Morning Meanderings… Experience Has A Bad Rap

Published on January 3, 2018 by Sheila (Book Journey)33 Comments

Good morning from Minnesota. *Yawns. Stretches.*

I am starting to feel that my word for the year “Experience” has a bad rap.

When looking up inspirational messages for my word, I am finding that often experience is connected negatively. Exhibit A:

Really Oscar Wilde? REALLY?

I was actually surprised as I dug more into the word. My 2016 word COURAGE was so inspirational and strong. My 2017 word SHINE followed suit and everywhere you looked positive things were said in regards to SHINE.

So what is up with Experience?

I don’t see it this way.

Experience is not something you get when something bad happens. Well – it sure can be, but that is not what the word is to me. I was thinking way more positively. EXPERIENCE is moving forward and EXPERIENCING what this world/life has to offer. Doing something new, EXPERIENCING an event, a taste, a challenge, an accomplishment. It is getting up, getting out, and moving in a positive direction.

I plan to run my 1st half marathon in July of this year. That is an experience I am excited for. I am signed up to do RAGBRAI, a 7 day bike ride across Iowa. THAT is an experience.

I am not saying my year will be all sunshine and lollipops. Of all people, I know better than that. I also know that some experiences would be ones I would have rather passed on if given the choice. There may be painful experiences ahead – but guess what? The year of Courage and Shine also had their moments.

Thank you Emily. I have always liked you.

When I looked at the lists of words that are suggested for your One Word of the year, Experience does not even make the list. I kind of like that. I have always been an outside the box kind of girl and I kind of like the thought of turning Experiences reputation and the way we think of it around.

Challenge accepted.

If I can keep up with my own ambitions (ha ha … always a challenge) I will share with you here the experiences of each day… come what may –

It will be an EXPERIENCE.

January 1st… ran a 10k in 20- zero weather in St Paul Minnesota… Experience was: COLD, Invigorating, Inspirational… great way to start the New Year

January 2nd: Started a new position with a company I so enjoy working with. My friends had their baby, a little earlier than expected – but he is beautiful and he is a fighter. I received a lovely gift in the mail… a Gryffindor scarf (HOW have I not already had one of these?) And a beautiful copy of The Vampire Chronicles by Anne Rice. Something I have never read, but would like to.

Experience was: Excitement, Joy, and a little sadness too mixed in as milestones and holidays tend to do that to me.

How are you? If you chose a word this year, how is it working for you these first few days? How are you implementing it in your life?

First Book 2018 Updated

Published on January 2, 2018January 2, 2018 by Sheila (Book Journey)8 Comments

Good morning! Happy January 2nd. It has been fun to watch my E-mailbox fill with these pictures and stories about to be/being enjoyed. Each title inspires me and as some of you noted on yesterday’s post – with as many entries as we have, there is not one duplicate. I love that in so many ways. The diversity in our choices.

This morning, my friend Mary sent in her book choice of Gone Girl with a message that her son asked her to read it so they can discuss it. This opened up a flood of memories for me. On our last trip to Happy Potter world in 2014, Justin and I went to the movie. I had already seen the movie, and I had already read the book prior to that, and wanted to EXPERIENCE (see what I did there?) this with him.

He loved it. We left the theater in an Orlando mall and we immediately walked over to the malls book store where he purchased the book. We talked about it for weeks afterwards. Differences between the book and the movie, plot… I cherish those conversations.

AND that is just one of the many delights of a good book. Not only experiencing it for yourself… but sharing it. I love the book you hand to a friend and say, “Call me… as soon as you are done. We need to talk about this.” ♥

Here is the UPDATED post of the 2018 books. 93 of you in all submitted your First Book. Thank you. This is always so much fun to do and kick starts my year in books, and in blogging, off right. I am bringing over much of the info from yesterday’s post (the places and the book links) to this post so you can click away and perhaps find your second book here.

