Category: Meanderings

Morning Meanderings… And now for something kind of cool…

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)42 Comments

Good morning!  😀 

It’s raining here in Central Minnesota this morning, supposed to the entire weekend – and for once I really do not care.  Sure I had hoped to dive into the hosta garden today and love on that, but there is always next weekend.  Today I really should focus on packing and looking for the NOOK charger, and making a list of things not to forget before I haul myself to Minneapolis tomorrow late afternoon, to catch an early flight Monday morning to New York.

BUT TODAY – is not about that…. today… I have a couple of fun things to share.  😛

First, recently WordPress made an upgrade that allows us to add our Google Calendar to our blog.  I didn’t even know how SSQQQUUUEEEE that was until I really thought about it.  Here is part of beauty of that… I have three email addresses.  My home/personal one, my work one, and a book one.  The book one is the one I use to communicate with you, and with authors and publishers, and it is the one that the book requests go to.  Since it is not my default email – many times book tours I have committed to, honestly can be forgotten as I do not always have time to connect with the book emails every day.  HOWEVER – I do seem to find time to connect with this blog every day.  SO – by adding the calendar to my blog – I can put the upcoming tours on it for me, and you as readers of this blog to peek to see upcoming events too… such as:

  1. Wordshaker group review date
  2. If I am attending a particular author event
  3. If I am participating in a meme, read a thon, etc….

I don’t know – I am just excited.  So you can find it in the future by clicking the new Events tab at the top of this blog…. but for today you can also link to it here.

If you want to know how to do this yourself – feel free to check that out here:  WordPress and Google Calendar.


Next – and this one is for Alyce’s Saturday Snapshot – which is a fun thing to do every Saturday!  A couple of weeks ago out town had a Positive Charge event.  Over a three day period anyone in town could come to this particular photographer who was heading this and write on a piece of poster board what was so awesome about our town.  Once you made a poster, you had your picture taken.  Over 1,000 people/groups participated.  These posters will be hung all over town, and some made into billboards.  It was actually exciting to see the turn out of our community for this event…

Here is the one I did
This is the one my Pastor did (Way to go Mark!)
This is Don, a friend and fellow bike lover!
Did you know that this years Super Bowl half time show costumes for the dancers were made right here in Brainerd Minnesota?

Ok… That’s my post!  Hope your day is wonderful and productive!  😀

Morning Meanderings… I am only taking one book to BEA…. HELP!

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)43 Comments

Good Morning!

*finally*

I woke up at 5:15 am this morning when my hubby got up to go to work.  After this many years I usually do not wake up anymore when he leaves but this morning I did, let the dogs out, let the dogs in… and decided that is WAY TOO EARLY to start my day and went back to bed.

Next thing I knew it was 7:45 am.

I never sleep that late.

Maybe my body knows that as of 4:00 p.m. yesterday afternoon… I am on VACATION!!! 

Yup…. VACATION!

For the next 8 days I am a free agent….

LOL…

well… I have a plan…

I am going to BEA.

Yup.  I leave Sunday late afternoon for the cities where I will meet my roommate for the duration of this event, Reagan (Miss Remmers Reviews).  Early (EARLY) Monday morning we will board a plane…. destination…. New York where we will hopefully see some of you, lots of authors, events, and oh yeah books.

Originally I had said I was only taking my NOOK.  I received this lovely little item from hubby for Christmas and I have barely used it.  I wanted it for trips so I would not lug my usual 8+ books (different genres for different moods… you never know….).  ANd the NOOK is going…. “Snookie” will be all charged up and ready to go, but one book…. ONE BOOK…

come on…

it’s tradition.  😛

So this morning I narrowed it down to 4 books and thought you could help me choose that book that will get the honorary spot in my carry on.  Each one is one I have been wanting to read and each one has sat waiting and waiting on me as I flitted to other reads, snubbing my nose at these patiently waiting books.

I read a review for True Murder at Amy Reads last year and thought it sounded amazing.  I immediately purchased it and then… found no time for it…. shelved it.

City of Bones was RAVED about by Amy P in my book club.  She read… her hubby Chad read it.  Her daughter Emily read it.  LOVED it and they have read the entire series now.  I bought the first book on her recommendation (as you see above that was a LONG time ago)…. set it out to read it… no time… shelved it.

Once Upon A Time There Was You by Elizabeth Berg is a library capture for my personal challenge to read everything Berg has written in 2011.

