March Madness

I'm not referring to the sports ya'll! February was absolutely i.n.s.a.n.e!

To recap: I worked, Sean learned, we had some fun with friends. Here is how I ended the month:

As you (my invisible audience) may have noticed I have been pretty mum about my February read so I started a different book the same friend suggested. However, I didn't get an opportunity to finish it so I am planning on starting my March book, following my one rule that at the beginning of the month I had to start my next read. BUT hopefully I can finish it at the end of the month.

I am not sharing my March book tonight; the March theme is an author request from a friend so I'm going to get a couple samples and choose carefully.
Sean & I are both off tomorrow so we have a good day planned doing whatever the day might bring. He RANDOMLY sent me flowers this morning and asked me to have a coffee date tomorrow morning. It's totally sappy but I LOVE it; we make coffee on a day off and drink it together on the couch, just enjoying each others' conversation. They're our coffee dates :)

Typical Monday Night

More often than not, I have no problem listing off all the things I HATE about mine and Sean's split schedules. However, one thing I'll miss when we are finally on the same schedule (in about, oh, 43 years when we might get to retire) is the opportunity to eat whatever the heck I want. On tonight's menu: broccoli & cheese stuffed in a chicken breast (don't get any great ideas that I'm excelling at cooking. They're frozen and you can get them from Sam's), a salad (consisting of lettuce, croutons and dressing) and the condiment every fancy meal requires:

 In other news, I've only done about a million loads of laundry tonight...

 Not to worry, the night started out with a nice walk around the block followed by a deep doggy cleaning. Followed by a deep shower cleaning. It was pretty awful but everything is clean now. 

10:00 p.m. Sunday Night

 After a busy night and morning at work, we spent the evening tonight with Sean's dad & step-mom for super bowl. For the last 2 years, we've sworn we would have a party at our house next year and ended up at their house which has been A-OK with me. And just like the last 2 years, I fell asleep about 20 minutes before the game was over.

Today's POTD is brought to you by America's Favorite Store where we had to stop on the way home to get Sean some insoles for his shoes and some lunch meat. This is where we were at 10:00 pm tonight. 

 

Holding Hands

Ever since Angus was a 10-lb puppy, he'd put his paw on top of yours while petting him. 80-lbs later, not much has changed!

 He LOVES our niece, Lex. He's not a huge fan of our nephew, tolerates OP, and merely wants to be in constant contact with Sean or I, or even better, both. But he fawns over Lex. If everyone walks in the front door at the same time, he will magnetically run towards her. His has a bad habit of putting his front paws on her shoulders which, since they're the same height, puts them eye to eye. For the most part he's doing well getting broken of the habit, so he settles for just holding hands.

 

Oh Snap!

My title could either refer to my enthusiasm posting TWICE in one day. Or it could be in response to this snarky attitude I have acquired over the last week (where has that come from?!) BUT, it's most likely in reference to my brand, spanking new (belated) Christmas present!

 I spent a good hour and a half at the photo store learning probably 1/100th of the things that this camera can do and another hour at home playing around until the battery died. I am pretty excited! 

I had a couple of pictures saved on my iPhone for the fat mum slim February photo challenge, but am choosing to ignore them due to the horrible quality! 

So: Day 1 your view today

Lex & I have been watching Breaking Dawn Part 1. Actually, I have been watching the movie, she has talked since the opening credits. Thankfully, Bella's acting is pretty horrible so I don't much mind. 

 

 Day 2: words

 

 The physician in our office randomly gave everyone in our office these little books. Most of them were full of games or funny pictures. Mine was words of encouragement. Was there a message I was meant to receive here??

My battery died before I could get anymore pictures so I'll have to get day 3 & 4 together.

Fabulous February & {30R30M}

This has been an a.w.f.u.l. week. All I have wanted to do at 4:30 each day has been to come home and go to bed, but have ended up working until 9 or after every day this week. Until last night!

Sean started clinicals this week which, to me, feels like school is finally on a roll. He has had to travel to various locations around Springfield this week and the day starts at 7:30 AM. I am not super certain on the number of times Sean has seen 7:30 AM unless he's on the tail end of a long night. We have had FOUR alarms set in an effort not to miss 5:55 AM so we both have time to get ready. It's been rough! But it's been nice to spend a small amount of time together before the day begins and has been the best part of my day more than once this week. Sadly for him, he's at the hospital from 7:30 AM until 11:00 PM on the three days he works during the week. That has to get old so fast.