(The top 2 sets are the newly added pics)

Here are the areas where these books were sent in from: Alabama, Arkansas, Australia, Bermuda, California, Canada, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Jamaica, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, New Zealand, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Scotland, Singapore, Switzerland, Tennessee, Texas, UK, Virginia, Washington DC, Wisconsin and Wyoming

First Books:

Murder at the Vicarage by Agatha Christie

Just Between Us by Rebecca Drake

Left Neglected by Lisa Genova

Renegades by Marissa Meyer

Fitness Junkie by Lucy Sykes

Into The Water by Paula Hawkins

The Hearts Invisible Furries by John Boyne

Caraval by Stephanie Garber

Mrs. Fletcher by Tom Perrotta

The Colour of Magic by Terry Pratchett

The Sandcastle by Iris Murdock

Breaking Free by Rachel Jeffs

A Distant Heart by Sonali Dev

The Wake Up by Catherine Ryan Hyde

Leonardo da Vinci by Walter Isaacson

Ginger Snapped by Gail Oust

Wonder by RJ Palacio

The Promise Between Us by Barbara Claypole White

Copy Cat by Alex Lake

Jack Reacher The Midnight Line by Lee Child

Sourdough by Robin Sloan

Every Breath You Take by Mary Higgins Clark

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

The Little French Bistro by Nina George

Still Me by Jojo Moyes

Bear Town by Fredrich Backman

The Power by Naomi Alderman

Les Miserables by Victor Hugo

Exit West by Mohsin Hamid

The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden

Tremontaine by Ellen Kushner

The Papers of Tony Veitch by William McIivanney

Next Year in Havana by Chanel Cleeton

Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate

Curse on the Land by Faith Hunter

Degrees of Love by Lisa Slabach

Killers Of The Flower Moon by David Grann

The Leavers by Lisa Ko

My Antonia by Willa Cather

A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms by George RR Martin

Freya by Matthew Lawrence

The Lost Girls of Camp Forevermore by Kim Fu

The Chalk Man by CJ Tudor

The Wife Between Us by Greer Hendricks

American War by Omar El Akkad

Palo Duro by Max Knight

American Indians American Presidents

Travels With Charley by John Steinbeck

The Reminders by Val Emmich

The African Trilogy by Chinua Achebe

Year One by Nora Roberts

Reset Reset Reset by Ellen Pao

The Mayflower Bride by Kimberly Woodhouse

Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly

Crown of Stars by Sophie Jaff

180 Seconds by Jessica Park

Jacqueline Willoughby by Schuyler Randall

The World To Come by Dara Horn

The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah

Those who Leave and Those Who Stay by Elena Ferrante

All The Ugly and Wonderful Things by Bryn Greenwood

White Bodies by Jane Robins

Tell Me More by Kelly Corrigan

Uprooted by Naomi Novik

I liked My Life by Abby Fabiaschi

Best Day Ever by Kaira Rouda

Origin by Dan Brown

Gilded Lives, Fatal Voyage by Hugh Brewster

Faithful by Alice Hoffman

The Listener by Robert McCammom

What If God Wrote Your To Do List by Jay Payleitner

The One Hundred and One Dalmatians by Dodie Smith

In the Moment by Karen Kingsbury

A Man Called Ove by Frederick Backman

The Perfect Girl by Gilly MacMillan

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

Hunger by Roxanne Gay

The Man In The Black Suit by Sylvia Reynard

Glittering Images by Susan Howatch

Christmas Cakes and Mistletoe Nights by Catherine Matthew

I Am A Truck by Michelle Winters

Sitting Murder by AJ Wright

Swimming Lessons by Claire Fuller

Lighthouse Road by Peter Geye

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

The Weirdstone of Brisingamen by Alan Garner

Weave A Circle Round by Kari Maaren

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

River City Secrets Stories from Richmond by Lana Krumwiede

Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout

The Alice Network by Kate Quinn

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

Morning Meanderings… The Day Of The Eve

Published on December 31, 2017 by Sheila (Book Journey)10 Comments

Good morning. *Yawns stretches* How are we doing this New Years Eve Day?

