Books for all

Over the life of this blog we have talked a lot about books and what they mean to both Golden and I … and this post will be no different. For those that follow me on Twitter, and why wouldn’t you with gems like this …..

….  you might have seen that I have been chosen as the Mighty Little Library’s honorary librarian of September. Now the Mighty Little Library is a free book loan and exchange box that’s been up since say July in Oneonta, Alabama. 

The little library even has a light on the inside for you nighttime readers who need your fix but wanna do so in your jammies. All the library asks is that if you borrow a book and love it keep it or return it to find your next love. If you decide to keep it bring back another one that someone else might get to enjoy. 

   

It has children books, adult themed books, mysteries, science fiction and even some comic books and magazines. It’s awesome and fantastic and a great way to try out a new book without spending extra monies at the store. There's even a notebook where you can request specific kind of books guys! I mean honestly! How cool is that! 

So when I was named Honorary Librarian of September I started thinking about the kind of books I’d stock it with. But the key to a library like this is it can’t just be books that you love or books that you grew up with. Sure those have their place but one really has to stop and think about the area that the library is in, the people who would be frequenting the library and books that would appeal to them. Like Oneonta is a very Hispanic heavy community. Many languages are going on in that town at any given moment in any store. So my first donation to the Mighty Little Library was some Spanish language books that I thought would be interesting. Cause that was lacking in the library and the people that stock it were asking for some. 

I chose the following books: 

Spanish Short Stories for Beginners: 20 Captivating Short Stories to Learn Spanish & Grow Your Vocabulary the Fun Way! Which I picked cause it sounded like a good book with a few different stories that those just learning the language might enjoy as well as those who speak it well. I mean it’s 20 short stories what’s not to love about that?! That’s 20 books in a single book guys .  . . . I mean no brainer right!?

Yo no soy tu perfecta hija Mexicana by Erika Sanchez (translation “I am not your perfect Mexican daughter”) which I got after reading a review about how compelling the story was and how it captivated them. I also thought it might be a story a little girl in the town of Oneonta might need to read right now. Heck a parent of that little girl might need to read it to.

 

Juliet Respira Profundo by Gabby Rivera (translation: “Juliet takes a breath”) which I bought after watching a video with the writer talking about the book. It just sounded like a fun read and well if that’s not what this library is about then I don’t wanna know.

My second set of donations were brand new copies of my all time favorite book series “My Teacher Is an Alien” a 4 part books series that frankly made me want to write as a child. God Bless Bruce Coville and his amazing brain. Each book in the series is told from the point of view of one of the “main” characters, and while the stories pick up exactly where the last book left off they are all stand alone stories but to read only one is a disservice to you as the reader.  These books were imaginative, funny, and really made me think as a kid that A. we weren’t alone and B. it’s embarrassing what we are doing if we think about others who may be watching. It’s a fantastic book series that tackles bullies, kids needing to use their voice, adults needing to listed to their voice, and just how amazing this planet could be in the hands of people that aren’t humans. I re read this series often, usually when I’m in a funk and need to be reminded that the world could be a better place or when I just need an escape in to this world with Peter, Susan and Duncan. It always amazes me that no matter when I read it it seems to fit the time period that I’m living in and that my friends is what “timeless” is all about.

 I love thinking about the things that I’d put in this library and donating to it. I also love that it’s a thing. I can’t tell you how much I would have loved having a library like this as a child that I could walk up to browse and return to often with no need for a card or a ride to the actual library. The Mightly Little Library was born during the Covid Shutdown which incidentally resulted in the shutting down of schools and thus cutting kids off from their books sources (let’s face it not everyone has several bookshelf's full of books to browse). I would encourage you to follow the library and support them in anyway you can by donating books or just RT their posts as they try to provide a little inspiration, encouragement and love into the world.

Here’s to you Mighty’s Little Library may your pages never get dog eared! Next time I'll talk about more adult themed books that meant something to me cause let's face it this blog is nothing else but a depository of book lists for the young and young at heart! 

Marcy

  

Other posts that might interest ya about reading from this Blog ..... 

 https://saywhatmg.blogspot.com/2020/03/aitah.html

 https://saywhatmg.blogspot.com/2019/11/thankfulness-challenge-favorite.html

 https://saywhatmg.blogspot.com/2014/09/ill-read-what-i-want-to.html

 https://saywhatmg.blogspot.com/2014/11/thankfulness-challenge-day-10.html

  

 

 

Thankfulness Challenge – Top 10 Christmas Songs

The other day I talked about Christmas Movies, today I finished up my Christmas Holiday TV calendar which includes specials and beloved movies that people should be on the look out for during the holiday season. When I work on my Christmas calendar I always listen to Christmas Music to get me into the right mood. It’s weird I used to LOVE Christmas music. I was that person listening to it in April. Now I can’t really start listening to it until late Nov. cause all it does is remind me of all the things I haven’t done yet, like shopping, gift wrapping, cards, etc.

