Morning Meanderings…. On The Cup and Rebecca Update

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)8 Comments

Good Morning!  It’s so nice to be back to my regular routine, sitting here in the morning with you, coffee cup to my right….  yes, that’s right… the CUP is back. 

Many of you know I took that 16 day cleanse and gave up coffee during that time as well as many other things, but COFFEE would be a big one for me.   It actually wasn’t that bad and I am not back on it like I once was, but a cup or two a day seems to work out just fine.  Some days, it is still none. 😀

AND this morning…. I did need some coffee.  Yesterday really was a 12 hour meeting day and I drove home about 9:55 pm.  This morning… I look and feel a little like a warmed over bagel.  With hair.  A bagel with hair.  Yup… that describes me.  I cant see it here in the dining room… but I can feel that my hair is everywhere.

Now…. about Rebecca.  Yesterday many of us were on schedule to have our “Party with Rebecca” here at Book Journey.  Now… as much as I would like to blame Rebecca and say that she did not show up to her own party…. that responsibility would be solely on me.  I am the one who dropped that ball.

Since my post was not 100% ready to go yesterday when I left the house at 6:30 am, I knew I would have a little time between my check in with our IHN team, and my 9:30 meeting so I took Laptop with me to Starbucks at 8:30, fully ready to finish my post and schedule it.  Except…. I had no internet at Starbucks.  😯

I tried for 40 minutes to get on-line, talked to the people who worked there, they didn’t know what was going on either.  AND since like I said earlier, my meeting was 12 hours…. Rebecca’s party was postponed and I could not even let you all know.  SO…. that all said, Rebecca will party with us today so if you were part of the read-a-long, please join me in a discussion of the book, and whatever we want to discuss about Rebecca.  😀

Today should be my first not too over the top day in almost a week.  While I do have a meeting tonight, it should not be super long and I should get home at a decent hour, which will be nice.  Thursday and Friday will be better yet, no evening meetings and Friday I do not even have to work….. WOO HOO!!!!!  I can see the light!

Morning Meanderings… Welcome to my own personal OZ

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)25 Comments

 

Good morning!  It has been one crazy weekend and my online presence has been minimal.  Having a laptop would have been…..

awkward.  😀

From Thursday to Sunday afternoon I put 800 miles on my Jeep between the North Shore and the Gunflint Trail…

This is my first non water drink in 16 days!!!! (I was doing the cleanse)

 

And… the results of the Silver Bay book sale 🙂

 

Then on Sunday I took off the other direction from my home and went to The Cities to the Minnesota State Fairgrounds where I participated with friends and my son, in the Color Run…

Justin and I before the run

 

And shortly after…

In other news, our book club last week chose out October Classic to be The Wizard Of Oz, so I was uber thrilled to find out that they are making a prequel to The Wizard Of Oz.  Have you heard this?  I am soooo excited.  Here is the trailer:

I have to go get ready, I have some finishing touches to put on a post for later today and I have a 12 hour meeting today – I kid you not.  12 hours.  😯  I will be home around 9 pm tonight.

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)36 Comments

Welcome to It’s Monday!  What Are You Reading!  This is a great way to plan out your reading week and see what others are currently reading as well… you never know where that next “must read” book will come from!

I love being a part of this and I hope you do too!  As part of this weekly meme I love to encourage you all to go and visit the others participating in this meme.  I offer a weekly contest for those who visit 10 or more of the Monday Meme participants and leave a comment telling me how many you visited.  **You do not have to have a blog to participate! You receive one entry for every 10 comments, just come back here and tell me how many in the comment area.

This past weeks winner:

Quixotic Magpie!!!

Congratulations!  Please email me your book choice out of the Reading Cafe at journeythroughbooks@gmail.com. 

HI everyone!  I am going to lay this out a bit differently this week.  I have been out of town since Thursday at our cabin up North, returned yesterday early evening and left again this morning for a 5K with my son, came home later afternoon and spent the late afternoon and evening with both sons in town before Brad leaved back for the Navy tomorrow. 

That said, this is the quick version today – I am not going to post my  usual I have read last week and what I plan to read this week.  Next week I will return to full post mode, but this week – lest see what you are reading 😀  Please link up below.

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and those of you who read mainly children’s through YA reads – please also link your post here:

Morning Meanderings…. A Quick Check In!

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)8 Comments

Hi!  I have been missing in action this weekend and am home for the night, on my laptop for the first time in days and thought I would say “Heeeey-eyyyy” while I could. 😀

I went to our cabin this weekend with my friend Heidi and we had a blast hanging out on the Gunflint Trail and seeing a band called Psycho Jane, which has AWESOME.  Saturday morning we went to the Silver Bay Book sale, and then came home.  Now I leave this morning (EARLY) to drive to the cities to hang out with my son and friends at the Color Run.  Yes, I can not wait to participate in this event.

