https://www.online-literature.com/forums/blog.php?41541-Joreads The largest classic literature discussion forum on the Internet. Read Write Teach Share. en Fri, 05 Jun 2026 08:33:37 GMT vBulletin 10 https://www.online-literature.com/forums/images/misc/rss.jpg https://www.online-literature.com/forums/blog.php?41541-Joreads https://www.online-literature.com/forums/entry.php?12685-Where-have-I-been-and-what-the-hell-have-I-been-doing Mon, 03 Dec 2012 05:00:23 GMT I recently came back to the forum and I was horrified to realize it had been nearly two years since I had been here. What on earth had I been doing... I recently came back to the forum and I was horrified to realize it had been nearly two years since I had been here. What on earth had I been doing with my time a thought that has been increasingly bothering me?

Well in my defense in December 2011 I graduated uni after seven long years, working fulltime and studying part time was not always easy . 2012 is a different story there is no in “ my defence “ answer other than, it took me about four months to get use to the fact that I didn't have to be somewhere four nights a week at a certain time, that I could watch TV without feeling guilty about the study that I was not doing, that I didn't have to pick up a book unless I really wanted to. For months I would be in the middle of something and suddenly panic – where am I supposed to be /what am I supposed to be doing, of course the answers were nowhere and nothing. Catching up with friends no longer involves the uni library and I can go out for dinners and coffee mid-week, not to mention a movie!!!

It came as a surprise to me that at first I missed it my life had been so regimented for such a long time I had no idea what to do with myself, literally no idea. Yet at the same time I cannot tell you what a relief it was to finally have uni behind me, to see my degree finally hanging on the wall. At the tender age of 41 I am finally out of school for the first time ever.
Have I finally gotten use to my new life? – Oh yes and I love it. I am finally able to read once again for pleasure, to watch TV and if I feel like it doing absolutely nothing at all (I am not really good at that but I am trying to learn). I have even enrolled in some one day courses – work related – it was so nice to turn up at 9 am leave at 5 pm to have learnt something and not have to sit an exam or hand in a paper.

What are my plans – that is the question that everyone keeps asking me and my standard answer is to start living my life. ]]> Joreads https://www.online-literature.com/forums/entry.php?12685-Where-have-I-been-and-what-the-hell-have-I-been-doing https://www.online-literature.com/forums/entry.php?7817-Why-are-we-all-so-time-poor Wed, 25 Mar 2009 05:08:58 GMT I caught up with some of my girl friends a few weekends ago and the one thing we all had in common was the phrase “I am so busy” It got me wondering... I caught up with some of my girl friends a few weekends ago and the one thing we all had in common was the phrase “I am so busy” It got me wondering why it is that we are all so time poor these days. We have more time saving devices than I am sure my grandmother would ever have dreamed of, dishwashers, microwaves, washing machines and I could go on and yet I would hazard a guess that we are the generation that will be judged as the most time poor in history.

Is that as women we are too quick to say yes or we simply do not know how to say no? Is it that we like to have our plates so full that they are overflowing or are we forced to have them that full? Is this a problem that is only faced by women or are men feeling the pinch as well?

I can only speak for myself and I have to say that I am my own worst enemy at times. I am too quick to say yes and to put my hand up and to slow to say no, that is when I can bring myself to say it at all. So I am instituting some new rules
1. I will not accept an invitation on the spot i will think about it first.
2. I will consult my dairy more.
3. I will schedule some me time
4. I will learn to say no.


Of course all of this will have to wait until I have time to fit it in.:lol::bawling: ]]> Joreads https://www.online-literature.com/forums/entry.php?7817-Why-are-we-all-so-time-poor https://www.online-literature.com/forums/entry.php?7675-My-week Mon, 09 Mar 2009 04:24:16 GMT So I really didn’t have enough on my plate what with working, university, book club and my volunteering so of course when I was asked if I wanted to... So I really didn’t have enough on my plate what with working, university, book club and my volunteering so of course when I was asked if I wanted to start a movie club my answer was yes why not. Well we into our second month and I am loving it. We meet on the second Friday of the month at someone’s house we watch a movie and then discuss it. Oh of course there is great food and wine as well. :p
What movies do we watch – well this will not surprise some of you reading this blog but our subject for at least the next two years is the evolution of Vampire mythology. Our first movie was Nosferatu a 1922 silent movie based on the novel Dracula. Our second movie will be Dracula 2000. The point is to look at the change that has occurred throughout history to the way we view the vampire. So for those of you that thought I was a little weird now you know, and a quick look at the calendar for this month’s movie night will seal the deal.:D

