February 2012
17 posts
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Dear Headache,
I see you’ve come to visit for the…ahhhh…fourth, yes fourth day in a row and I feel the need to share with you my feelings. See, you and I can never be friends - you cause so much pain and misery that I simply cannot allow the friendship. Therefore, I respectfully ask that you stop making your unexpected visits - it would really be best for both of us. I know you disapprove of...
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In Search of Lucy by Lia Fairchild
In Search of Lucy by Lia Fairchild My rating: 4 of 5 stars Lucy Lang has experienced horrible times and as a result has had a hard time of “finding” herself as an adult - thus “In Search of Lucy”. I found I could relate with Lucy - we all struggle with our pasts at some point in time and we all have trouble moving past the events that hold us down occasionally. ...
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A lack of fitness updates...
Why no fitness updates lately? Because there’s been no fitness!!! After nine days off (yes, you read correctly - NINE.WHOLE.DAYS), I’m back with 3.5 miles. Long story made short - it has been a crappy couple of weeks and I let it get me down; let those weeks determine my activity level as well as my mood, demeanor, and motivation. Still not having the easiest time in the world (are we...
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Pink Boots and a Machete by Mireya Mayor
Pink Boots and a Machete: My Journey From NFL Cheerleader to National Geographic Explorer by Mireya Mayor My rating: 2 of 5 stars In this book, Mireya Mayor takes readers through her journey from Girl Scout reject to a National Geographic Explorer. She has a lot of love for clothes, dancing, make-up, and other girl stuff, but she also, from an early age, liked to chase lizards and play...
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The Vow: The True Events that Inspired the Movie...
The Vow: The True Events that Inspired the Movie by Kim Carpenter My rating: 2 of 5 stars I loved the story, but didn’t feel like it was all that well written. The story alone is what kept me reading - Kim and Krickitt are inspiring people and the events surrounding their lives are tragic, yet also uplifting (in how the handled them). However, the book came off as very repetitive. Even...
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The opposite of a good day...
That was today - the opposite of good, and here’s why:
1. I was freaking tired when my alarm went off (nothing new - I do not sleep well)
2. The day was cold and grey (these days are good for nothing unless you are able to curl up at home, in a blanket, with a book and a cup of tea)
3. Work was ridiculous and chaotic (several days in a row now - one task to the next with nothing getting...
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Vampire Academy #3 - Shadow Kiss
Shadow Kiss by Richelle Mead My rating: 4 of 5 stars Shadow Kiss is the third installment of the Vampire Academy series and it does not disappoint. Mead’s paranormal world is doses of light and funny mixed with just the right amount of dark and evil. She pulls you into the world with her own twist on all things that go bump in the night. Rose is a bad ass and I like her even more after...
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That spectacular moment when...
people (yes, as in more than one) notice you’ve lost weight and tell you how great you look. YESSSS!
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11/22/63 by Stephen King
11/22/63 by Stephen King My rating: 5 of 5 stars Let me start by saying that Stephen King is a genius - pure genius. I’ve always enjoyed King’s writing, but 11/22/63 is definitely one of my favorites. Readers will begin their journey by meeting one of the best protagonists ever, Jake Epping (aka George Amberson). Jake is a teacher and he is one of the most lovable characters...
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Sick sucks...
I started my EVERY.DAMN.DAY challenge on January 1. I’ve mentioned that I joined it through the I <3 Running Facebook page, but I also have several friends joining me and supporting me. With them, I made it to January 29 - no missed days. Some days I did 4.5 miles, others 1 mile exactly (the challenge is for at least 1 mile every day). However, I went for my walk/jog on Sunday the 29th...
January 2012
26 posts
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Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan...
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer My rating: 4 of 5 stars Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close is an amazing book with rich characters and deep, interwoven stories. I enjoyed the book and its narrator (an intelligent, hurting, young boy searching for meaning in his father’s death as well as trying to keep him “alive”) from page one. Oskar Schell is a...
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“The ultimate luxury is to reread: to revisit a book to see how time has treated...”
– Michael Upchurch (via doubledaybooks)
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There is no better feeling! A follow up to 26...
I met with my group of third graders today to discuss 26 Fairmont Avenue (as noted in yesterday’s post) and it went FABULOUSLY!
There is nothing better than sitting down with a group of kids and feeling their excitement - their love - for a book! Especially something historical. Add to that it is a historical autobiography!
I had 5 students show up (out of 8, which is a good turn out) and...
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Hello Day 21 - nice to meet you...
Day 21…
21 days of walking/jogging (at least 1 mile a day, but generally around 2.5 - 3; sometimes hitting almost 5)
44% increase on my weekly mileage (I did 23.78 this week)
8 pounds lost (in more than 21 days)
Now headed towards January 31 for 31 strait days towards the EVERY.DAMN.DAY challenge!
It takes 21 days to create a new habit, right?! Well HELLO new habit!
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Is there a black hole...
One where our motivation goes when it leaves us unexpectedly? I’m at Day 17 of my “every.damn.day” challenge and the last two days have been a struggle. I’m reverting back into the old, depressed, unhappy, frustrated, irritated, tired, etc, etc me. I don’t like that me. I know some of the reasons/causes and I’m doing what I can to prevent/solve them, but they...
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The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald My rating: 5 of 5 stars I read The Great Gatsby for the first time while I was in high school. I remember enjoying the book, but that is about all I remember. As I read through it this time, I was amazed that I didn’t remember more of the story - there are some really big events and surprises in this story! Fitzgerald is one amazing writer - I...
