TO PLANK OR NOT TO PLANK?????

Some of you may recall my latest yoga efforts that resulted in a visit to the E.R. with an incredibly sore back making the slightest movement painful, and left me wondering where was the yoga-induced flexibility and Zen-like energy I was supposed to be enjoying. 

(Those actually were found in the narcotic solution injected into my vein by the helpful smiling nurse. Who knew? And I didn't have to wear lycra to achieve the lovely tranquil state.)

Since then my son bought me a yoga mat which I can carry in a lovely yoga-mat bag a friend made me, and another son gave me the ever helpful 'The Complete Idiot's Guide to Yoga'.

So so much support from family and friends. I didn't have to drop ANY hints that I was still actively interested in yoga. Not a one. How very pushy intuitive of them. 

The thing I liked best about going to yoga was telling everyone the following day that I went to yoga. Once the shock admiration wore off their faces it kind of lost its appeal. But since I have this brand new heavy duty yoga mat, stylish hand-stitched bag, and step-by-step guide book, I might as well return and try it again. 

Wish me luck.

(Any idea of what I could get for a used mat and guide book on Craig's List??? Just weighing my options . . ..)

NARY A PARTRIDGE IN SIGHT BUT . . .

The apple tree in our backyard was a house-warming gift from friends over 25 years ago. Since then it has been knocked over twice: once by a wind storm and once by the sheer weight of the apples. We have had a few years where the tree yielded over 1000 apples per season. I know because I peeled hundreds and hundreds of apples filling my counter with pies and crisps, and filling my freezer with litres and litres of apple sauce. My Dad has dried pounds and pounds of apples and we have given apples away until people started avoiding us like zucchini growers from the summer.

I can view it from my kitchen windows and often see several chickadees or juncos resting on the branches. Once I counted as many as a dozen steller's jays -  their cobalt bodies dotting the tree like smudges of an artist's brush.
Most surprising of all was the visitors I observed last week: seven robins all at once decorating the tree like a true harbingers of Spring. This was the first time I have ever seen more than a two or three robins at any one time. It brought back memories of one of the first poems I memorized as a child:

LITTLE ROBIN REDBREAST

  By Anonymous

Little Robin Redbreast

Sat upon a tree; 

Up went Pussy-cat,

Down went he.

Down came Pussycat,

And away Robin ran;

Says little Robin Redbreast

"Catch me if you can".

Little Robin Redbreast

Hopped upon a wall;

Pussy-cat jumped after him,

And almost got a fall.

Little Robin chirped and sang,

And what did Pussy say?

Pussy-cat said "Mew", 

And Robin ran away.

Our apple tree is a  Belle de Boskoop which is a tart apple with a very tough skin so it tastes best once peeled. It is a late Autumn apple - we often wait until Thanksgiving weekend to harvest them and once picked the flavour improves after a few weeks. However because of regular visits from local bears we often have to gather the apples earlier in the season than we would prefer.

One summer when the tree was particularly verdant and lush with apples, we didn't notice that a colony of wasps had started to make a nest inside a wood and glass bird feeder deep within the tree. Once noticed we left it not wanting to disturb them. Their nest became strange and rather mystifying as they created it in a strange configuration in and around and outside of the birdfeeder. It was like observing a living optical illusion.

Presently the tree has tight green buds - slowly awakening from its deep winter's sleep. 
It is a source of beauty, nourishment, refuge, - offering sustenance to many birds, insects, and even bears. I watch it and observe the seasons enveloping it - a reflection of the cycle of nature.

WORD FOR WORD

Don't you think that would be a fitting name for a book store?  'Word For Word'.  Or how about, 'Mark My Word'?  Of course there is the unimaginative but oh so perfect, 'BookMark'. This is an example of the

kind of soul-searching queries I reflect and ponder at night as I drift off to sleep. Another favorite is naming alphabetically all the fruits that are red (or green, yellow, etc). All true. I save The Meaning of Life stuff for well, random fleeting moments when I've just read a Haiku or watched a foreign film with bad subtitles and lots of soulful glances from peasants waving goodbye to someone off-screen.

But naming a bookstore? I'm on it. 

What do YOU think would be a great name for a bookstore?

BOOK MARK ... Cathy-Emily's Book Chat

I have just completed a hat-trick of three amazing books that I highly recommend:


1.  THE CHILDREN ACT
     By Ian McEwan
     Published 2014



The title refers to the Children Act legislation in the UK established in 1989 to help protect children from 
abuse and neglect.

The novel tells the story of a middle-aged High Court judge presiding over cases in family law. She shares with us her reasoning in some of her more ethically and morally challenging cases. Her most difficult judgement comes at a time when her marriage is in crisis, and observing the processes she undertakes to reach a decision is fascinating and touching. Ultimately her decision has unforeseen consequences that she was not prepared for and adds an unexpected texture to the story. A thought-provoking read. 


