Biblioholism

Alphabet Readers

2006-10-12T14:56:00.000-07:00

This year I've been participating in the Alphabet Readers group, where you aim to read books that start with the letters of the alphabet... either by Titles, or by Authors, or both. I chose to do both. :o)

So, here's how I'm doing so far....

(Last updated: October 11/06)

BY TITLE:

A - "A Third Testament" - by Malcolm Muggeridge (done: Feb.7/06)

B - "Blah, Blah, Blah" - by Bayard Taylor (done: Sept.3/06)

C - "Complete Idiot's Guide to the Reformation & Protestantism, The"
- by James S. Bell & Tracy Macon Sumner (done: Oct.2/06)

D - "Devil's Heiress, The" - by Jo Beverley (done: Sept.1/06)

E - "Everything's Coming Up Josey" - by Susan May Warren (done: June 1/06)

F - "Finding Anna" - by Christine Schaub (done: Feb.5/06)
- "Fit for Life" - by Harvey & Marilyn Diamond (done: July 7/06)

G - "Gone With the Wind" - by Margaret Mitchell (done: Jan.22/06)
- "Gathering Place, The" - by Becca Anderson (done: May 27/06)
- "Girl in Hyacinth Blue" - by Susan Vreeland (done: Sept.14/06)

H - "Hadassah Covenant, The" - by Tommy Tenney (done: Apr.20/06)
- "Heart of Christianity, The" - by Marcus J. Borg (done: Sept.9/06)

I - "Intuitive Eating" - by Evelyn Tribole, Elyse Resch (done: Aug.1/06)

J

K

L - "Lazarus Trap, The" - by Davis Bunn (done: Jan.5/06)
- "Lion, The Witch & the Wardrobe, The" - by C.S. Lewis (done: Feb.22/06)

M - "More Jesus, Less Religion" - Stephen Arterburn (done: Aug.28/06)

N - "New Kind of Christian, A" - Brian D. McLaren (done: Aug.27/06)

O - "Overcoming Overeating" - Jane R. Hirschman, Carol Munter (done: Mar.10)

P - "Procrastinating Child, The" - by Rita Emmett (done: Apr.17/06)

Q

R - "Rekindled" - by Tamera Alexander (done: Feb.27/06)
- "Rachel's Prayer" - by Leisha Kelly (done: Apr.25/06)
- "Ragamuffin Gospel, The" - by Brennan Manning (done: Aug.19/06)
- "Relentless" - Robin Parrish (done: Aug.24/06)

S - "Stolen Lives" - Brian Reaves (done: May 22/06)

T - "Thin People Don't Clean Their Plates" - Jill Fleming (done: July 13/06)

U

V - "Velvet Elvis" - Rob Bell (done: Aug.11/06)

W - "Who Needs Decaf?" - Tanya Michaels (done: Mar.16/06)
- "Why Weight?" - Geneen Roth (done: July 19/06)
- "Win the Weight Game" - Sarah, Duchess of York (done: July 19/06)

X

Y

Z - "Zelda's Cut" - Philippa Gregory (done: Oct.11/06)

<>< ** <>< ** <>< ** <>< ** <>< ** <>< ** <><

By AUTHOR:

A - Alexander, Tamera (Rekindled - 02/27/06)
- Anderson, Becca (The Gathering Place - 05/27/06)
- Arterburn, Stephen (More Jesus, Less Religion - 08/28/06)

B - Bunn, Davis (The Lazarus Trap - 01/05/06)
- Bell, Rob (Velvet Elvis - 08/11/06)
- Beverley, Jo (The Devil's Heiress - 09/01/06)
- Borg, Marcus J. (Heart of Christianity - 09/09/06)
- Bell, James S. (CIG to The Reformation... - 10/02/06)

C

D - Diamond, Harvey & Marilyn (Fit for Life - 07/07/06)
- Duchess of York, Sarah (Win the Weight Game - 07/19/06)

E - Emmett, Rita (Procrastinating Child, The - 04/17/06)

F - Fleming, Jill (Thin People Don't Clean Their Plates - 07/13/06)

G - Gregory, Philippa (Zelda's Cut - 10/11/06)

H - Hirschmann, Jane R. (Overcoming Overeating - 03/10/06)

I

J

K - Kelly, Leisha (Rachel's Prayer - 04/25/06)

L - Lewis, C.S. (The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe - 02/22/05)

M - Mitchell, Margaret (Gone With The Wind - 01/22/06)
- Muggeridge, Malcolm (A Third Testament - 02/07/06)
- Michaels, Tanya (Who Needs Decaf? - 03/16/06)
- Manning, Brennan (The Ragamuffin Gospel - 08/19/06)
- McLaren, Brian D. (A New Kind of Christian - 08/27/06)

N

O

P - Parrish, Robin (Relentless - 08/24/06)

Q

R - Reaves, Brian (Stolen Lives - 05/22/06)
- Roth, Geneen (Why Weight? - 07/19/06)

S - Schaub, Christine (Finding Anna - 02/05/06)
- Sumner, Tracy Macon (CIG to The Reformation... - 10/02/06)

T - Tenney, Tommy (Hadassah Covenant, The - 04/20/06)
- Tribole, Evelyn (Intuitive Eating - 08/01/06)
- Taylor, Bayard (Blah, Blah, Blah - 09/03/06)

U

V - Vreeland, Susan (Girl in Hyacinth Blue - 09/14/06)

W - Warren, Susan May (Everything's Coming Up Josey - 06/01/06)

X

Y

Z

<>< ** <>< ** <>< ** <>< ** <>< ** <>< ** <><

I'm leaning more towards finishing my Titles list, as I have more of them checked off, and I can't finish both lists before the year's end.

What Should You Study? Quiz

2006-09-25T08:39:00.000-07:00

Your Learning Style: Personal and Passionate

You are very flexible and curious about the world. Human understanding is very important to you.

You Should Study:

Anthropology
Architecture
Art
Art history
Art therapy
Classics
Counseling
Foreign Languages and Literature
International Studies
Linguistics
Literature
Psychology
Sociology
Teaching

What Should You Study?

What Is Your Religious Philosophy? Quiz

2006-09-25T08:37:00.001-07:00

You are a Believer

You believe in God and your chosen religion.
Whether you're Christian, Muslim, Jewish, or Hindu..
Your convictions are strong and unwavering.
You think your religion is the one true way, for everyone.

What's Your Religious Philosophy?

What Is Your Love Style? Quiz

2006-09-25T08:37:00.000-07:00

Your Love Style is Agape

You are a caring, kind, and selfless partner.
Unsurprisingly, your love style is the most rare.
You are willing to sacrfice your world for your sweetie.
Except it doesn't really feel like sacrifice to you.
For you, nothing feels better than giving to the one you love.

What's Your Love Style?

What Temperment Are You? Quiz

2006-09-25T08:35:00.000-07:00

You Have a Phlegmatic Temperament

Mild mannered and laid back, you take life at a slow pace.
You are very consistent - both in emotions and actions.
You tend to absorb set backs easily. You are cool and collected.

It is difficult to offend you. You can remain composed and unemotional.
You are a great friend and lover. You don't demand much of others.
While you are quiet, you have a subtle wit that your friends know well.

At your worst, you are lazy and unwilling to work at anything.
You often get stuck in a rut, without aspirations or dreams.
You can get too dependent on others, setting yourself up for abandonment.

What Temperment Are You?

PS...Yes, I've gone Blogger Quiz crazy! LOL... There are more to come!

What Season Are You? Quiz

2006-09-25T08:33:00.000-07:00

You Belong in Fall

Intelligent, introspective, and quite expressive at times...
You appreciate the changes in color, climate, and mood that fall brings
Whether you're carving wacky pumpkins or taking long drives, autumn is a favorite time of year for you

What Season Are You?

Miscellaneous Images

2006-08-08T12:51:00.000-07:00

Did you know...?

2006-07-14T08:24:00.000-07:00

...I am now logging my food on a new blog! If you care to read it, it can be found here. This is being done to keep myself accountable... If others are reading about what I eat, I'm more likely to think before I put food in my mouth -- "do I really want to have to report this?"

Enjoy!

Weight Loss Groupie...

2006-06-25T17:33:00.000-07:00

I've recently been searching out more about the Intuitive Eating method of weight loss, and trying to find more inspiration and motivation in my own personal journey to release my excess weight.

I've come across some really inspiring websites, and I've joined some new groups. I've even created my *own* Intuitive Eating Support group! (and it's already got 12 members, in just 3 days!)

But, I'm afraid I've run into some *issues*, too.

I joined a particular weight-loss group that was based off of a book I'd read on the subject of Intuitive Eating. Some parts of the book I'd disagreed with, some parts I thought were fantastic! So, this group seemed like a good place to glean more information, and more "fresh ideas" on how to apply Intuitive Eating in my life (especially since I've kind of been lagging in that area, lately -- struggling to get back "on track").

I was wrong...

The group apparently *only* allows you to talk about *their* way of weight loss ... you cannot, in any way, mention ANY other weight loss program or "diet". They even went so far as to say that my current NON-DIET program, Thin Within, is a "diet" -- it's NOT a DIET ... it's a lifestyle change! It's listening to your body's cues of hunger/fullness & legalizing ALL food! (How is *that* a "diet"?)

They also were quite rude to me about it. :-(

So, after realizing that the group was not for me, I said "goodbye" and left. But, apprarently I'd caused such a stir in the short time I was there (2 days) -- JUST by mentioning Thin Within, and Intuitive Eating -- that I've been permanently BANNED from the group ... even if I were to wholeheartedly take up their approach!

Can you believe that?

I was pretty shocked and flabbergasted.

I understand why they don't want to talk of other approaches ... I kind of understand, anyway. They're trying to keep their focus. And, that's good. But, to not allow ANY other *ideas* seems a little strict & "cultish", if you ask me. They say I was "shoving my ways" down their throats, but I hardly believe that. I wouldn't do that. SURE, I get really excited about "Thin Within", and so I tend to really promote it, but I'd never say "it's the ONLY way to lose weight".... I'd say it makes a lot more sense than other programs, and I'll tell you that studies have shown that diets have a 95% failure rate ... but I won't tell you that you can't do another program, or that other programs are "bad" ... especially if they're working for you! It's a FREE COUNTRY, and you can do what you want!

... but Intuitive Eating --"Thin Within", specifically-- is what works FOR ME. That's all that I had tried to say on that group.

And, personally, they really should send out a "warning" letter to pending members that NOTHING ELSE is to be mentioned ... they should say "this is what we allow, and this is what we don't allow"... "join at your own risk". LOL

Another thing that bugs me is that they called Thin Within "creepy".... They don't get it, though. The term "Thin Within" is to -- in my mind -- relate to the decluttering of yourself as you get rid of the negative diet mentalities, and the old condemnations of yourself for the way you've "behaved" where food is concerned. You're undoing years of "garbage" thinking -- stinkin' thinkin'! -- and you're letting God transform you from the inside-out! That's not "creepy" ... that's FREEDOM! :o)

I pray that those ladies will have success in their efforts ... I really do. I just am sad that they have to be so hurtful to anyone whose "methods" are "different"....

...as the saying goes, "PEOPLE ARE ALWAYS AFRAID OF WHAT'S DIFFERENT". :-?

Mom ... (plus: update)

2006-06-15T07:27:00.000-07:00

Mom's in the hospital. :-( My sister called this morning --very early!-- and told me that mom had had a mini heart-attack. Sis asked for a ride to the hospital (Mom went in the ambulance, of course).

So, off we went. Got sent back home not even an hour later. Mom is doing okay. She's had blood tests that have shown no damage to her heart (praise the Lord), but they're keeping her for the day to run more tests and to keep an eye on her.

If you pray, please send up prayers for my Mom. :-? Thanks.

Mom's okay. As it turns out, she did NOT have a heart attack... She's got a hiatal (sp?) hernia & gastrointestinal reflux... When the two act up at the same time, it can mimmick a heart-attack... So says her doctor, anyway. Apparently a lot of people end up in the ER because of this problem. :-?

Praise God, though, that Mom's okay. :-?

Weight Loss

2006-06-07T07:37:00.000-07:00

I'm frustrated... my scale keeps going up 'cause my willpower is nil. I'm not supposed to rely on willpower, anyway. But, I still have been. And it's not working.

