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Tag! You’re It! 7 Things to Know about Me as a Reader/Learner

Written on: June 16th, 2008 by: in Learning Journeys

Honoré here:
There are all sort of challenges or games of "tag! you’re it" played
on the Internet – usually on blogs. All involve sharing with others
unknown or obscure facts about the person who is tagged. Recently I ran across
one on Bookmarks magazine that I thought I’d share with you…and also, a
little about me:

1. My
mother was also a librarian and a reader. She would entertain me with stories
of climbing out her 2nd floor bedroom window into a tree where she could read
in peace and quiet, away from her younger sisters.

2. As
a child, I read – horrors – comic books! And I’d get totally involved and lost
in them. Contrary to popular opinion, didn’t harm me one iota. Don’t read
comics much, anymore – not even in the Sunday or daily newspapers.
Occasionally, I’ll happen upon a cartoon that strikes my funny bone – guess I
"comic-booked out" as a kid.

3. As
I’ve related in our Delaware Library Learning Journey programs, I don’t read
much fiction these days – but, that’s changing and I’m looking forward to
rekindling that interest, especially since I’ve recently obtained a Kindle, – Amazon books’ new ebook reader.

4. I
like reading books about process – especially written by writers, artists,
crafts-persons, quilters, etc. I’m not so interested in technique, i.e., how to
do something but moreso, in the author’s learning journey and reflections.

5. I
start my day, nearly everyday, reading. I make a cup of tea, pour a glass of
orange juice and fix a glass of ice water, sit myself in my chair, surrounded
by my books, magazines, reading log, journal, pens [they are in color; I like
to write in color] and now my drawing tools and read, write, reflect…be in
the moment. My day begins about 5:30 – 6:00 am, and if I have a meeting or
appointment, I will adjust my wakeup/start time, accordingly – just so I can
have at least 30-45 minutes of morning time. I find this practice grounds me
for the day.

6.
I’m a ‘vertical’ reader/learner – that is, I read deeply and widely in an area
that interests me until I tire of it or another interest supersedes. Oddly, for
some strange reason, I read a lot of books on time management and organizing –
most say the same thing, once you get down to it but I’m still intrigued enough
by the possibility that maybe there’ll be something new on the scene. I guess
these types of books are my “escape" reading. I’ve been "escaping"
for over twenty years. Am I any more organized or time-managed? Somedays, yes.
Somedays, not!

7.
Even though I start my day reading, and snatch reading time throughout the day,
I do not read at night, in bed. Go figure…

And
these are my seven for the time being…I’m sure there are many, many
more.

What
about you? Willing to share?

Summer means: read even more!

Written on: June 11th, 2008 by: in Learning Journeys

Laura here: Summer has arrived in Florida! For me it means reading even more than usual—at the beach, on our boat, under a tree with a picnic lunch. 😉 What’s your favorite spot?
I’d love to help add to your summer reading list and I wanted to share my favorite reads from last year so I’m using a partial post from another Blog I write for The Virtual Wire, which is all about working virtually with clients:

"I’m reading a book recommended by one of my clients that is fascinating, A Whole New Mind: Why Right-Brainers Will Rule the Future by Daniel Pink. Dan’s book resonated with my client so much she added it to LATI’s Virtual Training curriculum for library associates.
I also plan to tackle an account at one of these sites: Good Reads or Library Thing and get my favorites entered if not my entire library.

Have you had a chance to use an online book sharing program? Do you have a favorite resource for finding great reads? Curious bibliophiles want to know.
Do you belong to a book discussion group? I haven’t been able to attend a meeting for several months due to my travel schedule and miss our insightful talks. There have been several books that I saw in a whole new light after we talked about them. Do you find a book talk helpful in your literary endeavors?

Here are a few of my good reads from 2007, I hope you’ll share yours!

Fiction:

Love Walked In by Marisa de los Santos

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen

The Year of Fog by Michelle Richmond


The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss

Nonfiction:


Leaving Microsoft to Change the World by John Wood


The Four Day Win: End Your Diet War and Achieve Thinner Peace by Martha Beck"

Welcome to Between the Lines

Written on: June 4th, 2008 by: in Learning Journeys

Honoré and Kathy here: Hi and welcome to "Between the Lines". We’re delighted to have a place where we can share all the great books we’re reading…and our various learning journeys or paths.

How many books have you read and/or listed since you got the journal? Take a few minutes and share a couple of your favorites – click on the link: "Share Your FAVORITES!"

Remember how Kathy said she didn’t want to identify her journal? Well, at last count, she’s added the letter K  in at least four different places throughout her book.;) We’re curious to learn how you’re using reading log/journal. Have you personalized it yet?  Click on the link: "How I’m Making the Journal MINE" and share your comments.

