Missing Book

I am a bit freakish about my books. This morning I went looking for a certain book, only to discover it was not on my bookshelf. I searched all over the house and could not find it. So, my concern is that I might have inadvertently given it away during a recent cleaning out and de-cluttering. We hauled off several boxes and bags of clothes, books, nick knacks etc. I read the book once already, but I want to read it again because the subject matter is something of which I have first hand knowledge and would like to write about here on my blog. This will drive me crazy, wondering what has happened to it; I'm very protective of my books. I will admit, some may think it's crazy, but I'm very selfish with my books. Most of the time if I read a book that I think a friend will like, I will likely go out and buy them their own copy, rather than give away mine. I have quite a few books that I would like to reread because at the time I was reading it there may have been a lot of distractions and I wasn't able to fully absorb the material. I'll go back at a later date to read it again to really absorb the book. So the search is on, it has to be here somewhere.

The Most Depressing Day of the Year?

The Most Depressing Day of the Year?

Here is a link to one of my favorite blogs, Simple Truths, by Mac Anderson who is a wonderful motivational speaker. Like he says in this post, I too need constant reinforcement to stay positive. I'm sure many of us these days in the midst of some difficult times in our country feel the same way. You can subscribe to Simple Truths and receive regular newsletters and short inspirational movies to lift your spirits, give encouragement and advice to help succeed in life and business.
Enjoy!

Castaway Island Preserve, Jacksonville, FL

One of the great things about living in Jacksonville is that there are so many great parks and recreation areas to get away without driving very far. Castaway Island Preserve is a beautiful nature preserve tucked away in the middle of neighborhoods off San Pablo Road, along the intracoastal waterway. This is a great place to take the kids for a nature walk or school field trips. There is an education center just across from the picnic area. The Island Trail is lined with animal tracks that you can identify to see which animal lives in this type of habitat. At the end of the trail of footprints is an information board that will tell you what kind of animal prints you have been following along with more detailed information about that particular animal. There are a few observation decks along the way that give a beautiful view of the marshlands, and benches to sit and rest or enjoy the view. This is a great place for birders to see many species of birds, such as hawks, osprey, egrets, storks, bald eagles, and many more. You can spend the day canoeing or kayaking along the intracoastal and get a close up view of the wildlife. After you've enjoyed the nature trails, enjoy a picnic at the shaded picnic tables. A note about this, there are no garbage cans at this park and that is noted at the entrance. They do provide you with trash bags through a dispenser, but it wouldn't hurt to bring one from home, just in case. Please, whatever you do, don't leave your trash. This park is definitely a gem, and we want to keep it that way.

NOTE: Castaway Island Preserve is part of the Preservation Project Jacksonville; a massive land conservation program instituted by former Mayor John Delaney in 1999. As a result of this program, Jacksonville now has the largest urban park system in the country.

The Happiness Project

During a recent book search on the Books-A-Million website I stumbled across an ad for a book called "The Happiness Project". The book is written by Gretchen Rubin, who after having an epiphany while riding a city bus with her young daughter, realizes how something that she dreads every day, means the world to her daughter. Thus begins her 1 year long happiness project, which she wrote about on her blog. After reading about the book, I suddenly began to hear about it everywhere, including The Today Show. You can see the video clip of that on her website. The book has inspired a "happiness movement" to make 2010 a happier year. So, after hearing and reading so much about it, and, sense I am at a crossroads in my life feeling somewhat stressed out and dissatisfied with the way things have been going in my life, I decided I have to read this book. So, I ordered it a few days ago and am eagerly awaiting its arrival, which should be Monday. So, I know what I'll be doing Monday evening. I have a good feeling about this book and have already gone to the happiness project website and signed on to be a part of this movement to make 2010 a happier year. Regardless of any book, you can't go wrong being a part of a movement that is designed to help people find some happiness. You can check out her website at www.happiness-project.com. So, stay tuned........I can't help but think of the song from the popular 70's tv show, The Partridge Family, "Come On Get Happy"!

My calendar, myself | Jacksonville.com

My calendar, myself | Jacksonville.com

Above is a link to a column by Laura Capitano, Lifestyle columnist for the Florida Times Union. I got such a giggle out of this recent column. It reminded me so much of myself. Just a week before, a friend at work was showing me how to set up my "digital calender", telling me I needed to open it first thing every morning, and all day long it would chime and give me pop up reminders of what I needed to do or where to go. The problem is, I rarely think to open it. Well, recently, while trying to organize my desk, I actually took the time to open up my calendar and update it. I thought of Laura Capitano's recent column and laughed. She was right, it just wasn't the same. My large desk calender was not only a reminder of important dates and appointments, it served many purposes. It was my note pad, where I would jot down reminders, phone numbers and grocery lists. It's my personal "sketch book", where I doodle when I'm on long phone conversations; it's a large coaster for my giant mug of tea that I'm almost never without and a placemat for lunch. My calendar was like a diary in a way, a reminder of how I spent my days and yes, sometimes, like Laura, a reminder of what I ate and drank. I miss my big desk calendar and I've decided there are some technological advances I can live without. So goodbye digital calendar, tomorrow you will be replaced with the old fashioned desk calendar.

Animoto.com

I tried Animoto and they put together this video. Day trips with the kids and I love the song, Time for Time.

Keeping Warm

We're having a long spell of very cold weather here in North Florida. Ziggy and Lula snuggle up in my bed to keep warm! Too bad I had to go to work and couldn't crawl back under the covers myself. Ziggy had been sleeping under the blankets at my feet and is usually an early riser, but lately when the alarm goes off, he just moans and snuggles up a little closer, which makes it even harder to get out of bed on a cold morning.