The Probable Future by Alice Hoffman

27/01/2012 Joh gratitude, reading

This book was gorgeous. I am sold on Alice Hoffman’s writing and I want to read everything she’s written. There is a long list. This is her 16th.

The story is about a family line of women who discover a gift on their 13th birthday. Stella, the latest in the line of Sparrow women rewrites the past. I find she writes such empowering female characters. Flawed, human women who use their strength to have what’s important to them. This quote from The Times says it better than I could:

Alice Hoffman hits bulls-eyes on the incomprehension between the young and the old, on the magic and pain of ordinary life. She is erotic and romantic, funny and clever and humane.

Finding a new author with troves of books I haven’t read, is like the first days of summer. I have been reading in my lunch hour by the Lake in Sale some days, or when I’m in a rush I just read for some of the time. Things are getting busier as my half holidays draws to an end. I do more when I’m busy and more important things. I think holidays are a little overrated for me. I enjoy the life I’ve created, including work.

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Happy Australia Day

26/01/2012 Joh gratitude

However you do it, celebrate that you can choose:)

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New Moon in Aquarius – 23rd January 2012 – Chinese New Year

23/01/2012 Joh astrology

I have read that the Year of the Dragon doesn’t actually start until 4th of February on Kim Falconers 11th House blog. I love Kim’s new blog. It’s a great read. We are having dinner tonight with friends to celebrate the New Year. Monday night is not really a party night though. I have in no way cleared my home of clutter this year. It will be clean enough. I’m not sure what I do with all my time lately!

This new moon in Aquarius is taking place around 6pm. When the moon is new in this sign, it’s a good time to hit the reset button of your mind. Aquarius is an air sign, so think mental. Air signs are also about communications. Check the delicious feed for more reading on this new moon.

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The Dovekeepers by Alice Hoffman

17/01/2012 Joh reading

This book is based on historical evidence. Alice Hoffman has brought an historical event to life. Those Roman’s certainly went in all directions to conquer the world. From the back cover:

In 70AD, nine hundred Jews held out for months against armies of Romans on a mountain outside the Judean desert, Masada.
Two women and five children survived.

Their story is told through four strong women, dovekeepers. The doves were kept to fertilise the gardens (interesting in itself). It’s a great story of survival even before the final event.

Alice Hoffman’s book’s are magical. I have ordered more to read because I enjoy her inclusion of the invisible in her stories. The women in this story have to keep themselves hidden in many ways. They are courageous and love fiercely. It was an insight into religion and spirit.

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Full Moon in Cancer – Monday 9th January 2012

09/01/2012 Joh astrology, music

Relationships are highlighted this full moon. My relationships have been blessed lately. There were some special moments for me over Christmas that meant the world to me. Love and others are the most important and powerful things in my life.

The blog posts I’ve enjoyed about this full moon are in my delicious feed in the sidebar of this page. If you are into astrology, I put all the posts I read that I think are good there:).

If things are not so cruisy for you right now, this U2 song has been the most helpful to me when I’ve felt fraught with angst.

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Part Time Holidays

08/01/2012 Joh Business, gratitude, holidays, learn, work

I’m continuing my part-time job during the school holidays. I love working there, some days it doesn’t even feel like work. My days off are more precious because they are rarer.

This week a customer came in who is converting a barn and we had a great conversation about all the challenges involved and found the perfect floor covering for her needs. I’m delivering it to them next week and will get to see the project. I meet lots of interesting people making their homes in their own ways and it’s fun to help them select the perfect floor covering.

I enjoy my drive to work. It’s about 45 minutes through really open country. Lots of people complain about the boringness of that drive, but I experience the spaciousness. The countryside changes colour with the clouds. I love it. There are a couple of spots on the way that I pay particular attention to.  Such big views! I enjoy listening to my music and making playlists for the trip.

I had big plans for the shop over Christmas. I was expecting less traffic and getting lots done. We did a bit but were busier than I expected, which is always a good thing, so there are still a few more jobs on my list. I have found a place for all our new tile samples. I enjoy maintaining the displays and getting to know each pattern, texture and size, imagining where it would best serve. Filing it away in my mind so when the right person comes I will know where to find it.

We are getting the computer program and systems into better shape. I need to learn more about MYOB. It is a different package to the one I used for ‘The Butchers Dog’ so there are things I am tweaking. The book-keeping is different. I did the book-keeping for ’Unique Furnishings’ and ‘Total Vision’ manually and I had systems in place to keep informed of the business stats. I am still working towards finding the way to get this businesses stats.

I love the freedom and responsibility my boss gives me to have a hand in all aspects of the business. It feels as though it is my own, yet I am working with a team. There is another sales person as well. We often all have different opinions and this makes for more interesting discussions.

