Acknowledging You

Shadows in Winter, this picture is one of many I've taken in parks near Lake Ontario (Youngstown NY/Niagara region). Perhaps more on that soon, with pictures, of course!

So what brings me here today? Well, I want to leave comments in my own blog; a little write up to acknowledge the wonderful readers/writers that have graciously spent time at my blog and also to add to the discussion in general whenever possible. Blogger Help Group had several inquiries pertaining to the same issue I'm experiencing; that after going through the motions to write a comment, once the 'post comment' (or 'preview') button is selected, the page refreshes, leaving no trace that a comment was made and published. A mixed dozen of real and test comments are spinning lost in space. I am, however, able to post on other people's blogs just fine. yay! So until I figure out how to get my own comments to publish within my own blog comment area, I will try to re cap what I had wanted to share with the those that left a little something on my previous three blogs.

CaJoh Thanks for coming on board. I have plenty to read over at your wonderful blog space. I look forward to going back a little bit in time with your posts. Interesting, thought provoking, humble; I've been by already a few times- comments are coming! Thanks for the well wishes on getting better. As per your recommendation, I read through your list of home remedies, something that really came in handy over the weekend. I took to lots of sleep, fluids, warmth and even tried tossing a cough drop into my hot tea. Interesting idea, it worked well, and I will be integrating that into my cold care regimes in the future! Fortunately, I rarely experience a full blown cold, usually just something mild and pretty manageable. As long as there is good sleep and take extra care, I get well pretty quickly.

MB- ok, Shelfari is just too cute a name! I am surprised that I hadn't heard of it until now. I know so many people that have been keep track of the books they read, that they would love something like this to use. I have been mentally 'kicking myself in the butt' for not writing down what I read. Imagine how long the list is in a year for book-eaters like us, but then say look back over those lists decades later?! So while I haven't ever really done that, I have decided to start. I remembered most from last year, so 2008 will be the beginning of my official read list. Now I would like to use something like Shelfari to make it fun to look at and share (thank you, btw). As for the writer you recommended, Markus Zusak, have you read anything else by him (ones that I may have missed looking over your Shelfari)? There seems to be a handful to choose from (The Book Thief, I Am the Messenger, Getting the Girl, Fighting Ruben Wolfe, etc). I'm curious of his work, now that I have done a little search on his writing style and positive comments people have for his books. It is always exciting to add more authors to the list of books to buy from. I look forward to chatting about books and everything else we feel like!

and finally, PattyMooney, hello to you! Thank you for coming over and reading my blog. I'm not sure what direction it will take yet. Some people have a wonderful focus to their writing style and contents whether it is for business or pleasure. There is so much to think about, discuss, and learn from that the possibilities are wide open. Again, thank you for reading. As for the author, Anne Rice, she keeps coming up as an author I should be reading. I have read, Exit to Eden (under, Anne Rampling) her more risque work with The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty, Beauty's Punishment and Beauty's Release (under, A.N. Roquelaure), however, I have not yet read any of the vampire novels yet, nor do I know much about them. Are they related, as in, do I need to read them in a particular order? Is it all one series or a few? If none of the above, is there one that I should start with? I do a lot more reading in the winter, and I'm beginning to think that it would be nice to get cozy warm and read something from her. I look forward to reading and learning more from over at your blog/site(s). Take care!

and now, I will do more searching and a few more test comments to see if I'm able to figure anything else out with my commenting issues. Well, in my period of rest and lounging, I've learned plenty in the past few days, simply navigating around blogspot.

It is well after 2am now, and although I have been sleeping on and off all day, I think it is time again ti try to catch a few more zzzz's, see where my dreams take me.

Part Two: A Side of Books with Your Alphabet Soup?

Part of my scaled down book collection, the "keep forever and ever" collection, the permanent few. They look organized, but they are tightly (and lovingly) crammed in there. Love that book smell- you know what it is!

As per my last entry, I proclaimed my fondness towards writing. All those letters positioned in such a way to share a story, a secret an idea?Wow! Well, one of the other passive activities that I immensely enjoy involves reading (why make the 'passive' distinction? well, it certainly is not active- I can't peddle a bike and ponder Kipling simultaneously without feeling the need to wretch! But I envy those that can burn calories while burning through books). Among the many food things I like to eat (munch, nom, devour, consume, masticate), I think it is mentioned somewhere that I am a book- eater as well, yes? (nom nom nom). Alright, to clarify here, if you happen to see a book in my face, you can be assured that I am eating it up with my eyes and not with my teeth. However, leave me be if I'm sensually sniffing the binding. Yes, join me now, raise your hand if you love the smell of old books too. (But if I'm licking the binding..) (oh wait. I don't ever do that) (not after the paper cut, anyways. Just kidding. No, I really am.) In short, books have always been part of my life and I am sure many of you can relate to this passion.


