Young adult literature and book blogging

So I wrote this as a comment to a book blog I was checking out:
The boom of young adult literature much like its children's literature counterpart is both good and bad. It it good becuase it seems to increase reading in these age groups which probably continues throughout their lives. The flip side is that they are mostly reading the fluffy cotton candy of literature. Taking up so much of their time ready the dessert without ever having a meal.

Got me thinking if I should blog about books. I read quite a bit. I could do a general media blog seeming I also consume movie and tv and a half decent pace. I could just include a book a week type thing on this blog or another blog I'm thinking of doing. This other blog will be focusing on living in concientiously with tips and thoughts and reviews of products. My reading doesn't always fall along those lines but even quite a bit of my reading reaches into socio-political concerns. I don't want any blog to be very political though. Politics is too divisive. I may rant once a blue moon on here about something bugging me but I would severely shy away from it on a blog that is trying to bring people together for a higher purpose.

Rural vs Urban

So the blog I've been lost in lately is about a woman who trades big city living to marry a rancher (you probably know the one I'm talking about). It has gotten me thinking about my life long struggle with city vs country living. Suburbia mostly disturbs me. Especially the template housing developments. Small towns are more my cup of tea. Especially if they are at least nearish (hr or at max). Portsmouth, NH and Ithaca, NY are two of my favorites.

I currently live in a small town near two smallish cities and lots of other small towns of various character. There is a movement here to try to make things more interesting but I live on the island part of the town (yeah I live on an island in the middle of a river) that is cut off by a 4 lane road to the downtown area. Downtown would be nice but we have way more storage and its a bit cheaper. When the weather is warmer I can cycle to downtown.

So even though I have sort of have what I desire I still don't own and the small backyard is shared with a family with boys. Very hard to garden with them crashing about. So I'm going to try to get a community garden plot. Yet this is only happening if I don't move away...more about that later.

A meandering garden with roses, herbs and wild flowers. Stone patio area and path with benches and an arbored area with grapes growing. Bamboo and a koi pond. Chickens and a food garden. This is my dream I've had for so long. The older I get the more intangible it seems to be yet the more I want it. Someday..........

Part of me still would love to live out in the middle of nowhere with tons of dogs, cats, horses, etc. Another would love to live in the city and feed off the energy and flow of that magic. If I could have my way I would have a co-op farm/rescue animal place and an apt in the city. Instead I'm settling for an apt in a small town. One does have to make do with what one can. I live close to many people and places I cherish. It is familiar here. I do miss the exploring and every once in awhile I head out again (France in April!). Yet I'm unsettled. The guy I'm with is just a bit off. He's not horrible or anything but after we've been dating and then moved in with each other I've discovered/opened my eyes to things that I just can not deal with in the long run. But that is a topic for a different day.

I love animals and plants and space and trees. I love culture, people, good food and the general pulse of the city. I know how to shit in the woods and piss in the alley. I cherish comfort, home and the familiar. I seek out new things constantly...expanding myself. I'm a torn woman who is slowly learning to integrate herself.

Finally checking out other blogs.

Not that I've never read a blog. But I've never really surfed the blogsphere. So I've actually been so sidetracked with that the last few weeks (and some other stuff...see below) that I haven't blogged.

So in my meandering there was only that really caught my attention and been losing sleep because of it. After being absorbed by this blog on and off for the past week I find out it is like huge and won tons of awards. (oooh looks like wontons...he he).

Also been busy with Christmas stuff and my grandmother dieing. Even took a road trip to Buffalo to see a band and my brother with a friend of mine. I have been feeling a lot better this month. I also finally applied for Medicaid and Foodstamps. Reading way more. This also cuts down on my online time and thus my chances of getting around to blogging.

Really though I should blog more. This has turned into my online diary of sorts. I really don't write in my paper one as much as I used to. Even a decade ago I used to write almost everyday. I haven't told anyone I know about this blog and maybe some day I will but for know I enjoy this way to share without much censorship (I think we all censor at least a little bit). If I share this with people I know then well it has lost that anonymity.

