Morning Meanderings…How Has January Reading Been For You?

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)26 Comments

Good morning!  *YAWN*  *STRETCH*

I dreamt weird last night.  At one point I was at an orphanage and I thought I was adopting a baby… turns out it was an 8-year-old girl.  The adoption cost was $800 dollars and I did not have any money on me so I had to borrow from a friend.  At some point in the dream my 8-year-old girl turned into a boy (age unknown) but I can see him in my mind.  In my dream world, I did not know – or did not care that the child had been swapped out. 

In the end I remember talking to a real life friend (in my dream) who apparently had been taking care of my adopted child.  I explained that I was going to ease the child into my home by Wednesday, but wanted to take it slow.  My friend agreed that was a good process.  Then I woke up.  I have no idea what that was about…..  

Here we are on Sunday.  My Navy son is flying back to Florida today….  I set up for serving IHN this morning (it is my teams week to serve with the homeless) and things are looking pretty ok moving forward.  I say ok as this is the week I start working full-time (tomorrow) and with IHN also this week, plus throw in a Wednesday meeting, and hopefully close to daily work outs… I proceed with caution that I do not try to stretch myself too thin. 

I really do believe this week will be fine.  I have wonderful volunteers working with me and I don’t foresee anything real stressful…. 😀

So how is your January coming?  I can’t believe we are sitting on the 22nd already today.  That’s just wild!  For me I think I am doing well, I don’t have an exact count at this moment, but have had some great audio time (the cold weather has kept me inside) and the weather helps my book reading too.

This morning I found this Reading/Audio Spreadsheet that looks SO COOL!   I haven’t had any time to fill anything in yet as well…. I just got up and found it like ten minutes ago, and I am going to church in um….. 23 minutes. 😀  But when I get home… I plan to fill in what I know so far this year and see what happens.  (Kind of excited about that!)  I didn’t really set and goals for myself this year along book counts or audio minutes… I just like to see where I land 😀

How about you?  Is your reading in January a good month for you – or no?  Have you set up and ways of tracking what you read this year (or are you like me last year and do a massive count the last week of December?)

Recommended Audio List And I Need Your Suggestions

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)63 Comments

 

It has been three years now since I discovered the amazing world of audio books.  How I ever lived without it I do not know.  Now I listen to at least some audio every day:

  • I have my IPOD speakers set up in the bathroom off our bedroom.  I listen to audio when I get up and while I get ready for the day.
  • A second audio is in my CD player in my kitchen.  I listen to this one while I make coffee, cook, and clean.
  • A third audio is my jeep’s CD player.  I listen to that one as I drive to and from work or wherever I am going.

I love to also listen to audio while I am mowing the lawn.

Audio has doubled the books I am able to get through in a year.  When I don’t have time to sit and physically read a book, I can always listen to one. 

I LOVE great audio… and those of you who listen to audio know that not all audio books are treated alike. 

What I want to create here is a list of your FAVORITES as well as mine.  I am going to compile the responses into a sidebar page so people can click and see a list of really great audio to choose from.  If you have a blog, I will link your recommendations back to your blog (and if I can find your review of that audio, I will link it to the review.) 

Please feel free to list as many as you would recommend. 

To start things off, here are a few of my favs:

Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Stories I Only Tell My Friends by Rob Lowe

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

Night by Eli Wiesel

Medium Raw by Anthony Boudain

Bossypants by Tina Fey

One Good Dog by Susan Wilson

Rococo by Adriana Trigiani

Any Harry Potter book read by Stephen Fry or Jim Dale

Worst Case by James Patterson (and this entire series)

 

Now, I would love to hear what your favorites are!

 

 

Morning Meanderings… SATURDAY!!! SATURDAY!!!

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)43 Comments

Good morning!  It’s been awhile but today is a true day off!  Meaning…. no big “to do’s” other than the things I chose to do 😀  And that – is exciting. 

My plan today is stay curled up in this blanket for the next 30 to 45 minutes and write this post here… and one for Team Kickin It as well.  Then I am going to get ready to go to a Zumba Class with my friend Amanda. 

After that I need to pick up some dinner items as we are having a special dinner tonight for Navy son as this is his last night here before he goes back to Florida tomorrow.  I know he is sad to go back, but I am thinking he has to miss the nicer weather.  (Minnesota has become COLD!) 