I started back at university last week where I have nosed dived right into third year subjects. One of the subjects that I am doing is financial accounting III oh and it is as exciting as it sounds. The core aspect of this subject is ethic’s you can imagine my surprise when I was going over the one and half page reading list and I saw Oliver Twist listed. Yes I did a double take as well. There is a new stream of thought in accounting that says that the best way to teach students how to be ethical is to expose them to literature. That by expanding the imagination we open up our minds more to the possible outcomes of all of the decisions that we make. I will not bore you further with the reasoning behind this but who knew that the two loves of my life would meet one day and form an everlasting bond. So the next time you are looking for a new accountant you might want to ask what books he has been reading before signing on the dotted line.

Twice a year I volunteer at the Life Line book fair that is held in my area. Second hand books are sold cheaply and all the funds go back into the charity to help people in need. My job is to stack the books and keep the tables full as the day rolls along. So if you need me on Saturday or Sunday you now know where I will be. ]]> Joreads https://www.online-literature.com/forums/entry.php?7675-My-week https://www.online-literature.com/forums/entry.php?7401-A-sad-sad-day Sun, 08 Feb 2009 05:43:18 GMT It has just been announced on the news that 38 people have lost their lives in the bush fires that are ablaze in NSW and Victoria at the moment, and... It has just been announced on the news that 38 people have lost their lives in the bush fires that are ablaze in NSW and Victoria at the moment, and 100 famlies are now without homes. It is so bad that the Prime Minster has just mobilized the army to help fight the fires and give fire fighters a much need rest.

My family and I are safe and far away from the fires but that was not the case three years ago and watching the fires in the TV today I could taste the fear again. So I know what people close to the blaze are going through.

The heat wave is suppose to break this afternoon and with that will come cooler temps and much needed rain. So fingers crossed for a down pour tonight because that is the only thing that is going to stop these out of control blazes. ]]> Joreads https://www.online-literature.com/forums/entry.php?7401-A-sad-sad-day https://www.online-literature.com/forums/entry.php?7320-Its-my-kind-of-club Wed, 28 Jan 2009 23:37:57 GMT Last night was the first meeting for 2009 for my book club. We are a ten women strong and range in age from 37 to 78. Each month we read a book and... Last night was the first meeting for 2009 for my book club. We are a ten women strong and range in age from 37 to 78. Each month we read a book and get together to discuss it. It never ceases to amaze me that even though we have all read the same book we all take something different away from them.
There are some strong voices among us and the debate can get quite lively but once the jug has been boiled and the coffee, tea and cake served the laughing returns to the group. We come in the door as friends and we leave at the end of the night the same way.
When I looked around the room last night I realized that I was looking at nine women that I would never have meet had it not been for my love of reading. One of the women I now count as one of my closest friends.
Reading is a wonderful past time but it is by its nature a very solitary past time. Book Club has allowed me away to turn on of my great loves reading into something that I can share with wonderful people and there can be no greater joy than that. ]]> Joreads https://www.online-literature.com/forums/entry.php?7320-Its-my-kind-of-club https://www.online-literature.com/forums/entry.php?7279-What-on-Earth-are-they-thinking!! Fri, 23 Jan 2009 04:18:21 GMT It is summer here in the Great Brown Land that is Australia, already this year we have had, here in the east ten days with temperatures over 30OC ... It is summer here in the Great Brown Land that is Australia, already this year we have had, here in the east ten days with temperatures over 30OC (86OF – Virgil I remembered this time!). In fact yesterday at 6:30pm it was still 38oC outside (100OF). Temperatures like that guarantee a few things one of which is bushfires. Bushfires have been blazing in Victoria for the last week and people’s homes have been lost, though thankfully no lives and given the great work our firefighters are renound for that will remain the case until the blazes are under control. It is heart breaking to watch the news and see a family looking at the charred black remains that was once there home. What makes this story even more tragic is that it now looks like the bushfires were deliberate started! Yes you read that right - somebody drove their car into a national park got out walked into the bush land and started a fire. What sort of a person would do that! What would be running through your mind the minute you started the blaze? These people have to know the damage that a fire will cause and that in all likelihood given how dry it is here that they are going to burn long and hard and people’s lives and homes are going to be threatened.
The possibility of catching these people is virtually zero but if they were ever to get caught a good flogging would be in order as far as I am concerned. They should than have to go and personally meet all of the families that lost their homes and everything they own as a result of the fire, after which they can enjoy an extended stay in one of our fine prison establishments.
What on Earth are some people thinking? ]]> Joreads https://www.online-literature.com/forums/entry.php?7279-What-on-Earth-are-they-thinking!! https://www.online-literature.com/forums/entry.php?7228-Volunteers Sun, 18 Jan 2009 03:22:09 GMT It is Sunday afternoon here and I have just come home for the beach. There was a surf life saving regatta on today, men, women and children of all... It is Sunday afternoon here and I have just come home for the beach. There was a surf life saving regatta on today, men, women and children of all ages competing in a triathlon.

