Musing about the weather ~ and a book, of course!

Musing about the weather  (Hurricane Helene) and about how easy it was for Deb at Readerbuzz to convince me to order this book.  That's right; I'm musing about a book I haven't yet seen, much less read.  It snagged me that completely, so let me tell you about the book.

We'll Prescribe You a Cat ~ by Syou Ishida, translated by E. Madison Shimoda, 2024, literary fiction, 304 pages

Tucked away in an old building at the end of a narrow alley in Kyoto, the Kokoro Clinic for the Soul can only be found by people who are struggling in their lives and genuinely need help.  The mysterious clinic offers a unique treatment to those who find their way there:  it prescribes cats as medication.  Patients are often puzzled by this unconventional prescription, but when they "take" their cat for the recommended duration, they witness profound trans-formations in their lives, guided by the playful, empathetic, occasionally challenging, yet endearing cats.

Through the chapters of a disheartened businessman who finds unexpected joy in physical labor, a young girl navigating the complexities of elementary school cliques, a middle-aged man struggling to stay relevant at work and home, a hardened bag designer seeking emotional balance, and a geisha unable to move on from the memory of her lost cat, the power of the human-animal bond is revealed.  As the clinic's patients navigate their inner turmoil, their feline companions lead them toward healing, self-discovery, and newfound hope.

May your Sunday be joyful

I was looking for something on my blog whe I ran across this illustration and decided it's a great way to start my post for Sunday.  Let's have a day filled with JOY, everybody, whenever you happen to read this!

World Heart Day 2024 is commemorated with a call to "Use Heart for Action."  This emphasizes the urgency of raising awareness on heart health in order to prevent, detect early, and manage cardiovascular diseases.

This Was America ~ by Martin W. Sandler, 1980, social customs, xiv + 274 pages, 8/10

Based on the award-winning television series of the same name, This Was America weaves 250 photographs (chosen from thousands of glass-plate negatives) to make a tapestry of the period roughly from 1890 to 1910, an extraordinary time in the nation's history when industrialization and innovation were completely transforming the way Americans worked, played, and viewed themselves.  I got this from our Crown Center library, but I mostly just looked at the pictures.

Sunday Salon is hosted by Deb at Readerbuzz.

Number 9, my favorite number

9.  Nikola Tesla predicted the smart phone in 1926:  "When wireless is perfectly applied the whole earth will be converted into a huge brain, which in fact it is, all things being particles of a real and rhythmic whole.  We shall be able to communicate with one another instantly, irrespective of distance.  Not only this, but through television and telephony we shall see and hear one another as perfectly as though we were face to face, despite intervening distances of thousands of miles; and the instruments through which we shall be able to do this will be amazingly simple compared with our present telephone.  A man will be able to carry one in his vest pocket."

Thank you, Colleen, for sharing this in your post you entitled Cloud Nine or Number Nine?  Nine is my favorite number, and I love thinking about things like this, that Tesla could see (predict?) the things we have right now in our world.  And to top it off, Tesla is number 9 in your list of 13 things.  Cool!

Beginning ~ with a line out the door

Beginning

Twyla Thompson was thrilled to see a line out the door on the night of New York Times bestselling author Stacy Cruz's book signing.  This was exactly what Once Upon a Book needed — an infusion of excitement and goodwill and the proverbial opening up of the wallet during the holidays for a book instead of the latest flat-screen TV.

Once Upon a Charming Bookshop (Book 6 of 7) ~ by Heatherly Bell, 2023, romance fiction (Texas), 233 pages

Time to rewrite their story?  He’d always simply been her best friend.  But when Noah Cahill moved back to town, bookstore owner Twyla Thompson knew something was different.  Was it holiday memories of the loss they'd both shared or Noah’s surprising decision to reignite a dangerous career?  Their solid friendship had been through so much, yet now Twyla grew breathless every time Noah was near.  Why wasn’t Noah — handsome, fun, but never one to cross the line — showing any signs of stopping?

