Ask. Believe. Receive. In The Secret, Rhonda Byrne compiles the words of successful authors, businesspeople, spiritualists and scientists to explain the “Great Secret” woven throughout human history — the law of attraction.

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My mom went to the neurologist today. He confirmed she has mild to moderate dementia, something our family doctor suspected after a round of tests in early July.In “The Secret to Health,” Byrne says when we listen to people talk about their illness, we are “asking for it” and will only draw illness to ourselves. We’re to change the conversation to “good things.”I wonder what my mom would think if I changed the subject on her. I think I (more…)

While I was heading to work this morning, something very odd showed up on my face - a big grin.I was surprised to find it because it’s been a trying week to say the least. But I realized there was a reason for my lightened mood. It was the song I had on in the car, The Beatles’ “Getting Better” from Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.“I’ve got to admit it’s getting better, a little better all the time.”Listening to Paul McCartney repeat that line in the refrain filled me with optimism. I started singing along in my car. I got weird looks at a red light. I absolutely didn’t care, (more…)

While clearing out some flowerbeds over the weekend, I came across something I never realized grew in the suburbs: poison ivy.Having spent my whole life in a rural area, I thought poison ivy only showed up in the woods. Who knew it could crash through the city limits? Apparently, I’m pretty naive.(I was working at the house I’m going to move into (more…)

 The book doesn’t explain how to deal with this.I’m taking care of my family’s golden retriever, Marmie (who, interestingly enough, is Beckham’s sister), while my parents are out of town this week.Marmie’s been acting mopey and lethargic, but I thought it was doggie depression. She usually spends all day, every day, with my mom.Yes, I thought it was weird a 2-year-old dog didn’t feel like playing fetch Sunday, but she (more…)

 I am so happy and grateful now that Marmie the pooch is home and safe.I am so happy and grateful now that Mom and Dad are home from vacation and can commence wiping Marmie’s drippy wound.The vet still isn’t sure what caused the horrible bleeding from Tuesday night, but he knew Marmie had an some kind of infection.She stayed at the vet until Thursday afternoon and came home with a good portion of her fur shaved off. Oh, (more…)

Water for Elephants is the story of a Great-Depression-era circus told through the memories of ninety-something-year-old veterinarian, Jacob Jankowski. Sara Gruen’s exhaustive research into the traveling circuses of the 1930s and 40s gives us a rare look into the fascinating, secretive subculture of that era’s big-top performers and roustabouts. Many of the most compelling anecdotes in Gruen’s well-told story are based on actual events.

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The story of John Bul Dau’s childhood and early adulthood could be summarized by this prophesy: “This will be a black-haired time.” Which means: None of the people in Sudan will live long enough to have gray hair. It’s easy to turn off the news and lose interest in story after story of death and destruction in other parts of the world. We are inundated with images and stories about terrible pain and suffering all the time, and can become somewhat desensitized to it. Reading “God Grew Tired of Us” cuts through any desensitization and brings those feelings of sorrow and happiness, of pain and love, back into focus again.

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Some people hibernate and lick their wounds after a difficult divorce. Not author Elizabeth Gilbert, who self-prescribed a year of exotic travel and convinced a publishing house to pay for it with a book advance. The result is Eat, Pray, Love, Gilbert’s journey of self-discovery in Rome (the eating leg of the trip), on an ashram in India (the praying portion) and love (in Bali, where she reconnected with joy).

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Living History provides Hillary Clinton with a 566-page opportunity to describe her roller coaster ride as a bright young lawyer and working mother whose husband rose through the ranks of Arkansas state government, only to win two terms in the grand prize of American politics – the presidency. This book gives the reader a detailed, insider’s look at the high-stakes, power-driven world of political warfare. It makes for fascinating reading and more than justifies Hillary’s claim that her life is a work of Living History in progress.

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