Bookish and Not-So-Bookish Thoughts

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Bookish and Not-So-Bookish Thoughts is a weekly blogging event hosted by Bookishly Boisterous. It allows book bloggers (and non-book bloggers) to write about pretty much anything, bookish or otherwise (i.e. share exciting plans for the weekend, rants on things encountered during the week. **************************************************************************************

1. We have had a real Christmas tree for the past few years and I've always enjoyed setting out to go pick one out together as a family, however, we have a small house and always have to jam said Christmas tree in the corner. I hate that and so I have made the executive decision to purchase an artificial (pre-lit!) tree this year. Specifically the one pictured, from Target. A tall, slim tree is a gorgeous tree if you ask me and I'm hoping it works better in our house. If it fits where I have imagined it to go, then all will be good. And according to Ethan, Sharky the Elf needs more places to hang out every day too! 


2. Just finished enjoying YA book "Holding Up The Universe" by Jennifer Niven and I loved it. Like, really loved it. Truly great characters and it makes you hope and wish there were more people like the two main characters in this world. Read it. You won't regret it. 

3. I've started going to the chiropractor in an effort to get some relief from back pain. Seriously, I turned 45 in August and I feel like I have been hit by a Mack truck most days. It's definitely been downhill since August and I'm not ready to accept that. And I cannot afford to stop working out or even reduce it since I simply look at food and gain weight. Totally sucks. Anyway, I've gone 3x so far and I have experienced some relief. My right hip has also been giving me a problem so we are working on that as well. Right after an adjustment, he tests my range of motion and it's amazing to see immediate results. Whoa! I cannot wait to go to Yoga tonight and see if I notice any differences there. 

4. I'm proud to say that I got up early on Thanksgiving morning and went to the Hot To Trot 5k. The weather was perfect which definitely helped. Oscar and Ethan drove me there after all so I didn't have to fret about parking. Win! I'm a typically (beginner) runner...went out strong for the first 1.5 miles and then putzed along at the end. Not a bad time for me really, but just can't seem to come in under 35 minutes. Ugh!  *See #3 (getting old)!

5. I ambitiously signed up for a paper crafting project for the month of December. Like we don't have enough to do right? I know, stupid. But I couldn't resist. It's a List Making project. Check out @30daysoflists on Instagram. I plan on tweaking mine a bit to incorporate more Christmas-y things and such and to make it more of a December Daily project, though I just can't seem to commit fully to a December Daily project anymore. I love the books I created in years past, but again, just not enough time and it ends up making me feel resentful instead of enjoying the time....so yeah.

6. I've already been bitten by the "baking bug"...I just want to be home and able to bake all day long. Last night, I threw together a quick batch of peanut butter cookies. It's pretty much the only recipe we had all the ingredients for. I actually used the recipe for the Peanut Blossom cookies (AKA Hershey Kiss Cookies) but without the kisses. Ethan gave them 2 thumbs up. 

7. I started reading Mischling yesterday...not that far in yet. It's ok, but I think it might be a bit dark & depressing for the holiday season. I may have to re-think this decision. 

 8. I check my Amazon E-book Wishlist every.single.day to see if the price goes down on the many books I want to read. It usually happens 2x/month or so that I'll find one down to 2.99 or 5.99, which is awesome. I snagged "Everyone Who is Brave is Forgiven" for $2.99 yesterday! (It's back to $11.99 today!)I try really hard not to buy until they go on "sale". The joy  & excitement I feel in pulling up my list everyday is really crazy, but I own it.

Bookish and Not-So-Bookish Thoughts

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Bookish and Not-So-Bookish Thoughts is a weekly blogging event hosted by Bookishly Boisterous. It allows book bloggers (and non-book bloggers) to write about pretty much anything, bookish or otherwise (i.e. share exciting plans for the weekend, rants on things encountered during the week. **************************************************************************************


1) I'm working my first "Wednesday before Thanksgiving" in the last 6 years. *sigh* At least it's super quiet and we get out at 2pm, so I guess it's not really all that bad.

