Morning Meanderings – Page 42

Morning Meanderings… Saturday My Favorite Day Of The Week!

Published on March 1, 2014 by Sheila (Book Journey)20 Comments

If you read me I think you know I LOVE Saturdays. Quite often they are the day that I have no commitments and I really need a day like that, preferably at least once a week or I get a little boggled. 😀

Today… is a no commitment day.

I have really had no super excitement as of late, the run I was supposed to do last Sunday I did not do because of my injured foot (the ol’ dropping of the treadmill) and our roads here in Central Minnesota were BAD last weekend after yet another snow storm. There was an opportunity to do a Polar Plunge today about 30 miles from here but with the temperatures still dipping below zero, and the people I knew that thought they were going to do it really never decided…. I will wait another year to do that again. 😀

I thought today or Saturday Snapshot, since outside is cold and dreary I would just post a few past fun things that will make me; and maybe you… smile.

**This is the Polar Plunge we did I think three years ago. Notice how I am being drug into the water… EEP!**

**This was a sign at the Color Run Justin and I did on 2013. I thought it was so funny I told him we had to pose by it.**

**About 45 minutes from Brainerd there is an apple orchard and this display is what sits out on the road by their entrance… some photo ops are too good to pass up 🙂**

This (above) pic was taken in August 2011, our ten-year anniversary of our book club. Angie and I are two out three of the original Bookies and we are sitting in the same booth we sat in when we had our very first Bookies meeting in August 2001. Now.. there are too many Bookies to fit into this booth, although it would have been fun to try 😀 Oh and if you are wondering what that first book was that was read by the Bookies it was Dance Upon The Air by Nora Roberts. Awesome book.

This is the full Bookies book club (missing one in this picture – Susan) as of last February. It’s not often that we all make it so this was a great time to take a photo-op and show off the goodies that Author Sandra Brannan had sent us in a “Care Package” for our review of In The Belly Of Jonah.

There is my Saturday Snapshot for this week. 😀 Hope you all have a wonderful Saturday, I have some reading to do and house stuff and unless Al and I hit a movie later today I think I may just stay in. 😀

Morning Meanderings…. Ladies Night Out Recap

Published on February 28, 2014 by Sheila (Book Journey)3 Comments

Good morning! Happy HAPPY Friday!

My ladies night excursion last night was fun! Myself and three of my friends went around to local business and had our cards punched and did everything from shooting hoops, to trying a room key at a hotel to see if we won a suite for a weekend, to hula hooping. 😛 At the stops we received samples, coupons, and tasty treats.

GNO (Girls Night Out) is a fun event that happens twice a year in Brainerd, once in February and once in October… you may remember the October one… they encourage us to dress up:

This event is actually a brilliant way to get women to go out and learn about the businesses in our community. We are given a list of places to go to get the punch on our card. AT these businesses we may need to answer questions about the business to enter to win something (they always make it easy to find the answers), or you may play a game like mini golf… at one of the stops last night they were giving massages…. NICE! Not only do we learn about the businesses in our community, we have a great time with our friends!

Each stamp on our card earns up a ticket at the end of the night. The tickets go into a big drawing box and then winners are announced on the radio at 8:15 am the following morning. If they announce your ticket # you have two minutes to call in or they draw another #. This morning they gave away a spa package, a pair of diamond earrings, a $500 cash prize, and a $10000 cash prize. They said about 240 women participated last night which is down from over 450 in the fall, but we are still battling cold awful weather here. The $1000 winner did not call within two minutes this morning so they drew another #. It’s exciting and fun!

None of the girls in my group won but you can be sure we will try again in the fall. 😀

Today I have a meeting about the camp applications for this years Camp Benedict, a camp that I am on the Board of. I also need to work out, write a review, work on Wine and Words brochures, work on Friends Of the Library brochures, run a few errands in town, purchase my BEA plane ticket, finish laundry, plan dinner… it’s going to be a great day 😀

Morning Meanderings… New Window at The Library

Published on February 27, 2014 by Sheila (Book Journey)16 Comments

Good morning! Here I am at the end of my work week after today and feeling pretty good. 😀 Yes, this is another morning meandering about the library. Really…. there has been quite the library theme this week.

You may have seen this fun picture floating around Facebook:

We decided to mimic this (sort of) for our March window. So yesterday I worked on this:

We went with green because of ST Patrick’s Day and of course because maybe someday hopefully we will see Spring. It was a lot of fun to pick out the books off my shelf that are green. 😀

Tonight is the Spring (ha ha – but true) Girls Night Out. Our City does a little cool Stars Hollowish (yes yes Gilmore Girls reference) thing where starting at 3 pm today women are given a list of businesses to visit around the area. At each stop you received a ticket, as well as drawings, appetizers, occasionally beverages. At the end of the night, by 8 pm we all have to meet at a specific store and turn all of tickets into a BIG box that will be shook up and in the morning on the radio they will draw for the big prizes… sometimes a spa package, or diamond earrings….

It has been so cold and windy that I would rather stay home… however, I also think that if I can just stick it out, maybe the competition will not be as steep this time. 😛

Is that wrong? 😯

Anyhoo… that’s my day.