I'm tempted to try the Weight Watchers method, just for a week, to see if it'll jumpstart my weight loss, again. If I count Points, maybe I can get the scale to start moving "down", and then maybe I can go back to Intuitive Eating...

I don't want the legalistic diet rules. I know I can't follow that for life. It won't work. I've tried it before, and it's too complicated.

But, maybe for a week?

Blog Button!

2006-05-28T19:07:00.000-07:00

Made this myself at Adam Kalsey's website...

Determined to Finish... (Part 2)

2006-05-28T05:25:00.000-07:00

Since I've already posted what I'd like to get read in June, here are my lists for July & August. I've left room for review books that may (probably will) arrive in the mail in the meantime...

MIZBOOKS' NOTE: I've joined Amanda's Summer Reading Challenge, so I'll be trying even *harder* to get these books read!

JULY ~ "To Be Read" (TBR) List:

HIS WICKED KISS ~ Gaelen Foley

A HEARTH IN CANDLEWOOD ~ Delia Parr (A.R.C.)

EXPECT THE SUNRISE ~ Susan May Warren

_______________________ ~ _________________

AUGUST ~ TBR List:

GERMLINE ~ Nelson Erlick

SIX MONTHS TO LIVE ~ Lurlene McDaniel (reread)

____________________ ~ _______________

______________________ ~ __________________

Hopefully this will get my (reading) butt in gear! ;o)

Determined to Finish...

2006-05-27T13:44:00.000-07:00

I am getting super-frustrated with myself for not having finished more books, so far, this year. Sure, I've finished 2 in the last week, but that's only because they've had a deadline...

But, aha! Maybe that's the key! Maybe I need to set some fake "deadlines" to get my butt in gear! LOL

So, here are a few of the books I'd like to get read in the next month, and I'm giving myself a "deadline" of June 29th...

A SHORT HISTORY OF PROGRESS by Ronald Wright

EVERYTHING'S COMING UP JOSEY by Susan May Warren

THE LONGING SEASON by Christine Schaub

THE BONE VAULT by Linda Fairstein

I figure 4 books is plenty for one month. I don't normally read more than that when I'm in my regular swing of things. :-)

I'll post here and let you know how I do with my "goal". ;o)

MIZBOOKS' NOTE: I just realized that I've inadvertantly added myself to Amanda's Summer Reading Challenge! So, now I *must* finish these books! LOL

Bye, Squeaky

2006-05-21T10:23:00.000-07:00

Today the Wildlife Rescue people came to get our baby squirrel, Squeaky. :*-(

I'd written out a list of pros & cons about keeping him, and unfortunately the "cons" outweighed the "pros" (he was smelly - and our house is too small to find a different place to keep him, we can't afford the bigger cage he'll need, he had fleas, and he was very time-consuming)... And, so he's gone.

I'm trying to stay positive, thinking about the *good* things of him having gone to the WR people... Like, now he'll have other squirrels to grow up with so that he'll learn to act like the animal he is. He's not a pet, after all, so he shouldn't grow up like one. And, they have the bigger cage for him that we couldn't afford to build.

He really *is* in better hands ... and I really didn't have the time or energy to keep caring for him (though, I would've done it anyway, had I had nowhere to send him). I just pray that he stays healthy, and that they can release him back out into the wild. :-?

I already miss him, though. A lot. Much as I know I did a good thing, it still hurts. I keep thinking that it's time to feed him, or that I should go and play with him, but when I look, he's not there. :-(

I'll be okay, eventually. It'll be hard for the first few days, though. :-(

Bye-bye, Squeaky. :*-(

My new pet...

2006-05-15T13:48:00.000-07:00

Well, our baby squirrel, Squeaks, arrived yesterday. And, he's certainly "fiesty"! He goes 'round and 'round and 'round the hamster cage, almost pleading with us to let him out. :-?

He's completely worn me out today ... I've let him out a few times to romp around the house (figured he could use the exercise). He runs up and down me, and all over the furniture. But, his favorite trick is running for the kitchen. When he gets there, he searches and searches for a way up onto the counters (luckily there's no way he can get up there!).

I'm starting to second-guess my decision to take him on, though. I don't know that I have the patience to keep 'babysitting' this little guy. He eats every 2-3 hours, and he's been biting a bit harder today. He's also lunged for my face a few times, and that scares me.

I don't want to give him to the Wildlife people (i've heard nasty stories), but I might have to. I've got enough stresses in my life right now, and I don't need more. :-?

I love the little guy, and it's neat to have him here -- he'd only need to stay here for another 5 weeks, or so, before he's old enough to be released back out in the wild -- but I just don't know. :-(

Fave Foods / Finish These (Memes)

2006-05-13T07:06:00.000-07:00

Two more Memes borrowed from twiga92. :o)

FAVORITE FOODS - Meme

Fave coffee: "French Vanilla" by Maxwell House Café
Fave tea: Red Rose
Fave jam: raspberry
Fave Peanut Butter: Kraft Smooth
Fave sandwich: Egg Salad on a Croissant
Fave fast food item: Whopper or Big Mac (tie)
Fave appetizer: breaded mushrooms
Fave summertime drink: iced tea
Fave fruit: raspberries
Fave vegetable: cucumber
Fave indulgence: Reese Peanut Butter Cups and a can of Coke! ;-D

FINISH THESE SENTENCES.... (Meme)

1. I am the happiest when ... I have time to read.
2. 3 of my most fave things to do are ... reading, playing with my kids, dancing
3. I feel sad and alone when ... I'm ignored.
4. When I do this _dance/listen to music_ I feel happier/better.
5. I wish I could fix this ... legalized abortion.
6. My fave summer pasttime is ... Sitting in the backyard, hanging out with the family.
7. One of my most fave things to wear is ... denim.
8. If I could give an obscene amount of money to one worthy cause, that cause would be ... Helping abused women.
9. My fave all time movie I have seen is ... "Save the Last Dance".
10. I admire honesty in ... Church sermons.

I Meme...

2006-05-13T06:53:00.000-07:00

Found this on my friend's blog. :o)

I AM: overwhelmed
I WANT: a vacation
I WISH: life weren't so full of "trials"
I HATE: conflict
I MISS: my sister
I FEAR: never reaching my goals
I HEAR: the T.V. - Saturday morning cartoons ;o)
I WONDER: why the last 10 pounds are always hardest to lose!
I REGRET: not seeing past my insecurities
I AM NOT: coordinated
I DANCE: because it's freeing
I SING: when I'm alone
I CRY: when I'm disappointed
I AM NOT ALWAYS: pleasant ;-P
I MAKE WITH MY HANDS: fabric-covered photo albums
I WRITE: in my journal, on my blog
I CONFUSE: my husband ;-P
I NEED: more time
I SHOULD: get back to eating better
I START: lots of clubs
I FINISH: books ;-D
I TAG: whomever

PS...

2006-05-12T13:22:00.000-07:00

I forgot! There is one little *good* thing up-and-coming ... we're getting a new pet!

My sister-in-law recently found a black baby squirrel in her yard. The wildlife people can't take him, though (not enough room), and she can't keep him 'cause she has to work. So, she's bringing him to us this weekend, and we're going to take care of him until he's old enough to be released back into the wild! Yay!

His name is currently "Squeaks", and my SiL says he's very "fiesty". I think my kids will be thrilled! Heck! I'm thrilled!

When our little baby squirrel, Hickory, died last year, I was completely devastated. :*-( I still miss the little guy. :-?

But, we'll be sure to take really good care of "Squeaks". :o) Maybe I'll even get to post a picture, eventually! :o)

Depressed

2006-05-12T13:14:00.000-07:00

Lately I've not felt like reading. This year, I've only - so far - read 11 books. For me, this is baaad news! I should be at around 20-something!

I'm overwhelmed, stressed out, and I think I'm depressed. Wanna know what's eating me?

* dh is having health issues
* son is struggling in school (grades dropping), and needs to have 4 teeth pulled (an over-$500 expense!!!)
* daughter is really pushing with the defiance
* family issues
* I'm trying to start up a weight-loss support group
* I'm trying to find a job for the Fall (side note: found a great, possible work-from-home job, yet DH says it's probably not a good fit for us)
* I'm trying to live a little better (eating / exercise), yet that's failing 'cause of all the *other* stresses
* I'm waaaay behind on my book-reviewing because of all the other stresses
* I'm out 3-4 nights a week, trying to either better myself, or do something "for me" (Spanish class, Bible study, weight-loss group...)

.... so, can you see why I'm overwhelmed, frustrated, stressed, and depressed?! I really, really, REALLY need a vacation! :-(

A job?

2006-05-09T13:50:00.000-07:00

A friend was visiting today, and she told me of a possible job opportunity. It's a receptionist position in a medical lab in my town. It's part-time, and the pay's not awful. It'd not be a lot, but it might be just enough for now! I'm going to look into it! Cross your fingers for me! ;o)

TW Support Group - UPDATE!

2006-05-09T13:47:00.000-07:00

Well, my first TW support group meeting went very well. Two ladies showed up, and we went over the basics, and I gave them their "homework" -- to find their "0" (or, in other words, to wait until their stomachs are EMPTY before eating anything!). :o)

We've decided to meet every Monday night at 7:30pm.

I'm so excited! :-D

On another note, I got an MP3 Player in the mail today! Doubleday Book Club had one in their catalog ... it's just 128mb, but still ... it only will cost my $33! Whoohoo!

WWW... (05/05)

2006-05-05T18:45:00.000-07:00

What are you reading now?

Currently reading THE BONE VAULT by Linda Fairstein.

What did you just finish reading?

RACHEL'S PRAYER by Leisha Kelly. Rated it an "C" -- average.

What will you be reading next?

Probably "STOLEN LIVES" by Brian Reaves. It will be my second review book for Romantic Times BOOK Club. :o)

TW Support Group

2006-05-05T10:04:00.000-07:00

For a while, now, I've wanted to have someone to do the Thin Within program (a Christian weight-loss program) with me. I have my online support group -- and they're wonderful, supportive, encouraging ladies! -- but it's just not the same as having someone face-to-face to share the joys and struggles with.

Not too long ago I got the idea to start up a support group, face-to-face. I made up brochures and handed them out to the ladies at church. And my Introductory / Information Night is this coming Monday (May 8th). :o)

I've been busy planning, making up charts and writing out a plan of attack (so-to-speak). I had originally just intended for it to be a support group, but then someone asked if I was teaching a class, and when I thought about it, I realized that I *am* going to be teaching these ladies! So, it's both. It's a class, but it's also a support group. :o)

Right now there are about 3 ladies who've stated their interest in coming out to the Monday night meeting. And, I'm quite okay with it if only 1 decides to continue on, or if more show up! Either way, at least I'll have someone to do this with ... a sort of "accountability partner". :-)

I'll let you know how the info. night goes! ;o)

Teen Challenge

2006-04-30T14:15:00.000-07:00

This morning we had a real treat in church! The choir from Teen Challenge, Canada visited us to give a presentation. :o)

Teen Challenge is a rehabilitation program for individuals that suffer from alcohol or drug addiction. The neat thing about their program, though, is that it has a 70% cure rate, as compared to secular rehab programs (who only have about a 5% cure rate). And, it's not just for "teens" ... several of the speakers this morning were in their 30s to 50s! Anyone who needs help from addictions can find it with Teen Challenge.

Several of the men shared their testimonies of how God has freed them from their addictions, and the choir sang some rousing songs! The music was loud and upbeat -- not something usually found in a Baptist church, I'd imagine! LOL :-D But, I absolutely loved it! The drummer was fantastic, and the guys sang well. :o)

People can sponsor these men on their road to recovery. Just visit one of the Teen Challenge websites (US or Canada). In Canada, I think they said it's something like $30 a month. Not bad, considering. :o)

Struggling

2006-04-26T07:02:00.000-07:00

I'm still frustrated. I don't know what to do about my family situation. They don't want to bend, and I can't bend right now. Maybe some day, but not right now. Where is there a middle ground?

I wish things could be as they were. I wish that we could just act like all was normal, but that they wouldn't ask for things that I can't give. If they could accept that I am not ready to relinquish that part, then we could all live a bit more peacefully. But, they won't. It's all or nothing, and so I end up choosing "nothing" when I don't really want to. I prefer compromise.

DH put things in an interesting light last night, and so I'm mulling that one over. I'd not seen it like that before. But, I still don't think I could let it go that easily.