The after school job has been good. I'm working slightly more because they are so short staffed, but even a few more hours seems like such a load with everything else going on. Thankfully, the people are so great to work with and my sales are improving!

The other job has just been so busy. Remember that week I took off at the beginning of the year? Yep, still not caught up from that time off. This week I have had a deadline for both health systems (along with a name change which is just such a hassle...) and an audit to prepare for. All the work had pretty much been done for the audit but the anxiety was a lot of added stress. I got so little sleep Wednesday night worrying about it. Come to find out, it went great (for me, anyway) and I got some great ideas to improve where I am lacking. The phone call from a friend letting me know of the compliments I had recieved as she drove the auditors to the airport made everything worth it and was so, so appreciated.

Last night was my big night off with Sean. We had dinner at Bairs with some friends and then I "watched" Sean play volleyball while beginning my February read. It was a great night OFF. He works tonight and I work all weekend before the week starts over (and I am pretty sure he is due to work next weekend) so I have to hold on to the night off together for a little while. Meanwhile, I should have plenty of time alone to get into my book!

February {A Friend Request - Book}

The Loch, Steve Alten

According to Amazon, here is a synopsis of the book:

Loch Ness holds secrets, ancient and deadly. Does a monster inhabit its depths, or is it just myth? Why, after thousands of reported sightings and dozens of expeditions, is there still no hard evidence? Marine biologist Zachery Wallace knows, but the shock of his near-drowning as a child on Loch Ness have buried all memories of the incident. Now, a near-death experience suffered while on expedition in the Sargasso Sea has caused these long-forgotten memories to re-surface. Haunted by vivid night terrors, stricken by a sudden fear of the water, Zach finds he can no longer function as a scientist. Unable to cope, his career all but over, he stumbles down a path of self-destruction...until he receives contact from his estranged father...a man he has not seen since his parents' divorced and he left Scotland as a boy.

Angus Wallace, a wily Highlander who never worked an honest day in his life, is on trial for murdering his business partner. Only Zachary can prove his innocence - if he is innocent, but to do so means confronting the nightmare that nearly killed him seventeen years earlier.

This book has been the only read that my good friend Lisa has talked about since, like, day 1 when I met her, I think! It's kind of long book (for me) and I am not totally sure that it's going to be my type of book but I am willing to give it a shot because it's a friend request! Lisa doesn't usually have bad taste in too many things so we'll see.

I was actually really excited to read another book this month (requested by my friend Marri), but then found out it was on the Oprah book club and thought there weren't probably going to be too many other books that I'd find as much enthusiasm to read so I will wait!

Success

I did it! I finished my first month's assignment (although, technically I cheated and started in December) and not only did I complete it, but I exceeded my own expectations! I just finished the last book of the Hunger Games Trilogy:

12R12M {January}

Mockingjay, Suzanne Collins

While the second book seemed to take f.o.r.e.v.e.r. to drudge through, I couldn't read this last installment fast enough. In part, I wanted to see how our heroine, Katniss Everdeen, would survive the rebel takeover and in part, the idea behind the storyline was so grotesque I was really just ready for the war to end. I am actually quite surprised that this book was so high up on the most requested list, given the content. In fact, at one point I couldn't help but think of all of the books that local schools are banning and wonder when this series would find its way to the list!

This challenge is going to be more difficult than maybe I first anticipated though. The real test is going to be making myself stay awake to complete each month's assignment. I am finding the only real time I have to make any headway is to read before I go to sleep and then I only get a few pages read at a time! I am making myself read at lunch which really takes away from some social aspects but I feel so much more refreshed going back to work having given my brain an escape for at least a few minutes.

I have a huge deadline at work in less than a week so I won't be able to get a head start on February's read, but I've been working a lot more at the "after school" job with proceeds going to my very belated Christmas present to myself: a camera! I've been investigating and researching and tracking prices since before Christmas and I would like to get it very soon but am keeping an eye out for it to go on sale. I think a photo-a-day challenge would be so much fun!

So, when you finished the trilogy, did you feel exhausted, happy, etc? What did you think of the series as a whole?

(Small) Victory

I got home from work Friday night with a small list of things to accomplish before the weekend.

However, when I tried to DVR Extreme Makeover Home Edition, I soon realized that the satellite wasn't working so I spent the evening on the phone with DISH on and off hold, reading my book, until the next available technician could answer my call. By the time we had set up an appointment for someone to come out the following day, I was so engrossed in the final scenes of my book that I considered the night a total loss, put on my pjs, and settled in to finish the story.

