Summer Reading

As I’ve mention before, I’m not great at reading. I mean, I am a good reader; I’m just not a very frequent or dedicated reader. But I do love it. I always look forward to my beach vacation to crank out a few books. Unfortunately though, this year since I started a new job in February, I have no vacation time. So I was at the beach for 2 days. However, I did finish at least 1 book, and thought I’d mention it.

I just finished How Starbucks Saved My Life, by Michael Gates Gill. This had been given to me as a gift for my 28^th birthday (I’m 2 months from 30 now), and had been on my reading pile ever since. It’s not that I wasn’t interested; I’m just slow at chipping through my pile. So, I finally got around to it and I really enjoyed it. Brief synopsis: It’s a memoir about a man who in his 50s is laid off from his high power advertising job, and drifts through the next 10 years, when a chance encounter at a Starbucks store lands him a job.

It’s definitely a book that talks a lot about the corporation of Starbucks and how they run, which I really enjoyed, and a good story about learning to work with all kinds of people. I finished it wanting to A. learn more about MGG and his coworkers, B. wanting to move to NYC, and C. work at Starbucks myself (I’ve twice applied for and been hired there for part time jobs, and then it just didn’t work out. I still think that I would LOVE being a Starbucks employee). Anyway, I recommend this if you like coffee, business, or stories of men finding redemption in their lives when they’re in their 60s.

I’ve actually been doing a lot more reading of late now that I take a lunch break, and have read several good books in the last few months. I’m getting to the point that if I have any downtime, I either have a book in my purse, or I’m sad if I don’t have a book in my purse. J If I ever get my life organized, I’ll tell you about them too.

Next on the pile is a new (2009 I think) Nick Hornby book that I’ve heard nothing about, but I bought it at a rummage sale for $.50 and Nick Hornby hasn’t let me down yet…. I’ll keep you posted.

Obligations

I haven't written here in quite awhile. Just haven't felt inspired I guess. It's not that writing a few thoughts down is that hard- but it is hard to come up with what to write about- especially when I find that a lot of my blogging friends are posting photos of their babies. And I don't have babies.

But today I have been thinking about obligations. Not those put on by someone else, but the kind of obligations that we create for ourselves. It's ridiculous. I think some of it is the bit of obsessive compulsiveness that I have- I create obligations for myself that are truly unnecessary. Like what? you might ask. Well, I seem to have created this personality where I can't do something part way (well, that's not true- I can totally dust part way. and I really only exercise part way). But things that I'm supposed to be enjoying.

For example- yesterday I spent some time watching a tv show on dvd that I borrowed from a friend. You see- I started watching this year during the fourth season- and I can't stand that there are all those episodes out there that I haven't seen. So I'm watching them. And while I am enjoying them, it's taking a lot of time- and I feel like now that I've started I HAVE to finish.

I feel that way with other tv shows too. Even if a series dwindles to the point that I'm not really enjoying it- I can't quit. I have to see it through to the end. And I have a hard time watching anything on tv when I'm not caught up on my dvr. DVR is NOT supposed to be an obligation- but I seem to have turned it in to one.

All this occurred to me this afternoon as I was trying to decide what to do. I got home from church at 10:30, and spent the next few hours putting my Christmas decorations away (which creates what I consider to be one of the most depressing days of the year). When I finished it was late afternoon, I was tired, my laundry was done, and my dvr was empty (except of course, for the things I'm saving- like Neil Diamond or the Sing Off). So, I thought I'd get to work on my magazines.

I currently subscribe to 2 magazines. I used to get three, but finally cut one out. I can NEVER stay caught up on them. Right now I have Oct-Jan of 2 magazines (which = 8) sitting here in a stack waiting for me to read them. And I CANNOT get rid of them without reading them. Too wasteful. So, I have again turned what is supposed to be a fun leisurely activity into what almost seems to be a chore- finishing these things. (Ideally before the February ones arrive next week).

Does anyone else have this problem? Are there things that you intend to be recreational but turn in to what feel like obligations? Or is it just me?? Just wondering.... back to my reading!

Donald Miller hunt!

I'm not sure who of my friends follow Donald Miller's blog... I've been enjoying it a lot lately. He has a new book coming out (which is quite over due- it was supposed to be released 2 years ago, was pulled back, and is now out). He's really be promoting it and has said that he's never promoted a book like this because he's never really believed in a book he has written as much as this one. Well, if you go to the blog you can read about a little contest he was doing.

