Nine Reasons Why You Should Read Books

From My FaceBook this Morning:

9 Reasons Why Reading Books Should Be a Part of Your Daily Routine:

1. Unlimited Knowledge: Books are a treasure trove of information on nearly every subject. Whether you're delving into history, exploring science, pondering philosophy, or discovering new hobbies, books offer endless learning opportunities.

2. Expanded Vocabulary: Regular reading introduces you to a wide array of words, helping to enhance your vocabulary, improve your communication skills, and deepen your understanding.

3. Memory Enhancement: Research shows that reading can strengthen your memory and cognitive abilities, keeping your mind sharp and engaged.

4. Stress Relief: Losing yourself in a good book can provide a mental escape, offering a break from daily stressors and a chance to relax.

5. Better Focus and Concentration: In an age of constant distractions, reading helps you develop the ability to focus and concentrate for longer periods.

6. Increased Empathy and Understanding: By immersing yourself in the lives of fictional characters, you can cultivate empathy and gain insight into different perspectives.

7. Boosted Creativity: Exposure to new ideas and different ways of thinking through reading can spark your own creativity and enhance problem-solving skills.

8.Improved Writing: Reading high-quality prose can refine your writing style, improve sentence structure, and make your communication clearer and more effective.

9. Better Sleep: Replacing screen time with a book before bed can help you wind down, making it easier to fall asleep and improving the quality of your rest

Here are my three favorite books. What is yours? I like to hear from you and the reason why the books you listed are your favorites among the many thousands of Books published all over the world.

https://theintellectualmigrants.blogspot.com/2013/05/my-favorite-three-books-and-dan-browns.html

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Here my last posting on Reading a Good Book versus Watching Television:

https://chateaudumer.blogspot.com/2020/02/reading-good-book-versus-watching.html

Meanwhile, here's a photo of my most appreciated lunch featuring Lobster Roll...

Mushrooms soup, Coca Cola and watermelon. It was delicious! Thank You, Newton's!

My Challenge of the Week- Fall Canvas Painting

The above brochure has tempted me to challenge myself this week. This activity was hosted by our capable and helpful Activity Director Kellie Schuyler. This was my first canvas painting experience, and I am happy I participated.   If you follow my blogs, you probably know that painting is not my talent at all. I can dance, sing and write, but painting I leave that to my relatives.   

 https://theintellectualmigrants.blogspot.com/2011/11/my-granddaughter-has-katague-genes-for.html

There are a few members of the Katague/Catague Clan both here in the US and Philippines that have the Genes for Painting and Music. These are the two websites where some of their work are discussed in detail.

http://www.grievingthruglee.com/

https://philippinecenterny.com/artists/philippine-center-fernando-catague/

I did my first water color painting and rock painting several weeks ago. Needless to say and as expected my work of art was very juvenile and not even worth mentioning, but they were my creations and indeed very proud of them.  At least give me an "A" for attitude.  Here's my creation yesterday afternoon. 

I took photos of the work of my co-residents and with their permission I am posting it in this blog. 

Lastly here are some photos from the web of Fall Colors that I really like,

Picture #1

Picture #2

Picture #3

Thank You Kellie for your painting tips and organizing this fun activity. Kudos to our THD Activity Personnels. 

Note to THD Management: Any update on the expected arrival of the Sound Panels for Newton's ?   A few of my co-residents are asking me for updates!

Memories of High Tea at the Empress Hotel in Victoria, BC

The Harvest Tea Party here at THD last Saturday, September 21, reminded me of the first High Tea, Macrine (RIP) and I attended in the Empress Hotel, Victoria, BC in the Summer of 2005. This posting is inspired by the THD party hosted by Activity Assistant Cidney Carbah. She did a fantastic job hosting the well-attended event. Kudos again to Cidney!     

