CURRENT EVENTS

George Bush,

41st President, Dies at 94

Mr. Bush, a Republican, was a transitional figure in the White House, where he served from 1989 to 1993, capping a career of more than 40 years in public service. A decorated Navy pilot who was shot down in the Pacific in 1944, he was the last of the World War II generation to occupy the Oval Office.

Mr. Bush was a skilled bureaucratic and diplomatic player who, as president, helped end four decades of Cold War and the threat of nuclear engagement with a nuanced handling of the collapse of the Soviet Union and the liberation of Eastern Europe.

Yet for all his success in the international arena, his presidency faltered as voters seemed to perceive him as detached from their everyday lives. In an election that turned on the economy, they [ ] chose a relatively little-known Democratic governor from Arkansas, Bill Clinton, a baby boomer, ushering in a generational shift in American leadership. (Source: NY Times)

LAST WEEK’S POLLS

BOOK OF THE WEEK

The Christmas and New Years Holidays are a very hectic time for most, so perhaps this extremely easy to read book might help.

How To Be Calm

by Anna Barnes

With a bit of help, the methods of truly relaxing your mind and body, and letting go of stresses and strains, can be learned, practiced and perfected. Bursting with tips, centering statements and soothing activities, How to Be Calm will help you to feel more at ease in the world and better equipped to deal with the things that really matter. (Source: BarnesandNobles.com)

MOVIE OF THE WEEK

This movie was filmed in Italy and if you have ever been to Rome, you will enjoy seeing in the film many of the sites you saw in Rome.

Roman Holiday (1953)

A bored and sheltered princess escapes her guardians and falls in love with an American newsman in Rome. (Source: IMDB)

Critics Consensus: With Audrey Hepburn luminous in her American debut, Roman Holiday is as funny as it is beautiful, and sets the standard for the modern romantic comedy. (Source: Rotten Tomatoes)

MUSIC OF THE WEEK

Although I am a fan of Christopher Walken, Dean Martin does this song much better.

Walking in A Winter Wonderland

By Dean Martin

ART OF THE WEEK

Meadow Brook Hall is a work of art in and of itself; however, at this particular time, it is even more so as it is all decked out in Christmas trees and other Christmas decorations.

Meadow Brook Hall

Christmas Walk

Meadow Brook Hall is a Tudor revival style mansion located in Rochester Hills, Michigan. It was built between 1926 and 1929 by Matilda Dodge Wilson (the widow of auto pioneer John Francis Dodge) and her second husband, lumber broker Alfred G. Wilson. In 1957, the mansion and the surrounding property and buildings were donated to the State of Michigan in order to fund Michigan State University–Oakland, now known as Oakland University. I

Covering 88,000 square feet (8,200 m²) and with 110 rooms, the mansion is the fourth largest historic house museum in the United States. It was designed by William Kapp in a Tudor-revival style. The building features stonework and a plaster dining room ceiling created by Corrado Parducci. Much of the original artwork collected by the Wilsons is still found at Meadow Brook, as well as Tiffany glass. (Source: Wikipedia)

There was a Christmas tree in each room that I viewed.  I took a couple of pictures of the trees.

  EXTRAORDINARY PERSON OF THE WEEK

Given the role that the story, “A Christmas Carol” plays in our society at this time of the year, I thought it was appropriate to again make Charles Dickens the extraordinary person of the week.

Charles Dickens

Charles John Huffam Dickens (7 February 1812 – 9 June 1870) was an English writer and social critic. He created some of the world’s best-known fictional characters and is regarded by many as the greatest novelist of the Victorian era.

His works enjoyed unprecedented popularity during his lifetime, and by the 20th century critics and scholars had recognised him as a literary genius. His novels and short stories are still widely read today.

His 1843 novella, A Christmas Carol, remains popular and continues to inspire adaptations in every artistic genre.

THIS WEEK’S JOKE

Some of you many be wondering when you should retire; perhaps, this will help you in making that decision.

PHYSICAL TRAITS

CHARACTER TRAITS

As I was decorating some graves last week, I was struck my the devotion of this family for their 18-year-old son, who died in 2015.  Although it has been 3 years, look at how he is being remembered.  The picture doesn’t do justice to the remembrance since you can’t see the solar lights or the marker below of their son in various stages of his life.  I don’t know the family, I was just a visitor passing by, but the family’s devotion struck a chord with me.

Please check all that apply

SOCIAL TRAITS 

Last week I provided a suggested for a gift for someone who has everything.  This week I received an idea from Susan for you ladies out there looking for something to give to your husband.

LEARNING TRAITS

Sometimes, we are our own worse enemy 

MISCELLANEOUS 

To be passive is to let others decide for you.

To be aggressive is to decide for others.

To be assertive is to decide for yourself

Source: Edith Eva Eger

BOOK 

Warning:  This book will not change your life, only you can do that.