Something funny? On Sunday, during our Sunday school class, one of the ladies said something pretty profound...
"All struggle is from a lack of surrender."

...meaning that, we struggle because we've not surrendered control to God. Hmmmm....

I want to. Believe me, I do! I don't like fighting with my family! I don't want broken relationships! I never wanted mistrust! But I don't know how to return things to normal. I can't just say I trust someone when they've given me no reason to do so! I can't. How could *anyone*?!

Happy Birthday to Biblioholism!

2006-04-25T07:39:00.000-07:00

I just realized, yesterday, that I've been blogging for just over one year now! Happy (blogging) Birthday to me! :-D

Here's is my first-ever Biblioholism post:

No Library Sale?

2006-04-20T08:30:00.000-07:00

How bummed am I? I realized yesterday, after being hyped-up about it for weeks, that I'd not seen any flyers advertising the (supposedly) upcoming Library Book Sale. Usually they're out at LEAST one week prior to the sale. I was at the library two days ago, and I saw no signs or flyers. :o(

I called to check, and the Librarians have heard nothing about a Sale.

I am sooooo disappointed! :-(

5 Things (meme)

2006-04-15T07:10:00.000-07:00

Found this on a friend's blog. :o)

1. List 5 hobbies that sound fun!

- pottery, golfing, knitting, rock-climbing, cross-stitch

2. List 5 classes that sound fun!

- cross-stitch, Italian, Sign-Language, Architectural Design, Kickboxing

3. List 5 things you personally would never do that sound fun.

- Sky-diving, bungee-jumping, paintballing, learning German, winning money on the "Fear Factor" show. ;o)

4. List 5 skills that would be fun to have.

- cross-stitch, Architectural design, knitting, writing books, golfing.

5. List 5 things you used to enjoy doing.

- painting, doodling, skating, sleeping in, staying up all night.

6. List 5 silly things you would like to try once.

- rock-climbing, taking a kickboxing class, learning Russian, pretending to be from Britain to fool someone (love the accent!), publishing an article (these aren't really *silly*, but they're all I can think of at the moment).

Memes addiction

2006-04-14T06:27:00.000-07:00

Can you tell I've developed a small addiction to blog things? LOL :p

What Kind of Candy Are You?

2006-04-14T06:23:00.000-07:00

Reeses Peanut Butter Cups

Very popular, one of you is not enough.

What Kind of Candy Are You?

Funny thing is... this is my favorite kind of chocolate bar! LOL

What Coffee Are You?

2006-04-14T06:21:00.000-07:00

You Are a Frappacino

At your best, you are: fun loving, sweet, and modern

At your worst, you are: childish and over indulgent

You drink coffee when: you're craving something sweet

Your caffeine addiction level: low

What Kind of Coffee Are You?

What Celebrity Matches Your Taste in Music?

2006-04-14T06:16:00.000-07:00

Your Musical Tastes Match: Jennifer Garner

See her whole playlist here (iTunes required)

What Celebrity Matches Your Taste in Music?

How cool! She's one of my favorite actresses, too!

4 Things (meme)

2006-04-14T06:07:00.000-07:00

4 Things:

1. 4 jobs I've had.

- photographer's assistant
- Zeller's employee
- video store clerk
- Mom

2. 4 movies I can watch over & over.

- Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights
- Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves
- Save the Last Dance
- A Walk to Remember

3. 4 TV shows I watch.

- Alias
- CSI
- Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
- Smallville

4. 4 places I've been on vacation.

- Florida (DisneyWorld)
- North (or South?) Carolina (Jim & Tammy Baker's resort)
- Toronto, Ontario
- Winnipeg, Manitoba

Teachers That Read

2006-04-14T05:59:00.000-07:00

I've been thinking, lately, about the teachers that played a part in making me the avid reader that I am today.

In grade three, Miss Shaw read "James & The Giant Peach" to our class. I loved imagining the characters riding in that peach!

And, in grades 7 and 8 I had the same teacher... Mr. K. He would read to us from James Herriot's animal books. Our class would crack up with laughter when he "did the voices" for the different characters, and we'd get especially giddy when he read the stories of "Tricky Woo, the flatulent dog". :-P

In highschool, I think our teacher, Miss Warkentin, read to us a few times. She was a great English teacher. She wasn't much older than we were (when we were in grade nine, she was only 24), so we always had a great time with her. :o)

I think all teachers should spend time reading to their students. I have such fond memories of being read to. :o)

one more word cloud...

2006-04-11T14:36:00.000-07:00

Okay... This "word cloud" thing is soooo cool, that I had to create one of my own....

MY WORD CLOUD:

architecture artist author blogger blue BOOK CLUB leader
BOOKS Canada cats Christian Christmas cross dance
daydreamer encouragement faith family FICTION friend
God green HOPE Intuitive Eating Jesus journaler ministry
Mom Pianist READING recommendations Reggae reviewer
scrapbooker Thin Within true love WRITER

Too fun!

Word Clouds

2006-04-11T14:01:00.000-07:00

An online friend had a Word Cloud from SnapShirts.com and I thought it was really cool! So, I made up two of my own!

The first is from THIS blog!

The second is from my LibraryThing.com profile.

Very cool stuff!

Time Flies!

2006-04-11T13:16:00.000-07:00

Do you ever wonder how it's possible for time to fly by soooo fast?

This Friday, my son -- my first-born child -- will be turning eight. That's two years away from being ten! Double-digits! Eiy yi yi!

I keep telling him he's turning six. :P He doesn't believe me. ;o)

But, it's crazy! He's turning eight, and in the Fall, my daughter will be six! Oiy vey!

How do you stop time?

LOL

Saying "I'm Sorry"

2006-04-11T13:04:00.000-07:00

Saying "I'm Sorry" to one of your parents has to be one of the hardest things EVER! But, it's also survivable.

Sometime last year I lost one of my old journals. I'd had it out, and had been reading through it, and had left it lying beside my bed on the floor. My mom came to babysit my kids while DH and I went out to dinner one night, and everything was as usual. I didn't have time to go back to the journal until about 2 weeks later. But, that was when I discovered it was "missing". It wasn't beside my bed.

I searched my whole house over 3 times (even in boxes I'd not looked in for years), and couldn't find the journal for the life of me. And then it hit me: My mom had been in my room, at the 'scene of the crime' at about the same time the journal went missing. Logical conclusion? (or to me, it was logical, anyway) Mom stole the journal.

Now, before I go on, you must understand that she has a history with this particular journal. When I was 19 years old, and still living at home, I was a rebellious Christian teenager, and Mom was worried. She snooped in my room, found this particular journal (then current), read it, and then promptly kicked me out of the house ... I had to go live with a friend for a month until I found my own place.
It's not that I was into a bunch of awful stuff. It's just that I was living in a Christian household, and my behaviour of that time was decidedly "unChristian". :-?

Anyhoo. Long-story-shorter, I called my Mom and accused her of stealing my journal. Actually, I asked her if she took it, and she denied doing so, and I didn't believe her, so I proceeded to not talk to her for 3 months.

Fast-forward to last week...

I found my missing journal. Somehow (and I'm still clueless as to HOW or WHY) the darn thing ended up in the *bottom* of my book-bin out in the garage. I have absolutely NO recollection of putting it there, and I've no idea why I'd have put it there when all of my *other* journals are in the house. :-?

So, I had to apologize to my Mom. I bought her a birding book (she'd recently said she was wanting to get one), and I gave her an "apology" card. She said all is well, and that she still loves me.

.... I'm relieved both that 1) I found my journal, and 2) that my Mom could forgive me so easily. :-?

Man, though! Never again will I be so quick to jump to conclusions! That was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do. :-?

Overwhelmed & Sore

2006-04-08T09:39:00.000-07:00

I'm once again feeling overwhelmed by books. I've just gotten 3 or 4 new books in the mail (review books) and, not that I'm complaining, I'm looking at them and thinking, "How am I going to read all of those AND fit in my own books, too?!" I'm still desperately trying to get through The Hadassah Covenant by Tommy Tenney. I've just had so little time to read, lately, and my interest-level has been low ... not because of the book (it's a great book!), but because of a bit of depression. :-?

Also, I somehow sprained my *good* arm the other day, and now it's aching (is that how you spell that?). Hard to type, hard to write, hard to click with the mouse, hard to hold anything, hard to tug on anything (fridge door, tupperware container lids...). I don't know if it's Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, or if it's something else. Doesn't really feel a lot like Carpal Tunnel ... I've had that before. Yes, my wrist hurts, but most of the pain is in the top of my forearm! :-( Very frustrating.

Anyhoo. I'm just frustrated and overwhelmed. So many books, too little time! :-?

Quote: Be Ye Kind

2006-04-01T07:36:00.000-08:00

"Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle." ~ Anonymous

Before You Bash a Book...

2006-03-31T10:05:00.000-08:00

You know, it drives me absolutely batty when people will start bashing a book -or books- (like the "Harry Potter" series) without even having read it/them! A certain acquaintance of mine (who shall remain unnamed) does this quite often, and it just makes me so mad!

I mean, if you want to put down a book, that's fine. But, at least read it first! You can't make a solid argument if you don't even know exactly what you're talking about! And, you can't tell me that you *know* about it unless you've discovered these things for yourself, firsthand, without just hearing about them from someone else.

I was guilty of this, regarding the Harry Potter series, a couple of years ago, admittedly. But, then a friend led me to a book called, "LOOKING FOR GOD IN HARRY POTTER" by John Granger, and it really opened my eyes to the possibility that there is a lot of symbolism -- Christian symbolism -- hidden in the Potter books! I read this and I thought, "Whoa! That's crazy!" (but in a good way). ;o)

Sure, I'd previously let my kids watch the movies -- albeit, with a little bit of uncertainty & skepticism -- but they weren't even old enough for the books, yet, so the movies were "tame". Now, I'll gladly let my kids read the series when they're ready, and if they want to! But, I'm gonna stand by with my copy of "Looking for God in Harry Potter", and we're gonna have a chat about the symbolism!
:-P LOL

No, I don't want my kids involved in witchcraft or the occult, but I honestly don't think they'll end up there. Not just from reading these books.

I read an article online, today, that was also putting down C.S. Lewis' "Chronicles of Narnia" series, stating that it was full of misleadings, and that it was going to put doubts in their minds about Jesus Christ. Personally, I just read the first book in the series last month, and I could see the Christian symbolism all through it! (Maybe it's just all in how you approach the book in the first place?)

I think that, if parents are going to let their children read "controversial" books (like the Harry Potter series or Narnia series), then the parents should read the books themselves first, and then - when their kids have finished reading - they should discuss the books in depth! Help them see the good or bad points. Guide them. Isn't that, technically, our job as parents in the first place?

Karen Kingsbury!

2006-03-29T10:12:00.000-08:00

I was sooooo excited today! Karen Kingsbury -- popular Christian Inspirational Author -- was in my area this week, and I got to meet her today!!! She's a real sweetheart, and so is her mom, who was with her! :-D

I got my favorite book of hers signed ("ON EVERY SIDE"), and she gave me a couple of pens and bookmarks! We also got our photo taken together, so I'll post that here when it's available!
:-D

This was the first time I'd ever met an actual author, so it was great! Very cool to go to an actual book-signing event! (Can you tell how excited I am with all of my exclamation marks today?!!!) LOL

I am just thrilled to pieces! :-D

Spanish - I'm Learning!

2006-03-27T16:17:00.000-08:00

I am SO excited! Today, when my friend and I went shopping uptown, there was a sign -- written in Spanish -- posted on the door of one of the stores. My friend said to me, "Can you read that?" ... and I did! The whole thing!!! Yippeee!!!

And, a few weeks ago, driving to my doctor's appointment, there was a sign posted out front of a building, and it was written in Spanish: "Sabado, musica latina con D.J." ... and I knew exactly what it said!
:-D

My Spanish-class "maestra" (teacher) said that, if people want to continue after these specific classes are over, she's considering doing one-on-one lessons ... tutoring, in a sense, and helping people to become more fluent, and more proficient in reading (right now our class is just basic conversation). :o)

I'll totally keep taking the classes as long as I can because I want to speak Spanish as fluently as I do English! Same with reading & writing it. :-D I can't wait for the day when I can state that I'm bilingual! :-D

WWW... (03/25)

2006-03-26T15:43:00.000-08:00

What are you reading now?

