Morning Meanderings – Page 5

Late Meanderings… Lets Talk About That Bench

Published on May 18, 2016May 18, 2016 by Sheila (Book Journey)9 Comments

Whoa… wait… what?

I lost the morning. I had every intention of putting up an earlier post and then life just gets in the way.

I had a meeting at the library this morning and I parked where I usually do near the benches. THE BENCHES. I was there yesterday as well and spent a little time at the bench and took a couple of pictures.

You may notice a little something on the bench in the right hand corner…

This little rock has the word ‘TRUST” written on it. I have no idea where it came from, but I LOVE it. Thank you to whoever for putting such a powerful message out there. I have no idea what it means to the giver, but I imagine knowing my son there is a ton of meaning behind it.

So today, as I walk into the library a group of teens are approaching the benches (there are three benches) and the four of them choose to sit on Justin’s bench and the tears start to flow. I can imagine that he would love this. I also noticed the rock was still there which also warmed my heart through the tears.

When I left the library, a different person, a lone girl was sitting on the bench and again … oh my heart.

I did not get to visit the bench today due to the activity around it. I did not want to approach and let anyone know my personal connection to that particular bench. That’s awkward and unfair to those using the bench… although I secretly hoped that perhaps at least one of them knew Justin, or his story and were spending a little time with him –

just like the trust rock.

I am behind on the BEA posts, I had another post planned for yesterday but it did not happen. Hopefully today will be the day I invite you to the Audie Awards. Put on something nice 😉

BEA Book NOTE!

Ashes by Laurie Halse Anderson

Setting: Revolutionary War, Valley Forge

Compact Synopsis: The conclusion to the trilogy that started with Chains and continued with Forge. Isabel and Curzon are now reported as runaways. They are determined to find Isabel’s little sister Ruth who is enslaved in a Southern state and danger of being captured is all around.

The Draw: Hello! Have you ever read Laurie Halse Anderson? If not, you are truly missing out. SPEAK was the first book I read by her (a banned book) and I was hooked. Known for writing about hard issues, this book excites me! And the cover? WOW. That caught my eye even before I seen who wrote the book.

Morning Meanderings…. BEA…. Those First Few Hours

Published on May 17, 2016May 17, 2016 by Sheila (Book Journey)11 Comments

Good morning all. Started out to be a beautiful sunny day and then went to overcast and a bit chilly – I guess a good day to be at the library working on projects that the Friends are involved in. Got to get in that weekly library dose! 😉

Continuing from where I left off yesterday, last Wednesday was the first official day of the Book Expo in Chicago. It was a bit different from in past years as the expo floor did not open until 1:00 pm. That left us with a lot of time to check things out. Candace (Beth Fish Reads) and I had breakfast and met with Jill (Rhapsody in Books). Always awesome to see her! Then I headed to registration to pick up my badge:

OOOOH! AHHHHH! This is always a highlight as I collect these badges and have every year of the Expo that I attended as well as other book panels and bookish events I have been a part of. Yes…. I know… I am letting my dorkiness show.

As the time drew near to the expo opener (lol…. had to say that)…. we all gathered in the hall. I had a chance to see Jennifer from Jenn’s Bookshelves as we waited. LOVE seeing the regular BEA group! It was also interesting to watching the diehards scramble for a foothold in the entrance area while those of us who have “been there- done that” waited out of the crazy zone.

Even better…. there was another entrance apparently unspotted by this group that had no surge of people at all. When the time came… we just walked in. No limbs were harmed in the opening of the expo 🙂

I tend to mostly walk the floor alone. I had no method to my madness. Some people come with carefully laid out plans of whom to see and when and that has always been more than I usually do. I like to walk the floor hitting the big name publishing areas first as they tend to have pretty amazing book drops for you to choose from and then I trickle my way through the expo watching for titles that catch my eye and publishing houses I need to connect or reconnect with.

