I confess.... I judge books by their covers...
I am a reader
I love books
I always have even from a young age, I love tucking my nephew into bed at night and seeing he is not alone... its him and his 20 books-his treasures, his adventures, his Fox-Trot books I remember devouring, his Geronimo Stilton and his adventures, and yes even a few Hardy Boys :)
I remember being excited to spend time in the little library at school reading through the shelves and coming home from the public library, arms laden with books.....saving up my allowance to pay for late books cause I misplaced them or just couldn't part with them just yet.
I recently replaced my ailing book shelves with new ones, unfortunately this meant taking everyone off the shelves and putting everyone back on the shelves.... sadly some didn't make the cut, others I forgot I had still some I realized I had two copies of... why? because they had different covers.
*now a little aside, I am a book cover snob, yes I am in full confession mode, I don't buy a book if it has the "endorsed by Oprah book club" label on it or if it is the movie tie-in version. I will go out of my way to find the original version... big cleansing breath... I can go on*
I have now re shelved many books with some being re homed through our lovely local book shop The Bookman, it is a wonderful shop, two in the area, both are full to bursting with amazing books, previously read and loved waiting to come home with you! As I was able to put all these adventures waiting to be read, mysteries waiting to be solved, stories yet to be told or retold, tears waiting to be shed and punchlines about to crack you up, back onto the shelves into their new homes, I was struck by how many books I remember buying. They are something I have always treasured . Books have come traveling with me for as long as I can remember, you would get your stash of books you were saving for summer holidays, or a good book for the plane you buy in anticipation of the plane ride, I found several books with boarding passes still in them from when and where I was when I read it. Boarding passes make wonderful book marks by the way...
I also have a kindle e-reader. It sits patiently waiting for me to flip it open and try to remember the last book I read on it... I like the feel of a book in my hands, being able to turn pages, pop a bookmark in, receipt, gum wrapper, scrap of paper to keep your place NEVER folding a page over! that's just cruel!
I'm all for saving the trees, but really I can't give up my paper books.... sorry trees. I do use it to read on night shift, the screen does make my eyes weary when on my break more so than paper books... but I should probably be responsible and use all modes of book delivery... but as I said boldly before, I am a paper book junky...I think they have support groups... they meet at the library...
I walk down the middle book aisle at Costco and am disappointed when I don't find one I can bring home with me. I loved when we had Target here in Canada, their book section was GLORIOUS! I often will log onto Chapter website and load up my shopping cart with goodies only to glance over at my stacks of books sitting on my side table and realize these treasure can wait... and that is the true treasure of a book, the words don't go stale, there is no best before date, and they can be read and reread, shared and yes even bought twice, they sit there maybe gathering dust but when you crack them open and let the words pour out they are just as good as when they were fresh picked and placed on the shelves.
So I encourage you to wander past your favourite stash of books, appreciate them, remember them, and if its time pass them along so others can experience the greatness that can be found between the two covers of a good book.
Thursday, May 5, 2016
Life has taken off
I'm not sure where the time has gone, I don't remember having this much trouble keeping up with everything when I was working and going to school... then I look around and realize I let a lot of things slide that I am still working hard at catching up on.
Can you catch up in a few short months on 2 years worth of "books to read when I'm done school"
I have shelves full of wonderful stories waiting to be experienced! I am so happy warm weather is here which means we can move this party outside! Yep wild and crazy lady here I have a stack of books and a beautiful red Adirondack chair waiting for me to sit in and read and enjoy the sunshine.
I also have recently purchased myself a classic cruiser bike, kitted it out with a basket, bell and coffee holder... yep I am walking awfully close to the hipster line I am trying hard not to cross... yep I enjoy "pour over" coffee too haha when I was in university we just called it "Drip coffee" cause the little cone was cheaper than buying an entire coffee maker! Maybe I was hipster before it was a thing...