I've got a bookmark in INTUITIVE EATING by Evelyn Tribole & Elyse Resch, but I'm focussing more on THE HADASSAH COVENANT by Tommy Tenney. ¡Muy interesante!

What did you just finish reading?

WHO NEEDS DECAF? by Tanya Michaels. Rated it an "A" -- excellent!

What will you be reading next?

Probably a library book ("UNSPOKEN" by Angela Hunt), or another Bethany House review book. :o)

Anxiety / Books / Night Out

2006-03-24T07:20:00.000-08:00

Well, I've been trying to assess, lately, whether or not I've seen a change in myself because of the anti-anxiety herb & vitamin supplement I've been taking for almost a month now. And, I'm not sure. I *think* I'm a bit more relaxed, and I've not noticed any HUGE anxiety attacks of late, so perhaps they're working! That'd be nice.

I was reading a couple of very interesting blogs, yesterday, about a lady who's about the same age as me, and she has suffered from anxiety attacks, but she's overcome them! See them here: Panic Attacks and Recover From Panic.

I'm getting books in the mail! :D First, I rejoined Doubleday Book Club, so I got my introductory package of 7 books. I decided, though, that I didn't want two of those, after all, so I sent them back in exchange for two I *really* want!... "INKHEART" and "INKSPELL", both by Cornelia Funke. I read INKHEART last year, and it ended up on my Top 10 list for 2005! Excellent, especially if you're a book-lover like me! INKSPELL is the sequel, and I'm dying to read it! :-D

Also, I entered a draw, and was number 9 of 15, so I "won" a copy of Susan May Warren's "EXPECT THE SUNRISE"! It's the 3rd book in her "Team Hope" series! I've only read book 1 so far, but it was great, so I'm looking forward to continuing the series!

And, lastly, I got a surprise Email a couple of days ago! I'd applied, waaaay back when, to be a Freelance Reviewer for RT BOOKclub (Romantic Times), and never heard back from them, so I assumed that I wasn't chosen, and I forgot about it. Then, this week, I got an Email saying that, if I was still interested, they'd like to add me to their list of reviewers! :-D I said, "Sure!", and have already been asked to review "RACHEL'S PRAYER" by Leisha Kelly! I'm thrilled, especially since I've always wanted to try this author! :-D

DH and I will be going out to celebrate our anniversary this Saturday. Our plans are to go to BASKIN ROBBINS for ice cream (DH promised that to me for my birthday, but we ran out of time, so didn't get to go then), and to see a matinée (probably "ULTRAVIOLET"), and to go to RED LOBSTER for dinner! Yum! I'm really looking forward to the whole day!

(03/26) UPDATE: Well, we got out yesterday, but we didn't go to Baskin Robbins, after all, due to our daughter being sick. We didn't leave until later in the afternoon, which meant no time ~~ again ~~ for Baskin Robbins. Oh well.
We did a quick trip to Costco (didn't realize they closed at 6 p.m. so we had all of 10 minutes!), and then we went to Red Lobster, where we waited for about a half-hour to be seated. Dinner was good, as always.
Then we went to the theatre and saw "ULTRAVIOLET", which was not all that great ... should have waited to see that one on DVD. It felt really "fake". :-?
All in all, not a wonderful evening, but not awful either. :-?

Anniversary - 7 years!

2006-03-21T06:31:00.000-08:00

My husband and I have now been married for 7 years! Yesterday was our anniversary, and it was a great day!

Why?

Because....

* my FREE Pampered Chef stuff came
* my Dad sent us money to go out for our anniversary
* it was the first day of Spring!
* the kids were back to school after a week of March Break
* DH got me a really pretty Black Onyx "cross" necklace. It goes really good with my new black cardigan. ;-P

Anyhoo. I just had a really good day. :o)

DH and I will be going out on Saturday to celebrate -- a matinee, and then dinner at Red Lobster! Yum! :o)

About Me - quiz

2006-03-16T14:22:00.000-08:00

(My friend Heather is really good at giving me these quizzes to keep me from doing what I *should* be doing! LOL... Thanks, Heather! :-P)

About Me...
1. Grab the book nearest to you, turn to page 18 and find line 4.

["The Hadassah Covenant" by Tommy Tenney"] "...bags. Once inside, he glanced briefly around the vestibule and, like a..."

2. Stretch your left arm out as far as you can, what do you find?

Dead air!

3. What is the last thing you watched on TV?

The Oscars, perhaps? It's been a while!

4. With the exception of the computer, what can you hear?

The furnace, and my kids playing.

5. When did you last step outside? What were you doing?

Yesterday -- went to my great-aunt's funeral. :-?

6. Before you started this survey, what did you look at?

Heather's blog! :-)

7. What are you wearing?

The usual -- Jeans (Levi's), my pink B.U.M. Equipment sweatshirt, a tank top, unmentionables, socks, and slippers. :o)

8. Did you dream last night?

I think so, but can't remember about what!

9. When did you last laugh?

This afternoon, while reading "Who Needs Decaf?" by Tanya Michaels.

10. What is on the walls of the room you are in?

A calendar (from the Recycling company in the area), a laundry chart from the Sears catalogue, a heat-lamp for our Gecko...

11. Seen anything weird lately?

A teenage girl with mostly brown hair, but a patch of blonde in the back! Ew! What was she thinking?!

12. What do you think of this quiz?

Fun! I love these things!

13. What is the last film you saw?

I think the last one I saw was "Firewall" with Harrison Ford & Paul Bettany.

14. If you turned a multi-millionaire overnight, what would you buy?

My dream-house (a lot to put it on, too), a Lexus SUV, new appliances & furniture for the house, stuff for our sponsored girl (Gladys), and maybe I'd start up my own bookstore. I'd also set money aside for my kids' University/College tuition, and I'd probably go back to school myself, for my MLIS degree! (can you tell I've thought of this question before?!!! LOL)

15. Tell me something about you that I don’t know.

I used to play in the ditches on our farm 'cause it was fun to dig in the mud and catch tadpoles! :P

16. If you could change one thing about the world, regardless of guilt and politics, what would you do?

I'd stop all the fighting and make everyone be at peace with each other (how's that for cliche?!)

17. Do you like to Dance?

Absolutely LOVE to dance! Frequently can be caught dancing (alone) to my CDs! (recently: my new "Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights" soundtrack! ;-)

18. George Bush.

Huh?

19. Imagine your first child is a girl, what do you call her?

My *second* child was a girl, and I named her Katie. :-)

20. Imagine your first child is a boy, what would you call him?

My first child *was*/*is* a boy, and his name is Matthew. :-)

21. Would you ever consider living abroad?

Maybe for a short while ... I've always thought it'd be cool to live in England for a while. But, I'd want to come back after a year or so. :-?

22. What would you want God to say to you when you reach the pearly gates?

Hopefully He'll say, "Well done, my good and faithful servant! Come on in!" :o)

23. 4 people who must also do this theme in their journal.

Nah... no one *must* ... but they can if they want to! :-D

Recent Happenings (03/15)

2006-03-15T05:14:00.000-08:00

This past weekend, we took a trip to visit my Dad. It was a nice, relaxing visit. We played games, and did some shopping, and just sat around talking.

Today I'll be going to my great-aunt's funeral. She passed away on Saturday. I'm more upset for my Grandma (it was her last sister, and my Gran's 80th birthday is next weekend) than I am for myself. I didn't see Aunt Mary all that much, so it hasn't really hit me. I know that I'll bawl my eyes out at the funeral today, though, because I'll be grieving for my cousins ... she was their Grandma. :-?

My current read is "WHO NEEDS DECAF?" by Tanya Michaels. Very cute, somewhat laugh-out-loud funny, and hard to put down! :o)

Next up will probably be a review book for Bethany House.

Speaking of review books, I've still not gotten any books from WestBow Press. I guess it's taking a while to get my name on the Reviewers list. :-?

And, lastly, my Pampered Chef orders should be here any day now! I got a notice, yesterday, saying that they'd been shipped out, so I'm guessing they'll get here today or tomorrow. I can't wait! :o)

I'm an Auntie -- Again!

2006-03-10T13:24:00.000-08:00

I'm an Auntie again!

My new niece, Juliana Grace, was born at 1:41pm today, weighing in at 9lbs.1oz! :o) I can't wait to meet her!

Pampered Chef - FREE stuff!

2006-03-10T06:36:00.000-08:00

Well, my Pampered Chef Kitchen Show went better than expected! I'm getting $120 in FREE STUFF, plus 2 half-price items, plus whatever I want at a 25% discount! :-D

Here's what I got:

(The first five items were my FREE things, the next 2 were 1/2 price, and the striped bowl was 25% off).

Isn't that just the greatest? Whoohoo! Can't wait 'til it all comes! :o)

WWW... (03/06)

2006-03-06T14:26:00.000-08:00

What are you reading now?

I've got a bookmark in WHO NEEDS DECAF? by Tanya Michaels, but I'm focussing more on OVERCOMING OVEREATING by Jane R. Hirschmann & Carol H. Munter. ¡Muy interesante!

What did you just finish reading?

REKINDLED by Tamera Alexander. Rated it an "A" -- excellent!

What will you be reading next?

Probably another Bethany House review book. :o)

Update: PChef Party!

2006-03-03T07:47:00.000-08:00

Well, I was a bit worried, when I woke up yesterday, that my Pampered Chef Kitchen show was going to be cancelled due to the weather -- freezing rain, and snow-accumulation expected. The kids were even home from school because the buses had been cancelled.
:-?

But, the weather eventually lightened up, and the party was on!

Thirteen ladies showed up, and we enjoyed a great presentation and "Potstickers"! Yum!

I'm grateful that all these ladies showed up. I love these parties for the "girls' night out" factor. ;-)

Reactions & Peace

2006-02-28T07:23:00.000-08:00

Life is 10% what happens to you,
and 90% how you respond to it.

No God - No Peace....
Know God - Know Peace.

Avatars - revisited!

2006-02-27T17:07:00.000-08:00

Found this online, somewhere, and tweaked it to make it my own. :o) Isn't she cool?! ;o)

More Reviewing!

2006-02-23T07:24:00.000-08:00

The other day, a friend mentioned that one of my favorite authors, Angela Hunt, publishes with WestBow Press (a division of Thomas Nelson). So, I went over to their website, and looked around, and found a link to contact the publicist.

Then I emailed the publicist to ask if they would take me on as a Freelance Reviewer, and she said YES! :-D Yay!

I'm really excited! I love reviewing books (even though it can be a tad overwhelming at times!), and the experience I'm getting is awesome! :o)

The really cool thing is that WestBow Press publishes these authors:
Frank Peretti, Coleen Coble, Davis Bunn*, Cindy Martinusen, Rene Gutteridge, Tim Downs, Angela Hunt*, Denise Hildreth*, Terri Blackstock*, Ted Dekker*, Linda Windsor, Kathryn Mackel, Paul Meier, Robert Whitlow, Kristin Billerbeck*, Lori Copeland, Karen Kingsbury*, Gilbert Morris, B.J. Hoff, Brock & Bodie Thoene, Stephanie Grace Whitson, Larry Burkett, Chase Dalton, William Proctor, Patricia Hickman, Penelope J. Stokes, Robin Jones Gunn*, Charles Martin, and more!

(Those with an asterisk * are some of my favorite authors -- and many others are authors that I've wanted to read!) :-D

I can't wait!

Dealing with my Anxiety...

2006-02-21T07:58:00.000-08:00

Well, I finally chose some supplements to help with my Anxiety. Whether they'll work, or not, has yet to be shown (it takes a few weeks for the herbal to kick in).

I chose to take "Rhodiola Rosea", which is an "adaptogen" that supposedly helps with a multitude of problems! From this website, I got the following information:

** "...In recent years, dozens of uses for Rhodiola Rosea have been proposed, including support for depression and fatigue, enhancing memory and intellectual capacity, increasing work performance and endurance, and stimulating the nervous system. Many of these potential benefits relate to the herb’s adaptogenic qualities. >> Some studies have shown Rhodiola benefits such varied areas as increased learning capacity and memory enhancement, regulation of menstrual periods and infertility, reduction of side effects from cancer chemotherapy, increased sexual libidio and erectile dysfunction, enhancement of thyroid gland function, increased capacity for work and endurance, and protection from environmental toxins...."

I certainly could use the help with enhancing my memory, and work performance, and my anxiety has caused me a lot of fatigue lately, too. So, this might just be the thing to help me out!

