Tag: Morning Meanderings

Morning Meanderings… Read-A-Thon Wrap up

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)33 Comments

Mornin….. *groping to find coffee cup*.  How ya’ all doin’?  *said in a deep froggy voice like I had smoked a pack of cigarrettes*  (Apparently when I am tired I abbreviate any word I can).

Here is my recap of the Read-A-Thon.  It was a lot of fun and I really enjoyed just sitting aside a day of no big commitments other than to relax at home and read.  I didn’t plan well on the snacks and by early afternoon I ran to the grocery store for a little variety of good reading snacks, however I listened to audio there and back so I was still “plugged in”.

I started out strong and was cleaning up a few partial reads I had going.  By the time I got to SOLD by Patricia McCormick I was laying down and well… yeah… I fell asleep about 4 pm until about 4:30.  Woke up, finished the read and then made dinner and chatted with hubby for about an hour.

I ended with The Bell Jar and read that until I crashed again on the couch and this time knew I was done.  I got up and went to bed.

So over all, I completed 5 books and half of the 6th.  The Bell Jar is my book club read for our Tuesday meeting so that will be my focus this afternoon.  It is our classic read that we do every October so I need to also search for a classic hat to wear to this review.

During the Read-A-Thon I was able to get out and visit a few blogs, but not many as I was focusing on the reading.  I participated in some of the challenges and was a winner in one!  😛

Later I hope to pop over and see some of the new people who stopped by to say hi and “you go girl”.  A special thanks to Jill and her Cheerleader Squad – I think I was cheered for about  6 times throughout the event and that was pretty cool.

And since this song has been in my head every time I felt like quitting yesterday – I will pass it on to you and hopefully it will get stuck in your head and I will be set free.


Well… that’s my time… shower and off to Church.

Have a super Sunday everyone!!!

Morning Meanderings…. READATHON DAY!!!

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)16 Comments

Good morning!  COFFEE CUP is in my hand, and have masked my face (for no other occasion than I am home and going anywhere for a while so why not?)

Yesterday I had a wonderful evening with my friends Cindy, Heidi, and Sara.  We went to St. Cloud which is about an hour away and shopped a little bit and then ate at Mongo’s before we came back home.  YUM!!!

Today is the Dewey Read-A-Thon if you were totally unaware of it – it’s not too late to pop over to the site and add your name to the 300+ readers today.  It’s pretty exciting!  I have an assortment of partially read books that I hope to work my way through today as well as a couple I have been waiting a long time to start.  I know I am planning big… but I can dream right?

I will put up a post shortly here that I will update throughout the day.   I will let you know what I am reading – what I have finished, pages… and maybe a few other randoms that I will change out throughout the day.

Oops!  8 minutes to go time… I need a coffee refill and to prep my starting post 🙂

Have a wonderful day everyone – I hope you get in a bit of reading time too 🙂

Morning Meanderings… Who’s The Inspiration?

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)18 Comments

Good morning!  I had an awesome evening with my College Son and hubby.  We had dinner and watched Survivor together.  Then later last night I was doing a little reading and a little putting around  on Twitter and seen that Sarah Ockler (author of Twenty Boy Summer) was asking what was that love ballad that we could pull out of our head from years ago and along with it the memories.

Oh my gosh!  I instantly went to You Tube and punched up Chicago’s “You’re The Inspiration” and it was  like I pulled a cork that released all of these memories of High School.

Basically did anyone order up a blubbering baby?  Because that’s what you got.

So – as I leave you this morning for the gym that’s calling me…. then work… then a wonderful get together with some friends for a road trip to St Cloud and dinner….  I offer you up the song that still pulls me into the era of big hair, pants that zipped at the ankle, leg warmers, and words like, “He is sooooooo totally awesome!”

AND if that song doesn’t mess you up – or at least bring up memories of your own “song” that melted you into a pile of hearts, flowers and tears, stop over at Sarah Ockler’s  Blog where she posted last night her songs and asks you to share yours as well.

Have a great day everyone!  Later Lori Lansens is going to be here to chat books, and well…. I LOVE to chat books.  😀

Morning Meanderings… I am on the Twitter

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)27 Comments

Good morning fellow book worms, bookish types, and random dude who just wandered over thinking this was a site that talked about cheese puffs.  I see you over there dude in the corner… just back away from the keyboard with your powdery cheesy fingers….

Ok… I am in an odd mood…. a good one… but I have no idea what the first paragraph is about.

