Quirky Stories

by sssmahh303, posted in Wellness

Mary Ann

When my Sirius XM subscription was going from $5.00 to nearly $30.00 a month, I had to decide was worth it.  I basically listened to news and Christmas music.   Could I use the $360 annual fee in better ways?  Yes, I could.  It was time for a change.  

I then started to peruse the airways searching for a new home for my ears while I was driving.  I re-discovered National Public Radio.  I had listened to it once upon a time and always enjoyed the interviews and programing.  I decided this would be a good place to listen to the news plus all their other programing.

NPR prides itself to present the news as just the facts so at the top and the bottom of the hour, you get a snapshot of what is happening in the world.  The programing will get more into opinions and more in-depth study of many topics.  I have found that generally they will have guests on with opposing views, so you get a well-rounded perspective on most topics.  They give excellent information on the arts with great book reviews that include interviews with the authors or a good discussion on sport teams.  It is never boring from my perspective.  It is always educational, and I have learned so much about the most obscure topics which brings me to the title of this blog – Quirky Stories.

I absolutely love the endless stories on the wildest subjects.  I have found that I will sit in the driveway and finish a story on the history of banjos.  Apparently, finishing stories in the driveway is very common among NPR listeners.  I keep saying I need to get a radio for the house so I can finish a story in the comfort of my home instead of freezing or roasting in the car. 

Some of the stories are often science centered.  Sometimes I come in the middle of a featured topic, and I might not catch the title so please forgive me. These are some recent programs that I found rather fascination which may give you some idea how my brain works.   Here are some of the stories.  What Dogs Bring to Your life – I think anyone of us who had or has a dog could be a guest contributor.  Some Insects use Wasps as Bodyguards – so when I am avoiding a wasp, it may just be protecting a fellow insect. Really?   I loved the session on sperm whales – when they communicate with each other, they use grammar that is like humans.  The whales are probably more correct since texting has ruined humans’ grammar and spelling 

Recently, I listened to a program on What Footballers eat for Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.  They had a session on a Ghost Story that was about the Golden Frogs of Costa Rica, and.  just his morning, I listened to a story about Buzz Aldrin using a ball point pen case to fix a circuit breaker on a space capsule– mission saved.  Remember these are not exact titles – it is just the flavor of a program.  Each time I drive somewhere, I truly look forward to learning something new about quirky subjects. 

You can often find topical NPR programs on your phone news.  It is in print.  Solo Agers was a recent and interesting article for our age group.  You can also go to the websites and listen to the programing there.    

If you are not an NPR aficionado, now is time to check it out.  I promise you will find some quirky stories.  It is good prep to be a future Jeopardy contestant.  You can join me with filling your mind full of rather useless information.  I cannot remember some important detail of my life, but I remember sperm whales are well-spoken.  If you become a listener, hopefully you will become a supporter.  NPR is free, but contributions keep it going.  Maybe that would be a good use of my $360 dollars? 

Playing the Sparrow

by Cynthia, posted in Lifestyle

Picture this. As you walk through the door you observe several tables at each of which four people are sitting with smiles on their faces. Tiles are clicking, conversation is flowing, and social media is all but forgotten. What is going on?! Ah. These individuals are finding community by playing a game – mahjong.

Seniors gathered around tables playing Mahjong game in a community center
A lively group of seniors enjoys playing Mahjong in a bright community room

What is it about mahjong that draws so many people – almost devotees – to the game? I had heard about mahjong several years ago and occasionally thought I would like to discover more. Recently, I’ve come to the conclusion that I want to join the throng. Yet, I know nothing about the rules, the plan, or how to get started.  Thus, I went on a search to find out more.

Mahjong’s current rise is not just nostalgia or novelty — it reflects a broader desire for tactile, social, screens-off activities that combine strategy, tradition, and community. Similar to a card game, mahjong uses tiles that are designed in suits with additional tiles to add dimension to the play. Obviously, the goal is to win a hand, but to get there takes strategically selecting and discarding tiles to yield a set of tiles based on a formula prescribed on a card from the National Mah Jongg League. At least for American Mahjong.

Mahjong has been played in multiple versions including Chinese, Riichi, Hong Kong, Japanese, Taiwanese, and Filipino traditions before coming to America in the 1920s. It is believed there are currently as many as 40 versions. As the communities and rules vary, so do the spellings – mah jong, mah-jongg, and mahjong.

