Love and Other Impossible Pursuits

by Ayelet Waldman

This is the 2nd book by her I've read.  I really like her!  Both books have made me cry.  A lot.  They felt so real.  If I wasn't the main character, I felt like she was my best friend and I was experiencing everything along side her.

***SPOILER ALERT***

This is the story of Emilia Greenleaf.  She is the second wife of Jack Wolfe, step mother to 5 year old William.  William is very smart, but incredibly sheltered.  She tries to like him.  She tries to do fun things with him.  But something wrong always happens and William tattles to his mom, who then calls ranting ang raving about how Emilia's trying to kill her child.

There is something going on in the background that we don't know about.  As the story goes on, we kind of know, but aren't sure.  Two months before, Emilia gave birth to a beautiful, healthy daughter, Isabel.  Isabel died of SIDS on her first night home.  As devastating as this is, there's still more that we don't know.  Emilia's life is spiraling out of control.  Her marriage to Jack is strained.  She and William have good days and bad.  Things finally hit the fan and this is when we learn the rest of the story.  Read the book to find out!

I would recommend this to someone who doesn't mind having a good cry.  Someone who likes books that feel real.


4.5 out of 5 stars.


Currently reading:  The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey by Walter Mosley

My Fair Lazy: One Reality Television Addict's Attempt to Discover If Not Being A Dumb Ass Is the New Black; Or, A Culture-Up Manifesto

by Jen Lancaster

I finished this one a while ago and never got around to writing about it.  Like the others, I enjoyed this one, too!  At some point, I will read every book by her. 

In this installment, Jen decides she isn't cultured enough and sets out to rectify that situation.  She watches movies, reads books, goes to the opera and other live shows (plays, dancing, etc.), as well as partaking in cultural dining.  Basically, through any means possible.  It all started with her attending function with socialites and having nothing to talk about except what happened on the latest  reality show or a 1980s John Hughes movie.  And apparently, socialites know nothing about these topics.

I appreciate that she realizes she's not as cultured or as classy as she'd like to be.  And at certain events she doesn't feel as though she fits in.  Who among us hasn't felt that way at some point?  Let's face it, those who think they're classy, do everything to make the rest of us feel like dirt, which in my opinion, isn't very classy...

If you've read other Jen Lancaster books and enjoyed them, I'm sure you will enjoy this one, too.


4.5 out of 5 stars.


Currently reading:  The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey by Walter Mosley

The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo

by Stieg Larsson

This was a book club read.  I wasn't at the previous meeting, so I had no say in picking this.  I have to admit that I was a little disappointed when I saw that this was the book.  Oh well.  I read it anyway.

I'm glad I did.  Now, it wasn't my favorite book.  Far from it.  But I didn't hate it.  I liked it more then I thought I would.

It was a little strange.  I think it held my attention because I had no idea what was going on for so long.  And all the Swedish names were a little hard to follow.  On a whole, this book was very wordy.  In case you didn't know it, Sweden is very cold in the winter.  Now, I knew very little about Sweden before I read this, but I knew it was pretty cold there.  And this book makes sure we never forget that!  When we talked about this book at book club, we had to wonder where the editor was.  There's a whole lot of nothing going on for a while.  But when things start to happen, holy crap!  Some things happened that I should have seen coming, but didn't.  And then things happened that there was no way I could have seen coming!

This is a mystery, which isn't normally my thing.  It's the first book in a trilogy and I haven't really decided if I'm reading the next two.  This one ended kind of abruptly, but not with a cliff hanger.  I put the next one on hold at the library for my Nook and I suppose I'll decide when turn comes up. 

Don't read this expecting it to be the next Twilight or Hunger Games because it isn't.  Was it worth my time?  Yes.


3 stars out of 5.


Currently reading:  My Fair Lazy: One Reality Television Addict's Attempt to Discover If Not Being A Dumb Ass Is the New Black; Or, A Culture-Up Manifesto by Jen Lancaster   

Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen

by Christopher McDougall

I loved this book!  Immediately after finishing, I declared I was never eating meat again and I was running barefoot!  If you know me, you didn't really believe me.  And you shouldn't have.  But still.  It was eye opening.  If you're not a runner or into running, don't read it.  You won't get it.  But I'm trying to be a runner.

