Why why why did BBAW have to fall on such a busy busy busy week?
Uhhh…. I mean….
good morning! 😛
Really though, I had to laugh last night when I finally was able to sit down with New Laptop (Asus) and do a little Twitter, and a read the comments on my post about Community. How funny that I put the fun and importance of commenting, when I was way too tired to do it myself.
I dont even know how to explain this craziness but thought it might be fun to try…. I will start with Tuesday:
Tuesday 6:00 am up
have coffee, write a morning post
work by 7:30
work like crazy getting ready for a weekend group fair
leave work at 2:45 to return cotton candy machine from this past weekend event
at 3:15 stop in to Best Buy just to “look” at flat screen wall mount tvs as a possible gift for hubbys birthday (which was Wednesday)
3:45 leave Best Buy with (you guessed it!) flat screen tv and mount and an appointment with a dud to come out to house on Wednesday afternoon and hang it on wall for me. (YAY!!!) (BEST Wife ever award I am sure! :razz:)
4:00 make stop at grocery store for a few items I need for book club
4:20 home, tv unloaded and hidden in spare bedroom, now vac house for book club
4:50 start cooking my 1940’s style food for review of Postmistress ( post will be up for this event yet this week)
5:30 downstairs setting up chairs, now looking for my review notes… which I do not find until the next day and they were in my car the whole time
6:10 first Bookie arrives and helps cut up oranges and lemon for the water.
6:20 second Bookie arrives and helps me cut rye bread into squares for finger sandwiches
6:30 – 6:45 the rest of the Bookies arrive with food and books as it is our annual book sale for charity
6:45 – 7:00 we drool over books, “shop”, grab food and head downstairs
7:00 – 9:00 have an awesome discussion about the book and WWII
9:10 pm the last Bookie leaves
9:10 – 10 Try to read posts, try to leave comments….. TIRED.
10 – BED
5:15 am – (Now it is Wednesday) I went to bed earlier than I usually do so now I am up early. Start coffee, write morning post after checking out BBAW topic
6:30 am – pull myself away from laptop and get ready for work
7:30 am I am at work and start my day
work consisted of two meetings, creating check ins for evening event, phone calls, prepping paperwork for students, copies, more class schedules…
at 2:40 pm the tv dude calls and I hurry home to let him in and so he can put the tv on the wall (it is Al’s birthday!!!)
3:00 – 4:30 pm the dude hangs the tv, relocates the cable, while I rearrange the room by stitching out the couch for the recliner, a little table for Al to put his work magazines and relax in style.
4:45 – on my way back to work to finish up what I was working on and prep for a meeting at 6:30 the same time I am due to help the students check in, then I need to pop back upstairs to talk about an upcoming Honduras opportunity.
7:30 pm – I am still at meeting when hubby Al texts me and says he is home… GAH! He beat me home! Friend Wendy offers to take Chance home for me at 8 so I can go now…. thank you Wendy!!!
7:40 arrive home, thankfully he is still going through mail and has not seen said “AWESOME BIRTHDAY GIFT!”
Now I show him the living room which in my typical husband fashion, comments on how he likes how I arranged the room…. does not notice tv. I assist in the observation.
Wala!!!! He sees it. Hubby happy – he watches TV until 9 and then goes to bed.
I again try to read posts and blog. Not happening.
Bed by 10 pm.
I know… right?
Today will be much the same… work (soon actually) until 3:30, grab hubby something for dinner and at 5:30 I have dinner with friends for Sandi’s birthday. *Note to self – do not forget gift!*
Briefly – I know have to pick a winner yet for yesterdays giveaway and I will post that tomorrow morning as I have run myself out of time… in the meantime… NEW giveaway starts right now for today in honor of BBAW.
This one is a book yet to be released – but it is one that is creating BUZZ:
Serious…. cover crush here… this book is released on September 27th and II will have this shipped to you directly from Amazon. SO – anyone who access to an Amazon delivery is welcome to enter for this one.
Here is how…
Respond in a few sentences an answer to todays BBAW topic…
Book bloggers blog because we love reading. Has book blogging changed the way you read? Have you discovered books you never would have apart from book blogging? How has book blogging affected your book acquisition habits? Have you made new connections with other readers because of book blogging? Choose any one of these and share your thoughts today!
Winner will be announced tomorrow along with the winner from yesterdays giveaway as well. 😀
Book Journey 
Blogging has changed my reading habits. I’ve read genres I would not have otherwise been interested in, based on some of the things I read on people’s blogs. Without word-of-mouth, I wouldn’t have read things like Before I Fall or Enclave. So I am grateful for bloggers and their opinions.
Me too Freda! LOVED Before I Fall!
Have I discovered new books due to blogging. Oh, honey, my tbr list is becoming endless solely due to reading all the great reviews on blogs.I trust bloggers’ opinions much more than relying on publishers’ blurbs.
