an easy task.  Berloni shares his insights and secret of being one of the best in his field;

“I think what differentiates me from most of my contemporaries, other animal trainers, is that I don’t demand or force the animals to do anything. I don’t think any of us have the right to dominate anything else. When you think about the lead, dominance, all of that is about man controlling nature. And I never wanted to do that with animals. I use positive reinforcement to create a situation where the animal wants to do something,” said Berloni. “That can come in the shape of a treat, or a ball, or it can be a hug and a kiss -whatever motivates an animal the most is what we’ll use.”

However, before Sunny's big debut, Sandy was played by Mikey.  A source close to Berloni tells us; "Mikey was on tour for 4 years.  He was neglected for 2 years when we found him in a pen in a backyard."  

Annie is a huge hit, so it's only fitting that Pedigree would want to be involved.  Annie partnered with Pedigree Food for Dogs to raise $1 million through the “See the Show, Help a Dog” initiative. Through Dec. 31, 2013, for each ticket purchased for a showing of Annie, Pedigree with donate $2 to the Pedigree Foundation, a non-profit organization that provides grants to shelters and rescue groups in an effort to find furrever homes for some of the four million dogs who find themselves in the shelter system each year.  A great show goes to a great cause!

Sunny isn't the only rescued dog that has found its way into the Hollywood elite.  Berloni's assistant gives us more information; "Toto from the Wizard of Oz, the chihuahua's from Legally Blonde and the bulldog from Legally Blonde" have all been rescued pooches gaining notability for their furry talents.

So what happens to these lovable pouches when they retire?

They go to a big farm in Connecticut.  Truly!  Berloni and his wife, Dorothy, care for dogs, cats, horses, llamas, a donkey and a pony.  "He's not just a trainer, he takes them all in as his family."

Fortunately, many many animals have found their way into the Berloni family over the years, in fact, "the number is too big to count."  

Even after the curtain closes on Annie, Bill Berloni and his handlers will continue to rescue tossed-away animals of all species and sizes in shelters, humane societies and rescues for Broadway and off-Broadway, regional tours, theatres, special events the New York City Ballet, motion pictures, television and commercials.

For more information, check out Bill's website at; http://www.theatricalanimals.com/