So I am up and in need to take off soon here for work and beyond (voice echo’s “beyond, beyond, beyoooonnnnddddd”)

Has anyone seen any good movies coming up?  I am interested in seeing that Facebook one.  I think that looks interesting.  The other one that I would really like to see that is out right now is You Again.  It looks really funny and I like many of the actresses in it.  (Are they actresses anymore?  Or do we call them all actors?)

Anyway – I posted the trailer here for your viewing enjoyment and so you say see why I called today’s post what I did.  Seriously Betty White cracks me up.

 

 

I need to find time to see that one!

College Son popped in the door yesterday afternoon as a surprise (I have kids popping up all over the place lately!)  He had a couple of days off from work and school so headed into town from Mankato.  He is only here for a little bit but it was cool to see him and tonight we are going to hang out a bit.

Ok… times a moving so I had better run…. run like the wind (good grief what is with me today?).

Have a supercalifragilisticexpialidocious day!

(Oh my word… what is wrong with me?)

Morning Meanderings… I’m Walking On Sunshine…. and don’t it feel good?

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)38 Comments


Good Morning!  *pause for more COFFEE* After yesterday morning of “opportunities” I have updates!

My fine for parking in Itaska State Park has been reduced to $5.  YES.  Five dollars.  Apparently that was the original amount that it would have been had I purchased a day pass – had I known that I needed a day pass.

What a relief!

Then I had a meeting yesterday that was scary and exciting at the same time….  it was something I had been praying about for a while now and after yesterday’s meeting I am still scared and excited – but I finally have a yes…. and I am moving forward on my book.  You may not have known there was a book.  Or even the inkling of a book.  I was really nervous (and still am) to share about it in case it wouldn’t be.  Now however it looks like it will be and I still have a lot of work to do, and don’t want to say much more about it at this time other than a tired “SSQQQUUUEEE!!!”


Finally… and this is random… I signed up for Netflix again.  As I am reading all these wonderful books that I heard are also movies (especially some of the older titles), I can not find them at our forever closing video rental stores.  All we have in town are Red Boxes which carry a frightening low selection and they are so hit and miss, unless I have reserved one on-line – it’s not worth browsing.


I guess that’s all I have for news.  I guess that’s enough for today!  😀  I am still a bit shell-shocked with all the news of yesterday.  However.  I can leave you with this.

Feel free to turn up your speakers and dance around the room.

I am.  😛

Have an awesome day!!!

Morning Meanderings…My Letter From The State and a Fine (Life is never dull…)

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)41 Comments


Good morning.  Hope everyone had a lovely weekend.  Mine was crazy busy but I have lived through it and am ready to start this week with a bit of energy that I think I have stored up over night.  It’s not a lot – but I think it will be enough to spark me forward.  😛

Last month you may remember that my friend Wendy and I went on a 75 mile bike ride that started and stopped in Itaska State Park.  We drove there that morning, got lost, and finally made it there about an hour and a half later than we had hoped to start.  The man who was working for the bike ride committee told us that the main parking area was full and asked us to park  in this other lot that he pointed to.

We completed the ride in hot weather but came back triumphant from completing our goal.  We loaded up the bikes, stopped for our Dairy Queen award and went home.

Then came the letter.

The letter states that a vehicle may not enter a state park, state recreation area, or a state wayside over 50 acres in area without a state vehicle permit.  Currently my fine and court fees are $125.00

WHA???

So needless to say, I was on the phone yesterday calling the Itaska State Park Operations Supervisor who had signed this letter with the phone number.  The message said the office closes at 2 pm each day.  I left a message expressing my concern over this letter (and *gulp* fine).  Then I thought I had better call the people who set up the bike ride as well as they are the ones who would have my name registered as a rider and I am a bit upset they would have me park in an area that I shouldn’t.  I mean, if we are going to participate in this ride, no where during sign up did it say that my vehicle would need to have a Park permit.

So… I am looking for the phone number on their website… scrolling down scrolling down…. and then I stop.  What was that?  I scroll back up and almost bust a gut laughing….. the picture on their website is Wendy and I.  Not a scrolling through pics of the event… nope.  Wendy and I.  I had no idea.

So yes, I did find the phone number for the coordinator and left them a message as well.  I am hopeful today I will get some calls back and we can get this cleared up.  The picture is random – they have no idea who the pic is other than riders for the event.  I think it is HILARIOUS that I am the one who will be speaking to them about this fine and I have real proof that I was on the ride – because there I am.  (Pre – letter happy)  😛

So that is my latest in event worthy news.  Today I have work, an exiting afternoon meeting I hope to share more about with you soon, and kick ball (I know, I know) tonight.

