Booking Through Thursday: Storage

Taken from the BTT site:

This week’s question is suggested by Kat:

I recently got new bookshelves for my room, and I’m just loving them. Spent the afternoon putting up my books and sharing it on my blog . One of my friends asked a question and I thought it would be a great BTT question. So from Tina & myself, we’d like to know:

“How do you arrange your books on your shelves? Is it by author, by genre, or you just put it where it falls on?”

I tend to group mine by genre, keeping all series together. I have so many books and my shelves are deep so I'll put older books that I've already read in the back with new books in front of them. I try to put heavier books near the bottom because I have a phobia that the kittens will be in freak-out mode and knock the shelves over on top of them. Yeah, I know, it's a stretch, but, hey, it could happen!

Since I have bookshelves in the bedroom and the living room, I tend to keep the romance and erotic romance novels in the bedroom (makes sense) and the general fiction, how-to's, gardening, animal, arts and writing books in the living room. We really need a separate room just for books. My husband is a collector as well. His large collection of excellent comic books are stored in long cardboard boxes down in the mancave.

My TBR books are kept on the top two shelves of one of the bedroom bookshelves. I've severely cut back on new purchases until I can whittle away at the TBRs.

I'm not sure if I should admit it or not but I am a magazine junkie. Have been for many years. These you will find on the bottom of several bookshelves, in a stack on my desk, another on my desk chair, and several others in bags and boxes in my closet. It's bad, I know. Not so bad that you'll see me on the evening news when an intervention unit is busting into my house because the neighbors tipped them off to a "magazine hoarder", but it could easily slip into that if I didn't occasionally weed through them and throw a few out. Since I've developed an interest in collage, I'm hoping to rid myself of several by tearing out the picture and article gems and throwing the rest out. May the Force be with me.

Want to know how others arrange their books? Go to Booking Through Thursday.

The Sound of Paper

Please check out my post at Texty Ladies today. It's about the booking I'm currently reading, "The Sound of Paper: Starting from Scratch" by Julia Cameron.

Leave me some comment love, if you're so inclined. :)

Manic Monday

Fleur De Lisa posts some fun questions over at Manic Monday so I thought I'd give it a go. Here are today's questions and my answers:

What's the most embarrassing song on your iPod (or music collection)?

Hmmm... I guess I'd have to say "Stay With Me Tonight" by Jeffrey Osborne. The only reason I picked it is because most of the music on my iPod right now is industrial, funk and electronic and a bit darker in nature. I'm not really embarrassed to say I love this song because it always makes me move and reminds me of a time in my life when I had fewer responsibilities. Come on. You can't help but move when you hear it!

How much time do you spend each day in your commute? (Or if you don't work outside the house, how much time do you spend in your car or other preferred mode of transportation?)

On average, I spend one hour before work and one hour after in commute. About ten minutes of that (each way) is driving in my own car; the rest is on public transit (oh, joy!).

What's your favorite wardrobe item and why?

My favorite wardrobe item right now is the incredibly soft and cushy robe I picked up while celebrating my husband's and my anniversary last year. They were, of course, draped over our bed, ready to be enjoyed and lusted after so that we'd HAVE to purchase them at checkout. We both couldn't resist and we rationalized our purchase with this excellent reasoning: The traditional anniversary gift item for that year was cotton, so exquisitely soft and comfortable cotton robes would only be honoring tradition, right? ;)

Hey, this was kinda fun! Thanks, Lisa! I think I'll look for next week's questions, too. Wanna join me?

Been There, Done That

I grabbed this from Melsdream.

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied (???)
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelos David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day

Looks like I have some catching up to do.

Booking Through Thursday

There have been a lot of firsts on my blogs this week and I've got another one today. Booking Through Thursday is a meme about what else.....books! A question is asked each Thursday and participants then answer it on their blog or in the comment section of the host site. Here is today's question?

Since “Inspiration” is (or should be) the theme this week … what is your reading inspired by?

First off, my mood plays a huge part in what I decide to read. Quite often I'll want something lighthearted since there is enough to deal with in real life. Who needs more conflict?! Other times I'll long for something meatier; something that will require me to stretch my thoughts, question my beliefs or expose my heart. A good cry is quite cleansing, don't you think?

The author's voice and talent are what will determine whether or not I continue reading past the first few pages of any book. I can't tell you how many books I've started over the last few months only to place them back on my TBR shelves because I just couldn't muster up enough interest in the plot or characters. If I don't care about the characters, what's the point? Truly, I can forgive a semi-weak plot or some inconsistencies if I feel like I could live inside the main character or just want to know what happens to them.

As shallow as it may sound, an excellent book cover and back cover blurb may be what draws me in. I'm amazed at the beautiful art work and design being used for them these days. I guess those marketing folk know what they're doing, right?

Any number of things will inspire me to pick up a book, and how happy am I that someone was inspired to write them?!

A Snag in the Plan

Participating in the CreativeEveryDay challenge has been difficult since as soon as I decide to be more consistent in my creative efforts, the tendonitis in my right hand decided to flare up. I tried sketching and couldn't draw more than two small figures before the shooting and constant pain increased and I had to put down my pencil.

I will say that I've tried to think more creatively lately. My mind has been filled with ideas and projects I'd like to tackle so hopefully I can do that soon. Until I can draw again, I can be working on other projects like writing poetry. My goal this week is to write one or two or three haikus. I'd love to have enough to create a poetry book some time this year. Cross your fingers that I'm up to the challenge!