Stay was a hot item on the blogs a couple of weeks ago…. everyone was reading it… everyone was raving about it…. I grabbed it from my library and now as the time to return it ticks away it sits on a tall pile of other disgruntled library books that all feel their time could have been spent more wisely in the hands of someone who was actually going to read them.  *gulp*

So there are the choices.  I would love to hear which one you think should earn the coveted spot and trip to New York with me.  😛

(As for my day… wow… you would not believe how long it took me to write this post between…. dogs out, dogs in…. COFFEE making, oh – dogs want out again…. I stare at the sky – it’s going to be nice today, oh I made oatmeal, dogs in, Elmo breathing funny (he is old), I watch Elmo for a while, get ready in case we have to run to the Animal hospital down the road, pick out books to decide on for this post, take picture, edit picture on Picnic, write an email….. LOL)

Morning Meanderings…. Books For Breakfast

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)36 Comments

Good morning!  😀

This past Monday on the Monday What Are You reading Meme, Sarah from Puss Reboots mentioned she was having coffee and Manga in the morning.  I don’t know why , but that sounded as good as my morning oatmeal…. maybe even better.

Never one to back down from a personal challenge, I thought maybe this is about the time that I should try Manga.  I have never read it…. honestly… I was not even 100% sure what it was.  😯

So… Tuesday afternoon I made my way to my local library and back to the graphic novel section.  I stood in front of these books feeling incredibly out of place.  Honestly… I was not even sure what I was looking for.  I picked up random titles and thumbed through them…. a couple teenagers passed by me slowly but I continued to pretend I knew what I was doing. 

Were all graphic novels manga? 

Then I seen on a couple books where it actually said Manga! I picked them up and flipped through them…. they looked much like the other graphic novels except I found out a lot about Manga really fast in the front of one of the books:

1.  Manga is (are?) Japanese books written in an almost cartoon or graphic style format.

2.  Manga reads right to left, the opposite of the way that we all learned to read..

First of all, most manga is read from RIGHT TO LEFT, not left to right. Speech bubbles, words and sound effects are also read from right to left.

3.  You start at the back of the book and read forward.

Wow…. a literary workout.

SO…. in honor of my Manga attempt, I am having Manga for breakfast this morning.  COFFEE CUP is at hand and a dose of Manga to start my day…

I will let you know soon how I felt about Manga.  Will it become a breakfast staple?  An occasional treat?  Or will I find it not to my liking? 


Have you read any Manga?  If so, what was it and did you like it? 

Morning Meanderings… Does Every Town Have An On Line Police Blotter?

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)33 Comments

Good morning.  😛

Sun is shining!

Coffee is GOOD.

Here are a few things to know about me. 

I was born and raised in Brainerd Minnesota.

It’s a nice place to live.

I can’t stand the movie Fargo.


If you are unfamiliar with the movie Fargo…. know that they refer to Brainerd Minnesota A LOT.  And they give us that accent in the movie clip above and make us look pretty simple-minded. 

I have never to my knowledge said, “oh Yeaaahhhh”.

I have never said “You betcha.”

Ok… Ok…

I may have said “You Betcha”, but only in jest….

However…. when I seen yesterdays Police Blotter (which they post daily and can make for some fine entertainment….) I had to wonder a little about my home town:  (Yes the following are actual calls to the Brainerd Police Department).

1.  8:40 pm on Saturday:  A call was received regarding a large fire in the area of Whipple Beach on the 1000 block of Oakwood Drive.  An officer advised the called that it was the sunset.

2.  Police received a report that someone struck a residence on Pleasant Avenue with a toilet plunger and damaged the door bell.

Yup.  You betcha.  (Again – I am saying it in jest).

Perhaps I should move….

I am curious, does every town post the police calls for all to see?  I mean, yeah they can be entertaining….. but curious about that. 

Have an awesome day! 

Morning Meanderings… Occasionally… this happens

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)57 Comments

Good morning.  *stretch.  Yawn*

Ok…let’s try that again.

Good morning.  😀

Check this out:
Updated: 6:59 AM CDT on May 17, 2011

clear

67° | 38°

clear

67° | 43°

partlycloudy

70° | 49°

I know right?  SUN.  And SUN.  And SUN.  Did I mention SUN?  Sorry it seems like it has been forever since we have had sunny days and I am grinning ear to ear. 

I listen to three audio books at once.  I have one going in my bathroom bedroom (Their Eyes Are Watching God…. currently they are running from the floods…), one in my kitchen (The Zookeeper’s Wife (a man just parachuted out of the sky…), and one in my car (Change Of Altitude (Margaret is with a small group of friends hiking up a dangerous mountain)…

I don’t know how they all stay straight in my head – but they do and I listen to all three at least a little bit each day.  When I get up I flip the one on in the bathroom and while I get read y for my day I get in a good 20+ minutes… then when I am in the kitchen making COFFEE, cleaning up or working on dinner, that audio can get in around 20-30 minutes a day… the one in my car is on whenever I am driving alone which is most of the time so about 10-30 minutes car time a day as well.

