It's Not Just Roots and Berries

Expand my horizons, eat healthier, get physically active. These three areas have been part of my mantra for my personal growth for a while. I'm a fickle kind of person though. I jump on a bandwagon for a really short amount of time, learning about something, diving in for weeks, perhaps months, but eventually slip back in my old ways and habits. However, little bits and bobs of knowledge or curtailed behaviors stay behind. I guess I am like most people trying out things that sound like they make sense, seeing how they fit in my life and rejecting, or ignoring what doesn't. Last night I tried expanding my horizon and attended a lecture at a co-op in a transitional neighborhood in Minneapolis. I've learned over the last few decades that transitional means the neighborhood used to be really sketchy and now is just sort of sketchy, but becoming more an more populated by hipster people and hipster shops and restaurants. This particular coop is a smaller sister of a larger grocery store style one a few blocks over, but features a cafe and deli with sit down tables, plus a large community room that hosts lectures like the one I attended and of course, yoga classes. 

The lecture was given by Jordan Ruben, author of Patient Heal Thyself and his newest book, which we received a copy of, Planet Heal Thyself. In Patient, Mr. Rubin wrote about how he was able to transform his sickly 19 year old body that was plagued by  a host of illness and digestive disorders by overhauling everything he ate and put in his body. With Planet, he wants to go further and implore all of us to do the same, while also taking steps that will regenerate the planet. The first book is the one that got my friend V going going grain and sugar free and she insists she is a new person inside and out from her changes. Planet, at least from the lecture I take it, will go deeper into how to be part of a revolution that moves food growers, distributors and sellers into providing more readily accessible and affordable foods free from  additives, herbicides, and other toxins that are killing our body and our worlds soil. This, Rubin says, is done through changes each of us make in what we choose to buy and consume-change though our dollars. 

He was a slick speaker, obviously on the lecture circuit for decades honing his presentations. Much of what he said has become basic knowledge. Eat real food as close to the natural state as possible. Eat artisanally-meaning how our ancestors ate, without added chemicals and preservatives. He talked about the GMO debate, and super foods, and the miraculous properties in plants as the main source of vitamins and minerals as opposed to popping tablets. Most made sense, and I was feeling a stirring of wanting to tear apart my kitchen pantry and start over again. 

Then the lecture turned from a presentation on his book and sharing of what he has learned into an infomercial for his new line of health products Get Real Nutrition. It was a 180 degree shift. In all honesty, I lost retention of 50% of what he said as he moved from all the points about saving ourselves and the world to touting these powder to mix into your smoothies and hummus. I guess I should have expected it. He was doing a free lecture, and the book was part of the evening. There had to be a marketing catch, and sure enough there was. We all received the book, a cloth bag, a magazine from his company, and three coupons for $4,00 off each box of Get Real  we wanted to purchase. I didn't buy any as I feel like I need to read more to understand what the heck he is peddling, and why, if I followed the 10 points he was trying to convey in his speech, would I need his super food powders? He lost a bit of street cred there with me.

Still, I think it is important to learn new things, challenge our status quo, even if we decide reverting back to said quo is best. I certainly agree with increasing the vegetarian meals in our diet and staying away from additives and chemical preservatives is a good thing. I was excited to hear and want to know more, about the power, not just in flavor of herbs and spices, but in their support of healthy immune and digestive system. On the other hand, removing the 8 allergens he sites, such as tree nuts, dairy, and eggs is not a change I want to take on right now. Who else has attended a lecture on a topic that is trending that you've been curious to know more about? Have a great weekend. I may be off to forage roots and berries.

As part of the free lecture, everyone got a copy of the book.
This was not an endorsement for any book or product, but
 merely my opinions and experience. 

Books, A Cheap Vacation

Wednesday we had an all out thunder and lightning storm, followed by high winds on Thursday, and the deep darkness of fall has truly set in. The winds took any last leave hold out.  Late fall is the perfect time to peruse my books shelves for books I might want to reread or the ones, and there are many, I never got around to.  It is a great time to put holds on library books that always seem to be checked out when I want them. It is time to pass books between friends, family, and coworkers.  While Wednesday was a thunderstorm, the next one we get with the dropping temperatures is sure to include snow and ice. Now is my time to make sure my coffee, tea, and hot chocolate provisions are topped off. I love shut in days because with a good fiction book, I feel like I am on an instant vacation. 

