Mundane Mondays: Pack and Play

Tomorrow I leave for Maryland, a business trip. Ergo I stayed home today for prep and relaxation. Oh the joys of beauty chores; shaving legs, painting nails, and more. Painting nails? Some weeks ago my Mum convinced me that painting my nails was the pretty thing to do. Well pretty or not, it is tedious and now so ingrained in my subconscious that at the end of a week it is time to hunt down the new color. Painted nails means no trimming of the nails and no trimming means a nail file is your new best friend. Do you realize how hard it is to do menial tasks such as texting with long nails?!? I know, I know  . . . priorities Maddie! Every time I start to complain about the text issue the ever popular meme pops up in my head, "First world problems." I shut my mouth and move on, beauty is 'pain' after all, but why oh why do I continue with it?

I should be packing, but instead I'm sitting outside writing this post. However, in the back of my mind I am compiling my 'must haves' for this trip. We are driving and I have never been to Maryland. Thus I have no clue the number of hours I will be trapped in the car. This means go prepared! Right off I know I will be packing . . . books!

• Tam Lin by Pamela Dean - Poor thing, I've set it aside numerous times lately for affairs with other 'page turners'. It really is time to finish what I started.
• Tiger's Destiny by Colleen Houck - Book four is finally here! I let my friend Anna borrow it to read it first, as she introduced me to the series. After some of her comments/reactions to it, I'm as anxious as ever to read it!
• Non-fiction Nonsense - I've been basking in the arms of Fiction for . . . too long . . . I need to mix things up a bit. I'm not sure what I will grab yet.
• Kindle - Yep the soul sucker is coming along for the ride. After a comment from someone I am now the 'proud' holder of numerous reviewer eBooks. It is time to get busy! Of course the real books hold precedence on this trip.

After books, we have the bag of goodies we like to call at my house the "Keep busy bag." It is a treasure trove of attention diverters and time passer-by helpers.

• Journals - My soul and thoughts.
• Notebooks - "Notebooks are for notes, not for kissing." My writing and blogging.
• At least 2 issues of Snowboarder Magazine
• iPod - Let's face it, me without my music is like a zombie without the sustenance of fresh brains . . . not tolerable or fun to watch. Unless of course you are watching your mortal enemies (of whom I have many, we are sure) being chased down by the brain hunger buggers. Then we are cheering them on. This is not the case, however, with a music starved me. You will be the one screaming. (insert grin)
• Knitting - undecided
• Possibly an issue or two of Alt Press - It just depends if  I want the added flavor.

You never know what I might toss in the bag. A girl has to be prepared for anything! Oh yes, my camera will of course accompany me. He (Calvin) has a front row seat!

I will be in Baltimore for Expo East (Natural Products Expo). I'm told this expo is the size of 3 or 4 football fields. Bring on the samples! If you are there come say hello. I'm not going to tell you what booth I am working. That would take the fun out of it. Just look for the girl with crazy long curly hair. I'm told I look like Merida from Brave. Good luck!

I wonder if Expo East has a bookstore booth . . .

Mundane Mondays: Will Work For Stamina

Does stamina, or motivation for that matter, come in liquid form? Oh I know . . . caffeine. Yeah I could use some of that too. The morning has gone fast, but I feel physically like I'm creeping along at a snail's pace. Thus I'm a bit cranky. Mr. Skip* had a seizure at 12:30 this morning and like a good owner I held him so he didn't flail about and hurt himself. Where is the caffeine?!? I'm in danger of turning into a zombie sooner than I expected.

Okay. Enough, my little whine session is over.

I have news and things to share with you!

First

I opened my Etsy shop Saturday night! Check it out here. My shop name, RapaciousCurls, pays homage to the fact I have extremely curly hair. The 'rapacious'? Well that's because it is one of my favorite words and sounds as though a well educated surfer just walked in, "That's totally rapacious!"

The shop features my photography postcards right now, but I'm hopeful to add more as time goes on. I would love to get feedback or suggestions from you. I've sold stuff (books) on Etsy via the bookstore's shop, but never my own creations.