Macrine(RIP) and I decided to stay overnight just to have High Tea at the Hotel. It was an experience we will never forget💚. Photo taken Summer of 2005 

DURING OUR HARVEST TEA PARTY LAST SEPTEMBER 21,THREE OTHERS FELLOW RESIDENTS INFORMED ME THAT THEY HAD ALSO EXPERIENCE HIGH TEA AT THE EMPRESS HOTEL IN VICTORIA, VANCOUVER,B.C., CANADA  

HERE'S A DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF THE HIGH TEA EXPERIENCE FROM THE HOTEL WEBSITE. 

EMPRESS EXPERIENCE

The iconic Empress Hotel opened its doors in January 1908. Today, Fairmont Empress proudly serves freshly prepared scones and tea pastries to more than 80,000 guests annually. During the summer months, the Empress serves more afternoon tea than most hotels in London. More than 400 people each day visit the Empress to indulge in a tradition that has been an important part of Victoria for more than 110 years.

ON THE MENU

On your tea tiers, you'll find a menu resplendent with fresh, locally sourced ingredients. The strawberry jam for our freshly baked scones is made in-house from local berries, honey from our own bee hives and lavender from our rooftop garden. The teas are ethically sourced from the top tea producers in the world. Tea at the Empress is truly an elevated culinary experience. 

THE STORY BEHIND THE ROYAL CHINA COLLECTION AT FAIRMONT EMPRESS

In 1939, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth (the Queen Mother) voyaged to Canada. The finale of their trip was a stay at The Empress where they hosted a dinner for 250 guests in The Empress Room. The couple had decided that this was the pattern they wanted the dinner served on and they had it shipped to the Empress all the way from England for the occasion.

Upon their departure, the royals presented the collection of china as a gift to the Empress Hotel. In an attempt to preserve the pieces, management at the time opted to lock the pieces away in storage. They were not removed again until 12 years later when Princess Elizabeth (Queen Elizabeth II) visited the Empress in 1951. Once she left, the china collection was once again locked away and soon became all but forgotten.

It wasn’t until nearly 50 years later, when a buyer for the hotel was roving the aisles of a Victoria antique shop and came across a tea cup bearing a crown that held a striking resemblance to the crown on the Empress logo. Further research revealed that the pattern had originated at the Booth factory in Stoke-on-Trent, England which had created this pattern for the royal family back in the 30’s.

As it turned out, the pattern used to manufacture the originals was still available and it has been reproduced exclusively for Fairmont Empress. This iconic china pattern has been used to serve our world famous Tea at the Empress since Victoria Day weekend 1998. Many of the original pieces are now on display in the hotel.

This exquisite pattern was created by laying fourteen lithographic transparencies, one over another. The gold is then hand-painted onto each piece with 22kt. Gold. While it is a faithful reproduction in almost every way, a specific color of the blue had to be altered since the original hue was created using lead paint. The new pieces are much safer to eat and drink from!

💚https://www.teaattheempress.com/empress-experience/

Meanwhile, enjoy this poem by William Wordsworth-Daffodils 

Do You Want to Improve Your Personality? Here are Tips!

I was talking to my fellow residents the other day during meal times, on the fellow residents they like. The residents most mentioned are those with great and pleasant personality, that is always smiling and have positive attitudes and very friendly to all including new comers.  

So, If someone says to you, you have a good personality, do you know exactly what they meant?  When we say someone has a ‘good personality’, it means the person is likeable, pleasant, fun to be with, and interesting. 

Personality is an amalgamation of a lot of skills – the way you communicate, how you present yourself, your confidence etc.  If you’re someone who’s wondering how to improve your personality, then you need to know that it is a continuous work and requires dedication and effort.  

Most of us seniors feel I am too old and set on my ways to improve my personality. This may be true, but if you want to be happy and felt you belong as part of the senior community, perhaps improved your personality as follows:  

These tips will help you improve your personality.