2) Hoping I have the self-discipline to wake up early Thanksgiving morning and get to the Turkey Trot. The route is fairly flat and simple, so I really shouldn't miss it, but parking may be a bit of an issue and I hate dealing with parking matters. I was thinking it was also going to be cold, but looks like it will be in upper 40s, almost 50, so that's not too awful. It will also be my last race of the year. 

3) I received the latest publication of the Food Network magazine yesterday and holy smokes, really regretting not going to Pastry School. I want to go home and bake all the cookies. I'm thinking of setting a goal of baking (or attempting to bake) 10 new cookies this holiday season. There are a few at least in the FN magazine I'd like to try. Ten may be a bit lofty but it's worth a try. 


4) As I've mentioned before, the parenting gig is not for sissies. Ugh....I learned of a peer relations "issue" yesterday evening from Ethan - he told his music teacher and I overheard from the waiting room...I don't think he thought anything of it, but it's a HUGE issue....and now I get to work on having that resolved. I feel bad that I sent the teacher an email on the first day of Thanksgiving break, but this needs attention at 745am on Monday when everyone returns. I was so upset about the whole thing that I woke at 3am and could not fall back asleep for 45 minutes or so. That hasn't happened to me in ages. I'm usually pretty wiped out every day and don't have a problem not being able to sleep. 

 
5) Still plugging along reading "the keeper of secrets"...I'm about 70% done so hopefully I will finish it in the next couple of days. If anything, I can finish it on Friday on our 5 hour drive to SC. I cannot wait to have lunch at Poe's Tavern...and buy a new shirt there too!!! Love their long sleeve shirts. So comfy.


6) Most of my reading time these days is coming while I'm on the treadmill or elliptical machine...I've been so tired at bedtime, that I rarely do any reading then anymore. I think this new job is (still) kicking my butt in terms of schedule. Ugh! I'm also super tired (fed up) with getting on the treadmill every.single.day just to reach my 10k steps. It used to be SO easy to get 12k or more daily. Not the case anymore and I'm getting up and going for walks during the workday too. Yesterday I finally said "eff it" and went to bed with only 8,400 steps....which secretly "kills me". Oh well...I just don't have the time or the energy anymore...and now it all makes sense why my mom never wanted to do anything after she got home from work when I was a kid. There was NO flex time. She got off at 5pm and had a 30 minute (at least) commute from Downtown Detroit. Ugh. I would hate that too.


7) I tossed the traditional Thanksgiving desserts to the side this year and ordered a Nothing Bundt Cake this year. Red Velvet. It's going to be amazing!

8) This makes my heart hurt so, so bad. Those poor moms.

9) The struggle with Ethan to read continues. I have resorted to getting picture books from the library, usually new ones that I've read about in cyberland having won an award or such. He doesn't fight me on reading these and I figure it's better than nothing. He's reading, just not reading to his fullest ability. *sigh* I'm still buying him books for Christmas! Ha!

10) Geesh...OrangeTheory is super annoying. I called them over a year ago to inquire and (mistakenly) gave them my phone number. As much as I'd like to try their workout, they do not offer child care and are not conveniently located. They call me at least once a week! Ugh! I'm always at work when they call and I never recognize the number so I have not yet been able to tell them to quit freaking calling me, but I really need to tell them. 

Books!

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As I mentioned recently, I've been listening to Book Riot's podcast, All The Books and it's been amazing.

In episode #70, they shared two new releases that I quickly added to my "to-read" list and thoguht I would share here...they both sound amazing.

One is "right up my alley" in terms of the genre I typically read (WWII), but it's also very different. The other book is not something I'd typically pick up but the gals on the podcast made it sound absolutely amazing that I feel compelled to read it.

Book #1 is Mischling.


Book #2 is The Story of a Brief Marriage


Check them out!! 

