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The Soul of an Octopus by Sy Montgomery

Michelle3 Comments

Format: E-audio book
Publisher: Recorded Books
Length: 9 hours
Genre: Non-fiction / Memoir
Rating: ★★★★★
Get it at: Your library || Goodreads || Amazon || Barnes & Noble

In this astonishing book from the author of the bestselling memoir The Good Good Pig, Sy Montgomery explores the emotional and physical world of the octopus’ surprisingly complex, intelligent, and spirited creature: and the remarkable connections it makes with humans.

The intelligence of dogs, birds, and chimpanzees was only recently accepted by scientists, who now are establishing the intelligence of the octopus, watching them solve problems and deciphering the meaning of their color-changing camouflage techniques. Montgomery chronicles this growing appreciation of the octopus, but also tells a love story. By turns funny, entertaining, touching, and profound, The Soul of an Octopus reveals what octopuses can teach us about consciousness and the meeting of two very different minds.

Having never met an octopus myself, I really had no idea what this book would be about… I figured it would be chockful of scientific facts and other incomprehensible subjects or entirely focused on new-age beliefs, but I was absolutely wrong.

The Soul of an Octopus is so much more than a dry retelling of scientific studies and commonly held beliefs about cephalopods. It is a look into the very heart and soul of these creatures, offering a glimpse into the daily lives of these amazing and truly alien creatures both in the wild and in captivity.

The author presents the idea that octopuses and other sea creatures have the ability to think and feel in ways we may never truly be able to comprehend. They form relationships with creatures that should be treated as prey, can be both playful and judgemental with different caretakers, and are some of the most caring mothers in the animal kingdom… giving their lives to protect and nurture their eggs at the end of their short lives.

Sy Montgomery is the type of woman I think everyone should desire to meet. She is adventurous, driven, and passionate about her work and it showed in every word she narrated in the audio book of The Soul of an Octopus.

It was such a pleasure to listen to her stories about first gentle Athena, and then motherly Octavia and curious Kali and finally the energetic Karma, about her trials and triumphs when it came to diving, and the lifelong friends she made along the way.

If you enjoy stories about animals and their relationships with humans or if you’re just curious about octopuses, then I highly suggest you read The Soul of an Octopus as soon as you are able! 😀

I was, at times, laughing at Sy’s stories of these beautiful creatures and heartbroken as she mourned their deaths. She has such an amazing way with words that I can not wait to read another of her books.

blog · work life

Blog | Emoji Horoscopes

MichelleLeave a comment

Before I started in my current library position, I worked for a hospital in their pediatric unit for about two and half years…

We have this device at the hospital that I work at called a Voelté phone, which is basically an older iPhone that comes preloaded with a secure messaging and phone system from the Voelté company.  Nurses are required to carry this phone at all times while on the clock and, let me tell you, it can sometimes be REALLY annoying for them to have another thing to keep track of during their shift.

On my floor, the Unit Coordinators are responsible for handing out these phones and, in an attempt to make it a little bit more fun for the nurses, I have started to give each person their own unique emoji…

An “emoji horoscope” if you will.

Here are just a few of the emojis that I have given out:

  • 👾 – Lindsey is a hip, gamer girl. A cool chick.
  • 💥 – Sarah H is a firecracker, dedicated mom, and fun-to-hang-out-with kinda girl.
  • 🥂 – Shannon B is the life of the party!
  • 👶 – Taylor is mom to one super amazing little boy, who she loves to pieces.
  • 🥋 – Kayla is very sweet, but also super strong. She knows all kinds of martial arts.
  • 🍭 – Laura is just a sweety!
  • 👩‍👧‍👦 – Allison is many things, but loving mother of two is her heart.
  • 🧜‍♀️ – Staci is one unique chick.
  • 👸🏼 – Montee is super classy and smart.
  • 🍔 – Ashley is the Cheeseburger to my Bacon and Eggs for half price.

Share your favorite emoji in a comment below
and I’ll respond in emoji too!

Writing | Shadow of a Demon (or a Friend)
blog · original work · writing

Writing | Shadow of a Demon (or a Friend)

MichelleLeave a comment

For the longest time, Emmaline thought that the shadow she saw on the edges of her vision was a trick of the light.

As a child, it had been a demon that dogged her every step, something to be prayed away by her family and church.  Then, during her teenage years, when life seemed to be at its absolute lowest, it was entirely gone from her.