Mission 101 2009

I've joined the Mission 101 2009 community over at LiveJournal. It's all about choosing 101 goals to accomplish in 1001 days (approx. 2.75 years). I like the mission idea and time frame because 1001 days is actually doable for most goals. The community members post updates on their progress and hopefully everyone will be encouraging and supportive. I've been posting my goals in increments of 20 at my LiveJournal Dreaming in Digital. I'm trying to throw in short and long-term goals and I have to say it's not easy coming up with 101 of them!

The Girl With No Shadow

I defer to my post at A Touch of Inspiration today. Please go have a look. It's about Joanne Harris' book, The Girl With No Shadow. I'm still setting up the blog, so please be patient. :)

Artist Camille M. Boggs

Over the past few days, I've been surfing from one creative blog to the next, pulling a few to add links to from my blog. I'm always amazed by what people come up with and the incredible talent that is out in this big, bad world. One artist blew me away so I'm featuring her here. Needless to say, I'm incredibly inspired by her work and it makes me want to figure out what my creative niche is. I present to you, Camille M. Boggs.

Camille Boggs fell in love with papermaking in college. She began cutting paper and found that the #11 x-acto blade became an extension of her hand. From the work you see here, I'd say she found the right medium to work in.

The Sun was Snowing

Maybe Next Time

She works in 2D and 3D and her photography mimics her cut paper work. You'll have to go to her site to view the rest of her jaw-dropping work.

Thank you for your amazing talent, Camille! It is such an inspiration!

Common Good Books

My husband and I dropped our son off at the Science Museum to hang out with his friend today and then we checked out Common Good Books (Garrison Keillor, prop), a bookstore I've been wanting to go to for some time now. I love going to the big chain book stores because there's so much to look at but I also enjoy shopping at the independent bookstores, not only because they have charm and you feel like you're supporting the common man, but I always feel like an important or delightful discovery is just around the next bookshelf.

Common Good Books didn't disappoint. The main body of the store is in one large open room but to get to Fiction and Travel, Religion and a few other topics, you're required to pass through doorways to narrow hallways lined with bookshelves, like a funhouse, and at one point, the wall recedes to an alcove with a couch surrounded by posters and books where you can sit and peruse to your heart's content. After months of searching for The Girl With No Shadow, Joanne Harris' sequel to Chocolat, I finally found it here. My husband found Bridgeman's Complete Guide to Drawing from Life and a few other treasures.

CGB supports local authors by carrying many of their books and hanging posters celebrating their work. I know they hold many book signings throughout the year.

As it's a bit of a drive from our home, Common Good Books probably won't be a weekly visit, but I'm sure we'll stop by again...and again.

Creative Every Day

I've decided to take on a new challenge, entitled CreativeEveryDay. There's no pressure to post every day but I'll try to do so as often as I can. Finding time to be creative is next to impossible lately, if we're talking about sketching, writing a story, or something of that nature. There's more to being creative than that as you'll see if you follow my link to CreativeEveryDay. Have a look and maybe you'll want to take the challenge with me.

I think being creative can mean finding new perspectives and solutions as well as creating art. Maybe my daily creative act will be changing my attitude on something or finding a new design to get excited about. Some days will include drawing or adding a few more paragraphs (or chapters) to one of my stories. I hope this challenge will get me started on at least some of the many crafts I'd like to try. One thing this challenge has done for me already is direct me to the blogs of other creative people and I must say, there's a lot of talent out there!

P.S. I've decided to use this blog (even though I haven't posted here in a while) because it is easier to post pictures in the sidebar with links to other sites than some of my other blogs.

Word(s) for the Year

I posted my goals for 2009 yesterday because I wanted a fresh start after a very difficult year in 2008. My hope is that 2009 will be more productive and less serious. While surfing around my Favorite websites, I stumbled upon "Resolution Revolution" by Christine Kane. In her post, she talks about having a theme word for the year. Instead of listing resolutions that we try but often fail it, she suggests choosing a word to inspire and lead us throughout the year. I like this idea.

While I still plan to strive toward the goals I set yesterday, I'd like to also choose a word for the year that could help me accomplish even more. Ms. Kane suggests getting quiet and taking a few days to determine which word you will choose and offers a list of words you can choose from or to use as inspiration in your choice. My initial thought was to choose the word "presence" as I tend to be thinking of the future most of the time and not living in the moment. I think I'll get quiet and think on it for the next few days and then make my final decision and post it here. I recommend that you take a look at her post on this subject and give it a try. What could it hurt?

Interview with author Anne Frasier!

My interview with Anne Frasier, super talented author of the chilling thrillers Pale Immortal, Garden of Darkness and more, will post tomorrow, Thursday, October 23rd, at Texty Ladies. I hope you’ll stop by to find out more about Anne and her books!

Flash Fiction

I’ve posted my flash fiction piece "Cat Pranks" at Texty Ladies today. A little something light. :)

Interview with writer and artist F. Magdalene Austin

Please join me at Texty Ladies today for my interview with amazing artist and writer F. Magdalene Austin of Sundrip Journals!

She’ll share how art and writing have helped her as a survivor of abuse.

Please stop by and check out her beautiful art and encouraging words!

http://www.textyladies.com/

~ Pamela