Second

If you missed the blog post Saturday, I know I don't normally post on Saturdays, then check it out! I am part of the 2012 Reading Road-Trip. My state is of course Indiana and I'm giving away 4 great books. Although it seems the most popular are the 2 YA books. Folks at least give Gene Stratton-Porter's book a chance! (insert smile)

Reading Road-Trip: Indiana

Be sure to check out other blogs participating in the Reading Road-Trip, you need to travel the country, right!?!

Third

I'm headed to Las Vegas on Thursday! This will be my first time and I'm excited. Of course my first question was "Do they have any good bookstores?" It is a business trip, though, so I'm not sure how much time there will be for fun things. I may (clearing throat) or may not be gambling . . . only a little, if I do at all.

And last for today . . .

A few things you should checkout, if you haven't already.

• Book Riot's Edd McCracken's list of Sixteen MORE Things Calvin and Hobbes Said Better Than Anyone Else Which will be sure to make you laugh. What is better than a good laugh on a Monday?
• I know I've suggested in the past to have a listen to Walk the Moon's music. I just finished listening to their entire album on Spotify and I will be purchasing it. Anna Sun was already a favorite, but I also like Shiver Shiver.
• Be sure to check out this week's Tattoo Tuesday and send me suggestions. I'm also looking for new banner art. If you are new to my blog you can view past Tattoo Tuesday's posts here.
• Last. If I have a chance I'm hopeful to post my review for Jennifer Donnelly's Revolution later this week; which is my second FFNR book from Anna. I'm way behind . . .
  

What I'm reading . . .

Too much (insert smile)

Real:

-Ascendant by Diana Peterfreund
-The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins 

(I read this a long time ago, but I'm now reading it aloud to my mum.)

-Great Philosophers Who Failed at Love by Andrew Shaffer

eBook:

-A Hidden Fire by Elizabeth Hunter

-Fortune's Rising (Outer Bounds) by Sara King

You can follow me on Goodreads too!

Quote of the Day

"I have sometimes dreamt that when the Day of Judgment dawns--the Almighty will turn to Peter and will say when he sees us coming with our books under our arms, 'Look, these need no reward. We have nothing to give them here. They have loved reading.'"
~Virginia Woolf

*My Boston Terrier

Waiting on Wednesday: Quintana of Charyn by Melina Marchetta

 "Waiting On" Wednesday spotlights upcoming releases that everyone's excited about (created by Jill at Breaking The Spine.)

WoW: 

Quintana of Charyn (Book 3 of the Lumatere Chronicles) by Melina Marchetta

Scheduled to be released:

September 26, 2012

Why I'm waiting: 
There is something to be said for an author who has you so convinced that their books are awesome that you are willing to say you can't wait for book 3...having not read book 2 yet. I'm nearly finished with Finnikin of the Rock (Book 1) and it just goes to show you, never underestimate your public library's ability to finally get something read worthy. I even ordered Finnikin of the Rock and (book 2) Froi of the Exiles (due to arrive today!) having not finished Finnikin. Are you convinced yet you should read these books? No?!? Don't worry I'm hopeful to post a review for Finnikin when I'm finished. Ahhh I can't wait!

Book Synopsis:  
I definitely can't read this one (synopsis I mean)! However, the only thing posted on Goodreads is:

The third book in the world of Lumatere. Set three weeks after the ending of Froi of the Exiles.

Oh very helpful...

Checkout the author's website, though, because I think her blog post here talks more about book three.


Did I already say I can't wait?!?

Mundane Mondays: Christmas, Reading and Adventures

The day certainly got away from me. . . hence an evening post. A post all the same, though. :)

I spent my evening working. The Christmas Open House, for our town, is Saturday and if you don't know me by now, well I'm a procrastinator. Someday they will invent (or I will) a tonic concoction to help remedy this annoying trait, but for now I do my best. I've known for at least a month (longer ashamedly than that really) that I'm supposed to decorate a tree for the Christmas auction. So what do I do? I wait 6 days until the event to start working on my tree. Ha! I can do it. It is a challenge.

My idea is an advent tree. I have always loved that about Christmas, the advents. Advent Adventure Tree! The advent (my mum's original creation, that she has used for us for a few years) is 25 mittens. Each mitten contains candy or some such. I plan to google for an advent idea, because I want more than just candy. Although, who doesn't love candy?!? The mittens take have lots of hand sewing, which I much prefer over using the machine. Hello. . . blanket stitch! They are made out of our various colors of felt we had stashed on the fabric shelf. I really wanted some brown felt, but no such luck. Due to the lateness of the project (my fault entirely) I'm not allowed to buy extra materials, according to my mum, I must make due with what I have!