However if I’m being honest, I love Christmas music. It’s all so happy and upbeat and even songs with the same title sang over and over by different artist bring something new to the song. Not saying that’s always a good thing but it keeps it interesting. I have talked about Christmas music on this blog before … here ….. but this time I thought I’d do one better…. Here’s the top 10 songs that would make my playlist if someone told me I could only have 10 songs to listen to during this season. Now this list is not about artist, if it were all 10 songs would be by Bryan White …… honestly his Christmas music makes me really happy and you should check them out …. This post however is about the songs that no matter when they come on I always listen, and yes one or two of Bryan’s made the cut. 

1. Oh Holy Night – Martina McBride – you can’t beat this version of this song. Granted any version of this song is fantastic this one beats them all. The woman is amazing. 
2. I Believe – Frank Sinatra – I love everything about this song, the message, the music, the happiness I feel when listening to it. 
3. One Bright Star – Various – this song has been sung by many including Bryan White and Vince Gill. It’s a fantastic song that has a tendency to give me chills when I really pay attention to the lyrics. 
4. Christmas In Dixie –Alabama – Honestly anything by Alabama this time of year is my favorite, from Tonight is Christmas, to A Candle in the Window, to Thistlehair the Christmas Bear, all of it makes me smile and brings up memories of me and my mom putting ornaments on our tree. Any song that is but that Christmas Shoe’s song that one makes me cry like a little girl, every.damn.time 
5. I’ll Be Home For Christmas – Pentatonix  – ok I’ll be honest a variety of people have sung this song a ka-billion times but I had to admit this version is one of my favorite ones. 
6. I Still Believe In Santa Claus –NKOTB – I love this song, I love the message of this song and I love the way these 5 men blend their voices in it. I 100% believe in Santa, in the idea of Santa and the feeling of wonderful and happiness that Santa instills in people. How could anyone not believe in something that’s sole purpose on this planet is to make people happy? 
7. Mary Did You Know –Laura Wright – This song is a different spin on the story of the birth of Christ. It twists it up from Mary’s point of view. I have heard this song by many others but since I have recently discovered the lovely voice that is Laura Wright and my ears are very happy for it. I’ve heard several versions of this song but I really like this one, it doesn’t hurt that Laura has a fantastic voice to back up the song. I’d highly recommend any album or song she has sung on being added to your playlist … STAT! 
8. Finding Christmas – Bryan White – I love this song, it’s a new one not a cover of the same songs over and over and it’s brilliantly done. It’s about a guy who rediscovers his love of Christmas through his children’s eyes and it makes me smile. I love the part where his two boys join him on the chorus the first time I heard it it was so unexpected and now it’s my favorite part of the song. It’s just so pure and innocent. 
9. Mr. Bailey – Eric Bay – this is not a typical Christmas song that’s all over the airwaves but it totally should be. Eric is a master of taking a thing and turning it into a song. He expertly puts It’s a Wonderful Life into a musical journey and I am forever grateful for him doing so.  
10. Til’ Santa’s Gone (Milk and Cookies) – Clint Black – I love the fun playfulness of this song. It never fails to put a smile on my face and a pep in my step.

So there you have it, my Christmas music top 10 list. Honestly, I could have gone to 20, 30 songs but I had to limit it or we’d be here until New Years.

Have a great week!
Marcy

It’s Time for Christmas Music

Yesterday I mentioned the MP3 Player is loaded with Christmas music, which to me is the official start of the holiday season. I love Christmas music, I love the fact that a lot of singers got their start singing these same songs in their respective church choirs or school productions. When I worked retail in High School/College it was my job to supply the store with music during the holiday season. I had so many CDs that we rarely heard the same song more than once.  It's a fact that people spend more when they hear Christmas music. It puts them in a shopping mood.

I especially love that no matter the type of music you are interested in rap, soul/r&b, country, classical, pop, cartoon, funny, sentimental, no matter what gets your grove on there is a Christmas CD for you. Plus this time of year sites, artists, and record labels give away free music which as you all know is my all time favorite thing on earth … FREE MUSIC is AWESOME!!!!

