RAE’S READS

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This year (2025) finds me with 53 years of teaching “under my belt.” I have taught all levels from pre-K “(library lady” or “book lady”–volunteer) to juniors, seniors, and graduate students enrolled in my Advanced Writing class at the university where I have just completed 34 years. My first paying teaching job was junior high, and I spent 13 years with ages 12-13, the “difficult years.” I had some of the “funnest” experiences with this age group. When I was no longer the “young, fun teacher,” I taught in an elementary school setting before sixth graders went on to junior high, teaching language arts blocs, an assignment that was a “dream-fit” for me. After completing graduate school in my 40s, I went on to community college, then university teaching. This past fall I accepted a part-time teaching job at Apogee Gulf Coast Schools in its first year at the Alvin campus. After my Better Half died n 2022, I achieved a lifelong dream: opening a bookstore of my own, Rae’s Reads. A year later, I sold the house we had lived in for 47 years and moved into the bookstore. My goal is to circulate and repurpose books. Just as teaching is “in my blood,” so is a passion for reading, writing, libraries, and everything bookish. This blog will be open to anyone who loves books, promotes literacy and wants to “come out and play.”

CHRISTMAS READ-A-THON

Join me on Saturday, December 23rd in a twelve-hour Christmas Read-a-thon. No, you do not have to read Christmas themed books, but you may if you would like to. My goal is to finish the books I have started and to read as far as I can in books that are in my house in this order: books checked out from library /escape reading to soothe me from the hustle and bustle I will have been through by then/books that will whittle down my TBR shelves and stacks.

I plan to cook my Christmas Eve dinner and thaw my Christmas day dinner items while I am reading on Saturday.  Sunday we will go to our Christmas Church Service at 10:30 (no Bible Study/Sunday School that day), then return at 5:00 p.m. of Christmas Eve for a Communion/Celebration, so there will be scant time for cooking.  Hopefully by Saturday, everything will be wrapped and delivered and nothing but peace and goodwill will reign for the rest of the Christmas weekend and day. I am looking forward to some quiet, reflective time both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.  Leading up to this time with a day of reading and thawing/cooking will be a Christmas gift to myself.

Who would like to join me?  Indicate in the comment section if you’re “in.”

Happy Holiday Reading Days Ahead…

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8 responses to “CHRISTMAS READ-A-THON”

  1. Rae Longest Avatar
    Rae Longest

    Reblogged this on blogging807.

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  2. sjhigbee Avatar
    sjhigbee

    Oh best of luck with this one, Rae. I’d LOVE to be able to join you, but we are driving to my in-laws to celebrate my mother-in-law’s birthday as well as dropping pressies off to my family. So best part of the day will be spent out and about and in addition, my son is returning home to stay for the holiday period:). I look forward to hearing how you get on!

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    1. Rae Longest Avatar
      Rae Longest

      I will post an hour-by-hour summary in a post Sunday (Christmas Eve).

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      1. sjhigbee Avatar
        sjhigbee

        I look forward to reading it at some stage…

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  3. readerbuzz Avatar
    readerbuzz

    I can’t wait to spend some quiet time reading. But it will definitely be after Christmas.

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    1. Rae Longest Avatar
      Rae Longest

      Understood. We will all need some quiet time reading after Christmas

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  4. TheChattyIntrovert Avatar
    TheChattyIntrovert

    Going to work on that, Ms. L. I have a few books left in my “100 to read” list this year and I’d like to get them done and reviewed so I can move on to Shakespeare in the New Year (I keep procrastinating on that one, and the complete Oxford Shakespeare’s been glaring at me from it’s spot on the shelf the past three years).

    Happy reading.

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    1. Rae Longest Avatar
      Rae Longest

      Since I am a literature major (or was in graduate school when I was 40), I have read a great deal of Shakespeare and have taken two different courses which covered his work (some overlapped). I don’t think you could have taken on a more interesting, impressive challenge. Congratulations!

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