No one who can read, ever looks at a book, even unopened on a shelf, like one who cannot. -Dickens

In all my life, I never really thought that reading was all that wonderful. However, a little over half a year ago I met a great person who had an online/offline book club. She invited me to said book club, and I found out that I really do like reading.

Before this invitation, I read maybe 4 books a year.  This year alone, I've already read 4 books and working on 3 more.  This is weird to me. I know that I've always enjoyed the escape books can bring, but never actually relished in it.  I also learned that not all books can keep me entertained.

I, now, find myself staying up late at least once with every book. Even the ones that I find hard to read, like A Tale of Two Cities.  This isn't really a good idea since I need my sleep, but it can't be helped. I also know the reason why my brother and sister loved to do just that when we were growing up.

Since I started this new literary endeavor, I've found that not every book is really great....for me. I need to be clear; every book has it's fan, but every book doesn't need all fans.  Although I love Charles Dickens' writing, I can't read through 5 pages without getting a bit drowsy. I know there are many Dickens addicts out there, and this must be why it makes me feel bad that I don't like all the classics.  After all, aren't they classics because everyone enjoys them?!  I find that I need more than just beautiful prose to keep me interested.  I feel disconcerted for the need of pulp-fiction or the sensationalism of publishers to keep me reading.  That isn't to say that I always need the hype, but it doesn't hurt to have a bit of an intriguing plot to keep me going. 

But hey, at least I'll ALWAYS have some book or story to keep me entertained, and I'm glad I have so many choices to choose from to continue my new found infatuation.

No more double red blood cell donations!

Wow! Donating double red blood cells is not for me. It's been four days and I'm still tired. Maybe it's something else, but the information they give you after donating states the symptoms can last up to a full week. So, I guess I'll see next week if I'm doing better. Also, I can hear whooshing in my ear every time my heart beats.

I've checked some sites and it seems that the symptoms I'm feeling are equal to anemia. I'm not saying it's what I have, just sounds similar. I don't really like to diagnose myself, but like to be informed of things that might be going on with my body.

Luckily my next donation date is the first week of May. But it's not gonna be the double red blood cells, just the normal donation.

New Years Schmew years.

All I can say is THANK goodness this year is over.

Hallelujah! Joy! Happiness! Cheers! It's over! Gone! Kaput!

It was a year of too much loss, but also new friendships, and family connections.

So, I guess it wasn't all bad.

May 2011 bring the joy I need and the comfort for all those IN need!

mmm...chrisem

Although, Christmas is not my favorite holiday, it makes me smile. I love going downtown by myself and watching all the families laugh and play. I enjoy the company of friends and a quiet evening in. Fun times with family and watching the favorites: White Christmas, A Charlie Brown Christmas, Holiday Inn and so many more.

I have to say the best part about Christmas is watching my sister get all giddy about decorating, baking and getting presents ready.  She gives with all her heart.  Her big smile always makes me giggle and I love it!

Happy Holidays. Please enjoy the fun of the season and spend it with those you love.

Sci-fi gizmo request.

Dear Inventors/developers: 

The first definition of cleaning listed at dictionary.reference.com is:

clean·ing   /ˈklinɪŋ/ Show Spelled[klee-ning] 

–noun

an act or instance of making clean: Give the house a good cleaning.

I hate cleaning. Well, that is I hate cleaning my own house. It is the worst task anyone can ever give me. I will wait until the house gets so bad I'm embarrassed to let anyone in. Luckily, I have my sister living with me. She helps me to the nth degree.  Not only does she do most of the work, but encourages me in just the right way to get me to keep the house in working order.

You probably wondering why I'm writing you. Well...I think we need to get those gadgets and gizmos they have on science fiction shows, invented. I know they already have the roomba, but it's too expensive for my taste. Besides, my sister LOVES vacuuming. OOh, I do too, but only when it's a Dyson. My friends have one that they let me use when I'm over.

Picture courtesy of wikipedia.org

Some ideas to mull-over:

• Self-mopping floor.
• A mechanical laundry folder (I can do the sorting on my own...for now)
• (speaking of sorting) a dish-put-awayer. (trademark on name pending)

That's all I have for now.  Wait one more thing; not only do they need to be invented, but made inexpensive. There, that's my idea. Please inventors and developers get on it! 

Sincerely,
Your favorite geek; Psyfygirl.  (please if you don't realize this is a joke, then you need some serious help)

Crafty

My bother started talking to me one day about knitting. My brother...He's so funny, he starts doing anything creative, whether it be domestic or technical and he totally geeks out. I guess we're the same in that geek-out way.  

Anyway, he tells me about his sekrit projects, but he can't keep it a sekrit...he's making us all scarves for Christmas; hence the geek-out. So, because he's just had a baby, and we're all pretty poor, he comes up with the idea for us to; either get really cheap presents for the family, or do a homemade thingamajig.  I decided to make my new nephew (the first brand-new baby in the family since myself), a nice name plate-type thing. Now, we all use www.ravelry.com to share our fun projects and one-up each other (really just my sister and brother do the one-upping, I sit back and try to keep up).

I love the idea of this. I feel so much more productive and accomplished when doing these types of things. Plus, I get to use my sisters immense knowledge of all things crafts. Oh the joy of having a creative mother and witty father.

Speaking of crafts; my friend has also started a new crafty blog, which I'm excited to follow. AND, we get to share crafty tasks together.

The Inn show.

I did it! It wasn't by myself; it was with the entire cast and crew, but I did it and loved it! 

An Evening in Canterbury was the name of the show. The director took 4 of Geoffrey Chaucer's tales and edited them for time purposes. The 4 tales came from the Knight, the Wife of Bath, the Pardoner and the Miller.  The actors pantomimed the tales on stage while the storytellers orated the tales in the house.

My role was Innkeeper's Wife and I was to improv with the audience and the other cast members while they enjoyed their meal. It was so exhilarating and, like I told a friend, it was a giant ball of fun-stress. I can't wait for more...

Here are some promo stills of the show:

Love these girlies.

Me 'usband

Scene from Miller's Tale.

Almost the full cast. It was also the pic in City Weekly