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BERT’S BUZZ MAR/APR 2024
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THE BOOKS THAT SHAPED ME My Top Picks for Read Across America Day
Reading can be transformative whether you’re listening while commuting, annotating a worn paperback, or cherishing each page of a collectible hardback. I’ve already shared with you just how much reading has changed my life, and I think it’s only fitting that I share my favorite books for Read Across America Day on March 2.
coach had read. The theme of the book focuses on our ability, and responsibility, to determine what is meaningful in our lives. Since then, I have continued to look back at Frankl’s writing as I face certain obstacles or conflicts. My family and I had the opportunity last summer to visit Auschwitz, where Frankl had been imprisoned. It was an experience we will never forget.
‘On the Road’ by Jack Kerouac I first read this American classic back in
‘Who: The A Method for Hiring’ by Geoff Smart
college, and like any other student reading Kerouac’s work, I immediately got the travel bug. This was when I had my motorcycle and felt the world was all mine to experience. “On the Road” inspired me to gain a sense of adventure, curiosity, and freedom I didn’t know I had before. This book led me down Kerouac’s literary rabbit hole, and not long after, I decided to write my own sequel to “On the Road”! It’s clear this book was one of the first to make such a deep impression on me. ‘No Exit’ by Jean-Paul Sartre While I’m not sure I can say this is necessarily one of my all-time favorite books, it is one that made a mark on me with its message. The play begins when three characters find themselves in a strange, unknown room. “No Exit” was able to stir questions of free will, human connection, and how our actions can dictate our fate. This was a lot for a recent college grad like myself! Like “On the Road,” I felt compelled to write my sequel, which I wrote during a break from law school. I was 25 years old then and just about to pack my bags for France.
Regarding business books, this one has made one of the most significant changes in how I operate my firm. Smart’s book is a practical guide on recruiting, interviewing, and hiring the right people. Before reading it, the whole hiring process had eluded me, and I wasn’t sure how to perfect it. I know that hiring is
one of my most critical duties, as I want to bring only the right people to the firm. I have pride in my staff now, and it’s no wonder our firm is continuously voted one of the best places to work in New Mexico!
Anything by Fyodor Dostoevsky While “Crime and Punishment” and “The Brothers Karamazov” are my favorites of his works, any writing by the Russian master will change you. Dostoevsky has this incredible talent where he can describe and detail emotions you never realized you had. I urge you to pick up any of his books, and I promise you won’t be able to stop after just one!
Reading is so critical to developing ourselves. Reading a book means thinking about someone else’s thoughts and traveling to someone else’s land. Books allow us to see and experience perspectives and parts of the world we may never be able to see. I hope you can cherish some of these books as much as I do on Read Across America Day and beyond.
‘Man’s Search for Meaning’ by Viktor Frankl
For those who might not know, my son Viktor is named after the author, so I’m sure you can tell just how important this book is to me. What first brought me to “Man’s Search for Meaning” was not only how important it is to so many other people but that it was a book my football
—Bert Parnall
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From Screens to Serenity
THE MENTAL AND PHYSICAL PERKS OF TECH DETOX
How to Unplug Because cellphone use gives us a temporary dopamine boost, it can lead to addictive behaviors. Yet anyone can unplug if they make a concerted effort to do so. Here are a few tactics to help break your attachment to the technology. Leave it at home. You can’t use it if you don’t have it. Just leave the phone at home when running errands, socializing, or doing anything else that takes you out of the house. It’ll be unsettling initially, but the more you do it, the easier it’ll be. Set aside a specific time. Choose a day of the week or schedule a few hours to stop using the internet. If your friends and family are accustomed to reaching you that way, let them know beforehand. Get away from civilization. The ultimate way to unplug is to venture where there are no signals or plugs. Nature is the best place to do that. Take a hike through the hills and breathe in the fresh air. The planet offers a wide variety of beautiful, unforgettable places to explore. National Day of Unplugging is a unique opportunity to introduce better habits into your life, but it doesn’t need to end there. You can celebrate National Day of Unplugging any time you want. Better mental and physical health is possible — all you have to do is leave the phone at home.
Smartphones, computers, and the internet offer many benefits, from connectivity to e-commerce. However, these benefits come at a cost, so some people forgo these modern technologies for a season. If you’re unsure about unplugging, the National Day of Unplugging is on March 1, a perfect opportunity to try it. Why Unplug? Participants celebrate by locking up their phones and stepping away for a day, and there are good reasons to do so, improving just about every aspect of your well-being. Here are a few of the many reasons to participate. Enjoy better mental health. Social media can harm your mental health in many ways, especially with heavy use. Studies show it can cause loneliness, depression, and anxiety. It can lower self-esteem and confidence. Unplugging allows you to get some distance between yourself and social media. Move more for better physical health. Technology encourages you to be inactive. Computers and cellphones are easier to use when you’re sedentary. So, putting them away gives you a chance to stand up and explore. Become more mindful. Connectivity makes it much more challenging to be present. Cellphones provide us with constant notifications, text messages, and emails. These are helpful if you always want to be connected with others, but it makes it hard to savor your surroundings and notice the little things.
