Sunday Salon

The St. Louis Jewish Light's local eat of the week is the Circle@Crown Café's Mediterranean Panini.  I think it's delicious!  Click here to read the review.

The President's Devotional: The Daily Readings That Inspired President Obama ~ by Joshua DuBois, 2013, devotions, 530 pages

You can start your day with words that inspired President Barack Obama, prepared by Joshua DuBois, Obama's spiritual advisor who served as executive director of the White House Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships.  This book contains the best of these daily devotionals, offering peace, comfort, and inspiration for an entire year.

I found this devotional book among the boxes of books from my friend Donna's shelves.  I may decide to read TWO devotionals each day, one from this book and one from the Guideposts book I mentioned two weeks ago.

And by the way, I bought If God Is Love, Don't Be a Jerk: Finding a Faith That Makes Us Better Humans by John Pavlovitz (2021, social issues, 233 pages) for my Kindle because I'm reading the library copy and want to have my own (it's that good).  Imagine for a moment what the world might look like if we as people of faith, morality, and conscience actually aspired to the mantra "Thou Shalt Not Be Horrible."  What if we were fully burdened to create a world that was more loving and equitable than when we arrived?  What if we invited one another to share in wide-open, fearless, spiritual communities truly marked by compassion and interdependence?  What if we daily challenged ourselves to live a faith that simply made us better humans?

John Pavlovitz explores how we can embody this kinder kind of spirituality where we humbly examine our belief system to understand how it might compel us to act in less-than-loving ways toward others.  This simple phrase, "Thou Shalt Not Be Horrible," could help us practice what we preach by creating a world where spiritual community provides a sense of belonging where all people are received as we are.  The most important question we ask of a religious belief is not "Is it true?" but rather "Is it helpful?"  The way we treat others is the most tangible and meaningful expression of our belief system.

Here's a puzzle for you, so your brain won't get lazy.  How many fingers are in this picture?

And down here at the bottom, I'll close this post with a Zoom jack-o'-lantern.  I think it's funny, maybe because it so perfectly fits my last year-and-a-half.  Surely, I'm not the only one who has done a lot of "zooming" this year.

P.S.  I forgot to add that I got my booster shot of Moderna Saturday afternoon.

Deb Nance at Readerbuzz hosts the Sunday Salon, where we talk

about our lives, our books, and what we have been reading.

Can you relate?

Anyone with a cat can totally understand this problem.

Well, you have to admire her ingenuity.

Show your cat some extra love today

Clawdia says the correct way to celebrate your favorite feline is to give her/him extra food and extra treats.

New words added to the dictionary

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Merriam-Webster made more words official by adding them to the dictionary in October 2021 and in January 2021.  I'm sharing a dozen of the words (in no particular order) because they made me think.  The first three are from the deadly virus that taught us all the word pandemic and changed our world in 2020.

• vaccine passport = a physical or digital document providing proof of vaccination against an infectious disease such as COVID-19.  I keep my vaccination record card in a safe place and also photographed it so a picture of it is in my phone, in case I need it.
• long COVID = a condition that is marked by the presence of symptoms (such as fatigue, cough, shortness of breath, headache, or brain fog) which persist for an extended period of time (such as weeks or months) following a person's initial recovery from COVID-19 infection.
• long hauler = a person who experiences one or more long-term effects following initial improvement or recovery from a serious illness such as COVID-19.
• TBH = abbreviation for "To Be Honest," used in text messages.
• dad bod = a physique regarded as typical of an average father, especially one that is slightly overweight and not extremely muscular.
• folx = folks, used especially to explicitly signal the inclusion of groups commonly marginalized.
• doorbell camera = a small camera that is designed for use on an exterior door, that includes or connects to a doorbell, and that often has a built-in microphone and speaker.
• crowdfunding = the practice of obtaining needed funding (as for a new business or to pay for medical expenses) by soliciting contributions from a large number of people, especially from the online community.
• BIPOC = abbreviation for "Black, Indigenous, and People Of Color," used in text messages.
• prison industrial complex = the profit-driven relationship between the government, the private companies that build, manage, supply, and service prisons, and related groups (such as prison industry unions and lobbyists) regarded as the cause of increased incarceration rates (especially of poor people and minorities) and often for nonviolent crimes.
• silver fox = an attractive middle-aged man having mostly gray or white hair.
• hygge = a cozy quality that makes a person feel content and comfortable.  I wrote about hygge in 2017 when I read Meik Wiking's The Little Book of Hygge: Danish Secrets to Happy Living.

