I was still in university, working my retail sales job. My friend and I both worked at the same store. She invited me to join her for Christmas dinner that year (and I think her mom – but my memory is cloudy on that point). I bought her a little book as a gift. I don’t even remember what the book was called. It was collection of holiday stories. I wrote her some instructions on the inside front cover. I wrote that my gift was only a temporary one, and that the following year she had to sign it and gift the book to someone else she knew.
I’ve always wondered where that book ended up.
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I thought I’d take a minute to let you know how our community bookcase is doing. It is ok. Just ok. Maybe a tiny bit dreary and in need of a helping hand. A few too many donations of old PolySci and math textbooks have accumulated there (along with a few other tomes I will soon officially decree to be unreadable) and are clogging things up. The current situation is a bit good news/bad news really. In the next couple of weeks I will be giving the shelf an assessment and a big pruning. There are lots of paperbacks of all kinds (yay!), but I think the worst thing is (aside from “Freshman Math”) is that there is a notable gap in children’s lit (boo).
That’s why I was very happy to receive a good-sized donation of mostly tweenage reading material yesterday. I’ve decided to label the books and bring them up to Dovercourt a few at a time.
I’m going to take a Bookcrossing-type of approach with this batch. I’ve created some labels designed to look like a thought bubble. (These books are smart. Who knew that books can think?)
The text reads: “Borrow me. Read me. Take care of me. And when you’re done, bring me back to Dovercourt and swap me for another.” And then it says: “Did you read me? I’m competing with my bookish friends here. I’d like to know your name…”
At which point I added a few lines to collect a few signatures.
I’m hoping that (a) this catches the interest of a few tweens and (b) it encourages the kids to bring the books back and keep them circulating.
This afternoon we released the following books into the wild:
Yolonda’s Genius, Carol Fenner
Robinson Crusoe, retold from Daniel Defoe
The Dark is Rising, Susan Cooper
Gulliver’s Travels, retold from Jonathan Swift
If you see one and pass it along to a tween you know, please ask them to sign it before they set it free. I’d like to see a couple of them find their way home some day. Thank you!
So last night was the big YSB Dream Believe Achieve Gala. I have three things to say about it:
1) Wow.
2) JIM CUDDY.
3) I love my husband.
Mark actually got to chat with Jim Cuddy (who shall now be forever known to me as “Jim Cuddly” thanks to a little faux-pas by one of the MC’s of the evening). Mark was on his way to the men’s room and saw Jim out in the hallway. They exchanged a few words and parted friends. (Just kidding about that last part.) But omg – JIM CUDDY. Why didn’t I choose that moment to go pee??
I bid on a lunch with Justin Trudeau (didn’t win – boo) and Mark bid on some kind of superawesome bike (didn’t win that either). I secretly wanted Mark to bid on a serenade by Jim Cuddy but I knew we couldn’t afford it. It eventually went for – I think – $2400 and was won by the Dennis Jackson, Vice President of Scotiabank/fellow YSB Foundation Board Member who gifted it to his lucky wife. She got serenaded at the end of the evening, and let me tell you … there were a lot of jealous people in the audience. :)
The serenade was lovely, but here’s my favourite memento:
There was a photobooth at the pre-gala reception! So neat.
It was a great evening. I floated. I smiled so much my face hurt. I talked to many amazing people who really care, people who are helping make Ottawa a great community … whether they’re writing big cheques or working right on the street. They all made me proud to call this place home.
p.s. it’s not too late to donate to my campaign … and maybe win something interesting. Do it for Ottawa!
ETA: I’m going to do the draw on December 3! So please make your donation by then so I can include you. Thank you!
Some time ago I wrote about my involvement with the Youth Services Bureau of Ottawa. I also wrote about a big gala fundraising event starring Jim Cuddy. WELL, the big night is November 25, and there are a handful of tickets left. I’d love nothing more than to see this become a sell-out event. So if you were thinking about it, NOW IS THE TIME. I’ve been on the planning committee, and I can tell you, it is going to be great.
Earlier this year I was asked to be one of 50 people to ask 50 people to donate $50 to the YSB. I started off with a bang aaaaaand then I felloffthebandwagon. I am not good at harassing people for cash. But I am taking this last-minute opportunity to climb back on that bandwagon and continue with the harassment. But this time I’m going to sweeten the deal.
If you live in the Ottawa area and give $50 or more to my campaign (please use this link so I can track you) I will enter you in a random draw to win one 90-minute outdoor family portrait session. (You know I do family portrait photography, right?) This is a $200+ value. People who’ve already given $50 or more are automatically entered.
Thank you! And please give!