LOL me too Kaye! A book blogger I trust holds a lot of stock with me when it comes to book reviews.
I am exhausted just reading that Sheila! I am sure you have an energizer bunny gene in you! Book blogging has changed how and what I read in so many ways. I am reading books I would have never, ever picked up and actually enjoying them! I have a house full of books to prove it!
I think I can do it Beth because some days (like tomorrow) I pretty much do nothing…. once a week I need a day of little to no commitments… I really dont even want to leave the house on that day. 😀
Book blogging has changed the way I read. Because of all of the different reviews I read it has brought books into my life I wouldn’t have read otherwise. I just love all of the different reviews on different book blogs.
Me too Anita…. I love to read different opinions on books too… we all see things so differently.
Yes, I had the same sentiment when I discovered BBAW was THIS week. I work full time and blog. And so many other important things. You are not alone.
Thanks for posting.
Next week is pretty laid back….I have nothing planned Monday, Tuesday, Thursday or Friday… a perfect week for BBAW! This week… plans every night, two birthday parties, tailgate party, student event, book club…. and I not even exaggerating…. 😛
Holy crap! (sorry, couldn’t resist) I seriously don’t know how you do it. Of course, the house would have to be on fire for me to get out of bed by 6:00 so maybe that’s my issue…
As far as the question for the giveaway goes, book blogging has had a huge impact on the books I read. I have discovered several new authors by accepting books from independent authors and I’m so excited to have found them. Some of my favorite books from the past two years have come from publicists and authors, so if I wasn’t blogging about books, I would have never read them.
You crack me up Julie! 😛 Some days…. it just pays to start off early… 🙂
Some of my best reads as well have come from book blogs…. most of them in fact.
You are still my hero!
I love books….am a terrible ‘book’ blogger, but love the ones who do. I just can’t find the words.
Keep up the good work….but take a day off. LOL
Have a good day.
Thanks Debbie 😀
Sheila, when are you doing Owen Meany? I can do this! I’ve read it and would love to read it again.
I have to get that post up Debbie… I want to start it right away so we can be done towards the end of September which is Banned Books week… this one is one the list.
Oh, yes, definitely! My whole life has changed because of book blogging. I used to pick my books from bookstores, by loitering around and picking them up and examining them. Sometimes I’d hear about a good book in a magazine or newspaper.
Nowadays, I find so many recommendations for books I would never have even thought to pick up because a book blogger (or several!) shouted out about a particular book. Now I usually go to Amazon and order the book(s).
I read more books, because in book blog memes, I plan out my week and I want to have more books to “talk” about the following week. So once upon a time, I read one or two books a week; nowadays, three or four. And when I review them afterwards, they stay with me. And that practice (reviewing) is also enhanced by book blogging.
Because of book bloggers whose tastes are similar to mine, I find out about new books by favorite authors. And I’ve also gone outside my comfort zone a bit through challenges because of other bloggers.
I love the challenges Laurel! They stretch me too!
You are aware, I hope, that if anyone wanted to institutionalize you, all they would have to do is compile your blog posts as evidence?!!! You are just amazing!!!!!
This is true Jill… that is why this blog is just an anonymous ploy…. and really… my name isn’t even Sheila…. it’s uhhh…. Bert… yeah Bert. LOL 😛
Somehow you keep picking the only books I have left on my TBR! I have to enter this giveaway too. 😀
The answer to your question is an interesting one for me. Last year, I would have told you all about the changes to my reading that have come from blogging. In fact, I believe it was a topic last year and I wrote all about it. But after 3.5 years of book blogging, I’ve had a shift back to my old ways, and very few of the changes I made have stuck. I don’t buy books anymore but acquire mostly through the library. I don’t read more than one book at a time usually. I take breaks between books. I no longer keep an extensive TBR (seriously, only 5 books on it). I don’t care if I read my owned-and-unread books, and I don’t really keep books after reading them either, unless they’re super-great. I read according to my own whims, rather than challenges, readalongs, blogger-hyped books, and recommendations.
The only two changes I’ve really kept are that I now read more modern fiction than i used to, simply because I’ve discovered some modern authors that I like, and that I adore audiobooks. I’ll keep those changes! 😀
Nice changes Amanda… I just love that you keeping the things you love about books!
Reign of Madness I’m dying to read. I’ve never heard of this particular queen or her story. There’s quite a few interesting royalty stories that never seem to make it to print or film which I think should. Thanks for the giveaway!
Margaret
singitm@htomail.com
Hmmm… I do not know of this one either….
Your schedule wore me out just reading through it! In answer to your
questions, most definitely..I have been reading book blogs for
a few years now and love it! I enjoy learning about new authors,
books and author interviews.
Many thanks, Cindi
Sure Cindi… for the record… I am wore out. Need that day off. NEED IT. 😛
Sheila, can I have a candle to burn at both ends also. I feel your pain or lack of sleep. Where do clients calling at all hours of the day and night fit in.