Sparrow standing on mahjong tiles arranged on a rustic wooden table.
A sparrow stands on a set of mahjong tiles on a wooden table near a window.

Mahjong derives its name from Chinese words translated as sparrow, due to the clicking sound made when playing with the tiles. It is easy to understand once you walk into a mahjong house – or Mahj House, as many are called.

Admittedly, as a novice I am intimidated. Yet I see so many people jumping on the bandwagon that I would be remiss if I didn’t join the parade. I have found a few friends who also want to learn. We are signing up for a Mahjong Boot Camp. Yes, there really is such a thing!

For those who want to immerse themselves, there are custom-made tile sets, mats, game-night accessories, jewelry, and more. The mahjong craze does not seem to be a phase.

In our post-pandemic world, people long for face-to-face connection. Playing mahjong allows you to enter a mahj house and join a table, even if you know no one there. Fast friends are made as tiles are passed. It becomes almost an obsession for some people.

Book clubs, Bible study groups, mother’s day out, senior centers, and others are thrilled to have someone teach them to play. I am told that although it seems intimidating at first, once you start playing and the rhythm clicks – pardon the pun – you will be hooked.  I can’t wait! I will let you know how it goes! Meanwhile, you might want to try a group in your own area. You will challenge your brain, have fun, and make new friends.

AI for Dummies

by sssmahh303, posted in Reviews

Mary Ann

I am sure that you have battled with your phone when texting.  You spell please and the phone spell Louise.   You repeat it, and it does the same thing.  By the third try, the phone may begin to cooperate.  Does this sound familiar?   Another scenario – you are trying to contact the bank, and you are in a verbal game of ping pong with the “person” at the bank continually asking for clearer instruction.  By this point you are totally frustrated and may just hang up or you fall on your knees after being directed to a real person.  This is now our world, and AI or artificial intelligence is the new “person” in our lives.  I am sure you have doubted making a new friend with AI that you didn’t ask for.

You are all aware that my friend Lisa and I do our non-fiction book club.  I have shared several of our selections with you in reviews and such.  Well, Lisa thought it would be good for us old ladies to learn about AI.  I bulked at first, but she was gung-ho!  We settled on reading AI for Dummies by Mueller, Massaron, and Diamond.   It seemed like a good start because we were AI dummies. The edition we read was 2025, a recent update, but as we began to read, we realized it was already outdated.  AI is moving fast – a lot faster than Lisa and I were moving.  It was laborious reading like a college science text.  However, I must admit I did learn some new vocabulary.  Tokens was the key word.  Tokens are bits of information.  The tokens are stored in the data centers.  That is why your phone texting takes the beginning of your intended word and finds something else that could fit which of course is not what you wanted.  We both could see how AI could help doctors or lawyers, but the information you are searching for is only as good as the data input.  It is sort of true for everything.  

Then we got braver since we now knew three new vocabulary words and decided to take an online class with the Princeton Adult School.  It was ZOOM class with an AI guy from the University of PA.  It was a Q and A format.  However, no one knew enough to even ask questions.  Since I am an educator, I was concerned about how AI would be used with students.  I was also concerned with creativity – I didn’t want the world cheating on original ideas.  We did learn a few things.  For example, Claude is the best system to use to support you with research or formatting materials.  I have a writer friend who uses Claude as his staff.  It saves him so much time with his self-publishing work.  AI is a tool.  I just don’t want it to become my best friend. 

Most people don’t know anything about AI and are afraid of it.  I get it.  That is me for the most part.   I did however explore further.  Christ Hayes of MS NOW has a pod cast called Why is This Happening?  He recently hosted several AI experts in an 8-episode series called The AI End Game. Chris is bright journalist who asked many questions that I had, and the experts did clearly explain their responses.  The episode on ethics with Timnit Gebru was excellent and the episode, Boom to Bust with Ed Zitron explained AI economics. The episode on AI consciousness was a bit scary.  If you want to take a short course, these podcasts will educate you. It was worth the eight-ish hours I dedicated to it.  They are more entertaining than AI for Dummies.  Who needs a textbook when you can listen in your car or while exercising?  You can get these podcasts wherever you get you podcasts – I sound like a TV commercial.  It is free – that is always good. 

