Uncover Kindness

Reading this book is like a healing process for me.

With tears and lots of emotions.

Kindness is a precious act.

But kindness to or accepting from a total stranger is a whole lot different and difficult things.

The 36-Hour Day

I first was attracted by the title of the book.

36-Hour Day, that must be a long day, we often said, 24 hours a day is too little to do something more.

When face a dementia patient, either is your love one or as a paid caregiver.

How to cope with physically and emotionally effects on taking care of that person, for there are many challenges to come.

Learn and prepare ahead and give yourself respite as needed, even you feel guilty, it's better to do so before you break down.

A practical and updated handbook with people who understand pretty much you are being through, either are the doctors, professional caregivers or the family of the dementia patients.

the body builders

When encountered great difficulties, some are defeated, some are motivated to achieve something to help others.

Though, some said, we are playing God’s role; using technology to modify human genes and more.

Right or wrong? Hard to define, depends upon many factors. 

There Goes My Social Life

Not even finish half the book yet, but I have something or I should say a lot things to say about it.

After I borrowed it from library, brought it home and because I borrowed 3 books at the same time, I didn't read this one first, set it aside and I almost forgot that I borrowed this particular book, every time, I pass this book and thought, why my son borrowed this book, ha, funny.

Before I open my mouth and ask this question, my son asked me, "Mom, I thought you are a Democrat person, not a Republican one". That’s when I realized that I am the one who borrowed this book. I don't quite recall the exact reason that I borrowed this book in the first place, I’m not even a politic people, knowing not much about it. No one is perfect on everything or can cheers or satisfies everybody, whoever is good for the commonwealths, then, he/she, get to be the head of the country.

Another funny thing is, this book just in time for the hot topic of 2016 U.S. presidential election, although, she is talking about the previous election and the social media.

Did you get to watch or heard about anything about the first presidential debate of 2016 on Monday night, September 26, Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Hillary Clinton debate each other at Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY.

It's more like arguing than debating. The second day both side claimed they won the debate.

Let’s get to the point, about this book; it's good, most of time, to say aloud about your opinion on things. By the power of media, millions of people will know you in an instant, either follow you or against you. 

Also about the author, Stacey Dash, an American celebrity, her childhood, a not so easy one.

To me, politic is kind of dark thing, not transparent, meaning, you can never trust anyone of them, what they say or do or promise, or whatever. 

Waking the Spirit

An incredible journey, so many touching and amazing real life encounters, occurred in the near death experience of the author, Andrew Schulman.

Many times, I burst into tears, not because feeling sad but tears of joy of those accounts.

It’s unbelievable, he even get to meet one of the music player in the record that his wife plays from his iPod, the one that save his life before this gentleman die, and say thank you in person.

Andrew surprisingly to meet the son and daughter-in-law of the legendary lyricist, Yip Harburg, and an old couple, who was close friend of the composer and pianist, George Gershwin.

This is the one music that wake Andrew from coma.
St Matthew Passion - Matthäus-Passion BWV 244 | (Complete) (Full Concert) (J. S. Bach)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P21qlB0K-Bs

The high rate of effectiveness are Bach, Gershwin, and the Beatles as mentioned in his book. Among those, here are exceptionally effective.

Queen -- Bohemian Rhapsody with lyrics

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=R3_0Pky8vVg

Schubert Ständchen : Camille Thomas and Beatrice Berrut

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_JpXlliAn2I

I’m not merely enjoy reading his story but also the music that he mention in this book. Here are just 2 one them.

Debussy - The Girl With the Flaxen Hair - Samnon

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=rjxXF7x7Lu0

George Gershwin - Rhapsody in Blue

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=eFHdRkeEnpM

Certain type of music do have the power of healing. Music a noninvasive & without side effects.

As helping someone else, you are rewarded profoundly without you knowing it.

The best way to say thanks to who’d ever help or inspire you, is, go help the next person in need or inspire another soul.

Is the body in control of our behavior, our soul and spirit or is it the other way around?

In this typical case of coma. The waking of the spirit that help to wake your body, the physical and the soul.

Robin Williams: a singular portrait 1986 - 2002

Don't judge a book by its cover, but that' how I decided to read this in the first place.

I laugh so loud when I flip to the back cover of this book. What on earth was he thinking about? Both the statue and Robin William. Ha!

An up-close look at Robin Williams, there’re more than 150 photographs including some never been published. Along with touchy inside stories about him and his family.

He can really make me laugh without saying a word, even just an expression or a pose.

A legendary with multi-character, an observational comedy, improvisational comedy, character comedy, self-deprecation, surreal humor, an American stand-up comedian, actor, director, producer, writer, singer and voice artist and won several awards.

