Hi! I'm not done!

The Juno Regina is only half done, and the Indigo Waves scarf is exactly at the same point where you last saw it. I've been reading books and planning my trip to Nova Scotia.

One book I've been reading, The Brain That Changes Itself by Dr. Norman Doidge, is about brain plasticity. "Plasticity" means being able to be molded, formed, like plastic. "Neuroplasticity" means doing that to a brain. It all makes sense to me, and I thought that the research had been done long before, but it is just beginning. Many of the experiments have been done since the 1990's or even 2000's. First time I've read those dates in a book like this, ever. Of course, there's a whole history behind it, and people who had glimmers of neuroplasticity in their research, but usually they were shunted aside because their research didn't meet the "localization" theories which were accepted. Really, people? Are we still living in 1633 when Galileo was imprisoned in his house for defending heliocentrism? Unbelievable. Thankfully, word has begun to spread, and neuroplasticity is a far more common theory now. My physical therapist is behind it, too. And I threw out what the doctors told me a long time ago, which this book reaffirms. No matter what, you, your brain, your limbs, everything continues to improve forever -- as long as you believe it can. Just don't give up! I don't know how to give up. I really don't. I think I don't have that gene. "Stubborn" now, that's a gene I have, and it's gotten me into trouble in the past, but I think it's okay for this.

Another book that I am currently reading is Brain, Heal Thyself: A Caregiver's New Approach to Recovery from Stroke, Aneurysm, And Traumatic Brain Injuries by Madonna Siles. Eve, her housemate, had an aneurism and this is the story of what it was like for Donna, the author, struggling to cope.  It's quite moving, and there is a lot about the side of caregivers. It's very good, and I recommend it to anyone who has the caregiving role. Caregivers are hurt as bad, if not more, than the people they care for. The only way to make it stop is for the hurt people to work to get better, thus lessening the burden a bit. 

Knitting has always been a joy to me, and I'm enjoying reading  Wendy Knits Lace: Essential Techniques and Patterns for Irresistible Everyday Lace by Wendy D. Johnson. I never had time to read knitting books before. I like it! After I read what Wendy has to say, I'm going to knit a few things from her book. It's a great book and there's something for every knitter in there, from beginner lace-knitters to experienced ones. And remarkably, the easy lace is beautiful as much as the harder lace, which is hard to pull off. It's a good book!

Poor Nicky is stuck up a tree; a dog chased him (not the same dog as before, a bigger dog). I have been assured by my husband, the great soother, that Nicky will get down just fine, remember those big hemlock trees he used to go up 50 feet? But I am concerned nonetheless, and I will be glad to see him home safe and sound. I hope he doesn't have a heart attack. It's silly to get so wound up over a cat, isn't it? No, I didn't think so ... he's my little boy :)