Before I begin, I would like to apologize to all the avid science fiction readers; especially Claire, Greth, & Jessica (my co-workers). I hate science fiction, no I loathe science fiction with my entire being. (Sorry ladies :) I just find that with all the wonderful things that do exist, why must there be books that delve into other planets, ray-guns, made up creatures, etc. Now I can hear some of you yelling, what about imagination? Have you ever heard of it? Yes, I love imagination and I would like to think that my imagination is very well developed; but for some unknown reason I just cannot bring myself to read, let alone enjoy, a science fiction novel.....until this point.
When I learned that Stephenie Meyer was going to be writing an adult novel, I was thrilled. (I must admit I was a little disappointed that it would be coming out before she finished her Twilight series, but I won't get into that, it is a whole other blog :) When I learned her first foray into the adult section of the bookstore was to be in science fiction, I think I actually cringed. Being a Meyer fanatic, I began to look into this new book with biased eyes. But after much deliberation and several times changing my mind, I thought what the heck, it can't be all that bad, can it? As the day of its release got closer, I got more and more excited, almost like a child with the upcoming holiday season. When it finally got into my anxious little hands, I as psyched! I know not to judge a book by it's cover, but this cover was amazing and it was a book by Stephenie Meyer.
I went straight home from work, and I settled in with the goal to read this book by the end of the evening. This is where some of my excitement died down. Like her other books, she grabs you right away, but unlike the Twilight series, I could put this one down pretty easy. What is going on, I thought, where is the hook that won't let you go? (In my eyes, this book was up against some pretty stiff competition, please keep that in mind :) After some re-reading, and taking some breaks to surf the TV, I decided that it was now or never. After the first 100 pages, I was hooked!! Only stopping to get something to drink, and to move so my legs didn't fall asleep, at 3:30am I had finished the newest book by Stephenie Meyer. After finishing the last paragraph, I was giddy! A huge smile lit up my face, and I was wide awake; so in love with this book I re-read the last 2 chapters, just to savor that wonderful feeling of finishing a book that you love, and to remember the characters that have captured a part of your heart.
Like I said earlier, I hate science fiction; but I think what I loved so much about this particular book was that she was able to make the non-human characters so humane. For the first time, I was excited to read and learn about an alien. In this book, time is not identified, so it could be present day or years in the future; but our human bodies have been taken over by "souls". Using our bodies as a host, hence the title, they have taken over Earth, along with numerous other planets. Yet, there are a group of humans who do not want to lose themselves to the "souls", and have set up rebellion camps all over. Meet Melanie, a rebel human, who has got caught and has a "soul", named Wanderer, put into her body. But Melanie does not die out, and Wanderer is caught sharing a body with this strong, independent person who knows where a camp of rebel humans are. Not only does Wanderer start to like Melanie, she is bombarded by the feelings Melanie has for another human named Jared. Meyer deftly weaves a very PG romance plot, into all the action, but unlike her previous novels this love story involves 3 souls and 2 bodies.
The Host is considered an adult novel but I truly believe that any person, young or old, will enjoy this wonderfully written tale of love, survival, but most of all finding out who you are in any type of skin.
Friday, May 23, 2008
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Falling in love all over again...with books, of course!
Today, Valentine's Day, is the international holiday of Love (or, if you're cynical, a marketing ploy aimed to hit us where it hurts - our pocketbooks. 'If you really loved me, you'd...'. But I prefer to think of it as the holiday of Love.) And on this festival day, it is only appropriate to engage with the ones you love, to reassure them of your love, and to show your commitment and devotion in some way (it doesn't have to cost money!) Well, I plan to do all of that for my husband. But it occurs to me that I have another love affair, even longer standing than my marriage. I speak, of course, of my devotion to books. In the romantic air of the day, what could be more appropriate than mentioning a few of my favorite romances.