Nothing to special about that – well apart from the fact that for the last month there has been a spate of shark sighting and attacks in the Illawarra. There were two attacks alone last week. Yet not one of these volunteers’ life savers hesitated for even a second to run into the water this morning sharks and all.

It got me thinking just how much we take for granted. Every Sunday when I go for my swim I know there will be more then six sets of eyes on me and everyone else in the water at all times. If I need help all I need do is raise my hand and there it will be there.

We have bush fires at the moment in NSW and the rural bushfire service is working overtime to try and get these blazes under control before they start to get to close to people and their homes. I should point out that these fire fighters are all volunteers. Men and Women who give up their weekends and even in some cases paid work to save lives.

I have to ask myself where would we be without them?

So to all the volunteers out there no matter what it is that you do – thank you. I know it is not much and I also know that is all that you ask for. Without people like you we would be a lot worse off in so many ways. ]]> Joreads https://www.online-literature.com/forums/entry.php?7228-Volunteers https://www.online-literature.com/forums/entry.php?7190-My-First-Blog Thu, 15 Jan 2009 00:19:20 GMT I have never blogged before so I thought I would try my hand at it so here we go. It is 11am as I sit here and write and it is almost impossible... I have never blogged before so I thought I would try my hand at it so here we go.

It is 11am as I sit here and write and it is almost impossible to believe but today is hotter than yesterday 37oc at this time of the day is nuts. We have had a run on days above 30 and it is starting to wear me out. The heat plays havoc on my sleep which then plays havoc on my migraines, I am on my third one this week!!

For those of you that don’t know I am a Twilight nut, really I am obsessed by it I am not sure how it happened but there you go it did. I am blaming my friend Sharon who is a librarian and always bringing me books she thinks that I will like. This time she hit the jackpot I am in love with this series. I know that it is not everyone’s cup of tea but it is mine and a lot of other people that I know. In fact I have ten people in the office reading the book as this very moment one of which is more obsessed then me, hard to believe I know.:lol:


My love of these books got me thinking about readers; we are a funny bunch are we not? I have friends that reread Lord of the Rings every year or Jane Austen or any number of other books. I have never been one to reread books and I have always been a little jealous of people that can – that is until now. I have reread these books five times since Christmas and seen the movie five times also. So I have developed a little theory that every reader has a series or a book that they love above all others. A book that you can reread and never get tired of doing so. A book the very thought of makes you smile just anticipating opening the first page to begin the wonderful journey when life is getting you down.

Well I have my books now and I hope that if you do not have yours they are just around the corner.:) ]]> Joreads https://www.online-literature.com/forums/entry.php?7190-My-First-Blog