Thank goodness I have tomorrow at the bookstore to work on this and yes my own personal sweat shop. . . grandma. :) She volunteered (I promise) to embroider the numbers. The numbers on my mum's set are made out of felt, but time shortage calls for alternatives. As I said to mum, "If grandma hadn't been willing to embroider the numbers, I would have thrown the mittens across the room by now." Embroidery is not my strong suit.

Mondays are not always about crafts. I wanted to update you on what I have been reading. LibraryThing sent me an early reviewer, Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood (speaking of which I'm way behind on updating my GoodReads, so don't be looking on there to see how I'm doing. . . mental note to update that tomorrow). I'm on chapter 9 and thus far it is entertaining. It is nothing earth shattering and I wonder why I picked this book out of the last batch of early reviewers. Typically I'm not the "oh let's read about witches" type. I'm also not huge on throwing religious fanatics in books (especially young adult novels) that way the general public associate (in this case) Christians with those found in the story. It must have been the cover that drew me in, not sure. 

I also have a tomb sitting on my shelf to read from LibraryThing a Catherine the Great non-fiction book by Robert Massie (I have a thing, perhaps obsession with Russian history). I'm eying that book right now, with half dread half intrigue. I'll pick it up soon. . . maybe after Christmas.

Oh and ugh, I'm still reading The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi (great name!). I purchased this book in Long Beach last year and I know beyond a shadow of a doubt it was because of the cover. Yes and the prospect of it being a steampunk novel (which as far as I can tell, it is not). Maybe this is the type of book that you need to devour immediately, rather than shoving it in a corner, hoping the next time you pick it up you're somehow closer to the end than when you put it there. Wishful thinking? Much of the book is over my head and that makes me feel stupid. Then there is the fact that I want to read more about specific characters, but no I keep getting chapters about the people I could care less about. I also have this pet peeve, authors if you are going to have foreign languages in your books, please translate for us "normal" folk. As mush as I would love to say "hey I speak Thai", I don't right now and can't see it happening anytime soon. Sorry. Here's to hoping this book changes within the last half and oh yes. . . that I finish it.

Final thoughts. . . 

Should I do a book giveaway? I have a few books I wouldn't mind passing on to someone (Born Wicked perhaps) who could enjoy them. Leave a comment if you think I should or not.

Check out the music from the group Set it Off. I really like their music, especially their song Horrible Kids. Maybe later this week I will post a music playlist of must listens!

Now to bed!

To Wait or Not to Wait. . .That is Not My Favorite Question

Originally written February 8, just now getting around to posting it.

In a world run on the need for pleasure, it becomes an ever present friend. This desire to sustain this part of us is nearly more important than life itself. We are not even required or asked to prolong our suffering by waiting. Everything comes at the speed of now or seconds. When we suddenly are forced into the uncomfortable or “unbearable” prospect of waiting, we become younger versions of ourselves: cranky, selfish, tantrum throwing children. The world is overrun with “Now! people,” “Now! people” who when made to wait are people you and I want to run from.

Wait, is a difficult word to take in. It is rare for it to have good connotations. The word creeps up your spine leaving fear and loathing in its wake. This word has been on my mind for some time and I’ve thought I should write about waiting. I guess it is time to give up on waiting for it to leave my mind (Okay that was cheesy).

Last week I looked up waiting in the Thesaurus. I was only looking for negative synonyms. Suffering. Can having to wait be suffering? Heck yes! To put up with. Nothing like waiting to automatically put us in this state of mind. I can just imagine someone huffing and stomping their foot.

I have to be fair and give waiting a chance (cheesy again?). I found great comfort in these positive synonyms: Rest. Prepare for. Hope. Do you feel the blossom of content in your heart when you hear those words. I have to admit I do. A sweet and simple sigh of relief it brings me.