1. Develop great communication skills: ... 
2. Develop your knowledge and skillset: ... 
3. Stay warm and kind to others: ... 
4. Stay level-headed: ... 
5. Prioritize accountability: ... 
6. Be genuine in your interest in others: ... 
7. Let out the real 'you': ... 
8. Stay comfortable around yourself:

https://www.letsexpresso.com/self-betterment/how-to-improve-your-personality-5-ways-that-truly-work/

Meanwhile enjoy this recent photo I took during the Pumpkin Decoration Contest here at THD.

and the Persimmon tree loaded with fruits in our THD Garden by the side of the Fairmont  Building- my new home since last year! 

and the red chili pepper ready to be harvested

and my Cowboy photo taken by Gwen Corbett during our Cowboy Days Dinner Outdoors several weeks ago

and lastly 

My Harris-Walz T-Shirt and Pin- Gifts from Ditas during her visit on September 15, 2024 

My Second Song Parody- Batman and Robin

Batman and Robin-2 year olds- neutered males- American Breed Domestic Cats-My Apartment Mates  

I wrote my second song parody the other day. I thought My first song parody, I left My Heart in Marinduque,  A parody of Tony Bennet signature song,  I Left My Heart in San Francisco will be my last song parody. 

However, after hearing the Song "Some Enchanting Evening"  the other day, I was inspired to write my second song parody as follows:

Titled- " Early Morning Shadows with Batman & Robin" 

Early Morning Shadows in My Ceiling with Batman & Robin

Early Morning Shadows

That startled me this morning 

I was not awaken 

By Batman and Robin

Then they jump to my bed

Begging for food to fed

Gazing with soulful eyes 

They remind me

That I am still dreaming,

Once I was Awaken, 

Never let them Go!!

Once I was Awaken,

Never let them Go!!

This has to be sang to the tune of Some Enchanting Evening from the Musical, South Pacific; Here's a short video from the Movie.

https://youtu.be/rGyfw3yiMT4?si=sKkdRpUC1ldxi2KI

*****************************************************************************************************

The Philippines has once again achieved remarkable recognition at the 2023 World Travel Awards. With over 7,000 islands offering breathtaking tropical beach views, the Philippines was named "Asia’s Leading Island Destination."

The famous Boracay Island, known for its pristine white sands and natural beauty, also received the title of "Asia’s Leading Luxury Island Destination."

In addition, Cebu City in the Philippines was awarded as "Asia’s Leading Wedding Destination."

These accolades solidify the Philippines as one of the world’s top tourist destinations, offering a rich cultural experience, stunning landscapes, and luxury accommodations.

The World Travel Awards, established in 1993, are widely regarded as the "Oscars" of the travel industry.

#Seasia #SeasiaNews #Philippines

Meanwhile, Our Dessert Menu at Newton's for the Week of September 16th to 21st was very creative and delicious as well. The two choices besides the regular ice cream or root beer float were

1. Red wine Poached Pear Chantilly 2. Chunky Monkey Brioche Banana Chocolate Bread Pudding

Both were yummy and delicious!

My Quote of the Day: The purest form of beauty is the act of creation, and it’s something anyone can do. 

The Palace of Fine Arts, San Francisco

During our recent excursion in San Francisco SalesForce Rooftop Park, we detoured on our way home via the Golden Gate Bridge and pass by the Palace of Fine Arts. Its is an iconic landmark in the cityscape of San Francisco. 

The architecture was stunningly beautiful and it aroused my curiosity of this beautiful building, surrounded by a small lake. I took a photo from our van. My photo was not as fantastic as the photos in the website, but I am posting it on this blog anyway.        

‍In 1915 when the Panama Pacific International Exposition (PPIE) opened, it was a time of turmoil for the world and for the City of San Francisco. The City was just recovering from the terrible earthquake and fire of 1906. The nations of Europe were engaged in economic and political troubles that would lead to the start of World War I. The civic leaders of San Francisco envisioned a bold plan to bring the world together to encourage trade and to show the future of the world as it could be, and to demonstrate that a rebuilt San Francisco would be truly an international city. It was conceived to evoke a decaying ruin of ancient Rome, the Palace of Fine Arts became one of San Francisco's most recognizable landmarks. Early 2009 marked the completion of a renovation of the lagoons and walkways and a seismic retrofit.

