I Am An Ambivert!

"After an hour or two of being socially on, we introverts need to turn off and recharge....This isn't antisocial.  It isn't a sign of depression.  It's just the way we are!" Jonathan Rauch 

I love this poster!!!

A couple of weeks ago, our minister, the Reverend Shari Woodbury gave a reflection on the subject of extroverts, ambiverts, and introverts.  Probably most of us fall in the category of ambivert. By definition, an ambivert is: a person whose personality has a balance of extrovert and introvert features. I had not heard this term before so had always had a difficult time deciding which I was when in a group being asked  was I....an introvert (a person who tends to turn inward mentally; one who avoids large crowds, feeling more energized by time alone) or an extrovert ( one who finds energy in interactions with others.)

Shari referred to an author/speaker, Susan Cain who has a very interesting TEDTalk  about being an introvert.  And she has a book that looks worthwhile for understanding the workings of the introvert. I haven't read it yet but it is on my list.

Susan Cain and one of her books

With this being said, I do think that I am closer to being an introvert even though I love meeting people and can usually get into a conversation with ease...a curiosity of wanting to know about what makes them tick.  But I need my "lone time"; I do not need to always be around people; in fact after being in a crowd, big or small, I need to be alone. But I am happy to discover the term ambivert...so I guess I am ambivert with strong introvert tendencies! 

I found these two "brains" on Google.....Sooooooo.......Which are you????

A Busy Couple of Weeks

"America was not built on fear. America was built on courage, on imagination and an unbeatable determination to do the job at hand." -Harry S. Truman

    As so many of us have shaken our heads and said..."It's going to be a long four years!" I have decided to become more proactive.  I have always voted as soon as I was old enough.  I wanted so badly to vote for John Kennedy but wasn't 21 yet...I had a year to go.  Yes, my children, we all had to be 21 way back then!  But with the current state of affairs, I find it very encouraging to see how many people, including myself, are becoming less complacent and more active.

I have joined three different Democratic Groups in the past three weeks.  First was the Stonewall Democrats of Tarrant County.  I have several friends already active members of this group.

Then the following week, I attended a meeting of the Southwest Fort Worth Democrats, another fine group of active Democrats...I couldn't find a website for them but this link will take you to their Facebook page and information about meetings.

Then just this morning, I attended the Tarrant County Democrats Women's Club...and I was blown away!  Great meeting...they reported that as of the first of January they had 146 members and at the end of meeting today they have a total of 505 members!!  And I was really pleased to see how many young women... 25-45 age group... were there! Wahoo!  We are Women, Hear us roar!!

Although I do want to support all of the organizations, I think I am going to find I have more of an appreciation for this group...I have to  rein in a bit or I won't be able to be effective anywhere!
     
        And another thing I have been working on is my scrappy tablecloth.  I did get it pieced but not quilted yet.

The piles of scrap fabric because I cannot throw anything away!

Starting to sort a little bit into color and size

More sorting

Getting on the wall

More on the wall!                              

And finally to the table!

So on Saturday night I hosted a Circle Supper with seven other people from my church and was able to set my table with my multi colored Fiesta ware and my new, very colorful table cloth!!! (Circle Suppers are a monthly affair....kind of a potluck kind of thing with lots of good food, good wine, and good company!)

Human Rights and a Book Review

“The rights of every man are diminished when the rights of one man are threatened.” 
― John F. Kennedy

Movies That Matter Logo

     Last night several of my friends and I went to see a movie at the Modern in Fort Worth.

The Modern Art Museum- Fort Worth, Texas

Every other month, the Fort Worth Human Relations Commission (HRC) shows free films that celebrate diversity and inclusion. Each event is followed by a moderated discussion with local subject matter experts.

"Atomic Mom" was the movie last night.

     The film we saw last night was "Atomic Mom", a documentary style film made by M.T. Silva about her mom, Pauline Silva.  Pauline was a researcher on the Armed Forces Special Weapons Project during the Cold War. At the time, she totally adopted the Cold War mentality and never questioned her work...as she said at the end of the film, if she knew then what she knows now, she would not have kept quiet.  It was a very depressing film but very worthwhile to view.

     The frightening part of seeing a film of this nature is with what is going on in the world today, and with the temperament of our current administration, how close we could come to even more than a cold war!  And the concern that good people who can keep us safe are either "sworn to secrecy" or are too intimidated to speak up!

     Here is a link to the "Movies That Matter" website where you can find out more about HRC and their film schedule for the coming year.

     On a more cheerful note, I don't think I ever reviewed "The Perfume Collector" by Kathleen Tessaro on my blog.  This is a book I read for my Westside UU bookclub.

This was described as historical fiction and is based on the history of perfume which was very interesting. I had no idea that they could create specialty perfumes for individual persons, but then I am more of a "clean soap" smell kind of girl!  Anyway, a bit of intrigue leads you from New York to London to Paris..across several years and back.  The description of the places and the times as well as the development and competition in the perfume trade makes for a good read.

Book Reviews

“Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested.” 
― Francis Bacon, The Essays

 I realize I haven't posted for awhile..been busy contacting my congressmen, calling, emailing, sending postcards and letters...anything to get their attention to my unhappiness with what is going on in Washington due of "he who's name I cannot mention".  But I am not going to dwell on politics!   I am going to catch up on some of my book reviewing.

Recommended by a friend

"The Golem and the Jinni" by Helena Wecker really kept my interest.  This is not for those who do not care for fantasy or stories of legends.  A Golem is a creature made of clay who comes to life but must obey his/her master in all things. I had read of these creatures before...mostly if not altogether from Jewish legend.  The Jinni is a mythical creature...like a Genii in a bottle!  These two, a female Golem and a male Jinni, meet in New York City...probably around the early 1900's when a lot of immigrants were coming to our country.  I found it to be fascinating how they were able to survive and actually become human-like throughout the story.

Did I already read this???

Have you ever started a book and thought it sounds familiar? The "Art of Forgetting" by Peter Palmieri was one of those books for me!  But I couldn't put it down because I had no idea what was coming next!!  It is a medical mystery...and a mystery to me as to whether I had read it before...I did like it ...maybe twice, because I never could decide if I had read it previously!  It did keep me page turning!

Bosch and the Lincoln Lawyer

"The Crossing" is one of Connelly's most recent mysteries.  If you are a follower of Hieronymus Bosch (not the artist, the detective) and the Lincoln Lawyer (think Matthew McConaughey) you will really like this one!  It even makes reference to the movie, "The Lincoln Lawyer"!

Yes, I know I have done this before

The last time I reviewed books, I reviewed "The Muse" by Jessie Burton as an audio book and at that time,  I said it might be one to read.  I have chosen it for my turn at our Villas book club this month.  It had been a while since I had listened to it so I decided to read it.  And I was right about this being a well-written and needing to be read book.  I really like this book...I would give it five stars!!!!

My most recent read book

And lastly, "Life After Life" by Kate Atkinson..I just finished it this morning before posting!  This is the most peculiar book....I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with it.  Ursula, the main character, almost dies at birth ....I am not giving anything away by saying that because it happens to her many times!!!  She is born? in 1910 and the book progresses through the 1950s? It can be confusing because it skips back and forth throughout...with different histories for Ursula and those around her.  Compelling reading, but can be a bit frustrating as I was never sure what was real and what was just in her mind! It is interesting though but can be a bit of a struggle so I don't want to rave about it and mislead anyone.