For young adults, and young at hearts, Beauty by Robin McKinley is a wonderful re-telling of a classic fairytale. The growing friendship, and blossoming romance, between Beauty and her Beast re-affirms all of our longings for true love. Crown and Court Duel by Sherwood Smith introduces another love story, between unlikely characters. A noblewoman turned rebel is balked at every turning by a lackey of the corrupt king. So why does she find him so fascinating? Read and find out! For something a little closer to home, try The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare. When free-spirited Kit travels to her Puritan relatives in the colonies, she finds herself torn between two different men offering two very different lives. An accusation of witchcraft, and a threat to a dear friend, force Kit to make her choice once and for all.
Fantasy lovers should try Mercedes Lackey's The Fairy Godmother, first in her series about the 500 Kingdoms. Elaina was born to be a Cinderella, but her Prince Charming is only a young boy when she leaves her cruel stepmother. So instead the local Fairy Godmother takes her in, training her to be the new Fairy Godmother. When she meets the stereotypical second brother, who tries to trample her, she turns him into a donkey. How on earth can he ever be redeemed?
If Victorian England, in all its finery, appeals to your imagination, try the romances of Stephanie Laurens, or Amanda Quick. In Devil's Bride Stephanie Laurens introduces the Cynster family, each of whom will have their own intense and thrilling love-story. Amanda Quick's quirky novels, including Second Sight, The Paid Companion, Ravished and many others will delight anyone looking for characters who aren't perfectly beautiful, perfectly handsome, disgustingly wealthy, or convieniently royalty in hiding. Her love stories are funny, suspensful, and delightfully possible!
Amanda Quick also writes as Jayne Ann Krentz when her heroes and heroines are facing the modern rat race instead of Victorian strait-laced life. Grand Passion follows a hard-edged business man, used to being on his own, as he is drawn into the family and love of a warm and caring woman. Falling Awake looks at the possibilities of psychic dreamers, who fall in love long before they meet in person.
For those who thrill to the darker things in life, Dark Prince by Christine Feehan introduces the Carpathians, a noble immortal race who can become the monstrous vampires of legend if they don't find their lifemates in time. Christina Dodd writes of a family of shapeshifters, cursed by their ancestor's deal with the devil. Touching Darkness begins the quest of four siblings to find a way to undo the demonic pact.
Finally, my own personal comfort books. The inspirational romances of Grace Livingston Hill are simple, wholesome, and sweet. Written in the early 1900's, they remind the reader of happier times and simpler joys. The Best Man, Not Under the Law, Tomorrow About this Time, and more than hundred others can enchant your own inner world.
For young adults, and young at hearts, Beauty by Robin McKinley is a wonderful re-telling of a classic fairytale. The growing friendship, and blossoming romance, between Beauty and her Beast re-affirms all of our longings for true love. Crown and Court Duel by Sherwood Smith introduces another love story, between unlikely characters. A noblewoman turned rebel is balked at every turning by a lackey of the corrupt king. So why does she find him so fascinating? Read and find out! For something a little closer to home, try The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare. When free-spirited Kit travels to her Puritan relatives in the colonies, she finds herself torn between two different men offering two very different lives. An accusation of witchcraft, and a threat to a dear friend, force Kit to make her choice once and for all.
Fantasy lovers should try Mercedes Lackey's The Fairy Godmother, first in her series about the 500 Kingdoms. Elaina was born to be a Cinderella, but her Prince Charming is only a young boy when she leaves her cruel stepmother. So instead the local Fairy Godmother takes her in, training her to be the new Fairy Godmother. When she meets the stereotypical second brother, who tries to trample her, she turns him into a donkey. How on earth can he ever be redeemed?
If Victorian England, in all its finery, appeals to your imagination, try the romances of Stephanie Laurens, or Amanda Quick. In Devil's Bride Stephanie Laurens introduces the Cynster family, each of whom will have their own intense and thrilling love-story. Amanda Quick's quirky novels, including Second Sight, The Paid Companion, Ravished and many others will delight anyone looking for characters who aren't perfectly beautiful, perfectly handsome, disgustingly wealthy, or convieniently royalty in hiding. Her love stories are funny, suspensful, and delightfully possible!
