Preparation / Questions to Ponder for Discussion of Funny Farm - 12/15/25

1. Would you consider volunteering, or have you volunteered at an animal rescue/shelter? Adopted or consider adopting a rescued animal?

2. What did you think were the lessons about life, and love?  Any lessons or take aways?

3. Have you read other animal memoirs?  Which did you like more? compare

4. How did Laurie's life change or stay the same as she starts her animal sanctuary?

5. Discuss how Laurie's relationships with family, volunteers and animals change?

6. Did you learn anything about animal rescue sanctuaries?  Animal welfare? 

7. Did any animal's story resonate with you?  Which one?

8. Was there anything that surprised you about the story?

9. Did you enjoy the memoir? (the humor, events,  writing?)

10. Would you recommend this book to others? 

Want to see more?  You can find Funny Farm Rescue on Facebook (located in Mays Landing NJ)

Reserved for Post about October 2025 Discussion of The Medicine Woman of Galveston

 

The Medicine Woman of Galveston

Medical Conditions in the Characters in The Medicine Woman of Galveston

Down syndrome

This is the result of a chromosomal abnormality, with an extra copy of the 21st chromosome (referred to as trisomy because there are three chromosomes instead of two). It is the most common chromosomal condition diagnosed in the United States today, in about 5,700 babies born in the U.S. each year. I don’t have historical numbers on the incidence. There are distinct physical signs of Down syndrome that include facial features, such as a flattened face, especially the bridge of the nose, almond-shaped eyes that slant up, a protruding tongue (it actually is a small jaw cavity, not a large tongue), poor muscle tone, and shorter than average height. There is some degree of mental impairment, but individuals with Down syndrome have a wide range of abilities and outcomes, with significant variations depending on factors such as genetics, medical care, and support systems. Toby seems to be high-functioning. There are other medical problems as well that include congenital heart defects and hearing loss. Maternal age is a risk factor but we do not know for sure why Down syndrome occurs or how many different factors play a role.

 

Trichotillomania

A mental health condition that involves frequent, repeated and irresistible urges to pull out hair from the scalp, eyebrows or other areas of the body. Even when sufferers try to resist the urges, they can’t stop. Pulling out hair from the scalp often leaves patchy bald spots. Mild cases can be managed, but for others, the automatic or deliberate urge to pull out hair is too much to handle emotionally. There is an increasing sense of tension before pulling out the hair and a sense of pleasure or relief after the hair is pulled out. Risk factors include a family history of the condition (so there may be a genetic factor), age (often develops in the early teens), gender (women more than men after adolescence), mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety or obsessive- compulsive disorder (OCD), and stress.

 

Gigantism

Gigantism is a very rare condition that happens when a child or adolescent has high levels of growth hormone produced by the pituitary gland. A noncancerous tumor on the pituitary can produce the excessive growth hormone. The production occurs before the growth plates in the child’s bones have fused. The condition is difficult to diagnose because children grow at different rates, and some go through their growth spurt earlier than others; but today it can be diagnosed through blood tests. In children, surgery to remove or reduce the size of the pituitary tumor is the most common treatment, or radiation therapy can help lower the level of growth hormone.

 

Bow legs

This is a normal development in most babies, typically present from birth to around 2 years of age, and most cases of physiologic bowing resolve on their own by the age of 3. Bowing beyond that age can be caused by rickets (a vitamin D deficiency), dwarfism or some genetic disorder. The severity of bowing can vary, and the condition is more common in boys than girls.

 

If you would like more information on the storm, you can visit these sites:

September 8, 2025, marked the 125th anniversary of the Galveston hurricane:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5lProvEPGc

Website of the Galveston History Center:

https://www.galvestonhistorycenter.org/research/1900-storm

Visit Galveston website:

https://www.galvestonhistorycenter.org/research/1900-storm

The Residence Book Club Questions 9/16/25

Planning for a blog post to replace these questions...later!

The Residence Book Club Questions

1.   Does the book provide insight into what it’s like for the first family to live in the White House?

2.    Which president and first lady had the best relationship with the staff, and why? Most difficult, and why?

3.    3. Do you think Nancy Reagan was justified in being angry with the head housekeeper over broken keepsakes?

4.    4. Did you get a new insight into a particular president or first lady from their personal habits?

5.    5. Was there one butler, maid, chef, or florist who you felt a connection to?

6.    What did you learn from this book about living in the White House?

7.    Should members of the residence staff sign legal agreements barring them from sharing details about their experiences?

8.    HOMEWORK: Get information to share with the group about a former chilc resident (or first lady) about what they are doing now after having lived at the White House.

