Book Blog

"...sometimes you have to add different things to your plate so that you don’t get tired of what you’re eating."

Pastor Ryan (thisisreverb.com) wrote this in a post a couple months ago, but it still hits home for me. I'm never really tired of the life I have, but I definitely enjoy adding something new to make it different and add new perspective.

Even though my mind races all the time with new things I'd like to be and do, sometimes I can distract myself with a project. Today that project was creating a book blog. I've got some participants in my top 100 book endeavor and they liked my idea of using discussion questions and really getting the most out of the reading. I was going to try to include the discussions on this blog, but it seemed like it would be too much in addition to my regular postings.

The title of the blog is "Family of Reading Nuts," which is derived from the fact that all of my participants (so far) are family members and we all love to read- even members who are not participating are still avid readers. Even though the title is based on family, we are open to any member- family or not.

So if you happened to wonder why the book list disappeared from my sidebar and I'm not posting daily about random vocabulary, it's because I've moved that stuff to the book blog. Come on over to check it out (you can use the photo link on the sidebar) and if it looks interesting, become a follower and join us!

My photo of the day is not that exciting... unless you live at my condo and think Christmas is over and therefore the decorations should be put away. I've finally got them boxed up, except of course for the few items that wouldn't fit. But I've got an extra bin to put that stuff in, which rest-of-the-year items are currently in. I also made dinner and got the kitchen cleaned and the dishes done. Small accomplishments are still accomplishments and I'll be back on track in no time.

Yes, that's a vacuum cleaner sitting out in the middle of the floor and yes the bed in the guest room is unmade. I'm all about reality here at Life as I Know It. But just so you know, I made the bed before posting, so woo to that.

Happy Thursday!

Umm, yeah...

I still haven't gotten my act together the way I want to. But I'm not letting it bother me... at least not too much. I went to the gym again today. It feels good and I've got a goal with this whole exercise thing, but I'm not going to share it quite yet. I got the kitchen cleaned up a bit this afternoon, I made a good meal for dinner, and our sheets are currently in the dryer so we'll have a lovely warm, fresh bed to get into tonight. I got a start on getting the Christmas decorations put away (finally)- I am hoping to get them nicely organized in the new green and red bins and that's why it's taking so long. I'm getting into bed as soon as the sheets are dry to read book #100. Speaking of book #100, I've got something going with this whole reading thing too, but I'm not sharing until it's ready. Ooo, so many secrets!

I guess I'm a bit overwhelmed by the opportunity each day brings and I've got so much I want to be and do. My Mom told me to slow down and she's right. I wrote a list today of things I would like to accomplish in 2009. I would like to do a "life-list" as well. I was thinking about it the other day and was inspired further by Pastor Ryan at This is Reverb with his 100 item list. I'm a list person and putting things on paper tends to make me feel better. If I can get organized about my goals and desires, get them out of my head and into a touchable/readable medium, maybe they won't drive me crazy by popping into my mind and causing me to think about each one randomly on a daily basis.

Here are some of my 2009 items:
* Worship somehow every Sunday
* Read at least half of the top 100 books
* Make dinner every week night
* Complete Aerosmith Guitar Hero, levels Easy and Medium
* Take at least one picture a day
* Taste a new food
* Visit a state I've never been to
* Play with and pet kitties daily
* Journal (handwritten) at least three times a week
* Do something special for Hubby (at least) once a week

My list could be practically endless for just one year, nevermind a "life list." But it feels good to see written down the things I desire. The things you hope to do definitely express in a way the person that you are and/or want to be. My list shows that I desire a stronger faith and relationship with God, I desire to provide for my husband, I desire creativity, I want to express myself, I like and desire to travel, I wish to be daring and to try new things, I like to enjoy life and spend time doing relaxing, fun activities.

It's kind of strange to be struggling with getting back "into the swing of things," but I'm glad to be relaxed about it without totally letting things go. Life is good and I'm glad to have opportunity and ability.

In honor of one of my list items, below is my photo of the day. Lucy is a silly kitty and almost looks like she likes being held upside down. Hubby says he doesn't love these kitties, but the way he picks her up and holds her and pets her says otherwise. I find it quite adorable, which you can barf about if you want to.

Happy Wednesday! Cheers to accomplishing more tomorrow!

Mmm,caramel...

