Friday, February 16, 2018

Libraries and Books

This morning, as I do once a month,  I chose books for homebound folks at the downtown library.  Three of them wanted large print Amish romances, mysteries, and general fiction; the fourth one regular print fiction but not mysteries. I have lists of books they have already read so I try to focus on the new book shelves.  It was easy this morning.  Sometimes when someone wants 10 or more volumes and they've read almost everything by Patterson and Steele, it gets time-consuming.   I hope that someday, when I may be homebound, someone will bring me books too.

On Wednesdays I scan and induct at our local Francis Branch Library.  It's 1 1/2 hours of intake, sorting, and putting books on carts ready to  be shelved.  Sometimes, it's alphabetizing too.  It is pretty boring and yet fairly intense as I work mostly non-stop.  It is my thank-you to the librarians who fill my requests for new books or books from other branches.

Today's finds--How many will I actually read? 
If I have any hobby, it might be reading.  I spend a fair amount of time looking at book suggestions from the New York Times, Lithub,  NPR, and  lists others (like my daughter) post.  I record "Want to Read" books on my Goodreads page and on the local library site.  I frequently order out of print books from Better World Books--often only $3.98 each.  Sometimes I find books at Notre Dame's Hesburgh Library and
check them out with my spousal ID.

Goodreads says I have read 459 books in the last six years.  That includes 134 mysteries, 16 biographies, and 76 memoirs.  I created a category for "intrepid women" which includes 27 books.   I have abandoned far more  books than are listed in my "abandoned" category.   My guess is that I actually read about half of the books I bring home.  If I start a book and it doesn't interest me, I go no further.  If I find a book I really love and finish, it is often hard to pick up another one immediately.

Sometimes my favorite books have been serendipitous finds at a used book store or a for sale shelf at a library.  "Insomniac City" was one such find recently at the St Pete Beach Library--a memoir by Bill Hayes which was a tribute to New York City and his lover Oliver Sacks.  I needed a real book, not another Kindle one.

Today I came home with five books from the downtown library; five more came in the mail from Better World Books.  I have already dipped into three and rejected them.   But there are seven to go!




Thursday, February 15, 2018

Jim's Birthday

I have been home as long as I was in St. Pete Beach--three weeks.  It has not been a great three weeks.  I have struggled with insomnia for no real reason except it builds on itself.  There have been good nights followed by good days but too many wakeful nights followed by days of shakiness and some depression.

So I haven't felt like blogging and there really has been nothing to blog about!  Jeff once said, "Mom feels a blog coming on."  Well, for the last three weeks, I haven't!

But today is Jim's 72nd birthday so I will record the way we will celebrate it.  We don't usually give each other gifts.  If we want or need something, we buy it.  Jim is marking the day by going to the BMV to get his license renewed.  It didn't seem possible to do it online this time.

So we celebrate with food!  I fixed Jim French toast for breakfast--his favorite breakfast.  Tonight we will have lasagna, one of his favorite suppers.  It is a bit labor intensive so I don't make it often.  I'll buy some bread, asparagus, (his favorite vegetable-not mine), some good red wine, and an ice cream cake.  We'll have our usual wine and cheese at 5 pm I hope.

Our days have a comfortable routine in our retirement.  I do most of my activities in the morning--volunteering at the libraries, Women's Bible Study, organ practice, or walking with a friend (except they have almost all disappeared on me!).  Jim is home in the morning and then goes to Notre Dame to his office after lunch.  Yesterday he met two students who are writing dissertations but he often has no appointments.  He likes the presence of colleagues, the change of space, and the resources.

I am thankful for Jim, for his love for me and his tolerance of me, for his work and the support he is to young colleagues and students, and for his wry humor which gives me many a needed laugh.

We are thankful for his good health in spite of a few issues.  May it continue for another year!