Preparation for Discussion of The Handmaid's Tale, by Margaret Atwood: 8/18/25

Hoping to replace these discussion topics with a blog post...ASAP!

Reading this book is necessary.  [it is on the book banned list in some schools.]  With the new laws in America and the reversal of Row vs Wade, this book is essential to convey the message of how vulnerable women are at risk for becoming human incubators.  To get male perspectives of this book, please invite your husbands and boyfriends.  Please have your questions ready so we can try to answer them.  To get us started, here is a list of a few questions I found on google to think about:

1.     In the Republic of Gilead, high-class members of society are given names, but those don’t appear to be their real names.  Handmaids are forbidden to be called by their real names and instead named after the Commanders who own them.  What does this changing of names achieve in Gilead Society?

2.     Offred recalls things from her past that are now banned under Gilead rule. The biggest loss of all is her freedom and her family.  Forbidden objects from everyday life also take on a powerful new meaning.  What do they represent and how do they create distinctions between the characters? 

3.     This novel is filled with color.  Handmaids wear red, Marthas wear green, the Wives wear blue.  What is the significance of this and the uniforms more generally?

4.     The Handmaid’s view of the world is blinkered by their bonnets, so too our view of Gilead is confined to Offred’s perspective.  What do you think is the impact of this?

5.     Most women are forbidden to read in Gilead and even the Bible is kept under lock and key. Why do you think this is?  What is the significance of the magazines that the Commander allows Offred to read, and what do you make of his motives doing this?

6.     The Handmaid’s Tale was first published in 1985, yet in recent years it has returned to the bestseller charts & women around the world have donned Handmaid costumes to attend protests against the rolling back of women’s rights. Why do you think the story of Gilead is still so relevant today?

 

Websites to peruse: 

About the author Margaret Atwood

https://margaretatwood.ca/

 

This Cultural Life from BBC:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/QZCrq6ttJS3MDyKHH4hGmK/margaret-atwood-nine-things-we-learned-from-her-this-cultural-life-interview

About author Gabrielle Blair:

Gabrielle Blair the author who wrote “Ejaculate Responsibly” we read in January:

https://designmom.substack.com/p/a-dead-woman-being-used-as-an-incubator

[scroll down to:  The News Has Moved On, But I’m Still Thinking About.]

Mama Doctor Jones:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBTiUfLvaAE

From Google with AI assist: “about Mama Doctor Jones's (Dr. Danielle Jones, OB/GYN) discussions related to Margaret Atwood's novel The Handmaid's Tale.  See video above.

Dr. Jones, a board-certified OB/GYN with a significant online presence, uses her platform to discuss various topics related to women's and AFAB health. [AFAB = assigned female at birth.]  Given the themes within The Handmaid's Tale – including reproductive rights, bodily autonomy, and women's health within a dystopian context – it's natural that Dr. Jones would comment on and draw parallels to the book and its adaptations. 

For instance, in one of her videos, Dr. Jones reacts to a horrifying birth scene from the *Handmaid's Tale*. Additionally, in a video titled "Why Georgia is a Real-Life 'Handmaid's Tale' | Doctor Reacts", she discusses a specific legal case in Georgia. This reaction stems from the forced circumstances of the case, and the limited chances of a positive outcome for the fetus in question, highlighting the devastating implications of stripping away reproductive autonomy, similar to the forced pregnancies depicted in the book. 

Dr. Jones's commentary is often fueled by real-world issues that echo the concerns and themes present in The Handmaid's Tale. The novel, and the TV series it inspired, have resonated with audiences, becoming particularly relevant in discussions around reproductive rights and women's autonomy, a point highlighted by various media outlets. The story continues to be seen as a cautionary tale, reflecting anxieties about potential societal shifts that could impact women's rights and access to essential healthcare.” 

Hulu:

And lastly, Hulu TV streaming has all 6 Seasons of The Handmaid’s Tale. I highly recommend watching all 6 seasons, with reading the book first.  It’s one of those rare instances that a movie depicts the book well and then embellishes the idea.  Apparently, Margaret Atwood was a consultant. 

Hulu TV Streaming:

https://www.hulu.com/series/the-handmaids-tale-565d8976-9d26-4e63-866c-40f8a137ce5f?cmp=9224&utm_source=google&utm_medium=SEM&utm_campaign=CM_SEM_Originals&utm_term=the%20handmaid%27s%20tale%20hulu&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=17856331194&gbraid=0AAAAADoVW81w04vTNTVPptFswlOMdsE_Y&gclid=CjwKCAjw49vEBhAVEiwADnMbbMD9DmK8Zih9hpllTSTOUNbya5J_74Gd56cwX__TJpQ4iF3YRPQW8RoCeXYQAvD_BwE

How Many Weeks?