We invite you to check out the blog. Join in our conversation. Sign
up to have email alerts automatically sent to you each time we update
the blog . Share the blog and your journal with your friends and family
members, too. Encourage them to become Charter Members; it’s simple: click here for more details: Become a Charter Member.

We’re looking forward to our journey. Thanks for joining in.  Enjoy the ride.

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On Learning “To See”

Written on: June 2nd, 2008 by: in Learning Journeys

Honoré here: I’ve started a new reading log/journal – occasioned by an upcoming trip to a desert island, Aruba – and the book: The Art of Travel with a Sketchbook by Mari Le Glatin Keis. My new log  is dedicated to my learning journey: keeping a sketchbook and drawing. From time to time, I will share this journey with you; here is the first installment:

"I love the idea of words as graphics! Thanks Mari for this quote: "To me there is no difference between journaling and sketching. The French word jour, which means day, is embedded in the word journaling. It implies writing as a daily practice. In defining journaling, there is no mention of color or line. In sketchbooking, you can use everything that comes to your hand: drawing, painting, collage, words. None of these tools has to be more important than the others. Words are just another graphic you can use spontaneously, without judgment." [p.78] "  5/24/08.

"The plan – a sketch a day from the vantage point of where I’m sitting in the morning: inside or outside. At home or away. I want to practice "seeing" and translating that into something made visible to myself and others. In addition to Mari’s book, I shall also revisit a couple others: Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain; Everyday Matters and The Creative License; and Drawing from Life: the Journal as Art." 5/26/08.

To be continued…

The Writing Diet

Written on: May 26th, 2008 by: in Learning Journeys

Laura here: Greetings! I am the Virtual Assistant for Between the Lines and am pleased to share a book that has resonated with me and supported me on my journey.

I have struggled with being over weight since my daughter was born. I can lose weight but I don’t keep it off. When I turned forty I made the decision I was done with dieting forever. I knew what I needed to do: eat healthy and exercise consistently. Simple, right? What I didn’t realize I had to do was reprogram the ingrained habits, beliefs, and thoughts that led to self-sabotage. As long as my self worth was tied to a number on a scale or a clothing size I would never believe I was enough. First I had to be open to changing my thoughts, and next I had to believe I could change my thinking and change my reality.
I devoured spiritual, self-help books on meditation, manifestation, and miracles. Something clicked for me over the years of listening to the enlightened words of so many wise teachers. I reinvented my life. I became a business owner so I could do what I love and love what I do, and create the resources of time, energy, and abundance to pursue my health and wellbeing.

This year one of the support tools I chose has been to join Weight Watchers; "stop dieting and start living" is their tag line. I’ve known several people who have successfully changed their body size with Weight Watchers but I was resistant and believed they taught members to diet. I said I wanted to do it alone, but really wasn’t ready to ask for help and support. The reality of Weight Watchers has been 180 degrees different than what I thought it would be. I’ve benefited from their experience and knowledge of course, but the weekly accountability, support, and inspiration has been phenomenal.

Another tool I’ve found essential to my weight loss journey is a book by Julia Cameron, The Writing Diet: Write Yourself Right-Size. Julia is the author of The Artist’s Way, which taught me Morning Pages; three pages of long hand journaling before you begin your day. Morning Pages are an essential component of the book, along with these tools:
• The Journal ~ recording everything you eat, whenever you feel like eating, and what you’re thinking and feeling
• Walking ~ twenty minutes a day, a creative romp to exercise your mind
• The Four Questions ~ am I hungry/is this what I want to eat/ is this what I want to eat now/is there something that I can eat
• Culinary Artist Dates ~ sacred time each week for self discovery
• HALT ~ a 12-step guideline never get too hungry, too angry, too lonely, or too tired
• The Body Buddy ~ a trusted objective person for daily check-ins and to reinforce positive behavior

Besides Morning Pages the most helpful tool for me so far has been the journal. I write down what I eat, what I’m thinking about eating, how I think I’ll feel if I eat, and what I’d do if I weren’t obsessed with eating. The journal keeps me grounded and in the moment. Forbidden foods for me are like worry; future oriented and tantalizing or in the past and filled with guilt.
Word by word, line by line, page by page I am discovering the creative outlet that being obsessed with food has buried. I feel lighter, less burdened and weighed down. What do the results look like? Here I am—reaching for a pen instead of a fork.

Reading Niches…Mini-Universes

Written on: May 20th, 2008 by: in Learning Journeys

Kathy here ~ As plans for the 3rd Annual Delaware Book Festival gain momentum, I took the weekend to dive into the world of graphic novels and comics. We are beginning to fill a panel for the Festival that explores this big-getting-bigger genre.