Waiting is often tied to the thought that we are wasting time if we are forced to wait. As a world also obsessed with time, we never like to be stopped or even slowed. It seems unfair to view waiting in the light of it being a waste. Don’t they always say “Good things come to those who wait”? I speak from a little experience and can’t sit on my pedestal bemoaning others for their lack of respect for waiting. I am no better than you or anyone else in this. It has been a thorn in my side for a long time. I’m right there with you throwing my own good old fashion tantrum.

What happens, though, when you pause to consider what good things waiting can accomplish? In my situation I have this feeling in my heart that this is what the Lord is calling me to. Does it make me want to cry? Yes most definitely. Does it make me put one hand on my hip, the other out snapping my fingers and I’m tapping my foot saying, “No siree. I’m not waiting. I’ll have mine now”? Sure, but that attitude isn’t right. Somewhat empowering yes, but self empowerment means nothing in the scheme of what the Lord has for me. I’m striving to look at the good waiting can do for me. It does feel like I’ve waited long enough, but I’ve known others who’ve waited longer. I’m sure others after me we’ll endure the same struggle. Think back to those words; Rest. Prepare for. Hope. If tomorrow, next week, next month or even in the next hour what I’m waiting for comes don’t I want to be prepared? I can’t expect or even hope that I”m ready for the battle if I keep digging, what I call, my waiting hole.

I know I sound like, perhaps, I have it all figured out. Don’t be fooled. This attitude doesn’t come over night and certainly is hard to maintain. I sometimes lay in bed complaining to the Lord or in the morning looking in the mirror having to convince myself all over again. The one thing that really has me convinced and coming back for more, though, is prayer. I think waiting is darn near impossible without it. Prayer has always been a struggle for me. The Lord already knows all my thoughts, but to be obedient I’m called to bring things before Him. Pouring things out to him seems private and pitiful. It sometimes feels as though all I pray about are the bad things. Makes the world seem more unbearable than it was before. However, deep down I know the Lord wants to hear from me, no matter what.

I’m reading (book being mentioned!) George Muller’s autobiography right now. He had such an awesome prayer life. It makes me feel small in comparison. I will let you in on a secret, though. Since I’ve started reading it the waiting has seemed a better idea and I want to pray more. Today I’m sitting in the shop thinking I would really like to sit and “talk with God” all day. I’ve never had that feeling and if you knew more about the past couple of years, you’d be staring at me with your mouth opened in astonishment.

Everyday has its ups and downs, its own personal set of struggles. I know today I sound, well convinced and encouraged. I also know tomorrow might not be like that. I sound fatalistic I know, but I’m learning if today is good and tomorrow is bad, I praise the Lord for both and lean on him that much more on the bad days.

Last note after this accidentally very long blog post. I looked up lots of scripture about waiting. I know waiting also makes people cringe because it makes them think of patience (Oh the horror), but I only looked up waiting verses. I will give the references for all and post my favorite (even though they are all good).

Psalm 27:14
Wait for the Lord, be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.

Job 14:14; Psalm 33:20 & 21; Psalm 130:5 & 6; Isaiah 30:18; Romans 8:23 & 25

History...I've written...just not here.

I've been good about scribbling little musings on scrap paper, but I've neglected to post anything in forever. Not sure what my punishment should be, but I'll leave that up to you. :)

Old posts:
Written 15, April, 2010

It feels as though my mind has been wading through a thick fog for some time. I’m truly amazed I can even focus at all to do the menial tasks that I am called upon to do every day. I keep hoping that I’ll come to the bend in the road where I can choose to get off the mind fog path. Until then I’m stuck where I’m at. I’m sure it doesn’t help that the majority of my reading selections lately have been what I refer to as fu fu books, otherwise known as mind fluff.

There really is no excuse for picking such books. I have over 500 books in my personal library that I have not read. However, do you ever come to the point when something has accumulated beyond reason and you look at it with this sick feeling in the pit of your stomach…oh my gosh what did I set myself up for? Where do I even begin? That’s where I’m at. I have no clue what book I should pick to read first. It doesn’t help that I have various avenues producing more books for me to add to my library. Shut the door!!!! Just say no!!! Have you lost your mind? I can’t turn a book away. I must be like a dragon hording away its treasure with no thoughts or plans of what to do with the ever mounting wealth. You have to love that comparison. I’m a dragon.