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Sunday...not a day of rest??
Well, day 15 is a Sunday and rest is the furthest thing from the plan. I’ve already put in 3.3 miles while watching an episode of Vampire Diaries (ep. 8; season 1) - INTENSE. Love Lexi…love Bonnie!
I’ve almost finished The Great Gatsby and while I don’t remember much, if any of it, from my HS read of it, I do remember that I enjoyed it back then and I LOVE it now....
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Day 14; Week 2...
I’ve done at least one mile for every day of this new year…that’s 14 days (aka 2 weeks). I increased my mileage by 9% this week, about which I’m happy.
Yesterday’s calories/nutrition left a little to be desired - I need to find ways of incorporating more healthy calories, including more protein, into my daytime diet. By the time I left work yesterday, I was only at...
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Day 12 - I'd say success...
Day 12 and I upped the mileage to 3.5 - things just felt “right”. I didn’t have anywhere to be or anything to do (well, that isn’t entirely true, but it could all WAIT) so I just kept walking and jogging. I was on the TM (more snow and frigid weather…yes, I’m a wimp still) so I watched an episode of Vampire Diaries, read some 11/22/63, and spent some time just...
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Black Dagger Brotherhood #1 - Dark Lover, by J.R....
Dark Lover by J.R. Ward My rating: 4 of 5 stars I’ve heard a lot about the Black Dagger Brotherhood series and many have recommended it, but I’ve held off until now because I thought it sounded a little too “risque” for me. I decided to finally read it due to it being the January pick for the Book Worms’ book discussion. I must say - I’m not disappointed...
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They all have more experience:
clientsfromhell:
Client: We need to talk about the interweb you built for us
Me: Excuse me?
Client: You know the interweb-thingie. Our IN-TER-WEB
Me: You mean the website.
Client: Yes! Interweb-whatever! Sounds like I have more experience with this interstuff!
Me: Sounds like it.
Of course, they all do and they tell us so often! At least once a day I find myself wanting to tell someone,...
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Big wins...
So today brought with it several challenges and I think I handled them all pretty well. I find I focus on my missteps a lot more than I do my accomplishments so tonight I’ll post them, celebrate them, and be proud of them.
1. Upon entering the office I saw donuts…LOTS of donuts. I did NOT eat any of them - SCORE #1.
2. For lunch, my hubs took me to Bob Evans. I left some of most of...
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2012 - and so it begins...
Well, I’ve got my first book lined up (aka already started, of course) and I just signed up for the I <3 to Run - 2012 Running Challenge. I do think every day is a stretch, but aren’t big goals kinda supposed to be a “stretch”!? I want to be more consistent with my walking/jogging/exercise in general and this is one way to get that started.
Hard and fast resolutions...
December 2011
5 posts
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The Bite Before Christmas by Heidi Betts
The Bite Before Christmas by Heidi Betts My rating: 3 of 5 stars Well I’m back at 3.5 (we need 1/2 stars Goodreads)!! I really enjoyed these short tales. The Bite Before Christmas contains 3 novellas and while all have their own, separate story line they also all tie nicely and closely together. It was pretty much like a timeline, but followed different “main” characters in...
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The Christmas Dog by Melody Carlson
The Christmas Dog by Melody Carlson My rating: 3 of 5 stars Another cute and cozy Christmas tale by Carlson. Nothing surprising in this one, but the characters are lovable and the story is touching. Quick and easy read!
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The Christmas Bus by Melody Carlson
Christmas Bus, The by Melody Carlson My rating: 3 of 5 stars Melody Carlson has a knack for writing fun, lovable characters and she’s done just that in The Christmas Bus. This tale is a Christian, traditional Christmas story with clear parallels to the birth of Jesus. The story is somewhat predictable, but is mixed with just enough surprise that readers won’t be bored. Charles is...
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The Stupidest Angel by Christopher Moore
The Stupidest Angel by Christopher Moore My rating: 3 of 5 stars I’d go 3.5 stars on this one - Moore is HILARIOUS! This was my first read by Christopher Moore and I definitely intend to read his other works. The Stupidest Angel is not a traditional Christmas tale, as can probably be assumed by the title. And just in case it isn’t assumed, Moore starts with an author’s...
Wins for this week...
1. Down 5+ lbs. - I’m not a big ‘scale girl’, but I won’t lie, I was ecstatic to see those pounds missing!
2. Volunteered at my daughter’s school book fair (I’ve loved school book fairs since the second I was old enough to attend one - my fondest memories of Elementary school)!
3. My son had a good/calm week - I don’t share a ton of personal info here,...
November 2011
12 posts
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The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon
The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón My rating: 5 of 5 stars After completing The Shadow of the Wind all I can say is, WOW! I loved this book - I loved it from the very first sentence. Carlos Ruiz Zafon has created an intense, intriguing story with amazing, strong and deep characters using rich and dynamic language - this book is like a dream. One you wander through and immerse in...
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Happy Thanksgiving!
Happy Thanksgiving Tumblr folk! I’m thankful for my wonderful and loving family, supportive and fun friends, books, libraries, health, and happiness! I’m thankful for my online friends too. Whether met here, Facebook, or Goodreads - I’ve found many great peers to talk with about books, fitness, running, walking and many other random things. Simply, I’m happy and thankful...