I also got a container of "B-Vitamin Stress Complex" tablets, and started taking those today, too. Many, many people online have recommended taking the B-vitamin complex for anxiety. So, when you hear it from many sources, it says something....
:-?

I'll keep ya posted on whether all of this works for me. :-?

Booky Questions...

2006-02-21T07:40:00.000-08:00

1) What is the total number of books you've owned?

Currently, over 1020...and growing! :-D

2) What is the last book you bought?

Three:
"ENTOMBED" by Linda Fairstein
"AT RISK" by Stella Rimmington
"TIME STOPS FOR NO MOUSE" by Michael Hoeye

3) What is the last book you've read?

"FINDING ANNA" by Christine Schaub

4) What are you currently reading?

"REKINDLED" by Tamera Alexander
"THE LION, THE WITCH, & THE WARDROBE" by C.S. Lewis

and a bookmark in each of the following:

"OVERCOMING ANXIETY...For DUMMIES"
"HEALING ANXIETY WITH HERBS" by Harold H. Bloomfield, M.D

5) What are the 5 books that have meant a lot to you or that you particularly enjoyed?

"THE CALLING OF EMILY EVANS" by Janette Oke
"THE MOON BELOW" by Barbara Bickmore
"WRITER FERRETS: CHASING THE MUSE" by Richard Bach
"VELVET ELVIS: REPAINTING THE CHRISTIAN FAITH" by Rob Bell
"GIFTED HANDS: THE DR. BEN CARSON STORY" by Dr. Ben Carson with Cecil Murphey

6) What book(s) would you wish to buy next?

More than I could list here! Ha ha ha... ;p BUT, here's the short list:

"CASTLES IN THE AIR" by Judy Corbett
"GARFIELD AT 25: IN DOG YEARS I'D BE DEAD" by Jim Davis
"THE CONJURER'S BIRD" by Martin Davies
"CROCODILE ON THE SANDBANK" by Elizabeth Peters
"SAVANNAH COMES UNDONE" by Denise Hildreth
"THE YOGA MAMAS" by Katherine Stewart
"SEEKING MISS SCARLET" by Natalie Stenzel

7) What book(s) have caught your attention but you've never had a chance to read?

"THE UNADULTERATED CAT" by Terry Pratchett (unavailable through library, and they won't order it).

8) What book(s) have you've owned for so long but never read?

Many! (in fact, the majority of my books, because I buy faster than I can read them! :?) A short list...

"A BREATH OF FRESH AIR" by Amulya Malladi
"FALSE MEMORY" by Dean Koontz
"DEEP IN THE VALLEY" by Robyn Carr
"GERMLINE" by Nelson Erlick
"TYING THE KNOT" by Susan May Warren
"MOBY DICK" by Herman Melville
(...and hopefully -- hopefully!!! -- I'll get to some of these - if not all - this year, 'cause I'm not going to the library for books!)

9) Who are you going to pass this stick to (3 persons) and why?

No one, because I got this from the one online friend who I *would* have sent it to! LOL.

Too much fun! / Herbal Meds for Anxiety

2006-02-16T10:21:00.000-08:00

Have been playing with my new toy -- the "Better Homes & Gardens Home Design Suite 6.0". Waaaay too addictive! I was on my computer ALL day Monday, and ALL day yesterday (even though I swore I wasn't gonna be on there for more than a couple of minutes! LOL). I LOVE creating house plans! So cool to be able to "walk through" them, too! I love this software!

Looking into possibly taking an Herbal med. for my anxiety. I get panic attacks (mild to moderate) every now and then, and I'm getting to the point where I think I need to take something. But, I don't want OTC meds as there is always the possibility that you've got to stay on them for life, and they can be really addicting (so I've heard). With my "addictive" personality, that'd not be a good thing. :-?
So far, the most likely "fixes" for me would be either: "St. John's Wort", "Passionflower", or "5-HTP".
The one thing I wonder, though, is: Will any of these harm me, given that I'm a Hayfever sufferer? I mean, a lot of the herbals are made from flowering plants, and being allergic to pollen doesn't make them sound too "safe". DH brought up a good point, though -- I drink herbal teas, so what's the difference? Hmmm..
I'll be talking to a nutritionist/herbal specialist before I make any final decisions.
If worse comes to worst, I'll ask my doctor about taking ATARAX. It's an anti-anxiety OTC medication, but it's got the added bonus of being an antihistamine! (due to the fact that I've been breaking out in hives for the last 3 weeks, with still no clue as to why, I've been living on "Reactine" for the last week). :o(

Valentine's Day surprises!

2006-02-15T06:25:00.000-08:00

Every Valentine's Day -- as long as I've been married (7 years next month!) -- we've been broke, so I've come to not expect a gift. DH is kinda forgetful, too, so I've also come to not expect a card. ;-P

This year, though, he surprised me! I got a card from him when he got home, and then -- and THEN! -- I got a dozen long-stem red roses! A complete bouquet, with Baby's Breath, and Eucalyptus (sp?) and everything!!! Isn't that just the sweetest thing? I was soooo excited. :o) I can't even remember the last time he brought me flowers. :-?

Anyhoo. I was pleasantly surprised, as I'd not really expected anything. I had thought he *might* get me a card, because I'd put a poem (my own creation) and a Hershey's Kiss in his lunch pail. ;-) But, he really surprised me. :-)

Present from DH!

2006-02-09T07:13:00.000-08:00

Yesterday DH bought me a present! He's seen how, lately, I've been somewhat obsessed with drawing up floor-plans for houses, and so he bought me the coolest software to aid in my passion! The "Better Homes and Gardens Home Design Suite 6.0"! It's so very cool! It allows you to draw up a plan, then add furniture and electrical outlets and landscaping, and then you can take a 3D virtual tour of your home! I can't wait to play with it! :-D

News - Feb.09/06

2006-02-09T06:43:00.000-08:00

Well, I went to the Allergist yesterday. Didn't find out much. I'm not allergic to latex, thank the Lord! But, I didn't find out what I *am* allergic to, other than Ragweed & Mould, and I've known that since I was 6 yrs old! :-(

The doctor showed me a printout explaining how Milk is bad for humans... I totally didn't believe it! All my life I've heard how milk is a good source of calcium -- it builds bones and prevents osteoporosis -- and other such things. But, the doctor tells me that's all a myth. He wants me to go on a milk-free diet for 2 weeks ... no milk products whatsoever for 2 weeks! Eiy yi yi. :-/

I'm curious about this milk-myths thing. I looked it up and found an interesting (and very disgusting!) article ... click here. It explains all of the reasons why drinking cow's milk (or any OTHER animal's milk) is actually bad for you, and why it's unnatural and impure... It was truly eye-opening! Makes quite a bit of sense, but I'm not quite ready to give up milk for good ... not yet, anyway. After all, I know what hotdogs are made of, and I've not given *those* up, either.
:-?

Anyhoo... I'm still breaking out in the hives. It's gotten so bad that my face is now swelling any time I get really bad. :-o

I'm thinking it's my detergent. I've switched -- washed all of my clothes and sheets and such in a new brand -- so hopefully this will prove to be the source. :-?

On another note, I've finished two books recently:
"Finding Anna" by Christine Schaub (rated: C - average)
"A Third Testament" by Malcolm Muggeridge (rated: B - enjoyable)

Yesterday I started reading Mark Haddon's "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime", and I'm not sure whether I want to continue with it. Already (only several pages in), the foul-language count is fairly high. I can stand some mild use of it, but this one's using the f-word a little too much for my comfort. Not that I don't read books out of my comfort zone, but I *do* maintain *some* standards. :-? Call me a prude, but I can't fill my mind with that garbage. IMHO, it's just not necessary to use that kind of language ... it really isn't. I've gotten by all of my life without resorting to it! :-?

I'm thinking I may pick up my newest Gaelen Foley book, instead: "PRINCESS". It's the second book in the Ascension Trilogy, and it's also the only book of Gaelen's, so far, that I've not read! :-)

Lately...

2006-02-03T17:35:00.000-08:00

Lots of stuff going on lately...

...have been breaking out in hives for almost two weeks now. Am still not sure what is causing them. Obviously I'm allergic to something -- but what? I'm going to see an Allergist next week for a scratch test. Hopefully we'll figure out what's going on.

... have been in a reading slump. I'm trying to get through "FINDING ANNA" by Christine Schaub, but am finding it hard to pick up again after I've put it down. I'm thinking that it's because the book is "telling" more than "showing" and so I'm getting a little bored. Sure, I want to know what will happen in the end ... why the book was given its title ... but I'm thinking I should've picked a quicker-paced novel for the time being. For January, I read only 2.5 books. :-( My normal rate is about 4-6 books per month, especially in January.

... have been Blogging like crazy! Also been exploring blog-related sites. Today I signed up for Bloglines which allows you to subscribe to all of your favorite blogs (you can see my "blogroll" on the Right under my Links).

... I've been doodling ... drawing up TONS of different house-plans. I love doing that! And, I've been searching the Net for floor-plans, too. It's neat to look at the different designs and imagine living in some of those houses some day. :o) Not all of them, mind you -- LOL. But, I pick my favorites and wonder if they'd suit me and my family. I change a thing here and there, and decide what I'd like to keep or add. Most houses have an extra room/bedroom which I *always* change into a "Library"! ;-P

... Other than that, not much else is new. Life has been fairly quiet. A good thing.

Avatars

2006-01-30T14:26:00.000-08:00

I really should be making dinner, but instead I've been making Avatars! LOL.

Check 'em out!

That was one I just saved... Here's one I made myself!...

Pretty neat, huh?

Okay... Now I've really gotta go make dinner! :-P

Excited!

2006-01-30T06:49:00.000-08:00

I'm so excited! Apparently, my kids' school librarian will be doing some barcoding and such this week, and she needs help ... and they called ME! So, all day Wednesday I'll be playing Assistant Librarian!

To me, this is really great. It is a step in the right direction toward my future goals! I hope to be a Librarian some day (or, even just work in a bookstore -- or, better yet, OWN a bookstore!), but every bit of experience/practice now helps! :-D

Yay!

Movie Review: "Must Love Dogs"

2006-01-29T08:29:00.000-08:00

This was another great movie! I laughed a lot, and was quite moved by several scenes. The literary references sprinkled throughout made me want to go out and find the book (that the movie was based on). :o)

Recommended!

Rating: B (enjoyable)

Movie Review: "Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights"

2006-01-29T08:22:00.000-08:00

This was a fantastic movie! I love the Latin beat, and I love movies about dancing!
I found myself identifying a lot with Katie... She starts out super-uptight, and yet has an inward longing to be free enough to dance Cuban-style. I loved the quote that said something about being free enough "to be whoever you want to be in that moment".... or something like that, anyway. A great movie!
And it even had some Spanish with English subtitles! I loved that I can now understand a bit of it without having to read the screen! :-D Yay for Spanish lessons! :D

I'm starting to wonder if I have some sort of Latin American history, somewhere in my genes. I'm dying to be fluent in Spanish -- it's one of my life goals -- and I adore the music and dancing ... Hmmm... ;-)

Highly recommended!

Rating: A+ (excellent!)

House Plans... (Dreaming)

2006-01-28T18:06:00.000-08:00

I've been dreaming of bigger houses a lot, lately, and I happened across one that's PERFECT while searching online the other day!

I got it from here: Cool House Plans.com.

Here's the exterior...

(Isn't it beautiful? I love the covered front porch!)

Here is the main floor...

The only thing I would change would be that the Dining Room would be the Library instead. We could eat in the Nook off the kitchen ...I don't really have a lot of use for a formal Dining Room. :-?
I love how, for the most part, it's open-concept. I love the fireplace that goes from the living room into the family room! And, I can totally picture the rounded stair railings in a nice Oak! :o) All my kitchen cabinets will be Oak, too, of course. ;-)

And, here is the Upper Level...

I think this house is absolutely perfect! There's even an extra bedroom for guests! :-)

Ahhh... Some day....

Reflections...

2006-01-28T17:52:00.000-08:00

Do you ever look back on your life and see the choices you've made and wonder what life might've been like had you chosen the other option? I've made a lot of twists and turns in my life, and every so often I look back and wonder if life would've been better or worse had I not picked the doors I did.

Don't get me wrong! My life is richly blessed by God, despite the screw-ups I've made. I've got a loving husband, and two beautiful children, a roof over my head, a great yard, and the best inlaws! :o) My family members are all healthy, and relatively sane (;-P), so what do I have to complain about? Nothing. But, it doesn't stop me from reflecting...