It was a little slow getting into this, which is why it took me so long to read.  Plus, a lot had been going on in life, too.  The thing that got me about this book is that they've known for decades what causes all these running injuries.  And nothing has been done about it!  All these technologically advanced running shoes are causing all our injuries.  We're meant to run like we ran when we were kids.  Basically, barefoot or with minimal footwear.  And this was known BEFORE Nike made all their money selling us crazy expensive running shoes!  The more cushion a shoe has, the harder our feet work to find hard, solid ground.  These injuries didn't happen back when all these crazy shoes didn't exist!!  How was this not publicized??  How was Nike (and all the other shoe companies) allowed to tell us we'd be better runners if we spent all that money?  Blatant lies!!  And they knew it!!

Ever since finishing this book, I look at feet at every race.  It's amazing the different foot attire I see.  No shoes.  Those minimal shoes with the toes.  And the people with the crazy expensive cushiony shoes that are supposed to be better for you.

There was more to this book... a tribe of people in Mexico who run.  Long distances (like 100 miles!).  In sandals.  And there was a big race at the end between some of their best runners and some of our best ultra runners.  I don't remember ever hearing about that.  Oh, and I also learned that women are better ultra runners then men.  Not that I'm going to go run 100 miles or anything.  But good to keep at the back of my mind!

4.5 out of 5 stars.

Currently reading:  My Fair Lazy: One Reality Television Addict's Attempt to Discover If Not Being A Dumb Ass Is the New Black; Or, A Culture-Up Manifesto by Jen Lancaster   

The Happiness Project

by Gretchen Rubin

I read this book to be a part of the #TwitBooks book club on Twitter.  Due to life happening, I did not finish it in time for the discussion.

In this book, the author decides she's not as happy as she could be, so she researches happiness and makes a years worth of resolutions to achieve happiness.  Each month she concentrates on a different happiness goal.  She also has '12 Commandments' that she tries to incorporate into her resolutions.  She even created a blog to ask readers about different thoughts and ideas she had and she also offers copies of her resolutions.

I've mentioned that I like the idea of this.  But I don't think I would ever do it.  I feel like I'm reasonably happy enough.  I don't have the motivation to run when I should so I sure don't have the motivation to start my own happiness project.  But if you think you could be happier then you actually are, then I would totally recommend reading this.  I guarantee you will get ideas you wouldn't have thought of before!


3.5 out of 5 stars.


Currently reading:  Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen by Christopher McDougall
 

Bright Lights, Big Ass: A Self-Indulgent, Surly, Ex-Sorority Girl's Guide to Why it Often Sucks in the City, or Who are These Idiots and Why Do They All Live Next Door to Me?

by Jen Lancaster

These books are quickly becoming my guilty pleasure.  I'm always looking for a new book by Jen Lancaster.  And this is only the 2nd book by her that I've read!  Anyway, usually you're supposed to be slightly embarrassed by guilty pleasures, but I'm not afraid to admit that.  These books are hilarious!  I love her self confidence!  So many people, myself included, think the way she does, but keep quiet about it.  It's refreshing to see someone who's not afraid to say what she thinks!

Jen Lancaster also has a blog, Jennsylvania.  If you like her books, I highly recommend checking it out.  It will make you laugh!

4 out of 5 stars.


**Special shout out  to Danielle Rocktaschel!!  She finished her first half marathon today!  Woo-hoo!!**


Currently reading:  Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen by Christopher McDougall
 

My relationship with athletics

I'm not just an elementary school librarian.  I do other things, too.  I'm a wife to a wonderful husband.  We're not planning on children, but we spoil our two dogs rotten.  For the most part, they have good manners around company!

I was an athlete growing up.  Played soccer from 4th grade though high school.  I wasn't very good, but I enjoyed it, for the most part.  I did intramural soccer in college and when I lived in Charlotte, I found an adult league that played in the spring and fall.  I have accepted that my soccer days are long over, but I still need to be active.  I ran track in middle school and did indoor track my junior year in high school.  Running was a part of playing soccer, but I never really took it seriously. 