I rarely read romance novels, but (having once owned a bookstore) I picked this up because it's set in a bookshop.  Now I'm curious about that store, who owns it, and what (if anything) it says about running that place.

Gilion at Rose City Reader hosts

Book Beginnings on Fridays.

Books to ponder

That's Life: "Wild" Wit & Wisdom ~ compiled by Bonnie Louise Kuchler, 2003, wildlife, 112 pages, 10/10

Below the quotes from various thinkers chosen by Kuchler is information about the insect or animal or fish on the opposite page.  So the "wit and wisdom" is there, but also interesting things about the various living things pictured.  I loved the page showing two polar bears, where one seems to be gesturing to the other to please go ahead, if you like.  Another page (they are unnumbered) shows a chimp, seeming to ponder things as it nibbles on a weed in it's mouth.  On the opposite page are these words:  "Imagination is more important than knowledge.  Knowledge is limited.  Imagination encircles the world."

Calm Reflections: Inspiring Lessons for a Stress-Free Life ~ edited by Jo Ryan, 2004, inspiration, 128 pages, 10/10

Calm Reflections brings together an inspirational selection of powerful and life-affirming phrases that have in one way or another helped people to live less stressful lives, and combines them with evocative and gently amusing animal photographs that bring out the humor and pathos of the human condition.

I have several books coming in today's library delivery, but when the Book Bike came to our little library yesterday for a regular visit to the Crown Center, I got a couple more.  But that's not all.  While waiting (I arrived early (as usual for me), I checked out these two little gems from our own library.  Then I also got a couple of books from the Book Bike.  I don't know when to stop, do I?  I'll talk about the other books later.

Strategies to reduce the risk of dementia

Dementia is a progressive condition that causes a decline in cognitive abilities, such as thinking, remembering, and reasoning, that interferes with daily life.  It's caused by a number of diseases that damage the brain over time, destroying nerve cells.  It's the loss of cognitive functioning — thinking, remembering, and reasoning — to such an extent that it interferes with a person's daily life and activities.  Some people with dementia cannot control their emotions, and their personalities may change.  What can we do to reduce our risk?

1. Eating the right breakfast is one strategy that may help reduce dementia risk.
2. Regular physical activity:  Engage in consistent exercise, such as walking, swimming or yoga, to improve cardiovascular health and boost brain function.
3. Healthy diet:  Adopt a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins and omega-3 fatty acids.
4. Mental stimulation:  Keep the brain active by learning new skills, solving puzzles and reading or engaging in other challenging mental activities.
5. Social engagement:  Maintain a robust social network and participate in social activities to enhance mental well-being and cognitive function.
6. Adequate sleep:  Ensure 7 to 9 hours of quality sleep per night, because good sleep is crucial for memory consolidation and overall brain health.
7. Stress management:  Practice stress-reducing techniques such as meditation, mindfulness or deep-breathing exercises to protect the brain from the harmful effects of chronic stress.
8. Avoid smoking and excessive alcohol consumption:  Avoid smoking and limit alcohol intake to protect brain cells and reduce the risk of cognitive decline.
9. Manage health conditions:  Manage chronic conditions like diabetes, hypertension, and high cholesterol by getting regular checkups and by following your doctor's orders.

*I got this information HERE.  Why was I looking?  I've seen too many of these symptoms in my family and in my neighbors in this senior living facility.  That's why I walk a lot and try to eat correctly (often with friends in our Cafe here) and engage my mind by blogging about books.  So dementia is my Word of the Day.

Books two friends are reading

How to Know a Person: The Art of Seeing Others Deeply and Being Deeply Seen ~ by David Brooks, 2023, relationships, 320 pages

Brooks says, "There is one skill that lies at the heart of any healthy person, family, school, community organization, or society:  the ability to see someone else deeply and make them feel seen — to accurately know another person, to let them feel valued, heard, and understood."  He says we humans don’t do this well.  All around us are people who feel invisible, unseen, and misunderstood.  In this book he sets out to help us do better, posing questions that are essential for all of us:

• If you want to know a person, what kind of attention should you cast on them?
• What kind of conversations should you have?
• What parts of a person’s story should you pay attention to?