As always, so many books, so little time! *sigh*

Bookish & Not-So-Bookish Thoughts

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Bookish and Not-So-Bookish Thoughts is a weekly blogging event hosted by Bookishly Boisterous. It allows book bloggers (and non-book bloggers) to write about pretty much anything, bookish or otherwise (i.e. share exciting plans for the weekend, rants on things encountered during the week. **************************************************************************************

1) Meant to post last week, but just couldn't get my act together finish my post...

2) Like most people, I'm glad the election is over...no more annoying ads and debates...but now the problem is the constant complaining...which I think is worse. Hey guess what...everything doesn't always go your way...suck it up, buttercup. Neither candidate was ideal, but it's time to move on. And quit complaining on FB too. Ugh!

3)  I really miss stopping at ChickFila on my morning commute (except for the mean girl that was working there). Unfortunately, my only options for a fountain Diet Dr Pepper now are from Pilot...and while I've been stopping there, it's just not the same. I have actually purchased a couple of bottles of DDP at work lately and they have tasted fabulous so I may start to wean myself off the fountain drink (yay, no need to stop anymore) and just buy bottles at the grocery store. Cheaper too!! #winning

4) The constant controversy of who has it "harder" - working moms or SAHMs is one that constantly gets under my skin. This is a topic that gets me heated whenever (1) it comes up or (2) whenever something negatively affects my life because I am a working mom (not by choice). I do think moms who WANT to work can be excluded from this controversy but for those of us with NO choice...well, it sucks. Latest example, that I have to pay $50 for 5 hours of after school care next week (only 2 school days) when that is normally the cost for 5 days. No pro-rate. No holiday discount. Nothing. A problem that SAHMs don't have to worry about (or pay for). Even if I could arrange for Ethan to not go those 2 days, I have to pay $50. This kind of thing makes my blood boil. Meanwhile - the SAHMs are flying through the pick up line...in their workout clothes.

5) I'm reading The Keeper of Secrets right now. I'm enjoying it and very curious to see where it goes. So far it's been a lot about old famous violins and uber talented violinists...but I'm guessing eventually we will get to the part where they realize they are in the company of a rare (missing) violin that is priceless and was thought to have been lost in the Nazi raids during WWII.

6) I'm really in a quandary about what I will read next...though I'm worrying about this prematurely as I'm only 30% into my current book. There are just so many good choices...and then GoodReads has their voting for Choice Awards and I discover a bazillion more books I want to read.  *sigh*

7) Check out this "Can we guess your education level? Quiz by the books you've read?"  I got to question 38 and then noticed I had 23 more question to go....what??? 61 questions...I gave up...maybe I'll go back to it. 

8) So after only 3 months in my new job, I started having mega pain in my hand & wrist...yay...welcome Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Great! I bought a brace to wear at night....which oddly enough, as soon as I put it on, made my wrist feel 100x better. I also got a new ergonomic keyboard and mouse. I've been using these things for 2 weeks now and haven't had a single pain. Amazing. Hopefully it lasts. 

9) Ethan and I have made watching The Voice together a tradition. This season though, I am not LOVING anyone SOOOO much that I'm dying to watch the show. I hope the remaining contestants really show some crazy talent soon or I may fall asleep while watching.

10) Speaking of TV....Ethan and I also loved watching Cooks vs. Cons on The Food Network. We are anxiously awaiting Season 2. Well, I just got wind of a show I"m going to love EVEN MORE....a spin off from Cooks vs. Cons, called Bakers vs. Fakers!!!! OMG.....I cannot wait until this show starts!! I wish I was a good enough baker to apply....instead I'll admire from my couch.

Currently-November Edition

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In an effort to be more consistent and planned with my blogging, I am going to try to do my Currently posts on a monthly basis, hopefully within the first week of each month. Ha...wish me luck! Here we go...

Thinking about: this weekend and the fun we will have while camping. It's a black bear habitat, so hopefully we do not get attacked or eaten while there. Yikes!