I got on blogger because I guess I wanted to connect and share in my struggles. Not so much for myself as for other people and for humanity in general. I really think that blogging may just be a great way for people to connect in a disconnected world. Blogs shouldn't replace real and in person relationships but when there is a deficit we can turn to the internet. I remember when I first started to get online. Not many people were online in the mid 90's but I found community in chatrooms. At the time I was a socially awkward teen (Hell I'm still socially awkward in ways) and the internet provided a way to gain some confidence. In college had lots of groups of people I hung out with and some friends but I still had trouble with social graces and conversation. Having both the internet and in person relationships was very helpful in creating a better me (despite the issues I still have). Although I did laugh quite hardily at a comedian the other day when he said about blogs that, "never have so many said so little".

So I have no idea if anyone reads this blog but if they do they don't comment. It's OK if no one does read this. It would be nice if I could share in humanity because of this blog but if I don't it is not the end of the world either.

poetry

Poetry is so varied and interesting. It can be seen as pretentious by some and it has that potential. Yet the people involved run the gamut of human emotions and personalities.

I've struggled with my own. I think that my poetry is one aspect of my writing career that I have maintained the most. I really do need to write more. I probably should go through my journals to pick out pieces to clean up. I should also write more as well as learn to perform it as well.

Poetry will probably never make me money or at least not much. Yet it is so good to express like that. I wish poetry was appreciated better. I wish good literature was better appreciated.

The dumbing down of America sucks for so many reasons.........

Love and Loss

I envy those who are lucky enough to be able to spend the rest of their lives with their first great love. Not just that but have a good relationship with them as well. It does not even have to be the first but the second or third...shit any.

I once read that people only have three great loves in their lifetime. I thought about it and realized I already had mine. It brought me great distress. I still have a bit of anxiety about it. Am I forever doomed?

My analytical nature has been a stumbling block. Although one wonders if it has preserved me for something better. A relationship that blends that intense devotion, with steadfast love, common interests and goals, and mutual respect is of the highest sort. Why is it so rare? I can not but help to blame our culture for its lack of commonality and need for instant gratification.

A Good Day...

A little klutziness in the beginning and the end but overall a great day.

Had breakfast with my family. The crepes were kinda sucky though.

Went home and caught up with Dexter, which is awesome this season. Then made snowmen with my niece. She had a bit of a tantrum but I showed Mom how to handle it.

I took a nap.

When I woke up we cracked open the geodes and split the booty.

We went to get roller skates or blades. Finally talked her out of roller blades after her trying them on. Then we went rollerskating in the park. I also got her to wear knee pads so she could fall better and learn faster.

After that we played on the playground. I forgot the pure joy of swinging. It was fun climbing everything too but it was swinging that set me free. I was transported back to childhood. I wanted to swing for a long time yet my grownup interrupted. It was getting late and we needed to get home and go to bed.

I watched Criminal Minds while working on Christmas list and shopping on Thinkgeek.com. Also I started to try to teach myself binary while watching Mythbusters. Then a monster making show came on. This specific one was trying to figure out what a scientific dragon would look and be like. They looked at various animals and insects, current and extinct. While watching I broke open two pomegranates. I ate some and drank some raspberry beer while watching Young Frankenstein. Still watching and doing various things online.

Simple pleasures. Event filled. General sense of happiness and overall well being.

Now I have the choice: To watch Star Trek Nemesis or not. Do need sleep but what a great ending to my night that would be :)

Literary Diatribe into a Daydream

I really want to do something new with the English language and literature like my heroes. There is thousands of writers out there...many good ones. How does one stand out? The best known ones these days are generally sub-par for the masses. So many innovators and wanna be ones make it such a daunting task to stick out and be noticed. All artists have to have at least some manner of ego to accomplish great things. Generally it is a very big ego and not always tempered with humility. Yes....ego and humility can coexist.

I'm also starting to have book and short story ideas again. I'll have basic ideas but not anything I think I can flesh out sooner than later. I don't want to be definable which they won't let me but If I can have at least 3 labels applied to my book then that is undefinable to me. Science fiction and chick lit are where my most of my ideas fall into. I even have a few children's books in my head.

I need to make the time for writing. I've finally found what I want to do in life (well part of it...the part I'd most likely make some half decent money at) and now I don't have the resources that I used to have. It will be awhile before I have anything I would even try to have published. I think I will focus on essays and short stories and in about a year I will have enough to find an agent and get that whole enchilada in the oven.

Who knows if I'll get something new going but my urge to write is so huge I can't deny it. I also want to make stuff and have a house and a garden...maybe a small farm: a horse, chickens, a peacock and lots of cats and dogs at the very least. I wouldn't be averse to sheep, alpacas, or tons of horses. A girl can dream.........