Musing Mondays (Feb 23)

Today’s MUSING MONDAYS post is about the library…

How often do you visit the library? Do you have a scheduled library day/time, or do you go whenever? Do you go alone, or take people with you?

PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT with either the link to your own Musing Mondays post, or share your opinion in a comment here (if you don’t have a blog). Thanks.




For the most part (bookish excitement and emergencies aside) Sunday is my library day. When I'm in a good reading run I go every week, when I'm in a bit of a slump (as now) I go fortnightly; but nine times out of then, it's Sunday that I go.

If I'm going on my own I head off at about nine/nine-thirty and spend about an hour in the library picking out new books for the week (usually borrowing far too many). Then I usually go and read while I have a coffee or, if it's later in the day, lunch. Lately, however, my sister has been coming with me on my library trips, which is good, not only because I like to see her read, but because browsing with her means I pick up different books.

I also try to incorporate my book errands (yes, I actually have book errands) into my Sundays - dropping of books that someone wanted to borrow, picking up something from someone else, or going for some 'out-of-the-house reading'. It's usually a very nice day.

TV Show Meme

I think this meme is doing the rounds (or has it been already and I've missed it?). I sat down to catch up on some reading - Google Reader was getting a little crazy - and I saw it on Becky's blog. I decided I was a little busy at the moment so I gave it a miss, but then I saw it on LadyTink's blog and decided that it was just telling me that I had to play. It was all the memes fault for my deviating from my normal bookishness.
That's my story and I'm sticking to it.


1. Name a TV show series in which you have seen every episode at least twice: Ooh, I'm a bit of a TV-on-DVD junkie... but I'll behave myself and just say, as my sister does, "any show starting with 'star'" - Stargate, Star Trek...


2. Name a show you can’t miss: I don't really watch many shows actually sheduled on TV, mostly cause I always forget they're on. But I always watch Ellen and, when it's on, Crossing Jordan.
3. Name an actor that would make you more inclined to watch a show: Hmm, shall I just go with my TV-actor obsession? Okay. Amanda Tapping.
I considered changing the word 'obsession' there to something less crazy sounding, but then I realised that I would never get that past certain people who I know will read this. I spose I'll stick with the truth.
4. Name an actor who would make you less likely to watch a show: I can't actually think of one at the moment ... though I'm sure I will later.
5. Name a show you can, and do, quote from: We're TV quoters around here, and while I will (and do) quote from all my favorites (Stargate, Star Trek, Gilmore Girls, Firefly), my sister and I quote from F.R.I.E.N.D.S on a daily basis. Usually to the confusion of those around us.
6. Name a show you like that no one else enjoys: As you may have picked up, I'm a sci-fi fan, and I don't actually have a lot of sci-fi friends, but at the moment I'm going to go with Firefly, which I LOVE but can't get people to agree to watch.
7. Name a TV show which you’ve been known to sing the theme song: I'll sing anything. I spose I'll go with: F.R.I.E.N.D.S. ("I'll Be There For You"), Gilmore Girls ("Where You Lead"), Stargate SG:1/Atlantis (humming, of course), Firefly ("Ballad of Serenity").. yeah, told you I'd sing anything.
8. Name a show you would recommend everyone to watch: Either Gilmore Girls, for a nice audience pleaser, or Babylon 5, for the show I've been most impressed with for a long time (watched it for the first time last year)



