What's that, Blogger?
You've noticed that I talk about books, sometimes, eh?
Oh, and you signed a deal with Amazon, did you?
Oh, my. That's nice for you, I suppose.
What's that? You want ME to jump on board?
And if people click links in my blog and buy something, I get money?
Well, a little spare change would be nice, if that ever were to happen...
But I average 2 views a day, if that.
And... Amazon is a monster!
Amazon was great when it started.
Just some people and a warehouse, making books easier to obtain.
But geez, look at it now.
LOOK AT IT.
Now look at me.
I work in a small, independent book shop.
I'm friends with people who work in and own other small book shops.
If I were to refer my blog readers to a trustworthy book source, why should it be the online business that has wreaked havoc on independents around the world?
Well, I'm not going to.
Instead, here are some excellent independent Michigan bookstores that I proudly endorse!
Go outside, get in your car (or on the bike, bus, taxi, skateboard...)
and take yourself to a small, independent book shop.
They're out there.
Curious Book Shop (E. Lansing, Mi - 3 Floors of Used and Antiquarian Books & Stuff. This is where I spend most of my time and money.)
Archives Book Shop (E. Lansing, Mi - A little Used and Antiquarian Book Shop full of treasures.)
Everybody Reads (Lansing, Mi - A great, eclectic book shop for everyone!)
Off the Beaten Path (Farmington, Mi - A STEAMPUNK Book Shop!)
King's (Detroit, Mi - Supposedly the MECCA for book loving bargain hunters, but I've never been...)
Horizon Books (Traverse City, MI - A beautiful, traditional book store with plenty to offer.)
Singapore Bank Bookstore (Saugatuk, Mi - This tiny, easy to miss book shop at the top of the old Bank building is cosy, well-stocked and not to be missed!)
Friday, October 21, 2011
Thursday, October 20, 2011
NANOWRIMO 2011
Since 2006, the month of November has brought
a bouquet of crazy into my life.
Bright eyed and bushy tailed, I thought that
this nifty writing project sounded like a lot of fun.
Nevermind the essays waiting to be written for class.
Nevermind my part-time library gig.
I had time for the NaNo, right?
After all, I am an aspiring author!
Wrong.
I quit about 2 weeks in.
The same thing happened in 2007, 2008, and 2010.
(I skipped 2009, citing a honeymoon hangover.)
2010 started off great, for me.
I was finally out of college and I could attend weekly write-ins.
At one of those write-ins I lost about 6,000
of my 15,000ish words when my little Eee crashed.
I quit, then and there.
I'm a perpetual LOSER when it comes to NaNoWriMo,
and yet I'm going to give it another shot.
Why keep trying, and failing?
Because I love to do it!
Not the failing part, but the writing part.
I always have between 3 and 3948257 story ideas in my head.
This year I'm ahead of the game (compared to normal).
Instead of just a vague story idea, I have a real plan!
You see, there's this girl... there's this apocalypse.... and some books.
And it takes place in Michigan - I think.
Alright, so I don't actually have a well-thought-out plan, but I don't care.
By writing this blog post, I have officially talked myself into doing the WriMo again!
Sean will be thrilled, I'm sure.
I'm pretty well set up for the WriMo.
My EeePC is long gone, due to a terrible wine accident.
The lack of a laptop is a huge set-back,
but I think I can borrow one from my friend with too many computers.
What I wouldn't give for one of those fancy iPads with the keyboard case...
I have a writing space all set up, though it's a bit dusty.
I live just a few blocks away from Gone Wired, my ideal write-in location.
And I work just a few blocks away from Wanderer's Tea House, the back-up location.
I have coffee, I have books, I have paper and pens.
I have a story, kind-of.
I'm already doing better than I have in previous years!
I watched Kristina Horner's video about
NaNoWriMo a short while ago, and am feeling slightly more inspired.
I have a stack of books in front of me, all about writing and maintaining sanity.
Let's do this!
a bouquet of crazy into my life.
The weather goes from pleasantly chilly to
downright frigid, with those November winds.
