Songs that occasionally cross my mind - The 60s

Now, I never intended for this blog to be about nothing but music and our stricken puppies, and I don't believe it is limited to that. But, I'm going to go where the interest is for the most part. I'm happy to have some readers, for sure. Because this is the Happiness Notebook, I'm going to write about things that keep my spirits up, that help me feel contentment, that lead me down a path of fulfillment. Which means that I'll write about practically any topic. I've never been at a loss for what to write about. However, I have been in dark moods that don't seem conducive to writing in a blog thusly named. So, to help lift my spirits, and maybe yours, too, here are some songs that flit across my consciousness every now and then (no, not Total Eclipse of the Heart, though I like most any Jim Steinman tune) and make me feel good. I've probably mentioned them on the blog before, but I'm not going back and checking.

Here are ten from the 60s in no particular order, with no little to no explanation and links to YouTube:

Some Velvet Morning - Nancy Sinatra & Lee Hazlewood

Open My Eyes - Nazz

Words - Monkees

Walk on By - Isaac Hayes (album version is over 9 minutes...nearly perfect song)

The Girl from Ipanema - Astrud Gilberto/Stan Getz

A Lover's Concerto - The Toys

A Different Drum - The Stone Poneys featuring Linda Ronstadt

Catch the Wind - Donovan

Society's Child - Janis Ian (she was only 16 when she wrote this!)

By the Time I Get to Phoenix - Glen Campbell (sorry about the sound, but I wanted the original version)

These aren't my favorites, they're just songs that flit across my consciousness every now and again.

I'd like to know if there are any songs from this decade that do that for you. I left off some huge hits and personal favorites.

Tell me about yours in the comments.

FCE Files - Boogie

Well, I intended to direct you all over to my latest blog Giving Feedback, which is just getting underway and has already been tagged by Google as a potential spam blog. Woo hoo! It isn't spam. It's just that I did some fast writing and the blog has links to companies. Ah, you'll see.

For now though, here is Boogie, pre-FCE, who belongs to Emilie (whose first language is French, I believe, but she's written a great thorough rundown of Boogie's story in English.)

Enough of my chatter. Here is the Boogie FCE File:

The beginning

It all started 2 months ago, in September 2008. We were on holidays and Boogie, our French bulldog, was on the balcony looking at people in the street.

My mother was in the kitchen when she heard the dog squeak, and she immediately realized it was not normal barking. She first thought the dog had been stung by a wasp. Unfortunately, it was much worse! The dog was standing before her and her rear legs were totally paralyzed.

We brought Boogie to the vet clinic. The vets told us it was probably hernia and planned to operate her the next morning. But when they did X ray on her to locate the hernia, they could not see anything. They explained that it surely was FCE, that something was stuck in her spine and it was why she could not walk anymore. The worst news was that it could not be cured by operation. The first vet we saw told us that maybe it was better to think about euthanasia. It was a huge shock. Our dog is only 2 years old and so lively that it was really hard to even think about losing her. We decided not to rush and wait for a few days before deciding on Boogie's future.

The first days

Boogie stayed 3 days at the clinic. When she left, we went back home in Paris immediately so that she would feel more comfortable at the place she's used to live. For 3 more days, she stayed prostrated, sitting on a carpet. We still don't know if it's because she could not lie down by herself, if she was in pain or if she was just disturbed by her new condition. Because she was constantly sitting, a bump appeared in the middle of her back, on the spine. But then she was able to lie down again and it slowly disappeared.

Treatment

For two months, our vet in Paris prescribed corticoids. The treatment seemed effective regarding the dog's vivacity, and I'm pretty sure it helped her to start moving again instead of staying on the carpet. But one of the effects of corticoids is that Boogie started to gain weight. We did not change the food quantities but it was clear that the dog would have been able to eat twice her daily ration. And she was also abnormally excited; it was like she had become hyperactive!

In parallel, she was prescribed – and still has – a treatment to "enlarge" blood vessels. Our local vet thinks that maybe it can help the "little thing" in the spine to be evacuated or dissolved.

During 2 weeks, after the corticoids treatment, she also received injections to strengthen muscles.