I am trying to be more responsible with everything in general, meal planning, paying bills, remembering to return books back to the library, following up on things that "i should do" returning phone calls, reading and replying to emails, putting money into my savings account, eating better, remembering to put laundry into the dryer before it gets stinky, buying dog food before I totally run out, keeping tabs on my gas tank, enjoying what I have instead of looking to "get more", keeping in touch with people, trying to call friends instead of just texting them..... yep the list can go on and on... I think this is what some people call Being a Grown-up. I'm not sure how this list makes you a grown up, I know many that do not come close to maintaining a life of grown-up'd ness I have had many days when I don't want to get out of my pyjamas, I eat cereal for dinner and realize when I lay my head down on the pillow at the end of the day I haven't spoken 2 words to anyone including my poor furry roommates that trail around after me waiting for me to talk to them. So being responsible can be fun and fulfilling, it can also be tiring and stressful. I guess the balance is what needs to be found in order for sanity to be maintained...
balance... hmm I guess I should add Yoga to the list
Can you catch up in a few short months on 2 years worth of "books to read when I'm done school"
I have shelves full of wonderful stories waiting to be experienced! I am so happy warm weather is here which means we can move this party outside! Yep wild and crazy lady here I have a stack of books and a beautiful red Adirondack chair waiting for me to sit in and read and enjoy the sunshine.
I also have recently purchased myself a classic cruiser bike, kitted it out with a basket, bell and coffee holder... yep I am walking awfully close to the hipster line I am trying hard not to cross... yep I enjoy "pour over" coffee too haha when I was in university we just called it "Drip coffee" cause the little cone was cheaper than buying an entire coffee maker! Maybe I was hipster before it was a thing...
I am trying to be more responsible with everything in general, meal planning, paying bills, remembering to return books back to the library, following up on things that "i should do" returning phone calls, reading and replying to emails, putting money into my savings account, eating better, remembering to put laundry into the dryer before it gets stinky, buying dog food before I totally run out, keeping tabs on my gas tank, enjoying what I have instead of looking to "get more", keeping in touch with people, trying to call friends instead of just texting them..... yep the list can go on and on... I think this is what some people call Being a Grown-up. I'm not sure how this list makes you a grown up, I know many that do not come close to maintaining a life of grown-up'd ness I have had many days when I don't want to get out of my pyjamas, I eat cereal for dinner and realize when I lay my head down on the pillow at the end of the day I haven't spoken 2 words to anyone including my poor furry roommates that trail around after me waiting for me to talk to them. So being responsible can be fun and fulfilling, it can also be tiring and stressful. I guess the balance is what needs to be found in order for sanity to be maintained...
balance... hmm I guess I should add Yoga to the list
Wednesday, February 3, 2016
traveling is always an adventure!
I recently was fortunate enough to take a quick little trip to California to visit loved ones
The destination was amazing but I think getting there was almost as good!
The trip started earlier this year when I was lamenting our tanking Canadian dollar... thinking travel was not in the books for a while but a $49 flight (thank you Alaska air) I jumped on it and booked!
I left the house at 4am... yes still the middle of the night, to make the familiar drive down to the beautiful Seattle/Tacoma airport. I love this airport, maybe because it has some amazing *cough hipster* people watching in the early hours or it has a great Starbucks in the middle of the big food court surrounded by tables and chairs that allow you to enjoy the ambiance if time allows.
So I made it in record time hit the "bubble" of no traffic that if you manage to hit it lets you pass through the city and past Boeing Airfield without running into rush hour traffic and shift change at the Airfield. So I landed up in Seattle with plenty of time to pump my tired body full of legal stimulants.
Checked in and got the upgrade! Love the upgrade button on that self check in page! So first class seat 1A... the adventure only started once I passed through security full body scanning always makes me feel good... suck it in! hope the pattern of moles on my abdomen don't trigger some random full body check!
While riding the escalator down to the train that whisked me to the Alaska terminal I was standing in front of a lovely couple, as we rode down the art installation in front of us on a sharp angle on the wall/ceiling caught their attention, it was shiny, tile, and on an impossible angle...
man 1: isn't that beautiful?! so many colours
man 2: it would be impossible to dust
man 1: how do you think they do it?
man 2: maybe they use a machine to lower someone down
man 1: no that's crazy!
man 2: well you asked!
man 2- to me: how do you think they clean it?
me: I think they hire Spiderman to come do it for 10 bucks an hour
man 1 and man 2 smile nodding to each other: that might be it
on that note we parted ways at the bottom of the escalator and boarded two different trains... we could have been best friends.
I found my gate after wandering past a Hudson News, I bought some water and a book, every trip needs a new book. (like I need another book)
This one was "Yes Please" by talented writer and comedienne Amy Poehler, her writing style roped me in by the first few pages, it is written with the witt and style of someone I would love to have coffee with.
So book in hand I sit waiting to board reading... people watching... giggling and wishing I was more stealth at taking pictures of strangers to illustrate this journey!
I swear I saw one of the 1D boys I mean who dresses all in black beautiful half trench, backpack, and ear flap hat...
