Saturday, October 30, 2004

Not that I'm complaining...

But the wild catches are coming fast!
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/2171594/allysther/
Wendall placed this one for me while I met with the Hawaii Bookcrossers. Thanks, Love.


In other news, I finally have a new keyboard. Last week, the old one stopped producing capital letters. It was difficult to write more than a few lines before becoming truly frusturated. So I didn't. This is much better. Now I just have to get used to the new key configuration.


Thursday, October 28, 2004

wild catch!

http://bookcrossing.com/journal/1549634

Oh boy did I need this today. Thank you, karma, for giving this day a bright lining.
There was this, too:

http://www.filmbuffs.net/bananana/
It ain't a pony!

Tuesday, October 26, 2004

1000

I thought it needed to stand alone.

http://www.bushflash.com/1000.html

Monday, October 25, 2004


got powdered donuts? Posted by Hello

Will They Ever Trust Us Again

I'm so happy Wendall is home. This book has allowed me to put my thoughts together. I am not yet ready to put them on paper, but I am getting close. For now, all I can do is hold my family close, and hope that other soldiers will come home soon.

http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/2124232/

Some of the letters:

http://michaelmoore.com/books-films/willtheyevertrustusagain/

kikkoman

http://yoga.at.infoseek.co.jp/flash/kikkomaso.swf

I tried so hard not to post this here, but I just had to share. My deepest apologies. I am soooo sorry to stick this in your brain.

Friday, October 22, 2004

you know it's true....

http://www.democracymeansyou.com/fun-games/touchscreen/index.htm

"Firehouse" by David Halberstam, and a catch!

I finished the book "Firehouse" yesterday. Well done, but could have been better. I finished it yesterday while the memorial service for Spc. Fernandez was going on at the chapel.

http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/2084141/

Today I had my 28th wild catch. Happy happy me. I will smile all day because of this! The book was left at the Haleiwa Market Place not long ago. I think I will have to try that location again.

http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/1102602/

Wednesday, October 20, 2004


You know, for people who don't really like the beach, we sure do go there a lot! This is from Sunday Posted by Hello

Tuesday, October 19, 2004

Bookcrossing (or No, I have not joined a cult.)

A quick look at my Bookcrossing shelf http://www.bookcrossing.com/referral/allysther will show you that I have found something I love, even if you can't quite figure out why. A look around this page will give you a hint that I might want you to check it out for yourself. Let me try to explain why.

I joined Bookcrossing in March of last year. Since that time I have actually spent less time reading, because I am busy with Bookcrossing activities. Bookcrossers trade books back and forth through the mail, forming a global book club. We also challenge one another to make releases in the wild in creative ways. A "wild release" is a book left in a public space, with hopes that a stranger will pick it up and enjoy. The ultimate wish is that the stranger will be as interested in Bookcrossing as we are, and will join the fun.

I have sent books to countries that I will never get the chance to visit. They will spend the rest of their existence traveling from place to place, stopping along the way to say "Hello!". Each book has it's own tracking number, so each stop with a Bookcrossing member is journalled. With this method, the book's journey is forever "owned" buy the people who have read it, even when the book is no longer in their possession. I can claim a part of almost 1200 books, even though 600 of them are no longer on my shelves.

I have also sent books to people who would otherwise have true difficulty getting them. I have left them on park benches near homeless camps. I have donated them to shelters. I give them out for Halloween. Books surround me, and allow me to spread my joy to others.

the bet part of Bookcrossing is getting an alert telling you that one of your books has been found and journalled. The thrill of knowing you have touched someone's life is amazing, and brightens my world every time. This is one of my favorite journal entries, because it truly shows what I hope happens for the books I send out to the world:

I found this book tucked in a busy McDonald's. I had never before seen a "book released into the wild." What fun! Before taking the item I asked around about ownership - just to be sure. I only received dumbfounded stares in return. No one even knew it was there. A hidden treasure! I enjoyed the book and found myself wanting to read more fiction books. Something that I hadn't taken pleasure in since my youth when life spared seemlingly more time for such. I plan to endulge myself in this more frequently now. Thanks so much!

