Today is Day #2 of Operation: Snap Out of It! As you might have read yesterday, I'm in a little bit of a funk and I've determined the best way to work myself out of the funk is to follow the wise words of an anonymous author who said, "Forget about yourself, focus on others." So, today is day-two of a six-day random acts of kindness run. By Saturday, I expect to be whistling Dixie, with blue birds on my shoulder, and rays of sunshine escorting me wherever I go.
The idea for today's random act of kindness is compliments of my mother. She told me of a recent trip she took into Manhattan on the Long Island Railroad. She bought a book at the train station, hoping to make the thirty-minute ride in and out of the city pass more quickly. It wasn't until my mother, the avid reader, was on the train and twelve pages into the mystery that she realized she'd already read the book. She immediately turned to the man sitting next to her and asked if he would like to have it. He gladly accepted her offer, explaining that his wife loved mysteries too.
My mother explained she'd often thought about creating a book mark or cover (brown paper bags, look out) that she could place on a book, once it was read, permitting the lucky finder to enjoy the story before passing it along again. I don't know if my mother ever did it, but today I will. We have a small stack of books my husband has read on recent business trips. They are good books, but not books worth keeping. I have just finished putting covers on them. The front says...
I'm done, now it's your turn...
Enjoy the Book
Catch the spirit, do a random act of kindness
And the back says...
Pass it along when you're finished...
Do a Random Act of Kindness
I will bring them to Starbucks when I go for my morning cup of joe and place them on coffee tables around the store. That and a cup of coffee is sure to start my day off on the right foot.
Now, if you commute on a train, bus, subway, or plane; frequent a local coffee shop; exercise at a gym; share common office space; visit a local park regularly; or even shop at a supermarket, consider doing the same. Use brown paper, a mailing label, or something as easy as a sticky note and invite complete strangers to be the recipient of your random act of kindness.Let us know how it goes and I'll do the same.
Announcements:
- Taste of USA: Today we celebrate New Mexico, Wednesday is Texas, Thursday is Washington D.C., Massachusetts, and Hawaii. Friday these states must muster up as many people as possible to... "tell us what your state's made of." On deck... Idaho, Alaska, New York, Tennessee, and Michigan.
- Free For All Friday: We have some takers for this week's Free For All Friday Challenge. First, Andrea (killer aerobic instructor) is hosting a Carnival-themed party for her six-year old son. She has some games brainstormed, but is looking for the extra fixins (party favors, prizes, decorations, music selections, fun outfits she and others can wear the day of the party, food choices, etc....) Important Note: Andrea will not read the blog until FRIDAY, so mill over it for the next few days, but don't post your genius ideas until this Friday.
- Also, Maureen's daughter is turning 16 in February. In New York this is serious business, so a reception hall has already been booked and party planning is in full swing. She is looking for our readerships' collective knowledge and creativity surrounding Sweet Sixteen Court Ceremonies (did you know this existed?), as well as best places to purchase once-in-a-lifetime-princess-tiaras (she said if Texans, host to pageants galore don't know where to get a tiaras then who will?).
- Congratulations to Heather. She was just offered a new position AND PROMOTION at the University of Texas at Arlington. This, of course, means she will be moving my way in the next couple of months. Can you see my smile coming through your computer screen?
Signing off until tomorrow...
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20 comments:
What a lucky Starbucks!! Do you have a favorite Starbucks? I don't know why but my favorite is the one on Glade Rd. next Albertsons. There are three nearby... the one in Target and the new one across 121 by Lowes. The one on Glade has lots of regulars and I just like that feel.
That's a great idea for your books. I usually either put them in box to the library or the charity that picks up in my neighborhood.
I got one photo yesterday from Alison in Alabama and I will post that one and any other photos on Friday's post.
My husband LOVES to read and goes through books like crazy! He has actual gotten a book from a stranger a plane before and ended up loving the book and passing it onto someone else afterwards. I'll have to gather some of his book and create fun covers for them too!
I usually give my books to the senior's at the community center. I only buy hardcovers and I feel so bad if they sit on a shelf collecting dust (Claudia remember that time we had to dust all those books for your neighbor?) anyway as for my kids books I also buy only hard covered books. I NEVER go to the library because the late fees I incur cost as much as the book. I have so many children's books from my girls that I don't know what to do with. I tried donating to schools , daycare centers and even the childrens hospital but have no takers. If anyone is interested let me know I will even mail them to you.
This is a great idea, Claudia...kudos to your mom. Usually I just send off my books to my cousin who also sends hers to me, but then we're stuck with what to do with them...now I know!
Also, congrats to Heather.
HEATHER!! I forgot to address you in my first comment!
