Meanderings – Page 45

Morning Meanderings….. COFFEE Morning

Published on January 10, 2014 by Sheila (Book Journey)24 Comments

6:00 am the alarm goes off. *GROAN*

I had a delivery of a table I sold on a Facebook site to a town 30 minutes away. ETA: 7:00 am. After loading the HEAVY marble-topped table into my car and cursing myself for thinking this was a good idea to meet up this early for the entire 30 minute drive (yes – that’s A LOT of cursing…) I arrived at the exact minute of 7:00 am where I met up with the delightful (not even being sarcastic) buyer who took the table off my hands and I purchase a coffee and drive back to town a little less annoyed with myself than I was previously.

Now I am wide awake having purchased coffee at the gas station we met up at (don’t dis gas station coffee – some of the best coffee is there 🙂 )and came home to prep for the Friends meeting at the Library at 9 am while I made another cup and now as I load up my car with everything I need for the meeting I make the third cup of coffee to go with me while I write this post.

COFFEE

I need the COFFEE as then I need to come home to meet someone here at 11:00 am, then back to town to do bank stuff, post office stuff, pick up dinner stuff, and prep everything I need to leave town tomorrow morning for Fargo for the Pink Concert. Yes, Fargo like in the movie…and yes, a LOT of Fargo was filmed where I live in Brainerd.

No we do not talk like that.

Does the movie annoy the crap out of me? YES.

And that is not the coffee talking.

Do you think I am rambling because of the coffee? Probably.

In bookish news – I finished *happy dance* the Book Club Book, Reconstructing Amelia. I think I will post my review today when I get home from said activities. 😀

Its Friday everyone. Cheers to you! Whats on your weekend agenda?

Morning Meanderings… Time to Start Looking For My Authors!

Published on January 8, 2014 by Sheila (Book Journey)26 Comments

Good morning! Wednesday! This is exciting and anxiety causing all at the same time. The slow part of my week is over. Now every evening through Sunday I have something going on. Good stuff – a couple of dinners with friends and a concert… but when I look at it as a whole – it’s a lot. I am now in one day at a time mode 😀

For those of you who have been with me for a long time here, you are probably well aware of our Literary event we had here in Brainerd last fall called Wine and Words. It was an amazing fundraiser for our local Friends group of the library and it was a huge success. For our first year out of the gate we had hoped to have 100 people attend and we had close to 180. We had 5 amazing authors: Sarah Pekkanen, Sandra Brannan,William Kent Krueger, Wendy Webb and Lorna Landvik. It was incredible and we raised more money than we had intended.

So that is good. 🙂

We are set to do this again on August 22nd, 2014. I have already confirmed my wine guy “yeah Mark!!!” to donate all the wine, and I just dropped off the contract with the Arrowwood Lodge yesterday afternoon…. now… I need authors.

I have put a few feelers out, one that reads this blog often (you know who you are!) I would LOVE to have. I am looking for two out-of-state authors who have a few books under their belt and may be a recognizable name – as well as a couple Minnesota authors. We offer our authors an amazing room at the Lodge (seriously talk to any of them from last year – the rooms are incredible!) as well as their dinner. Myself and my co-chair of the event stay over night at the Lodge as well so we can spend as much time as we can with the authors. I am saying this out loud here hoping that if anyone has a connection, idea, or suggestion – either put it in the comments here or email me at journeythroughbooks@gmail.com.

We are going to have 200 people this year. I know this because we feel we will sell out and that is about all that room can hold comfortably with the silent auction and the wine guy (*waves to Mark again!*)

You can check us out at the website for the Brainerd Friends here.

I think it would be amazing if I could find amazing authors through the help of my readership here. Feel free to pass the word on. 🙂 I would love to have the authors planned and in place by March.

Morning Meanderings…. Devils Spawn

Published on January 7, 2014January 7, 2014 by Sheila (Book Journey)7 Comments

Good morning and happy Tuesday! Today is my first day back to work for the week and I am ready. It was fun having an extra day off but really…. I need to get moving 😀

Two things this morning – one is that Gautami Tripathi from India and from the blog Everything Distils Into Reading, sent in her picture of her book of the year yesterday and here it is:

If you have never checked out her blog, you should. I enjoy reading her posts. 😀

Secondly… and reason for the CREEPY title of this post, did you see I posted my review last night of Flowers In The Attic? A re-read for me probably from 25+ years ago. It was a fun adventure back into the attic.

