Perfect weather.

It's currently -20 F. One of the forecast for high temperatures this week is -2 degrees F (that's right the high for the day).

We will have at least 6 more days of this frigid weather including another 6-7 inches of snow on top of the 25" we had in December.

What a perfect time to pick up that book you received for Christmas and travel to another time and place.

How lucky are we!!!!!

First book

Do you know why I love books? Why they are my passion? Why First Book is the the charity Rubi J supports?

Empathy.

Most of us can feel sympathy. It hurts to see a young one cry. It hurts to see war on the television news.   But how do we feel the same hurt as our fellow human being? We have to be that person; and through books, this is possible.

I'm reading a book right that I don't wholly understand, but it is so powerful in its narrative that I cry from the pain of the life the author was given.

I read all books; fiction and non fiction. I always come away more fulfill as a citizen of the world. I want this for all children.

Technology has made our world smaller. But, we need more for our internal growth than text messaging. We need to connect. We need to learn. We need to empathize.

Let's give the children of the world the tools. Teach your children to  read. Help other children to read.

As Martha Stewart says: "It's a good thing".


http://www.firstbook.org/

Stage Fright

I finally got back to my blog site. I was even surprised it had been 2 months since my last entry. Sure, I'm been busy getting the website up and running (we became official January 13, 2009).

Yes, we had another family medical crisis. My mother-in-law had colon cancer surgery. The prognosis is excellent. There will be more tests and procedures to made sure.

I have given notice at my paying job. I am now in the progress of training my very competent replacement. Soon, it will be full time marketing www.Rubij.com.

Blogging is part of a new business - "GETTING YOUR NAME OUT".

So. Why have I not been blogging?

Easy answer. I had been away from it long enough it scared me again.
It took my daughter, Stef, a long time to convince me to blog in the first place.

She blogs all the time "Mom, it's easy and fun". It's fun for her because she is an "open" person. She can share her feelings. I've read about her type in "Oprah". I, on the other hand, have a harder thing expressing my passion. It's there; but I'm afraid of opening the door too wide.

So, anyway, I'm back in the saddle. What got me going again? Look at the new picture of Mickey. I forgot about my "stage fright" and remember what is our mission.

You'll be seeing Mickey's new picture on our website as soon as I can figured out HOW to add it; but that's another blog entry.

Why read????

As I stated before, Rubi J will offer a line of onesies that will contribute to one of our greatest passions -- reading. Our "Read Collection" will encourage reading in many ways, including donating to a wonderful charity called First Book (http://www.firstbook.org) which gives books to disadvantaged children. I personally know how important books can be to a young life. Through books, I found that I was not so different because of my social status; there were other young girls who felt like me, who had the same dreams as me--I wasn't alone.

Some of my non-reading friends (who I love) have told me "I'll just wait until the movie comes out." That's well and good - if you want to limit yourself. I have no objections to movies; I love them. Truly some movies provide interesting perspectives to storylines (i.e., The Devil Wears Prada). And there are times when I can't wait for a book to be made into a movie. (I'm counting down the days until The Secret Life of Bees open.) Then there are the books too meaningful for me to diffuse with any other medium. For example, I never want anything to disrupt my connection with The Kite Runner.

The difference between "reading" and "watching" is the imagination. When watching a story, all the characters are there for your viewing. Much is interpreted for you. However, reading a story forces your brain to create images of the characters. You travel from "watching" the story to "feeling" the story.

Reading is the most accessible way for children to stretch their imagination and provide a stepping stone for hope. All children deserve this privilege. Rubi J is proud to take part in this important cause.

For more information on how you can help this cause, go to http://www.firstbook.org