BOOKS, BOOKS, BOOKS!

 

 

 

 

 

Lately, I haven’t had the time to read.  But, this past weekend I snuggled into my couch and opened up a book I’ve been trying to read for the past 2 months.  Its called “Hitching Rides with Buddha” (non-fiction) by Will Ferguson, a Canadian author who writes travel books.  My sister-in-law loves him, and I loaned the book to her to read before I started to read it.  The book is basically about his journey from one end of Japan to the other following Japan’s Cherry Blossom front.  It has its funny moments and I’m starting to, finally, get into a groove with this book.

In the past few years I’ve been reading books on real-life experiences – basically non-fiction.  My favourite so far is “Eat, Pray, Love” by Elizabeth Gilbert.  I read the book last year before I left for my volunteer trip to the Dominican.  I finished the book while I was there, which was fitting because of the journey Elizabeth Gilbert took in this book and the effect this trip had on me when I came back.  I just purchased another copy of the book because I gave the copy I had to a friend who wanted to re-read it.  I also got another book of hers while I was surfing Amazon, “Last American Man”.  I can’t wait to read it.  Obviously, I’ll have to finish my current read first.

One book that I haven’t been able to finish is a biography about Che Guevara.  I started it about a year ago, its a fairly large book, but I’m hoping to finish it eventually, in between reading other books.  Its a comprehensive look at Che’s life and his background, so although interesting, it requires me to really focus when I’m reading it.  So, I have to be in a certain head space when I pick that book up.  I think it’ll be awhile before I finish this book, but I do plan to finish reading it.

Call me the book fiend.  Books are a great escape from life’s dramas – if only for a moment.

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BLOGGING

I’ve been blogging for a long time.  I was thinking about this last week.  I started blogging on Xanga back in 2001.  I don’t remember how I found the site.  But, I do remember why I started blogging.  Blogging has always been a great outlet for me to express how I feel.  Lately though, its been harder for me to blog because everything I’m going through right now is too personal to blog about in such a public forum.

I’ve met some very interesting and nice people from blogging.  Some I keep in contact with, some I’ve lost touch with and some I will probably never speak to again.  I got to thinking about all this because I still log into my Xanga account periodically to see if the people I use to read on a daily basis still write.  One or two of them still do but the majority of them have stopped blogging.  But, the last time I logged in I got a message from one of my favourite reads from back then.  He started a new blog and wanted to let me know his new website address.

I was glad to know he was still blogging, as he had stopped for awhile, because I always enjoyed reading his old blog.  He has this great writing style and no spelling mistakes, my biggest pet peeve.  When I met up with him a few years ago when I was still living in Vancouver and he was living in Seattle, I could understand why I liked his blog.  He was warm (he gave me a big hug when we met!), very intelligent, funny guy with a serious streak who was really thoughtful.  I think that’s why I liked his blogging, his personality was brought out in his writing style.  A lot of people don’t write the way they talk or convey their true selves in their blogging, but he was not one of them.

Anyways, his current blog is the same way.  Warm, funny and interspersed with video’s and great music picks.  I don’t read a lot of blogs, because who has the time, but his will be one that I try to read as regularly as I can.

KEEPING IT SIMPLE

Steveston, BC

I’ve been clearing out my closets this weekend.  I ended up with a few garbage bags of clothes that I’m going to donate.  I’ve been on a rampage of sorts this weekend because I’m very determined to get my condo ready to sell this year.  It’s daunting for me to move again, because I hate it, moving is a pain in the ass – perhaps moving across the country twice has given me some sort of phobia about it.  But, my place is just too big for me.  I need to downsize.  There are many areas in my life I need to downsize.  I look around at all the stuff I have, all the things I’ve accumulated over the years and a majority of it I don’t even need.  I don’t even know why I bought it in the first place. 

I’ve been going through a lot of drama lately with my friends.  Not related to me (my own life is drama free, thank-you), mostly drama my friends are going through that I’ve needed to be there for them.  And, through it all, I’ve taken a moment to think about my own life and its direction.  I have a big goal I’m eyeing in the next two years and I’m feeling that its falling out of my grasp more and more.  Why?  Many reasons, most of which I can change, so its one of the reasons why I’m starting to get going on cleaning my condo to get it ready to sell.  The market isn’t great right now, I don’t live in a hot spot where my place will sell in a second, but I’m not giving myself a reason not to do this anymore.

My friends and I were talking about being self sufficient and living within our means.  And, living in my current place is not living within my means.  Its not that I can’t afford it, but I could save a lot more money, pay off a lot more things, have more financial freedom, if I wasn’t living in it.  Keeping it simple has always been my motto, and I’m starting to realize now that I really need to start living it again.  I may have fallen off this mantra of mine, but I’m getting back on it.

I have say though…those damn bags of clothes are freakin heavy!

QUIET MOMENTS

I’m glad its a short week.  Ever feel like you’re being pulled in 10 different directions?  That’s what I’ve been feeling like lately.  I only got two arms but they feel like they’re being pulled all over the place.

I value my own time.  There are some people who can’t be alone or do things by themselves, I’m the opposite of that.  I like being out with friends and doing stuff, but I also crave that time where its just me enjoying the day without distractions or company.  I haven’t had that lately.  The recent flurry of drama with my friends has kept me quite busy along with family stuff, but hopefully some of that will ease off soon.

So, recently, before bed, I try to have a few minutes of quiet time.  Its only a few minutes just to relax me and allow me to release all the tension of the day.  I’ve never been big on meditation (I don’t call this meditation but its my own take on it) because I have the attention span of a 2 year old, but am beginning to realize that I need to find a way to relax after a crazy day.  Tai Chi has been a great activity to get me focused and energized, but I’m finding these quiet moments help me let go of the day, focus on chilling out and it’s actually helped me sleep better.

I’ve also taken up a musical instrument…the Ukulele.  I know…laugh all you want, but its been a fun way to unwind.  I am absolutely terrible at it, seriously terrible at it.  I do plan on learning how to properly play it, but for now I’m having fun just strumming away.  My sister-in-law got me hooked.  I picked it up one day when I was visiting the kids and really liked it and my sister-in-law said I could take it home.  So, every night I have a go at it and have been enjoying it…and laughing at my terrible playing.  My hands are still getting use to it, so for now no concerts 😀 .

Life is a little crazy right now – hoping for it to die down soon.  If not, I guess I better drag my friend to that meditation class and learn some techniques to relax!