I was sharing this read synopsis with a friend I had lunch with over the weekend. She had not ever read the book and I was sharing a few details that included the Grandmother calling the children something close to Devils Spawn but not quite. This led to me saying it in a very creepy voice over and over…. “Devils Spawn”. Then…. I thought it must be part of the post…

Well, it didn’t make the post, but I thought maybe it could make the morning meandering recap because if you have read the book (and even if you have not) – the grandparents are a few sandwiches short of a picnic….. awful people.

Morning Meanderings… The Sunday “Whaz Up”

Published on January 5, 2014January 5, 2014 by Sheila (Book Journey)22 Comments

Good morning! Welcome to Sunday. Because we are in a cold weather warning I took care of all of my running yesterday. I went to church last night, and have left today open in case it was hard to go anywhere. The Governor of Minnesota closed the schools state-wide for this Monday, the first time that has happened since 1997. While yes it is cold, it does not seem (at least at this time) to be as cold as they were anticipating. I think they were expecting wind chills and maybe that is still to come but as of right now… its pretty mellow out there.

So here is my Sunday update:

Time: 8:51 am

Place: That awesome recliner in the living room. I ♥ the recliner.

Food or drink: I am having a mocha espresso right now, not as tasty as I had hoped. Will be having plain old coffee soon. 🙂

Reading: Flowers In The Attic (page 97), not reading as quickly as I had hoped but then again, really haven’t been home much this week to read. 😀 Also had started Reconstructing Amelia which I put down for the first book of the year (FITA) but hope to get back to that one if not today, then tomorrow.

Watching: We found the first half of Season 4 Walking Dead on tv and we (hubby and I) are super stoked as we have watched all the three previous seasons on DVD and have been hoping to find the first half of season 4 before the second half starts on February 9th.

Cooking: Not sure yet. Navy Son is coming over for dinner tonight. I want it to be tasty but not a lot of work. I think I went soup or chili the last two times he was here so I am trying to get “out of the bowl”

Whats Ahead: A pretty full week actually. Today I am invited to an open house at a friend’s home. I am hoping to make an appearance. Tomorrow morning (Monday) the Friends of the Library are meeting to take down the Christmas decorations at the library and then have our monthly meeting. Wednesday we are working with the students again after the holiday break. Thursday I have dinner plans with my cousins. Friday I am going to meet up with a group of friends for dinner. Saturday we (me and three friends) leave for Fargo where we will be seeing PINK in concert that night, staying over night and coming home on Sunday. Yup…. bust week 😀

So that is what is happening here 😀 Whats on your agenda for today and the upcoming week?

Brainerd, MN

Sunday 8:00 AM

Clear

-19-12-7-15-19-22-26-22-19-13-9-18-23-22-20-18-12-8-4-9-13-15-19-18-11-80-1-10-7-5-13101138714151723271911141720242729312524191511202626151721192022222019181817182020181715

8 AM

11 AM

2 PM

5 PM

8 PM

11 PM

2 AM

5 AM

8 AM

11 AM

2 PM

5 PM

8 PM

11 PM

2 AM

5 AM

8 AM

11 AM

2 PM

5 PM

8 PM

11 PM

2 AM

5 AM

8 AM

11 AM

2 PM

5 PM

8 PM

11 PM

2 AM

5 AM

8 AM

11 AM

2 PM

5 PM

8 PM

11 PM

2 AM

5 AM

8 AM

11 AM

2 PM

5 PM

8 PM

11 PM

2 AM

5 AM

8 AM

11 AM

2 PM

5 PM

8 PM

11 PM

2 AM

5 AM

8 AM

11 AM

2 PM

5 PM

8 PM

11 PM

2 AM

5 AM

8 AM

11 AM

2 PM

5 PM

8 PM

11 PM

2 AM

5 AM

8 AM

11 AM

2 PM

5 PM

8 PM

11 PM

Sun

-4°

-29°

Mon

-9°

-24°

Tue

-2°

-22°

Wed

5°

-8°

Thu

12°

5°

Fri

28°

16°

Sat

32°

10°

Sun

27°

10°

Morning Meanderings… Day 3 and back to Straight Up Hard Core Coffee

Published on January 3, 2014 by Sheila (Book Journey)24 Comments

Good morning! January 3 already! The first two days were a blur of activity. Yesterday I worked 12 1/2 hours for our annual meeting at work. It was a lot of fun, but yeah a LONG day. 🙂 Today will be a shorter one, I will work until about 1 or 1:30 and then I am going to the Library to assist with the author SKPE in of Lauren Oliver.