Guest Post:J.K. Rowling Should Do a Harry Potter Spin Off

Today's post is guest inspired by DD#2, who I will call by name for a proper by line.  Meg is a reading junkie, and loves to read series books, and will not finish one book in a series unless she has the next in her possession, ready to read.  She has been rereading the Harry Potter series and has this plea. I say inspired, because she actually didn't sit and write this, more of a rant while I attempt to grab her words.  She has looked over my shoulder once or twice to make sure I didn't change her intent. 

While we waited in the car waiting to hear if my soccer game was going to be called for rain, I said we should go home for a while until the storm stopped.  Then I said, "Oh, cr..., I forgot a book." I figured I could grab one if we went home. I usually have a book with me but didn't tonight.  She said "no.". Then she asked me to come up with a blog topic.  I told her she should write about how J.K. Rowling should write a spin off series for Harry Potter because Harry Potter was amazing and there needs to be more books to tell more about the wizard world.  Just like my mom, she said, "no."  Madre, as I call her, asked me then to be her guest blogger.  

So If I wrote a spin off, I would start a new series about Harry's children.  It could also be about Luna and Neville, because she never said what really happened to them, other than Neville became a Hogwarts teacher. I really liked them both, and think there wasn't enough of either of them in the books. I never want a series to end when it is this good.  There are some series, books, movies, or T.V. shows that the writer drags out and after a while there is no plot any more. This was the show Heroes.  It originally was awesome, but then it got to where there was no plot, and creepy circus people with no explanation of why they were there.  It was painful to watch by the 4th season. Really, let it go away when it is still good before it get's awful.

But Harry Potter never did.  Yes, the stuff with Valdemort was done, but a spin off could be a whole new set of themes and characters, but built off the original premise. I might want to write a book some day. I have a few good ideas for books.  For now, I'd settle for just one more Harry Potter book to come out.  Or, my mom could buy us a couple tickets and we could go to London and see the new Harry Potter play. 

Thanks, blog people.  See Ya.  

Meg

To Be a Published Author, You actually Have to Write Something

I have stories in my head.  Some are mysteries with mayhem and murder, and secrets and lies behind every corner. A few have drama and emotional suspense. Some are silly and funny, at least in my head, and if any of them just get down on paper, I know others would like to read them.  My recent, though it is past two months now, job change has given me back hours of time for family, friends, and the opportunity for personal pursuits. A long held dream, as probably shared by many others, is to write a book and actually have it published and available for readership. In my head I have entire plots and sub plots swirling, a couple from beginning to end.  Not a single word is down on paper. I'm not pretending I have mad writing skills, but who has read the mildly entertaining book, or a series of books, and then thought, "hm, I could tell my story just as well."

Maybe I could, or maybe I couldn't but unless I actually try, I'll never know. So today, May 3, 2015, I am putting a personal challenge down here in this blog. I am committing to getting at least one complete story, never mind if it is long enough for a complete book, out of my head and onto a screen by September 3 of this same year.  At that time, DD#1 has offered to give it a good first edit and review, but only if I am then willing to go the next step and extend, rewrite, and polish, and then submit for publication. That timeline is December 1.  I will keep you all posted on my efforts, in my attempt to keep myself honest. Who else out there has put their long held dream into action, after stalling for so long?  What words of advise do you give me?

In that vein of wanting to encourage others in their creative pursuits, I'm highlighting a couple blogs to wrap up the weekend.  First, keeping us all inspired by giving us an update to her retirement and savings goals, Slugmama has shared her net worth as of May. Scroll around some back posts and see how she does the savings magic. Jane has posted some cute photo's of her kitten at Crab apple Landing.  Horrible cat allergies keeps this feline lover from being able to share my home with one, so her pictures were a welcome treat. To round out my links, Lorraine at  CLAMCO knows a thing or ten about maximizing yard saling.  I hope your week gets off to a great start.

