Who doesn’t have childhoods memories of laying on the ground, gazing up at the clouds, and discovering the white and gray painted images against the blue sky — a long tailed dog, a floppy eared rabbit, a winged elephant, a … Read more...
Book REVIEW: FALL BACK DOWN WHEN I DIE by Joe Wilkins
This book — FALL BACK DOWN WHEN I DIE by Joe Wilkins… What a masterful blend of character-driven, literary fiction (with poetic, melt-in-your-mouth sentences). Combined with the intense pacing of more commercial fiction, this is a book you don’t want … Read more...
Nature’s Neon Lights: Aurora Borealis & Aurora Australis
Beautiful, magical, eerie, surreal, awe-inspiring… It’s hard to come up with adjectives to adequately capture the sight of the colorful, glowing, shifting curtains of light we know as the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights) and Aurora Australis (Southern Lights). In ancient … Read more...
Book: MIGRATIONS by Charlotte McConaghy
MIGRATIONS by Charlotte McConaghy is the kind of book that is the reason why I read: to slip into the skin of a character and fully inhabit her anguish, joys, thoughts, fears… to be transported to a different setting that … Read more...
Words: “The Ultimate Weakness of Violence …”
From the last book written by Martin Luther King, Jr. — WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE: Chaos or Community? (Beacon Press 2010 edition) two passages confirming his continued relevance in todays world, pointing us in the right direction — … Read more...
Book: THE MERCIES by Kiran Millwood Hargrave
Oh, my… this novel — THE MERCIES! The atmospheric setting, the writing, the characterization, the story… I was swept away and transported from the first lovely sentences:
… Read more...Last night Maren dreamt a whale beached itself on the rocks outside her
Book Review: THE FOREVER FRIEND by Suzie Ivy
To the delight of fans, Detective Laci Jolett is back in action in Book/novella #3 of Suzie Ivy’s K9 Forever Series — THE FOREVER FRIEND.
This time it’s drugs in the local high school that has two students in the … Read more...
For The Joy of Animals: The Antics of Badgers
The wonderful thing about wild animals is they always seem to have a few delightful surprises for us humans. Growing up in the midwest I knew what Badgers looked like thanks to zoos and wildlife shows (and hello, UW mascot!), … Read more...
Music: Leonid & Friends Cover “25 or 6 to 4”
A bonus of our current Covid-19 life is having the time to find an awesome cover of an old favorite — Chicago’s 25 or 6 to 4. Especially when you feel like you’re sitting in a jam session with extremely … Read more...
Book Review: CODE NAME HELENE by Ariel Lawhon
CODE NAME HELENE by Ariel Lawhon was the right book at the right time for me – the story of a tough-as-nails woman whose struggles and bravery make our shelter-in-place woes seem trivial. (Yes, the fictional story is – remarkably … Read more...
Backyard Engineering: Bike Experiments In Speed
Most of us like to try new things, especially if they are relatively safe and easy to do. But, would we be willing to endure hardship in order to explore a new idea? Probably not. Yet, most of us will … Read more...
Words: ” A Bright Future For Man …”
If only there were “Here Thanks To Nature” tags attached to everything everywhere as a reminder that our very lives are utterly and completely dependent on nature — not technology…
… Read more...I would feel more optimistic
about a bright future for
Rescue Journey of Piglet and Calf Buddies
A ride to an animal sanctuary was all the bonding time needed for this piglet and calf to become bffs. These two are not only adorable and heartwarming, but living proof that animals — regardless of whether they are domesticated … Read more...
The Lost Era Of Electric “Flying Trains”
Over 119 years old and still in operation today, the Wuppertaler Schwebebahn in Germany is the world’s oldest electric elevated railway with hanging cars. Developed as the first to transport people instead of goods, this electric “flying train” is an … Read more...
Book Review: THE BOY, THE MOLE, THE FOX AND THE HORSE by Charlie Mackesy
I received THE BOY, THE MOLE, THE FOX AND THE HORSE by Charlie Mackesy as a birthday present earlier this week and likely would never have picked it up on my own. What a little gem I’d have been missing. … Read more...
For The Joy of Animals: Seal Holds A Diver’s Hand
It is pure joy to watch the emotionally powerful and extraordinarily moving interactions between diver Ben Burville and his diving buddies. What a wonderful celebration of life and human/animal connection as a wild grey seal holds a diver’s hand!
At … Read more...
Book Review: WORDS by Jessica McCann
In the introduction to WORDS: Essays on Writing, Reading, and Life, Jessica McCann shares with the reader a core belief that is as intricately a part of her personal journey as it is her writer’s journey and forms the basis … Read more...
Canceled Vacation Plans? Consider Mindcations Not Just Staycations
The research is clear. Vacations are good for our health — physically, mentally, and emotionally. According to David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics, vacations are good for your heart,
… Read more...“we are actually seeing a reduction
Book Review: FAMILY OF ORIGIN by C.J. Hauser
What first drew me to FAMILY OF ORIGIN by C.J. Hauser? When I saw it at an indie bookstore, the jacket was face-out, displaying the frilly butt of a diving duck. Score. This could be right up my science- and … Read more...
For The Joy of Animals: Blissfully Splashing Dog
We tend to think — if there are limitations in our lives, then there are limitations in our happiness. But is that true? Or do we just make it so?
Maybe finding our bliss, the things that makes us happiest, … Read more...
Book Review: BOOST YOUR BRAIN by M. Fotuhi & C. B. Antoniades
I often don’t review the nonfiction books I read, but I felt this one was important to share. BOOST YOUR BRAIN is an older book (published 2013) I downloaded on my iPad years ago when it was on sale. It’s … Read more...
For The Joy of Animals: Animal Acts of Compassion
Compassion is not just a human trait. It is a universal “being” trait and animal acts of compassion are all around us if we look.
The meaning of “Compassion” comes from Latin root “passio”, which means to suffer, and … Read more...
Book Review: THE SPEED OF LIFE by Anne Pete
THE SPEED OF LIFE by Anne Pete is a compelling debut novel and a must read for anyone who loves the Arizona desert, strong but vulnerable female characters, and moving personal journeys.
The biggest fear most of us have is … Read more...
For The Joy Of Animals: Ninja Squirrels
We humans tend to think our intelligence makes us superior, but we still have a lot to learn from the animal world, especially when it comes to patience, persistence, and adaptability…
Mark Rober, a former NASA engineer, entrepreneur and science … Read more...
Music: NO DIRECTION by Rachael Yamagata
Songs resonate when they speak to us personally and capture a moment in time. While binge watching ONE SPRING NIGHT on Netflix, I became entranced by a song — NO DIRECTION by Rachael Yamagata — that played in the background. … Read more...