Got home after 7pm tonight but for once it wasn’t due to overtime. One of the bonuses of working at a college or university is that they have libraries. I love libraries. Tonight I spent some time culling through a bunch of databases at ours to complete a literature search for a paper.

I’ve always loved to read. There’s just something wonderful about books. Ever since I was a little girl I’ve been going to libraries. It was our Saturday morning ritual with my dad when we were kids. While he poked about in the crime and sci-fi section my sister and I poked about the children’s section. We always left with mitt fulls of books. Mum even enrolled us in a book reading camp one summer at the main library downtown.

I barely remember going to bed as a child and not seeing my dad sitting at the kitchen table reading a book with a few more stacked by his elbow. And mum? She was frequently curled up on the couch reading. No wonder I’d hide under the covers with a flashlight and read for a few hours at bedtime each night.

Dad was still reading books for hours a day right up until a few weeks before he passed away.

Considering my love for books it should come as no surprise that I married a reader. We frequently read the same books. I get first dibs since I’m a speedier reader. Since he’s been gone he’s had less access to reading materials. We’ve been sending him books for weeks now in the hopes he’ll keep himself occupied and make a good contribution to the KAF library when he leaves.

It seems only my sister has managed to avoid being bitten by the reading bug. Even then, she still reads on occassion.

I can’t imagine being unable to read. Not being able to find comfort and joy in letters and pages – the thought scares me deeply.

Other great book memories include all the times I’d paw through boxes and stacks of books at the local swap meet at Parkway and McAllister Malls on Sunday’s after church. Finding a hardcover Nancy Drew I didn’t already own was the hi-lite of my trip.

And I can’t forget the sheer excitement of bringing the Scholastic book flyer home from elementary school a few times a year. The thrill of deciding which books to ask my parents to order could only be surpassed by the joy of book delivery day. I’d devour the books as soon as they arrived home.

Yeah. I’m a book nerd from way back. Proud of it too!

The most special of my childhood books – the collection (unabridged) of Grimm’s fairy tales my dad gave me for my 8th birthday, the Judy Blume collection from my parents and my old Nancy Drew’s – have traveled with me from one end of the country to the other over the years. A few years back I fell into a pit of nostalgia and bought some of my all time favourite childhood books to add to my smaller collection. I have a small bookcase filled with them now.

As the years pass and technology changes I find I’m buying more and more books in eBook format. I’ve read books on iPaq’s (have I just dated myself?), laptops, and now on my iPhone. In fact, the ability to read books on my iPhone is my absolute favourite feature. It makes the original expense of purchasing my fancy little phone well worth every penny.

And the 130+ books I’ve downloaded to read on it fill me with glee. I’m giddy with the thought of making my way through them.

I’d never survive as a librarian. Nor work in a publishing house. Too much organization involved and it would ruin the mystique. I don’t want anything to interfere with my sordid love affiar with the written word. No wonder I read 300+ books a year. I’m an addict and proud of it.

Now you’ll have to excuse me. I have a book to read.

Back in the dungeon working on Enviro Chem papers. At this rate I’ll soon be able to bore my enemies to death with facts and figures. For the moment I am busy reading “The National Defence Sustainable Development Strategy: 4th Iteration – Environmentally Sustainable Defence Activities” and can feel my eyeballs burning. Someone hook up the caffeine IV. I’m going to need it STAT!

On the home front we’re still in hurry up and wait mode.  Just don’t tell me that “no news is good news”.  We’ve been on stand-by for close to a year now and of late the waiting is far harder than the knowing.

I’ve written about Christie Blatchford’s book Fifteen Days before [here].  She has recently been awarded the Governor General’s literary award for non-fiction for her book about Afghanistan, “Fifteen Days: Stories of Bravery, Friendship, Life and Death From Inside the New Canadian Army.”  If you haven’t already done so pick it up and read it.  I’d lend you my copy but I have to pry it back from W first.  That may take a while.

When you’re done don’t forget to buy and read Three Cups of Tea!

I spent most of Thursday night reading Greg Mortenson’s journey in “Three Cups of Tea”. I often write of charity and the need for social change and open access to education. Mr. Mortenson has lived in a manner that we should all aspire to. He has managed to bridge cultural gaps and helped to educate hundreds, if not thousands, of children. With the assistance of locals who understood and valued his vision he has helped bring literacy and change to remote villages.

I like to think I have a positive (albeit) impact on the world around me. Perhaps that is just the insulating aspects of ego. Mr. Mortenson is proof of the maxim that one man can make a difference. Certainly he has had help along the way. Financial and emotional support has been provided. Without his vision and dedication to a promise made in his past the support would never have been solicitated.

Our society throws the word hero around so frequently that its meaning has become diluted. That’s not to say that some who has been given the title don’t deserve it. Certainly many have done little or anything to earn it. Celebrity worship has become the norm in many western countries.

Greg Mortenson’s schools prove that actions speak far louder than words and that we need to look further outside ourselves to discover how I make positive impacts on the world around us.

Read “Three Cups of Tea”. I can’t imagine how one could not be inspired to try and become a better person. I suspect we will all be inspired to become better people living up to Greg’s example.

Minus the snow of course *knock wood*

I know it’s early – but then again, it’s never to early to put your Christmas wish list out there for friends and family to view.

As we get closer to Christmas and the economy seems to be balanced on a knife’s edge, I’d like to suggest that people consider downsizing their own collection of Christmas presents under the tree and consider donating some of the money they would spend on gifts to charity. While charity is a great idea all year long, it is at times like these where we need to do more for those less fortunate.

With so many worthy causes out there it can be difficult to choose who to donate to. If you want to make an immediate impact to those in your own community, consider donating food or $$ to your local food banks, the Salvation Army (or it’s local equivalent in your area), local homeless shelters, or soup kitchens.

If you’d like to make a wider impact on the world, consider donating to one of the many charities I have listed on my left sidebar under the title Wearing a Coat of Brown. For those of you not of the Browncoat persuasion (can it be possible?), Browncoats are a dedicated group of worldwide Firefly/Serenity fans who’s main distinction in the world of TV fandom is that they fund-raise and donate money to a number of different charities. Two of the most popular charities for Browncoats are Kids Need To Read (Nathan Fillion and PJ Haarsma are co-founders) and Equality Now.

Kids Need To Read purchases books to donate to libraries so children have access to books to spark their interest in reading a continue the development of their imaginations.

Equality Now works to end violence and discrimination against women and girls around the world through the mobilization of public pressure.

Looking for something different?  World Vision and Heifer International both offer alternate gift giving.  Purchase school supplies, chickens, goats, etc. for families in developing countries. These gifts offer meaningful ways to make a difference in the daily lives of others.

Interested in Supporting Canadian Troops, both current serving members and our veterans?  Visit your local Legion and make a donation or consider donating to the Sapper Mike McTeague Wounded Warrior Fund or Boomer’s Legacy.

Have an ill family member?  Consider donating to a charity that supports research or services provided to those sharing the same disease.  Having lost my father to cancer in 2006 the Canadian Cancer Society is a pretty popular choice in my family.

Want to kill two birds with one stone?  Need something under your tree but want to do good?  Consider purchasing something from the Kids Need to Read Christmas Store on eBay.  Goodies for you and books for children.  What an awesome combination.

Don’t forget many charities allow you to make your donation in someone else’s name.  Your gift to them could be a tax receipt for your charitable donation.  So many people can benefit from small acts on your part. Do something different this year.  Place fewer gifts under your own trees and add gifts to the lives of others.