9. Name TV series' you own: (oh boy)
  • Andromeda (season 1-2)
  • Babylon 5 (complete)
  • Charmed (complete)
  • Crossing Jordan (season 1)
  • Dinotopia (complete)
  • Dr. Quinn: Medicine Woman (season 1)
  • Firefly (complete)
  • F.R.I.E.N.D.S (complete)
  • Gilmore Girls (complete)
  • MacGyver (seasons 1-3)
  • The Nanny (season 1)
  • Sabrina: the Teenage Witch (season 1)
  • Stargate Atlantis (seasons 1-4)
  • Stargate SG:1 (complete)
  • Star Trek: The Animated Series (complete)
  • Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (complete)
  • Star Trek: The Next Generation (complete)
  • Star Trek: Voyager (complete)
  • The X-Files (complete)
I think I would like to reiterate: Oh Boy. And that's just 'mine'; that's not including all the other collections the house has: Buffy, Angel, The OC, Dawson's Creek, Supernatural, M*A*S*H, Xena, McLeod's Daughters, NCIS, Ghost Whisperer ... and any others I've forgotten.
10. Name an actor who launched his/her entertainment career in another medium, but has surprised you with his/her acting choices in television: Hmm... I actually can't think of any - got any suggestions?
11. What is your favorite episode of your favorite series? Oh man, no way will I inflict that one on you. Getting me to fess up to a favourite series let alone episode is like pulling teeth. My friend actually took great pleasure in putting forth the question of who was 'better': Kathryn Janeway or Samantha Carter, and then watching as I nearly tore myself about trying to let both win (yes, Brett, I'm still freaking out about it). Let's just say I don't handle such decision making well and leave it at that.



12. Name a show you keep meaning to watch, but you just haven’t gotten around to yet: Probably West Wing because Wendy says it's good. Either that or Farscape cause it just looks too weird for me not to like it.



13. Ever quit watching a show because it was so bad? No, but I've gone on temporary moretoriums because characters where being bad. They should just listen to me, their life would be so much easier if they did.



14. Name a show that’s made you cry multiple times: Babylon 5 usually get me at least one episode in three, but I'm just a sucker for Delenn's voice and she's normally the one with all the tear-chocking speeches (not to mention all the "John!"s). Buffy is another one that usually gets me.



15. What do you eat when you watch TV? Usually coffee and biscuits; sometimes ice cream.



16. How often do you watch TV? Actual on-TV, TV? Almost never. But I do do DVD marathons. At the moment I'm working on X-Files.
17. What’s the last TV show you watched? Ellen.
18. What’s your favourite/preferred genre of TV? Science fiction.

19. What was the first TV show you were obsessed with? Star Trek: Voyager. It was the obsession that started all obsessions. And yes, it was an obsession.



20. What TV show do you wish you never watched? I watched the first season of Cleopatra 2525 because it was recommended by a friend... let's just say I never got to the second season an this friend is now banned from making recommendations. Come to think of it, this is an answer to the stop watching/bad show question.

21. What’s the weirdest show you enjoyed? I have no idea, Firefly is pretty weird sometimes I guess, but I love that.
22. What TV show scared you the most? Probably X-Files when I was little, but I really enjoy it now.
23. What is the funniest TV show you have ever watched? F.R.I.E.N.D.S. still makes me laugh every time without fail, despite the fact that I've easily watched it ten times through.

24. What show was cancelled too early? I have my favourites that I hated to see end, but I've got to say that despite my whinging (/crying/hysteria), they all probably ended right when they should have.






If you actually read all that, you deserve a medal. Seriously. In fact, if you did actually make it all the way, can you let me know in the comments, cause I would be very suprised.
note: I'm choosing to inore the fact that I could have written ten complete reviews (or at least gotten caught up) in the time it took me to fill this in.

Musing Monday (Feb 16)

Today’s MUSING MONDAYS post is about book reviews…
Do you read any non-blogging book reviews? If so, where (newspaper, library etc)? Do you have any favourites sources you'd like to share?

PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT with either the link to your own Musing Mondays post, or share your opinion in a comment here (if you don’t have a blog). Thanks.
Most of the book reviews I read are on various blogs, but I do subscribe to several email newsletters (from various publishers and bookstores) that have short reviews in them. One, a newletter for a fantasy store called Infinitas sends a large pdf newsletter chocked full of reader reviews - from short 4-5 lines to a full page.
I also flick through the book pages of the newsletter when I remember to. Oh, and I like to read the little book taggies that workers put on the shelves at the book store. Sometimes I think they should put those in the library. In fact, as far as I know, my library doesn't even do reviews, which is a shame, I think they should.