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A heartwarming story unfolded about an hour north of Traverse City, Michigan. It’s the tale of Scout, an adventurous dog whose journey from an abandoned stray to a beloved companion showcases the love our furry friends have for us. Scout’s story began as a frequent escapee from Antrim County Animal Control. Scout constantly “slipped the leash” and traveled to the same location after all his escapes: the Meadow Brook Medical Care Facility. Every time he escaped, Scout crossed a highway, jumped a 10-foot chain link fence and a 6-foot privacy fence, and slipped in the front door to sleep on his couch in the lobby. The nurses at Meadow Brook had to make a choice after Scout reappeared in their lobby for the third time. And after recognizing the patients wanted Scout around just as much as he wanted to be there, they happily took him in. After giving him a check-up, it was clear Scout had not lived the easiest life before finding his way to Meadow Brook. No one knows where he came from before escaping animal control for the first time, what his original name was, or the exact abuse he suffered before finding his forever home. Scout flinches at loud sounds and has round pellets, likely buckshot or BBs, lodged in his face. But despite his past, Scout openly cares for and protects the residents of Meadow Brook. Scout now patrols Meadow Brook, visiting the residents as often as possible. Whenever someone is having a rough day, whether it’s because a friend forgot to visit or their health is acting up, Scout is there to ease their woes with a damp nose poking for affection and a doggy smile on his face. From Stray Dog to Nursing Home Hero Scout’s Heartwarming Tale
SUDOKU
Solution on pg. 4
Slow Cooker Chicken Tikka Masala This chicken tikka masala recipe is a tantalizing journey for your taste buds.
Ingredients
• 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cubed • 1 onion, diced • 2 cloves garlic, minced • 1 tbsp minced ginger • 1 tsp ground cumin • 2 tsp garam masala
• 1 tsp ground coriander • 1 tsp paprika • 1 14-oz can diced tomatoes • 1 14-oz can tomato sauce • 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt • Salt and pepper, to taste
“He makes a good nursing home dog,” Stephanie Elsey, the facility’s clinical
care coordinator, said. “He knows his job, and he’s good at what he does.”
Directions 1. Place the chicken, onion, garlic, ginger, cumin, garam masala, coriander, and paprika in the slow cooker. 2. Pour in the diced tomatoes and tomato sauce, stirring to combine. 3. Cover and cook on low for 6–8 hours. 4. When the chicken is done cooking, stir in the Greek yogurt. 5. Serve over rice or with naan and enjoy!
Scout’s journey from a shelter’s uncertainty to a beloved member of the Meadow Brook community is more than just a happy tale. It’s a reminder of life’s
unexpected joys and the incredible, healing bond between humans and animals.
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
1
Bert’s Ultimate Reading List That Will Change Your Life
2
The Remarkable Benefits of Unplugging From the Digital World
3
Take a Break!
Slow Cooker Chicken Tikka Masala
Michigan’s Stray With the Biggest Heart
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How to Make and Play With Slime
Pass the Slime!
A VISCOUS GAME FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY
Make memories and have fun passing the slime! What makes this game so great? You only need people, chairs, bins, and masks or eye coverings for an unforgettable experience. Slime is the latest and greatest fad among children, and it’s easy to see why: Its unique texture and bright colors keep kids engaged. How to Create Slime Before you can play, you have to make the slime. There are many approaches, but the simplest recipe requires only three ingredients. You can customize it with food coloring and scale up the ingredients for larger quantities. • 8-ounce bottle of Elmer’s white school glue • Food coloring of choice • 1 1/2–2 tablespoons of contact saline solution or lens cleaner (make sure it contains boric acid or sodium borate)
To begin, mix the glue and food coloring into a bowl. Stir in 1 1/2 tablespoons of contact solution. If you want a thicker consistency, add another 1/2 tablespoon. Knead the slime. It will be liquid at first, but it’ll thicken as you work it. After a while, the concoction turns into slime. The Rules Once you have your slime, have the participants sit in chairs arranged in a row just a few feet apart. Everyone should have something over their eyes (disposable masks work perfectly) and a wide bin in front of them. Make sure to have a lot of slime. It can be any color — but the more, the better. The rules are simple, but they need some coordination. 1. The person in front starts things off with their bin filled with slime. 2. They pull their bin over their heads, attempting to spill its contents into the bin in front of the person behind them
(without looking to see where the bin actually is). 3. That person pulls their bin over their head similarly, and so on until the end of the line. Directing the slime is the messy part since participants are blindfolded. That’s how you play pass the slime! Hint: If it gets stuck in your hair, try coconut oil. While pass the slime is particularly unique and fun, it’s just one of many ways to play with slime. You can also make art, form bubbles, and more. Children are imaginative and constantly invent new and exhilarating slime activities. The family who slimes together stays together.
• 1 tablespoon of baking soda
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