Retrain My Brain ... Please!!!

from here

What goes on in our heads? In our brains, to be specific (this word was repeated about twenty times this afternoon because for some reason my children can't get their tongue around the 'sp' bit).

I love trying to work out what is happening in my and others' noggins.  I thought I used to be pretty smart (I still boast about going to Opportunity Class for years 5 and 6 after scoring well in an IQ test, but for all the good it did, I really should shut up about it).

So last night's program, Redesign My Brain on ABC, got me in.  I've been a fan of Todd Sampson for awhile so him being the host didn't hurt. The subject included brain plasticity which has interested me since my time working with students chosen to take part in a new program to help those with learning difficulties by retraining their brains.

from here

Todd Sampson went through a few tests after firstly getting his mind photographed. The quizzes he did are also available to do through ABC iView website and of course I had to have a go.  This wasn't a good idea for my intellectual ego. I won't admit what I scored but I will defend myself by saying I attempted them late at night and I was very tired with a work-induced headache after squinting at a computer all day. To make things worse, I tried to do the quick fingered quiz on my very small MacBook Air keyboard with only one hand. Useless, but I'm full of excuses.

So if you are about to attempt the tests, I recommend you do it when you're bright and alert, early on in the day and on a larger keyboard.

At this website, you can take the same tests Todd and I did and I've kept a record by starting an account.  I will be going back to see if I improve at all. My personal interest in this is increasing as I get older and I start to find my memory fails me on more and more occasions.  I also fear becoming a victim of alzheimer's disease so I have bought my Gingko biloba and will be taking more quizzes to attempt to retrain my brain.

from here

According to the program last night, once you learn the tricks and exercises (including learning to juggle and card memorisation), your mind can become open and more alert which in turn can give you a new and improved take on life.

And who couldn't do with that?

**Joining with Grace for FYBF**

A FYBF Cheat Sheet of Sorts

My mind is full of things to talk about and stuff that's happening, but to write it all in detail to give it's due, would have me here tapping into the wee small hours and those most important Friday duties like making dinner (pasta tonight), watching TV with my family (well me watching The Living Room downstairs while the boys watch the footy upstairs) and getting my outfits together for two fancy do's on the weekend, would never get done.

So here's the jumble that is my head in point form:

Things I'm watching:

• Derek - what a brilliant show this is.  I've just caught up on episodes 6 and 7 on ABC'S iView this afternoon and feeling a little melancholy before was probably the reason I was in tears watching this Derek episode  - I dare you to watch it without shedding some too.  Ricky Gervais may be dry and cynical on Twitter but his development of this character is probably one of the best presented on TV in history.  That's a big claim, tell me what you think.
• Big Brother - yes, I've been a victim of BB addiction since its inception (was that in 2000?).  Some years I just got jack of it when I couldn't hear what they were all going on about because it would be on the same time as the kids' pre bedtime bedlam and there were some seasons that just got too sleazy, even for me!  But this season has got me in and I enjoy laughing at Tim's cheekiness, loving Ben for anything he does and yelling at Tully for amplifying every emotion while playing with others' emotions (glad she's gone, just quietly).  If you're not a fan of the show, I can totally understand. Sometimes I'm ashamed of the trash I enjoy. Not really.
• Blue Jasmine - saw this recently on a date night with Mr Moneymaker.  Not sure if he enjoyed it so much (he's not a big fan of Woody Allen's movies) but I certainly did.  Cate Blanchett is sure to get an Oscar for this one. She plays a wonderfully flawed character, a woman that's losing it and it feels completely feasible how quickly someone could end up as the bag lady on the street having in depth conversations with herself.  Hopefully I'll be saved before then!

Things I'm wearing:

• I actually do have Lorna Jane gym wear on at the moment - my intention this morning was to go to the gym but a couple of diversions intervened. Daughter and her sleepover friends needed a lift to Newtown and as I dropped off the boy at a friend's house on the way I had the feeling that leaving him there with five other boys under 11 being supervised by the 'big brother' who was only 13 was not a great idea.  So I made my way back to pick him up through typical Sydney traffic and the motivation to then go to the gym disappeared. I went for a walk around the bay though, so there you are, I used my gym gear!
• Just tried on my dress for a friend's 30th tomorrow night. Its a black tie masquerade dinner which forced Mr Moneymaker to buy a long overdue new trendy suit. I've gone with a black velvet halter-neck dress from over 15 years ago which I had originally bought for a Christmas work ball.  The second year I wore it I was 8 months pregnant and because it is velvet it accomodates all shapes. Perfect for my current side lumps as well. I'm also contemplating wearing the purple mask but it is so difficult to see out of it I may just pinch his black and gold one, Mr Moneymaker will probably enjoy the Zorro one more anyway.

                  

Things I'm booking:

• This is instead of what I'm buying (trying to curb spending lately) as I've booked our holiday in January. It will be, as usual, a visit to my sister's up the North coast. But this time I've booked a unit in her complex so we have plenty of room and Mr Moneymaker can lay around in his underwear for a week as he loves to do. 
• I've started to do my research on our planned holiday in 12 months time. A week in the UK and a week in France. This has been our plan for a few years now but we must do it in 2014, before one, we get too old, two, the kids get too old and don't want to travel with their daggy parents anymore.  I'm contemplating house swapping to save money and to live in apartments instead of hotels but as we are only going a short time, it may not work out.  Has anyone tried house swapping?

Things I'm listening to:

• Favourites at the moment are Lorde (who I found out was a fellow Kiwi!) and her song Royale 

and Amanda Palmer's Ukelele Anthem (kicking myself that I didn't buy a ticket to her show at The Enmore this month!!).  Have a listen (love the lyrics from Amanda, it always cheers me up) and tell me what you think....

**Joining with With Some Grace for FYBF**