1984, the Brain that Changes Itself and Berlin Tales

At some point, without it being a conscious choice, I went from blogging about some of the books that I read to blogging about all of the books that I read. It's just hard to read a book and not have something to say about it.

Here are the latest three I have read.

1984by George Orwell

I have listed 1984 in my Top 5 Favorite Books (yes, that needs to be capitalized) since I first read it in grade 11. Sure, I didn't have as much to compare it to then, but I remember loving it. Actually, first I remember I picked the The Grapes of Wrath , which I hear is really good and would love to get back to. I recall the first 5 or so pages of the book being about dust. Just dust. I looked at how much I had left, and talked to some other kids in my class that had picked 1984. (I'm not trying to imply we only read one book. Hey, it was Bowness. I just remember we got to pick between about 6, which I thought was very cool). I really need to read the Grapes of Wrath now, but I can't say I'm not super happy with my choice to switch. I'm pretty sure I read 1984 a second time, but I couldn't have been older than 20. I read it again a month ago, and loved it even more. I remembered the story, but I still feel that I got a lot out of it on the re-read. I do with the word "doubleplusungood" didn't seem quite to relevant while I was reading it this time. If you haven't read it, don't admit it – I'll think less of you. Just kidding! If you know it and love, consider a reread. It's just that good.

The Brain That Changes Itself by Norman Doidge, M.D.

Firstly, thanks Sheasby, for lending this to me.

Second, a mildly embarrassing admission. I was talking a bit about this book when I first started to read it, and I couldn't remember the author's name. I confidently said, "you know when a name sounds somewhat foreign, and therefore it's harder to remember? It reminded me of reading Pol Pot, where I had a very hard time keeping all of the people straight (although in that book most people went by more than one name). Yeah, this is like that." Doidge. Oops. There goes my theory. (Credability? Memory?)

I would also recommend this book. I might not make my top 5 of all time like 1984, but I do really enjoy non-fiction. There is some super interesting stuff in this book including stuff on rehabilitation for stroke victims, sexuality, phantom limbs, PETA and Sea Gypsies. Now you will at least have to read it to figure out what the hell a Sea Gypsy is, no? The book is super interesting, if long and not exactly a breezy read. I mean that in the good way and the bad way. I read another book at the same time, and that was perfect.

One last note on this book. It's gotten me hooked on Sudoku. Use it or lose it, so I'd rather use it. This way my brain with not lose the numbers 1-9. ;)

Berlin Tales , multiple authors, translated by Lyn Marven

I'm mildly obsessed with Germany, and I love Berlin. So I was randomly looking for books on the city by searching the library catalogue. The book actually had a list of other books about Berlin in the back, and I might check out one or two of the other ones. Anyway, this book is a compilation of short stories, all with the linking theme of Berlin – specifically geography. Some of the stories are barely about Berlin. They are just set there. Most are very much about Berlin the city. Some of the short stories I didn't really care for. Actually most of them. There are, however, some jewels in the middle. It's not like any of them were bad either. Worth a read, if you like Berlin.

Reading this book made to want to check out Berlin on Google Street View. They don't have it yet! I'm sure it's just a matter of time, but I was disappointed.

Really its the Cars that are the Problem

I had some random thoughts, while riding my bicycle. It was raining, and the intersection I had just passed was busy.

My thoughts went something like this.

-be careful, these dicks aren't going to even look for a bike.

-watch it, dick.

-ha, never mind, fine.

-bike riding is fucking awesome, the only way to go.

-bike riding can be dodgy. stupid fucking cars.

-it's too bad so many people don't ride. I guess some are afraid of getting hit. stupid fucking cars.

-really it's the cars that are the problem. you are all the time about cars and car collisions. are cars taking out cyclists. how often to you hear about two bikes crashing? stupid fucking cars.

Then I remembered that two of my teammates crashed their bikes just the other weekend. As in into each other. So I guess I'm wrong. But not about the bike riding being awesome.

Cancer Sucks

That's probably not a very original title, but it's all I can think of. Maybe I will think of something better by the time I finish writing the post. For example, perhaps I could add, "a Lot?". Hmm, obvious?

My mom had Multiple Myeloma, and just relapsed. Too bad it's not this sort of Relapse - this sort is awesome). Multiple Myeloma is bone marrow cancer. My mom's has been in remission for a little over two years. Part of the reason I am doing this blog post is to refresh my memory by looking up information. Here is some of what I found or knew already.

· Myelo = bone marrow (according to Wikipedia, which makes it a FACT, right?)

· When I say "bone marrow cancer" (above), sounds like I really mean cancer of the while blood cells, specifically plasma cells, which are part of your immune system.

· I did know about the immune system bit, since last was pretty key when my mom was first diagnosed. When she had a stem cell transplant, they pretty much wipe your immune system. She was on sterile (or mostly sterile? Is it really sterile) ward in the hospital. There is hand sanitizer EVERYWHERE, and they are pretty careful. For example, if a person has a hint of a cold, you are not allowed to go visit.

· Most patients are over 60 (my Mom was diagnosed at 50).

· It's incurable but treatable.

· My mom had Bortezomib (aka Valcade, which is good, because Bortezomib is a mouthful), and will likely take it again. It was just approved in 2004, which seems recent – except that some of the other drug options are still in the study form.

· Maybe I will add more information/facts-I-didn't-know etc. when I can find some better reference material than Wikipedia.

So good think my mom is such a tough cookie.

