Reading Through the Stacks: Every Letter Was a Love Letter

Yesterday was spent trading notes with Sarge to save his hay-fevered voice.  When was the last time you wrote a love note or letter?

Somewhere between note 1 and 17, I finished reading my 20th book of the year.

Recent reads have been:

 The Marriage Plot - Read this in three days.  The first two I was right there with it.  Yesterday, not so much.  I was just happy to read complex sentences again.

Fifty Shades of Grey (Fifty Shades, #1) – I read this because I have a not-so-new obsession with talked-about books.  I found myself counting the times Ana mentioned her inner goddess.  And then I lost it.  Perhaps the best thing about reading this was appreciating Ellen’s video.

The History of Love - I lived with this book.

The Shape Of Water - Must read all the others and catch up with the show.  Think I know what our next box-set will be.

Hot Six (Stephanie Plum, #6) – These haven’t become boring yet.  Predictable and comfortable, but not boring.

 The Bees - Read this aloud, to myself.  In my living-room.  In honour of (inter)National (kinda) Poetry Month.  And to drown out the not-so dulcet tones of my upstairs neighbour.  The one who is constantly on the phone.  At that infuriating level that’s loud enough to be annoying, but too muffled to be useful in my writing.  Except to say it’s worse than a slow, tapping leak.

The Freedom Writers Diary - I got this because of my not-so recent obsession books on writing/books that encourage writing/books made into films.  And because I was looking for something else and found this on the way.  And then realised it was a book I’d wanted to read for a long time.  Everybody wins.

Previous books listed here.

What have you been reading?

The History of Love (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The Empty Shelf

I am in the midst of sorting out books to give away/sell.  As someone who actively hoards books, this is painful.  But also a good thing.  I want more space, less clutter.  Fewer boxes to cart out when we move.  Somewhere in my mission, I found this:

The Empty Shelf.

I’m posting the above as proof, and for posterity.

What should I do with it?

And if you had an empty shelf, what would you do with it?

 

How Are You Doing?

I recently read Fifteen Ways To Make Your Blog Irresistible over at Broadside.

I have decided to take each of Caitlin’s points/questions and apply them to my own blog.

Is your blog overly personal? 

I don’t think so.  More personal than I originally had in mind, though.  Without navel-gazing, I would hope.  There is a difference between my blog and my journal.  When I first started, I envisaged a personal public blog, and I think I’m still there.  I planned to write from the perspective of a wheelchair-user who lives in a beautiful, and yet quite inaccessible city.  Because I am, and I do.  But my life is more than that, and so is this blog.  The desire to connect with all kinds of people is still there, though.  And always will be.

Check your spelling, vocabulary and grammar.

I always read a post and then I read it out loud before I hit ‘publish.’

Is this post really worth sharing?  

What, you don’t want to see photos of my cat?  Or my coffee?  You don’t want to hear about my wedding plans?  Or how much I love Sarge?

Sarge is only so-called on this blog, by the way.  I asked him if he wanted me to start using his off-line name and he said he prefers ‘Sarge’ to ‘Giant Nerd.’

You’re being read worldwide — be inclusive.

As in American living in Scotland who happens to be a wheelchair-user, I think I’m doing pretty well on that score.  Might also be worthy of note that I’m Italian and getting married to someone who hates cheese.  That should score me ‘people are people’ points, no?

Is every comment a big thumbs-up?

Aside from the spam, stuff is positive.  Although, someone did think I was too harsh with my hatred of ferrets.  And while I appreciate the likes, I LOVE comments.  Because that leads to discussion.  Don’t be shy.

Are you playing it too safe?

I’ve said some pretty provocative things.  I admitted that grew up thinking Nina Simone was a man, and I once proclaimed my boyfriend-turned-fiancé is better than coffee.

Considering that one of my mother’s cousins found me and then my mother through reading my posts, I think I’m pretty open.

Are you (even occasionally) funny?

I like to laugh.  Mostly at myself.  And share it with others.  And I think the experiences of getting locked in a toilet and being told your head is too big for your passport photo are pretty universal.  And everybody falls off pavements and drives backwards sometimes.  Or is that just me?

Move us!

I hope I do.  If I’m happy, I hope you are, too.  If I’m thinking, I hope you are.  If I’m being a dork, I do hope you would tell me, so we can be dorks together.  Here’s where you tell me I’m too old to be a dork.

Edit, revise, repeat.

Most posts start as written drafts that percolate for a few days. Some of them stew too long.

When I get to posting, I hate formatting that doesn’t look right, so I end up with a bunch of revisions.  Posts take longer to post than to write, sometimes.

Grab us with the first few sentences.

Well, you always want to find out what happens, don’t you?  Did she make it out of the toilet?  I did.

Use paragraphs. 

I’m always promising real paragraphs, because I like to read them myself.

Visuals matter!

