Lifestyle of Learning 2023 Edition: Volume 5

 August 1 - 20

It is important to me that I challenge myself to learn and grow. I want to stoke the flames of curiosity not stifle it. I want to push myself a bit to experience new things that might fan those flames. Here is what I have done in August, thus far, that have furthered that goal.

-I read the minor prophets of the Old Testament: Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah Nahum, Habakkuk, Zepheniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi.

- I have read the first three gospels in the New Testament: Matthew, Mark, and Luke.

- I have read several books: Meditations for the New Mother by Helen Good Benneman, A Year of No Clutter by Eve O. Schaub, The Story of My Life and Work by Booker T. Washington, Miss Austen by Gill Hornby, The Case for Faith by Lee Strobel, and At the Waters Edge by Sara Gruen. Meditations for the New Mother was a book that I discovered in a thrift store in Philadelphia about twenty years ago. It is full of poetry and short essays that reflect the joy that accompanies motherhood. Throughout its pages, it poignantly describes my thoughts and feeling about being a mother. A Year of No Clutter is a memoir in which the author addresses her complicated relationship with things. Her insights really resonated with me and has provided me with plenty of mental fodder as I continue to work on my relationship with objects. I admire Booker T. Washington and was pleased to learn more about his journey in establishing Tuskegee Institute. Lee Strobel's books are always thought provoking for me. Miss Austen is a piece of historical fiction that stoked in me some curiosity about Jane Austen's life and family.

- I've been working out in a variety of ways. I have been getting to the gym at least twice a week. I have added deadlifts into my leg workout. I've done some workouts in the parking lot - squats, walking lunges, and tiptoeing, etc. I have gone walking, hiking, and have played a little basketball.

-I tried hydromassage, a massage chair, and the tanning beds at the gym. I was collecting information and contemplating upgrading my gym membership. I have decided that those things don't add enough to my life to pay for that upgraded membership.

- I have been learning about the Philadelphia-based cult MOVE. I had remembered the bombing of the MOVE headquarters and the subsequent fire that annihilated 65 houses but I had no understanding what the organization was about and what precipitated the bombing. 

-I have been watching Professor of Rock videos and am learning more about the songwriting process and the interconnectedness between folks in the music industry.

- I recently learned the word jeremiad and its definition - a long literary work bitterly lamenting the state of society and its morals, prophesying society's imminent downfall. The book I read last month, Amusing Ourselves to Death by Neal Postman, is a jeremiad!

- For the first time, I have viewed some of the classic western films featuring Roy Rogers.

- I am continuing to use Balancing the Sword to help guide me through my Bible readings.

- I walked at the botanical gardens with the hubby. We dissected some of the garden layouts and discussed how some of it could be translated at home. I also saw a Green Heron.

- I went to the zoo and thoroughly enjoyed observing the elephant, tiger, mountain lion and siamangs. The elephant was feeding himself with hay that he pulled out of a barrel that was suspended from the tree above him. The barrel had holes that he would locate with his trunk. It was fascinating to watch his trunk maneuver, pulling the hay out, putting it in his mouth, and then sweeping the ground to pick up stray pieces of hay. Fascinating. The tiger was sleeping right next to the fencing so it was easy to see just how large he was and to make note of his beautiful markings. I lingered with my observations and was rewarded with him stretching and checking me out. He moves just like my Othello. There was a young mountain lion that was "stalking" a toddler, on the opposite side of the fence of course. It was intense. The siamangs put on a tremendous display. They were screeching and making thonking sounds with their inflated throat sacs. Totally fascinating. Also, while at the zoo, I worked on experiencing the zoo in a way that was satisfying for me without self-consciousness. 

- I tried a new curry at a Thai restaurant. I love culinary adventures!

- I am currently reading Short Nights of the Shadow Catcher: The Epic Life and Immortal Photographs of Edward Curtis; From Chaos to Clarity by Mike Signorelli, and Pillage by Obert Skye.

- I played Battleship with the hubby. I hadn't played it in years and was a decent little brain workout.

-I went for a hike at a nearby state park. I made natural observation. I was really thrilled with the variety of native flowers and fungi that I observed. I really do want to be able to identify them with more ease. I have more to learn!

-While hiking, my sister and I observed a bulbous growth on native flower that appeared to be a yellow coneflower of some sort. We took a specimen home, identified the flower as a cutleaf coneflower, and dissected the bulbous growth. After some research, we learned that the growth is a coneflower gall. The growth hormones of the plant are stimulated as a response to the saliva of a midge that was feeding on it. I love when a mystery of the world around me is revealed to me ;)

- While researching the coneflower gall, I learned of the existence of phytoplasmas. Phytoplasmas are bacteria that infect phloem and are transmitted from plant to plant by insect vectors. This bacteria than causes abnormal growth.