Welcome Ya'll! Can't wait for you to get here!
Congrats on the new job!
Maureen... there are at least a few readers I know of who have girls that I think are about to receive books your daughters have read. Susan from Georgia has a ten year old daughter, Julie G. from Arkansas also has two daughters, and Dawn from AZ has a daughter.
If any of you women are out there... let us know if you might be interested. Maureen... you can mail them "media mail" which is cheaper than regular USPS rates.
CKB
Ok, my post above makes NO sense. What I meant to say was...
Maureeen, a few of the readers have daughters who ages are close enough to your daughters, that the books you are offering might truly be or interest.
Sorry about the incoherent sentence.
Claudia the sad part was that I understood the first post LOl I will send them anywhere! I just need addresses. Oh yeah and I still have the book Im mailing you. I have it all packaged and ready to go.
I normally just get books from the library. I can't cost justify buying the number of books that I read (I read at the gym-that's how a stay at home mom can read non-children books)
Anyhow, when I'm on vacation I buy books. Just last week I bought a bunch of books and left them at the resort in Mexico. There was a whole bookcase of assorted books in various languages. It was great.
That is a fun idea if I ever heard one.
Maureen--if any of those books you are trying to rid yourself of are pre-school aged books (I'm holding out hope since you mentioned trying to give them to a daycare)...then I'd LOVE to take you up on the offer.
This is Julie checking in. I'm awaiting the arrival of Flat Stanley. I know the post about him came a few days ago, but we'll leave it at I had a really busy weekend. Helena - have you sent him my way yet?
I love random acts of kindness, and the plan about the the pager at the restaurant is fabulous!
I can't wait to start posting about New York next week ... I just hope Flat Stanley gets to me in time!!!
Heather
I will check the box I have put aside. If there are any for you they are all yours. I will get back to you tomorrow and let you know.
Glad I get to congratulate Heather publicly on your blog, rather than through just a boring old email... CONGRATS, Heather! I'll miss you terribly, but can't wait to hear about all your adventures in Texas with Claudia! Must. Go. To. Moe's. Before. You. Leave.
Great idea about the books, Claudia. I am really attached to books (as literature and as objects) and have a really hard time giving them away, even when I don't love them. Maybe this is something I can do to make the process of letting go feel a little easier.
And Maureen, if you're serious about the children's books, consider me a taker. I have a very tiny son, not a daughter, so if you have anything appropriate for his next couple of years or so, I'd love to take advantage of your generosity! And I don't care if they're supposedly "girly" books, either... we're equal-opportunity readers at our house!
heather, i will miss you dearly!
I think I am confused....as far as Taste of USA is concerned anyway!
I'm not quite sure I understand how we gain points as a state! For which of the following scenarios would I gain points for my state?
1. Logging onto the site on my state's day but not leaving a comment.
2. Logging onto the site and leaving a comment on my state's day.
3. Logging onto the site on the Friday of my state's week but not leaving a comment.
4. Logging onto the site on the Friday of my state's week and leaving a comment.
-Lisa
Love the random acts of kindness ideas. What a great way to make yourself and others feel good.
I can't wait to try these ideas and brainstorm some of my own.
Lisa and others...
Yes, there is a quite a bit of confusion about what exactly people can do to earn points for Taste of USA. I will try to explain simply and then repost again tomorrow for anyone who misses. THANK YOU for being invested enough to ask questions!!!! I rely on interested readers like you!
So here is the scoop.
1. The only way to earn points is for you to post a "Taste" of YOUR state on the designated Friday. This week, for example, residents from the following states should post something they love about their state/town. The states are: Alabama, New Mexico, Texas, Washington D.C. Massachusetts, and Hawaii (all of which were listed in a Monday post).
1a. There is a weekly challenge that allows residents of a state to earn EXTRA points. Each week the challenge will change and it will be clearly stated on the Taste of USA link. This week the challenge involves posting headlines from a city or local paper.
2. Any other day, all we want you to do is help celebrate other states by sharing an experience you might have had there, a native you know from the state, a funny joke, a tidbit of information, etc...
That's it. Hopefully it helps.
oops. Misunderstanding on my part. I have not posted this weeks challenge. I thought Claudia was going to post them on highlowaha but we can fix that right now!
Heather - WONDERFUL news about your job! CONGRATS!! Stacie - I was so glad to read that I'm not the only one who has a hard time giving books away. I think I've just had too many people "borrow" my favorites - never to see them again! Maybe keeping them will be a good thing - My son recently turned 1, and my mother-in-law presented us with a book that my husband received on his 1st birthday 33 years ago. Very touching!
Thanks everyone for your congratulations!
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