We also took the dog to the "Vet School", which is a prestigious institution for vets training and where you can find all kinds of specialists. A professor examined the dog and some students were there, taking notes. The professor even took pictures of Boogie! Apparently, FCE is quite rare and often misdiagnosed and the professor thought it would be a good opportunity to discuss Boogie's case with her students in class. That was a good sign for us, because even if the dog never recovers from FCE, at least we know her condition is studied and may be useful for vet students. It was decided that we should bring the dog to the Vet School twice a week for physical therapy. Two students are in charge of working with her in the swimming pool and do massages. Boogie is a small dog so she gets tired very quickly. In general, 10 to 15 minutes in the swimming pool is all she can do. But we feel lucky to have this chance because there are only 3 or 4 Vet Schools in France and these physical therapy sessions are a bonus to the medical treatment!

Everyday life

Now, that's the hardest part of all this. We can deal easily with the disability, but it's much more difficult to handle faecal and urinary incontinence. When we came back to Paris, Boogie had cystitis because her bladder had not been completely emptied for a few days. During two weeks, my mother brought the dog twice a day – in the morning and in the evening – to our local vet so that he would empty Boogie's bladder. Now we do that once a day, but it still represents a constraint.

At home, things are a bit complicated because we live in an apartment. We have a small garden, but it's useless as the dog does not ask to go out and do her business. We always have to clean up after her; we never know when or where she will do it (surprise!) and *yes* we sometimes feel embarrassed when people are visiting us and the dog just pees or poops right before them!

With disability and incontinence, also come other types of difficulties:

- Scabs on her legs and belly. We treat them with ointment and have put special pillows everywhere in the apartment. But the dog is always moving all around the place so she does not spend much time on the pillows. Nevertheless, her legs look better now than they did 2 or 3 weeks ago.
- Dog's mood. Although she's as joyful, lively and affectionate as she was before, Boogie growls and tries to bite us each time we want to look after her (for scabs or incontinence, for example). My father and the vets are the only persons who are able to handle her, but they are not always there to help!
- Money. Needless to say that our daily visits to the local vet, the medical treatments, the therapy sessions at the Vet School, the special cushions, carpet cleaning and all these little things we do to make our dog's life easier has a price. We do it because we have taken the decision to do all we can to fight FCE but it's quite expensive.
- Lack of understanding. I know it may sound absurd compared with the dog's situation, but my family and I have received no support or encouragement from our relatives and friends. They all think we are crazy to go on with this and that we should put the dog to sleep "because, you know, it's just a dog". We are not humanizing our dog, but she's part of the family. Each time someone tells us to put an end to this, I'm about to cry…The only support comes from our local vet and the Vet School.

And of course, we can't go anywhere we want. Before FCE, we used to take the dog all the time with us on holidays, weekends etc. Now we have to stay at home. I can take care of the dog when my parents need to leave for a few days, but one of us always must stay with the dog. No one would accept to look after her in those conditions.

Progress

The reason why we're going through this… There is progress. Recovery is very slow, it comes with periods of doubt and discouragement, but we can definitely see improvement in Boogie's condition.

FCE + 15 days: Boogie starts to feel sensitivity in the pads, but we have to press them very strongly. She's still totally incontinent and can not move her rear legs at all.

FCE + 30: Sensitivity in the legs is growing. When we press the pads, she's moving them. But it sounds more like an automated reaction. She doesn't seem to feel any pain or to realize than we're pressing her pads. Incontinence hasn't changed at all.

FCE + 45: The dog slightly raises her butt. Her bladder is less supple, which means she's more in control of it. From time to time, she even wants to go in the garden to do her business but it's very very rare.

FCE + 60 (today): The dog's legs are more firm. When we put the dog on her legs, she's able to stand up for a few seconds, although she has no control of them. The real improvement is that she's able to raise her butt high enough to almost stand up by herself. She doesn't do that very often, maybe once or twice a day. But it's a big step considering that 3 weeks ago, she was incapable of moving her hind.

The future

We have no guarantee that our dog will be able to walk again in the future but euthanasia is now out of the question. Boogie is enjoying life despite her disability. We're waiting one more month then we will consider buying a dog trolley adapted to her size (we will have to go to Belgium for that, because there's no seller in France). We don't want to buy a trolley too soon because we were told that it may slow down her progress. What we really hope right now is to make incontinence disappear. It would change our daily life and we would be able to take the dog with us again during our visits to friends or family without being embarrassed or dependent on local vets.