-While reading the book on Edward Curtis, I learned that Geronimo was born in what is now New Mexico. So much of my life has involved New Mexico, yet I never knew this.

- There are so many interesting tidbits of knowledge in the Edward Curtis book that I am reading. In addition to the information regarding Geronimo, I learned that the city Seattle is named after Chief Si'ahl (pronounced see-ahlsh), albeit a distortion of his name, of the Duwamish and Suquamish tribes, which I also didn't know anything about.

- I have continued maintaining a monthly journal. I am refining my process, creating a method that combines the free-form written journaling that I was doing before I started the monthly journals with the artistic approach.

- I am aspiring to expand my cooking repertoire so I have tried some new recipes. I made a garbanzo bean and tuna salad; lentil, lemon and kale soup; and garlic parmesan white beans. They were all delicious. My favorite was the garbanzo bean and tuna salad.

- I saw a heron at a local park that is either a juvenile Blue Heron or an American Bittern. I have a little more research to do. I also saw a juvenile cardinal. From a distance I thought it was a tufted titmouse but, upon further inspection, found it to be a juvenile cardinal. 

 

Making Up My Mind Carefully and a Review of the 23 Hard Things in 2023

" I have often been asked by young men how they can succeed in this or that direction. My advice to them is to make up their minds carefully, in the first place, as to what they want to do and then persistently devote themselves to accomplishing that end, letting nothing discourage them. ... I have been asked many times how I have succeeded in this thing or in that thing. In almost every case I have replied that it has required constant, hard, conscientious work. I consider that there is no permanent success possible without hard and severe effort, coupled with the highest and most praiseworthy aims. Luck, as I have experienced it, is only another name for hard work. Almost any individual can succeed in any legitimate enterprise that he sets his heart upon, if he is willing to pay the price, but the price, in most cases, is being willing to toil when others are resting, being willing to work while others are sleeping, being willing to put forth the severest effort when there is no one to see or applaud. It is comparatively easy to find people who are willing to work when the world is looking on and ready to give applause, but very hard to find those who are willing to work in the corner or at midnight, when there is no watchful eye or anyone to give applause." (Excerpt from The Story of My Life and Work by Booker T. Washington)

Although I had great role models for "constant, hard, conscientious work" and have, thus, always attempted to apply that to any endeavor I might undertake, I, in my youth, struggled to develop a clear vision. I struggled to make up my mind carefully, in the first place, as advised by Booker T. Washington. I was under some illusion that I could have it all, do it all, and be it all and lacked clarity. I now know that crafting a clear vision inspires me.  And now, understanding that life involves a series of trade offs, it helps me make better decisions about how I spend my time, energy and money. Knowing that I can only use this moment in time and spend this dollar and expend this present energy one time encourages me to make up my mind carefully and draft a plan based on a clear vision. I have some longer term goals that really drive my other goal making. I expressed these goals in the post Could Have Been Me. I really want to have solid control over my things, money, time and body so that I can fulfill my dreams and my purpose. I expressed very specific goals for 2023 in two posts: 2023 Goals and 23 Hard Things in 2023. 

Today, to bring those goals into sharper focus, I am going to review my progress on the 23 Hard Things in 2023. This is where I stand at this moment:

1) Write 12 snail mail letters: DONE. I completed this goal during June. This month I have written another letter and have plans for several more. Presently, 13/12.

2) Initiate 3 dates with hubby: I initiated a stay-at-home date that involved playing Battleship. It was the first time that we had ever played Battleship. BTW I sunk his ships. :) I also asked him to go hiking with me today, to help me break in my new birthday gifted hiking sneakers. It rained far more that forecasted so he asked for a raincheck (yup, he thought this was hysterical). We have rescheduled for Tuesday. I have plans to invite him to play miniature golf. I shall soon complete this goal.

3) Purge 1200 items: DONE. I completed this goal in July but I will still attempt to purge a minimum of 100 items per month. 1226/1200.

4) Read 48 books: I am rocking and rolling on meeting this goal. As of the end of July I had read 61/48 books and, at this moment, I have read another 16 in August. This count does include books of the Bible. I have read 40 books of the Bible and I have read 37 other books.

5) 12 of the 48 books read need to be books that I own: DONE. Presently, 16 of the 37 books that I have read are books that I own. I am really enjoying this project. I am being a good steward. I am becoming more familiar with my personal library. I am finding that I can purge some books from my library, which is helping me meet goal #3. :)

6) Have one adventure per month: I am loving this goal. It is reminding me that my life is a grand adventure. For me, an adventure is doing something or takes me out of my comfort zone. In July, I tried a host of new pastries that delighted my taste buds and I was surprised about which were my favorites; I played miniature golf (I hadn't done that in years); I pitched horseshoes for the very first time; I participated in a cornhole tournament when I had never even played cornhole before; I went to Baker's Creek and a vegan restaurant. 