So…. before I head out the door… here is a sample of the color run:

I will be back later today!  😀

Bookies Annual Queen Event – 2012

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)11 Comments

Tuesday was our 6th annual Queen Event for our book club.  In July, we usually have a free read month – not making any book mandatory reading because honestly, July is a super busy month for people in Minnesota.  As it was, 6 of our members were unable to attend due to commitments with work, and kids sports, and one was even out sick with pink eye. 

This year we did things a little differently, at our June meeting we each wrapped up a beloved book and then took turns choosing a book that another Bookie had loved.  The results were amazing, almost everyone loved the book they picked that was another bookies favorite.  It was a lot of fun as we went around the room and discussed from out first reaction about the book we chose, to how we felt after reading the book.

The food as always was fantastic – lots of good fruits salads and vegies, and Sharon’s hubby grilled burgers and hotdogs for us. 

Chef Jeff
Chef Jeff

Of course, the best part of the Queen Event is the speeches, we each get up and sing, or show a talent, or read a poem.. or really whatever…

But the best pic of the evening was…

And I will possibly post a few more speeches but here is the end of Kaydi’s (our new Queen) and then Amy’s which cracked me up…

I am out most of this weekend, be back Saturday afternoon!  😀

Morning Meanderings… A Little Diddy about the absent blogger

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)8 Comments

Good morning!  😀

I would normally sip coffee here but I am currently 16 days without it.  What a rock star am I!

Lately it seems I have hardly been on-line…. and if I do try to spend a little time writing reviews my mind wanders and I wind up checking Facebook, or seeing what is up on twitter.

It is suddenly like I have the attention span of a two-year old.  😛

I keep reminding myself that I used to be so good at this!  I would write reviews as soon as I finished the book!  I commented on every comment to me and on all the blogs as well.  Now I look back and think “How did I ever do that?”

So for the record I wanted to let you all know I blame summer…. which is my FAVORITE time of year.  And because I love her so, she is also the biggest time suck because honestly when not working, I want to ride bike, I want to sit on my deck and read, I want to mow my lawn and listen to audio, play in my flower beds, invite people over and grill, go to the cabin as frequently as possible….

because my friends, Winter in Minnesota is waaaaaay tooo long.

Starting today my near future looks like this:

Tonight leave for Cabin until Saturday afternoon

Saturday afternoon – but all the items for out homeless serving week which starts Sunday and prep space

Sunday – drive to cities and meet College son to do the color run which raises money for homeless

Sunday late afternoon, Navy son’s last dinner with us before he returns to Florida

Monday – work and then stay over night for my serving time with homeless

Tuesday – an all day meeting.  Seriously 9 am – 9 pm

Wed – Thurs – work

Friday – garage sale and redo my flower beds with help from friends

Saturday – help clean where we are working with homeless and buy all items for Church Picnic (I am in charge of)

Sunday – continue cleaning in morning of homeless rooms and then prep church picnic by 10 am

Monday – Tuesday – off to recoup

Wed – Thurs – work

Fri – leave for cabin with friends for weekend

Aug 4 and 5 – 150 mile bike ride, two days gone

Aug 10-11 Wisconsin Mud Run

Aug 16 – Brd Library sale!

Aug 18 – Tour De Pines bike ride

Aug 29 – Sept 2 Cabin with friends

Today I just wanted to let you know that I miss you all and I do miss visiting blogs as much as I did through May and please know this season will pass and I will have more time eventually.

Later today will be the pics of our recent book club Queen Event.  I hope you can pop back in for that one 😀

Witch and Wizard by James Patterson

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)4 Comments

 

Wisty and Whit Allgood are just your average every day teenagers.  Or, so they thought. When the “New Order”comes crashing into their home to arrest them as being witches, the teens are baffled.  They are even more shocked when their parents who are told they can send one item with each child send them off with a drumstick and a book with wordless pages. 

HUH?

Things really heat up when Wisty discovers that when she gets really angry, she bursts into flames.  Kind of making that “I am not a witch!” story seem not so true after all… As time goes on, Wisty finds out even more things she can do and how to control her new-found skills.  Enter in Whit’s dead girlfriend who helps them in their confinement, and things are bound to get interesting.

 

 

 

 

Why did I want to listen to this audio/read this book?  I have a fairly civil relationship with James Patterson.  I really have enjoyed some of his books on audio and I was very curious about what he would do with a YA book, as well as what kind of narration would go with it.

James Patterson and co-author Gabrielle Charbonne write an interesting first YA novel.  I have heard this referred to as dystopia but it didn’t seem that way to me, more fantasy/ paranormal.  It was interesting, told in alternating chapters from each siblings point of view and felt more MG (middle Grade to me than the YA I have read. 

The narration by Spencer Locke and Elijah Wood was pretty good in this 5 hour and 41 minute audio.

While I did not find the read captivating to the point that I must continue on with the series, I did find it fun and light and I believe young YA readers or older MG readers would enjoy it.

