tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5701398832410746913.post5024695783241221546..comments2023-08-04T07:51:04.332-07:00Comments on Life on Clemson Road: Confessions of a Book Club SlackerKasie Whitenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15475275103424782144noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5701398832410746913.post-89040991310838775752012-11-27T16:37:19.692-08:002012-11-27T16:37:19.692-08:00I can't imagine being in four book clubs, Kasi...I can't imagine being in four book clubs, Kasie. I'm involved in only one...and I read just the selections that appeal to me (although I'll take a look at the others). I don't think not finishing the reading was quitting...it's more like being aware of your limitations (time and interest). When I was younger, I made myself read through every book I got my hands on. Now, I'm more selective. Jennifer Chowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13100465489398830928noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5701398832410746913.post-83049899533755996422012-11-27T04:35:28.061-08:002012-11-27T04:35:28.061-08:00Sorry to have stung you but thanks for commenting ...Sorry to have stung you but thanks for commenting here on Clemson Road.<br /><br />My husband is fantasizing about destroying his alarm clock. I think all those years of working and "have to" would certainly create a rebel out of some.<br /><br />I did book club to make friends. I'm new here and needed to spend time with people other than Charlie and Hollie. Kasie Whitenerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15475275103424782144noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5701398832410746913.post-4006759065984140342012-11-26T13:54:12.036-08:002012-11-26T13:54:12.036-08:00Yikes! This really stings. What I know about mysel...Yikes! This really stings. What I know about myself (and don't like to think about) is that I hate routine and any kind of scheduled "gotta' do." Did it make working all those years hard? You bet! And now that I am retired, I do my best to stay out of scheduled activities. Is this is a good thing? No, not always, but it does prevent me from letting other folks down. I also miss lots of wonderful living. Well, there it is. Pretty ugly, huh?In My Dreamshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14314569946759382887noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5701398832410746913.post-43149085458112166822012-11-26T05:29:00.912-08:002012-11-26T05:29:00.912-08:00Hi ya! Thanks for stopping by Clemson Road!
I am ...Hi ya! Thanks for stopping by Clemson Road!<br /><br />I am completely in touch with the books-other-people-pick thing. The RCPL book club just voted on next year's books and I got a vote(!) so that's helpful. Since I write the kind of books I want to read, my favorite book club would be the one that reads MY books ;-)Kasie Whitenerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15475275103424782144noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5701398832410746913.post-28073700812969087442012-11-26T05:26:18.023-08:002012-11-26T05:26:18.023-08:00Thanks, mom!
I definitely like to try a lot of st...Thanks, mom!<br /><br />I definitely like to try a lot of stuff. It's giving up the things that don't fit that I have a problem with. I think that may be your fault, too (ha). You taught me to honor my commitments. Book clubs don't really have an "end." I'd have to drop out.Kasie Whitenerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15475275103424782144noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5701398832410746913.post-51565705315467923822012-11-26T05:24:24.510-08:002012-11-26T05:24:24.510-08:00Hi, Veronica, glad to see you on Clemson Road!