7) Make and maintain a minimum of six monthly journals: DONE. I am now working on my eighth monthly journal. I am beginning to get impatient with this journaling format. I began this format 14 months ago in order to use up my scrapbooking supplies and explore my artistic side. I have enjoyed it but am ready to return to a more simplified journaling process. This month, I will assess my progress on utilizing my supplies and then make a decision as to how to move forward.

8) Make a minimum of 36 blog entries: 16/36 once I publish this post. Additionally, I have five drafts and still consider myself behind. I shall press on. 

9) Repair camera: DONE.

10) Repair mandolin and learn one song: Not yet, although I do intend on taking the mandolin to the music center this week.

11) Dance: A smidge done. I found an Instagram page today that daily asks the question, "Have you danced today?" I am going to begin asking myself that question. I am going to write it in my planner, maybe even add it to my habit tracker, and see if that helps me move forward in meeting this goal.

12) Learn to tiptoe (move like a child): YES.

13) Learn to skip (move like a child): I can skip but not gracefully. I will continue to work on this.

14) Do one cartwheel, although a round off will do (move like a child): Not yet. I am pleased that my fear of some movements is beginning to wane. Maybe, just maybe, I will be able to do this before the year is up.

15) Remove tree from front yard: DONE.

16) Repair front porch stairs: DONE.

17) Write a letter to Carole's mother: It is written but not mailed. I am now uncertain as to whether I should send this letter. I am praying on it.

18) Take vitamins a minimum of 275 days of the year. Thus far, I have taken vitamins at least 182/223 days. There are 142 days left of the year and I need to be successful 93 days of those remaining days.

19) Floss teeth a minimum of 275 days of the year. Thus far, I have recorded flossing at least 155 /223 days. There are 142 days left of the year and must floss 120 of those days in order to reach this goal. I sure do need to focus.

20) Track expenditures a minimum of 275 days of the year. Through today, August 12, I have tracked expenditures for 204/223 days. Of the 142 days left of the year, I need to track expenditures for at least 71 more days.

21) Do not go to Andy's alone: I have failed at this. I was going strong then was gifted $75 in Andy's gift cards soooo....... I will get back on track now that I have used all of the gift cards. 

22) Try 15 new smoothie, salad or vegetarian recipes: In July, because Keegan was here and she is vegetarian, I made veggie burgers and a caprese salad. Thus far in August, I have made a garbanzo bean and tuna salad and a lentil, lemon and kale soup. I presently have white beans in the crockpot with three recipes lined up that need white beans. So, 4/15.

23) Complete at least 75% of Balancing the Sword Volume One: DONE. As of August 10, I have completed 75% of Balancing the Sword Volume One. Using this book has enabled me to read the Old Testament in its entirety, for the first time. I should finish the entire book by mid-October. I am contemplating what I should do afterwards that will enable me to dig more deeply into scripture.

I am thrilled with my progress and with my personal growth. There is still so much room for improvement but I am daily inching closer to who I believe I am supposed to be. I will continue to seek to make up my mind carefully as to where I want to go and what I want to do with my time, energy, and money. Then, I will "persistently devote themselves to accomplish that end, letting nothing discourage them."

Lifestyle of Learning 2023 Edition: Volume 4

 It is important to me that I challenge myself to learn and grow. Here is a bit of what I did during the month of July to further that goal:

- I continue to make progress in making my way through Balance the Sword. This means that I am making progress on reading my way through the Bible. In July, I read Song of Solomon, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentation, Ezekiel, and Daniel. I have now read all of the major prophets in the Old Testament. 

- I, also, made my way through seven books. I read The Violinists Thumb by Sam Kean, Winter Journey by Diane Armstrong, Amusing Ourselves to Death by Neal Postman, The Problem of Pain by C.S. Lewis, Circe by Madeline Miller, The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison, Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI.

- In the book Amusing Ourselves to Death, the author wanted to "show that definitions of truth are derived, at least in part, from the character of the media of communication through which information is conveyed." A topic that I have pondered, albeit less in depth and less eloquently. Postman had significant concerns about television being our primary source of information, as opposed to typography, because he believed that "what we watch is a medium which presents information in a form that renders it simplistic, nonsubstantive, nonhistorical and noncontextual" and that "in the absence of continuity and context... 'bits of information cannot be integrated into an intelligent and consistent whole.' Does the definition of truth than shift? I don't know and I don't think I agree with everything Postman presents but it is worth pondering, particularly as technology continues to offer up different ways for us to receive information. I do think that this quote is worth pondering further: "we are losing our sense of what it means to be well informed. Ignorance is always correctable. But what shall we do if we take ignorance to be knowledge?"

- I went to the butterfly house.

- I attended a chamber orchestra concert. There was also an opening set by a folk/bluegrass band.

