Review: Choices and Illusions

Choices and Illusions: How Did I Get Where I Am, and How Do I Get Where I Want to Be? by Eldon Taylor
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It's not often that I pick up a non-fiction book. Why? Because I don't like to be told that I'm doing something wrong. Who does?

Still, the premise of this book intrigued me, and I decided to give it a try. It's not lightly that I say it's one of the best self-help books I've read.

With a caring voice, Eldon Taylor helps you recognize how you are programming your own mind, usually in the wrong way. By believing in negative thoughts, by setting limitations dictated by what culture calls "possible", you are likely not happy.

What would happen if you dared to change? If you started to really believe in yourself and reprogram your mind to break all those limitations? How much happier would you be? How much better would you treat the people around you?

That's what this book is about. I encourage you, if you need motivation to take that first step, read this book. Read Eldon Taylor's stories of the changes that have taken place in his own life, and in the lives of others, by letting go of the illusions that plague you.

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The Geek's Homeschool Curriculum

I'd like to have kids some day, and if I do, I'm pretty sure that I want to homeschool them.  Personally, I loved being homeschooled.  I think it gives a lot of room for creative curriculum ideas, such as these.  

Critical Thinking Skills - Chess

Chess is a classic game, and it can sharpen your mind.  Not only are the rules a bit complicated, but the strategy really takes some thinking ahead.  Why not make it a school activity?

Physics - Portal

I know I learned a lot about physics from playing Portal.  Sure, you might never have a portal gun in real life, but it teaches you a lot of the basic concepts.

Creative Thinking, Problem Solving - King's Quest VI

King's Quest VI is a tough game, but I still have fond memories of playing it when I was younger, even though I didn't actually finish it until I was fifteen.  Sure, by the time I have kids that are old enough to solve the puzzles in it, the graphics will be even more outdated, but there's some great concepts in there.

History - Doctor Who

Yeah, at its heart, Doctor Who is a sci-fi show, but The Doctor also travels to the past.  I'm not afraid to admit that a lot of my interest in historical figures came after I watched them in a Doctor Who episode.  A couple of these episodes just might be part of my homeschooling curriculum.  

 

Greek Mythology - Percy Jackson & The Olympians series

I knew very little of Greek mythology before I read these books.  Not only is it very interesting to learn about these mythological creatures and gods, but it's also cool to compare them to the one God.  On top of that, fanfiction is a *great start to honing your creative writing skills.    

*Yes, I know that some fanfiction is really bad, but as I said, it's a good start, meaning that eventually, you should probably move on to something else.

Simple Math - Pen & Paper Roleplaying Games

Dungeons and Dragons as well as many other P&P games have gotten a bad reputation, but really, all those dice rolls and modifiers and such are really useful for teaching you how to make quick calculations.  Besides that, it's fun.  

Alien Slaying Skills - Dead Space

Just kidding.  Mostly.

What creative methods would you use to teach important skills? 

Summer Bucket List Update

July is upon us already, and I only managed to post twice during the whole of June.  I'll try to be better  this month, I promise!  I'm playing The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion right now, which I'd like to talk about sometime, and I'm sure other ideas will pop up.  To start, I'd like to take a look at how I'm doing on my summer bucket list.  

Date With Dad: This didn't work out quite as I had planned, but it was still a great time nonetheless.  We had dessert at White Box Pies first (because life is uncertain), then went to Red Robin for dinner.  They're one of the few burger places nearby that offers gluten-free buns.  Yum.

Read Outside: I did this the other day.  For some reason, I especially love reading Cathy Marie Hake's novels outdoors.  I don't know why, but it just fits somehow.  

Go Hiking: I went with my brother, sister-in-law and a friend to Centennial Trail, where we kind of made our own path.  We also saw a little crawdad in the river by the trail.  We named him Miguel.  

Iced Tea with a Friend: I had a nice cup of iced tea with my mom and a few of her friends.  This is definitely an item that will have to be completed more than once, though.  You know, just for good measure.  

Portal 2 Co-op: I finally finished the standard courses with my cousin.  I'll probably play it again with another friend, because it was just that fun.  

Bubble Tea: I had the Thai flavor this time.  I think every new flavor I try instantly becomes my favorite.

I Love Lucy Marathon: It's official: I have watched every single episode of I Love Lucy at least once.  No kidding, this was a life goal for me.  

White Box Pies: As I said above, I've been there once so far.

Flower Hair Clips: I'm not sure they'll become a common part of my wardrobe, but they are really cute.

Pedicure: I've had one so far, but I'm thinking another might be in order before the season is out.

Read a Jules Verne Novel: I read Journey to the Center of the Earth, which I loved.  I'll definitely be adding it to my collection and checking out more of his work.

Visit The Buggy Barn: This was a fun outing with my mom, but didn't quite interest me as much as I had hoped.  I'm sorry, but I'm just not crafty enough to work with fabric well.

Evening Walk:  Walked for a while near my house, watched the sunset, and listened to this lovely song.

Drive With the Windows Down: This is kinda fun, but I'll admit that I prefer air conditioning.

May Report Card

This month was great, but also really busy.  So much so that most of my resolutions slipped my mind. 

Work On My Novel Once a Week

I managed to remember to do this about twice, which means that nothing much was accomplished.  Better luck next time, I suppose.  

Grade: D

Yoga 4 Times a Week

Ten times in the entire month.  Oops.  