I was sitting minding my own business sipping my second coffee of the morning, which I swear was molten hot!, but a man came and stood to check his phone... I heard a little something... kinda sounded like a squeaky door... or balloon loosing air... yep he was tooting! and I use the term toot because it most resembled a horn of sorts. it was the strangled sound of someone trying to not break wind... it went one for at least 3 Mississippis... yep I was trying hard not to giggle, so I sat right next to this man standing there awkwardly clenched appearing to check something on his phone.
My advise to this man: dear airport man, if you are at the point of "breaking wind" in public and you have started down the horn section road... just let it rip and own it, say excuse me and move on. We all do it. We all heard you, and no you probably wont ever see any of us again, you're welcome.
There are just so many people at the airport.
The nervous traveler: checking and rechecking their boarding pass against the gate, standing, pacing checking their watches, looking exasperated and checking their watch again, lugging huge backpacks and overstuffed "carry-on" roller bags.. you hope these fellow fliers are not your seat mate as they tend to rummage through this jumbo backpack mid flight jamming it under their seat several times.
The entitled flyer: those looking pristine regardless of the time of day, the designer roller bag, huge handbag and "traveling suite" usually accompanied by heels if you are a woman and very shiny black shoes for them man...who has a large leather briefcase in place of designer handbag. They line up in the "first class" lane early they wait in the lounges and "first class elite" sitting areas. This morning I caught some shady looks as I stood with them to board my first class seat in my jeans, t-shirt and soft hoodie... yep I'm a comfy traveler!
The family: The family running through the airport lugging toddlers, car seats, luggage, usually a stroller with an infant in it, or a stroller full of bags and luggage and a baby strapped to one of the parents... they look tired, frazzled, late, and like each parent thought this was a better idea on paper not in actuality.
Whomever you are as a traveler, you are out there! You are going places! You are setting off on an adventure! I was among them, the hum of excitement in the air, the happy Airport people helping you get where you need to go from helping you through security, to making you a beautiful cup of coffee, the scanning your boarding pass and pronouncing your name correctly! (10 more points for Alaska Air), and the lovely ladies who graciously help you pack your overstuffed carry on bags into the already full overhead bins... for these things I thank you!
2 hours in the air, 3/4 of a book read, one life story of my seat mate listened to, and I landed in beautiful San Jose California to be met with Superbowl Fever the second I stepped off the plane!
GO SPORTS TEAMS!
Life is a journey, remember everywhere can be as fun as an airport for people watching :)
The destination was amazing but I think getting there was almost as good!
The trip started earlier this year when I was lamenting our tanking Canadian dollar... thinking travel was not in the books for a while but a $49 flight (thank you Alaska air) I jumped on it and booked!
I left the house at 4am... yes still the middle of the night, to make the familiar drive down to the beautiful Seattle/Tacoma airport. I love this airport, maybe because it has some amazing *cough hipster* people watching in the early hours or it has a great Starbucks in the middle of the big food court surrounded by tables and chairs that allow you to enjoy the ambiance if time allows.
So I made it in record time hit the "bubble" of no traffic that if you manage to hit it lets you pass through the city and past Boeing Airfield without running into rush hour traffic and shift change at the Airfield. So I landed up in Seattle with plenty of time to pump my tired body full of legal stimulants.
Checked in and got the upgrade! Love the upgrade button on that self check in page! So first class seat 1A... the adventure only started once I passed through security full body scanning always makes me feel good... suck it in! hope the pattern of moles on my abdomen don't trigger some random full body check!
While riding the escalator down to the train that whisked me to the Alaska terminal I was standing in front of a lovely couple, as we rode down the art installation in front of us on a sharp angle on the wall/ceiling caught their attention, it was shiny, tile, and on an impossible angle...
man 1: isn't that beautiful?! so many colours
man 2: it would be impossible to dust
man 1: how do you think they do it?
man 2: maybe they use a machine to lower someone down
man 1: no that's crazy!
man 2: well you asked!
man 2- to me: how do you think they clean it?
me: I think they hire Spiderman to come do it for 10 bucks an hour
man 1 and man 2 smile nodding to each other: that might be it
on that note we parted ways at the bottom of the escalator and boarded two different trains... we could have been best friends.
I found my gate after wandering past a Hudson News, I bought some water and a book, every trip needs a new book. (like I need another book)
This one was "Yes Please" by talented writer and comedienne Amy Poehler, her writing style roped me in by the first few pages, it is written with the witt and style of someone I would love to have coffee with.