I must say that Lisa and I haven’t really stopped talking about AI.  She send me articles from the NY Times all the time.  AI is here, like it or not.  Is it here forever?  That is the question.  This all reminded me when home computers came into our lives or the Internet.  It is a blessing and a curse. I just really want to know if something is true.  One lady in the Princeton Adult Class asked how to tell if a picture was real.  Our professor explained several steps to verify a photo.  NO ONE has time to do that for each picture we encounter.  I guess we are going to have to trust.  Not an easy thing to do! 

This has been my journey with AI so far.  I hope that it might help you if you are as confused as I was and still am on many levels.  I have given you some good direction for your journey.  Travel safe and put your seat belt on!   

Gathering Wellness Information

by Cynthia, posted in Wellness

How many times have you gone to the doctor, already assured of the cause of what is ailing you? If you are like me, you enjoy doing preliminary research. You feel assured when you believe you are informed.

In the past we relied solely on the doctor for medical advice. Yet now, with so much information available to us, the doctor has become the one who validates what we already know. The doctor has the authority to prescribe medication or treatment. If you ask medical professionals, most will say that internet searches are their worst enemies as patients come into their offices, already having answers.

Elderly woman speaking to a stressed male doctor in NHS scrubs in a medical office

I have personally experienced this myself.  I went for a consultation before agreeing to an invasive medication, armed with a long list of questions.  The doctor was so exasperated with my questions that he actually walked out on me, almost slamming the door behind him.  In my defense, my questions were based on reading the results of a clinical trial that were published by the company that sold the treatment. I felt the doctor had “god syndrome” – that is, he believed a patient should take his word as gospel and not question his authority. Of course, I wasn’t questioning his authority; just his experience in administering the medication. Oh, well.

All this to say, be discerning when turning to YouTube, websites, and social media for answers. Please understand, I am not blaming the social media platforms. Online health information can be helpful. It can also be misleading or even incorrect. Ultimately, talk to your doctor and hope s/he has the patience to answer your questions.

Following are some thoughts about searching for and using online health information.

Start With a Healthy Level of Caution

Remember that online medical content can be useful for learning basic information, but it should not replace individualized medical advice. Be especially careful with advice about diagnosis, medication changes, supplements, diets, procedures, or stopping prescribed treatment. Each person has a unique chemistry, lifestyle, and history. Work with your medical professionals to discern the best treatment for you as an individual.  Assume that any dramatic claims need verification before acting on them.

Check Who Is Providing the Advice

Video call between a man and a female AI health specialist in white coat

This is a big one! Look for the author’s name, credentials, professional role, and organization. Just this week I watched two online videos by AI doctors! While the information shared may have come from reliable sources, AI’s ability to filter those sources is still in its infancy.  Opt instead, for sources connected to government health agencies, major medical centers, universities, professional medical organizations, or established nonprofit health organizations. Be especially cautious if the content creator does not clearly identify her/his qualifications or uses vague labels such as “health expert,” “wellness coach,” or “researcher” without verifiable details.

Evaluate the Purpose of the Content

Ask whether the goal is to inform, sell, persuade, entertain, or build an audience.  Watch for sponsored products, affiliate links, paid memberships, supplement sales, coaching programs, or “exclusive” cures.  Be careful when fear, urgency, outrage, or miracle language is used to keep your attention.

Look for Evidence, Not Just Opinions

Reliable medical information should provide the source indicating from where the evidence comes.  Look for references to peer-reviewed research, clinical guidelines, medical organizations, or expert review.  Watch out for personal stories presented as proof, limited trials and studies, or claims that “doctors do not want you to know this.”  Check whether the information is current, because medical guidance can change as new evidence becomes available. How often have you seen information that is one, five, even twenty years old? Once information is posted online, it never goes away!

Searching for answers is a way of life these days. A wealth of good information is in cyberspace awaiting our perusal. It is great to have valuable information at our fingertips. The important thing is to be mindful, cautious, and discerning.  Then, search to your heart’s content!

Expired

by sssmahh303, posted in Taking Care of Business

Mary Ann

Just like expiration dates on your produce and canned goods, I think we have expiration dates on other aspects of our lives.  I am not talking divorce or death, but indeed they are endings.  I think that we outgrow certain facets of our lives.  In recent years, two come to mind that were big steps for me to take to say goodbye to features that were a big part of my life in the past. 

When I was young, I would read the Time Magazine, and there was a section called People. I would read it each week to see what the celebrities were up too.  Sometimes it was the only segment that I was interested in.  Then in 1974, People Magazine was launched with Mia Farrow on the cover.  I was beyond thrilled.  I got a whole magazine on famous and not so famous people.  It was a step up from the grocery store tabloids.  

