A Glimpse into my mind

The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World by Dalai Lama XIV

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Every now and then a non-fiction book comes along and really resonates with you. This book was one such book for me. After every chapter I found myself pausing to reflect and ruminate on what had been discussed and how it made me feel, why I felt that way and what I could do to continue with that teaching.

For his 80th birthday, the Dalai Lama invited Archbishop Desmond Tutu to come spend a week and discuss what is "joy". They invited another to come and moderate the discussion and write a book on it. I feel envious of the man who got to experience and witness the gathering of two such remarkable men.

You could tell from the writing that His Holiness and the Archbishop were old friends and had an almost sibling-esque relationship. I found myself smiling at the banter and playfulness the two expressed. I mean... the Archbishop and the author brought trick candles and used them on the Dalai Lama's birthday cake. That mental image had me giggling.

But through it all, the underlying reason for the book... What is Joy, how is it different from Happiness, and what can we do to bring and maintain it in our lives... was a powerful and resonating message. There were times that an almost off-handed statement made by one of these great men made me stop the audiobook, pause and just reflect. "remember, you are a masterpiece in the making". "In my faith, I am created in God's image. Therefore I am a God-carrier". and also the recurring message of "if what you fear/makes you sad is within your control... why waste the energy fearing/being sad and use it instead to effect the change needed. If it is not in your control, fear/sadness is not going to change the situation and you need to figure out what needs to be done instead with that energy".

I foresee this book being one I listen to on many occasions and one where I will learn a new lesson every time. Highly recommend.



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The Lost City of Z: A Tale of Deadly Obsession in the Amazon by David Grann

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


in 1925 Percy Fawcet became the Archeological equivalent of Amelia Earhart. He went into the Amazon jungles to find the fabled Lost City of Z (often referred to as El Dorado) and never returned. Search parties that went looking for him never returned.

David Grann, a modern journalist, became interested in the story of Fawcet and researched and then went looking to trace the route Fawcet and others might have taken.

Overall I liked this book. I was an Archeology and Anthropology major in college and would have loved an adventure like Fawcet's (maybe without the disappearing into the jungle, never to return part) and have believed for a long time that I was born to the wrong time period and gender, as I could easily see myself as one of the explorers of the 1920's.

I found the reader engaging and the story moved along well. My only complaint is that it kinda just sorta ended. No clear wrap up. Grann may have found what could have been the remnants of the ancient city that the legends were based on, but it's not very clear and he never did say anything at the end about Fawcet himself.

I want to see the movie but I do believe it will be a Netflix/Redbox rather than an in-the-theaters movie for me.




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The Perpetual Now: A Story of Amnesia, Memory, and Love by Michael D. Lemonick

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This was a very interesting look at memory and the brain.

Lonni Sue suffered a debilitating illness (encephalitis) that, though she survived, left her with an inability to make new memories and erased all but some basic long term memories. Yet she has been able to continue with her life, learn things (though she doesn't remember that she has learned them) and help doctors and scientists learn about how the brain works and how memories are made and stored.

I also found this a slightly disturbing book as it makes you look at how you would feel losing memories (though Lonni Sue doesn't realize she's lost memories most times so she is an incredibly happy person as every day is a new experience) and how would you deal if a family member, be it sibling, child, parent or partner were to suddenly fall ill and then not remember or be able to build new memories.



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Hidden Figures: The Untold Story of the African American Women Who Helped Win the Space Race by Margot Lee Shetterly

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I am going to echo everyone I know who has read/listened to this book. WOW. I found myself drawn in immediately and did not want to stop listening. The women in the book are such an inspiration to all people, not just blacks, not just women... all. The determination they showed to do what they loved and be allowed to succeed was just phenomenal. That they were able to get into an organization that eventually became NASA, prove their worth and go on to have lasting influence over the space and aeronautical industries left me breathless.

I have not yet seen the movie, as I wanted to experience the book first, but now I can't wait to see the adaptation. This will definitely be one of the books I am constantly recommending to people when they ask "what should I read next"



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Winter King: The Dawn of Tudor England by Thomas Penn

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I was torn between a 3 and a 4 on this one. Again, how I wish I could give a half star rating.

This was a very interesting examination into the reign of Henry the VII, which I admit is not one of the Kings of England I'm much familiar with. But I did like the looks into trying to establish a dynasty in the aftermath of the War of the Roses, the ways Henry worked to maintain control and exert dominance over the land, not to mention the backstabbing and political machinations of those he put into positions of power.

It was also hard to not draw parallels to the current US Administration and how Henry basically put into positions of authority those that could afford to pay for the privilege.

All in all, an interesting book about an interesting time in England's history



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Bear Naked for Valentine's by Edith Hawkes

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


This came to me as a free kindle book that was available at Valentines Day. I needed a book for a reading challenge that was "a book that takes place at a Holiday other than Christmas" and there you go.

Well... it was short. And given that I went in, fully expecting it to be rather.. um... given the cliche of the title, it wasn't as bad as I expected. Though I probably should have done a little research to see if this might be in a series (which it is), as it was clear that there is a whole world that I've just been dumped into with no introduction that can only be in previous stories.

I used to love paranormal/shifting romance. Back in my early 20's I totally devoured the books I found in the genre. This book hit all the tropes for the genre... sexy guy who is a shifter of some flavor (in this case a bear - no surprise again due to the title of the book), instant and explainable soul wrenching connection when first laying eyes on the woman, overwhelming protective need to the point of risking exposure to normal humans, independent woman forgiving the over-protectiveness and falling hopelessly for him as well, some kind of mind-blowing sex, and "it all works out in the end and they all live happily ever after" ending.