In titling his book Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals, author Oliver Burkeman is referring to 76 years, the approximate length of life for human beings. Burkeman emphasizes how short our lives are, how many choices we have regarding how to spend our precious time, and our difficulties with using our time wisely. Numerous narratives and examples show the reader the conflicts that arise when people prioritize various aspects of work, such as struggling to empty one’s email inbox only to find that any temporary success is overpowered by a proliferation of email responses that tend to require vastly more time. Burkeman uses some humor to express his points, and he makes a lot of sense!

Another of Burkeman’s arguments focuses on where people focus, as in viewers of the Rosetta Stone at the British Museum in London focusing their phones and cameras on the exhibit at the expense of actually looking at the exhibit. Thus, the tourists trade their time during the in-person experience for creating the possibility of reviewing the experience later. This argument appears in various formats throughout the book, reminding the reader that there is often a trade-off between the “now” and the future, the photo opportunity and the experience.

Burkeman explores and quotes numerous philosophers throughout the book. At one point, writing about Parkinson’s Law, that “…work expands to fill the time available for its completion,” Burkeman says “…it’s the definition of ‘what needs doing’ that expands to fill the time available.” On the Paradox of Limitation, he warns that the more you try to control your time, the more stressful, empty, and frustrating your life can get! His recommendation is that, in life, the best thing to try to do is to accept the finitude of life and your limitations and accept the way things really are. In his chapter on finitude, Burkeman defines it as facing the fact that work proliferates, and you can’t do it all. He suggests surrendering and acknowledging what you give up instead of trying to do more.

Our discussion was lively! Patricia said the book had good advice as to how to cope with your time pressures. She gave a copy to her son for Father’s Day! Dennis said that he was considering giving a copy of the book to his son-in-law, who works long hours and might be considered a workaholic. Cindy said her daughter complains about work calls bothering her during her time off. Joyce said she gets work-related calls even though she shouldn’t. She indicated that the unsolicited calls can make her feel important, but that setting boundaries is important.

Some comments highlighted the wisdom that we bring to our discussions. As to when to continue reading a book to the finish and when to quit reading a book and use your time for something else, Dennis and Carla both said they stop reading books that make them feel bogged down. Patricia suggested this is a way of eliminating what isn’t worth your time and helping you to use your time well. Cindy noted that we have to make choices. She brought up the Cheshire Cat statement from Alice in Wonderland, which I had noted in researching about 4000 Weeks while preparing to present the book at our discussion: “If you don’t know where you’re going, it doesn’t matter which road you take.” Flo said that if she becomes impatient with something, such as an unassembled purchase, she gets help. Thus, we learn as we get older and wiser.

This Space Reserved for Blog Post about Discussion of The Scandalous Hamiltons

Questions We're Pondering for Our May 19th Discussion of The Scandalous Hamiltons, by Bill Shaffer

       1.      When the Hamilton story emerged, it commanded unprecedented, international newspaper coverage, thanks to the telegraph and the recently founded Associated Press.  How did the information technology of the time affect the development of the case? 

2.    Do you think that the case would have developed differently in modern times?  If so, then how so?

3.    The Scandalous Hamiltons includes court records of Robert Ray Hamilton and his involvement with Eva Steele, a grifter who set her sights on his money and stood trial for stabbing their baby nurse.  How does the public nature of celebrity court cases that receive extensive publicity make them different from non-celebrity cases?

4.   The story of the Hamilton scandal swept through the nation and became one of the biggest sensations of the Gilded Age, with its captivating story of bribery, sex, and violence.  Does this story remind you of any modern-day scandals?  If so, how do they compare?

5.     As lurid details emerged from the Hamilton scandal and spread through the sensational newspapers, the public’s fascination grew.  What about this and similar celebrity scandals so intently captures the imagination of readers?

6.     Is it escapism or something more?

7.     Themes of ambition, greed, and obsession are prevalent throughout The Scandalous Hamiltons through the actions of Eva Steele, who was willing to do whatever it took to obtain a fortune.  How does the desire for fortune influence an individual’s actions?

8.     Are there any lessons we can learn from Eva’s story?

9.     Shaffer weaves together multiple stories that go beyond the pages of newspapers and court documents.  How are Robert Ray Hamilton and Eva Steele humanized throughout his account?

10  Given the legacy of the Hamilton family name, what role, if any, did that legacy play in Ray’s decision-making process?

 11. Do you see any similarities of this Hamilton scandal and the one with Alexander Hamilton when he was blackmailed by the husband of Maria Reynolds with whom he had an affair?