When I first moved to Buffalo in the Fall of 1997, all I did was work, sleep and party.  That following Spring, I bought a bicycle... a $75 Wal-mart special!  I lived in a relatively bike friendly area, so I rode a lot.  I did my first charity ride in June 1999... the Tour de Cure to benefit the American Diabetes Association.  At that point, 30 miles was the shortest distance they had.  So me and several others I worked with at Channel 7 signed up!  30 miles seemed like a lot, but I did it!

Not long after that, I got into running with another co-worker, Charlie Wagner.  We worked the same schedule, so we met several days a week at Delaware Park and ran.  I'm not sure we ever actually ran the entire thing, but we were out there and doing it.

I moved to Charlotte in January 2000.  My bike moved with me.  I rode it a bunch in my first year in Charlotte, but not much after that.  I didn't live in very bike friendly areas.  And running never happened either.

My husband is a biker and a runner.  I returned to Western New York in August 2005.  That first full summer I was back, I suggested we do the Tour de Cure.  They had shorter distances, but since I'd already done the 30 miles, why would I want to do less?  Six of us signed up and did it.  I didn't train properly and I was miserable!  Didn't make that mistake again.  I did it again the next year or so.  Alone.  My husband moved on to the 100 or 65 miler (yes, he's crazy).  The last year I did the Tour de Cure, I also did the Ride for Roswell to benefit cancer research.  They're a few weeks apart and it was very difficult to raise money for both causes.  I had to make a choice.  The route for the Tour de Cure changed and frankly, it sucked.  The 30 mile Ride for Roswell was such a nice ride!

This is my 4th year doing the Ride for Roswell.  I haven't tried a distance other then 30 miles.  The ride is just so nice!  What if the next distance sucks??  I ride in memory of My Aunt Rene.  She passed away in November 2008 from ovarian cancer... a day before my husband and I got engaged.  She was taken way too early, so I ride to help find a cure.  I will probably ride until a cure is found.  And then I'll keep riding until cancer prevention is part of every day life.  If you're interested in donating to my ride this year, please click here.  After the Ride for Roswell last year, I finally retired my Wal-mart special bike and got a nice Cannondale.  I'm looking forward to using it for the ride this year!

Last Spring (2010), I started hearing about Couch to 5K.  Several friends were doing it... friends that weren't 'athletes'.  I thought, "I'm an athlete, why can 't I do that?"  So I did it.  And then I trained for a 10K all summer.  In the mean time, I did three 5Ks in 12 days.  I didn't actually do a 10K, but I did do an 8K, The Turkey Trot.  I did my best trying to run this winter, but Western New York winters are brutal.  And I don't live where it's safe to run in bad weather.  I tried staying at work and running on the sidewalks there.  But they weren't maintained very well.  I tried the treadmill at work, but my footpod didn't seem to work, so I didn't know how far I was going.  It's very hard for me to put in the time and not know how far I was going! 

But the weather is getting nicer and the race calendar for the summer is out.  I'm planning more then three 5Ks this year.  I'm going to try a duathlon next month and combine my biking and running.  Last weekend, I did my first bike then run.  The transition sucked!  But I did it.  And I'll keep doing it.  I'm planning to actually do a 10K at the end of the summer.  And depending on how that goes, maybe the Niagara Falls half marathon in October. 

I had no plans to ever run more then 10K.  But then I heard that Oprah did a marathon.  It took her 6 hours, but she still did it.  And she's Oprah!  I know she had all the trainers and the nutrition people, but she's still built like Oprah!

Motivation is hard.  I started following Runners World on Twitter.  Last week, they posted a fabulous article, 101 Kicks in the Butt.  Some of them were kind of dumb, but for the most part, awesome!  So, I didn't exactly do #1 (this isn't a running blog!), but now that I've posted my plans and if someone actually reads this, then I'll have to actually stick to my plans!

People have asked me why I run.  I know I'm not fat.  I'm not trying to lose weight.  I'm trying to maintain.  My favorite things to eat are the worst for me!!  Loaded potato skins, loaded fries, nachos, ice cream.... yum!  As long as I run, I can eat what I want and not feel guilty!