INTRODUCTIONS - Jan 2013

[jaxnsmom]

Oh yes, the books! We love to sneak through everyone's shelves and "borrow" books for our own tbr shelves :)

[Polly]

Hi everyone!
My name is Polly and I live in Gainesville, Ga and I love to read. I am a member of another group on GR and found my way here through Jaxnsmom. This looks like a very fun group and I've already signed up for the Alphabet Challenge and picked out books A through D to read.

[April]

Welcome to YLTO, Polly! I'm glad you found us!

[Rusalka, Moderator]

Welcome Polly!

[jaxnsmom]

Hey Polly! Glad to see you jumping right in. If you have any questions, we'll be glad to answer them.

[AmyK]

Welcome Polly!!

[Janice, Moderator]

Hi Polly! Welcome. :)

[Elizabeth]

My name is Elizabeth and I'm 24 years old. I live in Kentucky (Louisville, to be precise). I have a BA in psychology and did two minors in English with a concentration in literature and Medieval Studies. I studied French for 5 years and have experience with Japanese, German, and Latin. One of my dreams is to translate Medieval Latin and French manuscripts. The other is to eventually become an archaeologist.

Currently, I work with toddlers as a teacher in a daycare. It's not exactly my dream job, or the best use of my degree, but it works for now. I am going back to school in August to work towards a degree in education so that I can become a third grade teacher. I also plan on doing another major in either microbiology or anthropology. I do enjoy some aspects of my job such as being able to teach my children and the joy that I receive when they finally catch on to what I've taught them. I also enjoy the smiles, hugs, and kisses that I get from my kids when I come to work in the mornings.

I am an avid reader and have been since I was a child. I generally read anything except westerns, romance, and inspirational/Christian books. I quite enjoy horror, fantasy, historical fiction, and mysteries. I have also gotten into the Quirk classics recently. Right now, I am reading Android Karenina. Classic literature is another favorite of mine with Edgar Allan Poe, Jane Austen, the Bronte sisters, HP Lovecraft, Victor Hugo, and Gaston LeRoux being among my favorites.

I look forward to making new friends and taking part in book discussions.

-Elizabeth

[April]

Hi, Elizabeth! Welcome to YLTO! I hope you will be able to join us for some of our challenges! Let us know if you have any questions!

[jaxnsmom]

Welcome to the group Elizabeth. You definitely have a variety of interests, and it looks like they're expanding. We're a very friendly bunch, and we have a great time here, with the challenges and the chatting. Look around, and if you have any questions, feel free to ask.

[Janice, Moderator]

Elizabeth wrote: "My name is Elizabeth and I'm 24 years old. I live in Kentucky (Louisville, to be precise). I have a BA in psychology and did two minors in English with a concentration in literature and Medieval St..."

Wow! You did all that and you're only 24? That's amazing. Welcome to our group.

[AmyK]

Welcome Elizabeth! I'm sure you will have a great time reading with us. Not to mention putting that psychology degree to work trying to decide if we are all crazy

[Rusalka, Moderator]

Oh Amy. Don't you know it's the ones with the Psych degrees you have to watch the most *hides hers so no one sees it*

Welcome Elizabeth! Sounds like we'll get some interesting reading from you, and hopefully you pick up some from us!

[Lucy]

Not sure if I've introduced myself in the past, but I've been lurking around here for a bit and the Rainbow Challenge has pulled me out of the corner I was hiding in.

I read just about any genre, but my favs are Horror, True Crime, Humor and Biographies/Autobiographies. Looks like there is a great mix of readers in here and I look forward to getting some good recomendations from you guys!

[April]

Hi, Lucy! I'm glad to read that you aren't lurking any more! Will you be participating in the Toppler?

[Lynn]

Hi everyone! My name is Lynn and I'm from York in the UK. I have worked in the catering industry for years and was a restaurant manager for most of that time. I am now however the York Food and Drink Festival organiser.

I love reading but sometimes life gets in the way and I can go for months without reading! However I've just got a Kindle for Christmas which has once again peaked my interest. I am hoping this group will keep me interested throughout the year; your challenges look brilliant :o)

[April]

Hi, Lynn! I'm glad you found us here! Have a look around and if you have any questions, let us know. I hope you will be able to join us i some of our challenges!

[Janice, Moderator]

Hi Lucy and Lynn! I'm so glad you came out of lurkdom, Lucy. And I'm glad Lynn joined and jumped right in. Madame Tutti Fruiti has read your fortunes for the February challenge so make sure you check them out.

[Lucy]

April wrote: "Hi, Lucy! I'm glad to read that you aren't lurking any more! Will you be participating in the Toppler?"

I do really want to participate in some topplers, but I won't be able to for the Feb. one. I've got two birthdays that week, plus visiting family in town and I'd hate to have to ignore them all. ;)

[April]

I understand, Lucy. Maybe you can participate in our next Toppler. We have a toppler every other month, so the next one will be in April. It will be great to have family around!

[Lucy]

April is a quiet month for me usually, so I should be able to participate.