Reading: I'm just about done with "Winter Garden" hoping to finish it en route to campground tonight. It's been a "different" story in terms of the way it's delivered/told, but the last 100 pages I think are going to be the best, probably because the mystery of the whole thing will be revealed. They are definitely some broken people though. 

Listening to: Hamilton and more and more Hamilton. Cannot get enough. It will be very painful if the show eventually comes to Atlanta but is so unreasonably priced that I cannot manage it within our budget. I guess I should start saving now. 

Watching: only The Voice and This is Us. The Voice is a show Ethan and I enjoy together every week. He loves Adam Levine (and secretly so do I). This is Us....well, yep I'm on the bandwagon with that one. And it seems to be a big bandwagon too. 

Eating: too much of everything it seems lately. Ugh. Poor self control. I start out the day really well, eating good, tracking everything but then most evenings end in a crash and burn, especially now with truckloads of Halloween candy in the house. I have got to reel it in and get things back under control. Of course, I'm still working out and drinking a ton of water, but apparently not enough to offset my poor eating habits of late. 

Wearing: whatever is comfortable and appropriate for work. I've been struggling in this area since starting this new gig. I'm not one to wear heels, I don't even own a pair, but a lot of the women here do wear them and look really professional. I'm just not a girly-girl...never have been. Also, we are business casual...so I'm really loving my chino pants and cardigans. Still dressing like a school teacher (counselor), and that's ok by me. 

Wishing: for so many things...leaving the political out, I will focus on personal instead...I wish I had the financial blessings to allow me to be a stay-at-home-mom...clearly this has been my wish for years and now that Ethan is in school all day, it's different, but I still would love to pick him up from school each day and have the afternoon with him. I don't think I'll ever fully accept that this hasn't worked out for me...at least I'm not angry about it anymore, but I'd by lying if I said I wasn't disappointed. Add to that the many hours I would have each day to work out....I would be in amazing shape (for the first time in my life). OK -dream over...back to reality. *sigh*

Loving: Fall weather. Leggings. Sweaters. Scarves. Weekends.

Looking forward to: any and all days off from work. So in this case, I will be off early on Election Day, so that will be nice since Ethan will be out of school. Having been at a private school previously, he always had school that day. Coming up on the heels of Election Day will be the lovely Thanksgiving holiday. This is where I begin to second guess my job change (for the bazillionth time) since I will not be off on Wednesday and Ethan will. The bright side however is that I will get out at 2pm as the company will close early. 

Bookish and Not-So-Bookish Thoughts

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Bookish and Not-So-Bookish Thoughts is a weekly blogging event hosted by Bookishly Boisterous. It allows book bloggers (and non-book bloggers) to write about pretty much anything, bookish or otherwise (i.e. share exciting plans for the weekend, rants on things encountered during the week. **************************************************************************************

1. I've determined that my death will likely involve my being hit by a car. Why? It has almost happened TWICE in the past 30 days!!! Seriously! The first time occurred walking into the gas station in the morning for my diet dr pepper. A gal was in way too much of a hurry for her McDonald's coffee and she came within 6-12 inches of hitting me. Not a great start to my day!

The second occurrence was Halloween night. I was standing ON a driveway as Ethan collected his candy. I turned around to step into the street (just into it - we have no sidewalks) when this complete idiot came FLYING up the street. Even if I wasn't there, he should not have been going that fast ON Halloween night anyway. Unbelievable.  If Ethan hadn't been complaining about his feet hurting, I would have walked after the guy (he parked up the street) and given him a piece of my mind. I also really wish Oscar had been with us, he would have REALLY given this guy a piece of his mind....and I would have enjoyed watching. 

2. I eat a lot of turkey sandwiches. At least 3-4 a week. It's my "go-to" healthy lunch option. Of course, I do not make these sandwiches, but purchase them at work or at Subway with Ethan. I'm so glad he loves Subway as much as I do. But seriously, I probably need to branch out a bit on my sandwich choices, but I do love a turkey sandwich. 