With a sad ending for himself, committed suicide  at his home in Paradise Cay, California 2014.

WE COULD BE BEAUTIFUL

Before I can share something about this book; while I read along, I thought, it's a book of some sort of bio or nonfiction, a real life story is told.

It's only toward the very end of the book, I'm shocked and embarrassed to find out that it's a fiction, a novel, not a true story.

It is when it solved the mystery in my mind, when I reading this book, all the plots, scenarios, are so much like the soap operas, although, we cannot deny, the story in the soap operas does happen in real life.

The way the story is described, makes me want to finish the book as quickly as possible in order to know the result, and there's even times that I'm tempted to just skip the story and go to the end.

It is a good storytelling book, you can visualize the scenes.

look at you now

Do you have a dark past that you won't share to anyone even to your parents or siblings?

The author Liz Pryor finally let her secret out, though, after 36 years, bravely let it all out to the public in her book, it’s inspiration to others in some point.

I feel bad and happy for her at the same. She asked her mom’s permission before she dies to write this memoir. It’s a way to release pressure or sorrow or anything negative thought out, via writing in this case.

There’s a saying, its better safe than sorry. Some bad things can be prevented from happening. But if did happen, how to deal with it, physically and mentally is crucial to a person’s future.

I’m not sure is that the best way that Liz’s mom’s decision for her, but she sure turn out real well.

Something to ponder over, what is more important, the way that you are or the way that others think you are?

Lassoing the Sun: A year in America's national parks

A beautiful touching life story, worth to read, several times I cry and almost cannot continue reading it.

Mostly, when I read this book that's the week that one of my senior friend's husband pass away.

So much to say about this book. I used to say to myself, I have to visit every single national parks with my kids, a dream of mine.

So far, I only visited couple of them, the ones that I can reach via my old car and one of them with the tour company.

The author's last name is woods, so, I assume that the outdoors should be in his family's blood.

Following is a quote from this book, "Now I'm grateful for the sound of her voice and the sound of silence". "The sound of silence", coincidence, is the song that I mention weeks ago. Here the sound of silence, is more of stop talking, stop using those electronics devices, like phone, computer and the like, and listen to the nature, the wind, the wave, the bird chirping and more.

He also mention Paul Simon, one of the original singer of the sound of silence and couple of other his songs.

Again, preserve and enjoy the nature is very important.

100 years : wisdom from famous writers on every year of your life

A collection of different authors’ briefs descriptions on every age of a human's life, from 0, the birth up to 100 year-old. All are quite true facts and interesting to read on.

At first, the number 100 is not that special to me, until I realize that this year is the centennial celebrates the achievements of the national parks and also I borrowed a book about the national parks the other day along with this particular one.

The Herb Gardener's Essential Guide

Self-learning guides about herbs, herbs are not just as culinary uses, but also remedies for illnesses and a way to maintain good health naturally.

Things need to know before, during planting your own herb garden. How to use it as a remedy? Caution about each individual herb.

You’ll be amaze about how those herbs can do.

Everything in this earth being created for human beings to use, not the man made ones, not the chemical things, take advantage of the nature and be kind to each other.

However there are three things that I have to say how this book on its editing, first, I wish there are real photos for the each herb and the photo should be right before or after each herb is introduced. I know there are budget involved in this issue, it costs more using a real photos and have each photo right before or after each herb is introduced.

Secondly, I wish, it can bold type the words or phrases that it’ll be explained in the end of the book. That way, is easier for readers to know when and where to reference them. And those explanations are awesome and helpful.

Lastly, I’ll suggest the appendix A, the summaries of the herbs, can be in tables, it’ll be much clearly to be read.

when someone you know has depression

"Build your life raft before you need it."

Although, mood disorder, a genetic illness, according to some studies shown. We can help to prevent it to happen. Knowing more about it, forming a safe home environment, making sure all family members, including yourself, get plenty of sleep, eat a healthy diet, exercise regularly, and avoid drugs or alcohol.

Learn all the strategy beforehand, not help on others, yourself too. 

Depression or other mood disorders occurs a lot, especially nowadays. The caregivers' mental health are also an important issue to concern. Likewise, whoever take care of long term illness patients, such as dementia, facing a huge pressures too.

Besides knowledge of the illness itself, friends and families' support is crucial.

Living Bird: 100 Years of Listening to Nature

An introducing video this book.

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/the-living-bird-100-years-of-listening-to-nature/

I haven't finished this book yet, but strongly recommend this book to you all. It’s not a picture book for little children, it does have over 250 images by wildlife photographer Gerrit Vyn and stories of the birds by some of the world's leading naturalists and bird enthusiasts. The book also marks the 100th anniversary of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, a world leader in the study, appreciation, and conservation of birds.