The public transportation system goes to shit
(I'm looking at you, CATA!)
with hundreds of new riders, forsaking their bikes for the
"comforts" of dirty seats and sick strangers.
I usually come down with some plague-like illness.
Thanksgiving approaches, and with it comes stuffing.
How can I lose weight during the
GLORIOUS STUFFING MONTHS?
The holiday count-down begins.
I like to make gifts, rather than buy them.
This is, however, incredibly hard to do without some
serious time budgeting, since the month
of November also brings...
NAtionalNOvelWRItingMOnth
That's right, folks.
The month of November is your chance to join us,
the crazies, and write a 50,000 word novel.
It begins at midnight, on Halloween.
Wear a costume if you'd like.
My first WriMo experience was in 2006.downright frigid, with those November winds.
The public transportation system goes to shit
(I'm looking at you, CATA!)
with hundreds of new riders, forsaking their bikes for the
"comforts" of dirty seats and sick strangers.
I usually come down with some plague-like illness.
Thanksgiving approaches, and with it comes stuffing.
How can I lose weight during the
GLORIOUS STUFFING MONTHS?
The holiday count-down begins.
I like to make gifts, rather than buy them.
This is, however, incredibly hard to do without some
serious time budgeting, since the month
of November also brings...
NAtionalNOvelWRItingMOnth
That's right, folks.
The month of November is your chance to join us,
the crazies, and write a 50,000 word novel.
It begins at midnight, on Halloween.
Wear a costume if you'd like.
Bright eyed and bushy tailed, I thought that
this nifty writing project sounded like a lot of fun.
Nevermind the essays waiting to be written for class.
Nevermind my part-time library gig.
I had time for the NaNo, right?
After all, I am an aspiring author!
Wrong.
I quit about 2 weeks in.
The same thing happened in 2007, 2008, and 2010.
(I skipped 2009, citing a honeymoon hangover.)
2010 started off great, for me.
I was finally out of college and I could attend weekly write-ins.
At one of those write-ins I lost about 6,000
of my 15,000ish words when my little Eee crashed.
I quit, then and there.
I'm a perpetual LOSER when it comes to NaNoWriMo,
and yet I'm going to give it another shot.
Why keep trying, and failing?
Because I love to do it!
Not the failing part, but the writing part.
I always have between 3 and 3948257 story ideas in my head.
This year I'm ahead of the game (compared to normal).
Instead of just a vague story idea, I have a real plan!
You see, there's this girl... there's this apocalypse.... and some books.
And it takes place in Michigan - I think.
Alright, so I don't actually have a well-thought-out plan, but I don't care.
By writing this blog post, I have officially talked myself into doing the WriMo again!
Sean will be thrilled, I'm sure.
I'm pretty well set up for the WriMo.
My EeePC is long gone, due to a terrible wine accident.
The lack of a laptop is a huge set-back,
but I think I can borrow one from my friend with too many computers.
What I wouldn't give for one of those fancy iPads with the keyboard case...
I have a writing space all set up, though it's a bit dusty.
I live just a few blocks away from Gone Wired, my ideal write-in location.
And I work just a few blocks away from Wanderer's Tea House, the back-up location.
I have coffee, I have books, I have paper and pens.
I have a story, kind-of.
I'm already doing better than I have in previous years!
I watched Kristina Horner's video about
NaNoWriMo a short while ago, and am feeling slightly more inspired.
I have a stack of books in front of me, all about writing and maintaining sanity.
Let's do this!
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Soaking up the last warm days of summer in Lansing
A little photo-journal entry of our weekend:
Sean made this awesome tree sculpture last winter.
It's made of left-over chicken wire bits, and a bit of unexpected nature.
The lovely blue flowers I nearly killed (4 times)
are the prettiest thing in our garden!
Then, we biked from our house to the fish ladder in Old Town!
The River Trail was busier than expected, as was the fish ladder.
I saw a few father/son duos fishing in the Grand,
a lone woman happily kayaking,
lenty of locals soaking up the sun at the
Lansing City Market's Waterfront Bar & Grille.
I had never been, and it was WAY larger and more interesting than I expected.
Maybe next year we'll get there while the fish are still hopping.
