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Robert Downey Jr - Iron Man
Robert Downey Jr. is one of the most extraordinary men in Hollywood, whose own story could well be the subject of a biopic. A decade ago, after falling in love with Susan Levin, the film producer who would later become his wife, he resurrected his career from the wasteland of drug addiction and has since become one of the most successful actors in the world. As the face of the billion-dollar Iron Man film franchise and its Avengers spin-off, the charismatic actor is living proof of the power of the Zen-like positive thinking that is the core of his spiritual renewal.
Downey's leap into the action film/blockbuster film career grew out of his becoming tired of playing in critically acclaimed films that "no one ever saw." Fate then intervened when he was given the chance to star in Iron Man, which earned a half-billion dollars in 2008 and gave him the bankability and prestige of his very own film franchise. Then came the Sherlock Holmes films, which gave the quixotic actor yet another studio tent pole on which to hang his hat. And finally The Avengers, which earned him a cool $50 million.
His new film is the indie comedy CHEF, directed by and starring his close friend, Jon Favreau, (who also helmed the first two Iron Man films). The film stars Favreau as a chef who swaps a successful career in a popular L.A. restaurant for a job running a food-truck in Miami, and in the process, tries to reconnect with his estranged family.
Robert Downey Jr., who turned 49 in April, and his wife Susan, 40, live in Los Angeles with their 2-year-old son, Exton, on a sprawling estate where Robert employs a staff that includes martial arts trainers, spiritual consultants, and a private chef. Robert also has a son, Indio, from his first marriage to Deborah Falconer.
ROBERT: I love it. I love being with Exton and trying to communicate with him on his level. It's not really different from how I remember being with my first son (Indio). It's great.
VSMARTY: Has raising your young son had any effect on your work?
ROBERT: I've slowed things down a bit, but I enjoy working and I know that work is the best form of therapy for me. After years of experience, I know that my mind takes me on strange trips when I spend too much time between films. It's always been the case that when I'm staying at home and my mind is not focused on a specific project that I get into trouble. I love to work hard and I like to think of myself as a soldier who earned his purple heart in battle and is ready to fight again. I love being able to work with talented people and spend 16 hours on a film set and then travelling around the world to promote my films. It's a very good life and work is the one thing I don't fear.
VSMARTY: Do you feel everything has come together in your life now?
ROBERT: What's really fascinating to me is that when I was a messed-up guy in my twenties, I could never have imagined myself as a comfortably married action movie guy in his forties, raising a young son and having this very mellow life. Of course, now I'm in the process of accepting the fact that I am that guy! (Laughs) I've figured out that I can still be a bit rebellious and independent-minded without being excessive and still feel that I have an interesting life.
VSMARTY: You've been living healthily for over a decade now. How do you keep on that path?
ROBERT: You have to learn to help yourself, grow up, and assume responsibility for your life. It's not a simple process. I've had a lot of psychiatrists tell me that "you can't do it alone," and so I've surrounded myself with good people to help me remain healthy and forward-looking. My wife Susan is the foundation of that process. Thanks to her I've been able to turn my life around in every sense. So this is a beautiful new chapter in my life and I've been able to bury most of my character defects and throw myself into a space where I take pleasure and joy in basic things. Susan has given me a structure for living and we love each other as much as any couple can be in love. We've always had this feeling that this is the big relationship and marriage for the rest of our lives, till death do us part. We take that responsibility seriously and I've become a better man because of my commitment to taking this journey together with her.
VSMARTY: How do you look upon the phenomenal success you've had in the Iron Man and Avengers films, not to mention Sherlock Holmes? Is it a form of sweet revenge against all the people who thought you were finished in Hollywood?
ROBERT: No. I've never looked at it that way. I'm firmly convinced that first you have to believe in yourself if you want others to believe in you, whether it's the big studios or the public. With time, I've become more confident and sure of myself and that's been of enormous benefit to me in every aspect of my life.
VSMARTY: In the Iron Man films, Tony Stark has difficulty sleeping. Do you ever have bouts of insomnia?
ROBERT: I sleep very well. When I rest my head on my pillow, I feel spiritually tranquil and happy, unless my wife is angry with me, which happens very rarely.
