Christmas is coming FAST! I’m not ready. At all. Except that the presents are almost all purchased. But the decorating, etc? Nope.

If you’re not feeling quite prepared either, may I offer a link to a secret weapon? Keri Smith offered this gem on her blog last year and I just may have to use it to get me through the end of the season.

This morning was an unusual one for me. Well, a lot of it was just my regular ol’ routine, but there was something small that I did differently, and it made the morning truly interesting and happy! I listened to a different radio station! I know, I’m such a rebel.

I started off in my usual routine, flipping between 91.1 KNOW, which is an MPR News channel and 89.3 The Current, an MPR current & local music station, when I heard the most fascinating recordings being played on a station between the two. 90.3 KFAI was playing music from the 1890’s to 1920’s from 9-11am this morning! If I could have, I would have run home, put on my pajamas and made a mug of cocoa, and cuddled up next to the radio to soak in all the marvelous sounds.

There’s something about the noise in those old recordings that just, I don’t know how else to say it, makes me feel happy, and in-the-moment and nostalgic, all at the same time. Maybe it’s the wonder at how far we’ve come, maybe it’s the realization that while technology is vastly different, humanity really hasn’t changed that much over the past 100 years. I can’t pin-point what I love about it, but songs like this one (The Mocking Bird (ca. 1893) by John Yorke AtLee, via Archeophone) just make me stop and listen in awe!

I haven’t been reading much lately. The last book I finished was If You Want to Write by Brenda Ueland, but I don’t generally read a lot of non-fiction. Great book though! I started reading The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan a while back, but haven’t made much progress. My husband, roommate, and youngest brother all swear by that book series though, so I’m not sure why I get stuck so easily.

Now, I haven’t read a lot of fantasy novels so I don’t know how it compares, but a good book is a good book, yes? Even if it’s a genre you don’t usually read! So, if you like good books, you should find a copy of The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss. There are stories within stories and I really can’t even describe how cool the writing is. There have been very few books I’ve read so quickly, so that’s a sign. Trust me!

But, what to read now? Should I keep at the Robert Jordan book? Pick up something by Neil Gaiman? Wander through the library stacks til something falls off the shelf and read that? I’ve been contemplating checking out Imager by L. E. Modesitt Jr. since I enjoyed the quick pace of his Saga of Recluce series, but it can be good to branch out. Maybe I’ll finally read the last book my Dad lent to me, Midnight at the Well of Souls by Jack L. Chalker. I’ve started it a couple of times now, but I always seem to get distracted and put it on the back burner, which is a shame because it’s really interesting. Maybe I’ll skip the first few chapters since I’ve already read them twice…

I’m not! I have almost no style. But Mara has enough to cover for me. This adorable little shelf is in her kitchen. *jealous* I just love it!

She’s also always wearing the most adorable clothing and accesories. I’d love to just swim in her closet for a day. Maybe someday she will take me under her wing and teach me everything she knows about being beautiful… but I suspect it’s an innate ability for her, and not really something I can learn.