Amanda Quick also writes as Jayne Ann Krentz when her heroes and heroines are facing the modern rat race instead of Victorian strait-laced life. Grand Passion follows a hard-edged business man, used to being on his own, as he is drawn into the family and love of a warm and caring woman. Falling Awake looks at the possibilities of psychic dreamers, who fall in love long before they meet in person.
For those who thrill to the darker things in life, Dark Prince by Christine Feehan introduces the Carpathians, a noble immortal race who can become the monstrous vampires of legend if they don't find their lifemates in time. Christina Dodd writes of a family of shapeshifters, cursed by their ancestor's deal with the devil. Touching Darkness begins the quest of four siblings to find a way to undo the demonic pact.
Finally, my own personal comfort books. The inspirational romances of Grace Livingston Hill are simple, wholesome, and sweet. Written in the early 1900's, they remind the reader of happier times and simpler joys. The Best Man, Not Under the Law, Tomorrow About this Time, and more than hundred others can enchant your own inner world.
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Making Money Pratchett Style
Well, I can hardly wait - I'm biting my fingernails, waiting on tenterhooks, with bated breath - all those great expressions. For what am I waiting so anxiously? For the 36th Discworld book by Terry Pratchett, even now being processed at the local library. If my name isn't first on the hold list, I don't know what I'll do!
For those of you who are uninitiated into the wonders of Discworld, I am taking this opportunity to attempt a conversion/introduction. The more people who read Terry Pratchett, the better this world will be.
The Discworld is, appropriately, a flat, round disc-shaped planet, resting on the back of four elephants which stand on the shell of a giant turtle as it swims through space. Among the many mysteries of Discworld science is how exactly the world can turn on the elephants' shoulders without causing the mother of all friction burns. The most likely answer? Magic. Of course a world as illogical as this can't exist without a substantial magical field in place. The answer to any question of technology or history is magic. Much to the dismay of Rincewind, the Disc's most incompetent wizzard (note spelling), there is no such thing as special light sensitive paper for taking pictures of things. When you point a little black box at something and push the button, a tiny imp inside the box paints the scene for you. And when lightning strikes, it is because the gods are having a particularly bad day, not due to the build up of some unknown force in the air.
Naturally, for a world so steeped in magic, the presence of magic workers is essential. Discworld's Wizards and Witches make life easier for the average citizen, mostly by doing nothing in the case of the wizards (they don't use magic but they do it in a dynamic way, not like people who don't use magic because they can't, but because they can, they don't. It makes sense to them, and lets them eat huge meals and lounge around on tenure doing nothing and feeling very accomplished.) Of course, no mention of the wizards is complete without introducing their librarian, who loves bananas and says 'Oook', due to his unusually ape-like physiology. Just don't call him a monkey.
The witches, on the other hand, do quite a lot for everyone, but they also avoid using magic whenever possible. In their case, they figure why waste magic when good old headology (psychology) works so well? No need to curse someone when you can mutter under your breath and have them jinx themselves out of fear. Granny Weatherwax and Nanny Ogg hold local farmers in thrall - Granny by her cussedness, and Nanny by her atrociously bad jokes.
All of the Discworld is, of course, carefully watched by Death, a seven foot tall skeleton who SPEAKS IN CAPITAL LETTERS and tries very hard to understand the humans in his care. A surprisingly personable fellow who even has a granddaughter (she fills in for him on his occasional disappearances) and a pet, of sorts. Death of Rats SQUEAKS IN CAPITALS, but at least he's some company.
The Discworld is a wonderfully comfortable, familiar place, with the kinds of people you could pull off of any street here. So, go out to your local library, or bookstore (yes, we do carry them!) and start reading! First, read The Color of Magic and The Light Fantastic. Then, go wild! And when you've worked your way through the wonders of Terry Pratchett's fabulous imagination, you can get in line behind me to read Making Money. I promise you, it will be well worth the effort!