I am sitting here with LAPTOP and COFFEE looking out at a very chilly day (22 below is the current Minnesota temp) and thinking of all the little things I want to accomplish today.

I have some laundry in the works, and a website I am building for an upcoming event, and pictures to go and take for an article, and what to make for dinner… and I am of course thinking about The First Book Of The Year… not only the post (which I love love love) but also… what my book will be.

My book will possibly be at least partially completed on audio since I leave early to get to a 10K run in the AM in St Paul and listening to audio makes that 2+ hour drive way more enjoyable… but alas… which book? (The first book is almost as hard to pick as the word of the year lol)

If you are considering participating in First Book or if you are reading this thinking what the heck is First Book? Here is a link to that post. It is not to late to send in a pic to me of you and the book to add to the collage of readers going into 2018.

I am also looking at Goodreads. I love that challenge, I am just trying to think what I can realistically do. There was a time I could read over 100 books a year. Now with all the things I have added in my life, I do not think that is a reachable goal. I want to partake for sure, and I don’t want to drop the ball on it like I did in 2017.

So thats me.

The First Book post will go up early due to my run. If you miss getting your pic in on time, do not worry – I almost always have some that come in after the posting and I add them to a post on January 2nd.

In the mean time… enjoy this day as we close out 2017 and all it has held… and look forward to 2018 and what this New Year will bring.

Morning Meanderings…. Seriously – Where You Been?

Published on November 18, 2017 by Sheila (Book Journey)24 Comments

Huh.

So sad to turn to this site today and see how long it has sat waiting for me.

Am I reading? Yes

Am I doing? Yes

So what’s my damage? Why could I not get up like I used to… grab my COFFEE and write something funny(IMO) or amazing or ridiculous or hard or coming soon or….

Meh. I don’t really know.

I wont bore you with the details ( well.. any more than I already have)…. lets just rip the band-aid off and start again.

Hi.

I’m Sheila. I love to read and write and talk about both. I love to do community and I love to create and dream and do. I love to bike and run and I want to love kick boxing. 😉 I love to be outside the box because A. I don’t believe the box has ever been big enough. B. The box is so overdone I want to puke C. Life is too precious to contain yourself to such perimeters. D. All of the above

(yes… it is D)

That said… here is what I have been reading as of late…

The Girl With Seven Names is our Books Burgers and Brews selection for Monday November 20th. This will be our first non fiction title we have read with this group and it should be interesting. It is also the first selection we have had that I was unable to find any discussion questions on line (EEP) meaning I need to create the discussion…

The Bookies Book Club recently finished The Kind Worth Killing…. and ooh. I will be reviewing this one at some point here soon…. Peter Swanson (IMO) knocked this one out of the park. LOVED so much about this…

And finally … what am I doing on audio?

Yeah…. don’t be judgy…. every once in a while I like to listen to a true crime. It’s been a while and this one is crazy. Its one of those which I am seriously baffled why it took the police so long to catch him. Trust I will have much MUCHNESS to say about this one…

Anyway – that’s my meanderings. Stay tuned for a book review coming your way shortly.

Oh and yes…. I will again be hosting One Word here and I will again be hosting The First Book Of The Year here. Stay tuned….. it is coming 😉

WHAT are you reading?

Morning Meanderings… Scraping in with Author Lisa Jewell #bookexpo2

Published on June 17, 2017 by Sheila (Book Journey)7 Comments

Saturday!!!! My favorite day of the week! I usually get to connect with friends… and try to take this day as something at least partially for me… a little reading or sitting in the sun… and I try to avoid any work projects if possible.

In a little bit here I am going to go to town to get a spreadsheet for the books coming out (yes I am trying to be organized!!!) as well as go try on a potential dress for next months annual Queen event.

Today I want to talk about another book that made its way home with me from the expo…

Hello to I Found You by Lisa Jewell.

In the windswept British seaside town of Ridinghouse Bay, single mom Alice Lake finds a man sitting on a beach outside her house. He has no name, no jacket, and no idea how he got there. Against her better judgment, she invites him inside.