Weekly Geeks (2009:06)

And Weekly Geeks #2 for today...

For this week's edition of Weekly Geeks, we're going to take a closer look at character names. What are some of your favorite character names?

Go to Google or a baby name site, and look up a favorite character's name. What does their name mean? Do you think the meaning fits the character? Why or why not?

If you'd like, look up your own name as well and share the meaning.


I love it when a character's name meaning suits the actual character. Of course, this week's WG also means I have to decide on favourites...

If you are unfortunate to live in the same house as me, you would know how obsessed I get with fictional characters I love. I'm forever getting in trouble for talking/bribing/yelling at the TV when people don't do things the way I think they should, and I frequently start a story about someone only for my sister to break in halfway through and say - "Is this a REAL person, or someone from a book?"

Needless to say, making a list of my favourites, is a tall order. So, in order to cover myself, I'll say that these are SOME of my favourite characters, and in no particular order.


Josephine March from Little Women
Feminised form of Joseph. From the Hebew 'Yosef', meaning "he will add"

I'm not really sure if I can draw a connection there. I mean, you could if you wanted to, but it's not an obvious one.



Elizabeth Bennett from Pride and Prejudice
From 'Elisabet', the Greek from of Hebrew 'Elisheva' meaning "my God is an oath" or perhaps "my God is abundance".

Again... not so sure. If you can make a connection, please, let me know.


Anne Shirley from Anne of Green Gables
Okay, had to follow a bit of a link trail for this one.

French form of 'Anna' > which is a Latinate form of 'Hannah' > from the Hebrew 'Channah' meaning 'favour' or 'grace'.

I'd be happy to say this one connects. Anne certainly has a grace all of her own, her childlike enthusiasm that grows and tempers with her.


Henry DeTamble from The Time Traveler's Wife
From the Germanic 'Heimiric' meaning "home ruler."

Well poor Henry didn't get to do a whole lot of home ruling with his popping in and out like that.



Alice Cullen from Twilight
From the Old French name 'Alis', a short form of 'Adelais', itself a short form of the Germanic name 'Adalheidis' (Adelaide) - which means "noble", "kind, sort, type."

I'd have to say this one fits. The Cullens have a sort of nobility in thir world, and Alice is such a kind heart (yeah, she suckered me in).




Edited to add: My sister just came in so I read her my list and asked her if she thought I had missed anyone, seeing as she's the one who has to deal with my ramblings the most. She just looked at me, dumbfounded, and said "Ah, Sam!"

She makes a good point. The prompt never said the characters had to be from books! So, here's your chance to run away while you still can.



Samantha Carter from Stargate SG:1/Atlantis (awwwww)
Feminine form of 'Samuel', from the Hebrew 'Shemu'el' meaning "name of God" or "God has heard".


I'm trying my hardest NOT to make some God/Goa'uld connection here in fear that people will start throwing things at me. However, I've looked at some other's WG, and Becky mentioned that Amanda (Tapping) means 'one that must be loved, lovable' and I practically swooned (as well as completely agreed about her SJ shippiness). How appropriate! For both character and actor ... okay, yes, I think I've just uncovered the obsession :)



Kathryn Janeway from Star Trek: Voyager
Well, the site I used was a little conflicted on the meaning of this one, it said:

From the Greek name Αικατερινη (Aikaterine). The etymology is debated: it could derive from the earlier Greek name ‘Εκατερινη (Hekaterine), which came from ‘εκατερος (hekateros) "each of the two"; it could derive from the name of the goddess HECATE; it could be related to Greek αικια (aikia) "torture"; or it could be from a Coptic name meaning "my consecration of your name". In the early Christian era it became associated with Greek καθαρος (katharos) "pure", and the Latin spelling was changed from Katerina to Katharina to reflect this.

So.... take what you will for this one, but I find Kathryn to be a wonderfully conflicted character anyways, so I was happy enough with that.