What did I find? Writers as famous and well-loved as James Patterson or David McCullough and artists as revered as Picasso. In addition, the names of the inkers and colorists are featured with equal prominence on the cover. Who knew? These individuals are even showing up in popular fiction; the appearance of Brian Michael Bendis (Ultimate Spiderman, New Avengers, Daredevil) at a local comic convention is the plot driver in the YA novel The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl by Barry Lyga.

Think about the "niches where you read." Who are the stars? If I wanted to dip my toes in, where should I start? Who should I read first?

Rainy day options

Written on: May 12th, 2008 by: in Learning Journeys

Honore here:
It’s Monday and it’s raining! Perfect
conditions for spending the day curled up with a great book and a cup o’ tea!
And to spend an hour or so quilting.

Awaiting me: on my reading table and at the
foot of my chair are all sorts of books in various stages of read, unread,
being read. Some have been there for awhile; several are new. In my studio is a
project I began last week.

I am not an in-bed reader: I much prefer my
chair and my view of the landscape: trees in the backyard and the neighborhood;
besides, the chair is closer to the hot water-source for tea!

Over the weekend, I took a quilting class on
accidental landscapes, a very freeing and free-form way of
creating a quilted landscape picture. Of course I bought the instructor’s book …and
several patterns so that I can make "accidental landscape" pictures
of beaches, mountains, lakes, canyons and mesas, cityscapes etc. I notice that
since the class and reading the book, every scene or picture I see translates
into a landscape and my brain is pondering: is this a potential scene for a
quilt? And I am eager to get back to my landscape…

Big
question: Read or Quilt?

Alas, it is Monday and rain or not, I
have work to attend to and so, I’ll just have to wait for another rainy Monday
and hope that I can just curl up with a good book and a cup o’ tea… and steal
some time to quilt.

Your turn: Please share your favorite spot to read, time of day, and cuppa or snack that accompanies you. How do you choose between a good book and a craft or other hobby? Between the Lines wants to know!

Taste them again – for the first time

Written on: May 5th, 2008 by: in Learning Journeys

Honoré here:
Learning paths are filled with discovery and fun! Especially the one—quilting—I’m
on currently. Among my discoveries: magazines. There are many in the library
and on the newsstands, chock full of ideas, photos, directions, and inspiration
to make quilted items, ranging from pin-cushions to wearable pieces to beautiful quilts for the
bed or to display on the wall or drape across a couch. But, I’m not blogging
about quilting magazines—rather, magazines and the potential they hold, I’m
rediscovering, for furthering my own learning journey. Magazines are portable,
colorful and inside are wonderful nuggets of: information, ideas, inspiration,
book reviews, activities, classes, retreats, places to visit, challenges,
personalities, news, and even ways (advertisements) to spend your money. And
best of all—magazines appear in your mailbox on a fairly set basis.

You can get ideas and recommendations for magazines (on any subject) from the
library by browsing through the magazine collection and also, by asking library
staff to consult resources that review, annotate and evaluate periodicals – the
official term for magazines. Recommendations from others and browsing the
section of a large bookstore are also great ways to [re]discover magazines.

I
plan to save up my June stash of magazines to take with me on vacation; they’ll
make great beach reading. I encourage you to look at magazines, too, with a
different attitude or, as the old Kellogg corn-flakes’ commercial advised:
"Taste them again – for the first time."

Cheers~

Goodreads

Written on: April 28th, 2008 by: in Learning Journeys

Kathy here: The
message below arrived in my email box last Wednesday. This sure doesn’t help
the "books are going to become obsolete" theory, does it? Check out Goodreads
for recommendations ~ and the reviews are a great way for readers to connect
with readers ~ especially those on the same paths.

One million people on
Goodreads!

You’re no longer alone. Goodreads hit the million member mark this
month, with members in more than 200 countries!
Over 10,000,000 books added!

The art of books

Written on: April 21st, 2008 by: in Learning Journeys

Kathy here: We are certain that your great love of
reading extends into a great love of books as well. Over and over, we hear
near-poetic descriptions of this ultimate technology in our programs, workshops
and, of course, while waiting in line at the library and book store.

At my
Barnes & Noble last Sunday, I pulled a copy of Fine Books and
Collections magazine, stirred half-and-half into my tea (much better than
milk, Mary Poppins) and plopped down for a read. Linked above is an article
from that issue about the top 50 book auction sales for 2007. A 1297 manuscript copy of the Magna Carta
fetched the largest sum at $21.3 million. Number 2? A hand-written copy of  The Tale of Beeble the Bard by J.K.
Rowling of Harry Potter fame. What are your thoughts about this? Is this a
statement about reading across history or about popular culture in the 21st
century?

And,
by the way, I have now subscribed to the magazine…it seems a new
reading/learning road is opening up to me. Is it book arts or the art of books? We’ll see where it heads.