Mental Sprue Two

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book Meme

Bold those you have read.

Italicise those you intend to read.

Underline the books you LOVE.

Strikethrough on the "barge pole" ones

1 Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen
2 The Lord of the Rings - JRR Tolkien
3 Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte
4 The Harry Potter Series - JK Rowling
5 To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee
6 The Bible
7 Wuthering Heights - Emily BronteM

9 His Dark Materials - Philip Pullman

10 Great Expectations - Charles Dickens
11 Little Women - Louisa M Alcott
12 Tess of the D'Urbervilles - Thomas Hardy
13 Catch 22 - Joseph Heller
14 Complete Works of Shakespeare

15 Rebecca - Daphne Du Maurier

16 The Hobbit - JRR Tolkien

18 Catcher in the Rye - JD Salinger

20 Middlemarch - George Eliot
21 Gone With The Wind - Margaret Mitchell
22 The Great Gatsby - F Scott Fitzgerald
23 Bleak House - Charles Dickens
24 War and Peace - Leo Tolstoy
25 The Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams
26 Brideshead Revisited - Evelyn Waugh
27 Crime and Punishment - Fyodor Dostoyevsky
28 Grapes of Wrath - John Steinbeck
29 Alice in Wonderland - Lewis Carroll
30 The Wind in the Willows - Kenneth Grahame

32 David Copperfield - Charles Dickens
33 Chronicles of Narnia - CS Lewis
34 Emma - Jane Austen
35 Persuasion - Jane Austen
36 The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe - CS LewisM

38 Captain Corelli's Mandolin - Louis De Bernieres
39 Memoirs of a Geisha - Arthur Golden
40 Winnie the Pooh - AA Milne
41 Animal Farm - George Orwell
42 The Da Vinci Code - Dan Brown

45 The Woman in White - Wilkie Collins
46 Anne of Green Gables - LM Montgomery
47 Far From The Madding Crowd - Thomas Hardy
48 The Handmaid's Tale - Margaret Atwood
49 Lord of the Flies - William Golding

51 Life of Pi - Yann Martel
52 Dune - Frank Herbert

54 Sense and Sensibility - Jane Austen

57 A Tale Of Two Cities - Charles Dickens
58 Brave New World - Aldous Huxley

59 The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time - Mark Haddon

61 Of Mice and Men - John Steinbeck

62 Lolita - Vladimir Nabokov

65 Count of Monte Cristo - Alexandre Dumas
66 On The Road - Jack Kerouac
67 Jude the Obscure - Thomas Hardy
68 Bridget Jones's Diary - Helen Fielding

70 Moby Dick - Herman Melville
71 Oliver Twist - Charles Dickens
72 Dracula - Bram Stoker

75 Ulysses - James Joyce
76 The Bell Jar - Sylvia Plath

79 Vanity Fair - William Makepeace Thackeray

81 A Christmas Carol - Charles Dickens

83 The Color Purple - Alice Walker

84 The Remains of the Day - Kazuo Ishiguro
85 Madame Bovary - Gustave Flaubert

87 Charlotte's Web - EB White
88 The Five People You Meet In Heaven - Mitch Albom
89 Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

91 Heart of Darkness - Joseph Conrad

93 The Wasp Factory - Iain Banks
94 Watership Down - Richard Adams

97 The Three Musketeers - Alexandre Dumas
98 Hamlet - William Shakespeare
99 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Roald Dahl
100 Les Miserables - Victor Hugo

Buddhist Quote #396
"Watchfulness is the path to immortality and heedlessness the path to death. The watchful do not die, but the heedless are already like the dead" - The Dhammapada

A lot of these sayings are meant to be meditated on and not taken literally. There are many books on living in the now, on mindfullness, on approving awareness and on preventing one from being dominated by past events or confused by concerns in the future. All of these theories, I think, have an element of truth.

Some say that by focussing on the past, we condemn ourselves to repeating it. This may be true when one is focussing solely on the pas. However, to deny our guilt or remorse about our past is to deny our that element of the nature of our humanity. But, beleive we can learn the lesson from past events,. truly take it into our hearts and live with the past as part of our present. The distinction here is to encorporate the past in a positive way and not allow it to control the present.

