Category: Meanderings

Morning Meanderings… Book Adventures

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)8 Comments

Good morning…

Yesterday was a BUSY day, while I took the day off, I did so to help with a benefit for Camp Benedict.  I had a blast being a part of helping make it happen, and I think it was a huge success.  The Silent Auction was wonderful – it actually brought tear to my eyes when I seen how generous our community could be. 

I walked out with a massage gift certificate, a basket of hair products, a movie basket with Batman Returns and an assortment of popcorn, seasonings, and vintage popcorn bags, a basket of chocolates from our local chocolate shop… ooh these are made locally and DANGEROUS, and a basket of homemade banana bread and banana muffins…. (the muffins are going to work today to share with my co-workers).  😀

 

In bookish worlds I am in several places….

I am in Germany with Jolene who is going to be coming home from the war now.  Michael has tried to tell her how much he loves her, but right now Jolene is feeling “too little, way too late”, life is going to be quite different for this family in light of recent events…  Home Front

With Detective Harry, we are getting closer to capturing the crude murdered but really – it has taken a long time to get there and dealing with much of this audio’s …. mmm…. lets say crudeness, I am pretty sure in the end I will not be a fan of Joe Nesbo.  The Snowman

On Three Sisters Island I am enjoying a fun conversation between Mia and Nell about things Nell will need – swatches of fabric, candles, incense, she already has her wand from a living birch, but Mia tells Nell she will want to pick out her own cauldron.  (Oh how I have missed this book and I had forgotten how much!)  Dance Upon The Air

I am following Andrew through reckless choice after reckless choice as he runs from what he knows, what he doesnt want to embrace…. The Secret Life Of A Fool

 

I am taking Bailey in for a haircut this morning, running into work to get a few projects wrapped up and then I think I bike ride this afternoon… the weather looks like it will be lovely and I am itching to get on the trail. 

I hope your Friday is wonderful 😀

 

Morning Meanderings… What Is Keeping Me Up At Night

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)20 Comments

Good morning!  😀  I feel like I should just splash the coffee directly on to my face and go on from there 😀

The last two days have been run from one thing to the next and today looks like it could be more of the same…College son came home yesterday for one day and has to go back to Mankato today and his car broke down last night.  Not sure what is going on there yet, but it may involve me driving him the 3 hours+ back to Mankato today after work, and of course for you math whizzes out there, 3+ hours back to Brainerd.  😀

Hello audio books! 

One of my favorite things to do in the evening after the house is quiet and my work for the day is done is to either read, or catch up on the blogs I love, and lately even a little bit of Twitter.  A couple of nights ago I was swept into a Twitter conversation late that I will not go into, but lets just say it had me clicking through posts one to another like a kid all hopped up on sugar.   I kept reading posts and comments and one post led to another and my gosh…. eventually I had to step away from the computer because it was after midnight and I had accomplished nothing but a little heart ache. 

And then last night… after all was quiet in the house and my work was done….

I did it again.  😯

I feel like their should be a support group for people like me, or at least a hotline.

Sorry I am being vague here… but really, enough has already been said.

Today looks to be a gorgeous day here in Brainerd.  Of course, because my day is busy.. the outdoors will taunt me with sun and smells of spring.  Can anyone else smell spring?  It is the light scent of lilacs in the air, a flash back of crisp sheets on the line, and visions of summers past.

Morning Meanderings… World Book Night Recap

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)17 Comments

 

Good morning!  *YAWN*

Monday was one of those crazy days I seem to find myself floundering in occasionally.  It was just BUSY.  I worked until 11:45 am yesterday, was at the gym and working out at 12:15, at 1:30 ran to the bank, the library, the post office, another bank, grocery store, and scraped in at 3 pm to meet up and help sort the IHN bedding and toys for when we serve the homeless. Right from there I went home at 4:30, started supper, made some phone calls about a meeting at my house tonight, sent out a couple emails, (barely looked at the blog), had a group meeting at 6:30 pm, came home from that at 8:20 pm, walked into my house talking with Connie about the banquet this Thursday that I am helping her with and my role – and at 9:00 pm hung up the phone just as my hubby was on his way to bed. 

*SIGH*

I really hate being that busy.

The good thing about yesterday though… probably the best thing – was it was World Book Night, the first one ever in the United States and I was thrilled and honored to be a part of it. 

 

As you can see from my above day, time was of the essence.  My original plan to hang outside the high school at 3:00 pm was not going to cut it with the commitments I had.  SO…. instead… I think an even better plan emerged…

I GAVE as I went about my day….