So I shared with you my Halloween playlist so now I’ll share with you some of my favorite Christmas songs and must have CDs:

Bryan White @bryan_White has 4 Christmas albums, each one better than the last. His most recent offer A Bryan White Christmas has an acoustic version of Linus and Lucy which is my holiday ringtone by the way, and a song called Finding Christmas which is about an adult rediscovering Christmas through their children’s eyes. It makes me cry …. Every…darn…time. The year before he released an EP of the same name that had two songs featuring his children, Jackson and Justin. I listen to Jackson’s Version of Jingle Bells in May, cause it makes me that happy. Justin’s version of Wish You a Merry Christmas is a perfectly captured moment in time that also makes me smile. However it’s One Bright Star and Holiday Inn on Dreaming of Christmas playing in my ears that really means it’s Christmas season. As I have said before Bryan could read the phone book and I’d buy it and love it. I’ve met his wife, met his children, met him, and have been a fan for many years. I love everything about him, from the way he carries himself to the fact that he literally gets better with each track he creates. I always say my favorite Bryan White song is his next one. Check out this artist then check out his other CDs especially his new CD Shine you will not be disappointed.

Alabama Christmas from the group Alabama @TheAlabamaBand is another must have during the holiday season. Listening to Tonight is Christmas gives me goosebumps, Santa Clause (I Still Believe in You), and A Candle in the Window are always on my MP3 player. Christmas in Dixie is my mom’s favorite, then again I’m deep in the south so that could have something to do with it. Alabama also has some of the tear jerker songs like Christmas Shoes for Mama, which leave the listener a blubbering mess by the end of the track. There’s also a really good Christmas Movie by the same name which is another good tear jerker.

Christmas with the Rat Pack featuring Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., and Dean Martin leave me yearning for a different time, a time when men wore suits, women wore dresses and everyone had a drink in their hand. This CD is filled with classics like Jingle Bells, White Christmas, I’ll Be Home for Christmas as well as fun tracks like I Believe and Misletoe and Holly. Plus it has Frank Sinatra’s live version of Auld Lang Syne on it, that track alone makes this CD worth the purchase.

Cyndi Lauper’s @Cyndilauper Feels Like Christmas is your peppy happy music that just puts a spring in your step. If you are trying to finish off a project before vacation, or out doing some Christmas shopping this is the CD for you. She has classics like Silent Night and Rocking Around the Christmas Tree in the way that only Cyndi Lauper can but also has December Child, Christmas Conga and Heading for the Moon which will work hard to boost your Christmas spirit.

Dr. Demento Presents The Greatest Christmas Novelty CD is good for a laugh on your drive to the in-laws or Auntie’s house. Granted some of these songs are not very “kid friendly” but Christmas Dragnet featuring Stan Freberg and Daws Butler is a fun one, and I want a Hippopotamus for Christmas and Nuttin’ For Christmas are fun songs both you and the kids will love. Plus the CD has Christmas at Ground Zero from Weird AL and you gotta love some Weird Al at Christmas.

Additional Classics that always make my holiday playlist include:

§  A Christmas Carol – as read by Frank Petingell

§  A Sailor’s Christmas - Jimmy Buffett

§  Blue Christmas – Jessie Payo

§  Burl Ives Presents – Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer Any and All tracks

§  Carol of the Bells -  by any choir, sit back and marvel at the talent it takes to get this one right

§  Christmas Day – Dido

§  Christmas for every boy and girl - Clint Black

§  Happy Birthday Jesus - Reba McEntire

§  Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas - James Taylor

§  How the Grinch Stole Christmas - Boris Karloff

§  I hate Christmas - Sesame Street – Oscar the Grouch

§  I Never Knew the Meaning of Christmas - Nsync

§  I Still Believe In Santa Claus - New Kids On The Block –--- Cause I do!

§  Jolly Ole St. Nicholas – Chet Atkins

§  Little Drummer Boy - New Kids On The Block –--- what can I say boy bands were built for Holiday harmonies and I eat it up!

§  Mele Kalikimaka - Jimmy Buffett

§  Merry Christmas, Alabama (Never Far From Home) - Jimmy Buffett –– however it’s Jimmy reading Twas the Night Before Christmas as a hidden track which is what really makes this track special.

§  Mr. Bailey – Eric Bay

§  My First Snow – Matt Morris

§  My Son – Oak Ridge Boys

§  Night Before Christmas On Sesame Street  - Sesame Street – David

§  Oh Holy Night - Martina McBride –--- quite possibly the most amazing version of this song ever recorded

§  Oh Holy Night - Nsync

§  Rocking Around the Christmas Tree – Brenda Lee

§  Santa’s On His Way - George Strait

§  Slow as Christmas - Clint Black

§  So This is Christmas – John Lennon

§  Some Children See Him - James Taylor

§  Talk a Walk Through Bethlehem - Ray Vega

§  The Birth of the King - Clint Black

§  The Christmas Song - Nsync –--- again boy bands were built for Holiday harmonies and no one … I mean no one did it better than Nsync

§  The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)- James Taylor

§  The First Noel - Nsync

§  The Secret of Giving - Reba McEntire

§  This Christmas Prayer – Steve Wariner

§  This One’s For the Children - New Kids On The Block –– a track created and used by the band to raise money back in the day for a children’s charity but which still speaks volumes today.