This article and this one have a bunch more of the words, if you want to keep reading about new words in the dictionary.

National Chocolate Day

Hey, I almost missed it!  Let's eat chocolate today

because ..........

Throwback Thursday ~ a train trip

Here's a train ad from 1947.  I took my first train ride from Chattanooga, Tennessee to Florida with my Aunt Bonnie in 1947, when I was 7 years old.

My book blogger friend Nancy posted several train ads from the 1940's on Facebook, and I noticed this one was actually from the year of that trip.

My aunt got permission to take me out of school (second grade) for a week or two to take me along with her.  I remember the rocking of the train nauseated me, like I was seasick.  Then the sand whipped my little bare legs when we walked on the beach because we got there near the tail-end of a hurricane.

All in all, I was not very impressed with Florida!  Bonnie was my mother's sister, and my dad's sister Lillian and her family moved from Louisville, Kentucky, to southern Florida a few years later.  So I did visit Florida several times as I was growing up, but our family trips were always by car.

SEEK and SAY

This puzzle came from a source on Facebook called "That Ain't Right."  I take those words to mean I should look carefully.  Within seconds, I found five differences between the pair.  Later I enlarged it and found two more differences.

• SEEK carefully through the activities in the two almost-identical pictures for any differences.
• Then SAY in the comments what differences you can see between these two drawings.

Click to enlarge the image, if it will let you.  I'll add a comment about the things I noticed that have changed in the second picture, but not until one or two of you make a stab at it, okay?

Beautiful sunset photo taken by my daughter

Here's a beautiful photo by my daughter Barbara showing how far down the water level is at the lake.  Just last week, she says, it was up to the base of the tree.  I think it looks like a painting.

Colorful photo of Clawdia

Here's Clawdia posing with Friday's library loot.

A black cat really shows up when she's around

colorful books and a rainbow-colored bookbag!

Summary of the Readathon

What I read during the readathon, from 7:00 a.m. on Saturday to 7:00 a.m. on Sunday:

1. 
   Wood, Wire, Wings: Emma Lilian Todd Invents an Airplane ~ by Kirsten Larson, illustrated by Tracy Subisak, 2020, picture book, 48 pages, 10/10 — Emma Lilian Todd, a self-taught inventor, was born on June 10, 1865 in Washington, D.C.  This nonfiction biography explores both the failures and successes she had as she tackled one of the greatest challenges of the early 1900s:  designing an airplane.  Lilian's mind was always soaring — she loved to solve problems.  As a child, she took apart and reassembled clocks to figure out how they worked.  As an adult, typing up patents at the U.S. Patent Office, Lilian built the inventions in her mind, including many designs for flying machines.  However, they all seemed too impractical.  Lilian knew she could design one that worked.  She took inspiration from both nature and her many failures, driving herself to perfect the design that would eventually successfully fly.  Illustrator Tracy Subisak's art brings to life author Kirsten W. Larson's story of this little-known but important engineer.
2. 
   I Will Be Fierce! ~ by Bea Birdsong, illustrated by Nidhi Chanani, 2019, children's, 40 pages, 10/10 — This story about a girl's courage, kindness, and confidence demonstrates that all of us can be fierce, make friends, take on the monsters that stand in the way, and be the hero of our own stories.  Here's a good 4-minute YouTube video that I found of the whole book being read for "future titans."
3. No!  I Don't Want to Join a Book Club: Diary of a Sixtieth Year ~ by Virginia Ironside, 2006, fiction (England), 231 pages, DNF — I read 12 pages before marking it DNF (did not finish) and tossing it aside.  What a grumpy old lady!  Sheesh!  I adopted this book after Donna died, but I've decided she never read it either. 
4. 
   If God Is Love, Don't Be a Jerk: Finding a Faith That Makes Us Better Humans ~ by John Pavlovitz, 2021, social issues, 233 pages — I fell asleep while reading this, but Clawdia woke me up at 3:30 a.m. for food.  My favorite line so far was on page 81:  "You deserved hell . . . just for being born?"  That chapter is entitled "Oh, Hell No!"  I did not finish reading this book before the readathon ended.  In case you are interested, here's the link to John Pavlovitz's blog Stuff That Needs to Be Said.
5. Unbelievable: Why Neither Ancient Creeds Nor the Reformation Can Produce a Living Faith Today ~ by John Shelby Spong, 2018, theology, 10/10 — I re-read the section of this book that I'll be discussing with the Seekers Class in half an hour.

