bedtime ritual

I've recently started listening to audiobooks while working out in the gym. The treadmill is so AWFULLY boring compared to running outdoors, and I sometimes find that occasionally even music isn't enough to keep me going.

I'm currently listening to William Shatner reading from his book, Get A Life! and am enjoying it more than I expected. I still find it hard to believe Shatner's claim that he had no idea that Star Trek fans would be offended by his "Get a life" sketch on Saturday Night Live, but still find him entertaining.

The experience of being read to is much different from reading a book myself. I prefer the latter, but have also found the former enjoyable for different reasons. I've always associated being read to with a feeling of comfort, of safety, of affection, probably because my father used to read to me and my siblings when we were kids. I've also always enjoyed the whole bedtime storytelling ritual as well. Some of my favourite memories of my mother are from when she used to tell me Japanese fairy tales at bedtime. I still find comfort in bedtime stories, even as an adult. :-)

Jeff read stories from Winnie the Pooh on the phone to me at night while I was living in Philadelphia and terribly homesick. With the lights off and under the covers with the phone receiver cradled up against my ear, I could almost pretend that he was right beside me. Almost. Sometimes I'd fall asleep and he'd have to yell through the phone to wake me up so I could hang up the receiver.

I'm curious about whether this is still a universal parenting habit. To you parents out there: Do you tell or read bedtime stories to your children? Or to non-parents: Do you like being read to? Do you and your friends/partner read to each other?

But back to audiobooks. I tend to buy audiobooks second-hand, simply because I can't justify the expense of a new audiobook when I know I'm only going to listen to it once. I've also been investigating the cost of audiobook MP3s online, but they don't tend to be much cheaper.

If anyone out there is in a similar position and is interested in doing an audiobook exchange by snailmail, please let me know! I've collected about a dozen over the past couple of years, and am gradually working my way through them. I'd also be interested in hearing of any inexpensive (but legal) sources of audiobooks online. I've already checked out Audible.com, Audiobooksonline and Audiobooks.com.

Links/News:

One year ago, I was taking a First Aid course.

Four years ago, we lined up for the new Star Trek movie with Luisa and Reid.

Five years ago, I discovered Ben & Jerry's Chunky Monkey ice cream, thanks to my friend Rand.

---

Today's Blatherpics:

Jeff reading a bedtime story to Sara and Annie. I usually lie on the bed beside Jeff. Sara and Annie are highly amused when I doze off.