Grammy's

I told myself I wasn't going to stay up to watch the whole show.

But I did.

Here were my favorite moments, in no particular order:

Trevor Noah killed it as always as host. I'm sad it was his last time to host.

Nikki Glaser and Teyana Taylor's presenter banter. Also, can we talk about Teyana's dress?! FIRE!!

Both of Bruno Mars' performances. He got everyone up and dancing. And he's FINE!!

Lady Gaga's performance. Mother Monster slayed yet again.

Gaga, Bad Bunny, and Billie Elish's acceptance speeches.

Quote of the night: "No one is illegal on stolen land" - Billie Eilish

Tribute to Roberta Flack - especially the Fugees part

Cher receiving a Lifetime Achievement award.

librarianintx 

A Few More Brain Gains and Drains

I discovered a third page to the list:

Brain Gains:

Music making: singing, playing

Art: color, paint, collage, pics

Visualization or vision board

Brain Drains:

Anxiety / PTSD

Epilepsy,  seizures, schizophrenia 

Taking meds that slow the brain

Trauma / stress in earlier life

3rd shift work / sleep issues

Balance issues

Family history of Parkinson's,  Alzheimer's, MS

librarianintx 

Brain Gains and Drains

Happy New Year!

New year, new you!

That's what many of us attempt to do.

In recognition of that, here is a list of activities / things that are helpful for your brain, and a list that can cause adverse effects on your brain.

Brain Gains:

exercise

healthy diet

healthy bowel / gut

meditation / yoga / tai chi

mental exercises

gratitude lists / journaling

learning new tasks

oral health

water intake

vitamin D

vitamin B and Magnesium

massage / acupuncture / vibration

intermittent fasting

healthy sleep hygiene

humor / laughter

low light therapy

hearing aids

social engagement

essential oils

volunteering

music

Brain drains:

regular exposure to molds

heavy metals

Lyme disease

stress

surgery with anesthesia

withdrawal / not being social

poor sense of smell

constipation

untreated hearing loss

hospitalizations

pesticides

rural / well water exposure

melanoma

head injury

alcohol / drugs

chemo

excess weight

smoking

diabetes

menopause

depression

high blood pressure

What do you think of this list? 

Do you agree with everything?

I think intermittent fasting can be beneficial, but for some people with certain chronic health issues it can cause problems. 

What brain gains have you incorporated into your life? 

Which ones can you add, or improve upon?

There are several that I need to do better with:

oral health

water intake

And I'd like to do more meditation. 

librarianintx

Survivor Finale - My Thoughts

 I didn't get to blog before the show, but if I had, I would have said Savannah deserved to win. 

Social game is only part of Survivor. 

Savannah didn't have close relationships with everyone; she had just enough allies to get her to the end. Allies, plus her multiple immunity wins, and her ability to make fire. 

Bottom line: She outplayed, outwitted, and out lasted her competition. 

Props to Soph though - She won when she needed to, and she also made a convincing case at the final tribal council. Her answers were a little better than Savannah's I thought. She worked for it, and she earned the two votes she received. I'm surprised that Alex did not vote for her; that would have made it even closer. 

And now - on to Season 50!!

It's just around the corner!

librarianintx

"Be on Time" Chronicles

It was one of THOSE days on Metro Access.

I was at work for 5 and 1/2 hours today.

I was in transit for 4 hours today.

Shortly before 9 am, we were on 12th street, about ONE MINUTE from the library.

But the other client on the bus was on the manifest to get dropped off before me.

He wasn't going to work.

He likely didn't have an appointment time.

I was.

And I did.

 

But all that didn't matter.

The driver was new.

New drivers follow the rules like their lives depend on it.

So he turned on the street before the library. 

He took the other client.

And I was thirty minutes late.

Other highlights of my day:

I had a bra malfunction. The straps suddenly decided that I was a much larger woman than I am. (the cups continued to tell the truth).

A scoop of almond butter refused to spread on the delicate slice of rye bread.

I fought with the stubborn closet door that attempted to hold my coat hostage.

Then I struggled with said coat that felt like a queen size weighted blanket.

How was your day?

librarianintx 

DWTS Season 34 Finale: Who Will Win? Who Should Win?

This cast is strong, and popular. 

Whitney Levitt was the most experienced dancer, and with Mark's expert and innovative choreography,  they had an excellent chance of winning...if experience and ability were the primary ingredients for winning.

Their not.

Popularity, and a killer freestyle, are what gets you the mirrorball trophy.

If Robert and Witney execute a crowd-pleasing freestyle, they will win. And they will be deserving. 

But don't count out the others. Alix, Dylan, Elaine, and Jordan have all become wonderful dancers, and could win if they perform an awesome freestyle. 

I love them all, so I'll be happy with whoever wins.

It has been a thoroughly enjoyable season. I love DWTS!

librarianintx

Gratitude Practice

 From a page a day calendar from a few years ago:

From obligation to opportunity: Write a list of at least five things you have to do this week. Begin each item with the words "I have to." Now cross out those words and begin each line with "I get to." This can help you see your tasks as privileges that you may not have always had and may not have in the future, and that many people do not have at all. Experiment with seeing and claiming your responsibilities and obligations as privileges and opportunities. 

Here is my list for the week:

I have to - I get to - make a medical appointment

I have to - I get to - go to work

I have to - I get to - get groceries

I have to - I get to - do laundry

I have to - I get to - exercise

Gratitude can be life altering.

It can change your way of thinking and improve your mental health and outlook on life. 

Practicing gratitude on a daily basis will help you develop it as a habit. 

What is your list for the week? 

librarianintx

New Book Genre

 I read a lot of biographies and memoirs. 

I especially enjoy reading about people who are from one place, and move to a completely different place, and how they adapt. 

This has led me to a new type of memoir: travel ones. 

The first one I read is called The Passport Project. The book is about a family with two young daughters who take a five-month trip during the school year to visit a variety of countries. The adventurous daughter is thrilled. The other daughter is adamantly opposed to the idea. She does not want to be aways from her friends and miss school events. But they go, and the book covers both the good and bad of international travel. At the end of each chapter there is a chart where the four members of the family list what they liked best and least of each country. The book is written by the mother, Kellie McIntyre.  I guess it's considered a YA (young adult) book. I absolutely loved it. 

Now I am reading Searching for Home by Judy Kashoff with photographs by her husband David. It's part of a three book series that chronicles their five years of travel around the globe. I am enjoying this book as well. Judy tells engaging stories that are enhanced by David's photos. Searching for Home is the third book in the series, but they are stand-alone books. I'm reading the third book first because I was able to read it for free on the Kindle app through Freebooksy. 

I am including the covers of both books because the titles are longer than

what I included in this post. 

I haven't had much of an opportunity to travel in my life, so I enjoy reading about the adventurous of others who are braver and heartier than me. 

librarianintx