Personal Space

My post yesterday must have hit on a subconscious nerve for DD#2,   I came home last night while she was at basketball to see her closet laid out on her bed and stacks of books in he hallway.  Now I doubt she plans to purge any books, as we will be getting her a couple book cases for when her new room (delayed and dealyed) is complete.  It looks like she will be starting a good sort on the clothes. 

Books have always been a big part of my life and I have passed that down to my kids.  Growing up in a very large family, having many things of our very own were rare.  Thanks to the Scholastic book orders through the schools (not a plug for them specifically), I could save my pocket change and get a book or two every couple months; books that didn't have a due date and that I could underline passages if I chose, This is where I bought my first copy of Charlottes Web in elementary school and The Outsiders in Junior High, both books that I owned for decades until they were tattered and the pages falling out. I had a bedroom that was in the half basement level of our house, and the walls made a built in shelf.  I lined my books up on that shelf, above my head board.  I'd make a little cocoon of pillows and blankets and on cold snowy shut in days in the winter would curl up in my personal space for hours with my books. I have a similar wall/shelf thing in my house, and DD#1 had her bedroom downstairs.  She used the shelf for her collection of both books and movies, enveloping her bed on two sides.

As I posted yesterday, this is part of the reason I don't have the immaculately organized homes, free of clutter and stuff, that so many strive for.  If we were to purge our books after reading the favorites, it would feel like giving a part of home away; saying goodbye to friends and family.  Books make our house our home, and our little nooks within our home personal. The fact that I have hallway spillage yet this morning may be annoying, but not worrying. I figure by the time she graduates and goes off to college, she will have two Ikea books shelves, floor to ceiling with books. Eventually these will need to go with her when we downsize or she up sizes on her own.  We're still waiting for the first two to do that, but in the meantime, I'll let her keep her stacks of books in an organized to her chaos, creating her own space. 

Attachment to Books

I love reading and doing so for fun has taken a back burner for far to long.  My last book was read via my Nook on my way home from a business trip to Oklahoma back in October. I found I was hungry to dive into the story and had completed the book before the plane touched down in Minneapolis. I admit I enjoy a bit of mind candy books with no real historical or intellectual value, but with normal characters living normal lives, but involved in  situation or an event that is out of their norm.  I love series books that allow you to really get to know the characters and learn more about them as additional layers  come off, revealing more about their personalities.

My all time favorite author is Elizabeth Ogilvie, who passed away about 6 years ago.  She has a whole series of books, the Bennett Island Series, that actually starts in the late 1920's in a small Maine island community, and travels over the decades to the early 1970's.  Historical events are the back ground, but not the focus of the stories.  I can't even get the books in the library anymore-all are out of print, but through the magic of on-line used book stores, I have the whole set.  I'm thinking of getting additional copies just in case something happens to the old.  She has many other books usually with the Maine coast as the setting.  Reading some of them again and again bring me joy-almost like meeting up with old friends for coffee or a glass of wine. I've found that others share my love for her writing, and there was actually a book, and former web site devoted to her writings, A Mug Up with Elizabeth. Of course I have that book as well. The book, The Season's Hereafter, was my first introduction to Ms. Ogilvie when I was 16, and found Vanessa a troubled soul, but with an air of dignity, that made me know I needed to control my own destiny. I've reread her story over the years as a young wife and mother, at age 30, Vanessa's age in the book, and would like to now that I am practically old enough to be her mother, and know life will turn corners on a regular basis. We get to meet Vanessa in three future books in small doses, one of which provides some closure on Vanessa's story.

I am open to more suggestions, and gladly take book recommendation from others, but rarely borrow books because of the long gaps I have in finding time to read.  I love that my children have that same enjoyment.  DD#2 has been on a reading marathon since Christmas.  She never finishes a book in a series unless she physically has the next volume in house to read. She once shared that she likes reading more than television or movies because it is like the whole thing takes place in her mind and she can picture the story how she wants. She is a major critic of movies based on books if she doesn't feel the picture got it right. In the  months between DD#1 undergrad and starting her masters, she plowed through book after book for fun. With all my son's moves, books were the constants for packing and unpacking, rather than purging.