Grade: C

Read 4 Books

This one I managed.  I read True Devotion by Dee Henderson, By Darkness Hid and To Darkness Fled by Jill Williamson and The Stolen Throne by David Gaider.  I've even started on From Darkness Won by Jill Williamson, the last in the Blood of Kings trilogy.  

Grade: A+

Come Up With a Summer Bucket List

This turned out well, also.  You can see what's on my list here.  If you come up with your own, let me know in the comments.  

Grade: A+

Watch My Spending

Not too bad here.  I didn't spend extravagantly, but I paid for what I needed (and some things I didn't necessarily need, such as hardcover copies of Star Wars books that I already own), making this goal an overall success.  

Grade: A

 

Overall Grade: B

Here's one of the reasons I've been so busy this month.  Meet our new goldendoodle puppy, Kirby.

 This post inspired by Kelli at She Learns As She Goes.

Kaylin's Summer Bucket List

Aerial Yoga- This looks like so much fun!  I can't wait to try it.

Finish My Novel- This might be a little ambitious, but we'll give it a go.

Date With Dad- It's been a while since I've gone out and gotten to spend time with my dad, so this is a must.  

Read Outside- Because I should really take advantage of the nice weather.

Go Hiking- I'm dying to try some of the trails in Spokane.

Homemade Popsicles- The ones with fruit in them look like fun to make.

Snap 50 Unique Photos- My poor camera needs some exercise this summer.

Iced Tea With A Friend- At least once.

Bubble Tea- Because it's delicious.  I get some almost every time I go to the mall.

Geocaching- This was so much fun last summer.

S'mores- What's summer without them?

Stargaze- Again, I should take advantage of the clear skies and do this at least once.

I Love Lucy Marathon- I still have half of season 7, season 8 and season 9 to watch before I'll have watched every one.  

Record Myself Playing Piano- I've been meaning to do this for some time, now.  

White Box Pies- This is a great restaurant/bakery in town that focuses on gluten-free menu items.  I'd love to go have lunch or dinner there again.

Flower Hair Clips- I think they're really cute and would like to see how they look on me.

Pedicure- I don't like painting my own toenails.  Plus, it makes me feel pampered.

Read A Jules Verne Novel- Probably Journey to the Center of the Earth. 

Visit The Buggy Barn- This is a quilt shop/museum nearby that I've never been to.  It looks interesting.

Phish Food- No, not "Fish Food".  This Ben & Jerry's flavor is my absolute favorite, but usually really expensive.  I'd like to treat myself to a pint sometime this summer.

Evening Walk- One of my favorite parts of summer is how lovely the temperatures are, even after the sun has set.  

Pirates of Penzance- One of my favorite movies that I want to watch again sometime.

Drive With the Windows Down- I'm still learning how to drive, but I'm starting to enjoy it more.  I always enjoy being able to do this during the summer.

Hair Trim- Already completed this one.  I'm such a cheater.

Be Thankful Every Day- Something different every day.  This could be challenging.

Sky High- A trampoline place in town that looks like a lot of fun.  

Portal 2 Co-op- It's been a while since I've played Portal, but I'm pretty excited to get back into it. 


What's on your summer to-do list?

Reading Questionnaire

This book questionnaire that Kelli found has been going around and looks like fun, so here goes.  

Do you snack while you read?  Not too often because I don't want to get food on my pages.  When I do snack, it's usually on a piece of dark chocolate or on some almonds.

What is your favorite drink while reading?  Tea or fruit juice spritzers.  

Do you tend to mark your books while you read, or does the idea of writing in books horrify you?  I highlight passages in my Bible, but I don't normally write or mark anything in my novels. 

How do you keep your place while reading a book?  Bookmarks.  I have quite a few that I've gotten from my library and as gifts.

Are you the type of person who tends to read to the end of the chapter, or can you stop anywhere?  At the end of a chapter is my preference, but if I need to stop reading and go do something on short notice, I at least try to make sure that I end at a paragraph break or after a particularly memorable sentence.  

Are you the type of person to throw a book across the room or onto the floor if the author irritates you?  No, but I have been known to scowl at pages and/or roll my eyes.  

If you come across an unfamiliar word, do you look it up right away?  Only if it's especially cool-sounding, then I want to know its definition so that I can use it in my own writing.  I also look up words more readily when I'm reading on my Kindle, because it makes it so easy.  

What are you currently reading?  True Devotion by Dee Henderson.

What is the last book you bought?  The Chicago Manual of Style.  I spent a lot more on it than I usually do on books, but it should be a really useful tool as I try to make my way in the editorial business.  Besides that, it's really pretty.

Do you have a favorite time/place to read?  I like reading in the evenings the most because it kind of winds me down for the day.  It's also kind of a rule of mine to read at least a chapter right before I go to sleep.  As for where, mostly on my bed, but outside on the porch swing or on the hood of a car is nice, too.

Do you prefer series books or stand alones?  Mostly series, but the problem is that when I read the first book, I feel bad if I don't finish the rest, so starting one is like a commitment for me.  In this respect, stand-alones give me more "freedom", so that can be a good thing.  

Is there specific book you find yourself recommending over and over?  Not particularly.  I like to make recommendations according to what the person I'm talking to already likes, so it depends. 

How do you organize your books?  I used to have them all in alphabetical order by author's last name, but since then my library has expanded and I no longer have that option.  Currently they're kinda-sorta arranged by genre.  Translation: they're in there in whatever ways they happen to fit.