"Outside a dog a book is man's best friend, inside a dog it is too dark to read!" -Groucho Marx========="The person, be it gentleman or lady, who has not pleasure in a good novel, must be intolerably stupid." -Jane Austen========="I don’t believe in the kind of magic in my books. But I do believe something very magical can happen when you read a good book."-JK Rowling========"I spend a lot of time reading." -Bill Gates=========“Ahhh. Bed, book, kitten, sandwich. All one needed in life, really.” -Jacqueline Kelly=========

Sunday, November 21, 2021

Sunday Salon --- Thankfulness Edition


Weather: It rained a lot this past week, flooding whole towns north of here. Feast of famine or famine around here --- no rain all summer and now this.


Thankfulness: I want to spend this week before Thanksgiving Day with a heart full of thankfulness. Don' you? I'll start. 

  • I am thankful that my mother (aged 92) is still living and thriving. We get to spend time with her and other beloved family members this week. I am so thankful.
  • My daughter who lives in California will be joining us for Thanksgiving this year. I am not only thankful but also excited.
  • I am so thankful for my grandsons, who are the light of my life. Jamie, age one, loves to eat so the Thanksgiving meal should be fun watching him tuck in to the goodies.
  • We got our COVID boosters the very day it opened up that anyone was eligible to get them. Thank you government for making them free and available for everyone.

Good news:

  • Build Back Better Act passed out of the House. Here is what it will provide for the people of this country: CNN Business. And a few highlights:



    Kevin McCarthy, minority leader, spoke for 8.5 hours against the BBB Act. Democrats had a good time making fun of his speech. This is my favorite. One person said that the speech practically writes its own SNL skit. We'll see Saturday. 


    Nevertheless, Democrats passed the bill by themselves. A bill that will help so many Americans.

  • "Seven Amazing Trends that Will Make You Feel Great About the Future." (Upworthy) I challenge you to read the article but because I know most of you won't, here are seven highlights. (Please read the details in the article!)
    • The middle class is shrinking because people are getting richer!
    • Extreme poverty is on a steep decline around the world.
    • Far fewer people are dying in wars.
    • American's incarceration rate is the lowest it has been since 1995.
    • Violent crime has dropped like a rock. (Don't believe me? Go read the article!)
    •  COVID-19 has forced people to work from home where they are happier and more productive.
    • There is tremendous progress in the fight against many diseases like malaria, AIDS, even COVID-19.
  • "A Guide to the 2021 National Book Award Winners and Finalists", (Vox) On a personal note, I made a stab at reading several of the finalists this year and I loved the winner of the fiction category, Hell of a Book. I guessed that it might win because it is so now and so profound. Here is my review, if you want to take a further peek into my thoughts.

Playing for Change video, "Peace Train" by Yusef/ Cat Stevens. My husband knew I'd put this on Sunday Salon after he viewed it. I am a huge fan of this musician. Watch and enjoy.


Books and reviews: 

  • Reading:
    • Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr -- Another National Book Award finalist. I love this author but I confess that the plot is very complicated taking place during three (possibly four) time periods: The fall of Constantinople 1450s; WWII to current days (1940s to 2020s); in the distant future; and a bit during the 400 BC, the age of the Greeks! Don and I are listening to the audiobook and are enjoying it quite a bit. 59%.
    • The Book of Difficult Fruit: Arguments for the Tart, Tender, and Unruly (With Recipes) by Kate Lebo -- Interest in foods led me to this book but I confess I may end up scanning it. There are 26 fruits highlighted with lots of details. Print. 7%.
    • Without You, There Is No Us: My Time With the Sons of North Korea's Elite by Suki Kim -- Another nonfiction title, this one has been hanging around the house for several years. We purchased it after we heard the author speak at an event at Seattle Univ. I participating in a read-a-long with Helen@ Helen's Book Blog. Print. 77% complete.
    • Terciel and Elinor by Garth Nix -- the 6th book in the Old Kingdom series which I love. Carly and I challenged each other to listen to it at the same time but she totally beat me. Audiobook from the library. 54%.
    • The Other Talk: Reckoning With Out White Privilege by Brendon Kiely -- Whites have got to stop feeling hurt feelings with someone points out that the system is set up to favor them. I think reading this book is a good place to start. Another potential Cybils book. Print book from library. 13%.
  • Completed last week:
  • Reviews: I've fallen way behind on my book reviews. This week I challenged myself to catch up. So far I've reviewed six out of nine. Check out my progress here.

 Required cat photo:

Fred is upset that my daughter went back to "in person" work this week. Here he is laying on her dress she was hoping to wear. BTW- Fred must be a camera hog. I haven't seen any photos of George for weeks.

Sometimes I can't believe where we are politically. I try to find ways to laugh but that is often just covering up the tears.


 

 


This bears repeating. People who know the least have as much or more confidence about their knowledge as experts in the field do.


This week: Happy Thanksgiving (if you are American) and Happy Thursday (if you aren't!)
-Ralph Waldo Emerson


-Anne


7 comments:

  1. I can't believe where we are politically either--or ethically. Some of those who claim to be the most moral are selfish and dishonest. I really needed to read your list of seven amazing trends.

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  2. Thank you for sharing some good news along with the difficult. I was intrigued with the seven trends and looked into the Upworthy news group. Peace Train is beautiful and uplifting.

    I have copies of Cloud Cuckoo Land and Matrix. I started Cloud Cuckoo Land but the multiple timelines urged me to wait until after Nonfiction November when I could take some time with it.

    Happy Thanksgiving, Anne!

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  3. Love that pumpkin pie graphic... think I'll be sharing that at some point this week. I also got a copy of Matrix from the library this week, but am not sure I'll have time to read it before it's due. Have heard a few other bloggers mention that audio is the way to go with this one, so I'll add my name to that list, too. Happy Thanksgiving!

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  4. As always, a fantastic Sunday Salon! Yusef/Cat Stevens' Peace Train is one of my favorites and that video is beautiful (and what a great foundation, too).

    I also like that your post is positive, looking to what you have and loving it.

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  5. So much to be thankful for! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving with your family!

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  6. I love that song. Thanks. Made me smile this morning. Enjoy your Thanksgiving!

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  7. So many reasons to be thankful. I like the link to the positive trends as well. I often think, in spite of the polarization and lying going on, that it's a great time to be alive just because of the advances- medical and otherwise, life expectancy, etc- and I wish there was more emphasis on that.

    I agree with you on the politics.

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