Rat

I was riding my bike today, in the rain and behind a covered garbage truck. The fact that it was rainy has nothing to do with this story, but I wanted to tell you, because...well because my pants got soaked. The covered garbage truck. All of a sudden, out nowhere, a RAT landed in the middle of the street and ran off, right in front of me, to a park to my right. It was the strangest thing. Of course when I say "out of nowhere", I must mean "out of the garbage truck." It's the only way. And I'm not going to lie, "landed" does bring to mind "jumped". It looked like a nice park. I'm just saying. Perhaps rats leaping into the street in front of you happens every other day in Ontario. Being from Alberta (it's rat-free), it did seem odd.

AGO

I finally went to the AGO the other day. Unfortunately, the pass that I got from the library expired after 7 minutes or something silly like that. So that was a bust. However, it turns out the AGO is free on Wednesday nights from 6-8:30 PM.

I checked it out, and it was pretty sweet. I only stayed for about an hour and half, but I usually enjoy this sort of thing best in small doses. Since I didn't pay the usual entry fee ($18 for adults), I didn't feel obligated to try and get my moneys worth. I'm probably going to go back this Wednesday night, and if for some reason I don't, I'll just go next week.

There was lots of great stuff, and a few specific spectalar things that really caught my attention. Two would be easy to describe: A serious of three photographs of streets in Toronto, and a line drawing on a monkey. I can't tell you what it was about them that drew my attention so much. I really enjoyed them, and I love when that happens. Do you get that too? You walk into a room in a gallery and one things just grabs you?

I did do one thing wrong on Wednesday. I brought a tiny backpack, filled with gear so that I could run home. I wasn't shocked to have to check it, but my mistake was also giving them my jacket. The gallery was freezing. It must be to preserve the artwork. Well, I've learned next time.

I overheard two things repeatedly while I wandering around.
"oooo, ooooo, come look at this". (obvious why).
and far more frequently:
"do you have any idea where we are". (it's pretty big).

As I said, I'm going to go back for sure. I'm also going to see if any of the other Toronto "tourist attractions" have free nights.

Calgary at Christmas

I'll be in Calgary from Dec. 16-25. :) If I hadn't told you yet, chances are I have been meaning too. If you think this is a cold and impersonal way of telling you, just refer to my last post about being computerless at the moment. Anyway, if you will be in Calgary then, let me know. Typical of my family, Christmas day will be on December 19th for us. :)

My Computer is at the Doctor

My trusty green Toshiba is at the doctor right now. I miss it dearly. Hopefully it will be as good as new (ha!) and back in my hands tomorrow.

In the meantime, I think the thing to do is comment. In honor of my fallen laptop, do a tiny bit of writing for me and leave a comment.

Budgets

One of the things I have been working on lately is budgets - my own and one for my consulting company.

The work on made me laugh the other day. I have to collect and save GST to give back to the government. So the first two rows of my spreadsheet looked like this:

Cheque Total
GAY

Hahah, oops. GST - my fingers were not quite on home row. Where was my head at?

Movember

Several friends of mine are growing moustaches for Movember, and helping to raise support and awareness for Prostate Cancer. Great job boys! If you can, please support Jeff, Heath or Rob in their commendable, if…creepy (just kidding!) attempts to grow moustaches. For pictures and fun, check out their blogs – click for Jeff’s Blog, Heath’s Blog and Rob’s Blog.

Lotus/Capitals End the 2009 Season on a High

First there was the tight Canadian Nationals final between Lotus and Stella. Then there was the third/fourth finish at UPAs that was so close to being a berth in the final. But no, I’m talking about the Lotus/Caps season wrap up party this weekend – fun times.

Rachael Getting Married

My friend Tracy was visiting this weekend. It was very convenient that I live in the same place as Sheasby, my other friend from high school. Hanging out became as simple as heading upstairs. Awesome. We had a fun weekend. Anyway, this blog post isn’t really about. I’m sure you had to be there. I’m glad I was.

I really wanted to blog about the movie that we watched, Rachel Getting Married. No one had seen it, and it looked interesting and artsy. It stars Anne Hathaway as a recovering addict, heading home to see her family. Rachel, the one getting married (hence the title), is her older sister. I think that’s about all I need to tell you in terms of background to get you to my opinion. Don’t bother. Just get invited to a real wedding. Maybe folks you don’t know that well. Perhaps a coworker of your boyfriend or girlfriend. It could be fun, right? Only if it’s open bar. Rachel Getting Married sounded interesting. Anne Hathaway does a good job with a troubled character. But it’s just not entertaining. It’s almost too real for my taste. If I want to sit through six boring speeches that I’m sure are touching for the bridge and groom, I’ll go to a real (real boring) wedding. I mean it wasn’t bad or anything, just not very entertaining or interesting.

We also watch an episode of Glee, which I am almost embarrassed to admit, was SUPER entertaining.

Bob Dylan

Bob Dylan played in Kitchener this weekend. It was a really good show, and a really fun time. Bob looked like he was having a lot of fun too, and I think he had to have been. The man is 68 years old and he’s been making music for five decades. Does he really need the money? I could be wrong, maybe he does, but it sure looked like he was doing it either for fun, for his adoring fans, or for fun for his adoring fans. Whatever his motivations, he put on a great show.

Ten Days

10 days. It's been a while since I've had a break that long. It's mostly because I didn't want to have to make an FML tag.

Three/Four at UPAs

We lost by one point in the semi. Balls.

More on this later. Waiting in the Sarasota airport to catch a delayed flight home.

Balls.