Stuff - New Sources of Inspiration

As an avid reader of Moleskinerie and co-administrator of Autumn Haiku 2007, I am being exposed to different sites.

Since I don't make New Year's Resolutions, I go with the flow. Throughout the year, I look for things and events to keep me inspired. I also hate searching for new blogs, so I depend my small group of bloggers to lead me to others.

Here are are few great ones:

Drawings: Illustration Fridays
(I might try to collage category. As soon as I find my supplies!)

Writing: Sunday Scribblings
(I am not disciplined enough to do this by myself. I need to join a group that I am NOT administrating. Now I have to find my blank journals...)

Altered Arts - My favorite art form!

Ma Vie en Rose - very pretty and check out the links!

I am also thinking of going to Art Fest 2008 conference near Port Townsend, WA!
This is a book made by Sas Colby!




Wonderful drawings by Emma of Emuse!
I need to find my Murakami books!

Knitting: I will be participating in making little cotton hats for premature babies. I am excited about this project, because I will be knitting in the round. I tried doing it last week, but it was a bust. I just had too much on my mind!

AS also found a group that is knitting woolen hats and washcloths a certain group of needy ladies in Edmonton. So, I will be making stuff for them also, to get my yarn stash down.

Stuff - What I am reading and my move

The move is done! However, I can't find a lot of thing, but I found one book box, and I am having fun,

My Dream of You – Nuala O’Faolain. This is one of the Oxfam-Bloomsbury-London books. It's about a travel writer who decides to switch gears and investigate a Irish divorce case from the 1840s. In those days, the petition for divorce went to a government office in LONDON! The first third of the novel is about the travel writer and her search. Now, I am reading about the actual lady of the manor, who is charged as an adulterer!

My goal is to find the other book boxes and to start my Seafaring Challenge. I think that I might have another book in the boxes that I need to read anyway.

My new home is 10 miles from my old home, just a few blocks from Lake Pontchartrain. I like the carpet, so the floor is softer to step on, which will aid my recovery. I saw a black cat on the fence; I see it as a welcoming sign, instead of bad luck.

I drive to work on Elysian Fields; however, it still looks more like Hades. Most of the street, except really close to my new home and the blocks near the French Quarter didn't flood in the 'Kane. 95% was really 'Kaned. Some homes haven't been touched since then; the owners must be old or have no money to fix their homes. Other homes have been renovated or torn down and built new and look nice.

I drive by the stomping grounds of Walker Percy's The Moviegoer. The main character would be so upset. His little world was really 'Kaned!

So, most of my drive to work is through still recovering neighborhoods. The flood waters missed my new home by ONE block.

In my old home, I was on high ground; restaurants and grocery stores were easy to reach. The only thing that I didn't like was hearing the Coast Guard or National Guard helicopters circling at night, looking for criminals.

Now, I don't hear them, but I see the National Guards Humvees on Elysian Fields in the 'Kaned areas. They are patrolling the area, to help out the depleted New Orleans Police force.

This weekend, I will go food hunting. The nearest grocery store is two miles away! Plus, I need to find my books!

Enjoy the Fall, if you are in the Northern Hemisphere!

Books - New Book Challenge

I found out about the Seafaring Challenge from A Work in Progress Blog!

I will read one of my Oxfam - Bloomsbury, London books (when I find it! I am moving tomorrow!)

Star of the Sea – Joseph O’Connor

I forgot what it's about, but it looks interesting. The UK cover is very pretty also.

My goal - to be a LEFTENENT (as it's pronounced by the Brits.)

I always set low goals for challenges, in case life throws me a real challenge, and I can't read more books. If life is quiet for awhile, I will try to have a higher rank!

Books - Banned Books and Hispanic Heritage Month

I am in a tizzy. 1/2 of my stitches on my foot will be removed this week, and I am moving to my new digs on Wednesday.

I am reading but can't post my reviews.
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Here are some links that will interest you!

BANNED BOOK WEEK - Most banned books of the 21st Century!
I can't believe that Capt Underpants has been challenged. Does no one have a sense of humor? I suppose that any Monty Python movie would not be allowed in their libraries either!

HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH - partial author list! I met Oscar Hijuelos ages ago, when I lived in Houston and when I was briefly married.