I also want to pick up a couple of movies on books I have finished recently – Winter Bone and Into The Wild.  Tonight… I may just movie up… I haven’t watched a movie in quite a while.

I do have a few pics to post today from the last week for Saturday Snapshots from Alyce’s Home With Books. 

Brad (Navy Son and I)
Al (Hubby) and Brad (Navy Son)
Justin (College Son) and Brad (Navy Son)

Last weekend was the first time the four of us were all together since Christmas 2010.  Brad’s  schedule has been crazy since he has been home, visiting friends, catching up, and during the week days helping at the Recruiting Office.  We had Christmas with Brad and then all went out to dinner. 

Then… on Thursday of this week my four female cousins and I went out to dinner.  My cousin Cheryl started putting this together and it is nice as we didn’t even hang out like this when we were kids. 

Left: Cheryl, Leslie, Lorri, Joyell, and me

It was an awful picture…LOL, but we will work on it.  We have plans in March so hopefully we will not all be lined up against a wall in a diner… 😛  I really wanted to capture a pic of us all together because it is rare, and I know how important pictures can be.

Have a great day!  I am off to get ready for the gym!  Zumba here I come!!!

Note to Alyce:  I am not sure if my comments are showing up at At Home With Books.  I commented yesterday on your I’m Back post and today on the Saturday Snapshot one as well.  🙂  When I comment it takes me to a blank page.

This World We Live in by Susan Beth Pfeffer

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)19 Comments

The third and final book in Susan Beth Pfeffer’s trilogy, this world we live in brilliantly pulls everything from the first two books together.  In Life As We Knew It, Miranda and her family struggle to survive after the moon is knocked closer to the earth, at the exact same time in The Dead And The Gone , Alex and his sisters in another part of the world fear for their parents well-being as they battle to find food and turn to unthinkable deeds to stay together and stay alive.

Now, it has been a year since the meteor collided with the moon and destroyed the earths sense of climate balance.  Miranda and her brothers now search abandoned homes for any items that could be useful… batteries, blankets, clothing, tools, and if they are lucky… a little food. 

And things only escalate when Miranda’s dad shows up the scene with his new wife and baby as well as three strangers.  Now there are that many more mouths to feed… and that many more personalities all residing under the same roof with nowhere to go to get a little space from one another.  And the mysterious teenage boy that arrived with Miranda’s dad is stirring some feelings within her that she can not believe she is capable of under these dire circumstances.

Thanks to a comment from Angie on my The Dead And The Gone post, I suddenly realized I never wrote or posted a review for this third book in the series.  A quick blog search confirmed that.  I had listened to the audio in December and somehow…. just… well…

forgot to review it.  😯

While I LOVE LOVED the first book in this trilogy, and LOVED the second book, this one seemed to have lost its steam along the way of two story lines coming together.  While it was still an enjoyable read listen, I found myself not as engaged as the plot unfolded… 

Let me try to explain… what was exciting and scary in the first two books, was not so much in the third.  At this point it just felt like every day living in this new life of little food, irritations with one another, and the occasional adventure outside the walls of the fort like house.  I really found myself wondering where it was all going to go and then it just never seemed to get there.  In fact the way it did all end was open enough for me to wonder – was this a trilogy?  Or is there going to be a fourth book to tie this up better?

Obviously its hard to find a happy ending to a post apocalyptic world, but I did expect something to ignite an emotion in me other than confusion.  On the other hand, I was invested enough in the story from the two previous reads that if Susan Beth Pfeffer did come up with a fourth book, I would probably pick it up as I am still curious as to where this is all going.  In that way, I guess I hope where the book left off is not the end, not because it was so incredible I want more, but because it is so open I feel the story is unfinished. 

Susan Beth Pfeffer writes interesting and real characters and has a knack for creating a world that feels real enough to have me thinking of the “what if’s”.

Amazon Rating

Goodreads Review

I rented this audio from my local library

Morning Meanderings and Book Dancing

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)10 Comments

Good morning and happy Friday!

This is my first working Friday as my co-worker went on maternity leave yesterday so I will bump up to full-time while she is away.  It’s a good thing as normally I am 25 hours a week and this “bump” is going to pay for me to go to BEA this year.  😀 

When I came home yesterday afternoon to get ready to go to dinner with my cousins, I seen two small boxes sitting on my front deck.  Book size boxes always excites me so I quickly parked in the garage and hauled in the stuff from my car….

and then grabbed the boxes.

