Sunday, January 29, 2012

Sunday Salon: Ramping Up

 What a great week it's been!  I can honestly say for the first time in a long time that the past seven days have been NORMAL!  Sure I've done my share of running around, supporting the kids in their various extracurricular activities, having my body abused by Andre, a meeting here and an appointment there.  But I could actually breathe, take time for a prayer group, do some proper meal planning, and go for a walk or two.  It feels good.


But in reference to this week's post title, things ARE ramping up in several areas of my life.  In two weeks, my daughter will be going through her confirmation.  Preparing for this has required attendance to 8 classes that happen every Thursday night, and it will be a blessing to reclaim those evenings again.  On top of this ongoing project, my daughter has also progressed to her next official level of horseback riding.  Now comes cantering and jumping (gulp).    


After that is finished, my daughter has expressed her desire to volunteer at an animal shelter in order to get her community service hours for high school.  Until she turns 15, however, a parent must volunteer with her.  You see where this headed, don't you?  Our training begins on February 18th, and after a few weeks of shadowing other seasoned veterans, we will have to put in our hours.  Yes it is one more "thing" we will have to do in a week's time, but I'm secretly looking forward to this because I do love animals.  The biggest issue will be not coming home with all of them.


We are also preparing feverishly for our annual Adult Literacy League "Reading Between the Wines" event on March 1st.  I am in full tilt mode for collecting signed books for the auction.  I am THRILLED that Wendy Wax has agreed to donate a package consisting not only of her signed books but the chance to win your name in her next book!  Also the lovely authors of the Southern Belle View (Lisa Wingate, Beth Webb Hart, Marybeth Whalen, Rachel Hauck and Shellie Rushing Tomlinson) have all agreed to donate their signed books with some really adorable Belle goodies.  If any of you locals are interested in attending our event, which will feature Lisa See as our guest author, check out our site here.


I have turned one eyeball to the UCF Book Festival on March 31st as well.  We have so many excellent authors showing up for this one, but hello!  Joshilyn Jackson?!  You know, the author who is way at the top of my list?  Because I have read every one of her books?  I may have to take a Prozac to keep myself calm.  Starting on Friday, February 24, and every Friday through the end of March, I will review a book from a visiting author.  Stay tuned!


I've had a pretty good reading week as a result of all this wonderful normalcy.  On audio, I finished "The Zookeeper's Wife" by Diane Ackerman, as well as "This Beautiful Life" by Helen Schulman (both for book clubs).  I have just started "Perfect" by Ellen Hopkins (a UCF Book Festival author) and am LOVING IT.


In print I am *this* close to finishing "The Baker's Wife" by Sarah McCoy, and I'll just tell you that I love this book.  LOVE IT.  I know, a lot of reading love going on this week.  After I finish it today, I am looking forward to reading Maus I and II graphic novels, then binging on Sarah Pekkanen.  


I suppose I have bored you to death at this point.  I'm feeling chatty.  Hope you all have a wonderful, blessed Sunday!






21 comments:

Beth F said...

What an upbeat, smile-making post. Love all the reading you're doing and love that you and daughter will be spending time together and at the animal shelter. You reminded me that I had better going on the long book our book club picked for Feb. Yikes.

I'm looking forward to your Friday posts.

Jenny said...

You are an amazing mother!!

rhapsodyinbooks said...

Ha ha, boring is one thing you are definitely not!

Mary (Bookfan) said...

Sounds like a lot of good stuff is going on in your life. Busy is good :) My kids are grown (20s and early 30s) but I lived through everything you listed. When I think back on it, it's pretty much a blur - a good blur.
I'm so envious of the book events. I'm a JJ fan as well. Enjoy!!

bermudaonion said...

Yay for a week to catch your breath! I bet you're the best thing that ever happened to the ALL auction! I want to bid on some of those items!

Zibilee said...

So glad that you had a normal week this time around, and that you got a chance to sit back and breathe a little bit! I hope that your work for the animal shelter goes well, and that it is a blessing to you and your daughter. Also glad for the UCF Book Festival. It was such a great event last year, and I am looking forward to it again! Have a great week over there!

Zibilee said...

So glad that you had a normal week this time around, and that you got a chance to sit back and breathe a little bit! I hope that your work for the animal shelter goes well, and that it is a blessing to you and your daughter. Also glad for the UCF Book Festival. It was such a great event last year, and I am looking forward to it again! Have a great week over there!

Unknown said...

All good things happening in your world. I have not read book for book club as of yet, put on request from library.
Love the idea of reading from authors from UCF bookfest, I may steal, um borrow this idea!
Congrats to your daughter on her many accomplishments.
Have a beautiful day!!

JoAnn said...

Confirmation is a nearly 2 year ordeal, I mean process, around here...totally understand your relief. Looking forward to tales from the animal shelter (pun intended).

Carrie K. said...

This was a fun post to read - you sound busy, but happy. :) And I just have to say, I'm glad I know Andre is your trainer, or I'd wonder.... LOL

Unknown said...

I'm enjoying a relaxing Sunday afternoon. Having coffee and blogging.

But I'm warning you, if you volunteer at the animal shelter, you're going to end up with more pets. ;-)

Alyce said...

I'm glad you had such a normal week too! Good luck not bringing home animals from the shelter - that's going to be tough!

Jenners said...

Glad you had a "normal" week. : )

I have a bad feeling about this animal shelter thing though. I think the combination of the two of you might end up with multiple adoptions. Stay strong!

And Joshilyn Jackson! SCORE! I bet she is a hoot!

Heidenkind said...

Ah, I remember confirmation classes. Good times.

Unknown said...

Surely it is abnormal for you to have a normal week ;-) I love your energy!!

Ti said...

I've not been able to read at all. I am a reading misfit right now. I must wait until all this production week / work crud levels out.

Julie P. said...

I can feel your excitement! Good but busy -- that's how it should be!

Belle Wong said...

I love these chatty posts. What a lot of reading you've been doing! And it sounds like you and your daughter will be spending some very nice quality time together.

Dawn @ sheIsTooFondOfBooks said...

Lisa See? Joshilyn Jackson? I'm moving to Orlando.

It's a good thing you had 7 relatively quiet days ... you're going to need all the energy you can muster!

Kathleen said...

Sounds like you will be one busy lady in the months to come. I'll look forward to hearing all about your adventures, reading and otherwise!

Melissa said...

I'll be interested to see your review of Zookeepers Wife. I tried it in print and only got about halfway through before giving up...