Written 25, May, 2010

If I didn’t know better I’d think I was becoming a hermit. Why might I ask, is that a bad thing?
My trip to Chicago this past weekend, for the Green Festival, is proof positive that this is quite
possibly true. Every time I’m in Chicago (or big cities for that matter) I find myself eager to seek
refuge from the world. I have reverse small town girl wants to escape to the big city. I have,
small town girl wants to escape to an even smaller town. Oh let’s say no neighbors for 25 plus
miles or better yet in the mountains with trees (and native wildlife) as my only neighbors. Cities
are just not my cup of tea and the older I get the less I enjoy social interaction with humans. I
think the explanation for this, is that I don’t understand people or actually that I use to think
I understood them, but now I realize I never did. The desire to live in the city, I will never
understand. That’s my soap box for the day.

Purchases from the weekend:
Coco Loco Earrings (I buy a pair every year.)
Books!

The worst place and at the same time best place to be when grounded from buying books is a 3 story Borders. I couldn’t locate the YA section and that’s when I discovered a 3rd floor. If I hadn’t been on a time crunch and had more buying freedom I could easily have spent hours there. They had by far the largest YA section I’ve seen in a while. I did buy (he he he) 3 books despite book probation, one for Elyza and two for me. I have a good excuse for one of mine. It was in the bargain bin, hard back, and only $3.00. No brainer!

I should be reading the book, A Tramp for the Lord by Corie Ten Boom, but I haven’t started it yet. My fingers do a good twitching impersonation worthy of Dennis Menace when I look at or think of other books I could be reading. I know I need to stick to my read five buy two plan. Of course that was thrown to the wind when I bought two books in Chicago. I haven’t read anything at all, book or otherwise for a while. That might be why my sanity is in question at the moment :). Buckle under Maddie and get to reading! It isn’t healthy to not be reading…

Shop day and I spent it playing Kakuro (blush). I managed to finish 2 ¾ puzzles. Hey! That’s no small task I’ll have you know. It is what I needed though, something to quietly content my mind to focus on.

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.

Thankfulness, WoW: Bone Crossed, and Life

Happy Thanksgiving Eve!

As always on Thanksgiving we tell others the things we are thankful for. I’d love to hear what you’re thankful for too!

1. I’m thankful for the Lord’s mercy and his protection. A little background to this thanks. Last Thursday on my way home from work I slide off the road into a ditch, over a side road, and then into another ditch where I hit a stop sign. In the second ditch I missed hitting a telephone pole by mere inches. If you could see where my car, no longer drivable and totaled, ended up you would see that the Lord just placed my car right where it was to keep me from hitting the pole and dying.

2. I’m thankful for my friends whose encouragement to me is more than they realize.

3. My job. Even though I don’t really like my job and it is not what I want to do the rest of my life, I’m thankful for it. I see that I am extremely blessed to have this job, especially during a time like this in our country.

4. My parent’s relationship. They’re marriage is such an awesome testimony to my siblings and I. I don’t ever want to take that for granted.

5. My family. Last, but certainly not the least. These wonderful people are the haven I go home to everyday and they are the people who know me best. I don’t think I could ever make it through a day without their wisdom, encouragement, love, jokes, and the occasional fight.

Thank you Lord for all you do for me and my family!



Have a very Happy Thanksgiving!

P.S. Sorry I haven’t posted my review of The Hunger Games, I will soon! I’m currently reading a good historical fiction book called The Sinner’s Tale by Will Davenport.

Also I’m mimicking another blog, yet again, for “Waiting on” Wednesday (borrowed from The Magic of Ink Blog). The book I’m waiting on is Patricia Briggs latest installment from her Mercy Thompson series, Bone Crossed. (Yes guilty as charged, I really like werewolf books.) It comes out this coming February.




Book Synopsis courtesy of http://www.bn.com/:

In a world where "witches, vampires, werewolves, and shape-shifters live beside ordinary people" (Booklist), it takes a very unusual woman to call it home. By day, Mercy Thompson is a car mechanic in Eastern Washington. By night, she explores her preternatural side. As a shape-shifter with some unusual talents, Mercy's found herself maintaining a tenuous harmony between the human and the not-so- human on more than one occasion. This time she may get more than she bargained for.



Quote of the Day:

All I have seen teaches me to trust the Creator for all I have not seen.
- Ralph Waldo Emerson