There were two books that I had recently ordered due to blog reviews and gushing….. and well, yeah….

I pre ordered this one when I seen it hmmmmm….. on Vasilly’s post first I think?  Now I can’t recall…..

and then…. after seeing the buzz around the debut authors of 2012, I had to jump on the book wagon and also ordered this:

Love the look and sound of this one….

and then – one I have not picked up yet but one day….

(LOL) is…..

Thank you to April at Good Books and Wine to put this book on my radar…. and now…. the heart wants… what the heart wants.  😀

And then as I see I am pushing my time here, Trish at Love, Laughter and a Touch Of Insanity wrote this fun post about how to know you are book obsessed.  Now really, I am linking this not for me…. as of course I AM FINE and not obsessed with books at all, but I worry about all of you and think maybe you should check it out.  Seriously…. find help…. I worry about you.  It’s you who has the problem with books…. not me.   😛

Have a great day!!!

Morning Meanderings…. Is It The End Of Blogging As We Know It?

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)18 Comments

Good morning all!  😀

My day yesterday was well…. AWESOME!  But long…. BUT AWESOME! But yeah… I am a bit groggy this morning… We had a large meeting I was in charge of setting up last night and it was a lot of prep work… a lot of planning…. and I worked 12 hours yesterday to make it happen….. but it did, and it was fun… and there was cake (but I didnt eat any)…  😛

Yesterday I had posted about the SOPA/PIPA thing coming down the pipe and what that could mean for our little corners of the world.  I am believing it is not going to affect us Book Bloggers much but I can see why people are in an uproar about it.

This morning I received this encouraging note:

Google launched a petition.  Wikipedia voted to shut itself off.  Senators’ websites went down just from the sheer surge of voters trying to write them.   NYC and SF geeks had protests that packed city blocks.

You made history today: nothing like this has ever happened before.  Tech companies and users teamed up.  Tens of millions of people who make the internet what it is joined together to defend their freedoms.  The free network defended itself.  Whatever you call it, the bottom line is clear: from today forward, it will be muchharder to mess up the internet. 

The really crazy part?  We might even win.

Approaching Monday’s crucial Senate vote there are now 35 Senators publicly opposing PIPA.  Last week there were 5.   And it just takes just 41 solid “no” votes to permanently stall PIPA (and SOPA) in the Senate.  What seemed like miles away a few weeks ago is now within reach. 

But don’t trust predictions.  The forces behind SOPA & PIPA (mostly movie companies) can make small changes to these bills until they know they have the votes to pass.  Members of Congress know SOPA & PIPA are unpopular, but they don’t understand why–so they’re easily duped by superficial changes.  The Senate returns next week, and the next few days are critical.  Here are two things to think about:

1. Plan on calling your Senator every day next week.  Pick up the phone each morning and call your Senators’ offices, until they vote “no” on cloture.  If your site participated today, consider running a “Call the Senate” link all next week.  

2. Drop in at your Senators’ district offices.  We don’t have a cool map widget to show you the offices nearest you (we’re too exhausted! any takers?).  So do it the old fashioned way: use Google, or the phonebook to find the address, and just walk in, say you oppose PIPA, and urge the Senator to vote “no” on cloture.  These drop-in visits make our spectacular online protests more tangible and credible. 

I guess we shall see…

Then I was just reading a new comment on the post I wrote January 8th about Changes In The Book Blogging World and feeling sad about it.  Which, now, 11 days later and MANY MANY great comments… I am still sad about those we have lost along the way (the good one’s that is…) but from responses I also am now encouraged as there are many of us still out here that are enjoying what we do…. not attacking each other or authors or publishers, but genuinely having a good time and doing it well.  That my friends, is the camp I want to be in.  😀

So is it the end of blogging as we know it?  I don’t think so.  I think we are going to be just fine.

I made a comment on that post this morning, and as I thought about it I agreed it was how I feel.  I like my little planet Book Journey.  It’s cozy here…. I have friends who gather here…. and we talk books.  Whats not to love?  😛

Have a fabulous day – I am off to work to clean up the destruction  fun of last night.  I am also picking up a great cup of COFFEE on my way 😀

Wine To Water by Doc Hendley with a Giveaway copy!!!

