"It's Alright If You Love Me, It's Alright If You Don't"

One of my all-time favorite bands is Arcade Fire. I love them because in a world where all music blends together, their sound sticks out. I love them because the lead singer and I grew up within two miles of each other and even attended the same middle school for a year (and damn do I wish I would have known then what I know now!!). But most of all, I love them because out of any other band they show how hard work pays off and how the thing that you're the most passionate about doesn't have to go perfectly the first time you try it. Here's why:

During their first ever show as a band, the lead singer and keyboardist got in a massive fight (which started as verbal and eventually turned physical) and the band broke up mid-set. They all walked away thinking they'd failed as a band and would never make it anywhere past that one ill-fated show. Thankfully, for fans like me, they resembled themselves and wound up better and stronger than ever before.

I'm hoping the same happens with us.

I love this book club. I love how we can all sit in a room and talk for hours and it feels like no time has passed at all. I love the enthusiasm of people who are genuinely interested in not only the literature itself, but on the fellow members in the room, meeting people you may have never met otherwise and going outside of your comfort zone. For me, it's been an opportunity to reconnect with high school besties, meet amazing new people, and read great books.

And for the most part, everyone else feels the same way. But like my favorite band with the keyboardist who just couldn't get with the program, Reading Between The Wines can't quite capture the hearts of everyone. And that's hard.

When it's your dream, it's easy to assume that it's everyone's dream and realistically, that's probably unfair. But whether this book club is wildly successful or is just a fun thing to do with friends and to meet new people, I will consider it a success. Expanding your horizons is never a waste of time, making friends is never a waste of time, and helping other people is never a waste of time. When all is said and done, not everyone will like everything and ultimately those of us who are invested in this have to write it off as their loss.

If a band can break up mid-set during their very first show and be okay, then we can too! I believe in our goals, our mission, and our members! Reading Between The Wines has a long, happy future ahead, so get on board or get out of our way!

~Abbey

Marlliver's travels

I admire the folks who refer to changes in their lives as chapters. After considering the term, half drunk on a plane to Miami at an elevation of 39,000 feet, I decide that I like the connotation and shall now refer to changes in my life as endings of chapters and beginnings of new ones.  Who says you must retain the exact same group of friends throughout your entire life and put up with them because you've "known them forever"?  I had a conversation with kev recently about how I identify myself as a nomad when it comes to friends. I am progressive, I don't like to stay in one spot for too long unless it should be the perfect spot.  I am happy to announce that at a spritely yet exhausted 26 years old  I have come to the realization that I am happy with the people that surround me and my innate virgo need to please others should be securely fastened and tucked safely into the overhead compArtment when The going gets ugly! Shit, after another sip of my in flight spirit I've forgotten the subsequent point I wanted to make. It was an excellent one, or so the booze led me to believe. Well anyway, letting go is much harder than holding on. Letting go is NOT the easy way out.  Some people, I think, might just be the type that go with the bare minimum in friendship and give u just enough to keep holding on, or they know that the good ole days were so fantastic that you'll never consider abandoning them.  But with age and vigil observations I have learned that nobody enjoys this type of partnership and the thrill and liberation of letting go is much more satisfying than waiting around for an absolution.  Absolution. I learned that word from the movie titanic.  Old lady rose talked about it and I instantly understood the meaning and the fact that no one appreciated waiting around in limbo.  I wonder if e little in flight free headphones colors of blue and red have any relation to the political parties? I'm not well informed on the subject but I know one of e colors corresponds to the left. I've come to learn that the views I have in this world are quite similar to those that people categorize as left. I don't get offended when people stereotype me because I realize it is human nature to categorize and compartmentalize one another, but I am also very proud to know in my heart that I've beat many statistics and snooty assholes can kiss my ass.  I don't really know yet what I'm meant to do in this world and.  This life.  I know I want. To teach and spend timed with children. I want to travel an learn a smorgasbord of foreign languages. I want to act and share my comedy/sense of humor with the world.  I keep reading these books that speak to me and I become curious if writing should be something to attempt. I particularly enjoy learning of reporters turned novelists and I feel as though the stories I have in my head and my experiences must be interesting to someone!  What is yor extremely unique, intelligent, and individualistic life for if not to showcase your talents and acquire all the praise and recognition fathomable so that when u die, you feel accomplished.  Providing for and raising your family is no lackluster feat, but it's expected of everybody regardless of intelligence, talent, and merit, so WITH shaping and molding the minds of our future generations and living happily eve after with our spouses, what else are you capable of? What would utterly an completely fulfill your dreams??

"Why I Get To Be Picky" By Danielle Thal

About a month ago, our book of the month was Babbitt, by Sinclair Lewis. This book started a bit of a debate amongst our members as it was quite possibly one of the most boring books I have had to read since I graduated high school! Granted, my review of Babbitt is not valid because I never got past chapter two: Babbitt has breakfast with his family. A question was posted on our group Facebook: if you don't like the book that month, do you give it up or do you suck it up and finish it. I think you can guess what option I chose.

And here is why: at that time I had about 60 research papers to grade. Research papers written by 12 year olds. I had 70 graphic organizers and 70 quizzes. My stack of grading that weekend was literally over six inches tall. That was a month ago and those assignments have been graded, returned, and forgotten about. One month later and I have about 60 project reports, 35 quizzes, and maybe 15 projects that have been collecting dust, just waiting for me to grade them and hang them on a giant refrigerator somewhere. The solution seems simple: quit assigning so much work, make them watch movies and do word searches. If only good teaching were that easy!

So my point is, with all the words I have to read in a given day, I reserve the right to be picky. I don't get to choose not to read for work or school, which means I get to choose what I read for fun. If a book is not interesting to me, I have no problem putting it down and never picking it up again. Life is just too short to read boring books!