Delenn from Babylon 5
Yeah... I don't think I'm going to find a meaning for that one, but I chose to beneath that it's Minbari for "she who is so graceful, cryptic with her destiny and possessive of a cute little nervous skip in her step ... OH! and has a beautiful little smiley-smile" ... Marcus always did say that it was a subtle language :)
As for my own name, Rebecca comes from the Hebrew "to snare" or "to bind" ... not quite sure if that relates to me or not, but I'm sure people will let me know if they think so.

Weekly Greek (2009:05)

I'm a little behind on the Weekly Geek-ing around here so this week I'm going to do two, this weeks and last week. I was going to just cut my losses and forget about the ones I'd missed... but I really liked last week's question/prompt :)

This week it's all about judging books by their covers! Pick a book--any book, really--and search out multiple book cover images for that book. They could span a decade or two (or more)...Or they could span several countries. Which cover is your favorite? Which one is your least favorite? Which one best 'captures' what the book is about?

Faced with the prospect of "pick[ing] a book - any book, really" I got a little flustered. Any book? Really? Too many choices!! So I saved myself from going crazy by just picking my old stand-back, my favouritest book of all - Little Women (I think we all know by now that I'm obsessed).


So while looking up covers of the books, I learnt one thing: they're all pretty similar. Most of the covers have the girls either sitting with Marmee reading the letter from Father:






















or sitting around the piano:








































There's the occasional diverging cover, usually of the four girls taking part in some sort of group task or activity, like sewing up the sheets or going ice skating.





















In fact, out of all of them, only one really stood out as truly different. It was one that set Jo apart from the other girls, the only cover that really singled her out as the main character.






My favourite cover would probably have to be the third reading-the-letter cover. There's a good reason, after all, why this is one of the most popular cover designs, it's a central image for the book.
My least favourite would be the one before it, the orange-y letter book. It looks like Little Women in the sixties. Their clothes (especially Marmee's) just look wrong!

The Only Light in the Dark

The City of Ember
Jeanne DuPrau
267 pages; published 2004


"So the first Mayor of Ember was given the box, told to guard it carefully, and solemnly sworn to secrecy. When she grew old, and her time as mayor was up, she explained about the box to her successor, who also kept the secret carefully, as did the next mayor. Things went as planned for many years. But the seventh mayor of Ember was less honorable than the ones who'd come before him, and more desperate. He was ill - he had the coughing sickness that was common in the city then - and the thoughts the box might hold a secret that would save his life. He took it from its hiding place in the basement of the Gathering Hall and brought home with him, where he attacked it with a hammer...." (4)


Lina is twelve years old, which is a very exciting age for those who live in the city of Ember, for it is at twelve that children leave school and receive their first job. Lina is hoping to be assigned the job of messenger: she loves to explore and none of her peers can run as fast as her. But, horror of horrors, Lina is not assigned the coveted role of messenger, but of that of a pipe worker; the worst of all assignments.

When her ever-serious classmate Doon approaches her after school, wanting to swap his messenger job for her position at the underground Pipeworks, she’s too relieved to really question it. But then things start to happen: there are strange messages to deliver, blackouts that last longer and longer, and a sudden increase in the rationing of every item.

And then Lina finds a set of secret instructions, destroyed by her baby sister’s gummy chewing. What are they instructions for? Are these secret instructions related to the sudden silent panic and whispering of the mayor, or the determined investigating of Doon? What is happening in Ember?