Likewise, our concern about the future is a useful human tool as it allows us to prepare ourselves and cushion ourselves emotionally and physically for the trials to come - one does not race a marathon without first learning to run and beconme fit. However, again I think the lesson is one of control - one should not be dominated by anxiety regarding future events, but mindful of how they influence the present. As in, feel the anxiety, let it go and then ask yourself what you can do now to prepare. If the answer is nothing, then you have to try to suspend your fear, let it go and await the outcome. There is little point in worrying about what might happen - all it does is exactly that - create worry in the present about something unreal.

It is not easy to focus on the now and it is a challenge I continually face. But those moments when it works are moment when I feel completely alive, completely happy and totally at peace - I think that is what the above quote means.

"I have of late, but wherefore I know not, lost all my mirth"
Well, not entirely true, but I have not been operating to full capacity for a few weeks now. After many blood tests and alien probes. turns out I had an infection in the thyroid, or something like that (viral infection being the blanket doctor label for "I have no idea what is wrong with you").

But, am more or less better, my depression meds have been halved, and I am almost back to what passes for normal.

The book has been delayed and work has suffered, but nonething that can't be gotten on top of again.

So, here's to hale health and catch-up!

Current Mood: busy

Pie in the Sky
Having read Alain de Botton's "Consolation of Philosophy", i have long given up on the concept that the universe somehow owe's me something. Having said that, however, it would nice to win the lotto this weekend, which i reckon will be about €15m or thereabouts. According to Quantam Mechanics and the latest pop-spiritual book "The Secret", it can't do any harm to put the thought out there in the ether.

People always have anotion to give some of their winning to charity and there are certainly many deserving charities out there - if you give to one you would doubtless incur the wrath of those who do not reap the benefits of tyour windfall. However, there is a superb animal shelter on the boglands off Killarney for whom i would build proper stables and other permanent aminal shelters that they badly need.

I would probably move house as well, though may not want to move away from our really cool neighbours. However, this house is lovely and this one is quite close and also very pretty.

I would definitely give up work and write full time.

Havong said all that I do feel quite content, have a great job and beautiful house and happy life with J and Scooby. just day dreaming :)

On another note, I think I might start entries based on quotes wich inspire me in future.

Current Mood: content

32
thanks to all for bday wishes!

manly man
Over the weekend I have fixed the roof in my shed and used a chainsaw to cut a railway sleeper for a raised garden.

Will now go out, hunt a deer, eat it raw and pillage some virgins.

rar.

Current Mood: manly!

The King is gone, Long Live the King!
An Taoiseach has just announced that he will be stepping down as of the 6th May 2008. There may probably be a Cabinet reshuffle and speculation about the Ministerial positions has already begun.

That's Ahern and Paisley stepping down in the same week. Historical times.

Current Mood: working

for the day that is in it
http://www.museumofhoaxes.com/hoax/aprilfool/

meeting with publisher
It went very well indeed - a lovely lady and her passion for what she does is quite evident. She is looking for a book for 6-10 year olds and BPB is really pithced at a higher age bracket. Having said that, I am happy for it to be used for the 6-10 market as I am not one of these writers who believes in the immutable sacrosanctity of one's own text. I will have the fun of writing BPB my way and then, if it can be published and helpful for 6-10 year olds, then so be it!

I have aimed to finish by end April and we'll have another meeting to decide where to go from there.

And, lo and behold, another kids book idea has spawned. And I don't even like children!!

Current Mood: optimistic

Now appearing in...
There is an interview with me and an accompanying photo in this weeks "Kerry's Eye" about my move from Dublin to Kerry.

Yay.

Current Mood: amused

Published and be...?
Sent my kids book to a publisher and received quite a positive reply today. The only thing is, this publisher pitches at a slightly younger audience than the book is aimed at, but that can be coped with. What I may do is finish the book as is and then work with the publisher to bring it to the age required and then find an illustrator (

muskrat_john?) and hopefully we can get something out there!

That way at least I can write it as it is in my head and then amend it to suit as a salable commodity

Current Mood: contemplative

Be aware!
I am firmly on the path to becomnig a facilitator for Aware in Killarney - www.aware.ie

Current Mood: accomplished

I am teh sun!

Ten Top Trivia Tips about Hedgetrimmer!

