Word of the moment

pa·thos (pths, -thôs)
n.
1. A quality, as of an experience or a work of art, that arouses feelings of pity, sympathy, tenderness, or sorrow.
2. The feeling, as of sympathy or pity, so aroused.

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[Greek, suffering; see kwent(h)- in Indo-European roots.]
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I am currently reading Glimmer Train Fall 2001 Issue 40 and am finding it rather interesting. When I started reading it I thought I would zip right through it and send it away - because I just can't get rid of a book without reading it first or at least attempting. Many books have gone flying across the room in this fashion but I try my hardest to not damage the books in case some poor soul out there might like that type of writing. However, I know there are a lot of books out there that just aren't my thing so I put a bookcrossing label on it and try to read enough to get some thoughts to make note of on the website. I haven't really read much in the way of short stories so I didn't expect to like this book but no one ever told me about the power a short story can hold. Wow. I am astonished! So many times after reading a line I would think, Wow, what a great thought or What an amazing image! I need to read more by this author! I have a sheet of paper where I started to write down each authors name to look up later but I soon realized that I was listing every one of them. They were nice enough to include a bookmark with that info so that sheet of paper instead ended up torn into many small strips which mark the pages I intend to return to. Some of them include a word I wanted to look up and the word above is one of them. This word was found in an interview of Vikram Chamdra that at first I tried to gloss over....but of course I got trapped in this as well. I think I need to find out more about this Glimmer Train and it's future destinations.

Of course I must say that I don't just bookcross the books I don't like. This book will be a traveling book so that others may find it too and become addicted to Glimmer Train as I did.

Soldiers' angel

I have been assigned to another angel named Casey. I am very excited because she seems to be really interesting. She's in a medical unit and it just seems appropriate for me since I've decided to finally go to school to be a nurse. She likes to read too and what could be better right? My kids can't wait to send her a package.

And I know that I'm the angel to be taking care of her but I'm going to call her MY angel. She's out there doing the work...... So please pray for my angel KC to come home safe and sound!

Quote of the day

Night time is really the best time to work. All the ideas are there to be yours because everyone else is asleep.
— Catherine O'Hara

That is so true. I am my most creative in the evening after everyone is sleeping. I think your mind is just too busy juggling all the things you have to do during the day that by the time you get to sit down and enjoy some quiet rest your mind comes alive with idea's you just couldn't hear through all noise before. I have started planning my quiet time. If everyone isn't asleep I take a book to my bathtub and escape for a while. Ahhhhhh, just thinking about that makes me relax a bit.

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants

I just finished this book and I'm going to pass it on to a friend. This is going to be my next traveling book (fitting since it's about traveling pants huh?) I wish everyone would read this book. It really touched my heart. I had a hard time getting into at first but after I did I couldn't put it down. Read my comment at the link above (just click the title) If you are interested in reading it just let me know and I'll share it with you too. I have a few people that are interested in reading it so hopefully it will come back to me each time so I can share it again.

This book is not available at amazon.com which I thought was weird. I found it at my local Barnes and Noble store in the teens section. Here is a link to Barnes and noble.com Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares
It can also be found on Ebay.

It's worth the read!

I'm going to start reading the second book in the traveling pants series soon but I kinda got into a new book that's been hanging out around here for too long. The Red Hat Club by Haywood Smith. See the link on my side bar. This is also one of my bookcrossing books. I guess I'm straying from my normal comfort zone of Mystery books to read some books about friends. I don't know why.

Sew...... how's life?

I know I haven't been posting much lately and there is probably no life left on this planet but........ that's really okay with me. I'm been out of sorts lately so I'm taking a break from classes and the other stuff that keeps me continually stressed out. I've been reading a lot lately. I just finished 2 books in a trilogy by Lori Wick. It's the "yellow rose trilogy" based in Texas. It's not my usual genre but it made me think of my sister who lives in San Antonio who I've been missing lately. So far I have loved the first two books, Every Little Thing About You (Wick, Lori. 1.) and A Texas Sky (Yellow Rose Trilogy Ser.). I'm now reading City Girl (Yellow Rose Trilogy). A friend of mine is reading the first two and then someone else plans to read them. I hope they enjoy them as much as I did.

I have also trying to learn how to sew. My husband bought me a sewing machine for Christmas LAST year and I played around with it a little bit when I first got it and then quickly forgot how to use it. It took me forever to figure it out the first time using the manual and google. This time around I decided to finally sign up for a class at JoAnns. I just went to my second class tonight and there is one more. We are making Pajama pants. So far we have learned a lot of random stuff like what items are useful to have, how to pick out and read a pattern, and about what time of fabric to buy...among many other things. Tonight we learned how to use some pretty cool sewing machines that could probably cook dinner while emboidering the curtains. We learned how to take it apart and clean it too. Then we cut out our patterns and we are ready to get to work next Wednesday. I can't wait to see how they turn out!

My husband HATES the fabric I chose! They aren't for him though so he better quit whining! At least I'm going to know how to use that sewing machine....and I can make him a pair of pajama pants to match LOL

UGH, Monday so soon?

I had a nice break but it went way too fast. I went to a card workshop bright and early Saturday with my friend M. It's not like me to be up so early on a Saturday but I always enjoy getting creative and they always have such neat things to do. They had this card to make with browns and blues and this neat moose stamp. I really enjoyed seeing how many different ways I could come up with to do that one. I also made a special mothers day card for both my mom and my MIL. After that we went to subway for lunch. It was a nice break from the rut of work and the usual stuff I do at home. I was going to go check out the ice sculptures with another friend later but my husband needed the car. He was going to see some old friends and didn't want to take the old truck. I don't blame him. I had a good time relaxing, reading, and listening to music instead.

Today we slept in and then my husband took me to Sourdough Sam's for pancakes. YUM! We haven't done that for a while and it was great! Now I'm trying to finish up the laundry and puzzle out the baby blanket I'm crocheting. It is very frustrating. The pattern gets very vague when you get to the trim. I just ripped out two rows and now I am counting stitches and looking ahead to see where the next row will fall otherwise the scalloped trim doesn't line up evenly. I remember having this trouble when I made it last time. I am trying to take notes this time!

I wish I didn't have to go to work tomorrow :O(

Saturday, Sunday.....darn.

My vacation is nearing an end.

Actually I'm glad to be going back to work. I don't do well trapped in the house and without money to spend there isn't much else to do. It's too cold to spend any time out anyway. Of course I've accomplished a lot indoors. I've pulled out, sorted, purged, painted, mended, adorned, and put back.....and just got crafty and inspired. ...of course I also did some reading, writing, tuning in to music and even just tuned it all out for some all out relaxation and much needed deep thinking time. And now, I'm exhausted and I want to go back to work. At work I just do what I do and no one expects much more. Except for me to be my happy self without talking too much. I think I'll just be anti-social instead. It's much easier.

So I'm ready.....