1eeeee — **Lauren and I in New York at BEA 2010**

I am so excited – meeting Lauren was awesome! She is the author of Before I Fall, Deliruim, Pandemonium, Requium, and soon *SQQUUUEEEE!* – Panic! I have read them all 😀

On the bookish front…. yeah, I am a little behind but hope to make up some reading time this weekend and tonight. 😀

Morning Meanderings…. Day Two… Nine Bloggers Reading!

Published on January 2, 2014 by Sheila (Book Journey)45 Comments

Good morning and Happy January 2! We made it to 2014 and mental high fives all the way around! 🙂

Yesterday I posted the book lovers who sent me pictures of what they were reading on January 1st. If you have not checked that out, please do… its kind of awesome to see all these book bloggers and book lovers reading that first book – AND you can see what that first book was. I had a few that came in after I put the post up so please let me add them now:

Isn’t that so fun? LOVE it! On yesterdays post they were able to link up their first book of the year posts so if you have time, grab a second (third?) cup of coffee and go check them out. It was really fun to read them last night and I still have more to get to.

Today is a LONG DAY. It is our annual meeting at work today and I am in charge of the details details details… I will probably be there from 8 this morning until about 8:30 or 9 tonight. *sigh* But it is ok, it fun – good fun 🙂

Have an awesome day everyone! Yes I ran my first 5k of the year yesterday in -6 degree weather… pictures will be up on Saturday for that fun event to kick off 2014.

Morning Meanderings.. Books coming into the New Year

Published on December 31, 2013 by Sheila (Book Journey)15 Comments

Good morning! I am drinking COFFEE! Yes, COFFEE. Why the big deal? I After being sick I didn’t touch coffee for 5 days. Finally (Finally!) my tummy is ready to handle it again… so yeah! YAY!

This is the post I wanted to put up Sunday morning and then didn’t so instead… here are some items that came in the mail this past week that are book room worthy:

10 copies of Labor Day by Joyce Maynard came for my book club! We won a contest along with other book clubs to read the book, and then they are sending us movie tickets to see the movie and a $100 gift card to buy some goodies for our get together. How super fun is that? Way cool Harper Collins!!!

I won this fun pack of swag and this awesome looking read!

…and a couple other fun reads and Evertrue is a win from Me, My Shelf, and I

Oh yes, and books came my way as well. Ahhhh…. just looking at them brings up visions of blankets and reading in this cool Minnesota weather.

And as this in New Years Eve (I know right??? How did that happen?) I have to share the Challenge I am joining that I thought would be fun (its one I need to do anyway as some EPIC last in the series reads are coming out this year! Now I am not so organized that I can name the ones for sure other than the last book in the Mortal Instrument Series *sigh*and…well you get the point.

And it is the last to sign up and get in on the fun that the First Book Of The Year is going to bring. I am soooo excited about this! We now have over 80 book lovers signed up to participate in showing off the book they will be reading to kick off the New Year! It’s easy, there are no trap doors or hoops to jump through, I just think it is super cool to see up reading all over the world! I will announce my first book of the year in the morning. 🙂

You may still sign up here:

and then a final plug for The WHERE Are You Reading Challenge... always a good time… and seriously, who doesn’t like to travel? And if not in a plane, then from the comfort of your chair?

That is all. 🙂 I work today, and not sure what we are doing tonight yet but I think laying low may be the plan. I leave early in the morning for the first run of the year in the cities. 🙂

Morning Meanderings… Christmas At The DeChantals -a lot of fun… a little sick

Published on December 26, 2013 by Sheila (Book Journey)27 Comments

Mmmmmm good morning all. I hope you all survived the holiday. We had the best one here, for the first time in 4 years both boys were home. We hung out all day yesterday, opened gifts in the morning, watched movies, ate ham and goodies, snowmobiled and enjoyed each others company. I have been looking forward to this for months.

And I was sick. 😦

Mmmm hmmmm. I felt myself getting a little tingly in the morning while we opened gifts. I only ate a little bit of the dinner hoping it would pass. When they went snowmobiling I caught a quick nap hoping it would pass. No such luck. I ached, I was cold, could not get comfortable. Our tradition is that Justin and I stay up late and watch Harry Potter movies. By 9:30 pm and after my third bought of throwing up – I had to give up. Justin went to hang out with friends and I went to bed.

Crap.

