You've got a cute way of talking

I was going to ask, “Don’t you love when random songs enter your head?” But maybe you don’t love that. I don’t always love it. As I began to write this blog (one that I didn’t intend to be about random songs, or anything music related) a song popped into my head. It’s a somewhat high energy song, and though it’s on a cd in my car, I haven’t actually listened to it for a couple weeks. Are you just dying to know what it is? Okay:
You make me feel like dancin’
Gonna dance the night away
[take time to groove here]
You make me feel like Dancin’
Dancin’
Dance the night away
That may not actually be how the lyrics flow, but in my mind that’s how they’ve been remixed. For my work fans, you can hear this on my shared itunes – enjoy.

work? blog? blog as work? work as blog?

I need to find my voice. Not like Kaetie found hers recently (I did that many years ago), but my written voice.
I even have an old college book Developing a Written Voice. Maybe I need to dig that out.
I definitely feel I lack a voice when I blog (or write in general – unless it’s for work). I’m not a natural storyteller, and I wonder if that’s part of the problem. When I write I’m very driven by my mood, and so I feel like there is part of why there is no consistent voice. I’m also driven by an inner critic and shy inner introvert (is that too much “in”?). So maybe an issue is not writing honestly (open) enough. Or maybe I do have a voice and I’m letting that critic convince me otherwise. I don’t know.
Regardless, I was at first unhappy to have so few comments. Then the comments came, and I felt better. But even with that I still don’t blog often. I’m back to wanting to use this as a means of writing. Nothing Pulitzer-worthy, but just writing so my brain keeps working. [Yes, I know that’s a fragment – artistic license!]
Oh, and don’t get me wrong – I love comments. Also, if you’re interested in linking to one another’s blog let me know.

Reading

Are you reading anything?
I have a ridiculous long list of books I'm reading - or not reading in most cases.
I'm part of a bookclub at work. So I just read What is theWhat, last month's book. It was really good. It's about the Lost Boys (specifically one) of Sudan. It's by Dave Eggers. I've not read his other work as many reviewers say his writing tends to be egotistical. I didn't want to get into that. This was fiction, but based signficantly on real events. Read it, you'll get what I mean. It's inspiring. Not inspiring like I'm going to go out and conquer something. It's inspring in that I want to learn more about the history of Africa. I want to re-commit to helping the people of the continent - especially refugees.
This weekend I read Night. I've been wanting to read it and maybe had I known it was so short I would have. I read it in the airports during my travels. It's not the first book I've read from a Holocaust survivor, and this was no less poignant. I highly reccomend this quick read too. I guess the original French version was a bit longer. I think I would have liked to read his expanded thoughts.
Now I'm torn between two books, the current bookclub selection The March (Pulitzer prize finalist about the Civil War march of Sherman) or continue on with Long Way Gone (child solider in Sierra Leone). I had planned to read the latter, but honestly it's not written nearly as well as Egger's piece. They're different, so I think it will be worthwhile to read both. Besides, the bookclub isn't all that popular. Only two of us read What is the What. I'm not sure who will read The March. I think I may do my own thing until May when it's time for The Good Earth. I highly reccomend that one too. I already read it, but plan to re-read it.
Oh, and I'm also planning to read The Secret, and maybe, just maybe I can finally dive into The Power of Now or any other number of books sitting in the 'read next' pile on my bookshelf.
Read, Read, Read! If only we still got Pizza Hut coupons for reading!
Okay, everyone off to your library now! :)

other vacations have warranted blogs too, REALLY

I spent this past weekend in Texas.
Not sure why this time I actually wrote a blog about it.
You can find it on my travel blog - the link is below.
[and see what I mean about no voice - ick]
Hmm, with comments like that I'm really not selling the TX blog very well, am I?

Red sky at night . . .

Taking off from BWI airport last night, the sky looked like a neon version of southwestern art – crimson red, coral pink, and yellow topped with a gradient of darkening blue. It was beautiful and I watched it change, compact, and eventually fade into night as I returned home.
I spent a mere three days in Rockville, MD. It wasn’t enough to start with, and it went by too quickly.
I had a wonderful time! Becky's friends are amazing, and I hope by now I can call them my friends too.
In only a few months our Becky will be back in the states to visit for the holidays. It seems like each of us has already begun thinking about a much needed vacation Down Under. So it most certainly was not good-by, but see you later.
Bon Voyage, Becky!
I can’t wait to hear all about your happy life in Brisbane.