For those of you who are uninitiated into the wonders of Discworld, I am taking this opportunity to attempt a conversion/introduction. The more people who read Terry Pratchett, the better this world will be.
The Discworld is, appropriately, a flat, round disc-shaped planet, resting on the back of four elephants which stand on the shell of a giant turtle as it swims through space. Among the many mysteries of Discworld science is how exactly the world can turn on the elephants' shoulders without causing the mother of all friction burns. The most likely answer? Magic. Of course a world as illogical as this can't exist without a substantial magical field in place. The answer to any question of technology or history is magic. Much to the dismay of Rincewind, the Disc's most incompetent wizzard (note spelling), there is no such thing as special light sensitive paper for taking pictures of things. When you point a little black box at something and push the button, a tiny imp inside the box paints the scene for you. And when lightning strikes, it is because the gods are having a particularly bad day, not due to the build up of some unknown force in the air.
Naturally, for a world so steeped in magic, the presence of magic workers is essential. Discworld's Wizards and Witches make life easier for the average citizen, mostly by doing nothing in the case of the wizards (they don't use magic but they do it in a dynamic way, not like people who don't use magic because they can't, but because they can, they don't. It makes sense to them, and lets them eat huge meals and lounge around on tenure doing nothing and feeling very accomplished.) Of course, no mention of the wizards is complete without introducing their librarian, who loves bananas and says 'Oook', due to his unusually ape-like physiology. Just don't call him a monkey.
The witches, on the other hand, do quite a lot for everyone, but they also avoid using magic whenever possible. In their case, they figure why waste magic when good old headology (psychology) works so well? No need to curse someone when you can mutter under your breath and have them jinx themselves out of fear. Granny Weatherwax and Nanny Ogg hold local farmers in thrall - Granny by her cussedness, and Nanny by her atrociously bad jokes.
All of the Discworld is, of course, carefully watched by Death, a seven foot tall skeleton who SPEAKS IN CAPITAL LETTERS and tries very hard to understand the humans in his care. A surprisingly personable fellow who even has a granddaughter (she fills in for him on his occasional disappearances) and a pet, of sorts. Death of Rats SQUEAKS IN CAPITALS, but at least he's some company.
The Discworld is a wonderfully comfortable, familiar place, with the kinds of people you could pull off of any street here. So, go out to your local library, or bookstore (yes, we do carry them!) and start reading! First, read The Color of Magic and The Light Fantastic. Then, go wild! And when you've worked your way through the wonders of Terry Pratchett's fabulous imagination, you can get in line behind me to read Making Money. I promise you, it will be well worth the effort!
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Jessica Recommends The Phoenix Guards
It’s time for another edition of
Jessica Recommends a Book!
You probably won't like Steven Brust's The Phoenix Guards. I say that with some confidence, not because I dislike it myself, but because, statistically speaking, 9 of 11 people I’ve lent it to have returned it unfinished. Nevertheless, it is one of my favorites. Consider the following note about the geography around the Imperial Palace:
“At any rate, the aforementioned Vallista reign saw, in addition to the construction of the Imperial Palace, the creation for the first time of forts and fortresses (the distinction, certain comments by the Lord of Snails notwithstanding, having nothing whatsoever to do with the presence of breastworks, nor the size of buttresses) along what was then the Eastern border. The construction of the Great Houses around the Imperial Palace did not begin until the Second Cycle, with the reign of Kieron the Younger, of the House of the Dragon. He ordered the building of the Great House of the Phoenix, opposite the Palace, as a tribute to Empress Zerika II, or possibly as a bribe to persuade her to relinquish the throne – history is unclear on this.”The Phoenix Guards, page 30.
If your eyes glazed over, believe me, you’re not alone. But if this lecture about the architectural history of a fictional palace complex made you smirk, well....
At its core, this is a deadpan parody of The Three Musketeers. Not just the absurdities of manners and customs exhibited in the book, but also the persistent quality of narrative voice in nineteenth century romances, where the narrator’s character is just as apparent as those he pontificates about. And the narrator does pontificate. He expounds endlessly and inventively about the history of places and people and regional cuisine our heroes encounter in their adventures, often spending more time discussing the history of the inn than the ambush our heroes actually thwart at the inn.