2.  CUTTING FOR STONE
     By Abraham Verghese
     Published 2009
      

This book takes time to really engage you but perseverance is well worth the effort.
An Indian nun is send to Ethiopia where she finds work nursing in a small poorly funded hospital. She dies giving birth to twin boys and the story is told by one of her sons. The conception is a mystery to everyone - including the father - a brilliant English surgeon.
Marion, the story-teller, describes the first 50 or so years of his life.
There is a constant unpredictability throughout the entire book which makes for an intriguing read.
Set mostly in Ethiopia it was fascinating to learn a bit about their history and years of civil unrest.
I did start to tire of the many detailed descriptions of medical procedures and found myself eventually skimming them quickly.
One of the characters, Thomas Stone, had this wonderful question for his new students: "What treatment in an emergency is administered by ear?" 
"Words of comfort."

Abraham Verghese (born 1955) was raised in Ethiopia by Indian parents. He is a physician and author, and the Professor for the Theory and Practice of Medicine at Stanford University Medical School and Senior Associate Chair of the Department of Internal Medicine.

This is the kind of book that you hope is made into a movie and apparently it is currently in development.


3.  THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN
     By Paula Hawkins
     Published 2015

 Disregard your emails, your to-do-lists because once you pick this book up, you won't want to put it down. 

It reminded me of 'Gone Girl' but cleaner, tighter, and somewhat easier to engage with the characters.

Rachael, a regular train commuter, notices something outside her compartment window one day that she cannot resist involving herself in . . . over and over. 

There is a mystery that unfolds with LOTS of suspense and twists. Rachael makes one bad choice after another and I continually wanted to shout at her, "STOP! Don't go there! Don't phone, text, or email that person! STOP! And put DOWN that bottle of booze!"

But Rachael cannot and will not stop inserting herself into the swirl of unanswered questions that ultimately lead to some devastating answers.

I immensely enjoyed all three of these engaging books and would be interested in other works by these authors. Would love to know your thoughts on these novels.

*I am particularly interested in your notions about Shiva (Cutting for Stone) and his 'unusual' personality.

Why Women Have Girlfriends . . .

. . . During a Walk With My Husband . . .

       Cathy:  Want to hear about the incredible book I am reading?

       Bruno:  I guess.
 

IF MY FRIENDS ALL JUMPED OFF A BRIDGE . . . I'D CALL 911

Recently two acquaintances in my age-group (30 is the new 50 so you figure it out) have excitedly (and I am talking rapid breathing, giggling, foot stomping, etc) informed me that they are HIP women  because they have brand new SKINNY JEANS and new HIGH BOOTS! There's more . . . they both added that I too can be hip if only I would wear said skinny jeans and boots.

 As if. So not going to happen.

First of all, I have never been hip. Hippy Yes. But not HIP. And by HIPPIE I do not mean wearing flowing garments with flowers in my hair waving the peace sign - I mean HIPPY. As in, 'Open the door wider so I can fit through.'

Second of all, in skinny jeans my legs would resemble those of a stegosaurus, and while dinosaurs have a high 'cool' factor, appearing like one unintentionally is NOT cool.

So. I'll be the one in the relaxed jeans, maybe even with BELL-BOTTOMS.

I wonder if people will still sit next to me in the lunch room?

LIST OF LISTS     No. 2

1.     Hit List  (Music for some; for the Mafia- a day's work)

2.     Dean's List (Different from Harry or Sam's list)

3.     The A-List

4.     C'mon - do you really need me to spell it out?
         ............The B-List

5.    The C-List.

       Kidding.

6.     Shopping List 

7.      To-Do-List (currently on mine  - make lists)

8.     Short List  (... or Martin Short's Christmas card list)

9.     Sick List (if you're on this list you'll be able to avoid #7 and maybe #6.)

10.   Christmas List (This is different than 'Santa's List' - which is based on behavior rather than Top 100 things that I can't live without).

11.   Check List (...first you have to find it .........)

12.   Wish List (See Christmas List)

CATHY'S LIST*                                  No. 1


This is the debut of a new on-going feature presenting lists because lists are fun, quick to read and ... wait . . . let's do this the right way:

REASONS WHY LISTS ARE FUN TO READ

1.  They're usually short and therefore easy/quick to read.

2.  You can count off the points with your finger nails thus showing off your fabulous new manicure.

3.  Anticipation grows as you near the final point.

4.  If it is a to-do list you can add a few things you've already done so you have something to cross off immediately.

 5.  If you are recounting your list out loud you can challenge yourself by NOT imagining David Letterman's voice in your head.
                                                                                                                                                
 6.  If you DO hear David Letterman's voice then you can add drum rolls thus adding to the drama of your list narration. 

 7.  People have a tendency to believe things more if you list them even if they aren't true.

 8.  You just believed that didn't you?

9.  You can probably repeat an item and no one will notice.

10.  They're usually short and therefore easy/quick to read. 



 * Definition of list from The Random House College Dictionary:
     list 
         1.  a series of names or other items written or printed together in a meaningful grouping or sequence so as to constitute a record
          2.  to set down together in a list