Using the library

This is not the series that I was thinking about, but it can be a smaller series.

We are working on an activity that is kind of going to be about spring cleaning, though kind of not. That will take multiple posts, and there are things I do not necessarily want to give away just in case anyone who will come also reads my blog.

Regardless, one thing I was thinking about was how much the library saves.

When I was in school I used the libraries a lot. Once I had graduated it was not as convenient, plus having disposable income was exciting and I bought a lot of books. In addition to the money spent -- some of which was not necessary -- those books still takes up lots and lots of shelf space.

Sometimes I borrow something from the library and decide I want to own it. That is a much better reason for buying something than just thinking a book sounds interesting.

I remembered that once they gave us a year end printout with the number of items we had borrowed and the cumulative value. I thought that could be good information, so I asked about that yesterday.

Actually, if you get a checkout receipt, they always have the amount for that day's pickup. I don't usually get a receipt; I believe in reducing, reusing, and recycling, and it's not like I'm not regularly checking my due dates online. For research, I got the slip:

Today you saved $111.93 by using your library.

That was only five items. (We had just done a pickup on Thursday.) It was mainly picture books, though, and those are pricey.   

They were able to bring up a report for the year-to-date, which also gives the lifetime.

The amount saved for this year, as of March 29th, was $13,954.13. Lifetime was $105,411.07.

Now, I suspect that lifetime amount is only since the Aloha Community Library joined up with Washington County Cooperative Library Services, and also I doubt it counts the inter-library loan books (which we use a lot) as their prices would not be in the system.

Still, it's pretty impressive.

I was thinking about what would happen without the library. We would not spend that much. It wouldn't even be practical. We would certainly buy some, probably including some used, and maybe we would trade with friends, but mostly it would just be fewer books.

Perish the thought! 

It is recommended that children read (have read to them, really) one thousand books before starting kindergarten. Five years is over 1800 days, with daily reading starting early, there is plenty of time. 

Picture books are pricey. 

A child should have books that they own, too, and can get back to, but having a whole library system to choose from is so valuable.

I loved having a variety of books at home, and there are still old favorites, but it is a wonderful thing to have this rotating stock with so much available.

I love the library. Give it a chance and it will love you back.

https://www.wccls.org/using-library/get-card#mauticform_wrapper_verifyregister 

 
Related posts:

https://sporkful.blogspot.com/2014/07/library-memories-part-1.html  

Between themes

I'm really tired and I don't know what to write about.

The good thing about getting one theme is that generally the material starts writing itself, as I remember all of these different aspects to an idea and feel like they should all be explored.

That is not the case today. 

There is something that I have in mind to do, but I am not ready to get started.

It is not impossible that my staying up late last night to finish the next segment of my research paper contributed to the tired body and brain.

I hope that's not going to be too big of a factor, because that's going to be happening a lot.

I'm probably still adjusting to the time change. 

Related posts: 

https://sporkful.blogspot.com/2026/03/only-nine-tasks-left.html  

Learning from mistakes

On the main blog I am writing about the BAFTAs. I believe the Tuesday post will be about apologies. Perhaps that is why I have been thinking of this.

Last conference, Elder Rasband spoke about a new chair at University of Utah: The Dr. Russell M. and Dantzel W. Nelson Presidential Chair in Cardiothoracic Surgery.

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2025/10/55renlund?lang=eng 

Dr. Selzman, the first person to hold the professorship, had an experience before he accepted it. After a long day, a patient needed to go back into surgery. That meant the long day was going to stretch into the night. Frustrated, he thought...

"On Friday, I will be appointed to a professorship named after Dr. Nelson. He was always known as someone who kept his emotions in check, treated everyone with respect, and never lost his temper. Now that my name will be linked with his, I need to try to be more like him."

Instead of letting that frustration show to his team, he resolved to make a "conscientious effort to be especially supportive and understanding of his team."

That led to not only how he would act, but how that division would train:

“I do what we now teach our trainees to do—focus, get over it, and do the best you can. This ethos lives in us every day."

That is a good ethos, but the story made more of an impact on me because of another story I remembered from a talk two years earlier:

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2023/04/47nelson?lang=eng 

President Nelson spoke of being a surgical intern assisting with an amputation on a leg filled with gangrene.

Another member of the surgical team did something poorly, and the surgeon flew into a temper. The tantrum included throwing the scalpel that would have been full of germs. While it had not been specifically aimed, the scalpel landed in Dr. Nelson's forearm. 