Birds from the backyard familiar to exotic birds.

Suitable for young and old, of course for the young, you have to use simple words to retell the stories to them.

Awesome and precious pictures and true stories about birds and beyond, how the relationships in between humans and birds, or I should say, the relationships humans and all the creations and the environment. They are the sign of the health of the place that we live in, the earth.

An educated, inspiration, a wakeup call for all. One of the must read book.

How to publish your articles

Finally, I finished this book.

I borrowed it, not because that I’m qualified or I want to or planning to publish my articles.

On the other hand, it seems, there's a small voice that about publishing my article before. Well, this blog will count, right?

This blog that I own since 2013 as a birthday gift to myself, from a never enjoy writing and don't know nothing about writing till now. To be a writer, it's almost impossible, especially as English is not even my first language.

But this book really open my eyes to a brand field, even, I won't be able to publish any my article besides my blog, still find a lot of useful information on how to write an article or even a book. 

Whole lot of works to do to become a writer, full-time or freelancer, planning, dealing with publisher, make contract, negotiating and etc., not mention about the real writing.

And like the glossary in the end of the book, life is a learning.

reclaim your brain

A brain diagram that I found from web, see how complicate is it.

We don't control our thoughts. And yet they can control us if we let them.

Never start or end with the prescription pad.

the only pirate at the party

I know her from this particular YouTube video, that’s what I call music with passion.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VzprYCxPBQ

Music without passion is just noise, totally agree and Lindsey Stirling add the ballet moves onto her performances, charming.

There’s a unique story behind each every one of us, dancing electronic violinist Lindsey Stirling shares her unconventional journey. Never try to hide shortages or anything to make things look glamour, with extra efforts and sacrifices lead her to success.

melting away

Camille Seaman, a photographer spends ten years documented the rapidly changing landscapes of Earth's Polar Regions, Arctic and Antarctic.

Those pictures are breathtaking and incredible, not everyone can have this kind of chance in their life to view them in person.

The travels, the expeditions, the time, the danger and so on is worthy for her and the teams to do so.

The meaning behind those pictures, melting away iceberg is the advocators and scientists trying to protect and warning human beings for our earth, the environment, the place we live.

In between there’s also her life story, her struggles, her childhood, every touching stories behind the scene.

Who doesn’t wish to have a smooth and nice childhood, a difficult childhood, it sometimes leads to a successful life later. But if you do have a choice, will you choice to become strong and success life later or a miserable childhood?

a life full of lies and spies

A totally different career that I can ever image, tales of a CIA Covert Ops Polygraph Interrogator, a book full of real cases, exicting adventures, good and bad, fun and bored, some dangers and seduces and some other things that we’ll never can picture it.

I especially like those quotes from some renowned people that at the beginning of every chapter.

If you don’t know this kind of occupation or you are thinking about to get into this field then you got to read this book.

picnic in provence

It’s a true life story of woman, before and after her give birth of her son. The relationships between husband and wife, mother and daughter, grandparents and grandson, daughter and stepfather and the like, a priceless memoir, a lesson to learn, something to chew on.

A good way learns some French and gets to know a different country. And apparently that French consume the most cheeses, wine of all.

Lots of recipes, inspire the reader to try their own and something new, herbs and cheeses.

No one is ready to be a mom of the unborn stranger until the day he or she is born, voila, you are the naturally a good parent at that instant.

It’s always cheerful to learn something new in daily life. The traditional Christmas 13 deserts for luck vs. Chinese New Year good luck foods, something interesting and similar culture. Same herbal usage in ancient Chinese like licorice, absinthe

The author’s home town, Teaneck New Jersey, I happen to used to live there for around 4 years.

It also encourages me to try something different on cooking.

three many cooks

It’s a book, it's a cook book with delicious and fun and memorable family history.
Mother & 2 daughters & their husbands &  parents & grandparents & community, share as a big family tales in between, and how our original families can impact our lives later.
How the way your parents raise you, affect your later lives, and how you can adjust it for better.
Parents are trying hard to pass down the goods, no matter is the faith, the joy, the disciplines, the philosophies or even homemade recipes and the like.
I especially like the cover of the book, the fork, the spoon, and the knife work perfectly together in the kitchen all together.

There are many stories and miracles happen in the bible.

Here are some of them.

WATER INTO WINE John 2:1-11

THE FIRST MIRACULOUS CATCH OF FISH Luke 5:4-10

FEEDING THE FIVE THOUSAND Matthew 14:13-21; Mark 6:30-44; Luke 9:10-17; John 6:1-15