FCE is a real challenge. It's challenging the dog's life and our own lives, and we have learned how strong our attachment to the dog is. We will go as far as possible in the recovery process. We won't give up and just need to be patient.

Yes, FCE is a challenge, and can be a major inconvenience and really tests your resolve. Caregiving is a full time job, and caregiving a confused animal is a tough full time job. We're glad that you're following through with Boogie, Emilie. If she needs to be mobile, maybe she can go on wheels for some time and then you can take them off. It might raise her spirits without slowing down her recovery.

Thank you for sharing Boogie with us and keep us posted on her progress.

If you have an FCE (or dog diagnosed with other problems that cause paralysis) please send me an email with your story and a photo of your dog or you with your dog (either before or after the event) to happyguy@happinessnotebook.com.

FCE Files - Eddie

We've had a couple of people write in with photos and stories about their experiences with FCE.

The first one I received is from Gina and her pup, Eddie:

I have been following your blog about FCE's and found it very helpful and interesting. Knowing others went through this has been a great help and inspiration to go forward.

My 7 year old Jack Russell Eddie suffered an FCE on Sept. 14. The first two weeks were insane and overwhelming and we were all a little crazy here. His rear legs were totally gone and he had no deep pain so we didnt have much hope.

Things have changed....I started acupunture treatments 3 weeks ago and he is moving. It started with his tail and now he is taking steps... maybe only 4 or 5 at a time and a little whobbly...but he is moving and the dr. feels so optamistic...and so do we.

We got him wheels...that were wonderful!!! Made of pvc and very reasonable at dogstogo.net They made a HUGH difference for him and us.

I thank you again for writing this blog and giving all of us hope.I think Eddie will be walking soon. He might not be the crazy jumper he was but i know he is happy and getting stronger every day. I think i ordered every diaper there is on line, but we even have that under control now too.

My best advice to anyone is patience. Try the holistic medicine and acupunture, relax because they are better than us and give them lots of love. It will work and if it doesnt, get them wheels. Life can be ok with a down dog too!!!

Thank you for sharing Eddie with us, Gina. He's looking pretty sturdy and alert there in that photo. We wish you the best in his continuing recovery.

The FCE files - a request for humans

If a cool celebrity dog like Brian Griffin could become the spokesdog for FCEs, that could help raise awareness, perhaps limiting the stress and pain of the families of an FCE stricken pet.

There is no guarantee of recovery from FCE, but the chances are excellent for at least a partial recovery, and not too bad for a complete recovery. The family's lifestyle might change a bit, but everyone, including the dog, can continue to lead happy lives, especially after those first few harrowing weeks.

I've received a lot of comments and emails about FCE. I'm not an expert by any means. I, like so many of you, was a dog owner who had no idea something like this could happen. My family suffered the same anxieties and muddled through with physical therapy and, basically, canine nursing care. The bonds between animal and human grow even stronger. (Though I think Ralph still secretly blames me for the whole experience. It's that look he gives me when he rises out of bed and that hind leg is stiff in the mornings.)

I'd like to keep a photo list of dogs and their families that have been through this. Please send me a photo of your dog (with or without you and your family, pre or post FCE...up to you) and some details on where and when the FCE struck. If you'd like to write about your feelings, the challenges of taking care of your pet, and his or her current state, that would be great. I'd like to post them in the blog and provide a list of links to those posts on the side. I'll start it right now with Ralph.

Thanks

Emotional listening to classical music

There are certain pieces of music that...emotionally...transport me. Words are inadequate for explaining feelings, one has to feel them on their own. This transport to a new emotional state is immediate and personal. There is no guarantee that what I am feeling is the same as what you are feeling. There isn't even a guarantee that the music that moves me will move anyone else (though some of these pieces are admittedly known for this power.)

I'm not going to get into the details of listening to classical music. Music appreciation is for someone else to teach (which, if you haven't ever taken such a class, you should, or at least go to a library and check out a book on classical music and some CDs or DVDs of performances.) Rather than focus on intellectual listening (which you should do at some point, I think) I'd like to focus on emotional listening. Sound immersion really.