That was a breach of good practice, and everyone was horrified except, apparently, the offending surgeon. President Nelson said...

"Gratefully, I did not become infected. But this experience left a lasting impression on me. In that very hour, I promised myself that whatever happened in my operating room, I would never lose control of my emotions. I also vowed that day never to throw anything in anger—whether it be scalpels or words."

It would be wonderful to think that President Nelson would have had that attitude and patience anyway, but we can learn from an other's mistakes. He saw not only a bad example, and something that shouldn't have happened, but he also faced an actual danger from it. 

With him mentioning specifically that everyone was horrified except the surgeon, I assume there was no apology. Probably the surgeon went back to the procedure and everyone else had to go along with it; that was the person in charge and you do have a patient there who needs the surgery continued.

When someone is potentially at the risk of dangerous infection because of your recklessness and lack of control, that seems like a reasonable time to apologize. That would not have to cause a long delay either. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done that. Will you please help him and then you please give me a new scalpel?" 

I am sure that they did continue the surgery and I hope someone helped with the new wound. It wouldn't take too long to at least pay tribute to doing the right thing. 

The problem is that comes with an admission of guilt.

I don't know that there was nothing learned by that surgeon either. Maybe he was gentler with his staff in the future, or maybe he would still periodically hurl verbal abuse but never, ever threw another scalpel. You can quietly affirm to do better.

I worry, though, that not openly admitting fault makes it less likely that you will inwardly admit the need for change, and then make the change.

That's why these non-apologies -- I am sorry if you were offended, if you got your feelings hurt, if you misunderstood -- don't satisfy. There is not discomfort with the wrong; just discomfort that other people noticed.

There is so much room for improvement.

This should be really obvious but...

There has been a genre of horror movies where people try to prevent the End of Days by doing something to stop the Antichrist.

I had always thought those missed the point; it's not something we can prevent, but that's okay.

This may be a good time to back up and say what Latter-Day Saints believe. We believe that there will be growing wickedness and natural disasters -- things like you would read about in Revelation -- but then Christ will return and usher in 1000 years of peace. 

We refer to the 1000 years as the Millennium. During this time people are resurrected and various things are healed. For example, my mother's first two children were born prematurely and died; we believe that she will get a chance to raise them. Also we believe there will be lots of temple work, going along with people getting the chances that they didn't have before. 

These are generally thought of as good times, though I know people who are worried it will be the end of fun. I don't think righteousness across the Earth means that there can't be roller coasters and rock concerts, so that doesn't worry me a lot.

That being said, worrying about plagues and wars and earthquakes can be scary. I get people not looking forward to that part, though you could easily look around and say "Worse than this?"

And yes, at least for us, because even though I am aware of terrible things, I am sheltered from a lot of it. I imagine a lot of those buffers falling away. 

From a spirituality/faith standpoint, those beliefs do keep me from total despair, though there are frequent waves of anger, sadness, and frustration.

Here's the thing that should be obvious, but maybe I am wrong...

WE ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE THE ONES CREATING THE PLAGUES AND THE WARS AND THE SUFFERING!

Just because there are apparently some higher-ups in the "Department of War" that don't get that.

First of all, Matthew 18:7

Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!  

Revelation mentions the AntiChrist and the Beast, but that doesn't make them heroes.

Remember also the parables given in Matthew 25 as an accompaniment to talking about end times. They are parables given about those who are looking for His return. They talk about preparedness, but that preparedness is a matter of accumulating spiritual light, developing your abilities productively (which could be interpreted in a capitalist light if you don't take it in conjunction with all of the other scriptures), and especially feeding, clothing, visiting, and helping others.

Seriously, we are supposed to be feeding children; not bombing them.

I know you hear all of those stories about people who find the scriptures really wimpy but somehow think that's a different book... it's weird to me, but I believe it happens.

However, if you think bringing on the Second Coming is a good thing, and something you want to work toward, then please spend some time reading up on that would entail. 

Remember what is written before those parables, in Matthew 24:22:

And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened. 

It's not a laughing matter. It's not some macho fantasy. There are hard times right now, that we can expect to get worse, and we are called to make those times easier and alleviate suffering. 

I know Raiders of the Lost Ark is fiction, but there is something real in the idea of Nazis thinking that if they wore the right outfits and said the right words they could have the power and glory.

Try and live in such a way that you don't deserve to have your face (and the rest of you) melted. 