Picture clicks to website

I hope your day is filled with sunshine and that your parking is ticket free.

😛

Morning Meanderings… Never Say Good Bye

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)13 Comments


Morning!  Ok let’s try that again.

Good morning!  😛

Sunday morning here and Banned Books Week is officially over.  Wow.  I kind of miss it.  I had a week of reading books that I have wanted to read for quite some time as well as experiencing a couple new to me titles.  Over all, I did not read one book that I could say I found offensive and agreed that this book should perhaps have limited access to certain ages.  In fact, most of them really surprised me that they were banned and some I had to look up to see exactly what people found so offensive.

Of course, as I mentioned yesterday morning, I still have banned books checked out from the library and if I can squeeze a couple more in as I return to my regular reading habits I sure will.

I do not have a lot of time this morning as I am getting ready for church and as usual am pushing the time envelope but I want to leave you with what I would like to refer to as a great theme song for Banned Books:


And… well honestly…. if you are an 80’s fan…. just a great song – period.  😀

Have an awesome Sunday everyone!  Tonight we are going out to dinner with Navy son.  It’s hard to believe he leaves tomorrow, but he is going to be in Florida for a while and with a little luck – back for Christmas.  😀

Morning Meanderings… A Girl Walks Into A Library…

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)34 Comments

Good morning!  😀  Where was I?  Coffee Cup… check…. making Snickerdoodles for this afternoon… check…..


Oh Yeah.  A Girl Walks into a library…. oh wait, that’s me.  And it’s true!  I walked into the library yesterday afternoon to return the banned books I had on loan for Banned Books Week.  At the beginning of banned books week I had mentioned how disappointed I was that I had been in our library, local bookstore, and a few other books stores in the area in the past week no one had even a peep up around banned books week.

So… I am in the library (every time I say what I want to add with the candle stick or the rope…) AND as I am returning my books I see behind a glass case police tape saying “CRIME SCENE” and a banned book display.  In the center of the display was a large book with a padlock punched through it making it impossible to open.

Pause for dramatic effect.

I was thrilled and as I went up to the window to look at their selections I seen books I would love to read.  When I asked the librarian she I could borrow whatever books I wanted to in the case and they would replace them with the books I had just returned.  (LOVE my library!) So I left with three books out of the display as well as the books I had on reserve when I walked in.

Here is what I have:



Why is Beloved Banned?  They cite violence and sex.  I read also that is very graphic as it is about a woman who kills her daughter to keep her from becoming a slave.




Why is The Lorax banned?  The Laytonville, California School District challenged this book on grounds that it “criminalizes the forestry industry.”  The book says that cutting down trees is bad.


Why was Black Boy banned?  ‘Black Boy’ is a memoir about growing up in the Jim Crow-era South, a story of survival in a sick society that treated 1/3rd of its population as sub-human chattel.  Black Boy was not banned because of Wright’s Communism (excusable considering that-until the 1950s-the US Communists were the only political party committed to racial equality) but rather because it offended many Southerners, and also due to the book’s frank descriptions of sex, violence, and racially-charged language.

“The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian” is about a young resident of an Indian reservation who decides to attend a white high school.There is sexual language and foul jokes, along with themes encompassing racism, alcoholism and violence. There are also descriptions of how the protagonist, Junior, tries to realize his dreams while surviving both life on the reservation and at a new school.


This last one just looked interesting and I looked through it a bit last night.  It lays out 100 different banned books with author, publisher, date of publishing, what the book si a about and why it was banned.  I wish I would have found this book at the beginning of the week.


And yes, today is the last day of banned books week and here I am with another pile of books as well as a couple from my original trip to the library.  Maybe they do not all get read this time around…. maybe I will find that some are not for me.  I really have enjoyed learning more about the books and why they were banned and what I have read so far this week has been an adventure in reading and one I would gladly hop on board for again.


Today I am helping at a funeral for most of the early afternoon.  I plan to be home in time to finish the lawn (seems like I am always mowing these days!) and pick out a new audio at audible.com for my mowing enjoyment.  Any audio suggestions?  Any fun plans this weekend?

Morning Meanderings… How does a reader decide what to read next despite the growing stack of options on their night table?

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)43 Comments


Morning bookish people!  Last night was so fantastic!  Brad (Navy son) and two of his buddies, Adam and Andy hung out at the house for dinner and a lot of laughter.  I love Boot Camp stories… I never get tired of them!  Brad is such a card and I can just picture the stories he shares!