Th...Hi, Veronica, glad to see you on Clemson Road!<br /><br />These three (4) book clubs were my first book club experience. May have overdone it ;-)Kasie Whitenerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15475275103424782144noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5701398832410746913.post-7190692938957707712012-11-25T11:01:11.199-08:002012-11-25T11:01:11.199-08:00I belonged to two book clubs and found it was too ...I belonged to two book clubs and found it was too much. Finally got in touch with why I wasn't finishing the books. I was reading books that a group had chosen, not books I had chosen. I miss seeing the people on a regular basis, but my reading life is unstressful and much improved for my taste in reading. I say give it a rest and read for the joy of it, only.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5701398832410746913.post-54772331216083158892012-11-25T10:25:26.535-08:002012-11-25T10:25:26.535-08:00Since I'm the Mom who allowed you to quit all ...Since I'm the Mom who allowed you to quit all of those musical instrument lessons as a child, the choices were made on your having enough time in the day/week for all of your other activities such as school, swimming, and free play. I grew up in believing children should have time for free play because that is what my brothers and I were able to do although we also participated in sports, piano lessons, and scouting. As an adult I have quit any number of sewing projects, several exercise classes, tennis lessons, and even a long ago ceramics class. Quitting those things had to do more with finanaces rather than boredom or laziness. However, one of my deepest regrets is quitting/giving up on several relationships which I should have nurtured. I have however not quit on what I deem to be my most important and worthwhile accomplishments: 3 beautiful and amazing daughters who keep me pushing forward. You have always been the daughter who ran ahead and signed up for something new and exciting because " I'm ready to try it, Mom, and see if it works." You have already accomplished great things and will continue to accomplish even greater things because you are the "amazing Kasie!"Samantha Apgarnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5701398832410746913.post-34539392649526323602012-11-23T07:39:43.186-08:002012-11-23T07:39:43.186-08:00Oh boy Kassie, I think I’m with Lori on this. I fi...Oh boy Kassie, I think I’m with Lori on this. I figure skated for 14 years and then, one day, it was time to stop. Some (mother) called it being a quitter, for me, the time had come to do other things. Maybe it’s a way of trying things on to see if they fit and if they do, then great. If not, then carrying on. PS Often thought about it, never joined a book club. Veronica Rothhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15288280932510764014noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5701398832410746913.post-45695373273603932072012-11-23T07:12:30.370-08:002012-11-23T07:12:30.370-08:00Hi, Janice, I didn't recognize you! Welcome ba...Hi, Janice, I didn't recognize you! Welcome back to Clemson Road :-)<br /><br />I don't think quitting is a bad thing necessarily, but it's important to call it what it is. If you're committed to finishing and then you don't, it's quitting. The trick is to be okay with it.Kasie Whitenerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15475275103424782144noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5701398832410746913.post-92000524151485498282012-11-23T07:10:04.499-08:002012-11-23T07:10:04.499-08:00Glad to see you, Becca!
Being a joiner has been a...Glad to see you, Becca!<br /><br />Being a joiner has been an awesome experience. I keep showing up to places where I know Not.A.Single.Soul. and then introducing myself. Sometimes it works out great (Columbia Writers Alliance) and sometimes not so much (local running group). Either way, though, I've become a more courageous and confident person for it.<br /><br />Now, as I'm building my business, that willingness to reach out to others is really paying off.Kasie Whitenerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15475275103424782144noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5701398832410746913.post-87742041625131398652012-11-23T07:07:53.078-08:002012-11-23T07:07:53.078-08:00Hi, Lara Britt!
The phrase "don't let th...Hi, Lara Britt!<br /><br />The phrase "don't let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game," comes to mind. I don't want to fail BIG, but I'd rather try and fail than not try at all. <br /><br />This is in no way meant to condone an A for effort grading system. ;-)Kasie Whitenerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15475275103424782144noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5701398832410746913.post-51977584333706802672012-11-23T07:06:23.308-08:002012-11-23T07:06:23.308-08:00Thanks, Gail. So glad to see you here on Clemson R...Thanks, Gail. So glad to see you here on Clemson Road!<br /><br />I agree, other priorities eat up book reading time. I have always been bad at estimating how long a task like reading would take. I thought I'd gotten better in grad school, but I still find I underestimate how much time a book requires.<br /><br />Also, every time I start reading Charlie and Hollie think I must be bored and start trying to entertain me!Kasie Whitenerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15475275103424782144noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5701398832410746913.post-64737785013308138222012-11-23T07:04:40.741-08:002012-11-23T07:04:40.741-08:00So glad to see you, Lauri! Welcome back to Clemson...So glad to see you, Lauri! Welcome back to Clemson Road!<br /><br />Is it being a grown up to decide that I don't have to finish a book I'm just not that interested in? If so, I'm there. I like your criteria: would I write this? no. Do I enjoy this? no. <br /><br />The commitment isn't to the book, though. It's to the group. So do I have an obligation to participate in a full and committed capacity? Of so, read the doggone book.Kasie Whitenerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15475275103424782144noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5701398832410746913.post-45314552909483527712012-11-23T07:02:11.460-08:002012-11-23T07:02:11.460-08:00Thanks, Khara! Glad to see you on Clemson Road.
