The Brain: Will It Explode If It Tries to Multi-Task?

Dear Imaginary Friends,

I can picture schoolchildren all over the world saying that they cannot learn anymore tonight to their mamas, because their brains might explode.

A more effective way, though, to make our brains start to malfunction is trying to muliti-task.

In truth, all of us moms think we can multi-task. The real science, though, proposes that the brain can alternate functions, but can never truly do two things at once. Moreover, when the brain is switching back and forth between two functions, one function dominates by necessity.

For instance, if you are driving down the street while talking on your cell, you will by necessity need to give more attention to your driving. Woe to those drivers who do not.

Here is a fascinating fun fact: When  driving, it is more distracting to hear half of a conversation, as one's brain is engaged with imagining what the person on the other end of the line is saying. Having the conversation oneself or listening to a two-way conversation is much less distracting.

Curiosity indeed kills the cat. If the cat is a bad driver. With a cell phone. And a texting plan.

Your petitie ami,

Patsie

PS No, I did not make this up. I learned it at a brain function lecture, while I was trying hard not to text or check my phone messages.

Three Generations: What Does Love Look Like?

Patsie, Virginia and Parker

 

 

Dear Imaginary Friends,

Don't you just love family birthday parties? I do! My daughter had a great birthday party this week, and we posed for a three generation photo.

Your Imaginary Friend,

Patsie

United Nations

Today we had a tour of the United Nations in New York City. One great initiative we heard about is called freerice.com. For every click on this game website, grains of rice are donated to starving children. Last year, four million people were saved from starvation by this website! And you don't have to spend a penny.

By clicking on the site and playing the games, you help save the one - in - seven children dying from famine across the world.

Nothing for you to lose and everything for children to gain.

Your imaginary friend,

Patsie

Shmuck kontor???

Dear Imaginary Friends,

What is this, a shmuckkontor, in Koblenz, Germany, you might ask? It means jewelry store in German. AH, the charming language that trips off the tongue so delightfully.

Here is another word I love: Shnell. It means, hurry up.

German Frau Mutter to imaginary children: Shnell, kinder, und eat dat wurst!

Only one problem: there are no children in Germany. Apparently, Germany is too expensive in which to raise children, and all couples work. Therefore, the Deutsch govt. tries to bribe families to produce der kinder. But to no avail. Two hundred fifty euros per year is not sufficient bribe. Maybe the govt. should throw in a BMW? The birth rate is a sad little .8%. We saw no kids in Germany. On the other hand, Prague was chock full of them. Strollers everywhere and mommies smiling.

Another German word I like: kindergarten. It means children in the garden. Just as we raise and tenderly cultivate our children, so are the flowers. They grow if tended.

Which leads me to a pic of the Bund flower show:

Your traveler,

Patsie