I read just about every issue for over 50 years, but I did not renew it this past year.  Surprise, I haven’t missed it.  It no longer held the magic it once did for me. I still liked the reviews of movies, TV, and books, however The Find the Difference photos came to be the only thing I really liked doing.  I realize that as I have gotten older, the world of influencers or WB stars are not in my orbit anymore.  You can hardly keep up with who is in and who is out.  However, I just don’t find the articles interesting anymore.  I don’t really need true crime stories or features highlighting people who do not have sterling characters.  So, it doesn’t seem worth the $100 plus just to play a photo game.  Bye-Bye, People!

Another goodbye that I thought I would never say is Saturday Night Live!  When it began in the fall of 1975, it was the most original piece of comedy ever produced.  Not Lucille Ball or Carol Burnett that I watched in my youth, but it had political satire and clever skits about slices of American life.  I could hardly wait for the next episode.  The original cast with Chevy Chase or John Bulshi or Gilda Radner and company were hysterical.  It was funny without being cruel.  Remember Cone Heads?  SNL was a launching pad for so much comedy talent, and I admire the show for that.

I watched for nearly 50 years but in the last few years, SNL was becoming mean – I guess reflecting the general society.  Frankly, I was bored.  I am old, but I like to laugh.  I still enjoyed Weekend Update and the cold openings especially during Presidential election years.  Then it became cruel as well.  I have a hard time watching Colin Jost say crude things about his wife, Scarlett Johansen.  You lose respect for those individuals. I don’t really need that in my life anymore.  So goodbye Saturday Night Live!   

There are a few things that I wish I could say goodbye to now.  However, they don’t seem to be fading in popularity. I don’t like crypto currency.  Call me old fashion, but I want to see my money.  It seems like a Ponzi scheme to me with the people at the top getting rich and the people at the bottom losing their life’s savings.  

I hate naked dressing.  Maybe it is my mother whispering in my ear that I needed to wear a slip because my dress was sheer, and you could see the outline of my legs.  Remember the scandal when this happened to Lady Di before she became a princess?  I love to see an awards show and see the participants dressed in beautiful clothes as they walk the Red Carpet.   I especially love Marchese – if you could wear a fairytale, you would be wearing Marchese.  Naked dressing doesn’t leave much to the imagination.  You lose the romance of beautiful clothes, and a little mystery is always good.  

And for now, I trying to figure out if I like AI.  It is here but the jury is still out for me whether it is something I am going to unitize.  It is in my life whether I like it or not.  I have a blog coming out on my adventure with AI, so I look forward to sharing that with you. 

For now, I have expired some things in my life.  I have that power to do just that if something isn’t adding to my life.  If something is taking away from my life, it is time for it to expire!   

Mona’s Eyes

by Cynthia, posted in Reviews

The Barnes and Noble book of the year by Thomas Schessler has had mixed reviews, most of which are negative. I feel that to be a sad commentary on today’s readers. I found this book to be an excellent source of learning with a sweet story propping up the lessons.

Schessler provides several essential elements which underscore the artistic adventures of Dade’ and Mona and allow insight into the challenges facing a little girl.

Preserving Memory. Upon observing the trivial objects in the ten-year-old’s room, the grandfather embarks on a quest to provide her with a mental repository of art, imagination and wonder to draw upon should her eyesight fail permanently.

Life Lessons.  Each selection of art is explained not only in terms of the painter/sculptor but includes emotional or philosophical or historical context. Dade’ provides these lessons to assist Mona in navigating the harsh realities of life; lessons that her parents are not equipped to share with her.

Emotional Growth. The grandfather’s treatise regarding each piece of art is, in fact, a form of therapy. Giving Mona perspective on the world and drawing out her own inner strength helps Mona overcome the terror of darkness and blindness.

Focus. Mona is charged by her grandfather to look at the art each week – to really see what is in the painting/sculpture. At first, she gets bored after only a few minutes. Yet as time goes on, she becomes enthralled with the elements in each piece. Learning to focus her attention on the works of art she becomes curious about the meaning of each piece. She wonders about the artist and why s/he expressed her/himself in this way. She learns to take time to observe rather than to rush through an assignment, thus enjoying and better understanding what is before her.

Create a Structure. Mona knows that every Wednesday after school she will spend time with her Dade’ viewing and discussing a work of art. She looks forward to the visits, even though they may at times be tedious. Having structure helps us navigate our days. And enjoying one day per week, knowing what our task will be gives us a sense of purpose.