My first book was given to a guy I work with… I left it on his desk in the morning.  He had seen the movie, not a big reader….

My second book was on my way to the gym I stopped at a gas station to grab a banana.  One of the workers was outside, her job was to let everyone know the curbs had been freshly painted.  I went in, got the banana, on the way out I asked her if she was a reader, she said not a whole lot, and then I offered her a book.  I explained World Book Night and she lit up, got excited and said “Bless you!”  Which I thought was funny…. because after all, it is Hunger Games.  😛

My biggest brain child of the day was actually at the YMCA.  I prepped many books before I went in.  I blog about two things mainly, books and fitness.  I wondered if that was an unusual combination… are people who work out necessarily readers?  I dropped off two copies to the receptionists who were really excited once I explained.  I took a pile into my Group Power class and talked to the teachers asking if I could have a moment of the classes time to explain.  They also were thrilled and before my workout, I was able to give out many books. 

The stage where the instructors teach - and Hunger Games Books

 

My work out area- books and working out, thats my thing... 🙂

 

After that I gave a book to the lady ringing up my groceries, two on my way to help to with IHN, two more in the evening.  The only “no” I heard was at the bank, and that lady asked me if I had “Fifty Shades Of Grey”.  No…. I did not. 

 

I had a BLAST with World Book Night!  The only other person I knew doing it in my area was Angie, By Book Or By Crook.  I text her on my way home last night and she said she had so much fun!  She wished she would have had more books.

If you participated in any way with World Book Night, I hope you link your posts up to my World Book Night Link.  I am hoping to capture all our stories in one place and then I am going to make it a Page so people can look at it throughout the year…. as we anticipate next year.  😀

I have another busy day – work, and I need to take 5,000 flyers around to all the schools in the area.  AT 3 I am meeting college son for a late dinner/early supper (SSSQQQUUEEE!!!!), I have not seen him since January!  Then I have a meeting at our house tonight so home to prep for that. 

Later peeps!

Morning Meandering… When The Read A Thon Makes You Cry

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)50 Comments

Good morning! 

The question on your mind is…. did I make it to the finish line of the Readathon.  No, I did not.  I had started at 5 am yesterday morning and missed about three hours throughout the day due to other commitments and then shut down at around 1:20 am when Jane Eyre became a blurry mass.

Oh, that wasnt your question?  Was it did I read as much as I had hoped to?  No, I did not.  I never do.  I always start out with BIG intentions, going to go for the 5 or so books I have lying around and finish them up and yeah…. I get caught up in the social part of the Readathon which I LOVE and I cant help it, but I still feel I did pretty darn good.

Still not your question?  Oh I bet you want to know if mt tummy is upset with all the junk I ate yesterday while reading and listening to audio…. the nachos I had for lunch, the Lindor chocolates throughout the day, and of course the vegie pizza I had ordered in last night, no actually I feel pretty good considering I am on 5 hours of sleep and have to help out at church in 45 minutes from 8 until noon. 

Oh!  Now I get it!  You want to know why the Readthon made me cry. Well, that is actually a cool thing.  Yesterday I was reading for a charity I support locally, Camp Benedict.  Camp Benedict is a camp for people infected by AIDS and for people affected by AIDS.  There is a story of why it touches me so, and it is actually linked at the top of this blog in the page bar.  Anyway this is my third time reading for the camp and I always commit to giving, and then last fall one other person donated to my cause which was so sweet.

Well, this year, yesterday morning my account had $40 in it, money I had put in.  Throughout the readathon people gave and as of last night when I checked my online account for the camp, it was at $370.00!  I could not believe it!  6 other people had given besides myself and only two of them I know personally.  Seriously you guys, you melted my heart… and of course made me want to read more.  ♥

As for myself and how I did, I listened to 5/12 hours of audio throughout the day.  I was donating $1.00 per every ten minutes of audio for a total of $33.00.  Throughout the day I read 198 pages, which I was donating 10 cents a page for a total of $19.80 (lets not split hairs, I will round that up to $20.00.  So from me, $53.00 is being added to my account for my charity this morning.  😀

In other fun news – I held a bonus “because I feel like having fun” giveaway last night for the die-hard readathoners that were still going on hour 19.

That winner of the coffee, the chocolate, and the book is:

Laurel #19 (yeah, I laughed when I seen that!)

Thank you to the Dewey Readathon Team, not only do I love that this honors a wonderful blogger I never had the pleasure of knowing but wish I did, but it takes a ton of work to pull it off and this group did an awesome job! 