Today's Takeaway

I like what one Amazon reviewer (who gave the book 5 stars) said about the alliteration in Wood, Wire, Wings:  "Larson’s skillful use of alliteration — baffled yet buoyed, constructed each contraption, filed and fiddled, tweaking and tinkering — will elevate this biography to the top of the read-aloud list at school and home.  The repetition of the phrase 'buoyed by the challenge' will inspire children to persevere in spite of setbacks."  It's amazing that 69 reviewers of 70 on Amazon gave the book 5 stars, and that single person gave it 4 stars and high praise in words.

Deb Nance at Readerbuzz hosts the Sunday Salon, where we talk

about our lives, our books, and what we have been reading.

Library Loot for the 24-hour Readathon

I'm ready to start reading at 7:00 this morning, Central Time, since folks in the Eastern Time Zone start at 8:00.  Here's the list of books I got from the library this week, to be added to the one I'm already reading, which is at the top (it's from the Crown Center's small library):

1. No!  I Don't Want to Join a Book Club: Diary of a Sixtieth Year ~ by Virginia Ironside, 2006, fiction, 231 pages
2. Wood, Wire, Wings: Emma Lilian Todd Invents an Airplane ~ by Kirsten Larson, 2020, children's, 48 pages
3. What Could Be Saved ~ by Liese O'Halloran Schwarz, 2021, mystery, 460 pages
4. Talk to Me ~ by T. C. Boyle, 2021, fiction, 352 pages
5. The Inheritance ~ by JoAnn Ross, 2021, fiction (Oregon), 376 pages
6. I Will Be Fierce! ~ by Bea Birdsong, illustrated by Nidhi Chanani, 2019, children's, 40 pages
7. The Sundial ~ by Shirley Jackson, 1958, fiction, 245 pages
8. If God Is Love, Don't Be a Jerk: Finding a Faith That Makes Us Better Humans ~ by John Pavlovitz, 2021, social issues, 233 pages
9. When the Legends Die ~ by Hal Borland, 1963, fiction, 216 pages

Claire at The Captive Reader has this week's Mr. Linky for Library Loot.

I doubt that Clawdia would put up with a little mouse reading here in our apartment, but I think he's cute.  We shall see how much reading gets done today.  The clock below will symbolize periodic reports on my reading.

I may update throughout the day.  Let's see how my reading goes.

Opening Event Survey

1)   What fine part of the world are you reading from today? — St. Louis, Missouri, USA.

2)   Which book in your stack are you most looking forward to? — All of them (see above), but I'll start with the children's books and the novel at the top of the list because it's about an older woman who is around the age of my children.

3)   Which snack are you most looking forward to? — I never understood the emphasis on snacks.  I'll eat regular meals and maybe a tangerine and a few fig bars in mid-afternoon.

4)   Tell us a little something about yourself. — I'm retired, 81 years old, and have always loved words and books.  Being retired means I can read whenever I like, any day, unless I have scheduled something else.