That is not to say the characters are in any way lacking. Our heroes are delightful re-imaginings of the classic four Musketeers, recognizable in archetype but with their own flavor. For example, one of the four appears as a woman. But rather than take the easy route, with the woman in the place of the foppish schemer Aramis, Tazendra takes the role of the brash warrior Porthos, always a step behind in the planning but taking the lead in battle. The other three, Khaavren, Aerich, and Pel, each have their own charms.
Oh, and did I mention the swashbuckling? Because they have rather a lot of that. There are epic duels, invading armies, love, rivalry, revenge… What more could you ask for?
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
I attended the Fort Collins Sustainable Living Fair with my husband this past Saturday. All I can say is (to quote a customer who also attended) 'I'm ready to go live in a yurt and raise goats!'
The fair gave us the much-needed reassurance that we are not alone in our concern for the environment, and our search for alternative ways of living. And did they ever have choices for those other ways! We passed booths dealing with every conceivable aspect of the green/sustainable lifestyle - many of them issues that we had never thought of! From the solar oven (knew about that) to the necessity for all eight sugars in a balanced diet (??? never knew that) and everything in between. The best part was the relative lack of structure. We moved from a display on alternative building materials to a booth with free meat samples (we'd just had brunch, more's the pity, because that steak smelled good!) There was no feeling of 'now we're in the energy section, now we're in the clothing section, etc' but of a wonderful holistic jumble! Just like the reality of a sustainable lifestyle, the fair offerings looked at the integrated whole.
Of course, being the bibliophile that I am, my attention was grabbed by any booth with books on display. While I was a good girl and resisted the temptation (merely noted the titles for later purchasing) my husband, surprisingly enough, found one book that he had to have, Superbia! 31 Ways to Create Sustainable Neighborhoods by Dan Chiras ($19.95, New Society Publishers). I definitely got some leverage out of his succumbing to temptation while I stood firm! So I used my high ground to justify my ordering of the three books that I wanted - I know, three to one hardly seems reasonable, but I've never denied that I'm an addict! So, in a few days I should have Everything I Want to Do is Illegal by Joel Salatin ($23.95, Polyface) A Handmade Life: In Search of Simplicity by William Coperthwaite ($25, Chelsea Green Publishing Company) and Home Work: Handbuilt Shelter by Lloyd Kahn ($26.95, Shelter Publications). I can't wait!
While our time at the fair was unfortunately limited - only two and a half hours to see all that we could - we had enough time to realize that our Northern Colorado Community has a strong group dedicated to finding ways to live in harmony with nature. Even driving past the parasitical mall at Centerra afterwards couldn't entirely erase our sense of hope. Of course, now we have to decide how we will apply ourselves to meeting these challenges. My husband votes for the Green Party in Ireland and watches for any new research about organic farming, genetically modified foods, and oil alternatives. I, of course, tend to be a little more (over)enthusiastic. So, I'm ready to go handbuild a completely green shelter with all alternative energy, a complete water recycling system and a biofuel converter, grow organic foods for our own consumption, make all of our clothing, outlaw TV, and banish consumerism. Oh, and raise goats, of course.
The fair gave us the much-needed reassurance that we are not alone in our concern for the environment, and our search for alternative ways of living. And did they ever have choices for those other ways! We passed booths dealing with every conceivable aspect of the green/sustainable lifestyle - many of them issues that we had never thought of! From the solar oven (knew about that) to the necessity for all eight sugars in a balanced diet (??? never knew that) and everything in between. The best part was the relative lack of structure. We moved from a display on alternative building materials to a booth with free meat samples (we'd just had brunch, more's the pity, because that steak smelled good!) There was no feeling of 'now we're in the energy section, now we're in the clothing section, etc' but of a wonderful holistic jumble! Just like the reality of a sustainable lifestyle, the fair offerings looked at the integrated whole.