12R12M {January}

Catching Fire, Suzanne Collins

I am not sure if exhaustion from the holidays are to blame or if this second installment was just harder for me to get into because of the political aspect, but it took me more than twice as long to finish this book than it took me to complete the first book. The story picks up where The Hunger Games left off, and follows the main characters through each of the 12 districts on their victory tour. During their travels it is revealed that the districts are becoming tired of being ruled so strictly and viciously that uprisings are beginning to take place. Meanwhile, to celebrate 75 years of the hunger games, the Capital plans a special game with two previous victors from each district. This means our two heroes go back into the arena to fight to the death...

Like it's predecessor, this book ended with a "Nooooooo!" because the story was coming to such an abrupt end. I ran to my closest kindle store and bought the next book in the series just to see how the plot was going to conclude. I am happy to be on the last book because I am ready to be finished with the series. I really enjoyed The Hunger Games and I am very interested to see how Katniss and Peeta and Gale end up and how the uprising concludes.

As a side note, a co-worker and I got into a conversation about Bella (from Twilight) vs. our heroine Katniss, primarily about how girls can come away from the books. I have read in more than a few places how Bella may not be the role model we want daughters looking up to because she finds her self-worth in the eyes of a vampire whom, had he been a real boy, no father would EVER be ok with (he waits for her in her bedroom and watches her while she sleeps... really?). On the other hand, Katniss is pretty self assured about her talents and humbleness is not always her strong suit. However, and this is why I think I may be ready for the book to end, I cannot imagine living under such tyranny and it is quite evident that a change needs to occur. Will Katniss be the one to make it happen?

Exhausted

I took off the first three days of the working calendar this year thinking I would get some R & R and come back to work rejuvenated with the new year. The time off was AWESOME but I haven't not had to work since last Wednesday and am ready for a day OFF. So is it any surprise that I have zero motivation today?

Meanwhile, Sean went back to school on Tuesday and he already looked like the life had been drained out of him by last night. My post-it note countdown reminds me that he only has 20 more months until graduation (19 after next week!). Thankfully, he is a pretty good employee and rarely calls in so he has several hours of vacation that he'll need to use... for school. He has clinicals one night until 9:30 pm at South and then at North the next morning at 7:30 am. I don't know when he's going to get to sleep. Or when we are ever going to see each other. We would certainly covet prayers that he could maintain his enthusiasm, health and grades.

I feel so blessed that we have this opportunity to further his education for our future. He is competitive and driven and willing to succeed. I have an able body and mind that I can help contribute where needed.  But it is still really, really hard. I am reminded that it could be much more difficult, though. Money is tight but bills are paid, the pantry is full and we are good. Our time is tight but I am fortunate to have a second job that meshes really well with my primary schedule. Sean seems to have a good reputation and a supportive superviser who understands the importance of education so his (sometimes 2 hour) tardiness because of class is easily excused. Our families are quick to let us know that they are willing to offer assistance if we'll take it so it is nice to know that is there as well. But I am tired and I can see he is exhausted.

I feel so thinly stretched that when I don't have to work, I really just want to go home and sleep for a couple of hours until we have to start over again the next day which really does nothing for the social life. Our house is a wreck because the last thing I want to do when I come home at 10:00 at night after working since 8:00 that morning is clean my bathroom. But Sean hardly ever complains. He is bright eyed and bushy tailed when I wake him up for school and the most he'll remark about is that he's running out of clean socks. I, on the other hand, will devote an entire blog entry to shed my frustration :). But we are very blessed and we are closer to the finish line than we were in August when he started.

In other news, I've been able to read my book at lunch some and now I have just pages left in my book so expect my report on Monday! Now that I am so close to the end I am starting to get into it...

12 R12M {January}

January: By popular demand

The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins

This book was the number one book suggested to me on my Facebook post. Apparently, I am the only one in North America who hadn’t read this book before the movie comes out. In fact, I had downloaded a sample of this book some time ago, before all of the movie buzz but the sample was extraordinarily short and I could not get engaged in the book. But since I am a follower and not a trailblazer, I decided to fork over the $4.69 and give it another shot.

I actually started this book in the beginning of December because I was just so darn excited to get started on a reading regimen, but hesitant because I hadn’t been impressed with the sample. It’s a good thing I got ahead of myself, though, because the book is a trilogy so even though I may have finished the book before December ever ended, there are two more to read to keep me going through the month of January.