While many of the reviews find the book boring as each chapter is basically a review of works of art (see https://monaseyesgallery.com ) ,I find it intellectually rich while easily accessible. Critics focus on the “unrealistic” conversations and understanding of a ten-year-old.  Have they met many ten-year-olds these days? Many are quite capable of understanding concepts that some of us may not have contemplated in years gone by. Young people are exposed to all manners of knowledge and information. Teaching young people to discern what is real would be a tribute to any grandparent.

While this book is a novel, I would describe it more as a lesson in art history with a side story about a young lady who is navigating the sometimes-harsh realities of life. Schessler has provided us with wonderful, sometimes intense information in an easy-to-read format. I, for one, appreciate the opportunity to revisit masters’ works of art in a delightful and rich compilation. Each short chapter can be savored. If you are looking for a light, summer read, this may not be your best choice. Yet if you want to learn about art from a new and engaging perspective, give Mona’s Eyes a look.

Le Temps des Cerises

by sssmahh303, posted in Lifestyle

Mary Ann

I was travelling in Provence in early August with a group of friends.  We were driving down a country road when we came upon a field of lavender that was surrounded with hedgerows of cherry trees.  You know the kind with big, black, sweet Bing cherries.  They are delicious and as you devour them, they stain your fingers and lips a dark red.  We stopped the car to take pictures of lavender, but I ended up taking pictures of the cherries and tasting one or two.  Scrumptious! It was Le Temps des Cerises – the time of cherries!

I did not know that phrase, but I came across it later in a book.  The time of cherries is a happy time.  Life is good.  It was defined as the time in summer that is carefree and full of love.  Since I was last in France, the phrase has morphed into a clothing line, restaurants, and wine labels.  The phrase reminded me of our American catch phrase,” Life is Just a Bowl of Cherries” capturing that life is going well. (Did you know that phrase came from a 1930 song?) 

One Christmas, I took the pictures of cherries that I took in Provence and framed them as gifts.  I made a border in fancy script of Le Temps des Cerises, The Time of Cherries, Life is a Bowl of Cherries, and Life is Good that surrounded the picture. I put the photo on a small easel, and I then found glass cherries that I placed near the easel.  A little bit of France with wishes for happiness.  

When I visited Cynthia once, we went to the Oklahoma City Museum of Art to see their glass exhibits.  Dale Chihuly, the Master of Art Glass, has permanent exhibits there.  As a parting gift, Cynthia gave me a glass cherry that I place by my cherry photo.  It is so Cynthia, and the cherry represents the happy time I had with her.  It is always a reminder of her when I look at the cherry photo. 

Since we are talking about cherries, let me share with you one of my favorite desserts, and it is French. Clafoutis is a fruit custard dessert that is like a flan with fruits. It is usually made with Bing cherries. Though, I have made it with peaches and pears and is equally as good.  Just use the fruit that is in season. 

Here is the recipe from the Linousin/Augergne (south central) region of France.  I am not sure where I got this recipe so if I have stolen this from Julia Childs, please forgive me.  I have seen several Clafoutis recipes online, so I am not sure any recipe is scared anymore.  

CLAFOUTIS

1 ½ lbs. ripe black (Bing) cherries, not pitted (warn guests about the pits)

2 eggs

1 egg yolk

½ cup (4 oz.) sugar

2 ½ oz. butter, melted

2/3 cup of all-purpose flour

1 cup of milk 

Vanilla sugar (vanilla bean in regular sugar) or 1 teaspoon of vanilla

Preheat oven to 400 degrees; wash, dry, stem the cherries 

Butter an oven proof dish large enough to hold the cherries in a single layer.  Place cherries in dish.  Combine the eggs and the yolk in a bowl, add sugar, and whisk until the mixture is pale in color.  Whisk in the butter.  Sift in the flour and mix well, then add in the milk.  Pour the mixture over the cherries. 

Bake for 40 minutes @ 400 degrees or you could bake @ 350 degrees for 50 minutes until golden brown and a knife comes out clean. 

Your house will smell delicious as the Clafoutis bakes.  It is really an easy recipe and so French.  You will have your very own Les Temps des Cerises, a happy time with friends and family as you enjoy the Clafoutis together.  Bonne Appetite!  Joie De Vivre!