Ad from Wesite: ORIGINALLY BUILT FOR THE 1915 PANAMA-PACIFIC EXHIBITION, THE VENUE AT PALACE OF FINE ARTS IS NOW AVAILABLE FOR CORPORATE EVENTS, PRIVATE GALAS, TRADE SHOWS, WEDDINGS, AND OTHER EVENTS IN NEED OF A LARGE SPACE. OPERATED BY NON PLUS ULTRA, SAN FRANCISCO’S MOST CELEBRATED VENUE MANAGEMENT COMPANY, THE VENUE AT PALACE OF FINE ARTS IS OPEN TUESDAY – SUNDAY FROM 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM (CLOSED ON MONDAYS AND FOR SPECIAL EVENTS). COME INSIDE AND GRAB TASTY FOOD AND BEVERAGES AT THE NEWLY OPENED CAFE PLUS!

Bernard R. Maybeck was chosen as architect for the Palace of Fine Arts. A student of the École des Beaux-Arts, his design reflects the impression of a Roman ruin. The inspiration for the Palace, with its soaring colonnade, grand rotunda, and carefully constructed pond, was meant to evoke quiet sadness and solemnity. This is most evident as one observes the “weeping ladies” facing into the tops of the columns throughout the park. While visiting a museum in Munich, Maybeck was struck by the Hungarian artist István Csók’s depiction of a scene where the notorious Polish princess Elizabeth Bathory is seen throwing freezing water on her naked servants.

Maybeck was also influenced by Arnold Böcklin’s Isle of the Dead. This popular work depicts a small island with towering rocks surrounded by water, with trees at the core of the island, and a boatman with mysterious passenger approaching a dark inlet. Maybeck’s choice of inspiration from classical painters was interesting, given that the purpose of the Palace of Fine Arts was to showcase artists at a period of time when modern art was beginning to emerge.

Rebuilding

‍After the fair, most of the buildings at the PPIE, which were never meant to be permanent, were torn down. The exception of the Palace of Fine Arts; the citizens of San Francisco felt it was just too beautiful to destroy. Consistent with his design concept, Maybeck had intended that the Palace should just fall into ruin, and so it did for a long time. In the ensuing years the building was used for a variety of purposes. After World War II it was a military storage depot, a warehouse for the Parks Department, a telephone book distribution center, and even temporary Fire Department headquarters.

However, the Palace of Fine Arts was never destined to have the same fate as the other buildings of the PPIE. In 1959 Assemblyman Caspar Weinberger led the effort to completely restore the Palace. Public and private funding efforts were underway, but it seemed the goal was just beyond reach. It was then that businessman and philanthropist Walter S. Johnson stepped up and contributed the additional $2MM needed to completely restore the Palace into a permanent structure.

The Palace of Fine Arts League, a 501(c)3 non-profit, was established in 1962 to provide the means to restore the Palace of Fine Arts. Walter Johnson’s efforts, along with many others, contributed to the creation of the Palace of Fine Arts Theatre, which opened in 1970. The Palace of Fine Arts League continues to operate the theater today, honoring the legacy of Maybeck, Johnson, and the many others that have contributed to the rich cultural fabric of San Francisco made possible by the success of the Panama Pacific International Exposition.

Meanwhile, enjoy these two photos of the antique table in the Conference Room of THD, just across the Activity Room and Lobby. 

 

From the Leaf Design Would you say it has Middle East or Indian Origin? 

THD Poker Night- Texas Hold'Em- How to Play Pai Gow Poker

THD hosted a Texas Hold 'Em Poker yesterday afternoon (9/24/24).  I have played it only once previously, but my knowledge and skills of Pai Gow Poker ( Double -Hand poker) is better than the Texas Hold'Em type. There are 15 types of Poker Games, but the most popular is the Texas Hold'Em.  I enjoyed Pai Gow because I have more experience playing it. In this posting I am reposting my article I wrote several years ago. The video at the bottom of the page is a must view if you want to learn how to play Pai Gow. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pai_gow_poker