By emotional listening, I mean immersing yourself in the sound, giving up other thoughts, letting the music take you somewhere else. About a year ago, I mentioned the cliche of how cut grass can send people back to their childhoods. Scents can do that. Tastes and images can do itl, too. And while those senses can conjure powerful memories and images, there is something about musical sounds that intensify this sensation for me.

Now, as a kid, my classical music listening experience was confined to misunderstood and under appreciated field trips to the Music Hall in Cincinnati, Ohio and to the occasional Warner Brothers cartoon. So, the music can't possibly be triggering direct memories.

Yet each of these pieces triggers memories. Perhaps these memories are representative of the mood evoked. Inevitably, the music makes me feel wistful for a more innocent time, when love was simple and strong, when emotions were pure, powerful, and unconditional. There is joy in these feelings, but a sadness, too, like looking at old films of frolicking children, each of whom has long since grown old and passed on.

I should mention that other music, besides classical can do this for me, but I'm limiting the selections here to a handful of classical works. I'm using their full names from allmusic.com and including 30 second samples of each, which, of course, do not do them justice. Also, many times, an entire work doesn't have this affect on me. It can be a short sequence of notes, no more than a couple of bars of music, that send me into this melancholic euphoria.

Also, to be completely accurate, other works cause different responses in me. Some of this music makes me feel...transcendent, where I can feel my heart swell with pride and happiness and power (picture the Grinch's heart in the Christmas cartoon.)

It's getting late and I keep rambling. Here's some of the music. Let me know what music does this for you. If you haven't discovered classical, drop your defenses and listen for a bit. There is something there for every taste.

Prayer of St. Gregory (interlude from opera "Etchmiadzin"), for trumpet & string orchestra, Op. 62b composed by Alan Hovhaness in 1946. I've never heard the opera, but this five minute work for trumpet and strings is a longtime favorite of mine. There are many recordings of this. Be sure to find one with strings, not organ for the accompaniment. I like the Gerard Schwarz conducted versions best. This work immediately drops me into a meditative state. I always feel better and more relaxed after listening to this.

Symphony No. 3, Op. 36 ("Symphony of Sorrowful Songs") composed by Henryk Gorecki in 1976. This is nearly an hour long symphony that takes its time building emotional tension. The symphony is in three movements and features a soprano soloist singing the "sorrowful songs" of the subtitle. I urge you to investigate this work. It was made popular by Dawn Upshaw and the London Sinfonietta back in the early 90s. There are now numerous versions. The links above are to multiple clips. Grab a favorite beverage, wear comfortable clothes, find a good position to sit or lie down and just be quiet and patient and listen to this work. The soprano's voice will be seem shockingly high after the depths of the notes in the early part of the first movement (you'll need some volume; headphones work great.) The second movement is a beautiful dirge. The third is relentlessly slow yet almost hopeful. Just listen.

Cantus in Memory of Benjamin Britten, for string orchestra & bell composed by Arvo Part between 1977-1980. The bell tolls throughout, the strings take turns starting, descending, repeating, finally stopping on the same tone. When the basses finally catch up with all of the other strings, all of them stop simultaneously, leaving the sound of the bell, struck just before the strings stop, pealing, alone, fading to silence. It makes my eyes well up just hearing the music in my head. It's seven minutes of reverence for those we've lost.

This post is getting pretty long. I'll add a Part II, tomorrow.

Good night. (By the way, that photo is of a bell with Arvo Part.)

Ralph, his FCE, his treatment, an update

I haven't written in this blog for a long long while. I've been writing, moving, working, even blogging, but just not here. My spirit to write in the Happiness Notebook left me during the summer. Maybe it will return.

One thing that has been happening with increasing regularity is commentary on my post about my dog Ralph (pronounced Rafe with a long A) and his FCE.

Dog owners (parents?) have shared their stories on how one moment their pets were playing and lively and the next they're paralyzed. The dogs can no longer move the back half of their bodies. The dogs are scared and confused. And in the early stages of this condition, when little is known, you begin to wonder if you will lose your loved one.

It is a harrowing time, especially because your dog is so innocent and undeserving of such a physical calamity.

Since that post back in early March, Ralph has regained full use of his right rear leg and his tail. His left rear leg still has some problems. It is probably 60% or so. He has trouble with it when he needs to take stairs. He struggles with hardwood floors, too as he tries to remain stable when pivoting. It is clearly a little stiff after he's been lounging, too.