As a child, I loved selecting books to take home from the local village library. It was a giant room replete with adventure and new worlds awaiting! (from an adult perspective, it was really a stuffy little room packed with dusty old disorganized books). Although I was often read to as a youngster, it was more often that I was encouraged to do the story reading out loud for all or simply to myself (not so much to develop my skills but that my parents' voices tired out before I was satisfied with enough reading). Perhaps I was naturally precocious in my reading development or perhaps I was so adamant against doing my homework at night that I would do and read anything else other than what was assigned to me, that I began reading whatever was available. Although most kids, including myself, were reading Judy Blume, I had moved on to reading books from my big sisters collection when nothing else was available (I wouldn't dare read a school text!). By the time I was 9-10 years old, I had polished off Christine by Stephen King and then swiftly moved on to (and finished) Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean M. Auel. The former scaring the hell out of me (and leaving me terrified of the giant old Buick and Cadillac sitting in our driveway) while the latter evoked strong emotional reactions that I don't think I was prepared for yet.


After many nights on the old gold velour couch and 800 intense and deeply detailed pages later, I bawled my eyes out over the last chapters. I was always amazed at what a story could do to (and for) ones imagination. I could laugh, cry, get scared, mad, frustrated, feel happy, elation, angst and so on, a full spectrum of emotions just from words on a page. Furthermore, the places I could go, the people I would meet and the experiences I would have. The love of reading was discovered early and still courses through me today. Are you nodding in agreement? (*high five!*)

I say that I am a "book eater" because once I start a book, no matter what it is, it is difficult for me to put it down. The need to read can be disruptive to other responsibilities in my life and so I try to carve out the time needed to allow myself to sit down in a comfy spot (much to the pleasure of my lazy lounging felines) and read as much as I can in that sitting. I stuff myself with words. My imagination feeds off of it.

Sometimes (ok, almost always- like those chips, I can't "eat" just one!) there are a few books being read at once from various genres. Always a nerdy book or two tossed in for my cerebral appetite (quantum physics, philosophy, business books, etc). I'll re-read books too. Some of my faves to regularly reacquaint myself with include anything by David Sedaris, Jennifer Lancaster, "Discipline" by Paco Algren, "Count of Monty Cristo" by Alexandre Dumas, "The Talisman" by Stephen King and Peter Straub, "A Wrinkle In Time" by Madeline L'engle and a few others, I am sure. For various reasons, it is nice to go back to these books time and time again. Actually, a pretty cool concept book that I read recently is likely to go on that list as well. This would be, "The Time Traveler's Wife" by Audrey Niffenegger. I was looking for something to read and had no idea what I wanted (my mind tends to go severely blank once I step foot into a bookstore) (Barnes and Noble- you suck out my soul. and my money. But I love you very much, please proceed.), so I had vaguely recalled this title on a book group forum. I didn't pay attention to what it was about or by who, but for some reason, I remembered the title (ok, I remembered it because it had the ever cool "time travel" in its title- how could it not be a good reading pick?). So when I went into my local 'Starbooks' (Barnes and Noble + Starbucks) (Me. I'm funny, yes?) and stood there completely stupid as to which direction I should head in, I recalled this title and typed it into a search. Voila! I scored and decided to buy it on the spot. And you know what? It is a pretty damn awesome story, and one that I would like to read again soon (I hear a movie is coming out based on it too?- leary, but curious).

So there. I could prattle on for pages about reading and the books I enjoy and the glee that it brings to my life, but I will end it here. Actually, it isn't so much to spare you my kind reader, but I am now itching for a book fix. I need to grab my book (finishing a small old Tilly Olsen anthology) (ok, also reading 'Naked' by Sedaris, 'Love' by Toni Morrison and Philip Dicks, 'Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?'- Bladerunner, anybody?!)

Now you know just a teeny tiny more about me. How about I know a little more about you? Leave a comment (let me know you exist!) and I will come check out your blog. Actually, if you dig books too, how about sharing your favorite? I'm really up for reading anything from any point in time, so all of your suggestions will be appreciated.

I have an ever-growing pile of books that I want to read and a list that I write down new titles I learn about. Seriously, some time ago, I got the feeling that I have single handedly raised the stock price at Amazon.com. As for Barnes and Noble? I'm putting those workers and the workers kids through college (you know the saying). So now, PreciseDisarray is signing out. Catch ya later!