Okay as to blogging-I have discovered so many books on blogs long before I hear of them elsewhere. I found that initially I was checking out less books from the library and then I stopped accepting as many review copies for multiple reasons. Most importantly library funding is related to membership-if I am not checking out books they are losing a patron, second and as important-why have the publisher send me a book and create waste when I can get it from the library. I do not like every review copy I receive-now I must finish it. Ickkk, some of them I just do not want to finish. I met a great blogger-Vicki at 2 Bags Full who last year gave me her ocean front condo in Florida for a year. How is that for amazing friendships. We have never met, however a great friendship has developed. You meet so many wonderful people from around the world.
I love your story about Vicki…. that still amazes me.
BUsy!Busy!Busy!!! I think I have to go back to bed just from reading your post!!!
Lets hear it for blogs! I have found blogs one of the best ways to find out about great books you might not have heard of. They are also for me a stedy reminder that there are manyother lovers of books like me out there.
I love the community of book bloggers 😀
I agree with you that BBAW fell on a super busy week! Luckily I am off work today and tomorrow, so I can now catch up on my reader and everything BBAW related. In fact, it is after noon here and I am still in bed with my coffee and laptop!
Oh I cant wait to read…. I seriously need this day off badly 🙂
I checked out what the book is about. I love the way they wrote the blurb. It really grabbed my attention!
Since blogging, I buy more books online than I ever did. When I see a review for a book I really like and decide to buy it, it’s easier to just go online and order it than waiting until I can get to a bookstore. I have to drive anywhere from 45 min. to an hour just to get to one, and so don’t go very often. By the time I do make it there, I’ve forgotten the book title or lost the paper with the name of it.
I am a book horder…. so true but like you, I buy a lot of books and actually enjoy buying books that I received as arcs as well for gifts because I just love to give back to the book community.
My reading has definitely changed! I’ve become award of so many books I would never have known of before.
This week is crazy for me too.
One day at a time Kathy…… I just finished work for the week… now leaving up for the birthday dinner for my friend…. I may not leave the house tomorrow 😀 Blog and read… blog and read!
My reading has totally changed since discovering the book blogging world! Before blogging, I think I had maybe 5 unread books on my shelf and struggled to find new authors. Now I have 3+ bookcases of TBR titles *blush* and have discovered so many authors and titles I would never have found on my own!
And Sheila, I seriously want some of your energy, but only if I don’t have to get up before six! 🙂
No worries – I have books on shelves, in stacks…. all due to my excessive love of books…. some day I will post pictures. 😛
Blogging has completely changed my reading habits. Before I started blogging I read mainly adult fiction (Jodi Picoult, John Irving, Sara Gruen…that type of stuff). Sometimes I read a mystery here or there. When I first found other bloggers, I started collecting all of these titles that just sounded so good. It didn’t even matter what genre they were. And then I saw a blog that was all about YA. I hadn’t picked up a YA book since I was in the 7th grade. My first YA book was Twilight, and I was hooked. YA had changed so much since I was in school. There were so many new choices, so many different genres, and the covers are just awesome. I started collecting YA books like candy. To this day, I would still rather pick up a YA book then any other genre. I just think its so funny when I look at the journey I’ve been on and I see how much my reading preferences have changed!
I too love YA Ese and wish we had books liek this when I was in high school… my gosh, what a great way to engage young adults in great reads!
I have discovered a whole new world of books because of book blogs. I love & appreciate the reviews & just to dive in express my views on books in general is wonderful.
marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com
I love that too Mary…. chatting books every day – LOVE IT!
My head is swimming after reading your two days! Holy cow! I’m limiting myself to 2 comments: I loved The Postmistress, I hope you and your book club enjoyed it….awesome pick for a discussion!
I cracked up when your hubby didn’t notice the TV eveb after you pointed out how you rearranged the room…men are so clueless in this way! BTW, fantastic birthday gift!
Since I started book blogging, there’s been several changes in my reading. My reading has become more plentiful, the quality of the books I read is generally better, before blogging I read often now I read constantly and I now know much more about the authors and genres I read than I did before I started book blogging.
Thank you for an awesome giveaway! Please include me!
Aimala127(at)gmail(dot)com
Yes to all of the above _ I too read more consistently and love that I do… whenever I get into a good book I think why did it take me so long to find you good friend? 😛
I’ve discovered a lot of books I probably wouldn’t have due to bloggers and blog tours, it is nice to get out of my comfort zone every now and then and I think it has helped me from getting into my usual ruts.
Book Blogging has stretched my like gumby and mostly in good ways! 😀
I’m tired just reading your post, lol. What a great surprise for you hubby!
I used to think that I read a wide variety of books, but after I started blogging I found that there were genres I didn’t even know existed — steampunk for one. I love seeing what other people are reading and enjoying.
Thanks I am usually not that good finding gifts for him as the man wants nothing…. loves his job, not a lot of hobbies…. *sigh* 😀