The first two weeks after the FCE were the toughest for both him and us. He couldn't walk, so I carried him outside for his potty breaks. His bladder required massaging to start his urine flow. He couldn't squat properly for elimination either, so he had to be held properly without hurting his ribs or legs. He was miserable and we weren't much better. He dreaded potty breaks.

But what he dreaded more, but soon learned to accept, was physical therapy. Six times a day we worked his legs for ten to fifteen minutes, moving them through full ranges of motion, forward, backward, up and down. He would lay on his bed and look off in the distance. Normally, he would love this sort of attention. However, during PT he wasn't too happy.

About 10 days after the FCE occurred, he stood up. He couldn't walk, but he stood up. I made little rubber booties for his rear paws (which rubbed them raw, so I had to line them with something soft. This gave him traction on the hardwoods and confidence to move.

By day 15 he could move gingerly around the house. He couldn't take the stairs very well and he didn't have good bowel control yet. Scheduled potty breaks were the norm.

I should mention his eating habits. He's a dry food eater. But to make it easier on him, we mixed his food with a little hot water to stimulate his nose (and ours, too, unfortunately). His first attempts at standing were so he could eat and drink with doggy dignity. (I swear he seemed embarrassed by the whole thing after a week or so.)

By the third week he could limp along fairly well. His right leg showed incredible improvement. His left paw still knuckled under occasionally. We limited PT to his left leg at that point.

At a month he stopped knuckling his left paw. He could go to the bathroom on his own. We waited another month before we started playing catch with him. We don't overdo that anymore. He would play until he collapses if we allowed it.

Today, he is happy. He prefers staying on the carpet. He loves to go outside and play in the yard and he goes bananas for going for walks. Except for a limp, which lessens as he warms up, life is back to pretty normal.

For those of you who are in the early stages, stick with it. Your dog will be ok, but it will take plenty of attention and care on your part. Give him or her love. Be willing to carry them, for large dogs they make handled harness assists.

Be patient. They're confused and unhappy with this, too. Be vigilant in your PT. If you like alternative medicine, consider that for your animal. In most cases, the effects of the FCE are not permanent.

You and your dog can make it through this. We did. Ralph did. He's as happy as ever.

Please post your thoughts, trials, and triumphs with your FCE situation. Thank you for sharing.

Fountain of music

Back in the early 1980s I picked up this eponymous album by Russ Ballard. I bought it because it contained the song Voices. The FM station I listened to in Honolulu played it every now and then. The song was featured on an episode of Miami Vice. That was a sufficient recommendation (in those days) for me to buy the album.

At the time, I didn't know anything about Russ Ballard; I only knew that I liked this song. Then, while looking at my Zebop! album by Santana, I noticed the name Ballard in parentheses after one of my all time favorite songs, Winning. Turned out to be the same guy.

I had the soundtrack to an obscure movie, McVicar, starring Roger Daltrey (both in the movie and on the record.) Three songs on that were by Ballard: Just a Dream Away, Free Me, and My Time is Gonna Come, all of them fine tunes, the latter two feel like classic Who.

Why didn't I know anything about this guy?

Then I discovered that he wrote the pop hit I Know There's Something Going On recorded by Frida (Anni-Frid of ABBA.) Everything he wrote, I seemed to like, without knowing he was the songwriter.

He also wrote the song New York Groove, popularized by Ace Frehley on his "solo" album when he was with Kiss. Do you remember Liar by Three Dog Night? He wrote hits for the Pointer Sisters and Hot Chocolate: Someday We'll Be Together (not the Supremes' song) and So You Win Again, respectively. Oh, and he penned You Can Do Magic, a big hit for America.

He also wrote my all time favorite song by Rainbow, and one of my personal favorite songs ever, Since You've Been Gone.

It didn't take me long to find out that he had been the lead singer and guitarist for the band Argent. He wrote a number of songs for them, including one that Kiss made into a huge live concert anthem, God Gave Rock and Roll to You. And while Rod Argent and Chris White wrote it, Russ Ballard was the singer on the classic Hold Your Head Up.

