The Power of a Book (and Girl Scouts)

 

Yesterday I finished the book Troop 6000, The Girls Scout Troop that Began in a Shelter and Inspired the World. I borrowed this book from the library via OverDrive, because I enjoyed Girl Scouts as a kid, and continued to be interested in the organization. 

This book turned out to be about homelessness too, and that was a strong and stirring message. Families in this book (like thousands of other homeless people) really struggled, despite working hard and asking their families and friends for support. I thought this book was going to be a lighthearted book about Girl Scouting, but it turned out to be a lot more (and eye-opening) for me.

I've done some research on homelessness in my area, and there are some ways to donate and volunteer. Meanwhile, I've bought/donated cookies from Troop 6000.

All the Books

I've been on a mission lately to whittle down some of the many Kindle books I've purchased, that are just hanging out on my Kindle and Kindle app. SO many books! Some were on sale. Some were recommendations or passing interests. But they're there, almost begging to be read, and I'm growing hesitant to buy MORE books before I finish some of the Kindle books I already own.

For quite a while, having so many Kindle books "on hand" didn't bother me. They were a comfort, in fact, much like having a bookcase full of interesting books to choose from without gathering dust or (in theory) running out of room. Last year was so challenging personally, since both of my parents passed away. I never knew what I'd be in the mood to read, so it was nice to have a wide variety on hand.

Now, though, I'm ready to add some newer books to my Kindle arsenal, but not without dusting off some older purchases and taking them out for a spin. It's taking some effort sometimes, almost like reading for a class assignment or something. It's all good, though, because I'm making progress, and keeping track on Goodreads.

Want to follow my progress on Goodreads? Click here.

What Are You Reading This Weekend?

On Twitter, Goodreads (the social media website for book readers) likes to ask "What are you reading this weekend?" on Fridays. I always chuckle when I see that question, because I often have several books going at one time. I know some people just have one or two books going at a time, while others (like me) juggle multiple books, based on interest and mood.

Which type of reader are you? Do you keep several books in the mix, or do you stick to one or two at a time?  And what are YOU reading this weekend? (One of the books I'm reading is Pretty Girls by Karin Slaughter.)

Have a good weekend!

Writing a Family History

I've been involved in genealogy research since the early 1990s. Lately I've been thinking about picking one of my lines to concentrate on putting together a book. So, I decided to pick one line from my dad's side (Burdine) and one line from my mom's side (McCauley) to focus on. I've discovered that, especially with my AncestryDNA and 23andMe test results in, it's easy to get distracted with other family lines, but it's all good, really.Sometimes it's good to "go with the flow," especially when it includes getting in contact with a "new" cousin!

Just the Book for Me

A couple of days ago, I decided to see what titles the library I work for has about podcasting, and I was thrilled to see that Podcasting for Dummies was held by the library--and available! I started reading it yesterday, and I think it'll provide a decent introduction to podcasting and give me a good idea about 1) whether or not I really want to do it, and 2) if so, what it takes.

At the 30Threads Blogger Bash I dropped in on a couple days ago, someone I met there mentioned that someone at her work had suggested borrowing library books instead of buying them as a way to be green. I smiled when I heard that, because I'd picked this book up during a visit to Barnes and Noble over the weekend, but put it down and decided to wait. At the time, it hadn't even dawned on me to check with "my" library to see if if was there. Yay!

Goals for the Week

I've decided to start something new, having goals for each week and posting them here. I'll also post my progress (or lack thereof), either along the way or at the end of the week.

My goals for this week:

1) Lose 2 lbs. (I'll start with my weigh-in this morning, and no, I'm not sharing!)

2) Get in bed by 11:00 each night through Friday. (I'm tired of complaining about being tired!)

3) Enter at least 5 new names into my genealogy database. (I have so much info to enter, and I want to get back into it.)

4) Finish at least one book. (I have so many books checked out of the library that my shelves are overflowing. I've started several of them and am ready for some closure.)

5) Run at least 21 miles this week. (Last week I dipped under 20 miles for the week, and want to catch back up.)

10 on Tuesday-10 Simple Things That Make You Happy

Here's another meme from the weekly "10 on Tueday" email I receive, and it's a nice one to think about on a rainy Tuesday!

Here's a list of 10 simple things that make me happy. They're the first things that crossed my mind. Now that my brain is cranking, I keep thinking of more (not a bad thing)! These are in no particular order (although hugs and kisses from George remain high on the list on any given day, not just on Tuesdays!):

Hugs and kisses from George
Rainbows
A good book
A fire in the fireplace
Hot chocolate with marshmallows
A handwritten letter in the mailbox
A good run outdoors
Running a personal best time at a road race
Being in the mountains
The smell of cinnamon-apple cider simmering on the stove


Okay, so what makes your list of 10 simple things that make you happy?

By My Bed....

Although I don't NEED another running book at home, I decided I really wanted to check this book, The Nonrunner's Marathon Guide for Women: Get Off Your Butt and On With Your Training, out for a little extra motivation. I'm about 30 pages into it, and while I generally like the author's writing style so far, I must say that the title doesn't really jive with that mindset I'm working on. I AM a runner, even if I'm not a very fast one. I LIKE running, always have (though I was away from it for a number of years).

Should I call myself a runner or a jogger? Does the term depend on how fast you run? Whether or not you've run in a race? What do you think?

By My Bed....

Right now I'm reading the book The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals, by Michael Pollan. I'm only about 100 pages into it, but I'm fascinated so far by the economics of corn and agribusiness. (Strange but true!) So far, I'd recommend it. I have to finish it soon, as someone has a hold on it after me, so my lending period is only two weeks!

What I'm Reading

At the moment, I'm enjoying the book, Courting Trouble, by Lisa Scottoline. It's a legal mystery, and is a pretty fast read, nice for almost-summer, especially with the stress in other areas of my life. It's a nice escape. I'll probably finish it this week and return it to the light reading paperback shelves here at the library. Time to start weeding through my own bookshelves at home and see what I need to return to the library, or pass along to others, or save. I love books, and in time I'd love to have a room dedicated to books in my home.

What's By My Bed

I picked up The Devil in the White City (by Erik Larson) recently at Barnes and Noble as a reward to myself gor hitting a particular weight loss goal, and though I'm not very far into it, it's an intriguing read, one of the best books I've picked up in a while. It's about the creation of the 1893 World's Fair in Chicago and the architects who planned and built it, and a serial killer who's working his destruction in Chicago at the same time. It's all quite interesting, and it makes me want to go back to Chicago for a visit!