May, Musings, and More

We’re starting off the month May beautifully. Some may being looking at me as though I’m a bit off. It has rained all day...down pour is more like it. I’m sure the earth and plants are rejoicing. I like this kind of rain, it leaves a scent that will always be imprinted on my mind. Although there is a downside, it has been incredibly musty and humid, while stuck in doors.

I’ve tried 3 times to begin a new blog post. Two of which are on my work computer, both not more than 1 paragraph. They sadly (for them anyway) have been abandoned, not likely that I or anyone else will take up their cause in the near future.

I recently struck upon a new reading challenge. I’m forever trying to motivate myself to read the books already on my shelves. Can I help it that new books (are my personal DRUG) and library books call to me from their shelves, “Read me! Buy me! Forget the others!”? Is it any wonder the library is contemplating setting up a security system to keep me out. They’ve been threatened one too many times by my books for allowing me access. Anyway its rather simple really...if I can stick to it. I read 5 of my own books and then I can purchase 2 new. 5! Did I really commit to that many?! Bloody...(shaking my head).

First up The Charity Girl by Georgette Heyer, I finished it today. Several people have suggested that I read her books and I thought it was about time. Heyer is a modern Jane Austen author, modern in the sense that she lived in modern times (1902-1974), but she wrote Regency Era Romance. The Charity Girl was a pleasant read, not heavy and certainly not boring. My only 2 complaints are that I felt I needed a lingo dictionary to better understand the characters peculiar phrases and at one scene the characters go round and round (beat the bush!) to the point where I was wanting to jump inside the pages to do some very loud shouting. Georgette Heyer has my vote for read worthy books and I’ll definitely read more in the future. (This cover is much prettier than the one that I own...lucky!)

I’m not sure what I’ll read next, but I only have 4 more to go. 4! I borrowed a book from the shop to read, Death in Venice (plus 2 other short stories) by Thomas Mann. Let’s just say it is an odd one this story. However, it does not count toward my 5.

In slightly more depressing news...365 letter project...I quit, I gave up. It came to the point where I was dreading having to think of yet another person to write a measly boring letter to. I’m not sure I’ll try for that goal ever again.

I did finish Total 365! photo project. What a weight off my shoulders! Not sure I like pictures of myself any better, in fact probably less. I now count photography among my hobbies and love taking pictures. Especially getting creative and artsy with how I take them.

A last note (bed is literally shouting at my eyes), I really must try to post more. I aspire to be an author yet I don’t write. How can one ever hope to have a future as an author if they never write? I may begin to post more, but beware boredom my await you as I tend to lack ideas for new and exciting material. Well at least I can’t pop a brilliant idea everyday...maybe every other! :)

Check this out...I tweeted about it the other day.
This makes want to have an iPhone and go to London!

Curiosity Hasn't Killed Me Yet....

I know you probably think I've fallen from the face of the earth...not yet anyway.

Between work, the bookstore, and taxes life hasn't been a very yummy box of chocolates lately. I really want to write a post, a good meaty one. In fact I've had several that I have wanted to write, but life hasn't lent to writing. Sadly I've lost my ideas because I'm bad about being cocky thinking I'll remember what I want to say. Wrong!

I wanted to keep you in the loop and let you know I'm still here. I hope that next week, maybe sooner, after taxes are finished I'll have to time to breathe and think.

Until then happy reading...

You may want to check out Stephen R. Donaldson's The Mirror of Her Dreams. Yes, I've found time to read despite everything else. Let's face it; you'd need to have me committed if it I wasn't able to find time to read. It was an excellent read and I can't wait until I read the sequel. I'm in the midst of Simon Holt's The Devouring.

Tribute

You know the saying ignorance is bliss? When is it ever truer than when we are children? The simplicity of our minds, the purity is such a wonderful treasure we don’t even realize until we are older what we had. We don’t realize what we had until it is gone.

As children many of us look at our parents and think who are these giants. We paint in our small minds a masterpiece of these near ethereal beings. They attain such high status in our minds. They become immortals impervious to anything and everything that comes along. Essentially (undoubtably unhealthy) we make idols of our parents. Then the teen years hit, the age of stupidity and narcissism, when we turn ourselves into what we held our parents up to be.

It isn’t until we are older, maybe even too late, that we manage to discover our heroes’ kryptonite. Old age.

My father turned 49 on Friday. In the morning while my mom braided my hair, I leaned my head on her knee and began to shed some tears. My daddy, my beloved untouchable papa was aging. How? Why? I can remember looking at him believing he could do anything.

He stumbles home from work too tired to stay awake to eat, much less watch a movie with his family. His hands and knees, hurt him the most. I can only imagine he is in pain all the time . . . no peace. Yet my dad does not complain. He continues to work hard supporting his family.

At that moment having the selfish thoughts of not wanting him old for myself, to keep my own memories of unstoppable dad intact, he had left a note to us on his birthday. Isn’t it supposed to be vice versa?

“By God’s Amazing Grace - I’m 49 Today! 10 years longer than my momma!. . .”
(My grandma past away when my dad was 16.)

I cried more and thought my dad is always looking to the bright side despite all the hardships he has been through. A biased opinion it may be, but my dad, my dear dear papa is the most courageous person I know. Happy Birthday!