By 4 pm, Candace and I met up to head back to our room with our treasures for the day and to get ready for the Audie Awards. The Expo was open until 5:30 but we were done and I was happy to get out of the hustle of people and books for a while…. besides…. I did just fine with my book haul:

So that was the Expo day 1. Later today we will move on to the amazing Audie Awards that Candace and I were lucky enough to attend that evening.

BEA BOOK NOTE!

The Littlest Bigfoot by jennifer weiner…

Setting: a boarding school

Compact Synopsis: Twelve year old Alice Mayfield goes through life mostly unnoticed by her family and with no friends. When she one day rescues Milly Maximus from drowning, Alice feels she has found the friend she always wanted.

One thing though…

Milly is a Bigfoot, part of a group of Bigfoots that live in the woods and fear people (“No-Furs”). It is up to Alice to find a way to keep her new friend safe and keep her secrets. It is also a time for both Alice and Milly to put faith in one another… faith they need to pull form deep inside.

The Draw: Jennifer Weiner is an author I have enjoyed in the past with books such as Certain Girls, Good In Bed, The Next Best Thing, Best Friends Forever, and Fly Away Home (just to name a few that I have read. So yes, to me…. author name recognition as well as this sounds like a pretty cute Middle Grade read!

Age Range: 8 – 12 years
Grade Level: 3 – 7
Series: The Littlest Bigfoot (Book 1)
Hardcover: 304 pages
Publisher: Aladdin (September 13, 2016)

Morning Meanderings… Coffee Around The World With The BEA Girls

Published on May 16, 2016May 16, 2016 by Sheila (Book Journey)27 Comments

Good morning all! Happy Monday and all that. I think I have made a full recovery from BEA over the weekend. I did close to nothing yesterday… a little laundry, a little organizing, and dinner – that’s it. I meant to mow the lawn… I never got there.

SO this past Friday evening, Candace (Beth Fish Reads) and Florinda (3 R’s Blog), and I, were having dinner together in Chicago as it was our final evening of the expo. Kim (Sophisticated Dorkiness) was having dinner with her cousin who lives in the area. Florinda mentioned how sad it would be to go home and on Monday morning not be able to have breakfast with all of us like we had been doing the past few days.

This morning…. a series of planned texts went out to Florinda so we could make that happen.

Representing Wisconsin, California, Minnesota and Pennsylvania. Breakfast around the world!

In other super news…. I have not unpacked the car from books yet. LOL….I know, I know… today is the day. However – I did open the back of the CRV today and pulled out the first book I touched so I could talk about a BEA book… expect LOTS of this coming up 😉 :

The Ringmaster’s Wife:

Setting: Turn of the Century Chicago World Fair (score!) and also the Roaring 20’s! (Double score!)

Compact Synopsis: Turn of the century, a young girl named Mable steps away from all she knows at her family farm and is swept into the World Fair where a chance encounter with none other than John Ringling, changes her destiny forever.

Fast forward 25 years later and the 20’s are in a literal full swing, Rosamund Easling boards a ship to America and crosses paths with none other than the now famous, Mable Ringling. The encounter causes Rosamund to toss away all other plans and stay on with the Ringling Circus as a trick rider.

The Draw: The gorgeous cover caught my eye, the synopsis made me buy the ticket to board this story as soon as possible!

Paperback: 368 pages
Publisher: Thomas Nelson (June 7, 2016)

That’s it for now… as promised, a post will come up today about the first day of the Book Expo.

Morning Meanderings… Return From The Expo (BEA!)

Published on May 15, 2016 by Sheila (Book Journey)35 Comments

Home.

As many of you know I was in Chicago this past week for the Book Expo (BEA). In the past, I have blogged from the expo – pictures, happenings, events…. this year, it was enough for me to just go. I forgot my two boxes of business cards at home, and after that initial “DOH!”, decided this was the year I would reconnect and took it easy.

I met up with my roommate Candace (Beth Fish Reads) on Tuesday late after noon after I drove the supposed-to-be-8-hours-and-is-actually-closer-to-10-hours drive from Minnesota to Chicago. We made it to our room, organized and then had appetizers and a glass of wine with Florinda (3 R’s Blog) and Kim (Sophisticated Dorkiness).