I have played Pai Gow Poker a number of times in Las Vegas and Lake Tahoe as well as in our local (Thunder Valley)Casino.  However, in most Casinos the lowest bet is $5.00. However in some Casinos in Lake Tahoe, there are tables with only a $2.00 minimum bet. In this way if your gambling money is only $250, you can play longer. In the table with minimum of $5, you should have at least $500 capital to play. For that reason, I have not played Pai Gow Poker for the last 4 years. My gambling money and entertainment budget is for only $250. A minimum of $500 capital is needed to play in the $5 minimum game. https://chateaudumer.blogspot.com/2017/02/i-enjoyed-playing-pai-gow-poker.html

So what is Pai Gow Poker. Here's what Wikipedia says:  

Pai gow poker (also called double-hand poker) is an Americanized version of Pai gow (in that it is played with playing cards bearing poker hand values, instead of Pai gow's Chinese dominoes). The games of Pai gow poker and Super Pan-9 were created by Sam Torosian and Fred Wolf.

The game is played with a standard 52-card deck, plus a single joker. It is played on a table set for six players, plus the dealer. Each player attempts to defeat the banker (who may be the casino dealer, or one of the other players at the table).

The object of pai gow poker is for a player to create two poker hands out of the seven-card hand he/she is dealt by the dealer: a five-card hand, and a two-card poker hand. According to the rules, the five-card hand's rank must exceed the two-card hand's, and that is why the two-card hand is often called the hand "in front" or "on top" or "hair", or the "small" or "minor" or "low" hand. The five-card hand is called the hand "behind", or the "bottom" or "high" or "big" (as they are placed that way in front of the player, when the player is done setting them).

Californian casinos typically charge a flat fee per hand (such as 5 cents or one dollar) to play, win or lose. Other casinos take, out of the winnings, a 5% commission (usually known as the rake). While this may seem high, a hand of Pai Gow poker takes a long time to play compared to a game like blackjack, and there are many pushes; therefore the house doesn't collect that 5% as often as it would collect the house percentage on other games.

Variants

There are a number of variations of Pai Gow poker that are popular in casinos today. These variations were mainly formulated in 2004 - 2009. Pai Gow Mania was the first variation to be created which allows for two side bets instead of the traditional one side bet per hand. Fortune Pai Gow is another variation which allows players to make a side bet on a poker hand ranking of trips or better. This is one of the most popular variations. Similar to fortune pai gow, is emperors challenge which also allows a side bet on a 7 card pai gow (no hand). The final variation of the game developed was Pai Gow progressive, which is the addition of a progressive jackpot to the pai gow table. This jackpot is the combined of $1 side bets placed by players during the play.

The 6 card Pai Gow Poker Variation:

There is a six Card Pai Gow Poker variation( not popular) of the basic popular seven-card game. It features head-to head play against the dealer and an optional bonus bet. Players and the dealer each get six cards to make two poker hands—a five-card “high” hand and a one-card “low” hand. The dealer then compares his five-card hand with each player’s five-card hand, and he compares his one-card hand with each player’s one-card hand. If the player wins both matchups, he is paid 1 to 1 on his standard wager. If he loses both matchups, he loses his standard wager. If he wins one and loses one, the standard wager is a push. The house wins copies. Exceptions: 1) If the player uses a Joker in his low hand, it beats any dealer low hand. There is no commission on winning bets. There is no player banking. The game is played with a 53-card deck, including a joker that is used as an Ace or to complete a straight or flush. A2345 is the second-highest straight.  

I played this variation in Las Vegas a decade ago, I like it because you do not pay a commission. I believe this is only played in Las Vegas and only in a few Casinos. Last year when I asked our local Indian Casino if they have this variation, they stared at me as if I was in another planet. I really enjoyed this game, since it is much easier to play than the regular 7 card game. 

The following video show how to play basic 7 card Pai Gow Poker!

Meanwhile I won the Bills vs Jaguars Game last Monday night Lottery by guessing the winner and the total score of 59. When asked how I came out with the number 59, I said just pure genius and a little luck!

I had fun with the Texas Hold'em Poker Game yesterday although I did not win. It was hosted by Teresa and Cidney. Thanks to both of you! Let's play Pai Gow Poker next time!  I will be the Banker! Beginners Welcome, but must viewed the above tutorial.