Humans share over 98 percent of their DNA with hedgetrimmer!
While performing her duties as queen, Cleopatra sometimes dressed up as hedgetrimmer.
Hedgetrimmer is 1500 years older than the pyramids.
Only 55 percent of Americans know that the sun is made of hedgetrimmer.
Lightning strikes hedgetrimmer over seven times every hour!
If you cut hedgetrimmer in half and count the number of seeds inside, you will know how many children you are going to have.
Apples are covered with a thin layer of hedgetrimmer.
The colour of hedgetrimmer is no indication of his spiciness, but size usually is.
Hedgetrimmer was invented in China in the eleventh century, but was only used for fireworks, never for weapons!
Hedgetrimmer can grow up to three feet in a 24 hour period.

Current Mood: silly

Gygax save roll failed
For those of you who may not have heard, Gary Gygax died yesterday.

RIP and thanks for introducing me to the world of gaming

Seven Towers Singer Songwriter - Kris Finnerty
Please rate his VID

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJf6OyvPqHQ

Poem.
Revelation
By Robert Frost
1874-1963

We make ourselves a place apart
Behind light words that tease and flout,
But oh, the agitated heart
Till someone find us really out.

'Tis pity if the case require
(Or so we say) that in the end
We speak the literal to inspire
The understanding of a friend.

But so with all, from babes that play
At hide-and-seek to God afar,
So all who hide too well away
Must speak and tell us where they are.

No surprise here

Greed:	High
Gluttony:	Medium
Wrath:	Low
Sloth:	Low
Envy:	Very Low
Lust:	Very High
Pride:	Medium

Take the Seven Deadly Sins Quiz

Meteor!
I have moved to meteor. The prefix to my phone number is now 085 - the rest is as before.

Perhaps for the next week or so people might put their name in text messages in case their number gets lost in translation.

Thanks

Current Mood: mellow

meme in lieu of real entry!
1) Are you currently in a serious relationship?
Yes

2) What was your dream growing up?
From as long as I can remember I have always wanted to be a writer

3) What talent do you wish you had?
Fencing

4) If I bought you a drink what would it be?
Burboun (Wild Turkey)

5) Favourite vegetable?
Bell peppers

6) What was the last book you read?
The Infidels: The Conflict Between Christendom and Islam, by Andrew Wheatcroft

7) What zodiac sign are you?
Aries

8) Any Tattoos and/or Piercings? Explain where.
I small one of a horse. Need to get two more – one of squirrels and one of a snow wolf

9) Worst Habit?
Very untidy when it comes to shoes

10) If you saw me walking down the street would you offer me a ride?
Probably not

11) What is your favourite sport?
Soccer

12) Do you have a Negative or Optimistic attitude?
It fluctuates

13) What would you do if you were stuck in an elevator with me?
Strike up a conversation

14) Most memorable moment from 2007?
Walking into my newly bought home in Kerry

15) Tell me one weird fact about you.
I used to be scared of thunderstorms

16) Do you have any pets?
A doggie called Scooby

17) What if I showed up at your house unexpectedly?
I’d invite you in

18) What was your first impression of me? (you can be honest, I can take it)
Seeing as I stole this from Eoin, I guess my first impression was “quiet and thoughtful”

19) Do you think clowns are cute or scary?
Scary

20) If you could change one thing about how you look, what would it be?
I’d have a fitter physique

21) Would you be my crime partner or my conscience?
Conscience

22) What color eyes do you have?
It changes from brown to hazel and very occasionally amber

23) If money was no issue, where would you travel?
All across the US

24) Bottled or canned soda?
Bottled

25) If you won $10,000 today, what would you do with it?
Pay my credit cards

27) What's your favourite place to hang out?
Home

28) Do you believe in ghosts?
Not in the traditional sense

29) Favourite thing to do in your spare time?
Read or PC games

30) Do you swear a lot?
Not a lot

31) Biggest pet peeve?
People who stop on stairs and holding up people traffic

32) In one word, how would you describe yourself?
Pensive

33) Do you appreciate romance?
Yes

35) Do you believe in God?
No

36) Will you repost this so I can fill it out and do the same for you?
Probably not, but feel free to steal

storm winds
Our compost bin overturned in the storm winds, which resulted in an unpleasant Sunday task of tracking down bits of shredded papers and decomposed foodstuff.

The picnic table managed to move 100m, vault the 1 metre fence and land upright and almsot intact another 20m into the payfield in the back. Now, that was one helluva gust of wind.

There were also some bricks strwen about that had been blown from neighbouring gardens, which is more worrysome.

In Dublin tonight, for one night only!

Current Mood: working