As this week goes on I will give you a day by day break down of the who’s and whats of this years expo. I will share about the show, about the Audie Awards (SQQQUUUEEEEE), narrator connections, publishing connections, fellow bloggers (♥!), and more.

Today I just wanted to share that the Expo was a good decision for me to attend. It was good to get out of the house for a while and function like I used to. I have a long ways to go to coming back into some form of me, but this was a good start.

It is so easy to get caught up in the reconnecting with Publishers and people you have worked with in the past with reviews and write ups. It is also easy that while you are talking with these publishing houses to accept the 3, 4, 5,… books that the know you will just love and the pitch for these books leave you thinking that you must read this book. Their enthusiasm is contagious. I mention all of this because what i will share with you as this week goes on is how you go from driving to the expo with a few audio books in the front seat to keep you company (thank you Karen White you were an excellent road trip companion) to this….

LOL. Some people thought this would be pretty funny to stage my car and make it look over flowing with books. Anyway, stay tuned… there are plans and posts for these books as well as a save the date event (June 9) my 7 year Blogiversary where there will be the usual BEA giveaway packages to celebrate bloggers all over.

Until then… happy reading.

Morning Meanderings…. Mother’s Day

Published on May 8, 2016 by Sheila (Book Journey)9 Comments

It one of those days that I want to take out my Harry Potter wand and say,

“Riddikulus”

Of course 1. I do not own a Harry Potter wand. and 2. well, it would not change a thing.

I planted flowers yesterday in the back yard and this morning while out sitting at Justin’s bench I took a couple of pictures of my handy work. I have been on an emotional roller coaster with Justin’s benefit last weekend, his birthday this past Monday and now Mothers Day. I feel around this time of year that I can not catch a break.

A break is coming though. On Tuesday morning I will get into my car, put on an audio book and start driving to Chicago for the book expo. That is pretty crazy for me who has really come to like my home A LOT this past year – yet I know this will be good for me to get out into the world doing what I love and seeing other reviewers such as many of you. That…. makes me smile.

Today my son Brad and my husband Al are grilling and making a brunch for me. That is sweet as Justin was the planner in the family for things such as this and to watch these two try to come up with a plan is sweet. They know I do not want to go out anywhere so we will stay here, in my own little sanctuary where I can smile, and laugh, and cry all at once and not have people look at me that do not understand.

“Riddikulus”

And with that – Happy Mother’s Day to all of you. No matter where you are at today or what those word’s mean to you. For all of you hurting on a day like this, please think about something positive to make you smile and know and know and know that you are not alone.

Morning Meanderings… Positive Decisions

Published on May 5, 2016 by Sheila (Book Journey)10 Comments

Thursday morning. I would like a little more sun then what I am currently seeing in the sky, a little more energy to do all I need to do, and a little more COFFEE.

Yesterday afternoon after much heartfelt consideration I sent in my resignation from the Minnesota Association Of Library Friends Board. It was a hard decision to make. I enjoyed being a part of the decisions that Minnesota makes for their Friends groups and their Libraries. The dynamics of these meetings being over two hours away for me to attend was part of the decision. Two hours there, 3 to 4 hour meeting, two hours back. It was a full day commitment. It also, inevitably always collided with something else… my Friends (local) meetings, our book sales; the next one would have been Monday and Tuesday I leave for Chicago so it would have been a full day on Monday in St Paul and then leave Tuesday morning for Chicago and drive it again plus.

Even more than all of that – in this new world I have here, I prefer to stay closer to home. I have plenty to keep me involved locally. And I enjoy my time here. So for now… I take a step back. While my heart works on some sort of healing, I will do life a little closer to home. ♥

Today – I will work outside a bit while listening to audio. A couple of friends are stopping by this afternoon and later I will start to pack for next week trip. Moving forward day to day, little by little.