VSMARTY: Is your Tony Stark character in Iron Man a veiled extension of yourself?
ROBERT: (Laughs) A braver extension of myself. In certain situations I enjoy being able to engage in some bravado. When I first began getting into Tony Stark, I imagined him as having a Howard Hughes kind of boldness and arrogance. I also saw it as an opportunity to come up with a screen persona that would be a more dashing and bolder variation on my own nature. I saw him as a man with a lot of élan! I've always believed that you need to be ambitious in terms of your own expectations of who your best self can be. You can will yourself into becoming the kind of person you've always wanted to be. You can soar higher than you imagine!
VSMARTY: How close is Tony Stark to the real you?
ROBERT: There's a lot of me in him, but he's way cooler than I am. If I need to pick myself up and be a little more dashing in certain situations, I can channel Tony Stark. But I see the character as someone I was meant to play. When I was first offered the role, I had some long discussions with Stan Lee and I was 39 at the time. He told me that he had created the Iron Man comic 39 years ago. So Tony Stark and I were born at the same time. Now if that isn't a sign of destiny… (Laughs)
VSMARTY: Many people have compared your screen comeback as Phoenix-like?
ROBERT: It's a life comeback! But I love the metaphor of the Phoenix. I soared high when I first started making my mark as an actor and then I crashed and burned only to rise again. It's classical. The only thing that would ruin things is if I crashed and burned again. But I'm too proud of my family and what we have together to let that happen.
VSMARTY: How important has the Iron Man film franchise been to you?
ROBERT: There's no denying that Iron Man has put me in a position to many other things. I originally pursued the film because I had seen Keanu Reeves and Johnny Depp succeed with their own film franchises (The Matrix and Pirates movies) and I wanted my son (Indio) to see his dad in that kind of a movie. I wanted it to be the kind of movie you can take your kid to and explore the comic-book hero genre with a mix of escapism and intelligence. I'm also proud of the fact that I'm a leading man who can do major blockbusters and be that Harrison Ford kind of guy. It's not a bad place to be.
VSMARTY: You've been earning record salaries for your work in the Iron Man and Avengers films. Are you a tough negotiator?
ROBERT: I've learned a lot about the business side over the years, especially with Susan at my side. Everything changed on the Monday morning after the opening weekend for Iron Man in May 2008. My economic and professional status underwent a complete revolution and I've tried to understand how that works and make sure I maintain that stature and momentum. Susan and I have now begun developing our own projects together and that has resulted in the film, Judge, which will be released in the fall.
VSMARTY: You're renowned for improvising and not sticking to the script. What is behind that?
ROBERT: The goal is to make a well-written scene seem like it's improvised. Or to come up with things that you find in the room to use that you couldn't have known until you get into the real situation. Just try to improve things as you go along. I don't like to pretend. I try to use things in me and translate them into the situation and the character. So it always needs to run through my own veins, in a way.
VSMARTY: Does that make it more stressful when you're on the set and changing your dialogue as you go along?
ROBERT: No. That's where the art enters into the process. I'm really self-critical, and I've found that I do better work when I'm able to innovate and take advantage of the kind of inspiration that comes under the intensity and beauty of the moment where you're doing the scene and you've transformed into the character and are now speaking with his voice. I've worked that way ever since Jon Favreau and I did the first Iron Man together. The only thing that makes (improvisation) more complicated is when the script is so well written that I have less space and reason to innovate and depart from the printed word. But I look at the script as a Chinese menu, where I can pick and choose and make it the best meal possible.
VSMARTY: Jon Favreau has been a great friend, as well as your director on the first two Iron Man films. Was it fun working with him on Chef?
ROBERT: There is nothing I wouldn't do for Jon. He's a truly wonderful man and he has believed in me from the beginning. He started out as an actor and I'm happy that he's taking center stage in this film.
VSMARTY: When you take stock of everything that you've accomplished to reach this point in your life, what are your thoughts?
ROBERT: I feel blessed by God's grace.
"I could not have done the first Iron Man without having already mastered (Wing Chun) Kung Fu in my private life, which I was doing without any thought of how it might be of use in a film." ~ "My martial arts training helped me on Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, and that was what made Jon Favreau believe I could play Iron Man, that I could do action and that I could maybe, just maybe, be a leading man in that way. Without Kung Fu, I don't know if I would have had that self possession you need to be a leading man." ~ "Wing Chun teaches you what to concentrate on, whether you're here or out in the world dealing with problems. It's second nature for me now. I don't even get to the point where there's a problem."