[jaxnsmom]

Lucy - glad you've decided to come into the light and participate. I think the Rainbow Challenge drove many of us into a dark corner for a short period of recovery :)

Hi Lynn, welcome to the group! Glad to see you jumping right in. I hope you'll be able to participate in the February Toppler, it's shaping up to be lots of fun.

[Lynn]

Yup, I've already picked my team and signed up :)

[Charlotte]

Hi. I'm Charlotte. I love to read, but find I don't read for pleasure much during the school year. I hope that being part of this site and group will inspire me to read now as well as during the summer.

[April]

Hi, Charlotte! I'm glad you found us! Perhaps joining the alphabet challenge is just what you need!

[Janice, Moderator]

Hi Charlotte. Welcome to our group. You will be happy to learn that we have other students who belong to the group and share your concerns about reading for pleasure. I hope you'll be able to find a few pleasure reads along the way. :)

[AmyK]

Hi Lynn and Charlotte! Welcome!

[jaxnsmom]

Hi Charlotte! I hope being in the group helps you find some great books to read for pleasure!

[Charlotte]

Janice, I didn't intend to mislead anyone with my school year comment, but I probably should have mentioned that I'm a teacher, not a student. I teach early elementary special education. This year I'm working in kindergarten, but I have taught nearly every grade up to high school during my 28 year career. It keeps me very busy during the school year, but I make up for it during the summer! I like to think that I was a pioneer in the art of "staycationing", using most summer breaks to catch up on my reading and gardening. I'm still trying to decide where to jump in as far as the challenges are concerned. I have 1 book chosen for the February love challenge and the ABC challenge sounds fun. So many books, so little time!

[Janice, Moderator]

Charlotte wrote: "Janice, I didn't intend to mislead anyone with my school year comment, but I probably should have mentioned that I'm a teacher, not a student. I teach early elementary special education. This ..."

LOL! Okay... we have other teachers in the group who can empathize. :)

[Denise]

I'm Denise, an American living in Wiltshire, England. I love exploring the country, but with winter set upon us I pretty much just shut the house up and read non-stop. I joined this group because I needed a challenge and the alphabetical challenge ought to be just enough to tip me over the edge!

[April]

Welcome to YLTO, Denise! I'm glad you are joining in on challenge! We are having a toppler coming up in February. Check it out and maybe you can join us for that, too! Topplers are my favorite thing about YLTO. It is a great way to get to know the members of the group.

[Denise]

Just signed up for the Toppler, too. Thanks!

[Lynn]

Welcome Denise ..... I'm not an American but I am in England, Yorkshire :)

[Denise]

Yorkshire is my favorite part of England. If I had the strength to move again, it would be there. Thanks for the welcome, Lynn and Judy. :)

[Lynn]

Well if Yorkshire is a favourite part of England for you, then you're a favourite of mine ;)

I'm Yorkshire born and bred.

[Rusalka, Moderator]

"Not only am I perfect, but I'm from Yorkshire too" hey Lynn ;)

God's own country up there. My Dad was an Otley boy.

[Lynn]

I'm a Pontefract lass originally but now live in York (and have done for the last 25 years)

[Rusalka, Moderator]

Nice! I always think when things get horrible that I'll pack my bags and run away to York. Maybe one day...

[Lisa]

Welcome to the group Denise! I also live in England, I am English born and bred and live in Buckinghamshire which is where I have lived my whole life so far. Wiltshire is a beautiful part of the country, I hope you are enjoying living there :)

Lynn, York is such a great city, one of my favourites in England. I last visited it a few years ago when I came to look at the university. Really must visit it again soon.

[Lynn]

I love York. A beautiful city that's a pleasure to live in; has all the entertainment of a city but small enough to still have a community feel about it.

[Rusalka, Moderator]

I got distracted with the Yorkshire.

Welcome Denise! We will definitely help you for ideas while you're shut up for winter. Look forward to see what you read!

[Janice, Moderator]

Hi Denise! Welcome. I'm glad to see you have jumped right in to the challenge and topper.

[jaxnsmom]

Welcome to the group Denise! The A-Z challenge will definitely be lots of fun and insanity (Janice's specialty). I hope you enjoy the Toppler. If you look at past ones, they're as much about the chatting as the reading :)

[Denise]

Thanks for the big welcome! This looks like a fun group. Can't wait to get stuck in. :)

[AmyK]

Welcome Denise! I'm sure you will have tons of fun with us!

[Tejas Janet]

Hey there, I noticed that I'm one of various other Janets already belonging to YLTO so I decided to update my profile name to something more distinctive. I thought it over and went with "Tejas Janet" because of where I live (Austin, Texas, USA). I like Tejas with its Caddo-origins and original meaning of "friend." Just explaining in case anybody wonders about it. I also updated my photo and added a little to my profile : )

[Cherie]

Welcome Friend Janet. ;0

[Janice, Moderator]

Welcome Janet! :)

[Pauline]

Welcome to all the newbies...from a newbie myself. I have started to read my first book in the alphabet challenge...it's "Oryx and Crake" by Margaret Atwood and I love it! :) I get so excited when I see so many people who love to read! Most of my friends don't read much.