Reading in public places

About the only place i can think of that i'm uncomfortable to read, is in till line-ups.

Cute/funny story Terri,

ROTFLMAO!  Actually, Terri, I'm pretty sure I know who you're talking about, because I blogged with her and told her I understood exactly where she was coming from.  She meant the cover of the books - especially the Spice books (ie: Megan Hart's Tempted, where the pic boasts a naked woman is in bed with two naked men).  In a city being seen with such a book wouldn't be a big deal, but in my backwoods town it would bring every minister to my door, because everyone knows everybody else!   I think the woman you were talking about lives in a similar place.  Think Andy's Mayberry.  <GG> 

That's pretty funny about the LOTR book.  Again, that wouldn't have been a problem here, because some of my neighbors don't even like to read English, let alone read the imaginary language of the sci-fi fantasy! Great story!

HockeyJock, wouldn't it be great if we really could put spells on people?  Like maybe curse them with a BRAIN?  Hee hee! Just kidding.  I'm not being mean.... Honestly!

And, I know what you mean, too.  A lot of times I'm interrupted by people who don't even like to read in the first place.  Sometimes I think they enjoy being a nuisance, and then, on the other hand, I think they might be just trying to make 'intelligent' conversation. Ironically, in spite of how I sound, I'm a people-person and am totally approachable - except when I'm interrupted from reading.  That makes me grouchy!  

Yeah, right!  If they were all thinking of me and sex in the same breath I'd be packing up my bags and moving to far off lands, believe me - LOL!  Most of them are old men beyond the age for good romps.  It's more like they'd be sending me tracks and giving me directions to their church (there's one on each block).  I'm a naughty, naughty girl....**I'm clucking my tongue**!  

That is why they are looking to guilt you into it!

I'll stop now.  But the image was too good to pass up.

you are too funny, you angelic angel !  <GG>  You might not want to read the rest of this post.... Just kidding!

 Vikki, you sound like you've got a family just like mine!  And you won't believe this but my father is a *ahem* minister (FF, are you reading this ?) - and a strict one, too!  My poor mom....  I certainly don't blame you for backing out of the minister's wife position! (If, by some wild chance, anyone who reads this happens to be a minister's wife, this excludes you!  I'm just being my mischievous PK self and not trying to step on any eharl toes) Anyway, I totally agree with you, because I'm shooting for a pseud too.  It's the only way I'm going to have any peace with my choice in writing - LOL!

At work one day on my lunch hour, several years ago, I was reading a romance by Bobby Hutchinson and on the cover was a man and woman in an embrace of some sort.  A co-worker (male) saw what I was reading and asked, "Is that a Nickel Naughty?"  I laughed (because I hadn't heard them referred to that before) and said, "No, it's a really good book!"  He let it go at that. 

I hate to be interrupted from a good read (anywhere, but especially in public) and have a bookmark that says in big bold letters 'SHHH!  I'm trying to read!'  I leave it in plain sight so people can see it while I'm reading.

It was meant to be a tease from your coworker, no doubt, Kristen, but actually, I kind of like it!  Wouldn't it be nice if they did only cost a nickel - LOL?  Well, nice for the reader, but not so nice for the author, however.  H'm.    I'll have to think that over some more.... <gg>  Where'd you get your 'shhh' bookmark?  I need one, because I'm downright grouchy when I'm interrupted from reading.

Vikki, I had a friend who was a teacher's daughter.  When we were young she felt she had to work her patootie off in order to stay above the class accademically.  When she was older, however, she rebelled full-steam-ahead!  Her grades stunk through Jr. high, but luckily picked back up again in high school.  She confided that she felt pressured.  I think sometimes teachers and ministers may not realize the added stress that they place on their children. 

Shew!  Okay, you've just been hearing from my serious side.  Now on to lighter things..... I wanted to ask if your pseud is Tori - I thought I read that somewhere on here - or am I being goofy and mixed you up with somebody else?   

Terri, we're still with you on this blog - we're not straying too far....

LOL Amanda. I didn't live "in sin" for tax reasons.  I got married for tax and inheritance reasons. Otherwise, we would probably have just continued to live "in sin". So, you can see that I'm a black sheep of the blackest variety!

is no fun at all!  My best friend in middle/high school was a preacher's kid; he taught at this independent Baptist church that didn't believe in women wearing shorts etc.  She wasn't allowed to go to the movies because someone might see her there and THINK she was going to an R rated movie!  Yikes!  It made my life as a teacher's kid seem pretty tame in comparison!

Nickel Naughties?  LOL at that name!

Teacher's kids in a small-town school are held to a different standard, I think. There were ton of teacher's kids with in a year or two of me. Most of us (with a few exceptions) were ridiculous overacheivers. We were all involved in a ton of clubs and other activities.

Here was my high school club list: Tennis, track, Academic Team, National Honor Society, Media Club (library), Drama Club, statistician for Basketball, 2 years of Band, Student Council, Yearbook Committee, Jr/Sr Committee.

Half the other people in these activities were teachers kids.

Back to the topic at hand, I would never be caught reading romance novels in front of these people. What would they think of my parents? I tell people back home that I write "fiction", I don't tell them that I'm a genre writer.