"Therapy is an important part of my life. It's helped me find balance and calm, and clear away the accumulated neuroses that drag you down. It cleanses your mind."
"I love eating fine food. Being able to afford your own private chef is probably one of the best perks anyone can have in life. Just imagine being able to have filet mignon or the best lasagne on earth – whenever you want. I'm sorry, I won't apologize for being able to eat like a king." (Fabled Chef Ferran Adrià, whose elBulli restaurant was once considered the best restaurant on earth, recently stated that he wants Robert to play him in a movie one day.)
"I like to shake up sartorial tastes. Why wear a plain black suit all the time? I never had more fun than wearing Bavarian lederhosen while doing a press conference in Munich."
"Being a ghost sounds like a lot of fun... When I die, I don't want to go to heaven or hell. I want to stay on earth and haunt people. I want to be that guy who grabs your leg in the middle of the night when it dangles off the side of the bed. I want to surprise you when you're driving alone along a dark country road and suddenly I appear in your rear-view mirror, sitting in the back seat smoking a cigar."
"Look, even if I don't get (an Oscar) directly, eventually they're just going to have to give me one when I get old. So no matter how you slice it, I'm getting one."
"The suit suffocates you, it slows you down, but at least I had a toilet installed inside it. The last version (in Iron Man 3) was a little lighter and more flexible to wear... But there is no comfortable version, so it's kind of like: 'Hey, don't you think these bamboo shoots are actually a little less rough on the cuticle until they get down to the nerve?"
"I didn't get that film. I still can't tell you what happened in the movie, what happened to the character, and in the end that they need him to be a bad guy. I'm like: 'I get it. This is so high brow and so f--king smart, I clearly need a college education to understand this movie.' That's not what I want to see. You know what? F--k DC Comics."
"I would never tell you the worst things that have happened to me." (He was badly beaten up in L.A county jail where he was served a 180-day sentence for heroin possession in 1997.)
"You don't worry about something that has already happened. You don't need to worry about your car breaking down when you're already on the side of the street with the hood up. Worrying is done. The hubcaps have already come off going around the corners."
"It's important to be respectful and kind to others. I consider myself to be a pain-in-the-ass artist who's self-aware enough to still be tolerable. While I have a little bit of juice, I try not to rub it in anyone's face, because it's just disgusting. And I use the term 'artist' loosely."


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Volunteering Opportunities
Volunteering enriches your life and makes a positive difference for others!
See our local opportunities below. Also, try searching even more opportunities in the allforgood.org search box above.
Area Agency on Aging–Needs volunteers for home delivered meals AND help at their Senior Centers in Wellsboro, Mansfield, Elkland, Millerton, and Westfield– with dire need in the Westfield area! Volunteers will help to package meals, help with cleaning, and delivery. If interested, contact Volunteer Coordinator, Debra Carlone by phone: at 570-723-0935 or toll free at 1-800-822-6793 OR by email: email@example.com
Animal Care Sanctuaries loves volunteers! If you would like to volunteer you can call (570) 724-3687 for more info, or you can check out their website! Animal Care Sanctuary. To volunteer you can apply here (online)– Animal Care Sanctuary Application
Bethany Christian Services is in Tioga County! Bethany serves the community through Pregnancy Counseling, Foster Care, Foster to Adopt, Domestic Adoption, International Adoption, and Post Adoption Services. Learn more here. Would you like to volunteer with Bethany? Contact Tina Wheeler at 814-867-2848 or email email@example.com.