There was little time (and inspiration) for a real post today, so here's the day (or really just the afternoon) in review:

Gym: check.
Grocery shopping so we can eat healthy and stop snacking on random food: check.
Healthy meal for dinner: check.
Ice cream with Made In Vermont caramel for dessert: check.
Movie watching/time spent with the boy: check.

The movie we watched was Pineapple Express. It was pretty much a pointless story line, but very entertaining anyways... it probably would have been more so if I had been a stoner at some point in my life or had at least smoked marijuana once. But I have not. However, it was still pretty funny and definitely confirmed that I love Seth Rogen and think he is absolutely adorable.

And James Franco is hot... even as a long-haired, kinda dirty, pothead, drug dealer. (that should be good for the Google search engine hit list)

Book #100 factoids of the day:
* Mercurochrome (chapter 2 title) is a trademark name for merbromin, which is a mercurial compound applied as an antiseptic
* Awesome description: "his voice crackling like an old radio because decades were rubbing up against each other around his vocal chords" (pg. 38)

Thanks for enduring the randomness yet again.

Happy Tuesday!

Fusty

Back to work for a full five day work week. Uggggggh, can't I just stay on vacation forever instead? Oh, if I did that we'd lose our home, our cars, our ability to drive to Vermont to visit our loved ones? Oh, well, I'll suck it up then...

EDIT: Back to work for a full five day work week. Thank you Lord, I have a full-time job with a salary that includes benefits and lets me live a comfortable life. Please bless those who go without and who have it worse than I do each day and when I have a little extra, please don't let me forget them.

It has been a bit of a struggle to get back to the "real"/holidays-are-over life. I haven't been completely worthless, but I certainly haven't accomplished as much as I would have liked in the first five days of January. The condo is still in limbo between decorated for Christmas and undecorated. There are still gifts and items from travel to be put in their proper places. I did laundry and folded, but have not put away. I'm only on page 27 of book #100.

I am frustrated by the fact that these things haven't been done yet, but am also am thankful for the things I've been doing instead. Hubby and I spent time together on New Years day, just hanging out and enjoying each other's company. My sister came to visit this weekend and we enjoyed some time playing Guitar Hero, went to a baby shower, and did some shopping. I had dinner at my aunt and uncle's last night and played some Wii with my three cousins and sister. I at least got a start on the cleaning/undecorating. Hubby and I went to a basketball game that our team won 101-60. The reading I have done of book #100 has been really enjoyable- the story has been very entertaining to me so far, not to mention the things I've learned by looking up words I didn't recognize.

As I had hoped, I am learning each day to be grateful for the small things. I am not completely overlooking the daily things that need to be done, but I am not freaking out when they don't get done- especially if it's because I'm spending time with loved ones or creating or just relaxing and taking in this life God has blessed me with.

And I am thankful that my house isn't fusty. Ha! That's a word I learned from book #100. I'd never heard/seen it used before and greatly enjoy saying it in my head. It means stale and unclean smelling or old fashioned and out of date. I also learned that "absurd" does not just mean that something does not make sense, but that it can also refer to a state of meaninglessness.

I hope you've enjoyed the lesson for today. Please return tomorrow for yet-to-be-learned-randomness.

Happy Monday!

Autodidacticism

I love to learn. I loved school and wish I could be back in college taking more classes. However, our budget doesn't allow for that- especially with a husband who actually needs a masters degree to achieve his career goals. I honestly don't have career goals- at least not the kind that require a masters degree.

Before I even graduated with my bachelors, I became interested in self-education. The act of learning things on my own, without a teacher or a curriculum. I started a list of topics that I'd like to learn more about, from notorious court cases (related to my education) to types of horses to parts of a car engine. I just crave knowledge about all types of things.

Today I decided that I'm going to look up discussion questions for the books I'll be reading this year. Reading is a great way to cultivate the mind and adding thoughtful questions to the mix just increases the learning experience.

With this discussion question idea, I was reminded of my desire for self-education. Being bored at work, I typed "self-education" into Google and found out that there is actually a name I can't pronounce for this concept. That word is "autodidacticism."

Using my topic list and the book list combined with discussion questions, I'll be haphazardly researching and learning all sorts of things on my own. It will be a great way to pass the time this late winter and spring when Hubby is working long tax-season hours.

So in addition to being a bookworm, I'll be an autodidact.

You can add "nerd" to that name list too; I wont' be offended.

Happy Friday!