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)25 Comments

What does wine tasting and clean water in Sudan have in common?

Doc Hendley. 

Doc Hendley was born into a Christian family.  His father a Pastor, his mother a devout follower, and his siblings following in their footsteps.  Yet while Doc believed in God… he was more in his Harley, drinks with friends, and making a living bar-tending.  He preferred to lay low in life, Doc just wanted to do his own thing and be left to himself to do it.

Then one night after having a dream that left him with the words “wine to water” in his head… he spent some time on Google and was shocked at what he discovered:

  • One in every six people do not have access to clean water
  • In developing countries, women and children walk 4 or 5 hours to get water each day
  • Unclean water kills a child every twenty seconds

An idea was born.  With a little help from his friends, Doc organized the first Wine to Water charity event.  In a nightclub with a Deejay and many donated cases of wine, they opened up the event on Saturday February 4 , 2004 to more than 300 people attending.  They made over $6,000 dollars… and that was just the beginning…

Little did Doc know at the time that he would be traveling to one of the world’s most dangerous hot spots: Darfur, Sudan, in the name of clean water.

If you have spent any time frequenting this blog then you probably know a little bit about me.  My first trip to Honduras was in February 2004, the same month and year that Doc Hendley would be having a fundraiser called “Wine To Water”.    While what pulled at my heartstrings to bring me to Honduras was kids who lived in the streets, Doc was drawn to areas where the water was undrinkable and used as a weapon just as dangerous as a nuclear bomb. My heart for those in need… was what initially drew me to this book.

How can I describe this book?  Mostly I found it interesting.  I loved the descriptions of Sudan, and what Doc experiences, from my own time in a impoverish country, I could imagine quite well what is must have been like.  And it was also heart breaking.  When Doc describes going out to the one shack of a restaurant one day with one of his team members and each eating a whole chicken before they see the small boy inching towards their table, bone thin and half-starved with tears in his eyes… I had to sit the book down and compose myself.

Can you imagine never having enough to eat?  Never having experienced a restaurant?  Can you imagine seeing someone come to where you live in the world… with things you never have had – clean clothes and the means to eat when hungry?

This book really touched me.  Not only did it give me a closer look at a country that struggles to have clean water, but also a look at how we can make a difference.  I sit in a home as I am believing all of you do as well, where the water is clean and unlimited.  It’s easy to forget that is not the case for everyone… and I appreciate what Doc has written here to remind me that in whatever way I can…I need to make a difference either small or large, in some way in our world.   What a powerful calling to give families in need the life saving gift of water.

As of November 2011, I have traveled to Honduras 10 times, one a year since 2004 and a couple of years I went twice.  As surely as I am drawn to those children, I can understand Doc’s draw to clean water to save lives. 

Doc grew as a person from the beginning to the end of this book.  I did too as I read it.

AMAZON Rating

Goodreads Review

I have been offered one copy of this book to give away to one of my readers!  To enter this giveaway please let me know in a comment below a place you would like to go to make a difference/ or where you have gone to make a difference and what that difference would be .  It does not have to be out of the country, shoot… it doesn’t even have to be out of your town!  😀   I will choose a winner this coming Saturday and then forward their information on to the publisher.

Thank you to TLC for allowing me this opportunity to read and review this book

Morning Meanderings… SOPA/PIPA And The (Not So) Surprising Little I Know

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)28 Comments

Good morning!  😀

It’s probably no big surprise with the lifestyle I lead that I don’t get around to watching the news much or getting into any super in-depth on-line “happenings”.

That said… it was not until Tuesday evening when I opened my email that I found out from WordPress about a US legislation that is threatening our internet freedom, apparently including those of us who have personal blogs. 

WordPress gave us an option to “go black” today in protest of this, however I am on a book tour today for Wine To Water, otherwise I would have.

What I was able to do was put the ribbon on my blog that you will see in the upper right hand corner.  That will remain on Book Journey until January 28th.  I am however, taking Team Kickin It, down for the day in support of those working to make a difference in our favor.

Here is what was sent to me from wordpress:

Many websites are blacked out today to protest proposed U.S. legislation that threatens internet freedom: the Stop Internet Piracy Act (SOPA) and the Protect IP Act (PIPA). From personal blogs to Wikipedia, sites all over the web — including this one — are asking you to help stop this dangerous legislation from being passed.

