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| | A. Cynthia, my beautiful bride, and I wanted to say ... | | |
B. We both VERY MUCH APPRECIATED hearing from so many readers who responded to last week's issue about my Parkinson's-like symptoms.
Many of you offered helpful suggestions, encouragement, and even prayers. All were most welcome!
For an update on my condition, see Sect. 1C
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C. BLAINE'S HEALTH UPDATE
As some of you may have read, I've been experiencing Parkinson's-like symptoms involving walking, balance, coordination, and speech.
Fortunately, thanks to some cancellations, I was able to see the movement disorder neurologist I wanted, Dr. James Patton of Asheville Neurology Specialists, much sooner than expected. Several people had highly recommended him, including my primary care physician, Dr. Michael Weizman. I was impressed with Dr. Patton's thoroughness, knowledge, and friendly manner.
Dr. Patton described my condition as Parkinsonism, meaning I'm experiencing symptoms similar to Parkinson's disease, although the exact diagnosis hasn't yet been established. I've started taking carbidopa/levodopa 25/100 and have begun physical therapy with Mary Martin of CarePartners, who has worked with Cynthia. I'm very impressed with her, too!
So overall, I'm doing pretty damn good!
Stay tuned for future updates. And thanks so much for your concern and encouragement.
| | D. We had a fun time at "Hop to the Movies 2026," the annual fundraiser run by Arms Around ASD, where we were joined by Board president Rich Johnston. | | E. Cynthia and I also took advantage of early voting. | | F. I enjoyed celebrating my friend Ronald Rand's birthday at Green Sage. | | |
G. And I had fun at the following play ...
REVIEW: "DRACULA: A COMEDY OF TERRORS" | A Howlingly Funny Romp!
By Blaine Greenfield | BLAINESWORLD Chief Encouragement Officer
Hendersonville Theatre | October 9-25, 2026
MY RECOMMENDATION: I caught the second-to-last performance of "Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors," and what fun it was! I'm glad I had the opportunity to see this entertaining production.
Written by Gordon Greenberg and Steve Rosen, this 90-minute comedy turns Bram Stoker's famous vampire story upside down. Think Mel Brooks meets Monty Python, with plenty of slapstick, double entendres, and actors playing multiple roles.
To the best of my knowledge, this is the first local production of the show.
A NOTE ABOUT THE CAST: After publishing this review, I learned that three understudies performed at the Saturday matinee I attended. The regularly scheduled actors were attending a wedding. Charles Tyler Bender filled in for Anthony Maranto, Kevin O'Leary for Jack Stanford, and Maggie Gardner for Lucy Hester. All three were so good that I didn't even realize they were understudies! I've since updated this review to recognize the performers I actually saw.
To read my complete review, click:
https://conta.cc/4dSYFXK
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H. I hosted two BLAINESWORLD podcasts this past week.
10.22.2026 - Pripo Teplitsky (left)--Therapist/Counselor/Coach
10.23.2026 - Deborah Silverstein (right)--Singer/Songwriter
To listen to or see them, click:
www.blainesworld.net
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I. Announcing this week's ....
**** BLAINESWORLD BEST AWARD *****
It goes to Dr. James Patton of Asheville Neurology Specialists (see Sect. 1C).
I had a feeling he was someone special when six different BLAINESWORLD readers recommended him.
When I first called for an appointment, I was told it might be several months before I could see him. Fortunately, I was placed on a cancellation list, and an opening became available just a few days later.
The system his office uses for scheduling cancellations is one of the best I've ever encountered.
And things only got better when Cynthia and I arrived.
Cynthia immediately noticed the lovely artwork throughout the office. What a refreshing change from the medical posters we usually see on doctors' walls!
Then came my appointment, which turned out to be one of the best medical visits I've ever had.
For starters, Dr. Patton saw me exactly on time. A rarity!
And he greeted us with an infectious smile. Another rarity!
He was friendly, thorough, and extremely knowledgeable. But what impressed me most was that he never made me feel rushed.
He patiently answered my many questions. In fact, he asked me TWICE if I had any others!
I went into the appointment feeling apprehensive. I left feeling informed, reassured, and genuinely cared for.
Isn't that how every patient should feel after visiting a doctor?
Congratulations, Dr. Patton, on receiving this week's BLAINESWORLD BEST AWARD!
For more information:
Asheville Neurology Specialists
731 Dogwood Road
Asheville, NC 28806
Telephone: 828-210-9300
Website: https://www.ashneuro.com/
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2. Cynthia's Corner
It's All About Connections
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Blaine and I spend a lot of time together. We go to doctors, plays, movies, restaurants, vet appointments, and all the other places life takes us.
What makes even the most ordinary outings interesting is that we love engaging with people. We smile, joke, ask questions, and see what happens.
The reactions are fascinating! Some people look at us as if to say, "Who ARE these people? I do not get them at all.” Others smile, joke back, and join right in. We never know what we're going to get!
Recently, we went to a very important appointment for Blaine with a movement-disorders neurologist, Dr. Patton. Naturally, we were a little apprehensive.
But the moment he walked into the room, we had a good feeling. His delightful shirt and bow tie were our first clues. Then came his infectious smile.
For the rest of this column, please click:
https://conta.cc/48fbjNi
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3. Invites
A. Here's an invitation from my good friend Brian Biro that I wanted to share:
Brian is helping launch a new book, "Our Future Is Kind," featuring inspiring stories from 25 authors around the world. Its mission is to encourage kindness and show how small acts can make a big difference.
The book launches on Friday, November 13, which happens to be World Kindness Day!
Brian is inviting readers to become part of the launch team. You can receive an advance PDF copy, purchase the book on November 13, write an Amazon review after reading it, and help spread the word.
For more information and to register as a launch partner, click:
https://bookprojects.lauradifranco.com/Our-Future-Is-Kind-launch-team
B. Last chance to enter ...
***** CONTEST #27 *****
One lucky reader will win an autographed copy of "Dying Matters: 8 Conversations That Can Change Your Life" by Janet Booth & Trish Rux.
To quote from the book description:
Talking about death isn’t easy — but it’s one of the most important conversations we can have. When we face the topic honestly, we learn what really matters: love, connection, and how we want to live the time we have. Dying Matters is an invitation to open up these conversations now, listen deeply, and find peace in the one thing we all share — the fact that life, in all its beauty, doesn’t last forever.
To enter the contest, send an email to: bginbc@aol.com and put CONTEST #27 in the subject line. In the body of your email, include your mailing address. All entries must be received before 9 p.m. on Monday, October 26.
C. Want to be a guest on my BLAINESWORLD podcast? It can now be seen on YouTube or you can listen to it on your favorite podcast player.
I typically feature people involved in theater, nonprofit organizations, and the arts, along with authors, performers, and others who are just downright interesting.
Even if you've been a guest before, I'd welcome the opportunity to speak with you again. I now tape via Zoom, usually in the early evening.
If you want to join me, let me know. Send an email to: bginbc@aol.com, if interested, and put WEBCAST in the subject line. And for more information, click:
https://www.blainesworld.net/
D. I'm back on Facebook after having been hacked. If we are not currently friends there (or if we lost contact because of the hack), please friend me by looking up: Blaine Greenfield. You'll see a picture of me in a black shirt with, naturally, my thumb up.
You can also find me by clicking:
https://www.facebook.com/blaine.greenfield.2025/
E. Are you interested in shows, movies, TV, etc.? ... If so, I encourage you to join a group I've formed on Facebook that's called Entertainment. To do so, all you need to do is follow the instructions when you click:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/245515070390413
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A. Thanks, Barbara Brady, for sharing the following terrific idea that she posted on her Facebook page:
Today is my BIRTHDAY!
