Is listening the new reading?

I have finished 4 books this week, for a total of 6 books finished this year.  3 of the books I've "read" this week are audio books that I listened to mostly on my commutes to and from work and while walking on my breaks and lunches at work.  Does that count as reading?

The same app I got from the library that allows me to "check out" books and listen them on my iPhone also allows  me to check out books and read them on my iPhone.  I love the printed page and am not a big fan of too much screen time.  But it's hard to argue against the utility of downloading books.  Now if I don't read or listen to a downloaded book from my library it goes away in 28 days limiting my ability to lose or not return said books to the library. 

So for now I am compromising, I am reading some books the old fashioned way and other books I am reading with my ears. To clarify, the old way I was still reading with my ears.  To cut them off and read without them would be almost unheard of.  Oh Van Gogh you didn't!

Next Time:

I'll take colonoscopies for 300 Alex.

Stepping into your comfort zone

Stepping out of your comfort zone.  Yeah, I get it, But it's been done, right? You know what I mean.  We get it.  It makes sense.  Like the 20 seconds of insane courage thread that runs through the movie We Bought a zoo That starts here ...


 



continues here...




  

and concludes here ...

  .

Is it possible or has stepping out of your comfort zone  become just a little too comfortable?  I think sometimes it's important to step into your comfort zone.  Here are a couple of reasons ...


1. The Cindy Brady effect.

In an episode of The Brady Bunch, Mrs Brady is distributing lunches and gives Cindy a peanut butter  and jelly sandwich.  Young Cindy complains "Why do I always get peanut butter and jelly sandwiches? " To which Mrs Brady promptly replies "because you love them."  A big smile lightens up Cindy's face and she responds , Oh yeah, I keep forgetting.

We need to step into our comfort zone, because we need comfort.  Life, especially certain seasons of life can be a chaotic swirl.  Surrounding yourself with people, places , activities and things that are familiar and encouraging makes for a calm in a swirly storm.

2.  Take Your Passion and Make it Happen

There are nuggets of truth to be found almost anywhere you look, even bad eighties songs.  Irene Cara sings the above lyrics in the title song from the movie Flashdance.

Take your passion.

Start in your comfort zone. Take what energizes you, what you care about and ...

Make it happen.

Implement your vision.  Some would say this implementation would mean leaving your comfort zone.  I see it as expanding your comfort zone.  People who were terrified of speaking in public found their fear dissipate when speaking about things they are passionate about.

I am stepping out of my comfort zone now by finishing this post without a really good ending, because I became uncomfortable staring at a blank screen with writer's block.

Next Time : Is Listening Reading?

Things that happen when you don't own a washing machine

Since I just celebrated my 20th wedding anniversary, I have been thinking about the early years of our marriage. Amy and I lived in an apartment for the first 3 1/2 years of our marriage before buying our first house in fall of 2001. As I recall there was one washing machine and dryer in the basement, but most Saturday mornings we went to a local laundromat and did our laundry there.

Saturday was our day to sleep in so it was late morning when we'd get there and the ABC Saturday morning cartoons were usually on the television.  Most of the shows did not appeal to me, but there was a show called science court that caught my attention.  What I really liked was the mid-show between the show segment called see ya later estimator. It featured a cartoon character with a cartoon sock puppet called Hippy the Hip-hop hippo.  Years later when we had foster children living with us,  we got one boy a stuffed hippo and named him Hippy the Hip-hop Hippo,  which our foster son pronounced Ippy the Ip-Op Ippo.  Something he would have never been able to do, if, in our early years of marriage, we had owned a washing machine.






Next Time: Stepping into your comfort zone

Anacrosticversary

                           
               
           

A score of years ago, I made a great decision. I married my best friend.  We celebrated the event in many different ways over the past week.  I love her more now than ever before. This an acrostic is chop full of memories and tidbits of  2 decades of Rolleriffic Romance.

             Amy and Dave TLA
         Now where were we?
         No longer newlyweds
Love Interest
         Vim vigor and vitality
         Emma Charlie Lucy
         Rollersteen family est. 1998
         Steen added
         Aunt Eileen and relatively helpful hints
         Roller skating reception
         You Complete me




          
           
Next time: Hippy the Hip Hop Hippo

          

Writers Write.

Hi.  My name is Dave and I used to write a blog called Home School Dad.  I was a full-time educator for 5 to 6 years and before I went back to the 9 to 5 grind, (It's actually 7 to 5:30 4 days a week, but how much personal information do you really want from me?  Should I text you my ssn? BACK OFF!) I wrote regularly about my family, our journey, and many of my other interests.  Then I stopped.

That's right, I pretty much stopped writing.  Sure for a year before I turned 50 I wrote a limerick a day and posted it on Facebook.  Yes, once a year at my  Crazy Uncle Dave's sports blog, I cover Baseball's hall of fame voting. I did participate in a to z blogging in April for a couple of years, and every 6 months or so, I try to work on the book idea I've had for almost 20 years  But the truth is writers write, fish swim and Facebook friends unfriend each other over trivial misunderstandings, so I need to get back on Facebook and start some useless arguments.  Sorry, not the point.  I need to write, and on a  daily basis, even though I have a rewarding, albeit challenging busy life.

I also need to read more. Reading informs and prepares the writer.  I have finished one book this year and that was on January 7th.  I need to make time in the day for it.  I mean how much Netflix can one guy watch?  That's not a rhetorical question, I need answers!!!!

I'm not sure if this is where I'll do most of my writing or just where I'll keep people appraised of my accomplishments.  We shall see.

Next Time: Brain Storming in times of  Drought.