Meanwhile, in a suburb of London, newlywed Lily Monrose grows anxious when her husband fails to return home from work one night. Soon, she receives even worse news: according to the police, the man she married never even existed.

Twenty-three years earlier, Gray and Kirsty Ross are teenagers on a summer holiday with their parents. The annual trip to Ridinghouse Bay is uneventful, until an enigmatic young man starts paying extra attention to Kirsty. Something about him makes Gray uncomfortable—and it’s not just because he’s a protective older brother.

Who is the man on the beach? Where is Lily’s missing husband? And what ever happened to the man who made such a lasting and disturbing impression on Gray?

OOH right? I love a good mystery and Lisa Jewell’s books never disappoint. I am looking forward to spending some time in this one.

Happy Saturday! I hope you are listening to or reading something really really good!

Morning Meanderings… The Books Of The Expo Have Arrived

Published on June 11, 2017 by Sheila (Book Journey)15 Comments

Good morning. Or afternoon. Or evening. Depending on where you are in the world and when you actually read this. 🙂

Whirlwind weeks and the best of intentions did not mix when I hoped to write more this past week while I was at Camp Benedict. So here I am now, home from camp, pretty (almost) caught up on laundry, and house stuff and sleep.

When I pulled into the driveway Friday afternoon I smiled when my eyes fell upon the three boxes sitting by my front step. Book Expo findings!!! I hauled them in the house and put them on the couch in the front room where they stayed until yesterday morning when I finally felt I had enough energy to dig into them….

That is the complete haul besides some cool book bags (another post perhaps…) and other swag.

There they are. *sigh* Beautiful books. I will be talking about these books throughout the summer. Stay tuned to hear more about them and why they were the among the chosen ones to come into my home.

It looks to be a rainy day here in Central Minnesota… as much as I was looking forward to working in the garden today this may instead be a curl up and read day…. those days are now few and far between and book club is this coming Tuesday so maybe… not a bad idea.

Happy Sunday all 🙂

Morning Meanderings… A RUNNING kick off to the year and MORE First Books

Published on January 2, 2017 by Sheila (Book Journey)14 Comments

“Well…

I guess we are doing this. “

Little known fact about me…. that line above is how I usually think right before I have to complete whatever I agreed to do or signed up for. 😛 True story…. The first year of Wine and Words… we planned it – I envisioned it, found authors, held meetings, and then the day of the event…

I was all butterfly’s and twirling tummy… and thought…

“Well, I guess we are doing this.”

That still has not changed.

I sign up for things and agree to things- because they are who I want to be… I want to be a runner. I want to be a biker and a hiker. I want to be a thrill seeker. I want to be energetic. I want to have events in my community that are fun and successful…. and so I plan things. I agree to things… and I do them.

Yesterday was no exception. Doing the Polar Dash on January 1st each year is insane, The weather is usually freezing…. it is a 2 1/2 drive for me to get to the event to run in this freezing weather.

Yet to see all the people that do this…. I like being a part of that crazy. I like to start out a new year with something positive and shiny. And here is how it went…

I ran with my two friends Sheila (yes another one!) and Belinda. The weather was fantastic – in the mid 20’s….. if my knee would have been feeling top notch, I would have loved to have does the 10k instead of the 5. We ran, we got our free beer ticket at the end and we had a delicious lunch. I felt I hit the mark for shining day one of 2017.

Also – if you did not see and read the First Book post from yesterday, please do. LOVE LOVE LOVE the participation. I had a few late comers to the party and I am happy to add them here today. Look in this mix for our Emcee of Wine and Words, author Lorna Landvik.

Thank you to all once again for ringing int he New Year with me and with great reads. I love looking at all the titles and seeing what I should be reading. Also – did you find me in yesterdays post? I am there. ;P

Morning Meanderings…. Bringing The Year To A Close

Published on December 30, 2016 by Sheila (Book Journey)9 Comments

December 30th.

