danica's miscellanea

It’s Winter officially and it’s an ideal time to read a book in a cozy warm place. I want to test how serendipity works in all my social networks and test how dynamics with the situation I’ll describe will unfold. I want to give away a book, the one for winter reading, an interesting novel (meta novel I’d like to say) by Italo Calvino, If On a Winters Night a Traveller. I have read it only once, it’s a Vintage edition and it’s brand new. I dared not to write the end, my vision of ending (though I did write much earlier a story about the Reader) so it’s untouched from my usual scribble on margins or end covers. I wanted initially to send a book to one of my friends, but then I realised that all of them would love to read the book, and I only have one, so… it is Winter, officially now. The book was sent to me this Summer, as a merchandise item, the book as I mentioned, is brand new, no dedication or any kind of lines. Thus, I would like to de-virginise it and write a tiny note, if you allow, and send directly to anyone of you, wherever in the world you are at the moment. Propositions for entering the serendipity travelling book project:

1. to leave a comment, if you really want to read this novel, or if you like Calvino’s work, just in 1- 2 lines why would you like to read this book (apart from the obvious reason if you are a passionate reader or a writer).

2. anyone can send comments, including friends, contacts, colleagues, followers, strangers, everyone is equal opportunity to get the book.

3. when I choose the comment I like the most, I’ll send the book wherever the person lives, and you can use my email for contact (please don’t send me on email comments or why would you like If on a winters night a traveller)

4. you have to promise me that upon reading the book, you’ll also send it to someone randomly, wherever in the world, either locally or internationally, and ask them to do the same (the note in the book to be followed). If you have a blog - would be nice to write a short blog post on that, if not - then tumblr, if not a tumblr, then twitter, oh well, find a way to shout out and distribute this message, OK? Give everyone a chance to read the travelling book and get involved. Also, I have registered at BookCrossing, my profile, so I will track the book via this service.

5. don’t forget to take a photo of the book and where you are, when you get it, or upon reading or during the reading, that would be nice. You can use a regular camera, if you don’t have one, you probably do have a mobile phone. And send it to blog, twitpic, or maybe flickr (it’s free), and let me know about it, send links.

6. before you send the book to some random person, ask them to proceed the same way as I did, the way you did, and on and on. Don’t lose the trace of the book, it would be nice to map out where the book is travelling.

It took me one evening and one early morning to finish reading the book, but I was too much into it. You can take it easy and read your own rhythm, you are the reader after all. The book is in English, translated from Italian. Be kind, and handle the book with care.

Ok, comments are open now, for any other related questions feel free to email me on danica at danicar dot org. I hope you will enjoy If On a Winters Night a Traveller, and I will close the comments on December 29th (in a week) and then choose the comment I like the most, and ship it wherever before December 31st. Who knows maybe other folks who wanted to read the book will have the chance to read it after someone else… Now, feel free to comment and share your thoughts on, beside obvious assuming you like books and like reading and/or Italian literature, why would you like to get into the story of Calvino’s novel If On A Winter’s Night A Traveller?

Inspired by the Thesis Whisperer”s post on What to buy your favourite PhD student for Christmas, here is my version of What to buy your favourite not only PhD student but your favourite Internet researcher, your favourite female friend writer. Since Christmas and New Year is almost there and then comes my birthday by the end of January, here’s the list of things you can keep in mind. I have also separated the gift suggestions into 5 sections:

1. Books.

Since I am seriously fed up with PhD literature and I cannot keep up and read everything, I long for the books that are not strictly related to quantitative or qualitative research but also Internet, social media and just simple literature. The more I read on my expertize subject - the less I know as it’s changing every day, the dynamics is in flux. Sometimes, we need a break from professional stuff and read and relax with good old literature. Ask me what I like, I have huge list of classics and modernists, but for now I was being very modest in books section on my Amazon list. If you have some nice suggestions for reading over the Holidays, feel free to comment or email me.

 2. Gadgets 
This is actually what I need, never enough. All, iPad, yes please, laptops (MBAir would be good for my shoulders), external hard drives for backing up especially that, see Western digital (either 750gb or 1tb). Livescribe pen and matching livescribe notebooks are also welcome for interviews and field work (not urgent as I can use my iPod nano voice recorder); though backing up is something mandatory and essential for me. I also need a good laptop stand and an external laptop keyboard with softer designed keys.

 3. Stationary
Notebooks, and primarily Moleskine, Moleskine and never enough of them. I got this autumn lovely Little prince and its ruled, this spring it was soft also ruled, I love plain Moleskine, because I can draw and write in any direction and way I want. Also - for 2012 I need Moleskine weekly 18 months diary (see my Wishlist) - small or big doesn’t matter. Pens, please! With Moleskine, a cool pen would go, for smoother scribble.

 4. Clothes and other stuff
I wont be writing much here about it because as a woman the list can go on and on. On my WishList  (and will probably stay there:) is La mer, an expensive eye cream but any other good one also are welcome, as alternative - L’OCCITANE en Provence products are welcomed as well. Good accessories anti- glare glasses for long writing hours. I suffer many times from the eye strain, my eyes know to be sore, and im looking for the solution while spending too much time in front of the laptop. Berocca (see wish list), as much as I can get; it is my energy minerals vitamins daily boost, not available in every EU country, please do send. 