No cheerleading on top of those other things?  And about FHA and SADD clubs?  And I didn't see 4H or Girl Scouts anywhere on that list, either.  Just kidding!  Wow, you really did feel the pressure, didn't you?  I bet you got straight 'A's, too, didn't you?  

I sympathize with your friend, Debi, trust me!  We had no TV growing up and we weren't allowed to go a lot of places.  Talk about strict!  It was really rough!

Terri, I know what you mean about tattle-tales.  I got on the short end of that stick, too. Like I said, my daddy was a preacher, and we siblings never forgot it either!  By, the way, I volunteered at my DD's school this year, too.  I didn't do lunch or recess, but I did classroom time and fieldtrips.  I really enjoyed it.  Of course, kindergartener's are too young to be too bad yet!  LOL   Oh, by the way, check your pending buddy requests - I sent you one.

Thanks for checking on the bookmark, Kristen.  That's nice of you. Do they have a website, I wonder?

expectations for teacher's kids by other teachers is really hard because they are not only judging you as little Johnny's mom but as a teacher too. You know, mrs. Jones kids are really good students so she probably isn't a good teacher either...meow!

You are right of course about reading going across the boards. Our family had limited means when I was growing up, and we all read...and I was throwing some other conversation out there.  Not all teachers push their kids but plenty do...guess it really depends on the teachers. One of our science teachers is the only one who isn't a doctor. He went to medical school but his heart wasn't in it. All of his brothers are doctors! So you know there was pressure there.

We all had good teachers and not so good. One of mine slapped me in the face and called me a 'dirty little Indian' . However, that was an exception...most of them were really great.

And I grew up reading Harliquens...just like my mom and grandmom...

The bookstore does have a website (http://www.soulfoodbooks.com/) but it doesn't appear that you can order anything from it.  I haven't had a chance to run over there but may be able to do it today. 

I'll tell you a secret...I learned history by reading historical novels. history was way to boing...but the story around the facts made it alive for me!

I encourage my students to do the same...learning facts and dates is so not fun, but make it entertaining and lively, and my students jump right in...

i still don't like to read books about history...read very few non fiction for that reason...but i have a suggestions for all you gal pals who don't want to show the cover of your steamy reads...book covers...slide one on and away you go...

I have a very active dh who lives for the outdoors...fishing, hunting, and more fishing and hunting so when I go along (fishing not hunting), I bring a book. My daughter and stepdaughters are all readers and we tend to share our finds...but sometimes our tastes diverge...kate loves the blaze books, heather is a big supernatural fan...stephen king etc. she would prob love the nocs...Valerie reads stories that are more chick stories...and some english lit which I never liked but she really enjoys...

LOL, that's hilarious about your 3 yr. old!  Kids are so cute and innocent.  One of these days when your kids are older and you can read anytime of the day you want, you'll miss those 'poopie' moments.  My little girl is 6 yrs old and acts more like she's 16.  Each year makes such a big difference in the way she acts.  Some days I miss when she was so dependent on me, and other days I'm glad that I have more breathing space to read and write.  But the one thing that will never change is that I truly love being a mom first.  Being a writer and reader has to come second in my life.   And when I try very hard, they can sort-of weave around each other.

As some of you might know, the brother is staying with me at the moment and he and I do NOT share the same reading choices, but there are a few books we've both read and enjoy discussing. When something bugs him in a book he'll talk about it and it won't matter that I haven't read the book, similarly when there's something I want to discuss, he listens, even if he wouldn't read a Harlequin (his English lit doctoral thesis is on Andrew Marvell, an English poet and prose writer). But then he'd never criticize my reading choices either.

My kids are too used to the Harlequins all over the house to comment on individual covers (and there aren't that many naked boobs on Harlequin covers, but I love the delectable male chests we see a lot on Blazes )

I always have a book in my hand so people don't notice the individual details any more, now that I use my avatar, when I'm silent in IM chats, my sisters know I'm reading because they can "see" the book LOL

Must go wipe a butt - catch y'all later

Hugs

Sadhbh 

But it was a rare rainy day here at Fort Irwin, so I decided to sleep instead, reading only 3 pages of my Desire book.

LOL at 28, I think my youngest will be my last one :P Would love to have a little girl but unless that is GURANTEED, I don't want to raise 3 boys and a hubby :P I think my two would run me crazy plenty. Looking forward to preschool starting in August, 3 hours of less noise, hopefully a little chapter can be read :P

I know this is off-topic, but I can't wait to read Sherrilyn Kenyon's Acheron.. but it's still a while aways before it comes out.. Those DArk Hunters have got me by the throat :P

Any suggestions of good vampire books??

There is love in them.  I wonder how they categorize that?  I always thought her books were labeled under horror, but I'm not sure....  Anyway, it's a totally different kind of horror than Stephen King's. 

I've just sent you my email!  Thanks bunches!!!

And while I'm at it, here's another thanks for sending the books!  I love Desires.  [[[Terri]]]

Well, thanks again for the 'random act of kindness'!  I like how you worded that. 

BTW, can you send your address to me again?  I want to mail you out a thank you card.  grekanda29 @sbcglobal.net