And like I said – that works for me and I look forward to each story line….

Until…

Yesterday I am coming home from work listening to Change in Altitude by Anita Shreve.  I have commented that there was A LOT of pre story before it seemed like it was ever going to get into the heart of the story and then as I pulled into the grocery store parking lot… it happened.  I could tell the book was getting to the point  and I reluctantly shut my car off ran and picked up the things I needed and hurried back to my car…. driving home my ears were glued to what was happening….  once home…

I sat in the car in my garage, listening to the audio.

After 20 minutes of that …. I decided I looked ridiculous and popped the audio out of the car, went into the house… plucked out The Zoo Keepers Wife from the kitchen CD player and put in Change Of Altitude to listen to while I prepped my salad for the potluck I attended last night. 

Change of Altitude… trumped Zoo Keepers Daughter.

It happens. 

Certainly those of you who read more than one book at once can relate…. if one takes off in the story line, it gets more attention at least for a time while you dive in. 

Yes… I will go back to Zookeepers Daughter, in fact this morning I had.  Change of Altitude followed me from the house to the potluck and home again and while the story line still is holding my captive… I am back to listening to the three again in harmony…

😛

Hope your day is super fab! I work… I hope to play a bit on my bike… I will probably start on the front lawn again tonight as yup…. with all the rain I could mow again.  😀

I put the question to you…. do you read multiple books at the same time (different genres…) and or audio – or a mix of both?

Morning Meanderings… Countdown to BEA

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)21 Comments

Good Morning!  Happy Sunday!

The sun is out and shining bright.  I am so thrilled to not see clouds or rain and the rest of the week is looking the same!  Finally!  😀

We are now 8 days out from BEA (Book Expo America).  It’s funny, Reagan and I signed up to go in December… 5 months ago, so now that it is here it is like…. Oh yeah!

I have much to do between now and next Sunday afternoon when I leave to meet Reagan in Minneapolis and then fly out early Monday morning.  I do not even know yet what the weather has been like in New York.  Last year it was warm and I wore Capri’s and nice shirts, or light weight pants…  I do hope that part is the same.  😀

Later this week I will post a list of some of the commitments I have while I am there.  Gah…. commitments sounds awful.  Commitments are things that I have to do, when honestly – these are things I want to do.  Can’t wait to do!  One of the best things about going to BEA – besides the super cool books, is the people you meet and the plans you make. 

I need to organize where I am and when for my sake as I want to do everything I have been invited to and not miss out on anything as well…  so much to do yet!  😛

On a different… more home in Minnesota note, hubby and I had a wonderful dinner with friends last night at their home.  Andy and Laura invited us and three other couples over to their home last night for conversation and a wonderful tortellini dinner.  As we sat around the table laughing and sharing I had to wonder why we don’t do things like this more often.  It was just fun to be together.  I hope to correct that this year and do a little more hanging out this summer and fall with couples and do dinner parties… it sounds so…

grown up.  😛

Have an awesome Sunday – I absolutely will be on my bike today!  😀

Morning Meanderings… Snapshot Sat. and Books I Am CRAVING

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)37 Comments

Good morning and Happy Saturday!  Cloudy and dreary here in Central Minnesota today… I am a little bummed as I was hoping to get on my bike today and put in some miles.  Instead I think I will be visiting the library, maybe start planning my “what to bring” for next Sunday when I leave for BEA (SSQQUUEEEE!!!)

Every Saturday Alyce from At Home With Books puts up a meme called Snapshot Saturday.  It’s a time when we can post a picture we have taken (or a friend or someone we know). Maplewood Minnesota:

Part of our MS Team completing the smaller MS ride - 30 to 60 miles. In June we will do a 150 mile ride with the entire team.

That’s me – far right.  Last Saturday was gorgeous in the cities and by mile two I took off the jacket as it was too warm already.  I can use a lot more days like that.  😀

As for the book cravings… I have a little collection from around the blogs over the past couple of weeks. 

East Of Eden by John Steinbeck (Found at Lydia’s The Lost Entwife) *Yes, an older title but one I have yet to read.