If I can hobble over, I might make it to Tulane's University Howard Tilton Library for the book sale on the 28th! I have been behaving and made no book purchases in the last 3 weeks.

Be back with more very soon!

Books - Help BOYS to read!

I heard about this group on the radio, while on my way to work.

If you have any extra money, please donate to this worthy cause!

Children's Village - Books for Boys

Books - I have read this past week

I just made it back to work this week. I am doing a lot some database work, so I am still not 100%. I have to take it easy until all the stiches are removed from my foot.

I have three book reviews to write, but I am saving my strength. Maybe later this week.

I am still reading both the Murakami and the Byatts that I mentioned on my 9/6/07 post. I also managed to finish to finish the Brooklyn Follies by Paul Auster. My friend, JC, lend me this sad but happy book to read during my week of recovery.

I also managed to submit a little essay for this journal: We are Constance: Delicate Burdens.
The essay was about the dreams that I have been having about New Orleans for the past year. One of them was very much influenced by Murakami and maybe the anesthesia that I had earlier in the week: a talking squirrel saves the Gulf Coast of the United States by taking every building and every person to the outback of Australia. (The land stays as a buffer from the hurricane.) The squirrel also terra forms the Outback to make it a lush countryside (shades of Star Trek here!) I was the spokeswoman for the squirrel and the new settlers!

Enjoy the Fall wherever you are!

Stuff - Reading Cursive

I am recovering from my foot surgery, so I can't stay on-line too long. Need to rest.

I found out recently that many school children don't know how to write cursive. And that they find it difficult to read cursive.

A sad note of progress. As they become more computer literate(which is good), they lose other skills.

I know many young adults, who can't tell time with a traditional face dial.

Thanks to JP for sending me the jpg!

Books - J. K. Rowling and other Fall Book News for New Orleans

A couple of sections of the Sunday paper arrived today on Saturday.

I tore into the Living Section, because it's the FALL BOOK EVENTS and NEW BOOKS issue.

This are a few interesting highlights:
J K Rowling will be reading to a select group of public school children on October 18th. Maybe I can adopt a kid for a day and chaperon the class of the kid? Mmmm

One Book, One New Orleans - an annual project of the Young Leadership Society. The entire city reads one book, and there are book discussions at various times in the ENTIRE metro area. This year's selection is The Neighborhood Story Project presents: Coming out of the Door for the Ninth Ward - Stories by Nine Times Social and Pleasure Club. (The Ninth Ward was one of the many neighborhoods badly hit by the 'Kane.)

WORDS & MUSIC, A LITERARY FEAST IN NEW ORLEANS
organized by Faulker House. Sandra Cisneros will be a master teacher at a creative arts high school. There will be international writers also.

New Orleans Book Fair - a very alternative book fair. It opened in 2005, despite the 'Kane. The determination of the out-of-town booksellers to make it into the city really inspired me!

It used to be held at this gallery, but the gallery has been sold. This is the first time to be held on Frenchmen St.

I like looking at the participants as much as I like the alternative presses!

I hope to be better from my operation by then and not have to hobble to the events!

Stuff - Where is Isabel?

I haven't had time to blog too much this week. Next week, I will have a minor foot surgery. And, at the end of September, I will be moving across town, to a smaller place.

So, I have been trying to finish up a couple of projects at work, while packing at the same time.

I have also succeeded in finding people to buy some furniture, given away some items and plants to charity and worthy people. I am also selling some books to a lady who wants to open a used bookstore.

I also finished knitting and crocheting items for Warm Up America and Red Scarf Project. I will be mailing them tomorrow.

During my week of recovery, I am hoping to read some books and publish some book reviews.

Oh, I also went to the dentist (all is OK!) and had to redo Autumn Haiku blog due to some software glitch in Blogger!

I am barely reading these two books. I hope to have a chance to read a bit this weekend!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Stuff - Blog Administrator

I have volunteered to be the administrator for the Autumn Haiku 2007!

With the new software, it's easy to add items to the sidebars and to edit the template.

If you need to read one-breath thoughts, tune in! There should be some postings by tomorrow, I hope.

P. S.
I created the links and colors on THIS blog in the old fashioned way, with HTML coding.

Although I am tempted to switch this blog to the new template, I will keep it. If I ever apply a job that requires HTML coding, I can show that I can modify it on my own.