Thu 2 Mar 2006
I have been trying to read a lot lately. It sometimes takes me all day to get enough time to sit and read. Even more frustrating is that when I try to read at night in bed I always fall asleep. The other night I was so tired at 4:00 pm that I fell asleep trying to read. I then drank 2 cups of coffee in order to wake up enough to take Andrew to his first baseball practice. After baseball practice I came home and read. I was able to stay up much later than usual and finished Helen MacInnes’s Agent in Place. I wonder if really smart people just drink a lot of coffee. Have you ever listened to George Grant talk about his reading? It is astounding. Maybe he is just a caffeine addict. You already know that I consider smart & reader synonomous.
I do read The Great Conversation during breaks in the day but I am not trying to plow through that quickly. I like simmering over the bits.
The book I have been falling asleep reading is Kendall Hailey’s The Day I became an Autodidact. Kendall began that book when she was 15. I just hate having to put it down at night because my eyes are shutting. I must be very immature because I feel like a kindred spirit to a 15yo.
Kendall graduated from highschool a year early and never looked back. Same here. Kendall is not at all confused about the difference in going to school and being educated.
As you can see I haven’t given up blogging for Lent. As a matter of fact I am adding something to my life for Lent. I am going to drink more coffee.
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How does The Great Conversation compare to the Harvard Classics?
I have those (the HC) and am about ready to give them up!
Had never heard of the GC set, though have read “How to Read a Book”.
Comment by Margaret in VA (March 2, 2006 @ 9:40 am )
I have wondered this myself. I don’t have either set. I checked out this first vol from the library on a whim. The sets are going on Ebay for about $250. I haven’t seen what the Harvard Classics are selling for recently.
The GC set has a 10 year reading plan that looks intriguing.
Comment by Cindy (March 2, 2006 @ 10:11 am )
The coffee tastes better with some chocolate in it and whipped cream on top. In case you missed it, here’s the recipe for my morning mocha:
Fill a tall travel mug or large coffee mug 3/4 full of coffee
Put in 2 packets Splenda
Stir in small amount of cocoa powder (a little less than 1/2 tsp. maybe, the tip of a spoon’s worth)
Fill cup to top with half and half
Optional: put whipped cream (the real stuff, now, no Cool Whip) on top and sprinkle with a tiny bit of cocoa sugar
Believe it or not, that’s low carb and I consider it a health drink. The cocoa has proven health benefits, as does the coffee, which also acts as the elixir of life for a tired mother ;-).
I have had the falling asleep over my books problem, too, Cindy. I also have the children who want to talk to me ALL day long issue whenever I try to concentrate on a book. But, like Winston Churchill, I will never, never, never, give up…even if it takes months to finish a serious book. Somehow, those light mysteries only take a day to read
Comment by Carmon (March 2, 2006 @ 10:58 am )
Definitely relate to the talkative children. I constantly remind myself to make eye contact, make eye contact, don’t look at the book….
Comment by Cindy (March 2, 2006 @ 1:35 pm )
Cindy, if you do manage to stay awake at night, due to caffeine or whatever, do you have a hard time waking in the morning? If I stay up late at night, then it takes me longer to get moving in the morning.
Did you get Kendall Hailey’s book at the library or did you buy it? I haven’t checked the library. That looks interesting. I like it when you tell us what you are reading. Often, I have never heard of these books. So, I check them out and sometimes add them to my ever-lengthening list.
Enjoy the beautiful weather! We have clothes on the line and the windows open. : )
Comment by Laura (March 2, 2006 @ 3:36 pm )