What I Learned October

1. Do you know the difference between Flotsam and Jetsam? 
My husband I had a whole discussion about these two words.

Flotsam- wreckage from a ship found floating
Jetsam- goods cast overboard

These two words are also discussed in our County Reads Book - A Tale for the Time Being (my review)

2. The Beach is good for the Soul
We live relative close to the beach but we rarely go there.  We have been making more of an effort to go to the beach.  Just a few pics of our adventures.

Large Beach Fort made of driftwood

Bench made with Driftwood

3. I learned I could write A LOT.

I did some writing for an application for my son for services.  He taught me to use Google Documents. I finished my 31 Day series - Diary of a Mediocre Homemaker.  Lastly, I wrote a letter to the editor to support a candidate for mayor.  I have never felt moved to do that before.The letter was in response to a particularly nasty letter from a fellow veteran.  Below is my imperfect letter.

In a letter to the editor October 12, Jon Mutchler was unfairly characterized as unpatriotic. I am veteran and I don’t feel that serving your country has to happen on a battlefield. Nor do you need to be a police officer or first responder to understand the issues of public safety. I have been Jon’s neighbor for over 10 years and Jon is nothing but patriotic . By the nature of his profession, Jon has frequently responded to those on their worst day and in crisis. Jon Mutchler has served the Ferndale community as a Pastor for 30 years and recently as a City Council member for 6 years. Jon Mutchler has raised 7 kids in the community of Ferndale. He is serious about serving the community and has dedicated a lot of time and effort into making Ferndale a great place to live. Please elect Jon Mutchler the next mayor of Ferndale.

Liked this life hack - 8 Amazing Things Will Happen When You Write Everyday.

**** I am linking up with Chatting with the Sky "What I learned October"

Whatcom Reads 2012

Ever year the Whatcom County Library System picks a Washington Author's Book to read as a whole county- Whatcom Reads. Along with the book picked there are all kinds of activities as well.  I have yet to make it to an actual author talk but maybe this is the year.

This year's pick is Elizabeth George's In the Presence of the Enemy.

Hailed as the "king of sleaze," tabloid editor Dennis Luxford is used to ferreting out the sins and scandals of people in exposed positions. But when he opens an innocuous-looking letter addressed to him at The Source, he discovers that someone else excels at ferreting out secrets as well.
Ten-year-old Charlotte Bowen has been abducted, and if Luxford does not admit publicly to having fathered her, she will die. But Charlotte's existence is Luxford's most fiercely guarded secret, and acknowledging her as his child will throw more than one life and career into chaos. Luxford knows that the story of Charlotte's paternity could make him a laughingstock and reveal to his beautiful wife and son the lie he's lived for a decade. Yet it's not only Luxford's reputation that's on the line: it's also the reputation—and career—of Charlotte Bowen's mother. For she is Undersecretary of State for the Home Office, one of the most high-profile Junior Ministers and quite possibly the next Margaret Thatcher.   (Amazon)

I read this on my Kindle. I really enjoyed this mystery.  I had forgotten how much I enjoy a good who done it. This one kept me guessing to the very end. I am looking forward to reading more Elizabeth George.

One activity  I plan to do is the letterboxing activity similar to geocaching.  They will be releasing clues to letterboxes located  in the library.  The letterboxes have image stickers you collect to form a rebus (a visual puzzle). So far, 2 clues have been released.  There are 5 clues total. Once you collect all the stickers and solve the rebus.  You can enter the drawing for Elizabeth George's next book Believing the Lie. So if you are local, give this a go.

I have read previous Whatcom Reads selections but so far this is my favorite.  Previous Selections have included The Absolute True Diary of a Part Time Indian, Border Songs and Old School.