Stories of the post-apocalyptic genre are one of my favourites, especially ones like these in the vein of Lowry’s The Giver. I’ll admit that I picked up The City of Ember from the library because I knew they were making it into a movie and wanted to beat it to the theatre. Because I knew little more about the book than that, I was surprised to see how young an audience it was aimed at. Because of this, I found it a little predictable in places, but this may not be the case for a younger reader newer to the genre. I liked the characters of Doon and Lina, but can’t help but think they would have been afforded a little more development if they were older. 3.5/5







Other Reviews
Have you written a review for this book? I would love to include it, comment below and I'll add your link!
Rapunzel's Revenge

Shannon and Dean Hale
Illustrated by Nathan Hale
144 pgs; published 2008






Everyone knows the story of Rapunzel, right? Locked away in a tall tower by an evil witch until the day a handsome, hair-climbing prince comes along to rescue her. Well. Not in this version. For starters, this Rapunzel’s got spunk; she’s not going to just hang around waiting to be rescued. This girl’s out for revenge; revenge against the evil witch who kidnapped her, forced her parents into slavery, and named her after a lettuce.

But Rapunzel soon learns that life outside her tower isn’t all it’s cracked up to be and that seeking revenge may be harder that she had anticipated. Mother Gothel’s magic and greed has affected all the surrounding lands, leaving the population poverty stricken and distrustful. This idealistic hair lasso-er, however, may be just what they need to set things straight.

First of all, I have to say that Rapunzel’s Revenge is hilarious. It has infused its text and images with so much humour that I laughed out loud through the whole thing. I love a good story retelling and this one was even better than I had expected. If you enjoy fractured fairytales then I’d definitely give this one a read. 4.5/5





Other Reviews
Have you written a review for this book? I would love to include it, comment below and I'll add your link!

Teaser Tuesday (Feb 10)


TEASER TUESDAYS asks you to:
  • Grab your current read.

  • Let the book fall open to a random page.

  • Share with us two (2) “teaser” sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.

  • You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given!

  • Please avoid spoilers!




The rules say to avoid spoilers and I think this should count for spoilers for me too. As I've only just started this book, I'm playing it safe and sticking with the first sentences.





OPEN TUESDAY TO SATURDAY, 10 A.M. - 8 P.M . NO EXCEPTIONS!

The hours of WALKER AND DAUGHTER: KNITTERS were clearly displayed in multi-coloured letters on a white sandwich board placed just so at the top of the stair landing, but Georgia Walker - usually preoccupied with closing out the till and picking up the stray ends of yarn on the floor - rarely made a move to turn the lock until at least 8:15 ... and often later still. (p. 1)

- The Friday Night Knitting Club, Kate Jacobs

Musing Mondays (Feb 09)

Today’s MUSING MONDAYS post is about bookmarks…

What do you use to mark your place while reading? Do you have a definite preference? Do you use bookmarks, paper, or (gasp) turn down the pages? If you use bookmarks, do you have a favourite one?

PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT with either the link to your own Musing Mondays post, or share your opinion in a comment here (if you don’t have a blog). Thanks.






When I used to catch the bus to uni every day I would use my bus ticket as a bookmark. As I caught four buses and therefore had four tickets, I always had plenty on hand, plus they were just big enough to jot down a little note on the back. I miss my little ticket markers, I would clean out my bag at the end of the week, and collect all the little notes I had made.

Now that I don't catch the bus I tend to use bookmarks. While I'll use whatever I can get my hands on if I don't have an actual bookmark, I really love a pretty bookmark. This has led to me building up a bit of a collection in the past couple years, especially seeing as I always pick up promotional bookmarks from the library or business ones from bookstores whenever they have new ones. I was working on a collection of Harry Potter bookmarks when the last movie came out, but I'm still missing Neville, Delores and Kingsley.

I like to pick out a new bookmark from my tin for each new book I read (except for bookclub books where I use the pretty one my friend Wendy made me), but at the moment, my favourite is definately my "Storykeeper" bookmark, it's just so pretty. I've been alternating with that one at the moment.

Breaking Dawn

I haven't written a review for any of the Twilight books so far, for the simple reason that I have absolutely no idea what to write.


I could tell you what happens, but you either already know or don't want to.

I could tell you what I thought of the book/series, but it's pretty much the same as everyone else: I enjoyed the story; thought the writing was a bit so-so and predicable in places; loved some of the characters (Alice), wanted to hit others some of the time (Bella).

I could tell you what I thought of the movie: liked it, thought the book was better, drooled over Edward's piano (while my sister drooled over Edward).