Morning Meanderings…. Spent.

Published on May 3, 2016 by Sheila (Book Journey)10 Comments

What a weekend and start to the week.

Hang on, this will take more COFFEE.

Ok I am back.

Spent means…. Used up; consumed. Tired; worn-out, exhausted

Saturday was Justin’s benefit in St Paul. It was an emotional roller coaster of a day – seeing his friends and ours = AMAZING. Looking around and realizing why everyone has gathered = HARD. In a way this year was harder than last year as last year I think I was still in shock and just going through the motions of what I needed to do. Seeing people gather from all over Minnesota on Saturday to honor and remember my son was more than I had imagined and it emotionally took a toll. I came home Saturday evening and went immediately to bed.

Sunday was a day of two naps and early to bed. I was so exhausted.

And yesterday…

well yesterday was Justin’s birthday.

(and Sunday is Mother’s Day and….. you get the point)

Yesterday I spent the morning at the Library at our monthly Friends meeting and looking at possible plans for the outside of the library. I then went to Home Depot and picked up a hanging basket and a hummingbird feeder, a new light for the memorial garden, and a few other things. I went to my friend Kerri’s flower shop and picked out 4 white roses in two sets of two.

As we do not have a place to visit Justin on special occasions, I use the benches as such. We have the bench at the library, and we have one in our back yard.

Justin DeChantal, Sheila, Book Journey, Brianerd Public library, Braierd Minnesota — Bench at the Brainerd Public Library

Justin DeChantal, Sheila, book journey — The bench in our back yard

So that has been the last few days. Nothing more than that. Today I am at the library for a few hours and then home to mow the lawn. It is still one day at a time. Yet I am still doing it, day by day.

Morning Meanderings… Books In The Mail

Published on April 27, 2016 by Sheila (Book Journey)17 Comments

Wednesday. Already.

COFFEE CUP in hand, sun is out. Day has begun.

Yesterday afternoon I received a book package. For those of you who review books like myself I have to ask,

“Is it ever not exciting?”

I mean, even though I have been doing this since 2009 (EEP!), I still get excited about the package in the mailbox or on my doorstep. I cant wait to rip into that manila envelope and expose what is inside.

Is it a mystery?

A new friendship?

Something that will make me laugh? Cry? Think?

Will I learn something new?

Will it be a book I talk about long after that last page is turned?

This is the book that graced my doorstep yesterday. I opened the package. I looked at that cover. I think something like “ooooh” escaped my lips. Yup, you can not take the book geek out of the girl.

Seriously though LOOK at that cover. LOOK at that title. How could you not want to know?

So that’s my thoughts this morning. I have coffee with my aunt to get to, a meeting at the mall, things to prepare for the benefit, and later the City Library meeting.

Talk to me about your books at your door. If not at your door, at that local book store.

Saturday Snapshot…. In The Right Place At A Sad Time… Prince

Published on April 23, 2016April 23, 2016 by Sheila (Book Journey)19 Comments

On Thursday of this last week, a few friends and I had tickets to the Amy Schumer comedy show in Minneapolis Minnesota. For myself, this was a big move as I have become a sort of hermit this past year, I can go out and do things but I like to come home afterwards and this was an overnight event.

EEP.

Before I left town Thursday afternoon for the show a friend of mine had text me…

Prince died!

Having lived in Minnesota all of my life and growing up around Prince’s music it was a shocking message. I started trying to do the math in my head… how much older was Prince than myself? I could not recall if he was old, or had health issues, I honestly had not followed his career in probably a decade.

That afternoon I picked up my friend Amy and we drove the 2+ hours into Minneapolis. We had a nice dinner before the comedy show and as everything was very close to our hotel, we walked to the event. I did not realize as we were walking that we would be so close to the bar where Prince received his first big break, 1st Avenue. While Farrah had mentioned that maybe after the comedy show we stop by that bar, I thought we would have to take a taxi there.