As she grew older, it returned, leaping from a green exit sign to the dull metal of a guard rail while she drove down the interstate.  Emmaline barely gave it a second thought, believing that it was just a bird landing to rest it’s wings.

But when the shadow sat upon her desk, leaned over her shoulder, and whispered into her ear she knew it was no figment.  And she knew that it would no longer tolerate being ignored.

“It will hurt only for a moment and then your eyes will be opened.”  The shadow spoke into her ear, breath barely moving the hair curled there.

Emmaline wondered briefly what it meant before a sickeningly thin arm reached forward, hand curling around her jaw and turning her face towards the speaker.

The black of the shadow’s eyes seemed somehow even more deep than the darkest night and she found that she could not look away. As the sharp agony of knowing swept over her, Emmaline knew her life would never be the same again.

©2020 S Hostetter

“Guard Rail” by huminiak is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0

Blackout Tuesday
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Blackout Tuesday

MichelleLeave a comment

I’m not participating in “Blackout Tuesday” and here’s why…

Simply put, I don’t believe in posting a picture or making a ‘statement’ on social media.

Period.

If you look at my Facebook history, you won’t see cover photos or frames from any event except for one. That one was a 9/11 remembrance frame that I used in 2019 as a reminder to myself of a time when the United States of America was, for one unforgettable moment in my life, actually united.

What I do believe in, is taking action to enact changes where I see need for improvement. And you know how I do that?

I vote.

And before I vote, I research.

I look into the history of each person on the ballot, not just their current ‘talking points.’ I go back and see what they supported in the past and if they are actually practicing what they preach.

So, no, I will not be participating in Blackout Tuesday or any other such event.

What I will do is vote for the people that I believe can help make my city, my state, and my country a better place for all it’s citizens.

If you’d like to discuss this, or other topics, I’d be more than happy to do so in the comments section of this post. All that I ask is that people keep things civil. We don’t have to agree with each other to be kind to one another.

“Old Glory” by Matt Elsberry is licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0

blog · college life · ireland · study abroad · travel

Travel | Ireland: Day 7

MichelleLeave a comment

Wednesday, May 18, 2016

Visiting the Rock of Cashel was the most entertaining tip due to the following story that a local girl told me…

As Sarah tells the tale, a boy her age was banned from the Rock. At the age of seven, he had climbed the Rock (a pastime of local children) so many times and heard the tour guides so much that he’d memorized the tour! He was banned for giving tours to visitors and has not been allowed back on the Rock since. 🙂

When we came down from the Rock, we visited a lovely (and eclectic) little store where I was able to purchase an Irish-made sweater.

Before we left Cashel, we stopped in at Rossa’s Pottery. The owner and the store’s namesake, Rossa, was lovely and took the time to look up and explain the meaning of a Celtic song for us.

Dúlamán is a song about the various types of seaweed found along Ireland’s coasts. The Irish have longed used this resource for medicinal purposes as well as for relaxation. Dúlamán takes all that the Irish feel for seaweed and beautifully creates a sort of poetic love song…

Dúlamán na binne buí, dúlamán Gaelach
Dúlamán na farraige, b’fhearr a bhí in Éirinn

Tá ceann buí óir ar an dúlamán gaelach
Tá dhá chluais mhaol ar an dúlamán maorach

Bróga breaca dubha ar an dúlamán gaelach
Tá bearéad agus triús ar an dúlamán maorach

“Submerged seaweed canopy” by Julius A. Ellrich is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Seaweed from the yellow cliff, Irish seaweed
Seaweed from the ocean, the best in all of Ireland

There is a yellow gold head on the Gaelic seaweed
There are two blunt ears on the stately seaweed

The Irish seaweed has beautiful black shoes
The stately seaweed has a beret and trousers

Very cool!

my professor
blog · book review · review

Book Review | Trusted Bond by Mary Calmes

MichelleLeave a comment

Jin Rayne is having trouble adjusting to the new life he’s supposed to love. Instead of adapting to being the mate of tribe leader Logan Church, Jin can’t get past the fact that his lover was straight before they met. He’s discovered the joy in belonging to Logan but fears his new life could disappear at a moment’s notice, despite Logan’s insistence that they are forever, end of story.

