Mental Map of Munich

By request!  What to see you favourite city in the form of a challenged mental map?  Say the word!

Today is My Two Year Brainiversary

Mental Maps

I am reading a book (Wave by Sonali Deraniyagala) that partially takes place in Sri Lanka.  This got me thinking things like "Sri Lanka....Sri Lanka...small island of the coast of....medium-sized island off the coast of....coast of....balls".)  I had to look it up.  India.  But you knew that, right?

This got me thinking about geography and mental maps.  I think that I have above-average knowledge of the geography of many places, mostly just because I care.  That said, these days my memory is terrible (and my spelling is worse-than-terrible).  Also, my knowledge of many many places is still abysmal.  

I used to be able to do pretty well at the sort of geography test where you plunk in the place name.  I'm not sure if I still am, but I used to be decent.  Mental maps are so much harder.  No cheating!  Don't look at Google, don't confirm spelling, etc. There are places that I think I would do pretty well at still.  I'm sure I could draw at least a reasonable map of Calgary (although it sure gets shaky in the deep south).  I find this sort of thing amusing - more people can provide so much detail about the bit where they live, but stretch outside that and it gets funny fast.

I decided to try a mental map of Quebec City, chosen because it's one that I knew I would do v.e.r.y. poorly at.  I've been there once, ten years ago, and the details are a bit foggy.  I'm afraid to look it up and see just how bad my map is.  Maybe the water runs through the old town?  Err....

Please let a comment with a place (city? country? region?) and I will draw you my best, non-cheating mental map.  Yikes.

    

Oops, I Missed One

Holy Cow - an Indian Adventure by Sarah MacDonald:  I forgot that I read this book is well.  I meant to include it in my last post.  If I forgot it a few weeks later, how long would I remember reading it if I don't write it down?  Time for a blog.  I loved this book when I first read it in 2003 (2004?) and I loved it again ten year later.  The story (non-fiction) is about India and travel, but it's also about learning from different religions.  After immersing herself, Sarah MacDonald offers up her thoughts on what draws her about India's different religions, and what doesn't really sit right with her.  I love it for that reason - I learned some things about various religious beliefs and also for the fun travel adventure end of things.  The 20 000 Dong that I found in my book (from my SE Asia trip in 2005) made me travel every more.  I thought I might be rich (not really), but I looked it up and it's worth less than a loonie at the moment.  Read it!

The Manticore by Robertson Davies: I also just finished the last (technically book two, but I didn't find that it mattered) or the Deptford trilogy.  I expected greatness and I got it.  I did not realize how old this book is.  It was originally published in 1972.

What I've Been Reading in this Long Blog Drought

Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay:  Pick this up if you dig historical fiction like I do.  I saw the movie first.  Conveniently, my parents owned the book.  The story is set around the Vel'd'Hiv' round up in Paris (July 1942).  If you want my copy, I'll gladly pass it on.  Not if I don't know you.  That would just be weird.

Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister by Gregory Maguire:  I love everything that this guy writes.  It's an alternative looks at Cinderella.  I plan to eventually get to everything this guy writes.  Wicked is still my favorite.  Btw, Nat, I'm pretty sure I "borrowed" this from you five years ago in Calgary.  Somehow it came with me to Toronto.  Sorry about that.

World of Wonders by Robertson Davies:  Following a conversation with my Dad about how much I loved Fifth Business, I was reminded that I've been meaning to read this book since I got back from Portland.  It was kind of cool to read this book so close (less than 2 km) from UCC where Davies went to school.  It makes him seem....more real.  If you are Canadian, this is a must read.  If you are not Canadian, read it anyway, because it's a great book.  Next up, the Manticore (I think technically book two, but it mattered not).

In the Skin of a Lion by Michael Ondaatje:  As I am a geography dork, I think Toronto is the perfect place to read this book, set it Toronto in the 1930's.  The story includes the building of the Bloor St. Viaduct and the R.C. Harris Water Treatment plant.  The later was of particular interest to me, having toured it just a few years ago for Doors Open.  It was really cool to see.  Complete will incredibly expensive-looking marble everywhere (which is in the book).  Even the ground are cool.  Well worth taking the street car to the end of the universe.  Good thing JarJar was such a good sport about it.  Back to the book!  I do feel that I should warn you about a nasty sex scene or two.  In a couple of places, In the Skin of a Lion reminded me of the Swedish movie-version of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.  My reactions were similar, and I think in each case not exactly what they were going for.  My reaction: "Oh nasty.  That's just nasty.  NO!  no. no... Nasty".   

Part of the reason I wanted to write about these books is so that I remember that I read them.  My memory is just not what it used to be.

Doglove

With all of the catlove I put on this blog, it's certainly time for post about doglove.  I'm not going to lie, having a dog is awesome.  I think he's helped a lot with my recovery.  Ledger has taken me on just as many walks as I've taken him now.  We have our own things (saying that he is close with Jo is the understatement of the century) now - ravine time, bongo bums (you have to be there) and many more.  Here are a couple of photos of a brain patients best friend:

A photo from today.  Good dogs!

Ledgie as a teeny tiny puppy (before I knew him).  

Nap time.

Missed in Chicago 1 & 2

JoJo and the PoPo.  Sounding exactly like a ten-year-old girl (think very high pitched)  I said, "can we take a picture with you?"

My favourite building (architecturally) in Chicago is the skinny blue building.  (The church below is beautiful too).  I looked up the building - it's the Trump Tower!  Boo urns!!