Morning Meanderings… Librarian For A Day Experience

Published on February 26, 2014 by Sheila (Book Journey)27 Comments

Good morning! Happy Wednesday 😀

Yesterday afternoon I was able to go into the Library and learn about working the Reference Desk. This is part of a program called “Librarian For A Day” where Library Board members and Friends Board Members are invited to come in and see what it is like to work the library. It’s an amazing idea and really gives you a feel for what is really happening at the library.

My designated area yesterday was the Reference Desk. I was able to work with Laurel (who is awesome!) as she explained to me all the Reference Desk does. First off, we were surrounded by people with questions. I found this interesting as we have the computers set up for people to look up book titles and availability – they can find book locations from there and reserve them if they are not available at this time – However people really seem to like to talk to a person with their requests, which was pretty great. We assisted with checking on book availability, book titles, books by topic… From the Reference Desk we could see if perhaps we did not have the book but another library in our system did and we could reserve it for the person to be sent to our library.

The Reference desk is also the area where the new books that are to be shelved come in. This is interesting because our branch does not bar code the books, they go to a larger division of us that bar codes our purchases before they come to us. We then need to check them into the system. ( notice how I am saying we 😛 )

Laurel was able to show me how to check in a couple new books. We (there it is again) put wide clear shipping tape on the spines of paperbacks when they come to help reinforce them from wear. That is interesting! They also receive a red removable tape that says New! to let people know that this is a new book at the library. If a new book comes in and has holds on it, it then goes to the shelf for the hold if it is our Library, or into a bin to be sent to another library if the hold is there. Pick up and delivery to the other libraries in our group happens 4 times a week. In this case, the book that was just checked in was 12 Years A Slave, and that book had a hold on it for the Wadena Library so off we ( ahhh the “we” again!) went to drop it in the tote going to Wadena. As pick up was in the morning, Laurel said that this book would be in Wadena tomorrow for the person who requested it.

The lady who works at the reference desk does all the book ordering for the library by looking through magazines of what is popular and what is coming. What a fun job that would be!

I was only there a short time but it was worth it and I can not wait to do it again!

Morning Meanderings: Librarian For A Day

Published on February 25, 2014 by Sheila (Book Journey)23 Comments

Not going to lie… I am kind of excited 😀

Our Library offers an occasional opportunity to City Board Members and Friends Board Members to get a real taste of what it is like to work at the library. These LUCKY people will work behind the circulation desk assisting in checking out books, answering questions about library cards, and talking books. AND if they choose, they will also have an opportunity to work at the reference desk, researching questions that come up about books.

EGADS, does that not sound like fun? 😛

My shift starts today at 2 pm. Do you have any idea how long I have wanted to be behind that counter? I mean…. ummmm…. yeah, it might be great.

😳

If you are in the area stop in and see me 🙂

As for the rest of my day – I am home tonight, starting my running training program late afternoon and then moving on to a book this evening. Should be a wonderful day. 😀

Does your local library offer opportunities for you to work or volunteer there?

Morning Meanderings… Weekend Time Suck Vortex

Published on February 23, 2014 by Sheila (Book Journey)4 Comments

What a great low-key weekend. The winter storm on Thursday and Friday cancelled my plans and kept me inside, and the aftermath of slick roads and warnings kept me from going to the cities yesterday for a run with my friends today, I have completed some tiny tasks and enjoyed a nice quiet weekend. Quite a different feel then the past few weeks of activity.

I have spent time listening to audio while cooking and cleaning, and even some time reading. I updated the Wine and Words website and announced our author line up. I rented a movie for my husband and I that scared me (The conjuring). I napped. I talked with friends on the phone and ran a bit on the treadmill. I finished watching the second season of New Girl and I will miss them. I have barely left the house and that is ok.

Today I have also decided to lay low. The week will take off soon enough with dinner plans tomorrow night with friends, a library board meeting mid-week, and board planning for camp next Friday. March will bring a possible Polar Plunge, a ST Patrick’s Day Run, a girls weekend in Detroit Minnesota, the spring library sale, and a glow in the dark run.

I guess today is a good day to relax. 😀 Books, reviews, treadmill, and cooking are on the agenda. Here are the the books that came in my home this week:

Unveiling The Wine and Words 2014 Line Up

Published on February 22, 2014February 22, 2014 by Sheila (Book Journey)39 Comments

Ok this is probably stretching Saturday Snapshot a bit… but I am excited so PLEASE allow me this stretch just this one – puh-lease? *batting my eyes*

Wine and Words is the literary event myself, my co-chair Gail and an amazing team from the Friends Of The Brainerd Public Library debuted last year. We created an event around free wine and amazing authors just to see what would happen and it was amazing. (Wow! Can I say the word amazing any more times)? 😛

My concern this year was could we do it again? We have no budget so we ask our authors to come out of the love for libraries, a chance to talk to a group of book lovers, and an opportunity to sign books. I value people’s time, so we worked hard making sure it was a great experience for them as well, putting welcome baskets in their beautiful hotel rooms with fresh flowers, a Minnesota magazine, chocolates and a thank you card.