So book in hand I sit waiting to board reading... people watching... giggling and wishing I was more stealth at taking pictures of strangers to illustrate this journey!
I swear I saw one of the 1D boys I mean who dresses all in black beautiful half trench, backpack, and ear flap hat...
I was sitting minding my own business sipping my second coffee of the morning, which I swear was molten hot!, but a man came and stood to check his phone... I heard a little something... kinda sounded like a squeaky door... or balloon loosing air... yep he was tooting! and I use the term toot because it most resembled a horn of sorts. it was the strangled sound of someone trying to not break wind... it went one for at least 3 Mississippis... yep I was trying hard not to giggle, so I sat right next to this man standing there awkwardly clenched appearing to check something on his phone.
My advise to this man: dear airport man, if you are at the point of "breaking wind" in public and you have started down the horn section road... just let it rip and own it, say excuse me and move on. We all do it. We all heard you, and no you probably wont ever see any of us again, you're welcome.
There are just so many people at the airport.
The nervous traveler: checking and rechecking their boarding pass against the gate, standing, pacing checking their watches, looking exasperated and checking their watch again, lugging huge backpacks and overstuffed "carry-on" roller bags.. you hope these fellow fliers are not your seat mate as they tend to rummage through this jumbo backpack mid flight jamming it under their seat several times.
The entitled flyer: those looking pristine regardless of the time of day, the designer roller bag, huge handbag and "traveling suite" usually accompanied by heels if you are a woman and very shiny black shoes for them man...who has a large leather briefcase in place of designer handbag. They line up in the "first class" lane early they wait in the lounges and "first class elite" sitting areas. This morning I caught some shady looks as I stood with them to board my first class seat in my jeans, t-shirt and soft hoodie... yep I'm a comfy traveler!
The family: The family running through the airport lugging toddlers, car seats, luggage, usually a stroller with an infant in it, or a stroller full of bags and luggage and a baby strapped to one of the parents... they look tired, frazzled, late, and like each parent thought this was a better idea on paper not in actuality.
Whomever you are as a traveler, you are out there! You are going places! You are setting off on an adventure! I was among them, the hum of excitement in the air, the happy Airport people helping you get where you need to go from helping you through security, to making you a beautiful cup of coffee, the scanning your boarding pass and pronouncing your name correctly! (10 more points for Alaska Air), and the lovely ladies who graciously help you pack your overstuffed carry on bags into the already full overhead bins... for these things I thank you!
2 hours in the air, 3/4 of a book read, one life story of my seat mate listened to, and I landed in beautiful San Jose California to be met with Superbowl Fever the second I stepped off the plane!
GO SPORTS TEAMS!
Life is a journey, remember everywhere can be as fun as an airport for people watching :)
It's been a while
I have been challenged by one of my
best and oldest friends and mentors to get back to blogging....
Why? I’m not sure. I am reminded daily
that I don’t always see things the same as others--
half full-half empty- as long as the
coffee is still hot I’m happy.....
Challenge Accepted!
2016 has brought many amazing things
with it:
I have completed my Masters in Education, it was a long hard 2 ½ years full time
but looking back it was worth it. I am a firm believer of post secondary
education, if you want it go out and get it! I just don’t recommend working
full time while you are attempting to conquer the mountain. *please
note I am also a believer that university is not for everyone and some of the
most amazing and rewarding careers are without degrees and added letters behind
ones name
I have free time.
o
I’m not sure what
this means
o
I don’t remember free
time being this busy
o
I can read books now
that are not written by PhDs!!
o
I have read books
written by funny women! Very encouraging and challenging!
I
need to remember how to take time for me, stuff I WANT to do vs. Tasks that I
HAVE to do.
o
I took a mini holiday
to California to meet a new baby Eden, spend some time in the sunshine (which
came out just for my visit) visit with the sweetest funniest people I am not
related to, drink coffee, wander around Target (I miss target) and beach comb.
I
am turning over a new leaf each month of the year February will bring with it
health and happiness…. More to follow
I am learning to cook. Cooking has been a reoccurring theme of my writing here or
just in my journal… I laugh at the notion of becoming a good cook.
o
I read cooking
magazines like some people read people magazine… reading about the stories of
food… looking at the beautiful pictures….wishing I was one of the wonderful
folks in the pictures laughing and enjoying the tasty foods in the pictures.
I love the notions of a beautiful year
waiting to unfold before me, I love the promise of adventure, quiet times,
surprises, friendships, and good times had by all.
So let this be the first of many
conversations I share with you my dear friends—cheers to a new year!
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