must read

i used to be a voracious reader. i used to be. now it takes me months to get through one book, i don't make the time for it anymore, a fact i'm not very proud of. but when i do finish one that i particularly enjoy, i must share it. i first found chris matthew as the host of hardball and both kelly and i immediately warmed to his rapid fire style of political interviewing. when kelly found a book by chris, he checked it out. we'd be reading in bed at night, and he'd stop me and say, "listen to this..." MANY MANY times while he was reading the book. he suggested i read it when he was done. i never got around to it. until a few months ago, i saw it at the library again and tossed it into my library bag. it took me a while to get through it, with the holidays and all, i didn't move very fast.

but last night i finished it! it's called life's a campaign and it's full of lessons chris has learned in his life observing politicians--how those lessons are lessons for our daily, non-polictical selves as well. lessons on how to treat people; how to react to the way people treat you; how to make friends and keep them; how to handle criticism and rivalry, how to build a reputation, so many good lessons. so many that i needed right now. just take out the word politicians and insert scrapbookers and you'd have my life. i love that.
it's full of great quotes, but the one i needed most came at the very end. it's by hemingway.

there are some things which cannot be learned quickly, and time, which is all we have, must be paid heavily for their acquiring.

good stuff.