Of course Navy Son trumps almost everything else going on in my life now so my banned book a day review fell off the “banned wagon” yesterday…. but only for the day!  Instead I had to pop in a very late in the evening but made the deadline review of The Guernsey Literary Potato Peel Pie Society ( the pinky swear was to read it in September!)

But look at me ramble on about all things not about the post title…. SO… whats up with that?

I am so glad you asked!

SSQQQUUUEEEEEE!!!

I was invited to be on my first ever panel for The Twin Cities Book Festival.  I am super pumped and a little nervous…. so I am going to share with you now what they sent me and I would love to hear your thoughts on this discussion.


The Changing World Of Publishing: Getting Books To Readers

Our problem is not too few good books, but too many. How does a reader decide what to read next despite the growing stack of options on their night table? How does a new author break into a dedicated reader’s “To Be Read” queue when traditional media outlets are disappearing fast? What role will new technologies like social media play now that authors are largely responsible for promoting their books themselves?” Our panel will tackle these big questions, and invite your tips and tricks for finding great books as well! (10:30 am, Hennepin Room)


Moderated by Kevin Smokler, co-founder and CEO of BookTour.com and editor of the anthology Bookmark Now: Writing in Unreaderly Times.


Tim Brown has worked behind the scenes at the Printer’s Row Book Festival in Chicago and at the Independent Press Center in New York City. He has also published three novels and his poetry and nonfiction have appeared in hundred of publications.


Sheila DeChantal is a bibliophile who lives in northern Minnesota. Her blog, “Book Journey,” contains reviews, interviews, and all things bookish.


Andrew Ervin is the author of Extraordinary Renditions, just out from Coffee House Press. He is also a noted reviewer of books for The Believer, New York Times Book Review, Rain Taxi Review of Books, and other fabulous periodicals.


Jeff Kamin moderates the “Books & Bars” reading series in Minneapolis, which won a City Pages Best of in 2009. He’s also a freelance writer, publicist, and event coordinator at the blog “Mustache Robots,” but only after being El Jefe to his two young boys.


Steph Opitz is the membership director of the Council of Literary Magazines and Presses in New York, and the former publicist at Red Hen Press in Los Angeles.


I would really appreciate hearing your thoughts on the questions that will be discussed.

Morning Meanderings… “Banned Aid”

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)25 Comments

LOL…. oh come on, I have been saving that post name all week….

*giggles to myself*

I had to use it.


Ok, Coffee Cup and I seem to be running late today so I will move on (although it still makes me smile…).  I have been having a fun week of reading books that I have selected not only because it is banned books week, but also because many of the titles are books that I have always wanted to read.  I have a few that are too big for me to get reviewed during this week, but I still plan to read them.  One of those books would be Pillars of The Earth, another would be A Prayer For Owen Meany.  Both books I currently have checked out from the library.

Last evening I put up my review of SPEAK by Laurie Halse Anderson.  I did not plan on posting it that late, but I had an insane day and after work was home all of 15 minutes before I ran out to a much-needed dinner with friends.  Sometimes just hanging out with people and having time to laugh and enjoy what happening in their lives can be like medicine for the soul.  When I got home after 8 pm, I still had a couple of touches to put on the review so I finished it up and it went live last night.  I hope you can take a minute to read it if you have not already.  This is the book that I had just started hearing about a couple of weeks ago and the controversy surrounding a particular part of the book.  When I heard the opposite side of this argument, how many people the book was reaching… I dived in cautiously waiting for the part in the book that was causing the uproar.  Seriously, it was so tastefully handled.  I even called one of my friends and read the part to her over the phone looking for a second opinion.  She too thought it was handled quite appropriately.  Of course I get that the battle is not necessarily about the wording but about the subject matter.  Anyway – enough of that…..

Today I work.  Then I mow.  (All that rain last week put me on the mower again!)  On the bright side, I hope to finish the audio of Fahrenheit 451 as I mow.  This is so the right book to read/listen to during banned books week as it is about book burning.  AND yes, I am enjoying it and yes I had given up on it recently due to the narrator, however I found it on audible.com with a different narrator and that made all the difference.  More on that in my review.  😉

Finally – the best part of my day today is that tonight Navy Son (who surprise returned home last week) and I are hanging out tonight.  I am thinking I will make turkey burgers and maybe we will go to a movie or a bike ride.  What a great way to complete my day!  😀


Why was A Prayer For Owen Meany by John Irving banned?

Banned and censored around the United States for its stance on religion and criticism of the US government regarding  the Vietnam War and Iran-Contra.