Full disclosure – I love (most) change. I love hearing new ideas and changing up the way I do things, and if it involves a new software program I’m even happier. I might even admit to preferring change to maintaining day after day.
Lately I’ve been reading, listening and just generally soaking in some great stuff that hits on a variety of areas:
Chris Guillebeau, author, traveller and blog writer caught my attention near the end of 2011 and I’ve been “following” him ever since. He has a great list of activities that will lead you to the “One-Year, Self-Directed, Alternative Graduate School Experience” and a chapter on “Radical Exclusion and the Quest for Abundance” – I loved both of these. He has a pile of other thoughts, ideas and challenges that have really captured my imagination lately.
One word – Adele. I LOVE her. And I love this dvd that showed up under my Christmas tree in December. Singing – awesome. Authenticity - gut-wrenching. Potty mouth - undoubtedly. (Warning – if swear words and earthy chat in between songs offend you, then just skip over this one. Trust me.) I wanted to weep with her when she heard a capacity crowd sing her songs at The Royal Albert Hall. Really cool to experience that moment.
Jesus Culture and Kim Walker – especially Kim Walker’s rendition of How He Loves Us. That song, and the passion with which she sings it…well, words fail. And on a totally different level, I am fascinated by how low her voice sounds in keys that are not really all that low. And then, of course, how high she’s actually singing, when it doesn’t sound all that high. Human voices are remarkable. Sometimes. Well, a few of them are.
I’m also in the middle of reading a couple of other books:
and 
.
The problem is that Linchpin is due back at the library in 5 days and I don’t think I’m going to make the deadline 
. Time to figure out online renewing.
Anyway, those are a few of my favourite things at the moment. Have you been pondering some wisdom lately?
When I first read your blog, I totally agreed about LOVING Adele. But, now, after borrowing your DVD of her concert at Royal Albert Hall, I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE her as an amazing artist. This DVD confirms her voice is the real thing, no sound booth tricks were made on her CDs. Sure she has a bit of a potty mouth, but do you find that when certain curse words are said in that British accent that they don’t sound as harsh?
Her sinister laugh kills me, and her authenticity about why each of those songs were written made me appreciate her songs even more…if that is possible. Thanks again for sharing your Christmas gift, Deb!
I second the “LOVE” Adele comment – she is amazing!
Absolutely.
We’ll have to meet up for a beer and book chat sometime.
Yeah, well, as long as the books aren’t about portaging to some remote Ontario location. Or any other location, for that matter.