Does that just feel crazy to anyone else besides me?

This whole year really has been… different. I started out the year just trying to breathe and honestly not really caring if I did. That solid depression/funk stayed with me through June and only started lifting when I had to be a part of the Camp Board I am on… I went in planning to resign when the week was up… I came out…

renewed…

From there – I moved into August for Wine and Words and then I MOVED. By that I mean, I got on my bike. I went back to the gym. I started walking with friends and signing up for runs. I started to find me again, probably because I was actively trying to… for myself and for my son. Reading, fell to the wayside this year…. its crazy to say that but true. I kept my mind occupied with projects and going and doing.

It brought me to now… still and forever crushed by the enormous loss in my life… at the same time determined to do something with what I have been given as I am all too painfully aware many of us take our days for granted…. and I can tell you first hand – dont do that. LIVE each one well.

So here we are.

Our winter so far has been mild with little snow. I have walked a lot through our local arboretum with friends… more than I have probably ever been out in the winter weather before. Yes yes… I am a Minnesota girl who is not a fan of winter – it is true.

If you have not signed up for first book yet – please do! I love putting that together for the new year and it is so uplifting to see all the readers from around the world! Here is the link to that post. I look forward to getting back into my reviews and back with all of you as we enter 2017.

♥

Morning Meanderings….Count Down To Christmas

Published on December 19, 2016 by Sheila (Book Journey)20 Comments

Good morning.

I hope all of you are well and snug and warm and ready for the week to come.

This season is odd for me now.

No tree is put up in our home. I am not bustling around and wrapping gifts and making lists….

The joy of the season – for me is gone. For now anyway. And I hate even writing that because it makes me sad but it is also so true.

So what do I do?

This week I will do what I have been doing the last 5 months. I will stay busy. I will go to the gym, walk in the arb, have coffee dates and find my way through. My friend Amy and I are going to make a make shift 5k for Christmas eve eve (yes the eve before the eve) because having something to focus on works for me.

Enough of that though….

lets talk books.

WHAT????? Books?

Yes yes.. ha ha. I have not written a review in ages. I need to. I want to. I am ready for a New Year in that sense as I can start my Good Read goal again…. the one I blew this year as I just…. didnt.

AND be sure to check out First Book of the year….. AND soon to be coming/posting will be One Word…. our word for the year which I am still sorting through as I do every year…trying to pick just the right one. It is a BIG DEAL.

So that is a brief what is happening with me. I am off to the gym, making biscotti this afternoon while listening to audio and perhaps a walk in the arb with a friend.

Working my way back.

I am.

Morning Meanderings: We Now Return You To Your Regularly Scheduled Program

Published on December 11, 2016December 11, 2016 by Sheila (Book Journey)13 Comments

I do exist.

I have no excuses. I just went about life and didn’t make it here. I needed time to find me again… it is still a work in progress but I feel as though I may be getting there.

AND – I have been DOING. Which…. is actually a great word.

I am going to quickly update you as I have TONS to catch up on with reviews and crazy things that have been happening (in good ways)…

Most importantly at this moment – YES to those of you who have asked if I am doing First Book again. YES! I love first book and this will be my 4th year doing it and I absolutely want to own this one again. I will have the sign up ready today – I hope you will join.

Did I mention I LOVE First Book?

Next – YES I am totally doing ONE WORD again as well. This will be the 5th year I have hosted the One Word and as you know from last years post, I LOVE this as well. I am still thinking about my word…… posting soon on this. Yes I promise 🙂

As for everything else…. I have been running, dressing up, biking, hanging with friends, getting out of the house, working with non profits, working with a fun online project, creating websites, walking in the snow, going back to the YMCA, lifting weights, saying YES more… and remembering that I am doing this life for two now… and I can not let Justin down. (Yes there are sample pictures….)

I miss all of you. I just have not been taking the time to be here and I need to do that. Minnesota is cold…. damp… and it s a good time to get acquainted with this blog again and all of you.

Thanks for waiting for me. ♥

Sheila

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