Driven by a curiosity and determination to grow as a person, Brooks draws from the fields of psychology and neuroscience and from the worlds of philosophy, history, theater, and education to present a hopeful and integrated approach to human connection.  The book helps readers become more understanding and considerate toward others and find the joy that comes from being seen.  Along the way it offers a possible remedy for a society that is riven by fragmentation, hostility, and misperception.  The act of seeing another person is profoundly creative, he says, so how can we look somebody in the eye and see something large in them and also see something larger in ourselves?  This book is for people searching for connection and yearning to be understood.

Represent: The Unfinished Fight for the Vote ~ by Michael Eric Dyson and Marc Favreau, 2024, civil rights, 256 pages

Dyson and Favreau shine a light on the fight for democratic representation, an ongoing and epic quest to build the democracy promised in the Constitution.  Each chapter takes on a new battle between champions of freedom and those who stand in the way of their right to vote — from the American Revolution straight up to the present day as we approach the 2024 presidential election.  This book will help readers understand our past, present, and future.

I notice what people are reading, especially if they seem engrossed in the book.  Then I look it up to see if it seems like something I'd like.  Cindy was reading the first book, and Melvin was reading the second one.

Books people have recommended ~ and walking

Meredith (who also lives at the Crown Center) recommended The Truths We Hold by Kamala Harris (2019), and Sheila at Book Journey recommended The Last House on the Street by Diane Chamberlain (2023).  I'll get both of them from the library on Thursday, so I will tell you more about these books later.

Steps per day

Last October, I posted that doctors recommend 7,000 to 10,000 steps a day for adults aged 18 to 50 and 6,000 to 8,000 steps a day for adults aged 60 and over.  Last week I showed you this photo of walking "my dog" (Snoopy tied onto my Rollator).  So this is my report on this week's walking.  On Saturday, I actually got in 12,404 steps.  Yes, that's over 12,000 steps!  I'm walking nearly double the number of daily steps since last year.  Not every day, but it's gradually increasing each week/month.

Sept. 22-28 is Banned Books Week in 2024

That's this week, so I hope some of you will read a banned book or two.  Here are a few tips:

• What to Say About Book Bans at School Board and Library Meetings
• Educational Censorship
• A Tip Sheet for Librarians Facing Harassment

Each link leads to other reading, if you want to learn more about book banning.

As if Women Mattered ~ by Virginia DeLuca, 2014, memoir (about divorce in her 60's), 344 pages

1972 – A time of war and Watergate, of Ms. Magazine and consciousness raising.  As the post-World War II era of peace, prosperity, and pointy bras gives way to the life-expanding changes of the women’s movement, four women meet and over the course of two decades, create a space that allows them all to thrive, with humor and irreverence, as they each struggle to reconcile the realities of adult life with the expectations of youth.  She has another book coming out in 2025:  If You Must Go, I Wish You Triplets.

"Friends, like flowers, give pleasure by being there."  As I was going through boxes of books, I came across an old plaque of mine that had that on it.  While looking for an illustration, I couldn't find the exact quote online, but I did find this one (with flowers, even) that speaks of gratitude and joy.  My favorite word — JOY.

The autumnal equinox arrived on Sunday, Sept. 22 at 8:44 a.m. ET (Eastern Time), according to the Old Farmer's Almanac.  That means it happened at 7:44 a.m. in St. Louis.  The equinox arrives at the same moment worldwide.

Sunday Salon is hosted by Deb at Readerbuzz.

Library book I'm finally getting around to

Murder in the Dark ~ by Margaret Atwood, 1983, fiction, 110 pages

These short fictions and prose poems are beautifully bizarre:  bread can no longer be thought of as wholesome comforting loaves; the pretensions of the male chef are subjected to a light roasting; a poisonous brew is concocted by cynical five-year-olds; and knowing when to stop is of deadly importance in a game of Murder in the Dark.

