More on screen free week

Follow the link to hear my friend Dan Yaccarino chat about the need for everyone, but especially our youngsters to unplug and learn through experiencing the world.

I think she enjoys torturing me

I called my mother in law the other day to see how things were going. 

She asked if I was stressing out.  I asked about what?

She replied: At having all of us to come down for a visit.

Yes, I knew they were coming.

The story went something like this:

BIL Bill: How come you didn't tell me the date of Freddy's Eagle Scout Ceremony?!?!?
Me: Just did.
BIL Bill: I want to come!!!!
Me: Come then.
BIL Bill: I am bringing my youngest.
Me: YAY!

Then my sister in law heard that in addition to my in-laws, Bill was coming.

SIL Lu: I want to come.
Me: Come then.
SIL Lu: OK.

Then my other sister in law heard that in addition to my in-laws, and Bill, that Lu was coming and she wrote:

SIL Liz: Can I come too?
Me: Of course.
SIL Liz: Will you have room?
Me: We will find it.

So now I have 5 adults and one child coming to my house for four days.

What's there to be stressed about?

So...what have you been doing lately?

You know I thought when I was done with my dissertation, I would have all of this free time.

It didn't work out exactly like that.

I am a part of the Texas Library Association, one of the biggest state organizations in the country.  I am involved in both the Young Adult Round Table (YART) and the Children's Round Table (CRT) which is of course a whole lot of fun. Work, but fun.

This past year I served as the Chair of CRT.  You know how sometimes your idea of something and the actuality of something are very, very far apart? That was what this was like.  I thought that I was going to be doing some decision making things, head some meeting, etc.

That is not what happens.  What happens is you plan the programs for your conference that year. 

So I have spent the last year coming up with ideas for conference programs that people might want to see.  Then I found speakers to speak on the topic, and moderators to keep the conversation going and presiders to make sure the room was set up properly and everything was going according to plan.

Oh, and there are contracts, and niceties like gifts that need to be awarded.

One of our events was an author breakfast, which meant creating a program and centerpieces. More on that in a bit.

So...that is what I have been up to lately.

I am going to post in detail on some of the events we had and some of the high and low-lights of the conference.

In the meantime I am still trying to adjust to life without a three page list of things to do.

I am sure I will remedy that, and quickly.

Monthly Book Club - Wife 22

So, one of my new year's resolutions was to start a book club for adults...in my neighborhood.


Me not sharing books with those around me is like the cobbler's kids going with holes in their shoes, right?

This will be our 4th meeting.

So far we have read: Age of Miracles by Karen Thompson Walker, which we thought was so-so; The Fault in our Stars by John Green which we all loved; Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand, which we liked pretty well.

This month is Wife 22 by Melanie Gideon. It is the story of a wife who has frustrated with her husband and marriage, and expresses her concerns as part of an online survey of the modern marriage. After a period of time she starts having feelings for her online interviewer.

Billed as smart chick lit, I felt that overall it fell short. I didn't find the character all that sympathetic, sort of like "poor little rich suburban housewife." I think the message was meant to be that in this day and age it is easier to communicate with a person online than it is in person.  I don't agree. 

The ending was a bit predictable, and anyone who grew up in the 70s will recognize the reference.

The idea behind the club is simple...to read outside of the box.  For me this means adult, but for many it just means keeping up with some titles that they may have missed in their day to day lives. 

Next month we are reading a children's novel.  I am curious to see if WONDER is as well received as TFiOS was.

Unplugged

This week is Screen Free Week...the week where we think about doing less passive screen things (like TV) and more creative things...preferably without a screen.  But we all know that this is becoming increasingly impossible. 

I just came back to work after being "away" for a conference in Fort Worth.  I was gone from Wednesday through Tuesday.  I had 600 emails.  Of course my mailbox was full, which meant that I had to clean before I could even reply to a single one.  Good news/bad news for all of those listserv posts.

Delete.
Delete.
Delete.

Then there were assignments given by the big boss that are due tomorrow.  Do you think she would buy the Screen Free line?  "Sorry, I am doing less passive screen activities this week. Too bad. So sad." I can imagine the reply ala Donald Trump.

You're fired! 

Well, I managed to sort through the emails and reply where needed.  I even did some good research.

I was pretty plugged in.

I have also read some really good books, and thought some really odd thought including how much I miss blogging. 

In other words, I am thinking about becoming more plugged in, not less.

But I think the key here is "passive screens." Blogging, photo shopping, film editing...etc are all very active ways to create something new using your brain, imagination and...technology.

It's not all bad. 

Just go out and smell the roses once in a while.  Feel the sun on your face and take a walk. 

I did this morning.

Oh...and if you are in the market for a book discussing the importance of unplugging, consider DOUG UNPLUGGED by Dan Yaccarino.

On the twelth day of Christmas my true love said to me....

It's time to take down the tree.

I love Christmas decorations.  That's pretty apparent as you walk about my house.  We had people over for Christmas Eve and several ooohed and ahhhhed over my decorations.  Which struck me as funny.  What...everyone doesn't affix lights to every available surface? It IS JUST ME?

Oh.  I had no idea.

And I know this is wrong of me...on safety levels and electric usage levels, but we don't turn them off.  My twinkle lights on the mantle, up the stairs (even though I don't currently have a bannister) and over doorways, have been running continuously throughout the month.

So now is the day I dread.  The removal of the lights.  The boxing of the Santas and Snowmen. The closing of the season.

This removal of stuff, coupled with the New Year and the time for making lists of what needs to get done soon; well, they are just a bad combination. Because here is what I think when I remove all my sparkly stuff:

Gosh I really need to paint the "_________."

Christmas is just about done....and it's not even December 1

So. last week Fred's parents were in town.




We never have company for the holidays and let me tell you that even with the stress of having extra people in the house, it was nice. It felt more festive. What are the holidays without complaints of in-laws sleeping in your bed?



But here is the cool thing:



It isn't even December 1st yet and guess what? The HOUSE IS DECORATED! Inside and out!



Our traditional Santa Countdown Chimney is up in the kitchen where it always is and we haven't even pulled a peg yet.



And not to gloat or anything, but all of the gifts I need to purchase and ship? It's already done.



Who knows, I may even get to bake cookies in advance and send out Christmas Cards before the week of Christmas!



LOVE IT!