Read Tape

I have been on a bit of a music kick this week (see also Sad Songs and Waltzes, a Cake reference) so when a friend tweeted about this book, it jumped near the top of the queue: Love is a Mix Tape: Life and Loss One Song at a Time by Rob Sheffield. Be prepared to have a Kramer jump moment when you click this link as immediately the author will begin to speak, however it's worth the mild shock to find an except of the book to peruse before you commit. (Think of it as book dating.) The book has been around for a few years, published in 2007, which roughly coincides with the time that my life became one giant mixed CD with a few common themes. I would not recommend reading through the Amazon reviews as they seemed to be a bit of a spoiler.

As I have been typing, my shuffle went through The Turtles to Pavarotti to Dizzy Gilespie to Live. What's your mid-week mix tape?

Dream Weaver

"You are never given a dream without also being given the power to make it true. You may have to work for it, however."

- Richard Bach

taken from Active Dreaming by Robert Moss

The above quote for anyone else who had vivid dreams last night and went early to the gym to try to spin them out. Have a great Monday.

Sad Songs and Waltzes

In time for the holidays, The Guardian, The New York Times, Amazon and others are publishing their list of "Best Books of 2011." In perusing the NYT list, this book caught my eye. Released and reviewed earlier this year, it has just the right amount of sadness to pair with the newest Ryan Adams' album I'm listening to while typing. [I think I clicked the title because of the early 90s movie Man in the Moon; see also aforementioned sad album reference.]

The Boy in the Moon: A Father's Journey to Understand his Extraordinary Son by Ian Brown gives us a window to view his son's battle with CFC, an extremely rare disease which CFC International estimates to have affected 200-300 children worldwide. The book's been added to my reading list.

Thank You

Holiday reflections of gratitude include:

• venti lattes
• taking risks
• new friends
• old friends
• fizzy water
• loud laughs
• quiet walks
• full moons
• happy music
• sad tunes
• plane trips
• good listeners
• long runs
• honest feedback
• yoga poses
• nontraditional family
• Universal guidance
• new reads
• car dancing
• blog readers
• ice packs
• breaking rules
• little surprises

Hope you have a moment of quiet reflection today. We are each so lucky.