In other news, here is what came in from Mr Mailman this week:

Mmmm hmmmm, a nice week!  The two audio in the front right I bought at Barnes and Noble when I went to pick up my books for World Book Night (SSSQQQUUUEEE!!!!) 

 

Finally, today looks a bit dreary so I think when I get home this afternoon I am going to finish the 24 hours of reading I set out to do.  I fell short by about 4 hours.  I would like to finish it for Camp Benedict, and for me. 

Have a great Sunday all!  I have the World Book Night link going up later today and who knows what else, maybe that long overdue update to Jane Eyre.  😀

What are you doing with your Sunday? 

Morning Meanderings… RELEASE The Read-A-Thon

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)47 Comments

Good morning!  Today is going to be an AWESOME day!  The Dewey Read A Thon has begun!  In my next of the woods here in central Minnesota kick off time was at 6 am, however I have a small commitment this morning and will need to leave for about an hour so I started early, at 5 AM.  I am hoping to make HUGE progress today.

1) What fine part of the world are you reading from today?  Brainerd Minnesota

2) Which book in your stack are you most looking forward to?  Hmmm…. I am not sure, they all look kind of awesome

3) Which snack are you most looking forward to? I think I am making baked nachos for lunch

4) Tell us a little something about yourself!  Hmmmm…. crazy enough to get up an hour earlier then requited to start this readathon to get in as many hours as I can 🙂

5) If you participated in the last read-a-thon, what’s one thing you’ll do different today? If this is your first read-a-thon, what are you most looking forward to?  This is probably my 4th or 5th time participating.  I am being more intentional today, if I am moving about I have audio, if I can be stationary I have books….  I have done everything I can to free up my day.

 

I am reading for Camp Benedict, a camp that is for people infected with AIDS and for those around then it has affected.  I have been to this camp and seen the power it has to bring people together in hope and compassion.  I will donate to the camp 10 cents a page, and $1.00 for ever 10 minutes of audio I listen to. If you would like to sponsor this cause with me, please let me know in the comments and I will get the information to you.

I will be doing updates throughout the day here on an update post that I will start and just keep adding on to so as not to create multiple posts.  Please feel free to stop back in and cheer me on 😀  I will take all the encouragement I can get!

In the past, I have shown pictures of the massive PILE of books I would love to get through and honestly… I never get through them… so rather than set myself for the BIG FAIL… I am going to show you the plan in baby step format….

So…. on my morning plate I have:

I have right around a hundred pages left on this read.

Then I would like to make some progress in:

I don’t want to finish this as it is a work in progress, but I would like to get 50 or so pages done this morning. 

From there, I am not sure…. plenty to choose from… we will see what way I go as the day goes on.  😀

Be sure to stop back here at noon as well for my mini challenge… it will be a whole lot of fun and may give you a few ideas as well 😀

Morning Meanderings.. Whatever Happened to SSQQQQUUUEEEEEE???

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)26 Comments

Good morning.  😀  Sipping coffee here in Minnesota at the kitchen table considered taking the 8:25 am Group Power class this morning but apparently that is not happening as I am still relaxing with COFFEE CUP surrounded by books I am dropping in the mail today, trying to clean up a few emails that require responses and thinking about my plan for tomorrows read-a-thon.

*WHEW!  Take a breath*

Anyhoo, this morning I was reading Miss Remmer’s review of Monument and while she does mention the book lacks in some areas, what she did describe… the action, the synopsis, gave me that feeling I love when I feel I need to drop everything and get that book.  I actually SSQQQQUUUUEEEEDDDD  in the comment I left her.

That is when it hit me.  Where had my SQQQQUUUEEEEE gone?  I used to SSSSQQQQQQUUUUEEEEEEE all the time for books that rocked my world, for books that came in the mail, for the mailman even who graciously carried all my books to me without complaining (that I know of 😉 )!  For books I won, for bike rides, for great life moments….

Really…. where did all that go?