I...Thanks, Khara! Glad to see you on Clemson Road.<br /><br />I have definitely taken my share of breaks. It's taken me 4 years (and counting) to write my dissertation. <br /><br />Every day, every hour, I make a choice about how to spend my time. I usually use this question to guide the decision: "Is what you're doing right now moving you closer to your goals?"Kasie Whitenerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15475275103424782144noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5701398832410746913.post-3044560033058584672012-11-23T05:40:40.316-08:002012-11-23T05:40:40.316-08:00I totally need to join a book (wine) club. That wo...I totally need to join a book (wine) club. That would be great. And I agree with some of the others. You have to try things to know if you'll enjoy them. And if you don't enjoy them, you shouldn't do them. That's the way I look at it. At least you had the courage to try something in the first place. ;)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06110416365077058895noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5701398832410746913.post-11446064244225100762012-11-22T16:26:28.622-08:002012-11-22T16:26:28.622-08:00I'm with Janice [Writing On The Sun]. I don...I'm with Janice [Writing On The Sun]. I don't call it quitting. I call it enhanced self-discovery. Seriously though, I would rather try something and fail at my first go, analyze, adapt, and try again. Rinse and repeat. It ain't always pretty, but it gets me from A-Z a lot faster than if I were waiting for the perfect moment. October is over but I'm plugging through those memoir pieces for Jane Ann's challenge. Still getting my gumption for Khara's challenge. And wherever I end up next Saturday will be further down the road than if I hadn't signed up for NaNo.Lara Britthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14074379735801347854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5701398832410746913.post-6917388599463614322012-11-22T13:06:44.671-08:002012-11-22T13:06:44.671-08:00At least you bothered to show up for the Clemson b...At least you bothered to show up for the Clemson book club. Most people who didn't read the book (not even half of it) were too embarrassed to show up.<br /><br />We all prioritize. Everything in its time. At some point, your life won't be full of kids and school and moving and everything else. You'll have the time to enjoy reading again. Enjoying it is the key.Gail Kushnerhttp://www.mypsychicsearch.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5701398832410746913.post-13735447154496098522012-11-21T20:16:53.604-08:002012-11-21T20:16:53.604-08:00You don't have times for things that aren'...You don't have times for things that aren't valuable. Yes, it's lovely to add to your "read" shelf, but if it isn't something like you may write, something that is helping your writing, or something you enjoy too much to put down-then put it down. That's not quitting. That 's just a lesson in how to write a book people won't put down.Lauri Meyershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15714245926405732068noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5701398832410746913.post-49848075084003134112012-11-21T18:15:52.949-08:002012-11-21T18:15:52.949-08:00I take breaks ... sometimes, extremely extended br...I take breaks ... sometimes, extremely extended breaks. I'll take a week-long break from writing, or a day-break from responding to emails ... or a five-year break in reading Les Miserables. (Okay ... make that an 8-year break, followed by a six-year-and-counting break.) I think it's good, though, to let go of things that are keeping you from doing something else you really should be doing, whether you let them go temporarily or permanently! Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02903355774364525437noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5701398832410746913.post-17582082744939689792012-11-21T17:19:59.720-08:002012-11-21T17:19:59.720-08:00Is it really quitting? I'd say it's more d...Is it really quitting? I'd say it's more discovering where you want to spend the waking moments of your life, what passion/drive/purpose do you want to nurture? I've quit a few diets, however, and that probably wasn't a good idea. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com