He wrote many other songs, but these are the big ones for me. You'll need more than 30 second snippets to really appreciate his songwriting abilities, though.

I feel grateful that there are people like Russ Ballard who are compelled to create. I know they're not doing it for us, but I am glad we can reap the rewards of their efforts.

095 - Try zorbing

A zorb is an inflatable 7+ foot diameter ball with a tunnel to a open core. You climb in to the core, hold on (or not) and ride down a hillside. This is called zorbing or sphering.

It appears this originated in New Zealand (where I think bungee jumping came from, too.) Kiwis seem to be very inventive when it comes to creating new types of recreational activities.

A lot of people would be tempted to add bungee jumping or sky-diving to their list of 101 things in 1,001 days. Not me. I'm not a heights kind of guy. Closest to that for me is rollercoasters.

I don't mind rolling down a hill and tumbling head over heels. In fact, it looks like a blast. Youtube has videos of multiple people in these things. In the summertime, just add water and you'll exit the zorb soaked and cooled off.

The concern though, is where exactly can we go zorbing? I don't want to fly to NZ just to zorb. A quick search revealed that down near the Smokey Mountains in Tennessee zorbing is offered. Perfect. So, when we get back down that way, we'll be zorbing. I'll post video.

Anyone out there tried it? Is it worth doing? Everything I've seen has shown people giggling like mad. Sounds like fun to me.

Critical thinking as a fundamental life skill

I read a handful of blogs, and some of them are political or sports-related. (This post is NOT about politics or sports.)

One thing that I have noticed when reading the comments is just how much dogma is accepted as fact. The core beliefs are never questioned. Those who do the questioning are labeled "trolls" and attacked back into anonymity. This is especially true of political blogs, where a mix of group-identity, political doctrine, dogmatic beliefs, and culture serves to limit dialogue and crush civil discourse. Many of these blogs seem to encourage a comfortable insularity where one is always right and every one else agrees.

Then there are the sports blogs. Clearly, rooting for a team or person and disliking another is all part of the fan experience, so one would expect a certain level of trash talking. Civil discourse really isn't expected here, but the consequences of a lack of civility are far less important. My main problem with sports blogs is the adoption of "truths" with a lack of evidence. In fact, in the world of 24 hour sports coverage, it makes its way into television, radio, and print media. It's as if we need a simple short hand to understand complex issues. But that short hand leads to some really silly conclusions by both the writers and the consumers of sports news and opinion.

I think what we lack is the ability to think critically. For me, these are the two areas where this lack of ability routinely and visibly manifests itself everyday.

One of my favorite books in recent years is Critical Thinking by Richard W. Paul and Linda Elder. It is intended to be a textbook for a college course in critical thinking, but it really reads as a great introduction and handbook on the subject. (The book is apparently in a 2nd edition now. I have the first.)

I've always thought of myself as a decent critical thinker, but I have never thought about critical thinking. Paul and Elder have done a lot of thinking on that topic. They have come up with a model for critical thinking that satisfies both the theoretical and the practical.

The base for the model is the Universal Structures of Thought. These structures are there whether we think of them or not. If we're to improve our thinking then we'll need to think about these structures also. I'll note the structure in a moment.

They have also developed the "standards" of critical thinking that are applied to the "elements" of critical thinking (these elements are the components of the Universal Structures of Thought) while we continue to develop our intellectual "traits". I know, I know, that all sounds like a lot of mumbledepan gobbledegook theoretical nonsense. For now, just trust me that it isn't, please. It does make sense.

What I would like to do over a series of posts is define the standards, elements, and traits. I'll present them in no particular order. We'll dig in to what they mean and how they apply to our daily practical lives. As much as I would like to apply them to the stuff I read online, I don't want to violate my own rules. Application of this knowledge will be left up to you.

I encourage you to buy the book. The 2nd edition is a little larger than my 1st edition, so I'll probably obtain it to see what was added.

For now, though, let's look at a statement about the elements (or universal structures) of thinking. I'll italicize the elements.

Whenever we think,
we think for a purpose (What is my fundamental purpose?)
within a point of view (What is my point of view with respect to this issue?)
based on assumptions (What assumptions am I using in my reasoning?)
leading to implications and consequences (What are the implications of my reasoning if I am correct?)
we use data, facts, and experiences (What information do I need to answer my question?)
to make inferences and judgments (What are my most fundamental inferences or conclusions?)
based on concepts and theories (What is the most basic concept in the question?)
to answer a question or solve a problem. (What is the key question I am trying to answer?)