SO….. briefly…. here are a few things on my plate that are SQQQQQUUUUUEEEEE worthy:

1.  It is the weekend.   SQQQQQUUUEEEEEEE!!!!

2.  My friend and I are road tripping today to Barnes and Noble.  SSSQQQQQUUUUEEEEEE!!!!!

3.  I am fully registered for BEA, hotel, room mate, and plane… all booked…. all paid.  DONE.   SSQQQQQUUUEEEEE!!!!!

4.  The sun is out.  Today will be gorgeous.   SSSQQQQQQUUUUEEEEE!!!!!

5.  I organized my book giveaway shelves.  SSSQQQQQQUUUUEEEEEE!!!!!!

6.  I will probably have lunch today at one of my favorite restaurants.   SSSQQQQQQUUUUEEEEEEE!!!!!

7.  Some exciting books have come into my home this week.  SSSQQQQQQQUUUUEEEEE!!!!!

8.  The Dewey Read-A-Thon is tomorrow and I plan to participate FULLY.  SSSQQQQQQUUUUEEEEE!!!!!

9.  The new pup in the house has been here  a little over a week ago and he is working out wonderfully.  SSSQQUUUEEEE!!!

10.  While life is always interesting.  I am at peace with it.  SSSQQQQQUUUEEEEE!!!!!

 

Ok.  I feel… caught up. 😀

Tomorrow I will be reading for the Dewey Read A Thon and I will be reading for charity again.  My charity as usual is Camp Benedict, which is a camp for people and family who are connected to AIDS.    I will talk more about this tomorrow – but I will be reading at 10 cents a page and $1.00 for every 30 minutes of audio I listen to.

You are welcome, if you feel called to do so, to sponsor me with a one time donation or a per page donation.

Morning Meanderings… Pottermore… or less

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)30 Comments

 

Good morning!

I wasnt sure I was going to post this morning… I really had nothing to say (SHOCKER!) 😯 and I have a post going us in a bit any way about World Book Night.

However I was checking out a few of my fav blogs this morning while having my COFFEE and trying (trying!) to eat half a grapefruit because I seen on a Gilmore Girls episode it is good for me.  😀

ANYWAY while doing that I seen a couple mentions that Pottermore has gone public.  I was part of the Beta testing early entrants and had checked it out a few months back and found it interesting, informative… but within about four days I had done all you could do with it at that point and I left it.

Seeing Alyce this morning talk about her experience so far, and Amy as well, I popped back in to see if after all the feedback and testing what they may have changed. 

From my little bit of dabbling I did not see any changes from the testing period.  In fact I had ended where it stopped with book one months back and see that it still goes no further.  My favorite part of Pottermore is the fun facts you get to see with J K Rowling, how she came up with names for the characters, why she chose the Dursleys house number, etc… if you want to get your Potter geek on, you can certainly do that.  😀

I will probably check it out more now that I am knowing a few people playing.  To friend me I am Snitchrook100. 

 

Off to work, maybe a bike ride… and that is my major commitments today – I am loving this week of no evening commitments.  I feel refreshed, de-stressed and all out giddy. 😀

 

If you are on Pottermore let me know your name so I can friend you!  😀

 

Morning Meanderings…Huh? What?

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)18 Comments

 

Morning.  *BIG sip of COFFEE*

How ya’ all doing?

Do you ever have those days where you wake up super early … like hmmmm…. 4:00 am and feel good?  Real good because you do not feel tired but actually like you could start your day?

AND then you go back to bed because 4 am is just silly and you can top it off with an hour of sleep and then wake up at 7:00?

7:00????  And you work at 8:00!

Hate that.

Now I am having my coffee, missing my relax time of the am…. one eye on my post… one eye on the clock wondering how close I can push it until I jump in the shower… and

GAH!

Any hoo…. in bookish news On audio I am with Detective Harry searching out yet another victims home and yes, there is a snow man.  Who does that???  (The Snowman by Jo Nesbo)

In other audio I am hanging out with Michael Zarkade as he juggles career and kids while Jolene has been called to active duty for a year in Iraq.  As if the marriage wasn’t bumpy enough, the children feel abandoned and Michael cant quite get a grip on anything.  (Home Front by Kristin Hannah)

In yet another audio (my IPOD, Milton Podricker) I am on a lifeboat and the ship has sunk taking hundreds if not thousands of lives with it.  No, it was not the Titanic.  There are 39 of us on the lifeboat and it is day… I don’t remember but it has been at least a week.  The weather is bad and we are discussing that is the weather continues this way the water will sink the lifeboat because there are too many in it.  Hard decisions, UNBELIEVABLY hard decisions are about to be made…  (THe Lifeboat by Charlotte Rogan)

and in books, I am on the streets of New York with Sarah Beth as she has just walked out on her life… at least for a while.  She has left her best friend in a restaurant thinking she is in the bathroom, but she will soon get the note from the waiter that things are not good, have not been good for a while and this break, if that’s what it is… has to happen.  (Whole Latte Life by Joanne Demaio)

Ok that’s my time… I look at the clock and find it (and me) wanting.  😀

 

Have a super day!  I want to talk about World Book Night but that will be tomorrow!

