Armchair BEA: Day One: Introductions

I couldn't attend BEA, it's in the US and I'm not with a passport to venture over there and visit. Or I might.... plus it's expensive.... but I hear worth every penny, so I still might..... oh, one of these years....

For now I got Armchair BEA, and for that I am quite happy to attend. Drinking a hazelnut coffee from my Keurig, while I enjoy this time with you all, really is the best, so I'm more than eager to attend this one.

Today is all about introductions, which honestly, I have never been very good at, but we'll do it anyway. I'm always up for a laugh if nothing else, often even be the brunt of it. So here we go.....

My name is Freda, and this is my voice in your head as you read. (Insert average chick sound.)

I am now going to answer some, or all, of these questions.... they said 5, but I've never been one to stick to the rules, so we'll see what happens.

BEA: Please tell us a little about yourself. Who are you? How long have you been blogging? Why did you get into blogging?

Who am I?? Some days I ask myself that same question. I am nearing 40 and everything I thought I knew about myself is slowly different than it used to be. I have 2 teens, that are never around, and a man, who is also hardly around, so I spend most of my time with my 2 dogs and my books. I do other things also, of course, but those are my main interests. I've been blogging almost 3 years... blogoversary is August 2nd... and initially I got into it as a place to put my "book reports". I also had a lot to say when it came to books, what I thought and how the stories made me feel, so I thought what better way to do it. It's a lot harder than I thought, making sure you don't spoil it for anyone by what you write in your reviews, but also getting your point across about how you did or didn't like it. I've had some ups and downs along the way, but for the most part, it has been a rewarding and fulfilling experience in the friendships and relationships I have made so far.

BEA: Tell us one non-book-related thing that everyone reading your blog may not know about you.

Talk about a loaded question...... I guess I can talk about my shoe fetish.

Yup, you read right.

I loves shoes! Enough that it pained me this Spring, to have to throw out 8 pairs of shoes that were beyond repair. I did buy 5 pairs already, to replace those fallen soles, but I still feel a loss.

I know some of you know about my love of Elvis Presley. Well, I have Elvis shoes!!!!!!!! 

 My mom got them for me one Christmas. They're from the Bradford Exchange. Who knew they had shoes, but they do! I haven't worn them, um, I couldn't walk on that handsome face of his, but they are treasured. Dearly.

BEA: Where do you see your blog in five years?

Who knows?! I really don't look that far ahead in time... my crystal ball has holes, and my spidey senses stopped tingling a long time ago. I look forward to today, and what ever it brings, and thank God when I have a tomorrow.  I don't know if I'd even be alive then, life is that precious, but I hope people will still read what I put on it. Whatever that may be....

BEA: If you could eat dinner with any author or character, who would it be and why?

Hands down, Maya Angelou! 

I'm a poet, she's a poet, and I admire her greatly. I would probably be soup around her, but she would still be my choice.

BEA: What is your favorite part about the book blogging community? Is there anything that you would like to see change in the coming years?

My favorite part is definitely the people I meet along the way. So many of you reading this now have been a great blogger buddy to me, and I hold you in high regard. If I ever visit or comment on your blog, you probably are on that list!

In changes, I  definitely would love if bloggers weren't so quick to join a lynch mob. I seen some attacks recently that were beyond the merits of what was appropriate on either sides.  Even if someone does wrong, who are you to cast stones and be a judge?! I think it's a terrible way to show someone when they crew up, by attacking them physically or emotionally, bullying is bullying... spiteful nature begets spiteful nature, just as positivity begets positivity... so maybe try that instead. Positivity. Even in light of error. Isn't that what forgiveness is all about?

Okay, maybe I'm just too deep for some of you... maybe some of you think I'm talking shit. I say, whatever. I hope my point reaches somebody, somewhere.

Now that's 5. I'm done rambling and hopefully you feel you know more about me. I also hope you like what you read. If you don't, that's ok too, respectfully. With that, I bid you adieu!