And this year, I'm celebrating a little differently. Along with spending the day doing things that bring me joy and nourish my body and spirit, I want to spread some kindness to strangers.
And I'd LOVE to invite you to CELEBRATE WITH ME by doing ONE SMALL UNEXPECTED ACT OF KINDNESS FOR A STRANGER TODAY.
It doesn't have to cost anything. Offer a genuine compliment, make someone feel seen and appreciated, pay for someone's coffee, or simply take a moment to connect with someone you might otherwise pass by.
We never know what someone else is going through, or how much one small gesture might mean.
My birthday wish is to create a ripple of kindness that travels far beyond Estero, Florida.
If you participate, I'd love to hear what you did or how it felt!
LET'S MAKE OCTOBER 23 A DAY OF KINDNESS, CONNECTION, AND LOVE!
B. ARTICLES OF INTEREST
(1) What to Say When Someone Cuts in Line in Front of You
My two cents: Worth reading for recommendations on what to say--if you decide to say something.
https://time.com/article/2026/10/21/what-to-say-someone-cuts-in-line/?utm_source=beehiiv&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter-health-matters&_bhlid=7c21a652ff09e3a25e0cca01a1f438399ac19d02
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(2) What Is the Drawer Under Your Oven Actually For? Here’s How to Use It Properly
https://www.realsimple.com/what-the-bottom-drawer-of-your-oven-is-for-12175899
(3) You Might Want to Rethink Sleeping With Your Bedroom Door Open—Here’s Why
https://apple.news/AHiL9PCBsT_qRQccGF8Qnqw
(4) 9 Engaging, Uplifting Podcasts That Deserve a Spot on Your Playlist
https://nicenews.com/culture/engaging-uplifting-podcasts/?email=bginbc%40aol.com&lctg=315dce6e-66ec-48d9-b0ad-df7a875a1311&sub_level=L2&sub_source=email_daily&utm_campaign=3553565137&utm_content=email_daily&utm_medium=email&utm_source=21916585
NOTE: And lest you forget, there's the BLAINESWORLD podcast at:
www.blainesworld.net
C. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Here's last week's BLAINESWORLD #1572:
https://conta.cc/4dNfByK
In particular, see Sect. 4A for an article on how to get a better night's rest.
| | I used to live in the left column. Now I'm pretty comfortable in the right one. What about you? | | |
A. Films
(1) We enjoyed "I Am Patrick Swayze" (2019), a touching documentary that looks back at the life and career of the talented actor best known for "Dirty Dancing" and "Ghost." Through interviews with family, friends, and fellow actors, it offers a fascinating glimpse into the man behind the movies, including his personal struggles and enduring love for his wife, Lisa Niemi. On Amazon Prime.
NOTE: I've added this to my list of favorite films. If you'd like to get a copy of this list, send an email to: bginbc@aol.com and put FAVORITES in the subject line
(2) We were thoroughly enjoying "Animals," a gripping thriller starring Ben Affleck, Kerry Washington, and Gillian Anderson, about a kidnapping that turns a family's world upside down. It was heading toward a 4.5-star rating from us until the final 20 minutes, when an increasingly unbelievable series of events and a terrible ending ruined this film for us. On Netflix.
B. Book
I thoroughly enjoyed the audiobook "To Rescue the American Spirit: Teddy Roosevelt and the Birth of a Superpower," written and narrated by Bret Baier and published by HarperCollins. It's a fascinating account of Roosevelt's remarkable life, from his adventures in the American West to his presidency, revealing how his larger-than-life personality helped shape America into a world power.
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A. "Nobody Wants This," Season 3 (Netflix)
Netflix’s charming, opposites-attract romantic-comedy series starring Kristen Bell and Adam Brody returns with 10 new episodes, further exploring the unlikely relationship between an agnostic podcaster and a young rabbi.