Of course, being the bibliophile that I am, my attention was grabbed by any booth with books on display. While I was a good girl and resisted the temptation (merely noted the titles for later purchasing) my husband, surprisingly enough, found one book that he had to have, Superbia! 31 Ways to Create Sustainable Neighborhoods by Dan Chiras ($19.95, New Society Publishers). I definitely got some leverage out of his succumbing to temptation while I stood firm! So I used my high ground to justify my ordering of the three books that I wanted - I know, three to one hardly seems reasonable, but I've never denied that I'm an addict! So, in a few days I should have Everything I Want to Do is Illegal by Joel Salatin ($23.95, Polyface) A Handmade Life: In Search of Simplicity by William Coperthwaite ($25, Chelsea Green Publishing Company) and Home Work: Handbuilt Shelter by Lloyd Kahn ($26.95, Shelter Publications). I can't wait!
While our time at the fair was unfortunately limited - only two and a half hours to see all that we could - we had enough time to realize that our Northern Colorado Community has a strong group dedicated to finding ways to live in harmony with nature. Even driving past the parasitical mall at Centerra afterwards couldn't entirely erase our sense of hope. Of course, now we have to decide how we will apply ourselves to meeting these challenges. My husband votes for the Green Party in Ireland and watches for any new research about organic farming, genetically modified foods, and oil alternatives. I, of course, tend to be a little more (over)enthusiastic. So, I'm ready to go handbuild a completely green shelter with all alternative energy, a complete water recycling system and a biofuel converter, grow organic foods for our own consumption, make all of our clothing, outlaw TV, and banish consumerism. Oh, and raise goats, of course.
Monday, August 27, 2007
Every few weeks, I get an urge to be crafty - handcrafts, that is. Especially when I look at my budget, and then consider my closet. Clothing is just not affordable now! I do most of my shopping at GoodWill, but the options are slightly limited there. Unless...I've taken to looking at every piece of clothing as a potential blank canvas, to be remade in any way I can dream up. Last summer, I purchased Megan Nicolay's book Generation T: 108 ways to transform a T-shirt (9780761137856, $14.95) and started down the primrose path to T-shirt frenzy! My culminating triumph (so far) was my handsewn wedding dress, which took more time than I care to admit, and was worth every second of it when my husband realized that I had made it myself. Whenever I clean out my closet now, I make three piles instead of two: keep, give away, use for cloth. The only problem is that the potential projects pile up so quickly!
It struck me recently that what was a neccessity for our ancestors has become a hobby for us. I sew, knit, and crochet for my own pleasure, not because I will go naked otherwise. I find ways to re-use objects because I have the time and an urge to experiment, not because I can't afford to purchase something new. Hard on the heels of that thought came another: we have made it more expensive to create than to purchase. How sad is that? If I lived in poverty, I would not save any money by making my own clothes. Yarn, cloth, tools, and time make any project more expensive than simply buying an equivalent item from a department store. While our culture professes to celebrate individuality, we are pressed into purchasing monotony.
My new goal: to wear only socks that I knit myself (as soon as I learn how to knit socks). To make the majority of my own clothes, not just the occasional funky top. To live as though I couldn't run down to the store to purchase new things. To rediscover the pride of creating in all aspects of life. To sew a straight seam.
It struck me recently that what was a neccessity for our ancestors has become a hobby for us. I sew, knit, and crochet for my own pleasure, not because I will go naked otherwise. I find ways to re-use objects because I have the time and an urge to experiment, not because I can't afford to purchase something new. Hard on the heels of that thought came another: we have made it more expensive to create than to purchase. How sad is that? If I lived in poverty, I would not save any money by making my own clothes. Yarn, cloth, tools, and time make any project more expensive than simply buying an equivalent item from a department store. While our culture professes to celebrate individuality, we are pressed into purchasing monotony.
My new goal: to wear only socks that I knit myself (as soon as I learn how to knit socks). To make the majority of my own clothes, not just the occasional funky top. To live as though I couldn't run down to the store to purchase new things. To rediscover the pride of creating in all aspects of life. To sew a straight seam.