 

For fun, do you see the two faces in the cover?  😀

 

Amazon Rating

Goodreads review

Audible.com (listen to a sample here)

 

Morning Meanderings…. A Night To Remember… Bookies Coronation

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)17 Comments

Good morning!  I did not mean to start with that picture but half asleep this morning… I guess that is what I did and I am leaving it. 🙂

Last night was our Annual Queen Event for our Book Club.  Once a year we dress in formal wear and get together for a potluck and book sharing experience.  We discussed what we read this past month which was fun because for one, we do not assign a book to read as  a group in July, and for two, some of us did do that book exchange last month which turned out fantastic, almost everybody loved the book that another Bookie picked out for them so that was pretty cool.

A big part of our annual event is choosing a New Queen.  This is a tradition started 6 years ago now (wow!) where we dress up and all make a bid for Queen of the Bookies for one year… it’s a lot of fun, we sing, we do whatever, and then we vote.  The Queen takes care of all book ties (if we can not decide on what to read next) and she decides where we will meet the next month.

She also becomes the proud owner for a year of the scepter, the crown – and the royal throne which is a toilet that I found many years ago when our local State Hospital shut down and I cleaned it up painted it, and now all past Queens have signed it.

We had a blast but it started at 6 pm and we left her house at 9:30.  SO much fun!  I have many more pics but got home late and need to get ready for work so will post them soon. 

In other notes, I feel like I have not been around much.  Summer is definitely upon us and I feel like I am flying in a hundred different directions.  Tonight after work I am hoping to catch a bike ride, I think there is a chance we may be rescuing another dog (another story), I need to pack and get ready for tomorrow after work when I leave until Saturday with my friend Heidi to our cabin.  And I am pretty sure I am not going to take laptop with me because we do not have internet access there anyway. 

Tonight I need to sit down and get my posts written up for while I am away. I am just starting to listen to Looking For Alaska by John Green and reading The Crying Game which turns out to also be our Book Club pick for August!

Hows your July going?  Big plans?  Enjoying your weather?  What book is in your hand right now?

This Lullaby by Sarah Dessen (Camryn’s YA Review)

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)6 Comments

This one sounds like such a great summer read! 

~Sheila

This Lullaby

Remy never really has great relationships with boys. She likes it to be easy, fun, and when it gets to that difficult part of the relationship, she breaks it off. After all, her mother is working on husband number five. Noncommittal relationships run in the family. That’s before she meets Dexter. Dexter is gangly, messy, and in a band. All big no’s for Remy when it comes to dating, but Dexter is different. Remy is can’t seem to get rid of him. He’s not exactly what she’s looking for, but will Dexter make Remy reconsider her standards?

 

This Lullaby is a really cute book. I like this Sarah Dessen book a lot. It is a young adult read, and a great summer read. I recommend you pick this book up right away!

Camryn is 13 years old, and enjoys reading YA books of the fantasy and romance genre. A few of her favorite books are “Hourglass” by Myra McEntire, “The Other Countess” by Eve Edwards, “Hush, Hush” by Becca Fitzpatrick, “The Immortals” series, the “Marked” series and the “Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants” series.  When she’s not reading she enjoys watching Gilmore Girls or going to book sales for more books to add to her ever-growing collection.

Check out Camryn’s other YA reviews here

Morning Meanderings… BEA 2013 Date Change and CORONATION Day!

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)12 Comments

Good morning everyone!!!  Day 14 today of my cleanse and I am feeling good – definitely notice a difference.  I am waking up earlier and I don’t think I am as tired.  I added chicken and fish in to my diet on day 10, and even that was no big deal.  Coffee…. I miss a little bit but I am going off the cleanse Thursday evening when my friend Heidi and I are going to our cabin for a couple of days for the Beaver Bay Days celebration in Beaver Bay and Silver Bay Minnesota.  (It’s tradition – and the have a book sale!)

I was just on Twitter this morning and seen a conversation going that said the Book Expo for 2013 dates had changed.  I for one, am thrilled – that means that I do not come right back from New York and go right into the MS 150 bike ride.  I will actually have a week in between which is sweet!  It does however wind up smack in the middle of Memorial Day Weekend, but if I remember right, before this year it did too.

In other awesome fun news…. it is the Bookies Queen Event tonight.  SSSQQQQQUUUEEEEEE!!!!  This is our yearly book club event where we dress up in formal wear and give speeches and songs or whatever to put our bid in for Queen of The Bookies. 

Why?  A silly little thing we picked up 6 years ago from a book we read called Same Sweet Girls by Cassandra King.  It was supposed to be a one year thing but it became a tradition and we really get into it, finding dresses at sales or second-hand stores.  I am hoping the dress I found is ready today, I found it at a second-hand store and it had a faulty zipper but I have it in the shop now so we will see.  😀  If that one does not make deadline, I have a back up.  (A lady in waiting is always prepared!)  Pics will be available tomorrow, in the meantime here are the links to the past couple of years:

2011 Queen Event

2010 Queen Event

2009 Queen Event

Ok so much to do 🙂  I am sure I will have pictures up tomorrow…. 😀  Have a great day!