Feed someone

Several times in February I saw a quote from Fred Hampton about how feeding people scares people.

As I had been posting daily quotes from Black people for Black History Month, I kept trying to find a source of the full quote so I could use it. 

I never found that one. I suspect that someone cleaned it up; maybe the original had references to "pigs" and "socialism" that might have sounded undermining in its aggression. (I have some sympathy for that.) 

I used a different quote from Hampton, but I keep thinking about that other one. 

On the surface, feeding people should not be remarkably subversive. In fact, many places have tried passing laws against it. These are sometimes done in the name of public health or safety, but it's more commonly about the public nuisance of allowing unhoused people to be visible and treated like they matter.

In fact, one of the bans was legally opposed with the assertion that feeding the homeless is a form of protest, and therefore constitutionally protected.

https://legalclarity.org/when-is-feeding-the-homeless-considered-illegal/ 

I had been irritated recently by an old reference to feeding "the worthy poor" as a Christian obligation. 

I see no indications that Christ made any stipulations about worthiness. 

The multitudes were fed because they were there. That they were there listening might indicate some worthiness, but in John 6 Jesus admonishes some for seeking him out because of the bread, then urges them to seek for "that meat which endureth unto everlasting life..."

He did still encourage them toward the spiritual, but that was not a condition for food.

In expounding on the parable of the sheep and the goats in Matthew 25, we are told that if we have done it unto one of the least of these, we have done it to Him. Likewise, if we have withheld it from one of the least of these, we have withheld it from Him.

There can indeed be variations in someone's level of worthiness, but they do not serve as a cutoff level for assistance.

Finally, from Mosiah 4:

17 Perhaps thou shalt say: The man has brought upon himself his misery; therefore I will stay my hand, and will not give unto him of my food, nor impart unto him of my substance that he may not suffer, for his punishments are just—

18 But I say unto you, O man, whosoever doeth this the same hath great cause to repent; and except he repenteth of that which he hath done he perisheth forever, and hath no interest in the kingdom of God.

19 For behold, are we not all beggars? Do we not all depend upon the same Being, even God, for all the substance which we have, for both food and raiment, and for gold, and for silver, and for all the riches which we have of every kind?

Eating is such a basic, recurring need that meal trains are the Relief Society go-to when people encounter any type of problem, even if that would not be the preference.

Feeding people also brings up such weird discussions when people get into preparing food versus ordering food and whether poor people have a right to have food preferences or whether getting poor children fed is important enough to give free lunches to the kids who don't need them.

Truly, people willingly display their worst impulses on this topic, no matter how much they try and cover with appeals to logic, the importance of work, and nutrition. Really, what they seem to want is to consolidate the existing hierarchy.

So, yes, just giving people food is subversive. 

The Aloha Community Library has a Share Space where donated food and personal items are available.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1299509918885741&set=pb.100064802343597.-2207520000&type=3 

I love that, and that there is no red tape or obstacles to people taking what is needed. We donate to it, but there are two things that are frustrating..

One is that they have had to request more than once that they don't get expired items. It comes up on a regular basis, including one from 2003!

The other is that most items go out on the same day they are donated.  

That confirms that it is needed, but also indicates that the demand is greater than the supply.

Of course there are other places to give, and donations like that are not the only way to give. 

Taking a treat to someone, or a meal or a gift card for a restaurant or delivery service... there are lots of ways to feed people that can address physical and emotional needs. 

Doing so also helps keep our hearts right.

Looking around, there is a great need for that.

Related posts:

https://sporkful.blogspot.com/2024/08/even-worse.html  

Adapting and evolving

Looking back, it amazes me how long this has been going on.

I think my mother's first official diagnosis was in 2013, though there were signs at least as early as late 2010.

A lot of people don't spend this long with Alzheimer's disease because something else takes them first. There was a time when I hoped that would be the case, so that some of the parts that really hurt wouldn't happen.

We don't get to choose, and that's how it needs to be.

You can choose how you react, adapting to meet the needs as they come.

I have mentioned (probably more in the main blog) that there were times when we had real clarity.

It was clear when she needed someone to stay with her, and that it was going to be me. It was also clear when staying in the home was no longer working, so we needed to look at a memory care facility.

Those were both big decisions, so I was grateful for the clarity.

It was more common that there would be a shift in abilities, therefore in what worked to help Mom. Sometimes the change was very subtle, so maybe sometimes when it seemed sudden, it just hadn't been noticed previously.