I think blogging has made me a better photo-taker.  I wouldn’t think of posting without some show-in-the-tell now, even it’s someone else’s photo, because most people are better at those than me.

Link to other people’s ideas.

I try to do this when fits in with what I’m rambling on about.  Or there’s my blog roll.  Or that one time I linked to the mating rituals of penguins.

The blog format isn’t sexy enough without great content.

For me, this means I need to write more.  In paragraphs.  Even contemplating a blogging schedule and an e-newsletter with extra info/tidbits.

“Voice” matters most.

I could be talking about the Sopranos, Paris, popcorn or losing my phone.  The common thread is me.  Unless I’m quoting someone else.  Or posting a photo of my cat.  Even then I try to make the captions funny.  Funny ha-ha or funny strange, well, that’s open to interpretation.

All that being said, how am I doing?  And how are you doing?

Cuteness via Google

Thinking Outside The Card

I’m 31 on the 31st!

Had to share my card from Sarge! Who else would it be from?

What did you do on your 31st birthday?  If you haven’t had it yet, make it up!

Real paragraphs tomorrow or Monday!

Must Shake Things Up

This was my do not want list for 2011.  Except for a few items, it worked.  So I’ve been thinking on another one.

I won’t have time for the following things next year.  Because I’ll be having too much fun concentrating on other things.

 

Boredom.  I used to say that bored people weren’t creative enough.  And then I got over myself.  But boredom isn’t fun, and really isn’t productive.  And so, less of that.  I love my life, I just want to do more with it.

Negativity.  Because No is not cool.

Worry.  It’s a waste of time.  So don’t do it.  Life is good.

Self-induced stress.  Snap out of it.  Burn some incense and chill the hell out.

Unfinished books.  Mine and other people’s.  Read and write to done.

Blank notebooks.  Fill every page with everything.

Image by Camera Slayer via Flickr

Bad coffee.  Because I still don’t have the time.

2012 will be a year of adventure.  Of shaking things up and making stuff happen.  Can’t wait!

What’ s on your Do Not Want list for 2012?

 

100 Books or Bust: Heading For 50

Well.

Dead Until Dark was the 45th book I’ve read this year.  Not my usual thing, but my brain was buzzing and needed down-time.  I had fun reading some choice lines aloud to Sarge, and finished it in a few hours.

Here’s a list of all the books I’ve read so far this year.  If I finish all the books I’ve got going, I’ll break 50 soon.  However.  I probably won’t make it to 100 books read this year.  I could read a book a day from now until the end of the year, but I won’t.  I’m not giving up, just ‘managing exceptions’.  Maybe my own.

I have a book to write, and a job to go to and adventures to have.  I’ll bring a book everywhere.  Maybe I’ll get to add 55 more titles to my 2011 list.  Maybe not.  But I’ve still read more than last year, and I’ve had fun.  There’s always next year.  And tomorrow.

What are you reading these days?

A bookshelf in my hallway

Magic Coffee: Audience Participation

A few weeks ago, a friend sent me this photo and I thought I’d share it:

These are two of my favourite things! Thank you, Karen!

This week, while shopping for my nearly oldest friend’s birthday gift (but I’m still older than she is), I found this and had to get it for myself:

True words. On a mug.

So, what made you smile this week?

Thank You Again. Again.

Image by woodleywonderworks via Flickr

On Friday, I posted my post and went to the pub.  I left my phone safely at home, and instead concerned myself with this delicious beer.

After a few, we came home and I decided to check my email while Sarge brushed his teeth.  There were lots of little yellow flags in my gmail inbox, and I discovered I’d been Freshly Pressed.  It was the third time I’ve seen my little blog up there.  Exciting, as ever.

I’d like to thank everyone who took the time to comment and subscribe, over the weekend or at any other time.

And now, I have the somewhat dubious honour that my most popular post to date is The One Where I Was On a Break (from my phone).  Yes, that was me.  But at least I’m in good company.

In recent news, I’m sitting here in striped socks and sweats, waiting for tomorrow when I get to take a train and a ferry to an island for some much needed fresh air and free time.  I will be unreachable by phone.

What are you up to this weekend?

Please stay tuned for:  My Island Diaries:  Mull Edition!

Hemingway Lives!

If you’ve been reading along, you’ll know about Coffeegate 2011.  You’ll also know that I call my computer Hemingway.  Turned out he did need a new keyboard.  Today, I came home to an undead Hemingway, complete with new keyboard and his own white chocolate cookies.  (Sarge says he has to share them with us, though.)

 

Hello.  What would you like to write today?

 

Proof Of Pez

I have a three-day work week.  Thursdays are my Fridays.  In honour of this, I would like to share my most recent internet-find: Princess Bride Bobbleheads.  If I get these, they already have a place beside my Wizard of Oz Pez Set.

Because I really do need more junk inspired by my favourite films.  Obviously.

Do you have any interesting or weird collections?  Or interestingly weird collections?

This is Pez. In my house.