The story is about a post-war North America that is dominated by a highly controlling government. Every year, 2 children (1 male and 1 female) from each of the 12 districts that make up the country Panem are chosen to go to the Hunger Games and fight to the death. The remaining warrior is the victor. The worst part of the book is reading along and getting super captivated, only to step back and realize this story is about a bunch of kids forced to murder each other in order to survive. Somewhat grotesque…

This series could have really been just one long book. I finished The Hunger Games on the couch one night while Sean was playing MLB The Show 2011 studying for finals and actually exclaimed a resounding “Noooooo!” at the end of the first book. It just ended. In the middle of a climactic plot in the story. So then, of course, I had to go to Amazon and instantly purchase Catching Fire for the Kindle.

Sidebar, this will be the first series of books I will have read on the Kindle. It is SO different from reading the physical book. It’s much harder for me to gauge how much of the book is left so when the book ended where it did, I totally didn’t see it coming. There are still page numbers and it shows what percentage of the book you have read, but I get caught up in the story and don’t pay any attention to my progress.

Anyway, I really enjoyed the story. Although it was somewhat difficult to get into, once captivated it was a hard read to put down. I had a list of things to accomplish before having family over for Christmas dinner and I lost an entire day reading this book.

I am now reading Catching Fire and am having a harder time staying in this book. I am 66% of the way through it but it just won’t seem to end! Hopefully I’ll finish it this weekend so I can start the final book in the series and keep on track with my goal. It took me about three days to finish The Hunger Games and I’m going on three weeks for Catching Fire. If I don’t make myself sit down and finish it, I just won't. I'll remember that I bought bananas on Monday with the intent to make bread on Friday...

My New Year's Resolution

I used to really love to read. When I was in school I’d retreat to the pages I was currently devouring and go through several books a week. I still enjoy reading, I just haven’t made any effort to put time towards doing it. I come from a family of avid readers so I have acquired the taste naturally. Even my 90 year old grandmother, who is blind in one eye and can’t really see out of the other, still loves to read. Years ago, one of my aunts got her a tape deck to listen to books on tape but the written word is the only way for her. If she could do it, why was I making excuses?

My niece brought home Little Women in mid November. We attempted to read a chapter a night but even at that, never missing a night (which we did very regularly) it would have taken us over two months to finish this book which had never been one of my favorites (and that I think was a tad over her head). It was around the time we began reading Little Women that I realized I couldn’t remember the last time I had read a book from cover to cover. I think it might have been last January in Mexico and even then, I don’t know if I actually read the entire book from cover to cover or if I cheated and read just the beginning and skipped to the end.

So, I am so excited to share my New Year’s Resolution. I have let it simmer for the past month and a half. I have discussed it with Sean (who probably doesn’t really care but smiles at my excitement nonetheless) and posted a plea on Facebook seeking suggestions. I have researched and read and shopped and really put a lot of thought into this resolution.

I intend to read 12 books in 12 months. This may seem like a very minor task. You may even think to yourself, “psh – that’s nothing. It’s not really a challenge unless you are trying to read a book a week!” But I believe that in order for a resolution to be successful, the task has to be obtainable. I know that I can manage a book a month, at the very least. Perhaps I will get so inspired that I will pick up multiple books in a month (which would be great) but let’s not get ahead of ourselves. For now, one book a month is achievable.

If you are having a difficult time getting motivated, or if you would just like to be my accountability partner, I encourage you to join in or to even make your own list. I had intended on joining a book club as a resolution but have been unsuccessful at finding one. I was looking for something to hold me to my resolution, but I believe my blog will make me accountable to myself… hopefully.

Let me first admit that I sort of cheated just a little bit… I got so excited I started reading my January book in December so I’ve given myself a head start. I think by the time I get to the Oprah books, though, I may need the head start (she has picked some real snoozers).

Here is my list:

12 Reads in 12 Months
January: By popular demand
February: A friend request (book)
March: A friend request (author)
April: A book I never finished
May: A book I never started (but wanted to)
June: My husband’s favorite book
July: A book published in the year of my birth
August: An autobiography
September: A book that inspired a movie
October: Something Stephen King
November: An Oprah Book Club book
December: A 2012 Best Seller

Here is the rule:
I have to start the month’s book on the first day of the month. If I am not finished with the book in a month, let’s face it, I probably won’t. Evaluate and move on.

Stay tuned…