Motorcycles, mariposas, and Mexico. These three things aligned in 2011 to bring Mike and Michele Bell to our Lakeside area, and since then they have arrived in the winters (like the butterflies) to ride, to enjoy, and give of their time and expertise to nonprofits like Tepehua and Rotary. I recently caught up with Michele […]

Embracing the Spectrum of Human Thinking Neurodiversity refers to the natural variations in how people process information, think, learn, and behave. It is based on the idea that there is no single “correct” way for the human brain to function. Individuals with neurological differences, such as autism, ADHD, or dyslexia bring unique perspectives and abilities

Part Two As a writer of autofiction short stories, I share personal experiences that do not depend entirely on factual information. I employ literary devices like metaphor, irony, and imagery to unlock dimensions hidden in rare moments of memory and enrich them. Imaginative storytelling turns the diary of what happened to me into what happened

Shelley Edson ElOjoLakesideLiving@gmail.com From the Lakeside Living Editor: Please send information for local cultural, civic, community, or charitable events to ElOjoLakesideLiving@gmail.com by the first day of the preceding month – for example, the deadline for the August issue is July 1. Thank you. ANAVETS UNIT 19 Fundraising In May, ANAVETS, working with The Sons of

The Power Of Trees [Editor’s note: We didn’t have enough space in our June issue, but here it is now.] The wonder of nature is vast. Forest and trees regrow after a fire and trees clean our air. In 2017 Nature Conservancy scientists led a seminal study that found protecting and restoring forest, wetland and

A Day at The Ranch About nine o’clock in the morning, one of The Ranch’s four part-time employees arrives to unlock the gate. The sound of about a hundred dogs can be heard in the distance. After entering the property, the staff member drives up to the small office “casita” and unlocks that. There, they

This is an overview of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). It is a group of symptoms that occur together that affects the stomach and intestines, called the GI/gastrointestinal tract. Symptoms include repeated abdominal pain, cramping, bloating, gas, mucus in the stool, having the feeling that you’re unable to empty your bowels after pooping, and changes in

Felipe Ángeles “I have had infinite tenderness and love for humanity and for all beings in the universe.” He was a humanist soldier, a philosopher general, a conciliatory revolutionary. Like Don Quijote (his hero), Felipe Ángeles had many impossible dreams: that well-educated officers would lead the Mexican military who, trusting their own inner free will

The Kiss Of Death Some subjects are verboten. We know through etiquette training that the subject provokes discomfort in our audience. For instance, sex, politics, or religion are sensitive topics. One must know to whom they are addressing delicate subjects lest they encounter blushes, avoidance, or downright indignation. I would add death and dying to

Part II To help understand our present turmoil, I’ve been promoting the book The Calm Before the Storm. But I’ve also discovered another book along similar lines, published more than 25 years ago. Here’s a quote, predicting events in our era, wherein the authors speak of a “Crisis era populism,” in which “a charismatic anti-intellectual