I could even tell you about the reading experience: "where are you up to?" conversations with my sister, "will you just hurry up and read it!" arguments with friends.

But at the end of the day, I just can't bring myself to actually review it, so instead I leave you will a picture of the Bella doll I made my sister for Christmas (Edward and Jacob still to come).






(click for more images - be warned, I went a bit snap happy)

Follow the Old Road...

This isn't a book review, nor am I branching out to do movie reviews, but I've been meaning to write about this for a few weeks now.
Those who know me, or have made the unfortunate move to disagree with me, know that I love The Wizard of Oz, and that while I enjoy the book (and in fact collect different editions), it is the movie that I absolutely adore.

A while ago, my mother taped something on TV for me, saying that she had watched the first little bit before realising that if she didn't tape it for me she would be in big trouble. The movie was actually a mini-series called Tin Man: a cyber-punk rendition of The Wizard of Oz.

It is not a hundred percent accurate to the story (re-rendering aside) but since it loosely passes itself off as the story of one of Dorothy's descendants - and the fact that it's just so creative - I was more than willing to overlook this.



Briefly, it is the story of DG who, during a storm, finds herself whisked away to the fantastic world of the O.Z. Once there, her desire to return home (among other things - the story takes a turn) is hampered by the evil sorceress Azkadelia. On her journey she meets and is aided by three friends - Glitch, Raw and the 'Tin Man' Cain ... but to tell you any more of the story would spoil it.

It is a unique retelling, with enough new story to make it exciting, but the interest - and certainly the humour - lies in the references, both veiled and obvious, to the original. I would definately recommend you watch it if you get the chance.

Book Outing

I mentioned yesterday that I was going on a super-secret outing with my cousin, Renae. Well, after remembering to pick up my camera to take some pictures of our fun I forgot to actually take said pictures!



Anyways! After talking about it for months, Renae and I drove up to Glenbrook to visit a new second-hand bookstore run by a retired librarian (come on, wouldn't you want to go if they told you that?). It was completely worth going out in the heat, though in all fairness it asn't as hot as it has been (I think it reached 34 degrees C).


We spent an hour or so wandering around and:



  • if you are a parent/husband/someone: we bought nothing then turned around and drove homeB
  • if you are anyone else: picked out some pretty books and snuck them home ;)
It was actually a really nice little store (which picture WOULD have shown), a decent size with a good range of books. Best of all, it's reasonably easy - revisit!


My happy little pile:





In case it's not readable:
  1. Ya-Yas in Bloom - Rebecca Wells
  2. The Other Boleyn Girl - Phillipa Gregory
  3. Anne of Windy Willows - L.M. Montgomery
  4. Anne's House of Dreams - L.M. Montgomery
  5. Capture the Flag (ST: TNG - Starfleet Academy #4) - John Vornholt
  6. Loyalties (ST: TNG - Starfleet Academy #10) - Patricia Barnes-Svarney
  7. Matilda - Roald Dahl
  8. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Roald Dahl
  9. Jessi's Secret Language (Babysitter's Club #16) - Ann M. Martin
  10. Mary-Anne's Bad Luck Mystery (Babysitter's Club #17) - Ann M. Martin
  11. Sense and Sensibility - Jane Austen

(and for those of you playing at home, I now only need Rainbow Valley and Rilla of Ingleside in the green hard back books to compete the Anne of Green Gables set!)


Books Read:


Books Started, Not Finished:
  • On Beauty - Zadie Smith
  • Hey Nostradamus! - Douglas Coupland

I'd have to say that my cold and the disgustingly sticky heat put a dampner on my reviewing this month.