The Bible Recap

by Cynthia, posted in Reviews

My grandson is studying interpersonal communication as a precursor to a career in ministry. Since high school he has led a youth group each week and facilitates Sunday morning gatherings for youth. He has been vested in this calling for quite some time and his enthusiasm is unwavering. Prior to getting married this past February, he lived with me, as my home is less than a ten-minute drive to the parking lot at his college. So that I may get my facts straight when we discuss religion, I decided it was time to reread the Bible*. Frankly, it has been a very long time since I sat down and went through the entire Bible and I don’t think I’ve ever completed the reading within a year.

I visited Mardel, the Christian Bookstore that is owned by the Greenes who also own Hobby Lobby. I was in search of Christian leadership books for my grandson. During my visit I decided to look at Bibles, too. Admittedly, I was overwhelmed by the selections and, frankly, surprised by the price tags. In addition to Bibles and related books I searched for Read-the-Bible-in-a-Year plans. Back at home, I continued my search online.

For Christmas, my grandson gave me an Amazon gift card to apply to the purchase of a new television in the family room. The one I had was having trouble with all the streaming. I was not ready to expend the money for a new television, but I wanted a new Bible for accomplishing this year’s quest. I asked him if he would mind that I use the gift card to purchase a new Bible. I have several but the most-read ones also have highlights and notes from days gone by. This goal would be approached in a different manner. Needless to say, he was thrilled!

I purchased an artfully covered Bible and matching tabs which I painstakingly applied. Then I settled on the plan that I would begin on January 1. The plan is called “The Bible Recap” (TBR) and is published by founder Tara-Leigh Cobble. The approach is reading the Bible in a year in biblical chronological order. It is a delightful way to accomplish my goal.

Each day I open the app on my smart phone. The day-of-the-year and the date are highlighted in a box. The reading for the day is listed by book and chapters to be read for the day. Ahead of the list is a “devotional.” Multiple methods exist towards the same outcome. The passage may be read in a hard copy Bible or the selection can be read on the phone. Yet I discovered after a few days that I can listen and follow along. The gentleman’s voice is soothing and his pronunciation of difficult names is delightful. I don’t have to struggle through those unfamiliar sounds.

Upon completion of each day’s readings, I go back to the devotional where Tara-Leigh Cobble recaps the day’s readings. Her seven-minute review highlights important passages as she talks about the culture of the times in which the scrolls were recorded. On Wednesday’s she does a “check in” with additional information. During this review I take notes and sometimes highlight passages with my fancy new Bible markers, which are designed not to bleed through the thin pages.

Each time a new book of the Bible is begun, a video from The Bible Project does an overview of the book. These videos are fun as the author/narrator draws while explaining. I have found these invaluable in understanding the totality of the book, so much so that I am recording the day that a book is introduced so I can refer to the videos again if necessary. (See https://bibleproject.com/ )

Honestly, when I set this lofty goal, I feared I would fizzle out. But The Bible Recap is an excellent guidepost and makes reading even the challenging stories more palpable. To date I can boast I am on target!

Whether or not you are religious or Christian, if you want to explore the Bible in its totality, I highly recommend The Bible Recap. https://www.thebiblerecap.com/

*The author has read other religious and spiritual texts over the years. It is the author’s philosophy that to understand humanity it is helpful to have a broad knowledge of various teachings.

Brain Games 

by sssmahh303, posted in Wellness

Mary Ann

When you suddenly can’t remember a name or recall a word that is on the tip of your tongue, you begin to panic that you are getting early onset Alzheimers.  At our age, it probably would not be early onset.  It is just old age. 

It is frightening to think that you might be losing your mental faculties.  It is hard enough to deal with the aches and pains of aging and then be fearful that you will fall for a scam giving all your money away or be in a permanent brain fog.  So, what can you do about it?  

The experts would tell you to learn new things, get enough sleep, eat well, exercise, have social connections, and challenge your brain in novel ways.  Even in old age, the brain can adapt, learn, and build new connections between nerve cells.  This is called neuroplasticity. 

People with mild cognitive impairment can do many things to improve their mental skills.  They can “exercise” their brains with activities that require thinking, remembering, focusing, learning, and problem solving.  The secret is to challenge yourself.  There are lots of computerized cognitive games that you can do on your computer, iPad, or phone.  You can learn a new language or a musical instrument. Take up any new artistic endeavor.  Write a journal and read everything.  Take classes.  I Zoom classes all the time – a previous blog detailed this. The activity should be novel, test you, and be enjoyable so you will continue with it. 