I've read people talking about deporting, attacking, taxing, spending, arresting, outlawing, enforcing, building, razing, voting, etc. and you can tell that they have never asked more than one or two of the above questions of themselves related to the topic on which they pontificate.

Ah, I've bored you enough with this. Let me know what you THINK about it though.

Historical self-help: a commentary #2

We continue with The Art of Worldly Wisdom by Baltasar Gracian, first published in Spain in 1647.

2. Mind and spirit: The two elements on which our faculties depend. One without the other is only half happiness. Mind is not enough; spirit is necessary. The fate of a fool is to fail in his calling, professional, commercial, political, social.

Well, that was short. A bit cryptic, too. Maybe not. Let's see.

Mind means mental powers; the ability to think; our cleverness. Spirit means the energy we bring to bear on life. It is our passion, our disposition, our emotional intelligence. Faculties is another word for our abilities or capabilities.

We can be very smart, but if we are depressed or frightened or unwise, that intellectual power won't do much good. Many people believe that being smart is enough. We know it isn't. Gracian is just reminding us that you have to develop your spirit.

More modern writers would probably add a point about making sure we take care of our bodies, too. An ill body makes it rough on the spirit. Also, fitness and activity are good for mental ability as well.

Gracian seems a bit rushed in his final sentence. When he refers to a fool it appears that he means someone lacking spirit, though he could mean someone lacking mind or spirit or both. I like how he ties foolishness to practical failure in our work, business, political career or living with other human beings. He has a common sense take on getting along in life, which is what Gracian means when he uses the term happiness.

That is why Gracian's book is still popular. It makes sense for everyday living.

Do you have a different take on his words? Do you agree with him?

Olympic sport: fencing - sabre

The Olympic games are fast approaching, and while it is a given that China will win the medal count (the home team always takes home more gold than they usually do, and China is a powerhouse,) the United States will do well in their traditional areas: basketball, softball, baseball, swimming, and track & field.

But there's another event where they are nearly guaranteed to excel: women's sabre. The women of the USA Fencing team have three of their four sabrueses ranked 2, 3, and 4 in the world. They have World Championships under their belts and, if you click on the photo, a window will open showing the NBC video of the first ever women's sabre gold medal match in the Olympics. It's great to watch. The Chinese fencer, Tan Xue, is currently ranked #1 in the world.

There are three types of fencing based on the weapon used. Foil is most common, meaning this is the weapon with which most people start. There are a number of rules a fencer must follow, including those regarding etiquette, but the important thing is to score a touch before your opponent. For foil, the valid touch area is the torso and groin. Touching the legs, head, or arms does not count.

The longest weapon is the epee. Here the entire body is a valid target, including the hands and feet. Epee is the style used in modern pentathlon. Epee is my favorite style. Anyone can score at any time, even while defending an attack. With other fencing weapons the fencer must establish the attack (or right of way.)

With both foil and epee, only the point of the sword can be used to touch. Bouts with foil and epee can appear to be much more like "movie" fencing. Lots of parrying and lunging. Some people refer to fencing as physical chess. It is a sport of the mind and body. You need to think in a series of actions and counteractions well before they happen.

But then there is sabre. Sabre is the aggressive cutting version of fencing. It is lightning quick. If you're new to it, watching it can be confusing because you aren't sure who scored the touch. Sabre touches cover everything from the waist up, including arms and head, but not the hands. With sabre, however, slashing is allowed. This is why sabreurs seem to be relaxed when a bout begins, rather than in the formal en garde position. Attacking with only your point is a quick way to lose.

Gabe has fenced for a couple of years. He hasn't fenced so far in 2008, mainly because he needs to work harder to keep up with school, but we'll get him back out there. He loves it.

Fencing clubs welcome beginners and offer lessons. It is a great form of exercise, you'll firm up your bottom and legs and you'll improve your balance. Don't worry about equipment right away. At most place you need only by an relatively inexpensive fencing glove. The clubs provide weapons, masks, jackets and other safety equipment.

If you try it, let us know about it.