There was a time when leaving notes to keep her on task worked, and a time when that stopped.

There was a time when she was safe to drive, because while she was not committing new things to memory, her existing memories were intact. When it wasn't safe anymore, I don't even think it was that she was losing her memories yet, but it was easier for her to lose her place and harder for her to recover from that. 

There was a time period when every afternoon I would wrap her in warm blankets and bring her a cup of cocoa and that made her very happy. I was sad when that phase ended, because it satisfied her so much with so little effort. Plus, I needed to find my way as a caregiver again. When one thing stops working, it is not always immediately clear what the next solution will be.

As I pulled out my song lyrics today, I noticed that the print date was from April. That's when I started singing to her, thinking it would work. It's been about ten months.

That's actually a pretty long phase, except there was starting to be less response. Today she responded more. I have no idea why.

I have not had any control over the course of this disease, but there have been meaningful moments and I have learned things. I believe I have become more patient and sensitive, though that may not always be obvious.

My acceptance of how much we do not control but how that is ultimately what is needed? That's from this. It could have come some other way, but this has been my path.

I am also more aware of the choices that we do have, and the way they matter.

I am not great with change, actually, and I really don't like moving.

There have been two blessings that I really appreciate for things that I have not had to deal with.

We moved to this house when I was six, and it is still home. On my mission, I only had two areas, with very few transfers: Fresno to Modesto and then back to Fresno.

Of course, there were three different apartment moves in Fresno. Regardless, I have had pretty good stability in terms of where my home base has been. 

Other things have changed a lot more, sometimes feeling very unstable. 

Without saying that I have never rebelled, I have been able to adapt. 

Reading all of the standard works in one year

I am trying to move away from writing about grief. 

The tricky part is that I am not sure that I am done with it. First of all, Mom is still alive, so I know there is another chapter. In addition, I realized I have another question or two that I need to answer for myself. I hope I get that done before.

Without being quite ready to start something new, this is an easy one to go over in case anyone is curious.

I decided I wanted to read in each of the books weekly, so the first thing I did was take the number of pages of each and divide by 52.

Well, that doesn't work great for the Pearl of Great Price, and the Old Testament is definitely the longest, so this is what I am doing:

Monday: 8 pages in the Old Testament
Tuesday: 8 pages in the New Testament
Wednesday: 8 pages in the Old Testament
Thursday: 10 pages in The Book of Mormon 
Friday: 8 pages in the Old Testament
Saturday: 6 pages in the Doctrine and Covenants

Sunday was going to be more for Sunday School reading, so that I was still keeping up, but it has ended up being for different things.

For example, there are 60 pages in the Pearl of Great Price. Instead of reading about one page per week, I started with the first five chapters of Moses, then read through to where Enoch would be in the Old Testament, read the rest of Moses, went through to Abraham, and read Abraham. 

Those nights were more than ten pages, but it felt like it could be reasonably done in one night. I think it worked.

That started mostly as a coincidence. The first Sunday night I was not starting anything yet, so I thought I would just get Moses 1-5 out of the way.

I am sure there will be times when my Sunday reading will relate to the Gospel Doctrine lesson, but they are still in Genesis so I feel like I am doing okay.

I have also given different weeks to catching up. For example, I read an extra ten pages in The Book of Mormon one week, because there are 530 pages and a reasonable schedule will leave me with extra pages at the end of the year. Also, I started the Doctrine and Covenants with Joseph Smith History (more Pearl of Great Price reading) and the testimonies of the three and eight witnesses, so I needed a few extra pages there.

I have also used the extra nights to re-read Revelation because I was trying to find something. A project like this stirs memory and raises questions; the chance to explore is good.

I am getting a lot of ideas for other areas of focus; we will see what happens in future years. For now, I like how this is working out.

In addition to getting ideas from spending time in all of the works, I am getting ideas from Ensign reading too, which is going much better.

Reading a few articles daily as opposed to a whole issue Saturday gets you through the magazines at the same rate, but it feels completely different and much better. 

That is one other thing that should be working better. While I have learned a lot from various readings of the Old Testament, there are places where I get bogged down. Now looking at the building of the tabernacle, only reading eight pages per day and doing something else the next day has made it much better. I expect this to continue through Leviticus and Numbers... the rest of the Pentateuch, actually.

It will also really help with Psalms.

So this is working out. I have had some pretty ambitious goals for things I wanted to study, and finding that I can achieve them makes many other things look possible.