B."Newlyweds" (Fridays at 8:30 p.m. on NBC)
This later-in-life romantic comedy features Téa Leoni and Tim Daly as a free-spirited middle school teacher (her) and a buttoned-up professor (him) who unexpectedly tie the knot after a whirlwind courtship.
C. "The One About Matthew Perry" (Netflix starting on Oct. 27)
A new three-part documentary explores the life and tragic early death of the "Friends" star, who died from a ketamine overdose in 2023.
D. "Final Table," Season 1
This 12-part Korean drama series set during a competition to determine the best Korean chef features three main characters: a renowned and established chef, his restaurant’s devoted floor manager and a young prodigy whose perfectionist ways could give him the edge.
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8. Joke 2
The Greatest Marketing Strategy Ever?
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A. The Turtles are arguably the greatest rock group of all time!
(1) Their recording of "Happy Together" proves it!
(2) As you may know, I welcome clips of them and/or others singing this classic song. For example, this week, you can hear the Dollyrots by clicking:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2skC5lVbxQ
NOTE: Feel free to submit your choices for the greatest recording artists, songs, or performances. I'll try to feature your suggestions in a future BLAINESWORLD.
B. VIDEO OF THE WEEK
Revealing 5 Secret Magic Tricks With Science
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhVEIeoadVk
C. And also check out these other clips at your convenience:
(1) Bon Jovi: "Livin' on a Prayer," one of my favorites!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDK9QqIzhwk
(2) Howard Smith Jr.: Hymns (10.25.2026)
https://www.facebook.com/hs.smith.73/videos/1150439107414685
(3) Neil Ratner Rock Doc: Tom Petty
https://www.facebook.com/reel/2627757630996433
(4) Thanks, Neil, for reminding me about "Refugee." Your many fans and friends can see it performed by clicking:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFnOfpIJL0M
(5) "All About That Bass" — Postmodern Jukebox European Tour Version
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLnZ1NQm2uk
D. Here's a website you might want to check out:
EEL SLAP — THE WORLD'S SILLIEST WEBSITE?
Have you ever wanted to slap somebody across the face with an eel?
Probably not. But now you can!
Simply move your mouse and watch what happens.
One of the most wonderfully pointless websites I've encountered. See for yourself by clicking:
https://eelslap.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
E. And don't forget to visit the BLAINESWORLD website:
https://www.blainesworld.net/
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REOPEN SOMETHING YOU ACCIDENTALLY DELETED
Accidentally delete a sentence, paragraph, or other text while typing?
Press Ctrl + Z to undo your last action.
Keep pressing it to undo additional changes.
This shortcut can be a lifesaver when you're writing an email or document. It works in many programs, although not everywhere.
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The pun is mightier than the hairline.
Thanks, Mercedes Armington, for sharing.
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A. Thanks, Tom Skerritt (1933–2026), for more than six decades of outstanding acting. He was best known for his roles in "MAS*H," "Alien," "Top Gun," and "Steel Magnolias," as well as his Emmy-winning portrayal of Sheriff Jimmy Brock in the television series "Picket Fences." With more than 170 film and television credits, he became one of Hollywood's most recognizable and respected character actors.
For more information about his life, click:
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/22/arts/television/tom-skerritt-dead.html
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B. Thanks, Felicity Green (1926–2026), for your career as a pioneering British fashion journalist who helped introduce the miniskirt to millions of readers during the swinging 1960s. As fashion editor of the "Daily Mirror," she championed new designers and made fashionable clothing more accessible to ordinary women. She also broke barriers in journalism, becoming the first woman appointed to the board of a major British newspaper publisher in 1973. For more information about her life, click:
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/20/style/felicity-green-dead.html?unlocked_article_code=1.LVE.vqFB.ql2ji7BpJ5C7&smid=url-share
| | This has me writing a note to myself, "Self, consider moving here to better fit in." | | PS. Make it a great week! | | | | |