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
I want to say a heartfelt thank you to all of our customers who have celebrated with me this week. The announcement of my marriage to Fintan Dinneen appeared in last Saturday's Reporter Herald, and the response of our regulars has been very heartwarming. This experience has also brought home to me what a small town Loveland has remained, despite its ever-increasing population. My family has lived in this area for several generations, and people have come into the store to ask after my connections - usually because they went to high school with my great-aunt, or were taught by my grandfather. Photographs of me as an eight year old, and reminiscence of holding me as an infant make me feel as though I am living in an old-fashioned, storybook community.
This strength of human connection is one of Loveland's most valuable assets. Nowhere do I feel it as strongly as when I am at work, hearing about the events large and small in our customers' lives. Downtown Loveland has fought back against the slump that threatened it in recent years. Even with the eastward expansion drawing commerce away from the center of town, 4th Street has managed to revitalize itself. I am so encouraged by the number of new customers that we get each day, people who want to shop locally instead of giving business to a faceless big-box store. As these new converts find us, we are also establishing close ties with the other businesses nearby. People come to us on the recommendation of Monika from Woolen Treasures, or the folks at MommaStyle. In turn, we make it a point to know where we can send people when they ask for suggestions.
I am fortunate to be a fourth generation Colorado native, three generations in Loveland itself. I inherited my great-grandmother's diaries, which she kept from age 12 to age 90. Reading about her Loveland, and then coming to work and experiencing my Loveland, I am thrilled to still feel the sense of unity and fellowship that she did. Granted, we're a lot larger now, and we no longer depend just on our own community to meet our needs. However, we have not become a virtual ghost town, or 'dormitory' suburb. I believe that 4th Street, the Library, the Museum, and yes, Anthology Book Company have all done a tremendous amount to keep our town vital and friendly. When I look online and see better prices than I can find in the stores, or when I know that I can drop by Hobby Lobby for cheaper yarn, the strength and commitment of our downtown community reminds me that its value is greater than any money I could save elsewhere.
So, thank you all again for your best wishes. Also, a particular thank you to the mystery benefactor who paid for my husband and my dinner at Cipoletti's the other day. Your generosity is yet another example of Loveland's fine heart, and we will pass it on someday.
This strength of human connection is one of Loveland's most valuable assets. Nowhere do I feel it as strongly as when I am at work, hearing about the events large and small in our customers' lives. Downtown Loveland has fought back against the slump that threatened it in recent years. Even with the eastward expansion drawing commerce away from the center of town, 4th Street has managed to revitalize itself. I am so encouraged by the number of new customers that we get each day, people who want to shop locally instead of giving business to a faceless big-box store. As these new converts find us, we are also establishing close ties with the other businesses nearby. People come to us on the recommendation of Monika from Woolen Treasures, or the folks at MommaStyle. In turn, we make it a point to know where we can send people when they ask for suggestions.
I am fortunate to be a fourth generation Colorado native, three generations in Loveland itself. I inherited my great-grandmother's diaries, which she kept from age 12 to age 90. Reading about her Loveland, and then coming to work and experiencing my Loveland, I am thrilled to still feel the sense of unity and fellowship that she did. Granted, we're a lot larger now, and we no longer depend just on our own community to meet our needs. However, we have not become a virtual ghost town, or 'dormitory' suburb. I believe that 4th Street, the Library, the Museum, and yes, Anthology Book Company have all done a tremendous amount to keep our town vital and friendly. When I look online and see better prices than I can find in the stores, or when I know that I can drop by Hobby Lobby for cheaper yarn, the strength and commitment of our downtown community reminds me that its value is greater than any money I could save elsewhere.
So, thank you all again for your best wishes. Also, a particular thank you to the mystery benefactor who paid for my husband and my dinner at Cipoletti's the other day. Your generosity is yet another example of Loveland's fine heart, and we will pass it on someday.
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