The finder stayed anonymous, which is fine by me. The thought that I could have had something to do with someone rediscovering the joy of reading is all I need to keep going. Bookcrossing has brought the world into my home, and I am so happy to share it with all of you!

Monday, October 18, 2004

Existence is but an Illusion

Four soldiers from Hawaii have died this week. My neighbor called me yesterday to tell me the news of the second two. She did not know the men, or their families, but her husband is a helicopter pilot, so she is pretty well shaken. Wendall did not know these men either, but his office handled things for three of the four families, so it hit his office as well. My main emotion is anger, so I am having problems talking with her about this. Of course I support her, as I support all of the families around me, but my anger at Bush tends to get in the way, and I just want to yell at him in hopes that he can see what he is doing to regular people.

See, I really am mad at Bush and his administration. I'm upset that people are losing their lives for nothing more than political pissing contests. I'm upset that the religious right has been able to seize so much power in so short a time. I'm upset that I feel, on a daily basis, that I must watch what I say.

We live in the most amazing country in the world. I can honestly say that there was a time in my life when I did not appreciate all that this country had to offer. It was not until I was an adult, struggling with the day to day adult world that I could see the jewel that we possess. I believe that George Bush wants to pocket that jewel. I believe that he is robbing us of much of what it means to be "an American". I know that he does not consider the human cost of his plan.

So what do I say to my neighbor? What do I tell the person at the checkout counter, or the passerby on the street, or the man standing next to me at the gas pump? Hawaii is a small community of people. The connections here are far reaching. You always "know someone who knows". There is no way to have a discussion about these deaths without it becoming personal. No way to simply say "I'm sorry" without it meaning so much more.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=413&e=1&u=/ibsys/20041019/lo_kitv/2417370
Fernandez's father -- a former military man himself and the son of a Korean War veteran -- is struggling with a mixture of sorrow and anger.
"I think this president rushed our troops into battle," he said. "I am not endorsing any candidate, but I do think we should exercise our right to vote and we do need a change."

http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2004/Oct/18/br/br05p.html
Since the start of the war in Iraq in March 2003, 23 soldiers with notable Hawai'i ties have been killed in the Middle East, including 17 in Iraq. Of those killed, 15 were assigned to the 25th Infantry Division.



The boy golfing with a friend Posted by Hello

Brunch on the Beach

Yesterday was a perfect day. We headed to Honolulu for my favorite event, Brunch on the Beach. It is a monthly event, held right on the water. Live music and good food and the most beautiful beach on Earth. Who could ask for more? Jake Shimabukuro was the headliner, so Kurt finally got the chance to see him play. He is a twenty something year old ukulele superstar (yes, there is such a thing!), and played an amazing set.

After Brunch, we headed to the Ward Center for a bit of Bookcrossing. Ah, Jamba Juice and books, a great pairing. All together, I released five books yesterday, passing the 400 mark in my releases. Wendall released two, and I was happy. I try not to push Bookcrossing on him, but it really pleases me when he joins in.

After Ward we headed to the NEX for groceries. Five adults, one child, two carts, and a stroller make for an interesting shopping experience. We do this once a month or so, and have a great time. It has been an amazing experience to be so close to my brothers. Who would have guessed we would all have so much fun together?

Sunday, October 17, 2004

A good day


My men. Posted by Hello


This picture is from a week ago. I love my guys!
Today we had a busy, but wonderful day. Gymnastics in the morning, followed by breakfast at Zippy's and a bunch of shopping. It took a decade, but we finally have frames for Wendall's diplomas. Yea!

Saturday, October 16, 2004

allysther (in two acts)

Hello, and welcome to my little corner of the blog world. This is a picture of me with my son, commonly known as "the boy".
I will write more, once I discover how this blog thingy actually works.

Sunset


Sunset Posted by Hello

This was sunset last week. I did not have a blog then, so I'm sending it out there now...