I will say that I expected a lot of over-written purple prose for the sex scene (of which there is only one) but it wasn't. I wasn't completely moved by it, but I have certainly read way worse.

I don't think I will be looking for more of this series, but based on this one book, I wouldn't tell people to not read it, if it is a genre they enjoy.

I'd give it a 2.5 if I were able to do 1/2 stars.



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Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


What an absolute treat.

There really isn't that much more to say about this book. The title pretty much tells you what the book is about.

Gaiman retells many of the old Norse myths, using both the translations from his childhood as well as doing the research into older texts, some from over 900 years ago.

I absolutely enjoyed the tellings, especially as Gaiman was the reader for the audiobook. I find that I really enjoy the audiobooks of his tales when he reads them. He is what I consider a true storyteller - someone who can entertain by saying out loud the stories he writes. There are some authors who make great writers but not so good tellers. Gaiman is not one of those.

If you are remotely interested in the old Norse myths, I cannot praise this book enough and recommend you get it NOW. And get the audio with the author reading it.



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The Leadership Secrets of Santa Claus: How to Get Big Things Done in YOUR "Workshop" All Year Long by Eric Harvey

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


A quick but insightful read on the various things to keep in mind when taking on a Leadership or Managerial role. Each subsection of the chapters were only 2 pages but they were concise and on topic.

I don't know if I like the use of Santa as the Leader and the elves and reindeer as the employees, but it did work and overall the book worked to make me think on how I interact with others in my mundane job and in the officer roles I hold in my hobby to make me a better communicator and leader



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I've been asked by a potential Mayor of Pennsic to be their Admin Assistant. I agreed. We've gotten together to start compiling all the info needed to put the bid together. Part of this includes going over bids from past Mayors in order to get an idea of how best to submit the needed information.

What struck me was reading over past winning bids and realizing... outside of Ed and maybe Morgan, I am the longest consistent working staff member. The other than Ed and Frog, I have actually put in more time at War as staff than any of the other 5 bids I read.

This still doesn't mean I want to be Mayor (though they keep hinting I should consider it). It just struck me and made me think about how one person said that I am the embodiment of the Institutional Memory of the Watch like Ed is for Pennsic and how even then I still have a strong knowledge of the operations of war in general (just know to his extent).

I never think of myself in that way. Same for people tell me that there was no surprise being named a Jewel of Æthelmearc - I just don't see it, but I guess if others do that is all that matters.

I've been debating this post for a while. I more or less keep my political views to myself and only share it with a small selection. Why? Because I was raised that it wasn't anyone else's business how I voted.

I sign the occasional petition, though I don't really think it will go anywhere. I've escorted friends through picket lines to have a Planned Parenthood appointment (never asking the reason for the appointment as it wasn't my business).

I more or less tried to boycott watching the Inauguration, but when your desk is less than 40 feet from the only TV on the floor at work, I did hear it. The only part I got up from my desk to go see was to watch him put his hand on a book and swear to uphold and protect the Constitution of the United States. I wanted to see with my own eyes and hear with my own ears those words come from his mouth. When he took the oath, and the audience (and many of my co-workers) clapped, I shook my head and simply quoted Senator Amidala ... "This is how democracy dies, with thunderous applause".

But it's been now a couple weeks since the new President was sworn in. And with every day I get more and more scared. Not just for myself. I am a single woman, though white, who at times lives paycheck to paycheck but has medical issues. I'm terrified of getting sick now that health care is under attack and if I lose my job, may not be able to be insured again because I have a preexisting condition (asthma and migraines). I'm scared for my friends who are of foreign descent and a "terror faith". Yes I actually heard someone call Islam "that Terror Faith". I'm scared for my sister who works in Government and wondering how long will she have a job? I'm terrified for friends who rely on the VA and Medicaid to fulfill their medical needs. I am no scared for my SCA foster daughter who is close to graduating High School and it looks like the new Secretary of Education is not for education... how will she afford to attain her dream of attending Medical School? I fear for my friends who risk their marriage being voided, their proper gender not being recognized because that was not the way they were physically born. I am to my core terrified of losing drinking water you don't have to pay to a corporation for, that the extinct species list will triple or quadruple in the next year, and that people and the nation will lose homes and land because parks will no longer be protected and the environment is just another commodity to be abandoned because it is not profitable.

Every report that comes out of Washington talks of what stupid, insane and destructive thing the new President has said. Not to mention the idiotic and uneducated things his mouthpieces have said about "alternate facts". By reports, he can't seem to hold a civil conversation with Foreign Officials without being rude. He insulted Australia for cripes sake. Now I wonder how long before my friends in Oz will not be able to come visit for Pennsic because it's just too dangerous. I'm afraid to cross the border to see friends in Canada for fear that somehow I won't be allowed back in, let along if they would be allowed in to visit here.

I fear for the general public.

And I wonder if all this bombardment of stupid, ridiculous and insane, not to mention fear mongering is planned so that we get so overwhelmed in the first couple weeks that we, as a nation, get to the point of going from "we need to stop this" to "how do we stop this" to "can we stop this" to resignation and acceptance because we can't.

THIS is what I fear the most. The complete and utter feeling of hopelessness and giving up of the American people. That the universal belief will become that if you are not lucky enough to have been born into the elite 1%, you're worthless and why should we bother trying to educate you and keep you healthy.

People used to look at me when I said we no longer lived in an electoral republic but instead have become an electoral oligarchy. Now they aren't thinking I'm so crazy. Now I wonder how long before the electoral part is eliminated. And if it is... how long before the next American Civil War?