§  Til’ Santa’s Gone (Milk and Cookies)- Clint Black

§  Trans-Siberian Orchestra – their entire playlist

§  Twas the Night Before Christmas – Snoop Doggy Dog and Nate Dogg

§  Vince Guaraldi Trio – Christmas Time is Here

§  We three Kings - Blackhawk –– their harmony is beautiful

So that’s more or less my Christmas playlist I have a ton more and may share a few more throughout the holiday season, and will also share a few that I hate and wish to NEVER hear again. What’s on your holiday playlist?!

-marcy

Thankfulness Challenge - Day 23

It’s the last Sunday of November, or as I like to call it the calm before the storm. Nope I’m not talking about families coming together for a delicious meal, or the dreaded Black Friday chaos no I’m talking about something way more dramatic and often more dangerous …. Iron Bowl Week. That’s right people I’m in the middle of ground zero for the chaos that is the Iron Bowl.

Let’s be real for a minute, Auburn is the underdog this year. Depending on which Auburn team shows up this game will either be really exciting or it’s going to be a big flop. Last year the game came down to several key moments, one second to be exact. It ended up being ESPNs game of the year. It was a satisfying game because it was one of those games that kept you on the edge of your seat. I hope for the same this year. I hate games that have a lot of hype but no follow through. Auburn can play spoiler this year but only if they come out of the gate playing as a team. They can’t give away yardage with stupid penalties, they can’t play possum for a quarter hoping for that last second miracle. We can’t let this Alabama team smell blood cause they will pounce and it will NOT be pretty if that happens. Alabama can be beaten but this might not be our year to give them that “L”. Then again I’ve always said the scariest thing in the SEC is an Auburn Team with nothing to lose.

The work week along is insane. People talking about the game in the hallways, emails being sent, shirts are worn, lines are drawn, this game people is a huge deal where I’m from. Even if both teams were out of the running it would be a big deal, it’s bragging rights. One team’s fans will have a little more swagger this winter at least until the A-Day Game. This year one team will go to the championship if they win, and the other gets to play spoiler, if they win.  

When Iron Bowl week is looming it can be very daunting. It used to be even worse when the game would be played on Thanksgiving Day. Some smart soul decided that was silly and it moved back to the weekend after Thanksgiving. Families don’t speak to each other, friends stop being friends, mixed families have a rough time, and all because two football teams are getting ready to take the field.

Strangers walk up to you and either give you a War Eagle or tell you that your team is gonna get beaten, depending on what colors you are wearing. A few years ago I was with a friend at a local tourist attraction wearing an Auburn shirt and someone yelled from across the lawn “Your team sucks!” my friend looked at me, "was he talking to you" … I said "yep" and kept walking. “HEY AWBURN! I’m talking to you!” the man yelled as I continued to ignore him. My friend said, "do you know him?" I said "nope…just keep walking". A few minutes later we walked past the man I gave him a nod, he flipped me off and we just continued on our way. My friend was shocked couldn’t believe it was that extreme. Later that same weekend I was walking around with an Auburn backpack on and someone yelled "WAR EAGLE!" I raised my hand in a peace sign and then from somewhere else I heard "ROLL TIDE" I threw that guy a peace sign too. That people wasn’t even during an Iron Bowl week, so that gives you a idea of what this rivalry can be like.

As you can tell I’m an Auburn fan, hence the Auburn gear. I’m also an Auburn Graduate Class of 2001. As stated in my post on Day 9 Auburn means a great deal to me. Win or lose Auburn will always hold a special place in my heart. I feel for these coaches and players. At best a player gets 4 years to win this game, the coaches on the other hand usually get far less. This game makes or breaks a coaches career. A good Iron Bowl means one more year of a job, a bad one means you need to start looking for boxes. I’ve often been thankful that my job does not depend on the performance of 18-24 year old kids. Win or lose there’s always next year.

So until Saturday WAR EAGLE reader and if your team isn’t Auburn may the players on both sides of the ball stay healthy, play well, and finish strong. Cause let's face it ... I can't be an Auburn fan without others being fans of other teams cause without those teams my team would have no one to play.

-Marcy