DVD/films: I really enjoy watching a good film, and have a huge list but didn’t want to add more this year, so some classics from last one. Also on Amazon.

What is not on Amazon is an Internet subscription to the super fast Internet, let’s say.

Now, since I entered the final year of my research and have plenty of mandatory PJ accessories, t-shirts, and whatnots (hoodies are always welcomed also for hiking/walk/run), I have a special item in the clothes section since its not accessible on Amazon or elsewhere online. Being a grown woman, by years my style have changed and now forming into modern classics and minimalism. Esp for everyday work. Hence that, I want from Santa a nice Charvet shirt that are only MTM (made to measure)  and I want in a minimalistic, basic white, black, gray with navy stripes . Many may think Charvet (the video on what its all about for those not familiar) tailored only for men, but now they also make nice things for women, but that would require that you have to go to Paris and to the store where your measures would be taken. And get your shirt done, voila. It is one tricky clothes item, but it’s worthy. And is stylish in its simplicity and design, if you ask me.
 
5. Experiences.
Tickets for galleries, museums anywhere in the world. I love (re)discovering culture and art. A gift certificate for massage - as someone suggested at The Thesis Whisperer post, massages would do good, but for me spiritually are travel, and gallery/culture/art/architecture events, or just exploratory escapades with friends or partners.

Also - ticket and travel for the Imogen Heap concert in 2012 wherever she will give one in Europe/US maybe? Holidays/vacations even for a seven days are also welcomed, since I can’t remember when I had the proper one due to work, work, work.

Ok, this was my list for Christmas and Birthday, I cannot think of anything else now, as people and travel and new/old places are something essential to me. Of course, I do have my personal wishes in my mind and in my heart, and they are intimate and personal, but definitely I want to finish something this year and start with something wonderful in 2012. Maybe moving to a new country? Or start with giving birth to something else/a project/something new, or a new life maybe? Who knows….

What would you like to see for Christmas and New Year?  I hope you have been good in 2011 and Santa may surprise you - have a great Christmas and Winter Holidays everyone!

~ If others don’t believe in you, its their problem of who they are, don’t stop believing in yourself.

 ~ A great relationship isn’t when a perfect couple comes together, but an imperfect couple learns to enjoy their differences.

~ If nothing is going right then go left.
 

~Judging a person does not define who they are, it defines who you are.

~ Your “flaws” are the greatest thing about you, and aren’t flaws at all.

~ If someone makes you more upset than happy, they aren’t worth your time.

~ Good relationships don’t just happen. They take time, patience, and two people who truly want to be together.

~ If he is willing to do anything to place a smile on your face, he is worth keeping.

~ Saying someone is ”hot” will never substitute for ”beautiful”

 ~ Your worth is not measured, as some people believe, in likes, comments, notes, or follower count.

~ “Technology is neither good nor bad; nor is it neutral.” - Kranzberg 1st law of technology

~ Never explain yourself. Your friends don’t need it, and your enemies wont believe it.
 
~ Life is too short to spend time with people who suck the happiness out of you.

~ Focus on the people who truly love and care about you

~ When someone accuses you of doing something you’re not doing, its usually because they’re the ones doing it.

~ No trust = no relationship (of any kind)

~The notion of relationship is an encounter between two free and responsible individuals engaging in a mutual and authentic exchange.
Key words:  Free / responsible / authentic. via AT

~ Best friends are people who make your problems their problems, just so you don’t have to go through them alone. They not only listen to you, or give advice but also act and help out.

~ Someone who really loves you sees what a mess you can be, how moody you can get, how hard you are to handle, but still wants you.

~ Love is an act of faith

~ In the end you’ll see who’s fake, who’s true, and would risk it all for you.

Some of the Quotes I Wish I Wrote but someone else did it before me, random one I remember from 2011, many others written somewhere else, Facebook, Twitter, Flickr…


Perfectionism is self-abuse in the highest order. – Anne Wilson Schaef, Ph.D. 


When everything goes to hell, the people who stand by you without flinching — they are your family. – Jim Butcher



The hoarder will suffer great loss.
Be content with what you have and you will not be disgraced.
Know when to stop and you will be preserved from danger.
Only in this way will you long endure.
– Lao Tzu


“Developing inner values is much like physical exercise. The more we train our abilities, the stronger they become.” Dalai Lama


“ How do you do it? You do it. You write. You finish what you write.
You look for publishers who publish “that kind of thing”, whatever it is. You send them what you’ve done (a letter asking if they’d like to see a whole manuscript or a few chapters and an outline will always be welcome. And stamped self-addressed envelopes help keep the wheels turning.) Sooner or later, if you don’t give up and you have some measurable amount of ability or talent or luck, you get published. But for people who don’t know where to begin, let me offer a few suggestions”— Neil Gaiman

“Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better.” Samuel Beckett