But, every time I get to doing this, I always end up back at the same conclusion: I wouldn't trade my life for anything. I've learned sooo much more from the choices I've made than I would've had I not made them. And, how could I live without my children? They're my world. :-?

So, life is grand. Sure, I could use a bigger house (preferably with an extra room for my "Personal Library"...), but that's another story for another time. ;o)

Book Lover's Game!

2006-01-28T12:26:00.000-08:00

Trivial Pursuit Book Lover's Edition by Hasbro

This is a game I MUST own some day!

Up and Coming

2006-01-27T10:55:00.000-08:00

I've been itching, again, to host another Pampered Chef Kitchen Show, so I e-mailed my favorite consultant (who moved away last year), and she'll be hooking me up with someone in my area.

I'm excited! I love getting FREE kitchen tools! And, The Pampered Chef has such GREAT products, too! I use mine every day! (Can you tell I used to be an Independent Kitchen Consultant, myself?) I totally love the products! They make preparing dinners sooo much easier. And, the clean-up is no longer such a problem!

This time around, I'm hoping to get the Small Oval Baker (I just got a new Toaster Oven and those fit PERFECTLY inside it!), and I'd like a new Veggie Peeler, and a new Mini-Scraper/Spatula. I'd also LOVE to get some of their cookbooks! They've got some really awesome recipes!

My show will probably be in March. Maybe February, though. I'm still deciding.

The other day, a friend of mine (who reviews books for a ton of different places) said that one of the places she reviews for is looking for new reviewers. She passed the ad on to me, and I'm thinking I'm going to apply!

I've been reviewing books for both First Look (HarperCollins, Canada) and for Bethany House Publishers and neither of those pay for my reviews (other than the FREE books, and I'm certainly not complaining about that!) But, I'd love to write and get paid for it, ya know? So, this new place does pay -- not a lot, but it's a start -- and I'm thinking I'll give it a go, if they'll hire me. Keep your fingers crossed for me, 'kay? :o)

Dental Visit

2006-01-27T10:50:00.000-08:00

My son and I had to visit the dentist, today, for our regular check-up. I was all good. Then I got the news...

My son is being scheduled for an Orthodontist appointment because: 1) his upper jaw is underdeveloped, and 2) his teeth are coming in wrong and it's wrecking the spacing. He'll probably need braces and an appliance. :-?

At first I was a bit panicked thinking it's going to cost a fortune! You hear parents complain about having to spend tons on their kids' dental work, and how their kids' mouths are "worth a bunch". :-? But, then I had to thank the Lord for the benefits supplied by my husband's workplace! (whew!)

So, time will tell. I suppose it's not *that* big of a deal. It could always be worse, right? But, it's still a little worrisome.

My Books Wishlist...

2006-01-24T07:28:00.000-08:00

...with thanks to Cliff1976!

My Wish List:

New Blog for my Book List!

2006-01-23T14:15:00.000-08:00

Last year I used Geocities (Yahoo!) to keep a book/reading log. It was a bit of work, but I liked being able to say "I have a website!" LOL.

This year, I've decided to use a Blog for keeping track of what I've read, so I made up a new one this morning: Mizbooks' Reading Log.

I think I'm becoming addicted to Blogging! I keep thinking up new excuses for making up more sites! LOL.

Honestly, though, it's much easier than using Geocities, as far as keeping it for a Reading Log. And, I like that I can put the covers of the books on my blog, too, without too much hassle! Book Post is the greatest tool I've found to get those book covers and links up on a blog! I only wish I remembered who told me about that! :-?

Anyway. Be sure to check out my newest Blog, and let me know what you think! ;o)

WWW... 01/12

2006-01-12T07:34:00.000-08:00

WHAT ARE YOU READING NOW?

Currently reading GONE WITH THE WIND by Margaret Mitchell for discussion with my one online Book group, The Book Spot.

WHAT DID YOU JUST FINISH READING?

Recently finished THE LAZARUS TRAP by Davis Bunn. I rated it an _A_, as it was excellent! Hard to put down!

WHAT WILL YOU BE READING NEXT?

Probably "FINDING ANNA" by Christine Schaub. It's a Bethany House review book, and I've got quite a few of those waiting to be read and reviewed, so I need to do that soon!

New Year - New Beginnings

2006-01-01T17:06:00.000-08:00

Music playing currently: Hilary Duff's "Metamorphosis" (from her "MOST WANTED" CD).

Well, the holidays are finally over, and I'm starting to slow down from the high. New Years' Eve went off well -- another evening spent eating steak, seafood stuffed mushrooms, and salad, and then watching 2 movies before seeing the Ball drop (in Times Square) on TV. :o)

Today, I took down my (artificial) tree. Usually I leave my Christmas decorations up for an extra week or so, but since there's no snow outside at the moment, I thought it'd be better to get the tree and other decorations put away out in the garage now. :-?

I made out like a bandit this Christmas (as seen in my previous post)! And, a couple of days ago I went to Wal-Mart and picked up 2 more things with the money I'd had left over....

"SAVE THE LAST DANCE" - DVD
"MOST WANTED" by Hilary Duff - CD

The movie is my all-time favorite! And, for the CD, I was going to get METAMORPHOSIS, but this one had all the songs I wanted, anyway ("COME CLEAN", "SO YESTERDAY", and "FLY"), so it was good. And, I'm thrilled 'cause it's got a few others that I'm really coming to love! I love Hilary Duff's music! :o)

This past week I've been extremely busy with getting all of the paperwork together for my one online group, Book-a-Week. Reason being, I'm the Bookmark Exchange Coordinator. Everyone who signed up and reaches the group's goal of reading either 52 or 100 books in 2005, will get a bookmark from another goal-reaching member. I make up the lists of who reached the goal, and who sends bookmarks to whom. Lots of fun! :o) I read 55 books in 2005, so I'll be getting my bookmark, again! Yay!

The group is also starting to accept new members, again, today. They only accept new members between January 1st and February 21st of each year, so it's gonna get busy in the next week or two. :-) I'm looking forward, though, to meeting all the new people, and to my TBR mountain growing yet some more! :-P

I'm excited to start off the new reading year -- I've already gotten several chapters into one of my new books, "THE LAZARUS TRAP" by Davis Bunn. It's pretty good, even though it took a few pages to get what was going on. LOL.

I already posted my reading goals, but for the record, here are my other goals for the year:
(**And, note that I no longer call them "Resolutions" because I don't reach them unless I call them goals -- even then it's still a challenge! LOL**)

[Spiritual]
* read my Bible daily
* spend at least 10 minutes daily in Quiet Time with God
* memorize 1 Scripture verse per week
* continue attending church & Bible study
* work on character traits (integrity, trust, love, forgiveness, mercy, etc)

[Physical]
* release 11# to get to my goal of 122#
* drink 2-3 bottles of water DAILY
* keep using my Walk Away the Pounds DVDs every Monday/Wednesday/Friday (in other words, walk 3 x per week)
* tighten flabby areas via strength-training, etc.
* keep following the THIN WITHIN principles to maintain my weight-release, and to stay healthy

Here's to a wonderful year!!!

Snoopy Dance!

2005-12-29T11:28:00.000-08:00

Shopping After Christmas - Yay!

2005-12-29T11:13:00.000-08:00

Boy, oh, boy did I have fun shopping after Christmas this year! I got more money than I'd expected, and then my two sisters and I did a "Sisters Shopping Day" yesterday!

Here's what I got:
- 3 prs nylons
- makeup
- Old Navy jeans ($10!!!)
- 3 Old Navy tank tops
- a rose-colored 3/4-sleeve top
- a black shrug
- an A-line, ankle-length denim skirt
- a belt
- 2 picture frames
- hand lotion
- a calendar (Charles Wysocki!)
- 2 melamine, stackable bookshelves (one with a door)
- 7 books!!!

The books were all from Chapters, one of which I got in the store, and the rest I got online via a Gift Card I bought for myself. ;-)

They are:
* "THE LAZARUS TRAP" by T. Davis Bunn (bought in-store)
* "THE BARBARIAN WAY" by Erwin Raphael McManus
* "LOST CHRISTIANITIES" by Bart D. Ehrman
* "A HISTORY OF READING" by Alberto Manguel
* "A SHORT HISTORY OF NEARLY EVERYTHING" by Bill Bryson
* "PRINCESS" by Gaelen Foley
* "ONCE UPON A TIME" by J. Randy Taraborrelli (for only $4.99!!!)

I also got books from the money I got for my Birthday, recently, too!

* "EVERY WOMAN'S BATTLE" - Shannon Ethridge
* "VELVET ELVIS" - Rob Bell
* "PREPARING YOUR SON FOR EVERY MAN'S BATTLE" - Stephen Arterburn

I'm one VERY happy camper! Books, books, books, and shelves to put them on, too! :o) Yay! And, the cool thing? Most of these books were on my wishlist (some for over 3 years!)

2005 Reading Overview & New Years' Planning

2005-12-15T17:10:00.000-08:00

I've been thinking a lot, lately, about the New Year. It's quickly approaching -- seems like I could blink and it would all-of-a-sudden be February! LOL

I've already made up my Top 10 Reads for 2005 list. Also, while I'm thinking of it, I'll have a NEW website next year! Check it out here!

********************
I've also decided on some READING GOALS for 2006:

** Read ONLY my own books -- except for f2f choices (they're the exception). Library books are NOT allowed, otherwise! I really need to make a dent in my collection, now that it's over 1000 titles long! ;-D

** Read 55 books total (I've cut back my usual goal because I'll be getting a job outside of the home come September 2006).

** Don't buy as many books (no more than 1 a month).

** Continue to review books for BETHANY HOUSE PUBLISHERS and HARPER-COLLINS CANADA.

** Once again keep a book journal (I still need to go out and buy one for next year! I like the little notebooks that come with those stationary gift sets -- the sets that include a notebook/journal, address book, and 2 pencils in a small holder/stand).

********************
I'm up to 54 books so far this year. My goal was set for 60. I don't think I'll make that goal, but I can probably fit in one more, to bring my total to 55. That's about my average, anyway, so I'm okay with that.

It's been a really good reading-year for me! Most of my titles have been rated A or B ("Excellent--Highly recommended!", or "Enjoyable"). Wanna see the list?

My current read is "THE CONSTANT PRINCESS" by Philippa Gregory. I only just started it today, though, so I don't yet have an opinion of it.

Last book finished was "ALL SHE EVER WANTED" by Lynn Austin. Click here to read my review!

My next-up read is scheduled to be "GONE WITH THE WIND" by Margaret Mitchell. It's a group read for The Book Spot group on Yahoo!

Countdown to my birthday: 5 days
Countdown to Christmas: 10 days

Rambling ...

2005-12-05T13:54:00.000-08:00

I often find myself wishing I were a little smarter. I love to read books that expand my mind -- ones that challenge me to really pay attention to what I'm reading -- because it makes me *feel* smarter. For example, I bought myself a copy of Steven Pinker's "THE BLANK SLATE". Much as I've not read it yet, I've read bits of it, and a lot of it goes over my head. But, I like that as I feel like maybe I'll be able to hold more intelligent conversations for having read it.
I like to have "lofty" conversations, too, as it makes me feel profound and intelligent. I think that that's one of the things that drew me to my husband back when we were dating. He's very intelligent, and tends to ramble on about things that are -- more often than not -- over my head. But, to have conversations like that with him, even if I don't understand everything, makes me feel like I'm important. Is that silly? Maybe so. Maybe I'm making a fool of myself by admitting this all here. LOL. But, it is what it is.
****************
I was having a discussion with a friend, on the weekend, about Christianity and religions. He was telling me about the history of the Southern Baptists, and about the start of some things in Canadian history. I sat there wishing that I was more knowledgeable about things like that, because I really don't know anything about that sort of thing. I really don't have a lot of interest in history -- never have -- so that kind of thing is beyond me. People can talk about it, but I have nothing to contribute to the conversation. That frustrates me. I try to read about stuff like that, and then I end up getting soooo bored because history isn't my thing. :o? And, it's not as if the conversation with my friend bored me! Far from it -- I was fascinated! But, I just can't seem to *read* on the subject without getting bored.
:-/
I wonder if there's another, more interesting way to learn about the history of things without having to immerse myself in books that bore me to tears? Any suggestions?