Crossword puzzles are always mentioned.  However, I cannot spell so that makes it doubly hard for me.  I can look at a word and know it is misspelled, but if I must generate the word, it will take me several tries if I ever get it.  I have taken to doing Word Searches or Find-A-Word puzzles which I find relaxing.  After years of teaching, I can read words upside down and backwards which is necessary to do the searches. This comes from looking at students’ papers from the other side of the desk.  That learned skill has finally come in handy.  Who knew?  

I also like to do Hidden Picture Puzzles.  I guess I always loved the Highlight magazine’s Hidden Pictures that we found in the dentist office. The company Brain Games has a wonderful selection of all kinds of brain games.  The Scavenger Hunt books from them are challenging but lots of fun.  The Find the Cat books are hard.  Kitties are tricky.  

If you like numbers, there is sudoku.  I have a variation of the puzzle that is a wooden board with colored balls.  It looks easy, but it is very thought-provoking.  There is a game for every interest and attention span.  You just need to find something of interest to you.  You can sign up for expensive online courses or go to Dollar Trees and stock up on Word Searches. And of course, Amazon has endless brain games.

I start everyday with prayers, meditations, readings, and brain games.  I am hoping that it is all helping my brain.  At least, I am trying, and it is all enjoyable.  It is nice to kill two birds with one stone – exercising the brain and having fun doing it!  Join me in making a difference in your brain and in your life.   

Goalie – Check

by Cynthia, posted in Taking Care of Business

Okay. By the title I selected I bet you were thinking this post would be about the FIFA World Cup. If you were following the sport, I apologize for the teaser. We have arrived at the 204th day of 2026 with only 161 days to go – so we are a little past half-way through the year.  For me, that means it is time to check in with my goals and task list that were created in January.

I want to see how true I have been to completing those items that were important to me six months ago. And if they are no longer relevant, it is time to adjust. Hence, an update!

Elderly woman reading handwritten notes in a notebook at home

Overall, I have the physical aspect of my goals down to a science. My emphasis on the Mediterranean and Portfolio dietary guidelines have served me well. I feel healthy and satisfied when I stay close to those suggestions. I drink a lot of water and exercise daily. I find that, as a writer, I tend to sit too long at a time. So, I wear a smart watch that encourages me to move every hour if I haven’t done so. When I get those reminders, I jump into an exercise snack (which Mary Ann wrote about earlier this year).

My friendship circle is expanding. Yes, it takes a lot of effort yet interestingly this year the friends are reaching out to me at the same rate that I reach out to them. This seems like a first as I have always felt that I must be the one to initiate visits. Maybe it is the people with whom I am now interacting opposed to sometimes-friends of the past. My heart is warmed with the people whom I see regularly and share a few moments.

I am on target with a part of my spiritual goal. Using the Bible Recap app, I have finished 23 books of the Bible, reading in chronological order, with the goal of completing the entire Bible in one year. The Bible is not included in my goal of reading 24 books this year. So far, I have read eleven books and am currently reading four others. I know that sounds crazy but two of the books require writing, one is a weekly reflection, and the fourth is an art-related novel about which I will post a review upon completion. All that to say, I feel I am on target to complete the reading objective.

In the “occupational” or “professional” category I had but one goal – to update my estate plan.  The legal part of that is complete but the personal part is taking a lot more time. Still, I am moving forward. I think one’s “estate plan” for lack of a better moniker is really never complete. Life offers many and constant changes.

Elderly woman reading documents at a table with a dog lying on the floor

One of my creativity goals will span years, but I have made some progress. I am attempting to select the best or most relevant pictures from various time periods and events and create Shutterfly books. Those take time and are not inexpensive. Thus, I am pacing myself.  Still, I have completed a few this year.

Admittedly, the one goal for which I seem to fail is writing. I write all the time, but I want to finish at least one book! I have several chapters started for four books! I think about them frequently yet don’t sit down and work on them. I have a tendency to think I need to get the little tasks out of the way first. Doesn’t sound like this is an important goal, does it? I will reflect on that.

All in all, I feel I am accomplishing what I set out to do this year.  Did you set goals or New Year’s resolutions?  If so, how are yours coming along? Hallmark is showing Christmas movies in July as this is half-way through their year, too. Now is the perfect time to check in on things you want to complete before the year’s end.  Good luck with your goals!