We went around a corner and this was the scene:

I was amazed. It was around 8:15 pm and this was the crowds in the street in from of the First Avenue bar. The venue we were going to was actually on the same block, putting these crowds right outside the venue we would be at. First Avenue had received permission from the city to have an all night dance party for Prince.

We went into the show and enjoyed Amy Schumer’s humor. We were not allowed to take any pictures at the event so unfortunately, you just have to take my word for it. I was there. 🙂 She hits a few hot button topics, which unfortunately caused two front row attendees to be removed from the show for rude comments. That – was something I had never seen before.

After the show, we stepped outside the venue into this:

Helicopters were flying overhead filming the crowd, police and security were working to keep everything under control. We made an attempt to go into the bar, but there would be none of that. The crowd as you can see was immense and I spoke to a few people leaving the masses and they said they had been waiting outside the bar for over two hours. I made the suggestion that we all go back to the hotel and sleep until 4 and then come back then. Of course, by the time that we went to the hotel and sat around talking until after 1:00 am…. 4 am…. was not going to happen. We were all exhausted and I thought what would I do at the bar at 4 am… I really just wanted to step into it and look around, I had never been in it.

Instead, we woke up at about 6:30 and Amy and I grabbed some coffee and walked down to First Avenue bar to see if we could see anything at the time of the morning. Some of the signs at different venues had been changed…

The bar was closed, there were about twenty people coming and going to stop and pay their respects at the memorial that had sprung up in the last 20 hours.

It was a bitter sweet experience. It was a wonderful time hanging out with the girls catching up, talking, the show…. and even getting out of town and out of my own head for a night. Seeing the Prince memorial and being among the crowds of people mourning his loss and celebrating his life was priceless. It was a moment of history in the making and I was right there in it. Once again a reminder of how fragile life is and how each moment should be lived out as much as possible with no regrets.

Thank you for the music, the memories, for your originality, for allowing Minnesota to be your home. Sleep well sweet Prince.

~Sheila

This is my post for Saturday Snapshot this week.

Morning Meanderings… A Man Called…..

Published on April 19, 2016April 18, 2016 by Sheila (Book Journey)8 Comments

I am sitting here this morning with COFFEE CUP in hand contemplating the amazing way people intertwine in your life, weaving their way through certain parts of our lives.. filling a spot here, covering a need there…. conversations, and meet ups, and plans, and hang outs, and reaching into each other lives….

wow.

Last week was book club and that usually puts me in this place I am now. Amazed at how people connect and what brings them together. I adore my book club. I adore the mix of personalities that become more and more vibrant as the years go on. The discussions and even just sitting back and watching how everyone interacts with one another. At one time we were just a random group of girls who liked to read. Together… we are magical.

Our review was for A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Bachman.

A grumpy yet loveable man finds his solitary world turned on its head when a boisterous young family moves in next door.

Meet Ove. He’s a curmudgeon, the kind of man who points at people he dislikes as if they were burglars caught outside his bedroom window. He has staunch principles, strict routines, and a short fuse. People call him the bitter neighbor from hell, but must Ove be bitter just because he doesn’t walk around with a smile plastered to his face all the time?

Behind the cranky exterior there is a story and a sadness. So when one November morning a chatty young couple with two chatty young daughters move in next door and accidentally flatten Ove’s mailbox, it is the lead-in to a comical and heartwarming tale of unkempt cats, unexpected friendship, and the ancient art of backing up a U-Haul. All of which will change one cranky old man and a local residents’ association to their very foundations. ~Goodreads

We utilized our library’s Book Club In A Bag program and I chose to listen to it on audio. More on the book itself in a post coming up. The book was originally written in Sweden and is set in Sweden. Our group had a wonderful time with the Swedish themed food for this review…Swedish Meat Balls, Swedish fish, Persian cookies like those in the book, and even a swedish style cake.

A+ for creativity Bookies book club! I will say this, A Man Called Ove definitely brings out some good themes for discussing. Seems like everyone has an “Ove” in their life. 😉