I first mentioned this book several weeks ago, HERE.  I didn't realize that I've had it so long.

It's a short book, though, so I should be able to get through the whole thing easily this weekend.

Beginning ~ with what dominates our lives

Beginning

Anxiety is everywhere.  It always has been.  But in the last several years, it has come to dominate our lives in a way that it perhaps never has.

Unwinding Anxiety: New Science Shows How to Break the Cycles of Worry and Fear to Heal Your Mind ~ by Judson Brewer, 2021, psychology, 304 pages

We are living through one of the most anxious periods any of us can remember.  Whether facing issues as public as a pandemic or as personal as having kids at home and fighting the urge to reach for the wine bottle every night, we are feeling overwhelmed and out of control.  But in this timely book, Judson Brewer explains how to uproot anxiety at its source using brain-based techniques and small hacks accessible to anyone.

We think of anxiety as everything from mild unease to full-blown panic.  But it's also what drives the addictive behaviors and bad habits we use to cope (e.g. stress eating, procrastination, doom scrolling, and social media).  Plus, anxiety lives in a part of the brain that resists rational thought.  So we get stuck in anxiety habit loops that we can't think our way out of or use willpower to overcome.  Dr. Brewer teaches us to map our brains to discover our triggers, defuse them with the simple but powerful practice of curiosity, and to train our brains using mindfulness and other practices that his lab has proven can work.

Distilling more than 20 years of research and hands-on work with thousands of patients, including Olympic athletes and coaches, and leaders in government and business, Brewer has created a clear, solution-oriented program that anyone can use to feel better.

Gilion at Rose City Reader hosts

Book Beginnings on Fridays.

Thursday Thoughts ~ action for happiness question

If you can't read the illustration, it says, "Ask a trusted friend to tell you what strengths they see in you."  So I did.  I thought of three friends (one to the east of me, one to the west of me, and one here in St. Louis).  Then I sent the picture and asked:  "What do you see, trusted friend?"

One friend texted back immediately:

Generosity, willingness to help when possible, honesty. 

Another texted:

Bonnie, thank you for thinking of me as a "trusted friend!"  I think you are so smart (intelligent) & such a wordsmith.  Love to read and learn and share.  Desire to bring people together.  Well, i just think you are amazing!  😊

The third one said:

Strong sense of compassion, which causes you to act with compassionate ways.  Your intelligence informs your compassion so you do things in compassionate and kind ways.  I see wonderful strength in you.  I admire you.  You're quite open-minded.

That was yesterday's action for happiness question, but I'm sure it is okay for you to think about it and do it ANY day you choose.  Maybe I'm wrong to share my answers with all of you (all over the world ... yikes!), but it may make you smile.  And maybe, just maybe, it would be a great idea to tell a friend of yours what strengths you see in THEM.  I imagine it would lift spirits everywhere.

Luddite ~ an odd word

lud·dite /ˈləˌdīt/ noun = (derogatory) a person opposed to new technology or ways of working.  Example:  "When I tried to explain that I could send one of my neighbors a link to my blog, he called himself a luddite and said he couldn't understand technical stuff.  Though I knew the meaning of that word, I had never, ever heard it spoken by anyone.

A cartoon in a 2019 issue of The New York Times showed a character carrying a sign that says, "The internet is a fad."  It illustrated an opinion piece entitled:  "Luddites Shall Inherit the Earth."  The sub-title was "Someone will have to call our landlines to tell us it’s ours now."  Here is Dictionary.com's definition:

This TWOsday is TOO much day

Do you ever make plans and then other people's plans start popping up and making yours difficult?  Today, the Crown Center will be testing smoke detectors in every apartment, starting at 9:00 a.m., so I have no idea when they will enter my apartment.

Then there's the Resident Council's rummage sale, where any resident could rent a spot to sell stuff they want to get rid of (and keep the money).  That's from 9:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.  Notice they are at the same time.