I am immersed in home improvement. I am learning. That is what I love most about my part-time work.

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2011 – Thanks for coming:)

31/12/2011 Joh family, friends, gratitude, learn, love, random, relationships

I have lots to write but for now I’m just glad to put this year to bed. It’s been ‘interesting times’ as the curse goes. It’s turned out really well and I’m glad I put off worrying for another time, because now that I have a little time, I have no need.

I could list milestones and events that have rocked my world but not now.

This year has been special in so many ways. I have been blessed with new friends and aquaintances and a whole new cast of characters in my life. I treasure the people who have travelled a way with me as others have dropped by the wayside.

There is lot’s I want to plant here on my blog in 2012… I’ll wait and will enjoy sharing all the seeds and blossoms of my life then. I’m setting this blog post to publish in the last minute of this year. So farewell 2011… I know I’ve lacked appreciation at times but truly now I see that it was everything I asked for:).

 

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Peeps by Scott Westerfeld

13/12/2011 Joh reading

I have read plenty of Scott Westerfeld’s books . ‘Peeps’ contains a couple of the characters mentioned in ‘The Last Days’ and tells about the same ‘plague’. It was another good read.

There was a lot of information in it about parasites and a very handy afterword that informs how to avoid them. The entire way through reading the book, I wanted to get to Scott Westerfeld’s blog and ask him if that information was fact or fiction, but I didn’t have to, because he explained it all in the end. Fascinating!

‘Peeps’ is the short form of parasite positives, and when Cal Thompson is infected through a random meet with a woman, his life changes forever. As a carrier only he has passed the parasite on to all his former girlfriends and the book is about how he sorts out the problems he has created before the place goes crazy. Those who experience the full symptoms are quite similar to what we would call vampires.

I’m a bit over the ‘vampire’ genre, yet I enjoyed ‘Peeps’. I really like his writing. I think I will order ‘So Yesterday’ and ‘Evolution’s Darling’ to add to my pile of summer reading:).

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Gravity by Scot Gardner

12/12/2011 Joh reading, work

The back cover of Gravity reads “Saturday night. Nowheresville.” How many teenage regional dwellers have this to say for the place they live in? I related to this story because I was busting to get out of here when I was a young person. I’d love a massage for every kid I’ve taught that has plans of heading elsewhere as soon as… I certainly didn’t have the heavy home life that Adam (the protagonist) lived with. His mum has already shot through.

I enjoyed this book. I have been meaning to read Scot Gardner’s books for a long time. He is a local author and I want to use some texts created in our area next year with my students. He names local towns that students are familiar with. I am aiming for connection. Not just to school, but to community and place. I’m not sure I will use this novel, cause I think it would be more relevant to older students. Scot Gardner has written many books so I’ll work my way through them and find a suitable one I’m sure.

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Full Moon in Gemini – Lunar Eclipse – Sunday 11th December 2011

09/12/2011 Joh astrology

The eclipse happens in the wee hours of Sunday morning. I thought it was going to happen tomorrow all week. I just checked and it’s Sunday here in Australia. This week has been a bit mad and busy and as Kelly Surtees post mentioned this morning the high and low tides reflects in our emotions.

Eclipses in December are pressure cookers. We are busy completing things and preparing for the festive season and whilst an eclipse is possibly right it adds some intensity. Here’s Jo Tracey’s day, which reminds me of some of the conversations I’ve had this week.

I’m tired tonight. It’s been pretty warm here today. I had a big weekend last weekend. My birthday celebrations and the 10 to 10 filled out most of my weekend and spilled over into the week (well the birthday part anyway). I felt very grateful. I enjoyed catching up with the old school buddies. It’s deserving of a post in itself.

I’ve finalised work arrangements for next year. I have started planning my part-time project for next year after having a 6 month contract confirmed late last week. I’m working with disengaged students at school for a couple of days as well as at the local Neighbourhood House one day a week. The list of students keeps growing. Sometimes I feel a bit overwhelmed by it all. I’m also finishing up with my current students. Many of them are not looking forward to Christmas. I listen to them and that’s about all I’m good for. I can’t make it all better. Excitement about the challenge of the project will come, but probably not until after I’ve had a rest:).

I’ve had to rearrange my days at Choices also and I felt concerned that it wouldn’t work for them. I find the contrast between my two jobs so refreshing. The school offered me to work full-time but although it would be more money, I think I would burn out quickly. Having two and a half days ‘playing’ with floor coverings and homemakers is like an antidote to the sadness of some of the young people I work with who live in a different world. I finally had the conversation and it was no problem. My boss there is flexible and appreciates me. It is a good feeling.

There is more but I’m having an early night:)

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