- In the book Killers of the Flower Moon, I learned that the Osage Indians, when being forced to move from Kansas in the late 18th century, successfully navigated a move to a reservation in Oklahoma that included the rights to the resources found in the earth beneath the reservation. In the early 19th century oil was found there and the biggest oil companies sought leases on the reservation. Many Osage became very wealthy through returns from leasing fees generated by their headrights. During the 1920's, in what is known as the Reign of Terror, many Osage suffered manipulation, fraud, and many murders by outsiders eager to take over their wealth. I was surprised to learn that the Osage had negotiated mineral rights successfully and then shocked to learn that they were not allowed to manage their individual finances, the government required that someone be designated to manage their finances. I was dismayed to find, yet again, that many people were willing to benefit from this bigotry and persecution; stunned by how readily some seem to embrace irrational notions about fellow human beings. This was something I was already thinking about after reading Winter Journey. I have many thoughts swirling in my mind related to this; maybe I'll write more in the future. Maybe.

- I played miniature golf... three times! I hadn't done putt putt in years!

- I tried a variety of new pastries from a local bakery. I surprised myself by liking most the pastry that I thought I would like least!

- I pitched horseshoes for the first time. And the second.

- I recently learned that high levels of Vitamin A allow seals to survive in the cold by stimulating cells that allow seal pups to quickly add thick layers of skin and blubber. The mother seals store up large amounts of Vitamin A that is then delivered to the seal pups via nursing. Likewise, polar bears store up large quantities of Vitamin A, in part to protect them from the cold and, in part because they feast on Vitamin A rich seals. This Vitamin A gets stored in polar bear livers. If humans consume polar bear liver they will likely die and it has been noted that whatever human body parts touch the polar bear liver will begin to peel. Vitamin A stimulates growth by binding to DNA and transcribing it rapidly. It contributes to "programmed cell death." Lesson: if you are starving in the arctic and manage to kill a polar bear, don't eat the liver, regardless of how sumptuous it may appear. 

- I attended an Independence Day parade, watched the Victorian drill team and have determined to participate.

- I played cornhole for the first time as well. I participated in a tournament at work. I did manage to get one bean bag in the hole and my points weren't cancelled out. We lost, 21-3, but I consider those three points to be a victory for me.

- I went to Bakers Creek Heirloom Seed Company's seed store and village. They had several beautiful flower beds front and center. I took note of several different plants that I was previously unfamiliar with and gawked at the enormous assortment of heirloom seeds available in the store.

- I learned that I may want to look further into epigenetics.

- I ate at a vegan restaurant. It was highly enjoyable. I had never had vegan ice cream before and had never even pondered what it would be made of until this day. I dug right in to my ice cream, than wondered if they were relying on nuts and, being allergic to some nuts, decided that I should learn. I learned that vegan ice cream can be made from coconut milk, oat milk, almond and cashew milks, and soy milk. Good to know. My ice cream was safe for consumption and it was delicious!

- I have been weight lifting a couple of times a week and am getting stronger!!!

- On several occasions, I have gone to the park to shoot some hoops. My first attempts were lamentable but I am improving. I have even heard a SWOOSH, a time or two.

- I went to the art museum and viewed an exhibition of enamel vessels and the annual watercolor exhibition.

- I went to the local botanical garden. I was thrilled to see the White Garden in bloom; very inspiring. The Rose Garden was also in full bloom. There were old garden roses and modern roses and species (wild) roses, all in a rainbow of colors. There were hybrid tea roses, grandifloras, floribundas, polyanthas, miniature roses and minifloras, and shrub roses. There were so many different types of roses and I am reminded that I still have so much to learn!

- I observed a Great Blue Heron trying to catch its dinner! Fascinating!!!

- I watched a stage production of Mean Girls, Jr. I didn't know that Mean Girls was written by Tina Fey, until now. 

- I played many games of Uno and Can't Stop.

- I went bowling for the first time in, like, forever.

- I went to the lake to observe the water lilies. While there, I believe, I saw a pileated woodpecker in flight.

- I heard that a suspect has been arrested in relation to the killings that have been attributed to the Long Island serial killer. I spent some time researching this.

- I went to the fair and perused all the handicrafts and livestock - always inspiring. I also watched a daredevil performance in which one of the performers was a member of the great Wallenda family. So cool.

- I have sought to maintain my journaling practice and have been challenged artistically.

- I hiked the nature center on a hot and muggy day. There was very little movement from creatures. There were no deer or turtles and not much in the way of birds. I did see a lot of dragonflies and one Eastern chipmunk.

-I tried some new things in the kitchen. I made vegan burgers and a caprese salad for Keegan. I also made some chocolate chip and coconut oatmeal cookies.

I don't typically go to concerts but I had the chance to go to one FO FREEE! so I did. I saw Ozark Mountain Daredevils, 38 Special, and Foreigner in concert. That was a cool experience!