That's two things, but another activity is an ice cream truck setting up at the entrance to my building at 11:00 a.m.  Each resident was given a ticket (it's for residents only) stapled onto a flyer, which was put in the box by our door.  The flyer tells us to use the ticket we received to get a free ice cream treat from the ice cream truck.

The flyer adds:  "Check out the Resident Council Rummage Sale while you enjoy your ice cream!"  People selling clothing may not appreciate that.

Those hoping to sell things set up their tables Monday in the Community Room, getting ready for the big day.  So I know there are clothes and jewelry and purses and kitchen supplies and small appliances and shoes and lots of stuff.

In the middle of all those things going on, a friend is picking me up at 11:30 to go have lunch at the Pasta House.  Sooooooo, do I use my ticket to get ice cream 30 minutes before she picks me up and eat my dessert before lunch?  I'm sure we won't be back here before the ice cream truck leaves at 1:00.

Maybe, just maybe, I can grab some kind of ice cream (other than a cone) that I could run back upstairs and put in my freezer for later.  Maybe.  Unless the line is too long for me to place my order.  I'm sure I won't be first in line.  Should I call my friend and suggest we go later?  That doesn't seem fair to her, though, does it?  What a conundrum!

Ooooooh, a word that's unusual enough that it could be defined for Wednesday Words.  Okay, I'll do it one day early this time.  So here's what it means:

Word of the Day = co·nun·drum / kəˈnəndrəm / noun = a confusing and difficult problem or question.

 Did I hear somebody say I should simply skip the ice cream and go to lunch?

Books I'm thinking of adding to my reading list

I'm thinking of adding these books to my reading list.  If you've read any of them, please share what you thought:

1.  The Fabric of Reality: The Science of Parallel Universes and Its Implications ~ by David Deutsch, 1997 (Since I requested this one from the library, I guess it's actually already on my reading list.)

2.  Thinking, Fast and Slow ~ by Daniel Kahneman, 2011

3.  Superintelligence: Paths, Dangers, Strategies ~ by Nick Bostrom, 2014

4.  The Beginning of Infinity ~ by David Deutsch, 2011

5.  Man’s Search for Meaning ~ by Viktor Frankl, 1959 (I read this long ago, so it will be a re-read.  I wrote about it HERE,)

6.  Brave New World ~ by Aldous Huxley, 1932 (This is another re-read.)

Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, and today is a gift — that is why we call it the present.

Migrating birds ~ I saw more than a dozen very large birds flying south together Sunday morning when I happened to glance out my window.  Most were in a group together, but a few were trailing behind in a smaller group.

Snoopy and other friends

Walking my dog

Since my cat Clawdia died, people have been asking if I plan to get another pet.  I've been telling them no, but today I noticed this little Snoopy dog on one of my tables and had an idea.  I strapped him onto my Rollator and sent this to few friends who knew I'd been getting in a lot of steps by walking:  "I realized I had not been walking my dog, so now I have an excuse to walk all over this place."

Having walked Snoopy, I decided to pick up my book with Snoopy dancing joyfully on the cover.  Peanuts Treasury by Charles M. Schulz was published in 1968.  I wrote about it before, so click HERE to read more about it.  I opened it randomly in the middle and found a very philosophical strip showing Charlie Brown and Lucy looking at something on the ground.  Lucy says, "Look at those stupid bugs.  They don't have the slightest idea as to what is going on in this world!"  Charlie Brown says, "What IS going on in this world?"  Lucy looks up at him and says, "I don't have the slightest idea!"  Yes, I love these characters.

I ran into an old friend Friday that I hadn't seen in a while, and we stood outside Walgreen's catching up before agreeing that we'll get together for lunch again soon.  Running into friends where there are good memories makes us smile and feel good, so this Senility Prayer makes sense to me:

Grant me the senility to forget the people I never liked anyway, the good fortune to run into the ones I do, and the eyesight to tell the difference.

Deb at Readerbuzz hosts The Sunday Salon.