Better Breathers has volunteering opportunities! Contact Faith Preston at 570-723-0191 or email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Big Brothers Big Sisters is in Tioga County! Interested in becoming a Mentor for a Tioga County child?? Contact Local Coordinator, Jillian Benelli or Executive Director, Katie Hoflein at (570) 265-3009 or 1-866-344-BIGS. E-mail BBBS: email@example.com. Need more info? Check out their website: www.bbbstwintiers.org
Caring Communities serves Tioga County. Caring Communities provides comprehensive case management services for people living with HIV/AIDS in a 12-county coverage area, which includes Tioga County. We provide free Link-to-Medical-Care service to those who are newly diagnosed with HIV or Hepatitis C or have disconnected from HIV care and offer free and confidential HIV, Gonorrhea, Chlamydia, Syphilis, and Hepatitis C testing at all our locations with on-site testing and informational sessions provided for organizations serving those at highest risk for these infections. Additionally, we supply free condoms and other prevention supplies at all our locations. We have volunteering opportunities! Contact Christopher Kupchik at 570-829-2700 or firstname.lastname@example.com for more information.
Children's Health Fair and Family Activity Day — The second Saturday in June. Volunteers are always needed to help set-up, clean-up, and monitor children's activities. Contact Sue at the Tioga County Partnership: 570-723-0520, email: email@example.com
Communities That Care is a health youth development process taking place in Tioga County. We are always looking for representation from all sectors of the community. Attend meetings with other community members and help troubleshoot issues we have in our community using the data from the PA Youth Survey as a springboard for prevention efforts; help identify beneficial programs, learn about Tioga County, and have a positive impact in our schools and community. Interested? Contact McKenna Light: firstname.lastname@example.com or (570) 723-0520.
Deane Center for the Performing Arts— Volunteering opportunities abound! Contact the Deane Center Volunteer Coordinator by email: email@example.com or call (570) 724-6220.
Endless Mountains Arts Cooperative (EMAC) is recruiting Board Member volunteers! EMAC's mission, as a community-focused organization, is to provide affordable opportunities in a shared space for artists and patrons of the arts to connect through education, performance and exhibition in the greater Tioga County, PA area. As a Board member, help develop artist opportunities and arrange cultural experiences that enrich your community with the arts. Help to plan and organize arts opportunities such as kids' art classes, music classes, cooking classes, and other arts workshops! Time commitment for board members is one meeting per month (usually 1 hour) and then periodic assistance with events as needed. More specific responsibilities vary depending on the role assumed. Interested? EMAIL: email@example.com. Learn more at www.emacmansfield.com
Endless Mountain Music Festival–– Contact Sarah Vogt, Endless Mountain's Volunteer Coordinator at (570) 724-6638. Looking for Volunteers in the summer months for their concerts! Check out their website for more information-Endless Mountain Music Festival
Expectant Parents Class has volunteering opportunities! Contact Faith Preston at 570-723-0191 or email: email@example.com
Goodies for Our Troops is a great way to give back to those who fight for our country! You can find volunteer opportunities on their website- Goodies for Our Troops. Contact Volunteer Coordinator, Dawn Pletcher through email– email@example.com or by phone: (570) 662-5601.
The Green Home in Wellsboro is always looking for volunteers! Contact The Green Home at (570) 724-3131 and ask for Volunteer Coordinator, Pat O'Connor. Volunteers can help set up packets, play games, paint nails, and sit & talk with the residents.
Hamilton Gibson Productions–This community theater company is always looking for good volunteers! Contact Thomas Putnam at email@example.com or 570-724-2079 for more information.
Habitat for Humanity (Chemung County) is looking for volunteers! Email firstname.lastname@example.com to sign up, also check out their website for more info–Habitat for Humanity Website Hours on Saturdays from 9:00 am-2:00 pm. Must be at least 15 years of age, and must be responsible for own transportation.
His Thousand Hills Ministries (outside of Wellsboro) is interested in having some volunteers! Anyone interested may contact their office by calling (570) 724-2366, or by email at email@example.com.
N.A.M.I. (National Alliance for the Mentally Ill)— PO Box 292, Wellsboro, PA 16901.
Partners In Progress— Click our logo to contact us about volunteering!
Recovery Revolution needs volunteers willing to present their own stories of recovery or other valuable information regarding self sufficiency and independence. Visit their website: www.addictionrecoveryrevolution.org
Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hospital has volunteering opportunities! Contact Faith Preston at 570-723-0191 or email: email@example.com
Special Olympics is a fun way to get involved and do some community service! See more volunteering information here. Contact Donna Cummings at (570) 724-3508 for more information about local activities.