5)   If you participated in the last readathon, what’s one thing you’ll do different today?  If this is your first readathon, what are you most looking forward to? — I participated in the FIRST readathon, the one started by Dewey, and many since then.  My only goal today is to read when I feel like it.  I'll finish all nine of those books above before they are due back at the library.

Your Caturday Challenge ~ find the cats

(1)  This photo really does have a cat in it.  I can see it.

(2)  This photo really does have a fourth cat in it.

(3)  And this photo does have a second cat in it.  This one is the easiest today.

If you enjoyed this challenge, click on this find my cat link.  Hints:  (1) orange cat with white chest in center of the photo, (2) top left quadrant, (3) right side.

Beginning ~ with a question

Beginning

The way I see it, I stopped being a kid on April 12, 1951.  We were playing our regular afternoon recess punchball game out in the schoolyard.  I was about to smack the ball when Big Toby, who always played catcher, muttered, "Hey, Pete, that true about your parents?"

Catch You Later, Traitor ~ by Avi, 2015, juvenile historical fiction (New York), 304 pages

From Newbery Medalist Avi comes the thrilling and suspenseful story of an ordinary American family who falls under suspicion during the 1950s Red Scare.  It's 1951, and twelve-year-old Pete Collison is a regular kid who loves detective stories and radio crime dramas.  When an FBI agent shows up at Pete's doorstep, accusing Pete's father of being a Communist, Pete is caught in a real-life mystery.  Could there really be Commies in his family?

On Tuesday, Avi posted about this book on his blog.  If you want to read more about it, his post is titled "Remember 1951!"  This book is available through my library using Hoopla, but I haven't yet taught myself that.  I want to read it on my Kindle, so can anyone enlighten me?

Gilion at Rose City Reader hosts Book Beginnings on Fridays.

Dewey's 24-Hour Readathon ~ tomorrow!

I'm ready for Dewey's 24-Hour Readathon, which I told you I had signed up for.  It starts at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time tomorrow morning.  The idea is to see how many pages (or books) you can read during a 24-hour period, from Saturday morning until Sunday morning.  You can consider it a successful readathon if you read more than you normally would read in a day.  There's still time to sign up, if you are interested.  Go ahead and give it a try.  Click here to sign up.

Fall specials in the Circle@Crown Café

Here are the Fall Specials in the Circle@Crown Café:  the Autumn Pear Salad and the Cheddar, Smoked Gouda and Pear Sandwich.  Don't they look delicious?  I've already decided to treat myself to BOTH of these in the Circle@Crown Café for lunch today, taking home any leftovers to finish later.  I did not find this until after I'd had lunch there yesterday with Esme. Whom shall I invite to eat with me?  ALL of you!  Or at least all of you who read this in time.

Wednesday word ~ and moving right along

Moving right along

Seven of my closest friends have died in the past couple of years:  Barbara, Sandy, Donna, Tiny, Evelyn (see #3), Sheila (see #4), and Marie.  And now another friend tells me her cancer has spread and she probably does not have long to live.  Maybe it's time for me to move back to Chattanooga (it's my hometown) and friends younger as well as older.  Recently, I've been "going" to Sunday School via Zoom with the Seekers Class back in Chattanooga, anyway.

Word of the Day

spu·ri·ous /ˈsp(y)o͝orēəs/ adjective = not being what it purports to be; false or fake.  Example: "He worked hard to separate authentic claims from spurious claims."

• Similar:  bogus, fake, not genuine, specious, false, counterfeit, fraudulent, trumped-up, sham, mock, feigned, pretended, contrived, fabricated, manufactured, fictitious, make-believe, invalid, fallacious, phoney, pretend.
• Opposite:  authentic, genuine, real.

Sunday Salon ~ with a pun alert

It is always book o'clock wherever I am, quite aside from where the hands of the clock happen to be.  Does that make me a bookie?  Or does it mean that I am a bookaholic?  Click HERE for "Twelve Signs You Are a Bookaholic."

