The Mountain Winery is so amazing. No matter where your seat it is it so small that you feel a very intimate connection with the people around you and the performer. I have seen Jewel there a few times, David Spade, and the ultimate combo of Ben Folds, Ben Lee and Rufus Wainwright. The opening acts, including Ben Lee usually will meet and greet fans and sign autographs. The venue overlooks all of Silicon Valley which is fairly breathtaking at night when it is all lit up. The concerts are always in summer when it is still warm enough that you don't need a jacket. You can hear birds and crickets between sets and you have the open sky and stars above the seating area. The buildings are all really pretty too, brick with ivy vines crawling up them in a very picturesque manner. They also serve high end snacks to help you feel a little like a yuppie. This includes wine, beer and fancy chocolate candies. I really miss living in the area.

I try to tell my students that the most important thing they have is their attitude. There are so many things in life that you have to do. If you can't get out of it, get into it! If you view everything with a positive and upbeat attitude, not only are you more likely to get something out of the experience, but you might enjoy yourself. (Or by telling yourself you are happy every day you might start to believe it.) If you approach each day with dread and negativity you are just going to be miserable, or create a self fulfilling prophecy. I really believe that life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react. We have an infinite opportunity to learn and grow each day. What a great way to go through life thinking that every day you create your experience. Every day you can wake up happy.

I think too often we worry and focus on all the things we do not have. If I had a penny for every time I have heard someone claim that life isn't fair, or mutter "why me?" I would be rich. I wish people would train themselves to think of how fortunate they are compared to those who don't have food or shelter or people who care for them. Think of how awful it would be to lose everything you had right now-possessions, job, family...and then think of how happy you would be to get it all back. We should try to have that appreciation every day instead of taking it for granted. Now if only I could practice what I preach each day and stop complaining about my spoiled complaining students.

I watched this movie when I was little at least once a week. I could recite it word for word. It is so fun and silly and really takes you back to childhood when riding your bike around and playing with the neighborhood kids was all you worried about. This should cheer up anyone. "I'm setting booty traps." "Ice cream? I smell ice cream!" "Hey you gguuuuyyyysss..."