Last night, the 2019 Major League Baseball season ended in grand and historic fashion, with the Washington Nationals beating the Houston Astros in Game 7 of the World Series. I'm no baseball wonk, but I do love watching the game for its deep complexity, and the psychology of what's going on out there. There's not… Continue reading Well-seasoned
So yeah, it's the middle of autumn. But since we're experiencing our now-standard late-October "peak summer" weather here in San Diego, it feels like as good a time as any for a quick update on my summer reading list. I love the idea of "summer reading," although it's not something that I actually do. I… Continue reading Summer time in fall
I'm nearing the end of two weeks of vacation, the longest stretch of time that I've ever taken off from work, in 20+ years of continuous full-time employment. We spent about a week in the Black Hills of South Dakota, and I have spent the other half at home, doing a bit of catching up… Continue reading Carving out time
I've long supported the idea that an essential component of living well is keeping death close, a part of our daily experiences. My hope is that by talking often and openly about illness, decline, and dying, I'm preparing myself and those I care about in practical, emotional, and spiritual ways for the unknown path that… Continue reading The Art of Dying Well
In my role as a health educator, I deal on a near-daily basis with claims of treatment and cure for Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. I see the range of emotions that people experience upon receiving a new diagnosis: worry and uncertainty, but also optimism and hope. And I know the deep fear that many… Continue reading Quacks or facts?
It's June, which means the jacaranda are blooming, and San Diego is awash in purple flowers. And it's the time of year when many in my field don some purple of their own in recognition of Alzheimer's & Brain Awareness Month. I've never liked the use of the term "brain awareness," because I think most of us… Continue reading Purple hearts
"It is a happy talent to know how to play." - Ralph Waldo Emerson Having spent most of my early adulthood taking myself pretty seriously, several years ago I made a commitment to incorporating more silliness and play into my life. College and graduate school in my 20's had been good years, but they weren't… Continue reading When work is play
Don't get me wrong. I really love my job. But as that old saying about the worst day of fishing goes ... even a bad day of baseball is better than a good day of working. Opening Day for Major League Baseball finally arrived yesterday, on a perfect blue-sky 68 degree day at Petco Park.… Continue reading Baseball holiday
brain dump 