On the upside… I feel good today. I am drinking tea this morning, taking it easy and not rushing back into the straight coffee just yet. When Justin gets up we will resume out Harry Potter tradition, we are late but we are not defeated. I have today with him before he will leave to go back to Mankato tomorrow morning. 🙂

We did (sickness aside) have a beautiful Christmas. Justin is starting a fund for his move to Oregon after he graduates in May so we got him a piggy bank that keeps track of how much is in it and gave him a bit of a start to his savings. Brad received a nice gift card to Walmart and they both received the usual things we get them – socks, Axe kits (deodorant, shampoo, body wash, spray all in a kit), Brad received a t-shirt of Breaking Bad and Justin a book as he is my reader buddy. 🙂

Al received a nice hoodie, gloves, new jeans, t-shirt and Justin gave us a nice gift certificate to Olive Garden and Brad gave us surround sound for our TV and hooked it up for us.

I received an awesome candle, chocolates, a cool sign that spell out in large Scrabble letters R E A D and my hubby gave me a gift certificate to have an automatic starter put in my new vehicle so I can start it while I am still in my office at work on these cold winter days. And of course, The Monster Series runs which the first one is next Wednesday.

This morning the house is quiet. I am going to read a few blogs and listen to a little audio before things take off here. Enjoy your Thursday everyone. 🙂 Next up…. New Years!

Morning Meanderings…. Twas The Sunday Before Christmas…

Published on December 22, 2013 by Sheila (Book Journey)20 Comments

Sunday is here. How ya’ all doing?

Time: 8:15 am (funny that is exactly the same time I wrote this last week)

Place: The recliner again… its cozy.

Eating/Drinking: Just hazelnut coffee so far this morning

Reading: Pffff. Books? Haven’t really had time to pick up a book this week.

Listening to: Out of the three I had going last week, I am still listening to Parkland but will finish that one soon. I just finished up Me Before You yesterday and now need to download another audio today from audible…. suggestions?

Blogging – staying steady. I am catching up on the reviews I had not written, and have been consistent on the Morning Meanderings

Happenings…. I listed about ten items on a couple local Facebook “garage sale” type sites and caused a bit of a feeding frenzy over a couple of them last night…. now I have a bit of anxiety as I need to connect with people now to either have the items picked up or meet up with them somewhere to complete the transaction. A couple of them have questions on items that I need to answer this morning yet.

Anticipating: Christmas. I am really looking forward to the boys being here and just hanging out with them.

Hating: I feel behind and I don’t like that. Today I need to finish up shopping for Christmas (food included) because the next two days I am working pretty much 12 hour shifts to have the rest of the week off from Wednesday on (also causing me anxiety)

Loving: That I did make a dent yesterday – gifts are wrapped, tree is up. I am making progress. 🙂

Ok as I wrap up here after about 15 minutes of distractedness between Audible.com and Facebook I (its easy to get sucked into the time suck that is Facebook!)have downloaded Tell The Wolves I Am Home which I am pretty excited about. Let the Listening begin!

Morning Meanderings… Sprint Apocalypse and Giving Back

Published on December 21, 2013 by Sheila (Book Journey)20 Comments

Happy Saturday! So many little things to do but this morning… I am chilling with my Coffee Cup, listening to Me Before You and trying not to think too hard about all I need to do this weekend. 🙂

Yesterday our local Sprint Towers were down (they still may be – I have not tried my phone yet today). You wouldn’t think not having a cell phone for a day would be a big deal… good grief, I grew up in the 80’s and we were thrown to the streets as teenagers… with no means of communication! *Gasp!* How did we survive???? But yesterday was a hot mess without the use of my phone and here is what happened:

We have no house phone
I had to get a hold of my husband and my calls and texts wouldn’t go through (I eventually drove to where he was at)
There was a brunch at my house with friends and when they called me I could not be heard by them on the phone
I was supposed to meet a friend up town and we were going to connect (by phone!) when we could meet and that did not happen
Another friend and I had a coffee date, when she called to cancel – I never got the message
I was expecting some important papers in the mail this week and when they fad not arrived by yesterday I could not call the company to inquire.

A day without my phone as active as this time of year was annoying. I had to drive into Sprint to find out what was going on.. they said, “we have had a lot of calls today” and I responded, “If only I could have called you…”

It really was like the Apocalypse.

For Saturday Snapshot I thought I would bring up some pics from this fall when we had a food drive for our local food shelf. It seems like an appropriate time of year to do a little post on giving. 🙂

They weighed the food and I can not remember the exact total but I believe it was over 1500 pound of food we donated that day to the Food Shelf to give out to those in need. We did this as a Church, but really any group (or family) could do this. I think I am going to bring this up to my book club, maybe next year we could pick a month where we each fill a bag to be donated. I love it when as a group we go beyond the books.

So that is my Saturday Snapshot today – hope your day is wonderfully stress free…. I have to ask… are you done Christmas shopping?