Christmas Party

2005-12-05T07:31:00.000-08:00

This weekend was the annual CDCP at my DH's friend's place. Always a blast.

I beat my record this year -- I started out (4 years ago) only staying up until 1am. After having kids, my ability to stay up all night has dwindled....or, so I thought. Last year, I stayed up until 3:30am. I was so proud of myself! LOL. So, you can just imagine how thrilled I am to report that I was able, this year, to stay up until 6am! :oP

Most of my night/morning was spent playing "PHASE 10" (a card game) with two friends. Halfway through our game, though, the conversation turned to that of religions and Christianity, and so we didn't really pay a lot of attention to the game. In fact, we didn't even finish it because, come 4am, one went to bed, and the other and I just called it quits. I watched my DH play a game of Pool, and then I, too, crashed.

There is talk of this annual party being resumed in July as a "Christmas-in-July" type thing -- it'd give everyone an opportunity to see each other TWICE a year instead of once, and I think that's a bonus! I love the idea, and I hope it's implemented! I have no qualms with tenting in the backyard for a night. ;-P

And so, another year tucked under my belt. On to the rest of the festivities of the season! :o)

WWW... (11/22)

2005-11-22T06:50:00.000-08:00

WHAT ARE YOU READING NOW?

I just started reading ALL SHE EVER WANTED by Lynn Austin -- an ARC from Bethany House Publishers.

WHAT DID YOU JUST FINISH READING?

Just finished Khaled Hosseini's THE KITE RUNNER. It was an engaging tale, rich in little details, and filled with characters you come to care deeply about. Recommended. (It's my f2f book group's choice for November).

WHAT WILL YOU BE READING NEXT?

Probably either SKIPPING CHRISTMAS by John Grisham (for my online group, Amid_the_Pages), or FINDING ANNA by Christine Schaub (another ARC from Bethany House publishers).

Goings on

2005-11-11T07:50:00.000-08:00

I've now been taking Spanish classes for 3 weeks, and I'm loving every minute of it! I can ask what a word means (?"Que quierer decir..."), and I can ask how you say a certain word in Spanish (?"Come se dice...?"), and I can say "My name is...". :o) I'm also building my vocabulary! It's too much fun! I'm really hoping to continue taking Spanish classes and to become fluent within the next couple of years! There's apparently another place nearby that offers FREE Spanish classes, so I plan to sign up there when this class ends. :-)

*********

I can feel Christmas in the air! The weeks have gotten busier, and the air has turned colder, and the leaves are almost all off the trees! All of the stores have their Christmas decorations out already (they were out just 2 days after Halloween!). And, I've even seen Christmas-y ads on television! :o? I'm anxious to put up my *artificial* tree! Every year I get it out on December 1st. Just a few more weeks! I'll pull out my MANNHEIM STEAMROLLER Christmas CD -- includes "Handel's Messiah" -- and listen to that while I decorate my tree. It's a yearly tradition. ;) I'll probably put on the exterior lights, too, come Dec.1st!

I love Christmas!

WWW.... (10/27)

2005-10-27T14:00:00.000-07:00

WHAT AM I READING NOW?

Just started reading Steve Leveen's "THE LITTLE GUIDE TO YOUR WELL-READ LIFE". Excellent, so far!

WHAT DID I JUST FINISH READING?

Just finished half of "BEETHOVEN: THE UNIVERSAL COMPOSER" by Edmund Morris. Read my review of it on my other blog, Village Cafe, here.

WHAT WILL I BE READING NEXT?

Probably Dana Corbit's "ON THE DOORSTEP" -- a Love Inspired book.

Library Book Sale! (October '05)

2005-10-22T12:25:00.000-07:00

Finally! A library book sale that *isn't* cancelled! Hooray!

I left the house at 8am to go stand in line for a half-hour in the cold ... all worth it, though! Hardcovers for $0.25, and paperbacks for only $0.10! Can't beat that! (other than FREE, of course) ;o)

Here's what I got:

Softcovers:

A Place of Darkness – Lauren Haney
M is for Malice – Sue Grafton
Judging Sara – Cynthia Rutledge
Nancy Drew #3: Murder on Ice – Carolyn Keene
LoTR: The Two Towers – J.R.R. Tolkien
The Wedding Night – Barbara Dawson Smith
Eyeliner of the Gods – Katie Maxwell
Nerd in Shining Armor – Vicki Lewis Thompson
Harry Potter & the Philosopher’s Stone (1) – J.K. Rowling
Ramona the Pest – Beverly Cleary

Hardcovers:

Stone Heart – Luanne Rice (for my sister)
Paddington Takes the Test – Michael Bond
Paddington On Top – Michael Bond
Paddington At Work – Michael Bond
More About Paddington – Michael Bond
Around the World in 80 Days – Jules Verne
Imhotep: Builder In Stone – Maribelle Cormack
Cat In the Mirror – Mary Stolz
The World of the Pharaohs – Hans Baumann
Preparing the Manuscript – Udia G. Olsen
Thin Within – Judy Wardell (I was VERY happy to find this!!!)
Secrets of the Baby Whisperer – Tracy Hogg
Emergency Room: Lives Saved & Lost – Dan Sachs, M.D. (editor)
Journal of a Novel: The East of Eden Letters – John Steinbeck
With a Vengeance – Eileen Dreyer
Blacklist – Sara Paretsky
Life of Pi – Yann Martel
Hot Six – Janet Evanovich
Monster – Jonathan Kellerman
Flesh & Blood – Jonathan Kellerman
Clara Callan – Richard B. Wright
Memoirs of a Geisha – Arthur Golden
A Breach of Promise – Anne Perry (Monk)
I Know This Much is True – Wally Lamb
Not Even For Love – Sandra Brown
Courting Trouble – Lisa Scottoline
Cat’s Eye – Margaret Atwood
Shadow Baby: A Novel – Alison McGhee
Heaven Lake – John Dalton
Penguin Dictionary of Physics – Valerie H. Pitt (editor) = for DH
The Star Diaries – Stanislaw Lem = for DH
A Splendid Chaos – John Shirley = for DH
Tools of Modern Biology – Melvin Berger = for DH

********
Not bad, eh? I'm one VERY happy camper! This is a great list, if you ask me, and I don't regret buying a single one of them! (unlike other years where I've gotten about 1/3 that I didn't really want -- more impulse than anything)

Hooray!

Online collections, library, and current reads

2005-10-20T14:22:00.000-07:00

Life has been crazy lately. My dd has been sick with some sort of unknown thing (puking during the night, semi-fine during the day). We had her in the hospital yesterday, and they ran several tests, but even *they* don't yet know what's up with her. :-? The good news is, she didn't puke last night, and she's felt better all day.

As for me, I've been feeling a little overwhelmed by my books, lately. I've got 2 review books to finish and submit reviews for before November 3rd. I'm only 1/2 done the first ... haven't even started the second! :-O And, I've got a pile of library books which will be due back soon, too! :-? As the old saying goes, "So many books, so little time!"

(I'm currently reading "THE PREACHER'S DAUGHTER" by Beverly Lewis. It's to be reviewed for Bethany House Publishers. It's good, so far!)

I *did* manage to "waste" some precious reading time while cataloguing my books online! Much as I like LibraryThing.com, I can't pay the $10 for an unlimited account. This leaves me with the problem of only being able to put 200 of my 900+ books on that site! :-( SO, I came up with another idea: I put all of my collection on my website! Check it out!

I also spent a little more of my precious reading time making up a new online book discussion group: Amid_the_Pages. Feel free to join! We'll discuss one book a month -- those nominated by & voted on by the group members. Each month has a new theme. :o)

And, lastly, today I went to the library with my DD. While helping her choose some books, I came across Cornelia Funke's "INKHEART". Since a lot of my friends have been discussing this online lately, I figured I'd bring it home and see what the fuss is about! I won't get to it for a while, but I *do* look forward to reading it!

My Library!

2005-10-07T14:35:00.000-07:00

Discovered a great new website today, thanks to an online book-buddy! LibraryThing.com. Very, very cool!

Of course, my ID there is "Mizbooks". ;-P

Hey there!

2005-10-04T07:32:00.000-07:00

Nothing terribly exciting has been happening here, lately, and this is why I've not been posting. It's just been the usual -- reading, taking care of the kids, etc.

I *did* sign myself up to take some Spanish classes! They start at the end of October! I'm really excited about that. :-) It's just basic conversation, but I think it will be a good start to reaching my goal of being fluent some day. :-)

Read some good books, lately, too! See my other blog, Village Cafe, for my reviews!

I just finished reading "SWEETWATER CREEK" by Anne Rivers Siddons. This was an advanced reader copy for HarperCollins Canada's "First Look" program. Excellent book! Highly recommended!

And, I'm now getting back into Gaelen Foley's latest addition to the Knight series, "ONE NIGHT OF SIN". I *LOVE* Gaelen's books! I've read almost all of them now. :-)

Next up will most likely be "A FINE BALANCE" by Rohinton Mistry, as one of my online groups will be discussing it on the 17th.

WWW... (09/15)

2005-09-15T07:30:00.000-07:00

* What did you just finish reading?

Just finished "VELVET ELVIS: REPAINTING THE CHRISTIAN FAITH" by Rob Bell, and WOW! It was amazing! I HIGHLY recommend it! (To see my review, click here.)

* What are you currently reading?

Working on "I CAPTURE THE CASTLE" by Dodie Smith. It's a group choice for The Book Spot group.

* What will you be reading next?

As soon as I've finished my current read, I'll be jumping into Gaelen Foley's latest addition to the Knight Miscellany, "ONE NIGHT OF SIN". I've been just itching to read this one, as I've read almost ALL of Gaelen's books so far, and not one has disappointed me! :o)

Update: Dream Job

2005-09-07T17:23:00.000-07:00

Unfortunately, I didn't get the library job. I was never called for an interview, even. But, I have a sneaking suspicion that I know why ... my resume is outdated (not so much the information, but the style), and there was a typo on my cover-letter! Ack! :-O

Now reading "Resumes ...for Dummies" in hopes of making mine a "kick-butt" resume for next time. So far, so good. ;-)

And, you can bet I'll be spell-checking my documents a little better the next time! :-?

Church Book Club update - 08/30

2005-08-30T13:44:00.000-07:00

Well, the Christian Education committee called me today to talk about my idea for a church book club. While they like my idea, it isn't going to be possible to start one up right now as there are too many other programs being initiated this Fall. A little disappointing, but it's okay.

There was a bright side ...

They've asked if I want to write BOOK REVIEWS for the church newsletter! Of course I said "Absolutely!" :-D Now I'm terribly excited! Practically bouncing off the walls! LOL

I'll write 1-2 reviews for each issue. I'm thinking probably one Fiction and one NonFiction. And, they'll all be Christian books, of course.

The first two are already typed up and submitted! ;-)

Yay! I'm so grateful to God for giving me an outlet to serve Him using my passion for books!

Dream Job

2005-08-23T05:31:00.000-07:00

Last night, while browsing through the paper, I came across an advertisement for a job ... my dream job! To work in the library! :-D

Immediately I printed off a copy of my resume and faxed it off. The ad said that yesterday was the very last day to apply! I really hope they at least call me for an interview this time. I've applied to the library several times over the last few years, trying to get any job they'd give me! But, I've not even gotten called for an interview. I chalk that up to God thinking I wasn't at the right point in my life at those times, though, to get a job. I'd always wanted to stay home with my kids, so it's best that I've been home with them. :-?

Nevertheless, I'd still LOVE to work in the library! And, this job is even cooler than the others I've tried for ... it's just filling orders for books and such. I'd not have to help with the children's programs (something I wasn't thrilled with the idea of ... I love kids, but I don't want to lead kids' programs. :?).

Anyhoo. Cross your fingers for me! :-D

These are a few of my FAVORITE THINGS....

2005-08-10T07:10:00.000-07:00

Got this idea from my online friend Amanda A.'s blog! Thanks, Amanda!

