Celebrated Tolkien Reading Day

Sunday, March 24th

 Wonderful Readings

Dinner w/Friends

 NYBG Annual Orchid Show

Saturday, March 2nd

WW1 Book / History Note:  I have had a fascination concerning WW1 since my high school days.  One of my history teachers conveyed total lack of respect for this significant era in world history.  He could wait to talk about the horrors of WW2.  I remember calling him out on this travesty and was promptly sent to the principal’s office. 

WW1 caused the downfall of four monarchies: Germany, Turkey, Austria-Hungary and Russia.  Due to the cruel methods used during the war and the losses suffered, WW1 caused a lot of bitterness among nations, which also greatly contributed to WW2 decades later.  After WW1, the world changed drastically. One of the ways it changed was economical.  Most of Europe got a big debt after the war including Germany and Russia. One of the only countries to come out of the war richer was the USA because they did not get involved right away.  During WW1 (1914-1918), large numbers of women were recruited into jobs vacated by men who had gone to fight in the war. New jobs were also created as part of the war effort, for example in munitions factories.  Many changes happened within the arts, music, business, travel and society.  It has been stated that the 20^th Century really came into being with the onset of WW1.

Below are books I own on the topic of WW1.  I highly recommend them all.

·         Dreadnought by Robert K. Massie

·         The Guns of August by Barbara W. Tuchman

·         The Great Silence by Juliet Nicolson

·         1915 – The Death of Innocence by Lyn Macdonald

·         The First World War by John Keegan

·         1913 – An End and a Beginning by Virginia Cowles

·         The First Air War / 1914-1918 by Lee Kennett

·         To End All Wars by Adam Hochschild

·         The Great Way & Modern Memory by Paul Fussell

·         Some Desperate Glory – The First World War the Poets Knew by Max Egremont

·         War Horse by Michael Morpurgo

·         1913 – In Search of the World Before the Great War by Charles Emmerson

·         The Beauty & the Sorrow – An Intimate History of the First World War by Peter Englund

·         Tolkien and the Great War by John Garth

·         Silent Night: The Story of the WW1 Christmas Truce – by Stanley Weintraub

The divine Ms Leanna Renee Hieber

WORD bookstore on February 28th

PERSONAL NEWS #288

Feb 2^nd, after taking care of errands and chores, I had a 1.5-hour massage therapy session with Eric at the apt. Then grocery shopping, laundry and pick up a framed print.

Feb 3^rd, I took care of more laundry before heading into Manhattan for dinner [Nanoosh] and movies with friends.  Delicious vegan dinner and then off to see the documentary “They Shall Not Grow Old” regarding WW1.  Brilliantly done with amazing commentary.  Highly recommend seeing it.

Feb 7^th, after work, I visited the Disney store in Times Square to pick up belated Christmas gifties for a friend of the family.  Then visited the MAC cosmetic store for some much-needed items.

Feb 8^th, after work, I had a 1.5-hour massage therapy session with Eric at the apt.

Feb 9^th, after my housekeeper took care of my apt, I tended to errands and chores.

Feb 10^th, after getting a much-needed manicure, I headed into Manhattan for a delicious dinner with a friend at Yuba.  A terrific little Japanese restaurant on East 9^th Street.  Afterwards, we went to see the film “Aquaman” at the cinema.

Feb 12^th, after work, I attended the new monthly BFP Arts & Culture Collective meeting.  Six of the seven members attended and it was a productive, interesting meeting.

Feb 14^th, I treated a friend of mine to a belated birthday lunch, and we caught up on news / gossip.

Feb 15^th to 17^th, I visited with Mom in upstate NY for a long weekend to help with errands, chores, groceries, banking, dining out and sorting through things in the house.

Feb 18^th, our office was closed for Presidents Day, and I took care of doctor appts.  In the evening, I had a 1.5-hour massage therapy session with Eric at the apt.

Feb 19^th, after work, I attended the monthly SGI discussion meeting in a member’s lovely duplex apt on Humboldt Street.  It felt good to reconnect with other Nichiren Buddhist followers and the chanting was uplifting.

Feb 20^th, at lunch, I had a follow-up eye doctor appt and all went well.  After work, I jumped on the monthly BFP Fundraising committee meeting/conference call.

Feb 21^st, at lunch, I had a follow-up foot doctor appt, and may need orthotics for my shoes.

Feb 22^nd, after work, I met up with a good friend of mine to see the wonderful Tolkien exhibit at The Morgan Library and Museum.

Feb 24^th, I had a much-needed acupuncturist appt in Chinatown to take care of my lungs and lower back.

Feb 25^th, after work, I had a much-needed 1.5-hour massage therapy session with Eric at the apt, as my lower back was bothering me.

Feb 26^th, after work, I did volunteer computer work at the WCW office.

Feb 27^th, after work, I had a much-needed chiropractor appt for my neck, back and lumbar region.

Feb 28^th, after work, I attended Leanna Renee Hieber’s book event at WORD bookstore in my hood.  Picked up two of her books; which is in the gothic Victorian fantasy genre.  Ran into some good friends at the book event and always a pleasure chatting with Leanna.  Afterwards, I had dinner at The Jungle Café with my friend TJ.