A Brain Exercise Idea--Cat Approved!

In flipping through Keep Your Brain Alive by Lawrence C. Katz, Ph.D and Manning Rubin, it mentioned that one office they knew of had a chessboard near the water cooler.  Any employee could come to the board, assess the situation, and make a move.  It was an ongoing game, with no known players, and no winners or losers.  The idea is to use visual-spatial thinking.  It provides a break from verbal, left-brain activities.  (pg. 83)

I decided to try this at home.  I just had to find a good place for the chessboard and chose to put it upstairs in the cat room.  I'll spin the board around after each move so we know whose turn it is.  Hopefully my husband will join me in this too.  Spunky Doodle of course was eager to walk on the board, but I stopped that.  Then she wanted to play right away, moving the black pawn.  I wonder if any pieces will be left standing when I return.

Linking up with the Cats on Tuesday blog hop.

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Monday Mischief: It Was a Good Run--Woof! Woof!

I charged out the door!

Boy, have I a story to tell you this week!  The setting:  Saturday, a beautiful day and had a nice walk at the park.  Karen at the computer.  Gerard reading and me in the living room.

Ding, Ding.  (doorbell rang, a kid selling stuff)

Naturally I barked loud to let my dad know someone was at the door.  He went to answer the door and I saw my chance when the inside vestibule door popped back open.

I ran like a shot out the door!  It was fun, I felt so free!  I ran across the street and down the sidewalk very fast!

I heard Gerard yelling for me to come, but I couldn't stop,  He ran after me but I was too fast for him,  Ha, ha.  I was having too much fun!

As soon as Karen heard Gerard yell, she jumped up, grabbed my leash, told the kid we didn't want to buy anything and got in the car to join in the chase! 

See what excitement I created!

This is the house where Gerard caught up to me at because the lady held me.

Lots of the neighbors came out to watch us.  One called for me to come to her so I did.  She pet me up and we waited for Gerard to arrive.  Then Karen got there in the car with the leash while Gerard was still trying to call her on his cell phone.   

I thought it was very fun, but Karen and Gerard did not.  They both said it was very bad and I should never, ever go outside without my leash again.  Oh well.  It was fun while it lasted, even if it was only about one minute of run time.  Woof!  Woof!

Karen was in such a rush that she forgot to bring the camera along to get pictures for this post--a video of me in action running would have been nice.  These pics were all taken the next day.  If you enlarge the last one, you might be able to see the red circle around my house (it's not really in the tree like the label says).

Share some mischief you got into at the Monday Mischief blog hop and Aww Mondays.

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Sunday Sharing: God Is Loyal to Jerusalem

I'm still in Ezekiel and it's getting hard to find a highlight, I must admit.  I am to the place where although Israel is still in captivity, God is telling Ezekiel about his punishment coming to other nations so they too will know He is the Lord God (see Ez. 25:17).  For the highlight, I chose this:

Human being, the city of Tyre has spoken against Jerusalem:  "The city that traded with the nations is destroyed.  Now we can be the trading center.  The city of Jerusalem is ruined.  Now we can make money. (3) So this is what the Lord God says:  I am against you, Tyre. . .  --Ezekiel 26:2-3a (ICB)

It's not a good idea to go against God's chosen people, ever!  As I was reading about one nation after another this week in Ezekiel, I couldn't help but wonder what God's view of the nations is today.  It's kind of interesting when you think about it.  Again, this week the same line was repeated over and over, "Then they will know that I am the Lord God."  God still wants us to know Him, do you? 

Gerard's new Shirt

This is a picture of the shirt Gerard ordered that came in the mail this week.  The small print at the bottom says,

HIS SPIRIT WILL FILL US
Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst."  John 6:35 

MAY YOU BE EVER IN GOD'S FAVOR

The Christian t-shirt website where Gerard bought this shirt from is Kerusso.
(John 6:35 was one of our VBS verses this summer!  Too bad he didn't have it sooner so he could have worn it there.)

What was your scripture highlight this week?

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Friday Fragments

Friday Fragments is hosted by Unknown Mama for bloggers to post a list of short things on their minds that aren't really enough for a whole post to give Mrs. 4444 a break for the summer. Here we go:

Fifth Third Bank

I always thought Fifth Third was the dumbest name for a bank (or any company for that matter) and this week I found out how they got that name. Read my "What a Dumb Name" post to find out.

Look Down

Wow!  How much is here?

It pays to look at the ground as you walk--found $50 at the Indians game when going for pizza! It was just lying on the floor by the exit from the Club lounge. I didn't see anyone drop it and no one seemed to be looking for it, so finders keepers, right? I figured if I didn't pick it up, someone else would so it might as well be me. I really feel bad though for the person who lost it. That's a nice chunk of change. Since all the food in that are is complimentary, I wonder why they even took out their money.

Baked French Toast

Baked French Toast

Ever had baked French Toast? I never heard of it until yesterday at the Indians game. Since I like French Toast, I gave it a try and YUMMY! I had three helpings of it. Couldn't convince Gerard to taste it though, he missed out on a delicious treat there!

Baseball

We are both excited that the Red Sox and Indians are doing great this year and hoping both our teams win their divisions. The Red Sox lead in walk off homeruns and the Indians are right behind them--makes for an exciting season! We're loving it! Had a great time at the Indians game yesterday--now they have an 8-game winning streak going! Drew Stuggs expresses exactly how I feel about this year's Indians team in this short interview after yesterday's game: Stubbs Praises Raburn, Talks Win Streak.

Dog TV

When I saw Abby actually watching Dog TV when we first put it on yesterday, I was impressed. However, her interest in it has waned. We tried leaving it on for her while we went to the Indians game and when we got back, our goofy TV was on power saver and had switched to the Indians game channel! Have no idea how that happened, but Abby must have wanted to watch the tribe game instead. It's a mystery! I like the relaxing music though and the beautiful scenery. This morning though when we put it on, she showed no interest in it.

Pride and Prejudice

I am currently trying to read this book but find it to be very boring and absolutely hate the writing style. I've heard so many raving about how great it is that I was curious so got it from the library, but it is slow moving because I keep dozing off on it. Maybe it's just I'm strange, but so far, I really hate it. Have you ever read this? What did you think of it.

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MLB Should Crack Down On The Dopers

I've got to wonder why using performance enhancing drugs (which is illegal) is so widespread among major league ballplayers.  It seems to me MLB really doesn't care but feels like when players get caught, they have to do something.  Personally, I think if they really wanted to put a stop to it they should suspend players for life from ever playing in the pros again.

Finally, according to USA TODAY, it seems as though they are finally getting serious.  See MLB Prepared to Ban A-Rod for Life, Suspend Eight Others.  I am excited to see that Jhonny Peralta of the Detroit Tigers (a former Indians player) is also facing possible suspension.  I never liked him.  Maybe this will slow down those Tigers.

In my opinion, using performance enhancing drugs is cheating. It spoils the game when people cheat and you have to throw a players stats out to be fair to the rest of the players who do not cheat.  I'm sure this happens in other sports as well and all of them should put a stop to it by kicking the offenders out.  It is either a rule or it isn't and if it is, then players need to abide by it.  It's just that simple.  No warning is needed because all the players are aware of the rule, I'm sure. 

Yes, I do see things in black or white.  So be it!  What do you think about this issue?

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