Musing Mondays (Feb 2)

Today’s MUSING MONDAYS post is about book stores…

How do you choose what do buy from your local bookstore? Do you have a list, or just browse? What is the selection in your book store like? Do you find what you're looking for? Do you feel pressured to buy the kind of books the store makes prominent? (question courtesy of MizB)

PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT with either the link to your own Musing Mondays post, or share your opinion in a comment here (if you don’t have a blog). Thanks




Well as I'm on a book ban this year, not buying as many books, I haven't stepped into a book store to be able to answer this question.
...yeah, I didn't buy that either :)
I tend to be a book store browser more than anything else - which is, for me, a bad thing. If I look, I find, and if I find then I tend to buy. It's much safer for me to go browse in the library. Because of this browsing, I don't usually have an issue with the selection at the two book stores in our local shopping centre. Having said that though, there are times when I've wanted a specific book and not been able to get it there. When I'm looking for something specific, I usually buy online at Fishpond.
I wouldn't say that I feel 'pressured' to buy the books that are on display (both stores are still feauring a pretty prominent Twilight display) but I do always look at what's being hi-lighted, as well as have a look at their best-seller shelves.

Weekly Geeks (2009:04)

Little behind, but better late than never, right?



#1. What are you passionate about besides reading and blogging? Tell us why you're passionate about it. Post photos of what you've made or of yourself doing whatever it is you love doing.


Well as I tend to get a little 'passionate' (read: obsessive) about a lot of things, I'll limit myself to two:


I love science-fiction - reading, watching and writing. I'm a huge fan of Star Trek (all), Stargate (SG:1 and Atlantis), Babylon 5, Firefly, X-Files, and just watched the first two seasons of Andromeda. I


I think the reason I love sci-fi so much is that it was always something that my mother and I did together, just the two of us. I never was a good sleeper, even as a child, and the rule was that I was allowed to get back up as soon as my sister (with whom I shared a room) was asleep. It was then that we would watch Star Trek on late night television.


My other non-reading obsession would have to be crafting. I knit, crochet, patchwork, make jewellry, and dabble in scrapbooking. Why I'm so 'passionate' (again: obsessive) about craft I'm not exactly sure, except that I find it so satisfying to actually create something. Plus, now I have some crafty friends with whom it's always fun to talk with (even if they really shouldn't let me in their craft rooms).
(Okay, there WAS pictures here, but for some reason I couldn't get them to link properly so, head here instead)

#2. Get us involved. Link to tutorials, recipes, Youtube videos, websites, fan sites, etc, anything that will help us learn more about your interest or how to do your hobby. Maybe you'd like to link to another hobbyist whose work you admire or tell us about a book or magazine related to your interest.

Oh, well, as far as craft's concerned, you really can't go past Craftster for any craft, or Ravelry for the knitters.


#3. Visit other Weekly Geeks. Link in your post to other Geeks who've peaked your interest in their passion. Or maybe you might find a fellow afincionado among us, link to them.

Off to look now, will link back once done.

Library Loot (Feb 1)


I feel like I've been in a bit of a reading slump since Christmas - yes I've read books, but I haven't, especially in the past fortnight, REALLY felt like reading. I think I had lost interest in the books I had borrowed out from the library, so I've returned them and maybe I'll come back to them later. Hopefully this will help.


Well, this and my super secret suprise outing tomorrow ;)






















Though I love the idea of reading non-fiction books on all the things I wished I knew more about, I rarely ever do. This book caught my idea from it's place on the New Book rack at the library this morning so it came home with me. I actually thought of my friend Wendy when I picked it up, so, Wendy, if it's any good I'll let you know.




















I've seen this book reviewed quite a few times over the past couple months, so when I picked it up today - completely by accident, the blue caught my eye - it too went in the bag.






















Well, I'm not a mum, but I thought I'd give it a read anyways. I like to be organised... but the truth of the matter is that I'm not, just really good at pretending I am :)























Okay, I'll fess up, I love kids books and I love kids movies, but I HATE to see the movie before I read the book. The person in front of me at the self-return machine had returned this one so I scooped it up.























This cover looks wierd, right? The cover I actually have is even wierder. I have no idea what it's about (it's my mystery book for the week) but the cover and the title won me over.



I think that should be enough to wake me up again!