Weather: We are experiencing the third driest October in over 100 years. I know it is not nice to spend the whole autumn under an umbrella, but we need rain! (Frightening.) Update: As I am finishing up before posting, it has started to ran! Yippee!
Trolls: The photo above is a collage of the eight Thomas Dambo trolls who are visiting Northwest Trek, an animal park in Pierce County, where we live. Our grandsons had two days off for teacher conferences so we commandeered them for one day. The mission: to find all the trolls who were hidden all around the park. We started our quest around 12:30 pm and we found the last one around 3:30 pm, right before the park closed for the day. We got a late start because we first had to take our youngest grandson to urgent care, at the request of our daughter, because he was complaining of a sore neck and headache. Poor guy has strep. He still wanted to go to the park so we dosed him with Motrin and wore masks whenever we were in direct contact with other people, like when we were on the tram tour portion of the day. I guess he crashed when he got home, sleeping for three hours in the late afternoon. There are four more trolls at the St. Defiance Zoo in Tacoma which are part of the same grouping. Guess we'll have to figure out another day we can take the boys on another troll hunt. (Pretend frightening and fun.)
On Tyranny: Timothy Snyder put together a very small book with 20 lessons to help people to resist acts of tyranny from their government. Below is the the actor John Lithgow reading out the 20 lessons. If you'd prefer not to watch but wonder what the twenty lessons are, I've listed them below. I recommend you read the book, too. It is short and to the point. (Frightening.)
Timothy Snyder’s On Tyranny Lessons: (1) Do Not Obey in Advance; (2) Defend Institutions; (3) Beware the One-Party System; (4) Take Responsibility for the Face of the World; (5) Remember Professional Ethics; (6) Be Wary of Paramilitaries; (7) Be Reflective if You Must Own a Gun; (8) Stand Out (this means, speak up, even when others do not); (9) Be Kind to Our Language; (10) Believe in Truth; (11) Investigate; (12) Make Eye Contact and Small Talk; (13) Practice Corporeal Politics; (14) Establish a Private Life; (15) Contribute to Good Causes; (16) Learn from Peers in Other Countries; (17) Listen for Dangerous Words; (18) Be Calm When the Unthinkable Arrives; (19) Be a Patriot; (20) Be as Courageous as You Can.
Do you live in the USA? Please vote early if you can! I know it sounds hyperbolic, but our democracy depends on good people voting so our new Congress can help protect us from a maniacal president. (Frightening but hopeful.)
Do you believe in life after Trump? (Fun)
Books:
- Currently reading --
- Howl's Moving Castle by Wynn-Jones. I am loving this middle grade book. Can you believe this is my first time reading it? Audio. 15%
- A Mercy: a novel by Morrison. Going back to the beginning of our country, Morrison writes a story about the beginnings of slavery. eBook. 2%.
- Recently finished --
- The Things We Never Say by Strout. A Booker Prize finalist, Strout does it again, writing a story with relatable characters who struggle with their inner life. Who doesn't? Print. 4+ stars.
- Crook Manifesto by Whitehead. The second book in the Harlem Shuffle series. This wasn't a good audiobook choice. I had a hard time following the action. Audio. 3 stars.
- The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion, Vol. 1 by Brower. A fun introduction to the series. I am ready to read on. Audio. 4 stars.
- Homestead by Moustakis. A book club selection. Our discussion was fun even if I had some issues with the story or the writing. Audio. 4 stars.
- Recent blog posts --
Have a good week! Just a few more things to think about...
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| From Heather Cox Richardson. (Frightening) |
-Anne
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