Primitive by Mark Nykanen (found at Sherrie’s Just Books)

The Midwife’s Confession by Diane Chamberlain (Found at Jennifer from Rundpinne)

The Bitter End by Jennifer Brown (Found at Nancy from A Musing Reviews)

Just blogging about these books this morning makes me excited to get my hands on them.  How about you, any books you found out there lately that just make you want to drop everything and READ?  😛

Morning Meanderings: No Commitment Friday

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)13 Comments

Good Morning.  😀 

I am posting a bit later than usual today but I have been enjoying the start to my day off with a little coffee, a little scrambled egg whites, read my emails…. just taking my own sweet time.  😀

I absolutely love no commitment days.  Days, when I wake up and there really is no set plan….

What I would like to do today is –

Catch up on a bit of blog reading this morning

write a couple of reviews – a movie one and a book one

either go to Group Power class this afternoon or take a bike ride (weather depending)

stop at the library – I have books to return

laundry (even with only two people in the house still seems like I am doing laundry at least twice a week :D)

Read a little – I am into an amazing book I can not wait to chat about

post office – I have books to mail

Kickboxing Class tonight

Dinner and maybe a movie with hubby…. 

That’s the “non plan”… nothing is set in stone but that is what I am thinking as on now would be awesome.  I have seen a few books around the blogs too that I have been keeping a list of…. maybe I will chat about them tomorrow…

I did not go biking at all this week like I had hoped.  I had a pretty busy week with commitments every evening except Wednesday which I used to mow the lawn that needed to be finished… the clouds are currently looking like they could go either way – rain or pass over… not really sure.

Hope your Friday is awesome!  Any big weekend plans?

Morning Meanderings… sunny days

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)4 Comments

Good morning!  OOH I feel good!

The sun is shining (although it calls for rain) and I am itching to get on my bike again and may do that after work if the weather hold.  Tonight I have a 5 pm dinner with my girlfriends I used to work with.  I am so looking forward to that.  This is the group that I meet with once a month to catch up on life and happenings.  Next month we are planning a 4 days road trip together and that is going to be so exciting – I will probably get more details on that tonight.

I don’t have anything super exciting this morning – in fact as I sip at COFFEE CUP I am pretty much coming up blank for anything fun to share…

I have not worked out much this week due to evening commitments and last night…. honestly – I just skipped out.  Between running and cleaning… I didn’t really want to do anything but finish the lawn and that is what I did.  Now I can move forward from here without “lawn guilt:.  Nobody wants to carry that.  😛

I hope everyone is finally experieincing spring… I feel as though we are and it makes my heart sore… its like the dust came off of me and I am filled with energy.  After tonight my weekend is pretty clear and I am going to work hard on keeping it that way.  I must get some writing done and prepare for New York which is….. 11 days away….

wow.

Bike Miles: Currently 66 for the year but hope to add to that later today.

Morning Meanderings…Babblings Of A Bookie

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)18 Comments

Good morning!  😀

COFFEE CUP and I are here again at the kitchen table.  (Oh and also Potato Marley) as now that I have named him… I need to do something besides toss him in the garbage.  

Today looks like it is going to be gorgeous – the only day this week that does not call for rain, and of course I am booked solid with work and self-inflicted workouts that I really do not wish to miss… 

I have much to share – but came home last night after a wonderful book club night and talked to my friend on the phone for about an hour and by then it was 10:30 at night and I was SHOT.  I had worked yesterday, mowed half the lawn – made one of the main dishes for Bookies, went to Bookies, home…. crash.

Yup…. that looks right.

Our Book Club discussion around ROOM was fantastic… while not everyone loved the book, it made for good discussion… maybe one of the better ones we have had in a while.  I will be writing up a post centered around this discussion and of course the food we ate – as Bookies – the food aspect just adds to the flavor of the read.  😀

In another completely random thought…. I abandoned two audio this week and started with new ones.  Tami Hoag’s The Trouble with J J didn’t last long at all.  First of all, when I chose it I did not realize this was an older writing of hers, I thought it was a something new she was trying and different from her usual suspense genre.  In short time I discovered it was going to be a giddy romance and not a genre I enjoy at all. 

The second one I bid farewell to in short time was Before I Die by Jenny Downham.  I did not make it through disc one.  The story is about a 16-year-old girl who is dying of cancer and her list of things she wishes to do before she dies.  It did not take long to find out the first on her list was sex – and her friend takes her our clubbing (her dad says no – she goes anyway) and picking up guys…. and well…. good-bye to Before I Die.

Instead  I am now listening in my car to A Change In Altitude by Anita Shreve and while this first part is a bit confusing – I think I am going to really like it.  I also picked up Not My Daughter by Barbara Delinsky and I am listening to that in my kitchen.  That one has already generated some opinions that will more than likely show up in my review.  Awesome 😀

Ok – I am out…. but enjoy your day… I would love to hear if you have had any book abandonment as of late.