What's your favorite …
1. Food: Mom’s Roll-Up pancakes (crepes, to anyone else)
2. Drink: Classic Coca-Cola.
3. Fruit: Raspberries.
4. Vegetable: Cucumbers.
5. Color: Denim Blue
6. Cologne/perfume: Lise Watier’s “Neige” eau-de-toilette
7. Part of the body: my feet (on anyone else? Eyes)
8. Stuffed animal: My beanie-baby – “Seaweed” (at the moment – I have a trunk full of stuffed animals I can’t part with!)
9. Mall: whichever’s closest at the moment! LOL
10. Candle scent: “Warm Apple Pie” (candles made by my friend, Tracey).
11. Store: Chapters bookstore, and Staples Office Supply
12. Current song: My current favorite song is “The Reason” by Hoobastank.
13. Older song: “Brown-Eyed Girl” by ???
14. Movie: “Save the Last Dance” starring Julia Stiles
15. Actor: Michael Rosenbaum – “Lex Luther” from Smallville! Yum! ;P
16. Actress: Kate Winslet & Jennifer Garner
17. Animal: Cats (Egyptian Maus, preferrably)
18. TV channel: TLC (The Learning Channel)
19. TV show: Alias, CSI, Extreme Home Makeover
20. Radio station: 96.3 FM (Detroit)
21. Rapper: ????
22. Soundtrack: “A Walk to Remember”
23. Boy name: Cael
24. Girl name: Aaryn
25. Flower: red Tea Rose
26. Holiday: Christmas & Thanksgiving (tie)
27. Day of the week: Friday
28. Month: October
29. Season: Fall
30. City: Cairo (though, I’ve not yet been there!)
31. State: so far, North/South Carolina (I’ve not travelled much in the States, yet)
32. Vacation spot: Muskoka, Ontario
33. Age to be: 16
34. College football team: No clue! Hate football!
35. Jeans brand: Levi’s
36. Cartoon: GARFIELD!!!
37. Place to drive around: Alliston, Ontario
38. Blanket: the pink fluffy one I brought with me when I left home.
39. Car: Lexus SUV – my dream vehicle of the moment!
40. Eye color: blue
41. Hair color: auburn
42. Pen ink color: Blue or Green
43. Shoes that you own: My denim heels – they’re like a slide-sandal with a 1.5” heel and have a small bow on the toes
44. Computer game: Riddle of the Sphinx, even though it frustrates me to no end!, and Rahjjong
45. Quote: “Alas, where is human nature so weak as in the bookstore” – Henry Ward Beecher
46. Favourite Book: “Writer Ferrets: Chasing the Muse” – Richard Bach
47. Number: 17
48. Website: http://www.Bookcrossing.com/friend/BookCafe
49. Gift to receive: a pile of my most wished-for books!
50. Thing to wear: jeans and a sweatshirt

Updates: Thin Within & Books

2005-08-08T06:24:00.000-07:00

RE: THIN WITHIN

Well, I found a Yahoo! group for Thin Within support. They're a great bunch! :o) And, as a result, I also got myself an Accountability Partner! (Much needed!)

I think I may just finally -- Lord willing -- have gotten the hang of stopping before stuffing myself! (what TW people call "stopping at 5 on the Hunger Scale")

And, I've lost another 4 lbs, plus 3.5 inches! Praise the Lord! :oD

I'm enjoying doing the lessons ... they really make you dig into the Word, and I'm learning a lot. :o)

I HIGHLY recommend this weight-loss program! If you aren't really into the religious aspect, there's an older book by the same authors called "THIN AGAIN". It's still got a *bit* of the religious aspect to it, but not as much as the newer "THIN WITHIN" book. :o)

<>< ~~ <>< ~~ <>< ~~ <>< ~~ <>< ~~ <>< ~~ <>< ~~ <><

RE: BOOKS

I had to laugh ... Here I said I was excited because I had no library books that I *had* to read (because of due dates), and then that very same day, 2 library books I'd had on request came in for me! LOL. Very funny.

But, it's okay, because they were 2 I've really been looking forward to reading! So, the one I chose to start with is Brennan Manning's "A GLIMPSE OF JESUS: THE STRANGER TO SELF-HATRED". It's amazing. It requires a bit of "brain-power" (as my friend Hollie would say ;P) -- it is not a light, fluffy read! -- but if you stick with it, it's very good! I'm really learning a lot from it. :o)

Next up might be the other book of his that came in: "RUTHLESS TRUST: THE RAGAMUFFIN'S PATH TO GOD". Or, I may dig into the new Bethany House ARC (advanced reader copy) I just got of "A BRIDE MOST BEGRUDGING" by Deeanne Gist. I've been looking forward to reading that, too! :oD

Excited!

2005-08-04T06:49:00.000-07:00

I'm excited! I finally have NO books that I *have* to read -- no review books, no library books, no book club books -- and I can choose one of my OWN books from one of my shelves! Yay!

There *is* a dilemma, though: WHICH book do I choose???

I currently own 928 books, and I've not read most of them! So, I have TONS to choose from! I just have no idea what I'm in the mood for! Mystery? Christian fiction? Christian non-fiction? Biography? Memoir? Or, do I finish off one of the 2 review books? (I read half of each as it was all the time I had for them -- the reviews had to be submitted on time). :?

I'll let you know, later, what I decide. ;P

THIN WITHIN - Weight Loss Program

2005-07-29T17:54:00.000-07:00

Well, I ordered the THIN WITHIN book (authors Judy & Arthur Halliday), and I found some online forums for support.

I've had a look through the lessons, and it sounds good. :o) Much more Bible-stuff involved in this program, as opposed to WEIGH DOWN. This one has actual "delve-into-the-Word" type Bible studies included, and talks much about God's grace being the only means of salvation ... not by our own effort. And, that's how it should be. :o)

I was inspired by my new forum friends to create a Weight Loss Ticker! Here it is:

As I said, I'm still cautious about starting on another weight loss program. I don't like being duped. >:o/

But, so far, this THIN WITHIN program doesn't sound too bad.

Reeling

2005-07-28T14:00:00.000-07:00

For the last three weeks, I've been excited about a new weight-loss program I found, and have been following. It's called THE WEIGH DOWN DIET by Gwen Shamblin.

At first glance, it sounds like a dream-come-true! You can eat "whatever you want", so long as you stay within the boundaries of "hunger & fullness" -- you don't eat until your stomach growls, and you stop eating when you're "politely" full.

As I said, I've been following these guidelines for the last 3 weeks, and in so doing, I've lost 7 POUNDS!!! Praise the Lord!

And, that's the other aspect of Gwen's program: changing your focus. Instead of loving food, you turn your focus to God! When you're tempted to overeat, or to eat outside the boundaries of hunger and fullness, you run to God for help!

So, because of Gwen's program, I have turned back to God, and have been doing my devotions and Bible study daily. God's been teaching me some incredible things over the last three weeks, and I felt truly blessed to have "been led to find" Gwen's program.

Then, after raving about WEIGH DOWN to an online friend, I received an Email from my friend with a link to an article that debunked WEIGH DOWN! (click HERE to read that article -- beware: it's long!) I was shocked after I read it! I felt like I'd been slapped! All day I've felt as if in a haze ... how could I have been so deceived?

Gwen backs up everything she teaches with (twisted) Scripture, so it was *easy* to be deceived! It was simple to agree with her, and to think that she was truly a messenger from God! :?

While reading the above-mentioned article, I wanted to argue with it, and say, "No! No! You're lying! Gwen's program HAS to be of God! It's working for me! I've lost 7lbs in 3 weeks from following it! I'm closer to God!" But, as I continued reading, I saw that it was true. Little nudges pushed me to let WEIGH DOWN go. I was about to be discouraged, thinking, "Now what?" I still wanted to follow Gwen's plan because the principles were working ... and if I'm growing closer to God, how can that be a bad thing, right? Then the article mentioned another Christian weight-loss program to try: "THIN WITHIN". I checked out their website, and it's got basically the exact same principles of WEIGH DOWN (eat between hunger & fullness, turn from food to God), except that it is *grace-based*, and seems to be more Biblically sound.

Now, you can be sure that I'll be a LOT more cautious before following another program! No more trusting blindly without questioning! The Bible even says to "test everything that is said"! Not just *some* things ... EVERYTHING! (1 Thessalonians 5:21)

I've ordered the "THIN WITHIN" book (authors: Judy & Arthur Halliday), and will post my review of it here on my blog when I've read it.

Checking In

2005-07-22T13:27:00.000-07:00

Just checking in, since I've not written anything here in a while.

I'm currently engrossed in reading "LADY FRANKLIN'S REVENGE" by Ken McGoogan. This is an Advanced Reader Copy from HarperCollins Canada's "First Look" program. It's a biography about Lady Jane Franklin. She was an unconventional woman in conventional Victorian England. I don't want to write much more than that since, when I'm done it, I'll be posting my review on my other blog, Village Cafe. ;o)

Anyhoo. I've not been up to much more than that. Just hanging out, playing with my kids, reading, and going for the occasional swim at my Mom's. Trying to keep cool, mainly. ;o)

WWW...

2005-07-11T12:19:00.000-07:00

What are you reading right now?
I'm enjoying "THE LANGUAGE OF SYCAMORES" by Lisa Wingate. I've read all of her other books, so far, and none of them -- including this one -- has been disappointing. Highly recommended. :o)

What did you just finish reading?
I recently finished reading "ON THE BRIGHT SIDE, I'M NOW THE GIRLFRIEND OF A SEX GOD" by Louise Rennison. This was book 2 of the Confessions of Georgia Nicholson series. Very cute, very British books. Georgia is a hilarious, 14-yr-old trouble-maker!

What's up next to read?
I have several books on tap next! I've promised to read and pass on SISTERCHICKS ON THE LOOSE by Robin Jones Gunn to a girl from my church. I have a church library book ("Journey to Love" by June Masters Bacher), and a public library book ("The Genius Factory" by David Plotz) that I'd like to read soon. And, I just got two advanced reader copies from HarperCollins Canada's First Look program: "LADY FRANKLIN'S REVENGE" by Ken McGoogan, and "THE MONSTERS OF GRAMERCY PARK" by Danny Leigh. I'll be busy reading for a bit! :-P

Baby news!

2005-07-05T06:33:00.000-07:00

It's official! I'm an Auntie again! :D

My new baby niece -- who, as of yet, doesn't have a name! :-o -- arrived yesterday, July 4th, 2005, at 5:26pm Saskatchewan time. :D

She's 8lbs. 3 1/4 oz. and has dark hair. Mom is doing well. :)

Yay! :D

**UPDATE**
They've named her Michela Grace, and she's beautiful! My bro sent pictures, and she's gorgeous. :o)

Biblioholism

Alphabet Readers

What Should You Study? Quiz

What Is Your Religious Philosophy? Quiz

What Is Your Love Style? Quiz

What Temperment Are You? Quiz

What Season Are You? Quiz

Miscellaneous Images

Did you know...?

Weight Loss Groupie...

Mom ... (plus: *update*)

Weight Loss

Blog Button!

Determined to Finish... (Part 2)

Determined to Finish...

Bye, Squeaky

My new pet...

Fave Foods / Finish These (Memes)

I Meme...

PS...

Depressed

A job?

TW Support Group - UPDATE!

WWW... (05/05)

TW Support Group

Teen Challenge

Struggling

Happy Birthday to Biblioholism!

No Library Sale?

5 Things (meme)

Memes addiction

What Kind of Candy Are You?

What Coffee Are You?

What Celebrity Matches Your Taste in Music?

4 Things (meme)

Teachers That Read

one more word cloud...

Word Clouds

Time Flies!

Saying "I'm Sorry"

Overwhelmed & Sore

Quote: Be Ye Kind

Before You Bash a Book...

Karen Kingsbury!

Spanish - I'm Learning!

WWW... (03/25)

Anxiety / Books / Night Out

Anniversary - 7 years!

About Me - quiz

Recent Happenings (03/15)

I'm an Auntie -- Again!

Pampered Chef - FREE stuff!

WWW... (03/06)

Update: PChef Party!

Reactions & Peace

Avatars - revisited!

More Reviewing!

Dealing with my Anxiety...

Booky Questions...

Too much fun! / Herbal Meds for Anxiety

Valentine's Day surprises!

Present from DH!

News - Feb.09/06

Lately...

Avatars

Excited!

Movie Review: "Must Love Dogs"

Movie Review: "Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights"

House Plans... (Dreaming)

Reflections...

Book Lover's Game!

Up and Coming

Dental Visit

My Books Wishlist...

New Blog for my Book List!

WWW... 01/12

New Year - New Beginnings

Snoopy Dance!

Shopping After Christmas - Yay!

2005 Reading Overview & New Years' Planning

Mom ... (plus: update)