Step Outdoors Network plans and organizes events such as Springfest, TRYathlon (Fall event), and the Ives Run Trail Challenge (Fall event). Would you like to volunteer at these events? Contact firstname.lastname@example.com at 570-723-0520 or email:firstname.lastname@example.com
Susquehanna Health Home Care & Hospice is looking for volunteers. Contact Robert at email: email@example.com
Tioga County Department of Emergency Services is always looking for good volunteers. Contact Benton Best at 570-723-8106 or email: firstname.lastname@example.com

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Presidential Inauguration: A Day of Festivities
Donald J. Trump will be sworn in as the 45th President of the United States on Friday, Jan. 20, on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol.
The peaceful transfer of power will take place at noon, when Trump will be sworn in by Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts.
Vice President-elect Mike Pence will also take an oath of office that day.
According to US Magazine, festivities start Thursday, Jan 19, with the Chairman's Dinner, an exclusive black-tie event that will introduce hundred of foreign diplomats to the President-elect.
Also Thursday, Trump and Pence will lay a wreath at Arlington National Cemetery and attend a welcome celebration at the Lincoln Memorial from 3:30 to 4 p.m.
Country singer Toby Keith, rock band 3 Doors Down and The Piano Guys are all expected to perform at the celebration.
If you want to watch the historic event, there are several ways.
All major news networks will bring coverage on TV and online. To watch online, visit ABC.com, CBS.com, MSNBC.com, FOX.com, CNN.com, NYTimes.com, WashingtonPost.com and NPR.org.
The Official White House Live Stream at www.whitehouse.gov/live is the official live streaming service of events that happen at the White House.
According to USA Today, Congress will host a luncheon for Trump and Pence following the ceremony. Then the president and first lady will walk down Pennsylvania Avenue for a parade at 3 p.m.
At 7 p.m. the president, vice president and their families will attend the official inaugural ball at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.


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Hay Fever
Hay fever is a common allergic condition that affects up to one in five people at some point in their life.
Symptoms of hay fever include:
- Sneezing
- A runny nose
- Itchy eyes
The symptoms of hay fever are caused when a person has an allergic reaction to pollen.
Pollen is a fine powder released by plants as part of their reproductive cycle. Pollen contains proteins that can cause the nose, eyes, throat and sinuses (small air-filled cavities behind your cheekbones and forehead) to become swollen, irritated and inflamed.
You can have an allergy to:
- Tree pollen, released during spring
- Grass pollen, released during the end of spring and beginning of summer
- Weed pollen, released any time from early spring to late autumn
Many people find that their symptoms improve as they get older. Around half of people report some improvement in symptoms after several years. In around 10%-20% of people symptoms go away completely.
There is currently no cure for hay fever but most people are able to relieve symptoms with treatment, at least to a certain extent.
In an ideal world, the most effective way to control hay fever would be to avoid exposure to pollen. However, it's very difficult to avoid pollen, particularly during the summer months when you want to spend more time outdoors.
Treatment options for hay fever include antihistamines, which can help prevent an allergic reaction from happening and corticosteroids (steroids), which help reduce levels of inflammation and swelling.
Many cases of hay fever can be controlled using over-the-counter medication available from your CarePlus pharmacist. But if your symptoms are more troublesome it's worth speaking to your GP as you may require prescription medication.
Who is affected?
Hay fever is one of the most common allergic conditions. Hay fever usually begins in childhood or during the teenage years, but you can get it at any age. The condition is more common in boys than in girls. In adults, men and women are equally affected.
Hay fever is more likely if there is a family history of allergies, particularly Asthma or Eczema.
It is sometimes possible to prevent the symptoms of hay fever by taking some basic precautions, such as:
- Wearing wraparound sunglasses to stop pollen getting in your eyes when you are outdoors
- Change your clothes and take a shower after being outdoors to remove the pollen on your body
- Try to stay indoors when the pollen count is high (over 50).
Hay fever does not pose a serious threat to health but it can have a negative impact on your quality of life. People with very bad hay fever often find that it can disrupt their productivity at school or work.
Another common complication of hay fever is inflammation of the sinuses (sinusitis). Children in particular may also develop a middle ear infection (otitis media) as a result of hay fever.
Ask your CarePlus Pharmacist for Hay Fever advice and treatment options


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