A view from the observation deck ... and Sean's new crosstrail!
Sean made this awesome tree sculpture last winter.
It's made of left-over chicken wire bits, and a bit of unexpected nature.
The lovely blue flowers I nearly killed (4 times)
are the prettiest thing in our garden!
Then, we biked from our house to the fish ladder in Old Town!
The River Trail was busier than expected, as was the fish ladder.
I saw a few father/son duos fishing in the Grand,
a lone woman happily kayaking,
lenty of locals soaking up the sun at the
Lansing City Market's Waterfront Bar & Grille.
I had never been, and it was WAY larger and more interesting than I expected.
Maybe next year we'll get there while the fish are still hopping.
A view from the observation deck ... and Sean's new crosstrail!
Thursday, October 13, 2011
An Update, Illustrated.
I heard, from a reputable source, that one can have a website hosted for about $10 a year. Seriously?! Well, for Christmas I think Sean and I might launch our own urban homesteader website, and we shall call ourselves the RADISH RELISHERS!
Maybe.
But what will we do with the website? What's the point?
To get off of Facebook, hopefully!
I'd rather have all of our videos, blog posts, photos and more on one overarching website.
Plus, maybe we'll become rich and famous (but not alter our current happiness, of course).
I can dream, right?
Things that have happened:
He grew them for me! (And I helped, I suppose.)
- The Husband went and got his bike stolen. There's no other appropriate way to word this. He failed to lock it up at the ol' fraternity when he ran in to check the mail. He returned to an empty spot on the bike rack. Fortunately, our insurance company made claiming it a breeze (we had it covered under our renters' insurance). His new bike should be ready on Friday!
- The Roommate, who subleases a room in our rental here in Lansing, was kind enough to set up his fancy-pants stereo in our living room - which prompted us to decorate the room, at last! We have stuff on the walls, now. I may make giant pillows for the couch/floor this afternoon.
- APPLES. We've been appl'ing. Two weeks ago, we bought about 200lbs / 4 bushels of apples from Clam Lake Farm, up near Bellaire and Mancelona. Five of us picked apples for an hour. Their orchard is made up of "ultra dwarf" apple trees, so the fruit was at about shoulder height, or lower. It was so much fun! No photos, unfortunately.
- TODAY is the day of The Husband's BIG INTERVIEW for the job he's been working towards for the last two years. He'll do great. :)
- We had a Moth Invasion in our kitchen. Yes, this is totally something we'd post on our website. (RadishRelishers.com ?). It was awful, but The Husband took care of it. Now, we have lots of beautiful airtight containers in our kitchen. It was an excellent impetus, since we hadn't finished organizing our cabinets and things had ... well, deteriorated. We're in good shape, now!
Very utilitarian dry storage, and look at all those canned apples!
Compost and Landfill. Without really trying, we've
gotten our "landfill" waste down to about a Kroger bag a week, sometimes two.
How? Thanks to our Recycling Bench! that The Husband constructed.
It's a bit full, since we're nearing recycling day.
So functional! We can fit 2 bins at the bottom, if needed.
Top of the Bench, plus 2 dozen muffins and some Huckcherry Jam,
so hip you've only read about it.
Some herbs from the urban farm, Poppin' Fresh.
Also, my first braid of onions!
Paper flower bouquet made from a biography about Henry Clay,
and some music boxes, for good measure.
Maybe.
But what will we do with the website? What's the point?
To get off of Facebook, hopefully!
I'd rather have all of our videos, blog posts, photos and more on one overarching website.
Plus, maybe we'll become rich and famous (but not alter our current happiness, of course).
I can dream, right?
Things that have happened:
- The Husband and I celebrated our 2nd anniversary at the start of this week. Two years, already!? We try not to talk to our friends about our marriage very often, as we feel like we're bragging, or that we should knock on wood afterwards. It's pretty awesome, though.
Flowers from our urban farm community garden.
He grew them for me! (And I helped, I suppose.)
- The Roommate, who subleases a room in our rental here in Lansing, was kind enough to set up his fancy-pants stereo in our living room - which prompted us to decorate the room, at last! We have stuff on the walls, now. I may make giant pillows for the couch/floor this afternoon.
- APPLES. We've been appl'ing. Two weeks ago, we bought about 200lbs / 4 bushels of apples from Clam Lake Farm, up near Bellaire and Mancelona. Five of us picked apples for an hour. Their orchard is made up of "ultra dwarf" apple trees, so the fruit was at about shoulder height, or lower. It was so much fun! No photos, unfortunately.
- TODAY is the day of The Husband's BIG INTERVIEW for the job he's been working towards for the last two years. He'll do great. :)
- We had a Moth Invasion in our kitchen. Yes, this is totally something we'd post on our website. (RadishRelishers.com ?). It was awful, but The Husband took care of it. Now, we have lots of beautiful airtight containers in our kitchen. It was an excellent impetus, since we hadn't finished organizing our cabinets and things had ... well, deteriorated. We're in good shape, now!
Very utilitarian dry storage, and look at all those canned apples!
Compost and Landfill. Without really trying, we've
gotten our "landfill" waste down to about a Kroger bag a week, sometimes two.
How? Thanks to our Recycling Bench! that The Husband constructed.
It's a bit full, since we're nearing recycling day.
So functional! We can fit 2 bins at the bottom, if needed.
Top of the Bench, plus 2 dozen muffins and some Huckcherry Jam,
so hip you've only read about it.
Some herbs from the urban farm, Poppin' Fresh.
Also, my first braid of onions!
Paper flower bouquet made from a biography about Henry Clay,
and some music boxes, for good measure.
The entry area, Derf, and a big ol' stack of mail.
The very fancy spot.
How d'ya like that camera flash?
Living room - and the stereo!
The other (better?) side of the living room.
Alright, I think I'll end it here, for today.
The very fancy spot.
How d'ya like that camera flash?
Living room - and the stereo!
The other (better?) side of the living room.
Alright, I think I'll end it here, for today.
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
India Black is Back!
Just a quick note to express my excitement -
I walked into the book shop today to find a glossy, lovely copy of Carol K. Carr's newest India Black novel: India Black and the Widow of Windsor (A Madam of Espionage Mystery) waiting for me.
Woo hoo!
From the back cover:
Whether running a brothel or running from danger as a spy for Her Majesty, India Black knows how to use the tricks of the trade. This time she's off to Scotland to ensure the Queen doesn't end up getting killed...
When Queen Victoria attends a seance, the spirit of her departed husband, Prince Albert, insists she spend Christmas at their Scottish home in Balmoral, a deviation from her usual practice. The prime minister suspects Scottish nationalists are planning to assassinate the Queen - and sends the ever-resourceful India and the handsome British spy French to the Scottish Highlands undercover.
French will take the high road, looking for a traitor among the Queen's guests - and India will take the low road, disguised as a servant in case an assassin is hiding among the Queen's household staff. For her part, India doesn't need a medium to predict that someone at Balmoral is determined that this Christmas will be Her Majesty's last...
It's set for release on October 4, 2011.
For the last week or so I've gobbled up Outlander, and the first half of Dragonfly in Amber, by Diana Gabaldon. They're entertaining to the extreme, but I feel a bit silly feasting on all of these "trashy" historical romances. While the students across Grand River Ave. are (hopefully) toiling away at their studies, I'm reading about sexy Scots with windswept hair and kilts. Oh, geez...
Not complaining, just pointing out my silliness...
The 54th Michigan Antiquarian Book and Paper Show is this Sunday, in Lansing. Looks like I won't have a chance to enjoy Ms. Carr's newest until next week.
I walked into the book shop today to find a glossy, lovely copy of Carol K. Carr's newest India Black novel: India Black and the Widow of Windsor (A Madam of Espionage Mystery) waiting for me.
Woo hoo!From the back cover:
Whether running a brothel or running from danger as a spy for Her Majesty, India Black knows how to use the tricks of the trade. This time she's off to Scotland to ensure the Queen doesn't end up getting killed...
When Queen Victoria attends a seance, the spirit of her departed husband, Prince Albert, insists she spend Christmas at their Scottish home in Balmoral, a deviation from her usual practice. The prime minister suspects Scottish nationalists are planning to assassinate the Queen - and sends the ever-resourceful India and the handsome British spy French to the Scottish Highlands undercover.
French will take the high road, looking for a traitor among the Queen's guests - and India will take the low road, disguised as a servant in case an assassin is hiding among the Queen's household staff. For her part, India doesn't need a medium to predict that someone at Balmoral is determined that this Christmas will be Her Majesty's last...
It's set for release on October 4, 2011.
For the last week or so I've gobbled up Outlander, and the first half of Dragonfly in Amber, by Diana Gabaldon. They're entertaining to the extreme, but I feel a bit silly feasting on all of these "trashy" historical romances. While the students across Grand River Ave. are (hopefully) toiling away at their studies, I'm reading about sexy Scots with windswept hair and kilts. Oh, geez...
Not complaining, just pointing out my silliness...
The 54th Michigan Antiquarian Book and Paper Show is this Sunday, in Lansing. Looks like I won't have a chance to enjoy Ms. Carr's newest until next week.
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Something Interesting...
Odd, nostalgia-invoking items cross my desk every day.
There's usually just enough time to pause, admire and move along to the next thing.
This gem, published in 1953 and distributed to American children, must be shared!
The Bank belongs to the people? Could have fooled me...
The Story of Money. 1953. Louis F. Dow Co., St. Paul.
The back cover reads: "Use with Arithmetic Instruction Kits; Manufactured by WacoTex Industries, Inc.; P. O. Box 3098 Waco, Texas; Producers of metal play coins for educational uses"
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Mini Review: The Celestine Prophecy
Yesterday, I did the Hawk Island Loop, a bike ride that measures just over 8 miles. It was exhausting, exhilarating and breath-taking. It was gorgeous, and I pushed myself to the point of gasping for breath at the end of the ride. The River Trail path takes you right through a mature forest, in the middle of Lansing! A great way to celebrate America's independence.
I was going to go for another ride this morning, but I decided to take a day off and let my muscles recuperate a bit. I'm headed out for a walk to our little downtown area. I think I'll start calling it the "East End," even though no one will know what I mean. Yoga, later, too.
This book had been hovering around in my peripheral to-be-read cloud for months.
Mike Thomas, an interesting YouTuber and proprietor of YouAreThePath.com, gave it a glowing recommendation not too long ago, so I finally acquired a copy and gave it a try...
measure, but it does offer a number of interesting (and sometimes common-sense) insights into how people think. Redfield's New Age bestseller was an entertaining, easy read peppered with observations that caused me to pause and think about my actions toward others, and myself. As Redfield states, it's meant to be more of a parable, a thought-jogger for readers of all ilks to take in and use in their own lives. It's not supposed to be, as I said, a literary masterpiece.
The plot's structure is made up of a number of "insights," or philosophical ideals about how people should treat one another and themselves. Woven into this adventure story are archeological and scientific ideas, facts and fallacies. If you take this book for what it's meant to be, an easy and effective look at Redfield's life philosophy, then you'll enjoy this little book and may even seek out the sequels he has since published.
It's hard to hate on a book that's full of good messages about trying to heal the world and it's peoples. Try it out. There are copies available in just about every book shop, new and used, as well as libraries and friends bookshelves. See if it works for you, but don't bash it if it's not your style. Redfield's suggestions as to how people should treat one another could benefit some of the snarky, cynical reviewers who have tossed this book aside. It's a heck of a lot better than the Twilight-esque rubbish flying off of the presses, these days.
They made this book into a movie not so long ago, but I haven't seen it, yet. It's on Netflix (what isn't?), so I'll see it soon enough.
I'm about half-way through The Tenth Insight, Redfield's sequel to Celestine Prophecy. This book is discerningly far-fetched, even when compared to it's predecessor. Still, I admire Redfield's philosophies of how we should live and learn, so I'll finish it. Book number three, Secret of Shambhala, is already in my possession. A fourth book, The Twelfth Insight, was released in February. I've assumed that it's a great work on the current societal and world condition. If I can make it through this sequel without tossing it aside in frustration I'll finish the series.
I was going to go for another ride this morning, but I decided to take a day off and let my muscles recuperate a bit. I'm headed out for a walk to our little downtown area. I think I'll start calling it the "East End," even though no one will know what I mean. Yoga, later, too.
This book had been hovering around in my peripheral to-be-read cloud for months.
Mike Thomas, an interesting YouTuber and proprietor of YouAreThePath.com, gave it a glowing recommendation not too long ago, so I finally acquired a copy and gave it a try...
---
The Celestine Prophecy is not a literary masterpiece by any 
measure, but it does offer a number of interesting (and sometimes common-sense) insights into how people think. Redfield's New Age bestseller was an entertaining, easy read peppered with observations that caused me to pause and think about my actions toward others, and myself. As Redfield states, it's meant to be more of a parable, a thought-jogger for readers of all ilks to take in and use in their own lives. It's not supposed to be, as I said, a literary masterpiece.The plot's structure is made up of a number of "insights," or philosophical ideals about how people should treat one another and themselves. Woven into this adventure story are archeological and scientific ideas, facts and fallacies. If you take this book for what it's meant to be, an easy and effective look at Redfield's life philosophy, then you'll enjoy this little book and may even seek out the sequels he has since published.
It's hard to hate on a book that's full of good messages about trying to heal the world and it's peoples. Try it out. There are copies available in just about every book shop, new and used, as well as libraries and friends bookshelves. See if it works for you, but don't bash it if it's not your style. Redfield's suggestions as to how people should treat one another could benefit some of the snarky, cynical reviewers who have tossed this book aside. It's a heck of a lot better than the Twilight-esque rubbish flying off of the presses, these days.
They made this book into a movie not so long ago, but I haven't seen it, yet. It's on Netflix (what isn't?), so I'll see it soon enough.
I'm about half-way through The Tenth Insight, Redfield's sequel to Celestine Prophecy. This book is discerningly far-fetched, even when compared to it's predecessor. Still, I admire Redfield's philosophies of how we should live and learn, so I'll finish it. Book number three, Secret of Shambhala, is already in my possession. A fourth book, The Twelfth Insight, was released in February. I've assumed that it's a great work on the current societal and world condition. If I can make it through this sequel without tossing it aside in frustration I'll finish the series.
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Book Binge, and a Cat
Today being my only day off in the foreseeable future, I spent the morning and early afternoon on a leisurely walk through my neighborhood. Four books, dropped off at the library. One tasty breakfast at Gone Wired, featuring the best-tasting bacon of my life, a little too much coffee for comfort and a quiet hour in which I savored the ending of Ernest Callenbach's Ecotopia.
This book is a treasure. I'm adding it to my Top 10 book list.
I just sauntered on home from Everybody Reads, my wonderful neighborhood book shop, on the eastern side of Lansing. It was a longer walk than usual, what with my bag-o-books weighing me down. Wanna see what I got?!
An ARC of Martha Cooley's The Archivist
Dorothy Allison's Cavedweller (Never heard of it, but am so intrigued!)
Elizabeth Gaskell's Sylvia's Lovers
Witold Rybczynski's Waiting for the Weekend (A study of leisure time and "the freedom to do nothing," from Roman times to modern day. I loved learning about this massive change in society in the 20th century, and can't wait to crack this baby open!)
Ken Kesey's Sometimes a Great Notion
Hunter S. Thompson's The Great Shark Hunt (!)
Beppe Severgnini's Ciao, America! : An Italian Discovers the U.S.
The Awakened Warrior: Living with Courage, Compassion & Discipline (ed. Rick Fields)
In the Company of Others: Making Community in the Mondern World (ed. Claude Whitmyer)
These were all gently used paperbacks, and even though I insisted upon paying double their asking price, I still managed to get out of Everybody Reads without spending more than $10 - and I got a neat bumper sticker, too!
Other books I've acquired in the last few weeks include:
Kwame Anthony Appiah's The Honor Code: How Moral Revolutions Happen
James Redfield's The Celestine Prophecy
Dan Millman's Sacred Journey of the Peaceful Warrior
Alice Miller's Thou Shalt Not be Aware: Society's Betrayl of the Child
J.G. Ballard's The Crystal World
Rick Steves's Travel as a Political Act
Shiva Naipaul's Beyond the Dragon's Mouth
Elinore Pruitt Stewart's Letters of a Woman Homesteader (So good, so far!)
Rebecca Ann Collins's The Pemberley Chronicles (Yeah, I know...)
John Mortimer's The Summer of a Dormouse: Another Part of Life
Krishnalal Shirdharani's My India, My America (Introduction by Louis Bromfield!)
I hope to read them all eventually, but I obviously acquire more books than I can read. I'll have to take a photo of the book shelves sometime soon, to share some of my double-stacking storage techniques. Even still, I have boxes and boxes of books stashed in a closet. Two closets, actually.
All of these books makes it difficult to get more writing done. I'm working on a novel, as always.
What makes it different this time, though, is that soon I will have an actual writing space, a place of my own without the seduction of internet, candy or a stack of books. The goal is to keep this desk clear, save for a mug of pens and a cushy spot for cats to snooze on the sunny windowsill.
It's a damn good thing that Nova, our new little adoptee from the Lansing Area Humane Society, can happily co-habitate with so many books. Footage of the little cat to come soon, as well. I'd upload some now, but she's being so darn affectionate, curled up on my lap.
This book is a treasure. I'm adding it to my Top 10 book list.
I just sauntered on home from Everybody Reads, my wonderful neighborhood book shop, on the eastern side of Lansing. It was a longer walk than usual, what with my bag-o-books weighing me down. Wanna see what I got?!
An ARC of Martha Cooley's The Archivist
Dorothy Allison's Cavedweller (Never heard of it, but am so intrigued!)
Elizabeth Gaskell's Sylvia's Lovers
Witold Rybczynski's Waiting for the Weekend (A study of leisure time and "the freedom to do nothing," from Roman times to modern day. I loved learning about this massive change in society in the 20th century, and can't wait to crack this baby open!)
Ken Kesey's Sometimes a Great Notion
Hunter S. Thompson's The Great Shark Hunt (!)
Beppe Severgnini's Ciao, America! : An Italian Discovers the U.S.
The Awakened Warrior: Living with Courage, Compassion & Discipline (ed. Rick Fields)
In the Company of Others: Making Community in the Mondern World (ed. Claude Whitmyer)
These were all gently used paperbacks, and even though I insisted upon paying double their asking price, I still managed to get out of Everybody Reads without spending more than $10 - and I got a neat bumper sticker, too!
Other books I've acquired in the last few weeks include:
Kwame Anthony Appiah's The Honor Code: How Moral Revolutions Happen
James Redfield's The Celestine Prophecy
Dan Millman's Sacred Journey of the Peaceful Warrior
Alice Miller's Thou Shalt Not be Aware: Society's Betrayl of the Child
J.G. Ballard's The Crystal World
Rick Steves's Travel as a Political Act
Shiva Naipaul's Beyond the Dragon's Mouth
Elinore Pruitt Stewart's Letters of a Woman Homesteader (So good, so far!)
Rebecca Ann Collins's The Pemberley Chronicles (Yeah, I know...)
John Mortimer's The Summer of a Dormouse: Another Part of Life
Krishnalal Shirdharani's My India, My America (Introduction by Louis Bromfield!)
I hope to read them all eventually, but I obviously acquire more books than I can read. I'll have to take a photo of the book shelves sometime soon, to share some of my double-stacking storage techniques. Even still, I have boxes and boxes of books stashed in a closet. Two closets, actually.
All of these books makes it difficult to get more writing done. I'm working on a novel, as always.
What makes it different this time, though, is that soon I will have an actual writing space, a place of my own without the seduction of internet, candy or a stack of books. The goal is to keep this desk clear, save for a mug of pens and a cushy spot for cats to snooze on the sunny windowsill.
It's a damn good thing that Nova, our new little adoptee from the Lansing Area Humane Society, can happily co-habitate with so many books. Footage of the little cat to come soon, as well. I'd upload some now, but she's being so darn affectionate, curled up on my lap.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
April Happenings and Acquisitions
We're half-way through the month of April and I feel as though I've begun living a different life since April Fools' Day.
- I turned 25. I'm okay with it. I'm happy about it, actually. No sense bemoaning the aging process!
- We moved into an actual house. The Husband and I are thrilled! We have a back yard, and we've already planted spinach, swiss chard and snap peas. Photos to come soon, I expect. We have big plans for this place.
- I started taking mass transit. Until this month I've been a walker. I walked to and from work 95% of the year. Now that I'm a Lansing resident (rather than East Lansing), I'm taking CATA to and from work (and the shops). It's so much BETTER! Don't get me wrong, I'm still all about walking. The bus ride actually takes less time than walking from our old place, though. My fellow riders are a fascinating bunch. The bus comes every 10-15 minutes, so once I figure out the timing I'll have very little loitering to do.
- We're headed out to Detroit on Friday. The goal is to bring up the two massive book shelves that served me so well through adolescence. These 6'5 beasts will be the bones of our Study (It's NOT an OFFICE!). I'm just hoping that my books fit. I don't think that all of them will...
- With this new house comes the space for a real art area! Sean is looking forward to pulling out the oil paints and easel, and I'm itching to cover my fingers with Mod Podge. I used to take part in a few online art swap communities. I want back in!
- IT'S SPRING! Mid-Michigan is finally turning green.
Once these book shelves are in place, I'd like to fix my LibraryThing to reflect my current collection. That's one hell(o kitty) of a project, though...
It's raining books.
I've just finished Amanda Foreman's Georgiana: Duchess of Devonshire. It took me a month to get through, but was well worth it. Now, I'm mincing my way through Eden's Outcasts: The Story of Louisa May Alcott and Her Father, by John Matteson. It's good, but difficult to read on the bus. The Boss-Man passed along copies of Hana Samek Norton's The Sixth Surrender, Anne O'Brien's The Virgin Widow and Mitzi Szereto's Pride & Prejudice: Hidden Lusts (which sounds... interesting). I also have Octavia Butler's Kindred, which I've been saving for a while.
- I turned 25. I'm okay with it. I'm happy about it, actually. No sense bemoaning the aging process!
- We moved into an actual house. The Husband and I are thrilled! We have a back yard, and we've already planted spinach, swiss chard and snap peas. Photos to come soon, I expect. We have big plans for this place.
- I started taking mass transit. Until this month I've been a walker. I walked to and from work 95% of the year. Now that I'm a Lansing resident (rather than East Lansing), I'm taking CATA to and from work (and the shops). It's so much BETTER! Don't get me wrong, I'm still all about walking. The bus ride actually takes less time than walking from our old place, though. My fellow riders are a fascinating bunch. The bus comes every 10-15 minutes, so once I figure out the timing I'll have very little loitering to do.
- We're headed out to Detroit on Friday. The goal is to bring up the two massive book shelves that served me so well through adolescence. These 6'5 beasts will be the bones of our Study (It's NOT an OFFICE!). I'm just hoping that my books fit. I don't think that all of them will...
- With this new house comes the space for a real art area! Sean is looking forward to pulling out the oil paints and easel, and I'm itching to cover my fingers with Mod Podge. I used to take part in a few online art swap communities. I want back in!
- IT'S SPRING! Mid-Michigan is finally turning green.
Once these book shelves are in place, I'd like to fix my LibraryThing to reflect my current collection. That's one hell(o kitty) of a project, though...
It's raining books.
I've just finished Amanda Foreman's Georgiana: Duchess of Devonshire. It took me a month to get through, but was well worth it. Now, I'm mincing my way through Eden's Outcasts: The Story of Louisa May Alcott and Her Father, by John Matteson. It's good, but difficult to read on the bus. The Boss-Man passed along copies of Hana Samek Norton's The Sixth Surrender, Anne O'Brien's The Virgin Widow and Mitzi Szereto's Pride & Prejudice: Hidden Lusts (which sounds... interesting). I also have Octavia Butler's Kindred, which I've been saving for a while.
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