After plugging away on the author line for about 5 weeks, we have our authors! I am super excited to show you who they are:

Benjamin Percy is a Minnesota author who’s book Red Moon is now being filmed to become a TV series!

Minnesota Author, Nicole Lee Helget’s new book Stillwater is creating quite a stir! I can not wait to read it.

Catherine McKenzie is from Canada. Her first three books have won many awards and her new one, Hidden, will be coming out yet this spring.

Randy Susan Meyers lives in Boston Massachusetts. Her first two books have created quite the buzz (both are on my shelves!) and her third book, Accidents Of Marriage (due out in September) , will make an early debut at Wine and Words!

Barbara Claypole White lives and gardens in North Carolina. Her books also grace my shelves. The In-Between Hour is newly released and won a 2014 Okra award.

and back by popular demand…. our emcee, Lorna Landvik:

Lorna Landvik is a known comedian and author. Her books include Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons.

There it is! That’s our group! I am so excited. Tickets will go on sale in the next couple of weeks. We had some pretty amazing authors say they could not do this year but to give them a try for next year. Authors that excite me so much I will not even share who they are because I may jinx (does that still happen???) it. 😀 Now I switch into silent auction mode, looking for items for the auction.

If you have some time, check out the Wine and Words website, freshly updated. There are pictures from last years event as well as our authors and team. Also, be sure and check out other Saturday Snapshot posts! They are a fun way to see what is happening around our world 😀

Morning Meanderings… CANCELLED

Published on February 21, 2014February 21, 2014 by Sheila (Book Journey)33 Comments

Ha! As I read the title of this post I have to laugh. Or wince maybe… I am not cancelling Morning Meanderings although by the looks of Brainerd right now, I could…. I could cancel everything…. hope, joy… they are just a LARGE shovel of snow away.

GAH.

😯

We were hit yesterday afternoon with yet another snow storm. My Bunco fun was cancelled… today schools again are closed… I think this is the 5th or 6th time that schools have been closed this season due to either extreme cold or extreme snow. I don’t remember there ever being a year like this before. POO.

1ca — **The front porch this morning. GAH. The wind really blew it into a nice heap for me.**

**My driveway – is in there somewhere….**

I am supposed to be all the way across town and looking at camp applications at noon today. I am still debating if I am going to make the trek or once again have to postpone. We had this same meeting set up for this past Monday but once again the snow came in and caused poor driving conditions.

Have I mentioned lately that I am SOOOOOO over winter?

Today may just be a stay in, do a little reading, a little house work, website work for Wine and Words, and yes yes… the treadmill.

What is everyone else doing with their Friday?

BUNCO NIGHT!!!! What???? Help…..

Published on February 20, 2014February 20, 2014 by Sheila (Book Journey)5 Comments

Good morning … flowers and I don’t know… books I guess, for everyone. It is Thursday! My last work day of the week and tonight I play Bunco!

😯

My friend Laura apparently has this dark unknown side to her life that I was unaware of and she is on a Bunco league. (Visions of The Pink Ladies from Grease come to mind… yes, women that are THAT cool)

I didn’t even know there were Bunco Leagues. Probably more importantly… I have not played Bunco in years… and that was once… at church.

I love games so I am super excited to fill in as a sub tonight. Just this morning I looked through the basics of the game to refresh me… good grief…. WhAt? It sounds like it is fast-moving, you switch seats and partners a lot and well…

we will see.

Any Bunco players out there that give me any advice? Do not crack under the pressure…. It’s only a game and maybe leave the Pink Ladies jacket at home? 😀

Morning Meandering…. It was painful… but it is finished :)

Published on February 19, 2014 by Sheila (Book Journey)23 Comments

Good morning. 😀 After my heavier topic on censorship yesterday, I need something lighter. Well, ha ha maybe lighter is not the correct word in this case… after all this topic is 350 pounds of OUCH.

On Friday I went into our local sports shop and purchased a really nice running treadmill at a pretty significant deal with in store sales and I had an additional 20% off coupon. I was super excited to get moving on this one. Literally. 😛

With Valentines Day and then a busy Saturday as well I did not get a chance to work on it until Sunday late afternoon. The first step was I had to put wheels on the lower frame so I lifted the one side up, attached a wheel, went to lower it back to the ground and dropped the heavy metal track (probably at least 300 of the 350 pounds) on my left foot.

Does anyone else ever notice it is always on my left????

I took this picture right away and posted it on Facebook.

On Monday – I took these pictures:

It didn’t hurt a whole lot but my friends urged me to go have it looked at. On Monday afternoon I did go to Urgent Care where they x rayed my foot and found it severely bruised… but not broken. YAY!

Last night.. I finished assembling the treadmill.

I have not taken a stroll on it yet but I plan to after work tonight. My foot is still a little tender so we will see how it goes. I have a run I really want to do this weekend and I need to see where I am at with this . 😀

Yes yes… it is ironic to drop a treadmill on your foot… but if anyone is going to do it, it would be me. 😛