 

 

Morning Meanderings… So Many Fun Happenings!

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)17 Comments

Good morning!  Happy Tuesday!  I think today is going to be a GOOD GOOD Day!

Monday morning I woke up to this:

Yup.  SNOW.  😯  Let’s recap, Saturday, sunny, 72 degrees, GORGEOUS our!   Sunday stormy…. Monday… snow.

On the bright side… Tuesday morning.  Sunny and should be mid to high 50’s.  I’ll take it. The snow is almost gone.. just a little on the deck.

There is a lot of fun things I want to tell you about this morning so hang on to your COFFEE CUP while I spill all. 

Historical Tapestry is a blog that has been promoting all things Titanic for the last week.  They have some really interesting posts and if you are interested in Titanic topics this is a must stop.  Yesterday I did a guest post over there on Titanic memorabilia, featuring my Titanic Bears.  Yes, I have Titanic Bears.  Yes, you can see them over at Historical Tapestry.

If you know Jill at Fizzy Thoughts you know that she likes to change words to songs, something I used to do all the time in High School with my friend Barb, the only other girl in our home room.  I still can’t sing Eye Of The Tiger with  the correct words after we spoofed it….

Anyway, a couple days ago on one of her post I left her ummm…. a little challenge per se… and rumor has it (ok, she told me) that she will be changing the words to the song I gave her today over at Fizzy Thoughts.  Pop over later and see what she came up with!  I know I will!

I also updated Team Kickin It this morning with my weekly check in of my fitness goals and what is happening in that part of my world.  Stop over cheer me on…. 😀

What does this number mean to me? Click and find out!

And finally, a couple weeks ago I had a major SQQQUUUEEEE  moment when a box of YA books arrived on my door step.  While I would say most of us book lovers would agree, books on the doorstep are totally back flip worthy, I wanted to be sure these treasures were reviewed in a timely manner.  A friend of mine’s daughter Camryn is a big time book lover and I invited her over to look through the books and read and review any she wished, on the agreement that she would point out the super fabulous ones to me so I could make sure I read them soon too.  😀  The day before Easter she left here with five books, that evening she sent me two reviews and by Monday of last week she had finished and reviewed all five for me. 

I should have recruited a long time ago…  😛

So later today, Camryn’s first review is going up for Herafter by Tara Hudson.  I hope you will give her a warm welcome as I see an up and coming book blogger in this one.  😀

I work today… plan to work out after and then a wonderful evening at home…. I really like the sound of that. 🙂

Morning Meanderings… Sunday Salon

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)34 Comments

Good morning and Happy Sunday!  😀

It is back to dreary rainy weather here which… is getting old and I hope it clears up this week as I have a pretty much “no commitment week”

I know right??? 

That never happens for me.  I usually have a study group on Mondays, and we are not meeting this week.  Tuesdays are usually something I have to do, but not this time, Wednesdays I work with students and they are going to a Rally this week and my services will not be needed, Thursday free, Friday free, Saturday is the Dewey Read a Thon..

Whoa… what?

Yes.  The 24 hour Dewey Read A Thon is Saturday April 21st and  I plan to participate and it is not to late for you to sign up as well.  Seriously… get on that.  😀  I love this read-a-thon, it’s about the only one I do, and I read for charity, which I will share more about later this week.  Oh and there are always fun mini challenges where you can win books or bookish items like gift certificates.  I will be hosting one here you will not want to miss out on – it is going to be on so fun! 😛

At some point this next week I also need to road trip to go pick up my books for World Book Night.  Are you participating in World Book Night?  If so what books are you handing out on April 23rd?  I will have 20 copies of The Hunger Games at my finger tips!  AND at some point soon I have an idea to go along with this that I must also get posted this week. 😀

Hmmmm…. what else?  I received one book this week in the mail:

The second book to Wolf Hall.  Which admittedly, I have yet to read.  NOW I really need to get on it as this one sounds good!

And finally, today marks the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic, a topic that always touches me.  I have some artifacts in my home surrounding the Titanic that I am pulling our for a post later.  And today I will spend some time reading Titanic related reads, in memory of the day. 

Have a great day, I am off to church and then back home here to write-up a couple posts and get some reading done this afternoon.  I may go to the Titanic movie today if I find someone to go with.  Pretty sure my hubby will not sit through that 3 hour movie again.  😀  Oh, and one more thing – I added a giveaway to my post that went up yesterday for 2108 Eyes Open.