I would wear this mask proudly ---------->>>>>>>

Word of the Day

bookaholic / book·a·hol·ic / noun = a compulsive book buyer; a habitual and prolific reader; a lover of books.  Example:  "I don't know any bookaholics who want to overcome their addiction."

Mornings with Jesus 2017: Daily Encouragement for Your Soul ~ by Guideposts, 2016, devotions

In this book, you can read and reflect on one devotion each day that will encourage you.  Lifting up their voices in heartfelt gratitude, eleven women, including bestselling authors Tricia Goyer and Cynthia Ruchti, consider the character and teachings of Jesus and share how He enriches and empowers them daily.

Book off my shelves

This is another book (unread) that called to me as I walked past the shelves.  I bought it on sale on Nov. 10, 2017, intending to start reading it in the following year.  I forgot before January, so I started a year of reading today, October 17.  (The dated receipt was still in it, marking the one day I probably read.)

Deb Nance at Readerbuzz hosts the Sunday Salon, where we talk

about our lives, our books, and what we have been reading.

Women want pockets!

Pockets?  Yes, pockets!  What's not to love?

My retirement "uniform" is jeans, because they have pockets.  The pockets are only three inches deep, but that's better than nothing.

(By the way, it's my parents' anniversary, married in 1938.)

Beginning ~ with his aspirations

Introduction ~ Nothing Brainy about It

"Unlike most of my colleagues, I didn't grow up with a deep-seated desire to be a doctor, let alone a brain surgeon.  My earliest aspiration was to be a writer, likely triggered by a boyhood crush I had on a grade school English teacher" (p. 1).

Chapter 1 ~ What Makes You You

"It was 1992 when I first saw a living human brain, a powerful and  life-changing experience for me.  It was, and still is, hard for me to believe that so much of what we are, who we will become, and how we interpret the world resides in that intricately woven bundle of tissue" (p. 29).

Keep Sharp: Build a Better Brain at Any Age ~ by Sanjay Gupta, 2021, self-help, 320 pages

Discover what we can learn from "super-brained" people who are in their eighties and nineties with no signs of slowing down, as Gupta debunks common myths about aging and cognitive decline.  He also provides a personalized twelve-week program featuring practical strategies to strengthen your brain every day.

I also wrote about this book earlier (click here). 

Gilion at Rose City Reader hosts Book Beginnings on Fridays.

Throwback Thursday

Here's a view from a streetcar on the side of Signal Mountain taken June 20, 1914.  The Tennessee River can be seen (barely) off in the distance on the right.

Throwback Thursday or #TBT is an internet trend used among social media platforms such as Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.  (And by bloggers like me, occasionally.  Hmm, I see this is only the fifth time I've done a #TBT here on my blog.  Click the label below to see them all.)

Wikipedia informed me:  "On a Thursday, users post a nostalgia-inducing picture, usually from a different era of their life."  No, I didn't experience the streetcar myself (I'm not THAT old), but I lived on Signal Mountain from 1965 to 1984 and knew about this streetcar line that was no longer there.

What is gender neutral and all-inclusive?

"I'm just sayin, 'y'all' is both gender neutral, and all-inclusive.  In short, the perfect pronoun."  That's a quote from Erin Wathen.  I also ran across a 2017 article on "The Case for Y’all: 10 Reasons One Word Should Revolutionize Our Vocabulary.  This article says that "y’all has roots in Scotland over four centuries ago."  If you wonder why that word, maybe this illustration will help:

Saying "y'all" rather than "ladies and gentlemen" makes sense, if you analyze it.  The apostrophe stands for the "ou" in "you," just as the apostrophe replaces letters in other words:

• "I'm" instead of "I am"
• "You'd" instead of "you would"
• "She'll" instead of "she will"

Did I hear some of you who live in the USA say it sounds too Southern?  Okay, but think about the fact that it's gender neutral and all-inclusive, unlike "you guys" (or "youse guys").  Y'all makes more sense than "youse guys."  As the article says, "One step for y'all.  One giant leap for all y'all."

Oh, yeah, I forget to explain about "all y'all."  This chart is for all y'all.