Jin wants to trust Logan, but that desire will be put to the test both by a rival tribe leader and by a startling revelation about Jin’s existence. At stake is Jin’s life and his place in the tribe. If he’s going to survive to see Logan again, he’ll have to release his fear and freely accept the bond, for only then can he truly trust.

This book made me smile and I’m really glad that I gave it a chance after the fiasco that was the audio book version of Change of Heart (book one of the series).  You can read my review of Change of Heart HERE.

One of my favorite things about Trusted Bond is the politics of the panther shifter society and how the shapeshifters deal with those who break the law.  The world is well thought out and Mary Calmes has done a wonderful job of filling that world with characters that you want to know more of and a story that I literally could not put down!

As I mentioned earlier, I’m glad I gave this book a chance.  It was both entertaining and enjoyable to read more about Jin and Logan’s relationship and to watch as Jin finally, FINALLY, figured out that he’s it for Logan and that’s that.  Although some of the situations that Jin finds himself dealing with seemed a tad unbelievable, I can see how they were used in the grand scheme of things to get Jin where he needed to be.  Let’s be honest, it’s fiction and sometimes fiction is unbelievable.

It was great to see Jin’s growth as a person in this book!  He really comes into his own and absolutely does not stand for anyone trying to hurt his mate or his family, protecting them at any cost.

If I had one complaint, it would be the excessive use of titles, terms, and places that are used throughout the story.  It can be hard to follow at times, but there is a glossary right in the front of the book and as I really am beginning to enjoy this series it wasn’t too much of a hardship for me to check on a word/title when I wasn’t sure what it meant.

All in all, a thoroughly enjoyable read… I read it in less than a day, after all.

Series: Change of Heart series, book 2
Format: eBook
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Source: Tennessee READS
Rating: ★★★★☆
Links: Amazon || Goodreads

June TBR
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June TBR

Michelle2 Comments

Where did May go?

It feels like March and April lasted forever and then I blinked at it was June!

I’m really, really looking forward to getting my hands on The Dawn of the Future because Final Fantasy XV was the game that got me back into playing video games AND for which I purchased a PS4, lol.

The other two titles on this TBR were suggested to me, but they sound good so I’m pretty sure I’m going to enjoy them as well. What are you planning to read?

Light novel:

Final Fantasy XV: The Dawn of the Future by Jun Eishima

To oppose the gods or yield to fate?

That is the question confronting each of the characters in The Dawn of the Future.

Ardyn, having saved countless lives from the Starscourge, means to become the Founder King of Lucis and instead is cast into tragic exile.

On the day the Empire falls, as the imperial capital collapses around them, Commodore Aranea is entrusted with the life of a singular young girl.

The Oracle Lunafreya, upon awakening from the slumber of death, discovers that her body has undergone an extraordinary transformation.

And after gazing upon the eternal, Noctis, the True King, finally comes to terms with his destiny. Herein lie the stories of the dawning of a new world in Final Fantasy XV.

Goodreads | Amazon

Comic book:

Star Wars: Obi-Wan & Anakin by Charles Soule

Before their military heroism in the Clone Wars, before their tragic battle on Mustafar and many decades before their final confrontation on the Death Star, they were Master Obi-Wan Kenobi and his young Padawan, Anakin Skywalker.

Now join them a few years into Anakin’s, “chosen one” training. Teacher and student have grown closer over time, but it’s been a difficult road. And things aren’t about to get any easier. In fact, when they’re called to a remote planet for assistance, the pair may be pushed to their breaking point.

As they find themselves stranded on a strange world of primitive technology and deadly natives, will they be able to save themselves?

When war breaks out around them, master and apprentice will find themselves on opposite sides!

Goodreads | Amazon

Non-fiction:

My Knitting Book by Frances Lambert

The examples of knitting, contained in the following pages, have been selected with the greatest care, -many are original, -and the whole are so arranged as to render them comprehensible even to a novice in the art.

Knitting being so often sought, as an evening amusement, both by the aged and by invalids, a large and distinct type has been adopted, -as affording an additional facility. The writer feels confident in the recommendation of “My Knitting Book,” and humbly hopes it may meet with the same liberal reception that has been accorded to her “Hand-Book of Needlework.”

The numerous piracies that have been committed on her last mentioned work, have been one inducement to publish this little volume; and from the low price at which it is fixed, nothing, but a very extended circulation, can ensure her from loss. Some few of the examples have been selected from the chapter on knitting, in the “Hand-Book.”

Goodreads | Amazon