For the last few weeks, he's been posting a location of a manuscript of the book, signed by him, and with his phone number so you can read it and give him feedback. On Wednesday of this week was the final posting- and there was a copy at Hearts and Minds in Dallastown. I went for it- and I won!! First of all- I never win anything... and this is a handsigned copy of a manuscript of DM's new book!! I am so excited!!! I got there (my friend Billy got there first, but he was only there to mark my place b/c he new he was closer, as i called him while i was headed there). I got there second- so really first b/c he wasn't really participating... and I got the book! A handful of people came after us, and I was pumped. Here I am with Byron Borger- the owner of the store. (ps- go to his site for a great review of this book)

This was a thrilling day and I was super pumped about it. I'm going to start reading it today!!! (I know- it's been 48 hours, but I have had NO spare time). My thoughts on the book forthcoming.

And if you aren't familiar with Donald Miller's work- I recommend you check him out. He's a great writer!

Beach Reads

Last week I went to the beach with my family. An annual trip, always an adventure- this year in a new location. We were still in Rehoboth, just a new house- it was weird after being in the last house for 15 years!!! This year there was 13 of us at the fullest 2 days- which is a low number for our gang!! It wasn't the best year of weather- but I got a lot of reading in. Guess I'm not so bad at reading after all...
Book #1: Baby Proof by Emily Giffin. This is the first book of hers that I've read- i'm looking forward to her others. It was a quick read, highly entertaining- classic "chic lit." A good way to start. Gotta build that reading momentum.

Book #2: (my fav of the trip) My Life in France by Julia Child. I had read Julie and Julia by Julie Powell when it first came out a few years ago and have since been quite interested in Julia Child. I picked this up in January and finally got around to reading it. It was great!! I recommend it to anyone who likes cooking, France, French Food, international travel, memoirs, history (stories about the 50s-70s), and strong fascinating women. she didn't start cooking til she was 37!!! I was already super excited for Julie and Julia (the movie) and now I can't wait!! It comes out next week!!

Book #3: The Last Lecture. I had seen the documentary on Randy Pausch back in the fall and my mom had loaned me the book. It was a quick read- and covered a lot of what I had seen on the doc., but it was good. Touching. He was a Carnegie-Mellon prof diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, and this is the premise of his "last lecture" at CMU (which is a series they have- not just b/c he was ill) and the advice that he's leaving his students, his children, the masses. I recommend.

Book #4: This one I am only about 60 pages into..... but it's Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver. A memoir (my fav. genre right now) about Kingsolver and her family who leave dry AZ behind to move to rural VA to plant and harvest and live a year on local foods. Foods that they know where they come from. Living in season. It's something I try to do (though at a much less noble scale) and I am enjoying it so far. Though Barbara does not crack me up the way that Julia does....

I'm leaving Thursday for my next vaca- flying to CA (SF area) to visit my Air Force cousin and her husband before they depart for Guam. I already packed my book in my carryon! Photos to come (I took NONE at the beach)

Things I'm not good at #1: Reading

So, in an effort to not make resolutions, but to constantly be improving upon myself, I think I might start compiling a list of things that I'm not good at (but that I want to improve) (and I know ending that phrase with "at" is improper, but it fits my motif). So, tonight i'm thinking specifically how I'm not good at reading, having just returned from a spontaneous trip to Borders. Some friends were going and I tagged along, hoping to pick up some new cds, but they didn't have any of the ones that I am looking for (as no stores in York county do), and so I was drawn to the sale table. It was buy 1 get 1 half off, and so I was suckered into 4. Two are new that i have wanted to read, and two are books that I have read, and that I loved, but thought if I bought them for myself I could gain some reading momentum anytime I wanted (the theory behind "reading momentum" is that you read a few easy-to-read, fun-filled books, and then once you're in the habit of reading easily and quickly- you can tackle some more challenging (ie: non-fiction) and get through those). I think it's a marvelous theory, and one that I desperately need.

As any blog reader of mine might notice, I like to watch TV. And I try to watch it selectively and with judgment, but I still watch more than I should. I never read. I have a hard enough time keeping up with my magazines, let alone books. I currently have a stack of books on my bed side table of 8 books. 3 are borrowed, 2 were gifts, and 3 I bought and just can't get through. 3 I have started and have book marks in them somewhere in the front half. It's pathetic. I want to be a well read person, but it's just so hard for me.

There are a lot of changes that I'd like to make in my life in 2009 (most I wanted to make in 2008, but we're just going to have to adjust), and reading more is one of them. So, tonight, in an effort to do that... I'm not going to turn on my tv, I will turn on my reading lamp, and see if I can get through a few more pages of the 8 on my stack. Make that 12, because I just bought 4...

We'll see how this goes.