I will be back to respond to comments after 8 pm tonight.  I hope everyone has a wonderful day enjoying a GREAT read!  😀

The Future Of Us by Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)36 Comments

It’s 1996 and Josh and Emma have not only been neighbors all their lives, but also close friends.  When Emma gets a new computer and Josh brings over a free AOL CD they received in the mail to install on it.  Yet there is an error in the CD and when they log on it automatically loads up to something called Facebook.  Something that won’t be around for eight years.  And they see their future selves.

At first they are weirded out by the fact that people share so much about their lives.  After all, who really cares what someone is making for dinner, or how long it took them to get to work in the heavy traffic?  But more interesting is where they find themselves in the future.  While Josh is extremely thrilled that way it seems his life will turn out, Emma has concerns for her future self.  She learns that her decisions she makes today – can change her tomorrow…. and she tests that theory.  Yet when Emma changes her future, it also affects Josh’s and those around them.

My biggest draw to this book was author Jay Asher.  I really enjoyed Thirteen Reasons Why and felt it held some strong messages within its pages, so I was excited to see what The Future Of Us had in store.

The book is just smart.  For me, it was odd to think of the years before Facebook.  When Emma and Josh are surprised how open people are on Facebook, I was startled to remember that people were not always so open with their personal lives.  There was a time, not all that long ago when I did not know where my friends were going for dinner, or who was in town for the night, or who had a crappy day at work. 

When I thought about how Josh and Emma could see their future and yet change it in present day it reminded me of Back To The Future…. except trade the Delorean for an old school computer.  😉

Emma's computer kind of works like the Delorean!

Jay Asher did not let me down, The Future Of Us was not only entertaining it was smart and was a good reminder that no matter how old or young we are, the decisions we make today can effect our futures. 

I have not read Carolyn Mackler yet, but I think I need to make a point too. 

A great YA read with a good message.  I think all ages would enjoy this read.

Amazon Rating

Goodreads review

A gift from College son for Christmas

Morning Meanderings… Man, that is EMBARASSING

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)22 Comments

Good morning!  Tuesday already?  Smoking through the week…. 😀

Hubby and I usually drive to church separately.  He almost always heads one direction after church (things to pick up for our business or a job to check on) and me to the grocery store, the gym, or home.  Soooo….  this past Sunday I am booking to church at 8:30 am and go in and do not find hubby in our usual spot (don’t ask me why we all have usual spots but I think it is true of all of us… odd… but true). 

Anyhoo.. I do not see him.  So I pop back out into the hall and call his cell phone asking where he is and is he on his way.  I leave a message.  I go back in.  I scan the room… nada… nothing… no hubster.  I go back in the hall… I call again.  No answer.  I go back in and I sit towards the back, alone… but I am texting.  ANGRY texting. 

Me:  Where are you?

(2 minutes later)

Me:  Seriously.  You better be on your way!

(3 minutes later)

Me:  You are making me angry!

At this point we all stand up for a song and I notice a man who could possibly be my husband sitting on the end of an aisle about ten rows in front of me.  (I know… I know… after 24 years you would think I could recognize the man!)  As my row is empty except for me, to the beat of the song I sidled down the row until I am behind my friend Sandi.  I whisper in her ear, “Sandi, is that my hubby up there?”

To which she replies, “Yes.  I was wondering what was going on with you two!”

Well… in my defense he was wearing gray when I seen him in the morning and now it was a reddish sweatshirt.  I sidled back to my seat… grab up my stuff and make my way towards him.  Once sitting… I lean in and whisper “Just ignore your phone messages when you get them later.”

Holy meltdown batman!

😳

In other news (Yes, I am changing the subject)  😀  My friend and BEA two time roommate Reagan at Miss Remmers Reviews has an interesting little project going on.  She is calling it Book Blogger Readers Appreciation Week and I think it is a pretty sweet idea.  You can check out her post here, I have already added it to my sidebar, and I will talk about it again as we get closer to the dates of the event.  I love things like this that build up the community so way to go Reagan!!!

And last but not least, Tuesday is check in day for Mari at Bookworm with A Views Checkpoint and I have posted my work out week here: