The Reader's Habitat

I have decided to start a book club! Yeah, you read correctly! I'm starting another project that I really don't have time for. I was part of a book club when I was working, but this one will be totally online. I like that idea because I know how hard it is to get people together to discuss books. Who has time to actually meet? No one I know, that's who! And I want this book club to be global. I also want this to be more than just picking one book, reading that book, and then meeting to talk about everything BUT that book. That's what usually happens in those meetings . . . I know. This book club will be different.

This book club will be more about getting to know other readers and what they have read, what they are reading, and what they want to read. I'm not sure if the members, once the site actually has members besides myself, will want to read a particular book together, but we can work that out if it comes up. I like the idea of listing books on a profile and having people comment on them. I also like the idea of people introducing and responding to various topics/discussions. Unlike several book clubs out there, this one is not specific to any type of book or author. This club is open to all kinds of reading! I know some people who only read romance or sci-fi or mystery, etc., and I wouldn't want to exclude anyone. I want everyone to feel comfortable sharing their favorites as well as discovering what others like to read!

Even though I don't have time to actually moderate a book club . . . or even participate in one, I have decided it's a good idea. I like knowing what other people are reading, and I don't want to limit myself to the types of books I tend to gravitate towards such as Victorian and earlier.

One nice thing about this book club is that it will allow members to participate as little or as much and as often as they like or can. Schedules are tight, but books are fun! Need I say more?

Okay, I'll say more.

I'm not sure where this idea came from because I haven't heard anyone mention book clubs in a long time, but the idea hit me out of the blue yesterday while I was reading (of course I was reading). I jumped out of my chair and ran to the computer (okay, maybe I didn't run, but I walked fast and didn't detour through the kitchen) to investigate possible book club sites.

I decided on Goodreads.com (I was already a member, but I haven't participated in anything since I signed up). I think this site will work well for what I have in mind.

A few people have expressed an interest to participate, so that's encouraging! I have called this new book club The Reader's Habitat because I think that name encompasses all kinds of readers and everything that can be read and shared, and the name appeals to the anthropological side of me for whatever reason you care to imagine. The name sounds earthy and full of the human condition! The name also sounds like the little houses hobbits have in the side of a hill, which I would totally love to inhabit because they sound so darn cute and cozy.

It's time for me to hole up in my reader's habitat and get some reading done.

Just in case you want to join me . . .
http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/23893.The_Reader_s_Habitat

The Gulf of Mexico, Blue Skies, and a Little Bit of Sand

I spent a very short amount of time on the beach in Galveston this week, but I enjoyed it anyway. Ken and I are planning to go to Corpus Christi some weekend this fall to enjoy the coast without the throng of summer tourists and the outlandish heat of the summer of '09.

I love the salty aroma of the coastal air, the soothing crash of waves, the warm gulf waters, and the overwhelming feeling of a mysterious and watery world.

August 15, 1995

Today is my baby kitty's 14th birthday. O! Artemis . . . after almost 3 years, I still miss you tremendously. You will always be special to me!

Is it Time to Chat Over Coffee?

I just spent the day with a very good friend, Doreen. This is her last week to drive the "camera" truck that takes pictures of license plates to find possible repossessions. I know she hates this job, and the job has been something to pay the bills--but I'll miss our "ride arounds." She's returning to school this fall also--and we have indicated that a weekly visit over coffee is a must! We talk about anything and everything. Nothing is off limits so far, and I like that. We share a lot of the same interests, that's true, but the best part is that we laugh at ourselves, our husbands, and pretty much everything else. We talk about life, our pasts, our futures, books, family, and the list goes on and on. We talk about everything! We even talk about going to Italy together. I can't imagine anyone else I would like to travel to Italy with--besides Ken, of course. I think traveling around Italy with Doreen would be a blast. We both speak just enough Italian to be dangerous and hilarious.

It's also great to have a friend who doesn't judge no matter what I say and who understands what I'm trying to say, even though I sometimes make no sense at all. We just know what the other is thinking.

I have always been reserved even with the closest of friends. As I get older, I am discovering how important it is to talk about feelings (good & bad) and hopes and dreams with a friend. The conversations Doreen and I have would probably drive most people crazy. We jump from topic to topic at lightning speed, and we pick up topics that were dropped but not forgotten. I love that we can talk and listen at the same time, and we both know when it's time to stop for coffee. That's friendship!

Am I Crazy and Different? Yes, Thank Goodness!

Call me crazy, but I am actually looking forward to the fall semester. I know the three classes I have signed up for will be very hectic, but I am ready for the challenge. Don't get me wrong! I have enjoyed this time off immensely! I have accomplished several things on my list . . . not everything, but hey, I'm not Wonder Woman--although I do have a purple cape.

I have also engaged in a lot of rest and relaxation, and I don't feel guilty about that at all! When I am busy beyond belief in the coming months, I can look back on July and most of August and say, "ahhh, that was fun."

On a different note: I am trying to decide if I want to do National Novel Writing Month this November. I can't even imagine having the time because of all the reading/writing I will be doing for school. Grad school is overloaded with work, and the instructors are relentless with their high expectations. I mean really. I can only do so much in a day, even with my purple superhero cape. Will I have time to write 50,000 words in 30 days just for fun? I don't know. I do know that I get more done when I have no time to do it, so it just might be achievable. Nothing ventured, nothing gained, right?

I may or may not go to Cairo, Egypt in a week or so. I am waiting for my friend to get expenses in order and time off arranged. I think this would be an awesome trip, and I will definitely have something to blog about then. Not a whole lot of blog-worthy activities going on right now. The most exciting thing going on is my virtual life on Farm Town (facebook). It has become more fun now that Doreen and Jessica are hooked and building their farms and we can harvest each other's crops. This game is so crazy addicting, and I'm not ashamed to admit that I love it! My farm is awesome!

You never know when opportunities to unleash creativity are going to tap you on the shoulder and tell you to paint, plant, write, sing! Okay, maybe not sing. That would be a creative disaster in my case. But what I'm saying is that I'll take a creative moment anywhere I can find it, and Farm Town just happens to be my creative outlet of the moment. It's all good.

When school starts, I guess I will have to cut back on my Farm Town fun. It will be difficult and so sad, but...hold on a minute! Uh, hellooo? It's a fake farm. What am I thinking? I guess I shouldn't be admitting that I play this game, but there it is - and I don't spend all my time playing fake farmer...really I don't! *big sigh* I also admitted to Doreen yesterday (when she texted me to find out if I was going to be on Farm Town any time soon) that I was knitting and watching Spongebob Squarepants. Yeah, I said it. I watch Spongebob! Doreen texted back and said that was why she liked me so much. She's crazy and different as well.

Okay, so now you see why I'm ready for school to start. I need to become a RWP (real world person) again--but not a complete RWP because no way am I that annoying in public! I hope. Am I?

SO . . . if I go to Egypt then it's Vegas after that and then school. Next week will be my last week of "I can do as little or as much as I want to." Better make it count.

Life is an adventure, and I'm going to enjoy every minute of it!

Ask no Questions, Get no Lies Told

I was going to steal a blogger's blog idea today and post 20 questions and answers about myself--and I wouldn't really make up fake answers like the title of this post suggests. I was halfway through the questions on the list and I lost interest. That doesn't bode well for my personality. Who really wants to know these things about me? I mean, who cares what I had for breakfast or who is on my "list"--whatever the heck that means. Besides, all the really juicy stuff is in the vault, and I threw that key away a long time ago, which means nothing that interesting happens me to anymore since I wouldn't be able to put it in the vault without a blowtorch. *sigh*

I do, however, enjoy reading questions and answers that other people put out there. People are so interesting. That's why I like to people watch--people are not only interesting they are hilarious. It's especially fun in airports and other places that attract a huge variety of the human race. When it comes to questions and answers though, I like to read all that mundane stuff about a person with the occasional "I didn't know that" thrown in. Of course, if the questions and answers are for someone I don't know then it's all new, and that's okay. I guess I could make up my own list of questions, but I can't think of any that would keep people riveted to their computer and occasionally saying, "I didn't know that."

Giddyap!

Please, please, please, please tell me I'm not the only one who struggles with procrastination, laziness, sluggishness, or just a plain I-don't-wanna-do-anything kind of feeling. Whatever you want to call it, I do not want it. I practically have to nag myself into getting up and doing things that need doing. I'm okay with the things that have to get done . . . usually, like the things to survive or to keep up the appearance that I'm functioning normally. But am I rushing around doing the things that should get done? Uh . . . no. wth?! Okay, I did accomplish a few, and I mean a few, things on my to do list today, so that's something, right . . . right? I need a support group or a cheerleader or something! Maybe I feel like this because it's summer and we have this freakish heat wave going on. Yeah--okay--the heat! I can live with that theory. I know it's not hot inside the house, but it's still hot outside. That counts, right?

A Barking Chihuahua and Facebook

Today was an extremely weird day. I am not even sure where to begin, so I guess I will just say it finally rained this evening. But the whole day was off and strange. This happens, I know, so I refuse to worry about it.

Tomorrow I will visit my friend, Sonia. I get to help her with her Facebook and any other computer questions she has waiting for me. She has trouble posting pictures and just using Facebook in general. Lunch first though!

Sonia has a yappy dog, Emmy, who refuses to let anyone speak above her high pitched barking. I think the dog hates me. That is weird too because animals usually like me--maybe because I am an earth sign or because I rarely make eye contact with . . . well . . . anyone, including dogs. Or perhaps I am too small to be threatening to anyone let alone a tiny, fat dog with blazing eyes and a knack for piercing my eardrums with her doggy warnings to vacate her territory. Anyway, this dog nips at my feet and barks in my face, and Sonia and I usually become hoarse from yelling over the noise. Tomorrow will be a good day.

Hello World

I have acknowledged that it is extremely important to speak (electronically or otherwise) to those you care about. This seems like common knowledge, but how many of us actually practice it? I do . . . as much as I can anyway. I never let Ken part from me without a hug, a kiss, and a "be careful" to send him on his way. What if . . . ? I try to acknowledge people when they send me a "hello." How many of us allow friends and family to fall by the wayside? I do, unfortunately--although not as much since so many people I know are on Facebook these days--but I know I still need to try harder! I try to be there or say "hi" or maybe throw out a short and sweet response every now and then. I responded this morning to my parents' email about our upcoming visit in September. They sent me an email on Friday, and I realized this morning that I never responded! Shame on me! They are too important for me to acknowledge them two days later. This shameful feeling prompted me to blog. I feel bad! I want people to know I care and that they are important to me. My selfishness takes over sometimes, darn it!

I have to work at remembering the importance of "keeping in touch" or just acknowledging people because I have a tendency to hermitize myself for long periods of time (yes, you can be a hermit in the middle of a crowd). I am reaching out a lot more these days, but it is not easy for me...it has never been my nature to put myself in such a vulnerable position . . . you know, reach out and risk getting ignored. I hate that, but I am working at not taking it personally. A good friend of mine took forever to respond to an email I sent a few months ago--I started thinking she was mad or whatever . . . I felt bad for a long time even though I really had no reason to feel this way...I know people have busy lives and may forget. I know she did not mean any harm by her unresponsiveness, but I do not want to be like that . . . I mean, I do not want to be the one who never responds or responds weeks later! Ahhh--the Golden Rule!

I must try harder to reach out to the people I love, like, and maybe just know slightly. Life is too short to be going about my business thinking only of myself.

Summer Vacation 2009 and my brobdingnagian list of things to do

I have not blogged much lately because my 17th Century Drama class has kept me very busy these last 5 weeks. Yay! the class is finished. I totally enjoyed the class though. I read some 17th Century plays that I would not have ever read, and I liked them a lot. I do not have problems reading old stuff, so I should not be surprised that I liked these plays. I especially liked learning more about the history of the time--cool!

But now I get to do summer stuff for the next month and a half or so. I am excited to accomplished some long overdue tasks. I have put off doing several things around the house, so now it is time. I am going to clean and organize the following areas: pantry, all of the cabinets in the house, especially in the kitchen and the utility room, master closet, both spare bedrooms, and my bookshelves in the study. I would also like to start taking down the wallpaper in the small bathroom, but I am not sure if that will happen right now.

In addition to all of the above (as if that is not enough), I plan to do these things also: practice my Italian, practice the piano, edit one of my nanowrimo novels, do stuff in the yard, post pictures on Shutterfly, read anything and everything, pray the Rosary more (I hate not doing it every day), write some actual letters to several people (real paper letters that you mail--yeah, maybe I will get letters back *sigh* because I love getting mail).

Yes, I am probably being overly ambitious or unrealistic about getting ALL of these things done in less than 2 months, but I am definitely going to try. I like a challenge, even though I am the laziest person on the planet . . . usually . . . okay, always. I am trying to kick that habit! Wish me luck!