It's not a resolution, but I hope 2015 is the year of more casual reading.  I also would like to branch out and do a little biographical reading as well.  What is on you book shelf, real or virtual?  Do you have any beloved authors or characters that you visit again and again? Your suggestions may need to wait.  I think I'm going to enjoy a mug up and explore my book shelf for an old friend.

Discovering a Great Bookstore

We have a short window between the end of fall soccer and the start of travelling basketball, so Saturdays and Sundays are precious during that time.  I was needing some good quality time with my DD#2 a few weeks back.  DD#1 was still home then, packing and working and getting ready for her (now maybe) move out west, and with limited time for us at home.  We decided to make a city day of it.  There is nothing my younger daughter likes more than books, and put her in a book store is like putting other kids in a candy store.  She walks into one, and there is just a beam of light coming from her face.  She has that same reaction in libraries, and loves to check out new ones whenever possible. She  also picked up my habit of rereading favorite books over and over, so she likes to own the ones that are her favorites.  Not very thrifty, but she could care less about new clothes, hanging out in malls, or other things kids her age spend money on, so at this stage, not too worried about the occasional $10-$20 she spends on books from earned babysitting or gift money.  She is never without a book-you never know when there might be some quiet time. 

This particular early November Saturday I wanted to take her to something more unique than a Barnes and Noble.  In St Paul there is an awesome books tore called "subtext".  Subtext is located in the basement, under an iconic coffee house called "Nina's", pronounced like 9a's, not nee-na's. This is important because that was my grandmothers name, pronounced that way.  I never knew that grandma, so it feels like a connection that I never had.  Weird? I am fond of this coffee house as a place to end my work day when it logistically just doesn't make sense to battle traffic to head back to the office, but I'd miss too much  time being able to respond to e-mails if I headed home since I have a pretty long commute. 

Subtext did not disappoint.  When we first went downstairs, her first impression was it was pretty cool, but not a lot of books of her genre.  There were additional tables and soft reading areas with  side tables, as the book store is an extension of Nina's.  There seemed to be a couple book studies going on, as well as several browsers.  DD#1 looked around, and was about to suggest we go, when I directed her to the "Addendum", the alcove off the main book store, set up brilliantly for teens and children.

DD#1 browses at the Sci-fi fantasy, next to a John Green display.

She plunked herself down and started looking at titles and reading first pages trying to make decisions.  This was not  process to rush.  Down the hall, behind a stone wall was the collection of books on home improvement, decorating, and cooking.  Don't you love how they use the imperfections in the stone walls as book displays? I found a couple decorating and some vegetarian cookbooks, grabbed one of the red chairs, and did some browsing on my own.  I was not going to buy though, as I am still on my buy one thing, throw two, and wasn't in the mindset to declutter when I came home.  That rule has been serving me well.  While the house isn't that much tidier, we at least are slowly getting unused and unneeded stuff out of the house, plus, I think we are getting a little boost in the checkbook.  It is crucial because there have been so many other  costs and budget dings that weren't part of the budget.

After she settled on a book, we paid for it, and headed back upstairs.  There we had a sandwich and coffee/cocoa, and chatted about the book she selected, and other titles by the author.  Nina's was bustling with families, college students, and  small groups of people catching up with each other. Missing from my work day stops were the multitude of laptops and tablets, though still a few.  It was Saturday, so people were looking to recharge with human connections. There was going to be a poetry slam at 2:00, and we debated sticking around. We walked around the neighborhood a little bit, but decided not to stay for the poetry reading.  Maybe another time, and with her inviting a friend along to enjoy it with. We did take our time getting home, making a couple other stops on route.  We were home in the late afternoon, still time to get a few home tasks done-neglected from the week, and prepare a nice dinner for the three of us before the hubby got home from work.  It was a next to perfect Saturday.  What about you?  What ways would you suggest for spending an elusive free calendar day?  Where are your favorite stomping grounds?

                                      Closer view of the Addendum-great light from the street above.                                        That's DD with three titles already in hand and looking at more.