3. We are going camping this weekend and I am SUPER excited. Lots of awesome hikes with beautiful scenery - I'm planning to take a bazillion pictures...like the one above!

4. I finished "Be Frank With Me"....good book with super quirky and sometimes annoying characters. Still a worthy read. I am now reading "Winter Garden" by Kristin Hannah...after reading "The Nightingale" I had to try another by her. Winter Garden is no Nightingale, but it's getting very good here in the last 150 pages or so. Hoping to finish it this weekend and move on to another...book to be determined.

5. I really, really, really, want to read Hamilton. It is 832 pages! That will take me forever! I'm a 350-page kind of gal.

6. I would love to attend the Book Riot Live Convention in NYC this month. Too bad it's going to have to remain a dream for now. *sigh*

7. In regards to podcasts, I've left BookNerd, which ended and won't have any new podcasts anyway, and jumped on board ALL THE BOOKS! by Book Riot. I love this one even more than Book Nerd because it's a weekly podcast about new releases. This will help me learn more about upcoming releases that I maybe would never have considered. 

Bookish and Not-So-Bookish Thoughts

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Bookish and Not-So-Bookish Thoughts is a weekly blogging event hosted by Bookishly Boisterous. It allows book bloggers (and non-book bloggers) to write about pretty much anything, bookish or otherwise (i.e. share exciting plans for the weekend, rants on things encountered during the week. **************************************************************************************
1. Today in history: According to my prior years FB posts, this has been a crappy day- both in 2009 and 2015. Bracing myself that today doesn't follow that pattern.

2. Still enjoying the BookNerd Podcast when I can...and of course, they are no longer making episodes...so there's my luck with podcasts.


3. If I'm not listening to a podcast, I'm most definitely listening to the Hamilton Broadway Soundtrack. I'm a little late to the party, but I'm ALL IN now...completely obsessed. Maybe when they come to Atlanta (2017?) tickets will be in my price range...lol. A girl can hope (dream), right? 

4. This motherhood gig is hard. Ugh! Will I ever stop second-guessing my decision on this job change? I can't seem to get to a place where I am "ok" with the longer work day and the loss of summer. What was I thinking? I know I was miserable and so I have to keep reminding myself of that. It IS better here for many reasons, but I'm so STUCK on schedule. Oh yeah and the sedentary manner of the job has helped me gain 8 (freakin') lbs too! Super NOT happy about that. 

5. So answering phone calls from employees is a big part of my job...even though we don't get many calls (emails mostly). I worked from home yesterday and while it was nice, it also made it harder to get away for a bathroom break...the phone is through the computer (neat!) and the ringer isn't very loud, even with the volume all the way up. Add to that that my team members don't typically log into the phones (as backup), so it's mostly me and one other person. Kind of a pain to announce my restroom needs but we have to do it every day so that *someone* is covering the phones. Note: See #4.


6. Going to make some delicious Rainbow Sprinkle Pudding cookies for a Halloween party we are going to on Saturday but instead of rainbow sprinkles, I'm going to use only black & orange sprinkles. Fun!! These cookies are so soft and yummy too - a new favorite of mine for sure.

7. Right now we have plans to go on a hike on Sunday. I'm excited as I've been wanting to go for a while and I love taking pictures in the mountains with the beautiful scenery etc. Here's hoping my husband doesn't derail the plans with his crazy side work jobs. 

8. Looking forward to walking my entire neighborhood on Halloween...it'll be an awesome Fitbit day for sure...you know, since I sit all.freakin.day.long nowadays.

9. Not excited about Ethan's costume choice...I don't even know the real name of it, but basically it's a creepy death-like guy, creepy mask, top hat, supposed to carry a scythe (sp?) but we talked him out of buying that piece since it's something ELSE to carry all over the neighborhood. The costume is creepy enough.

Bookish and Not-So-Bookish Thoughts

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Bookish and Not-So-Bookish Thoughts is a weekly blogging event hosted by Bookishly Boisterous. It allows book bloggers (and non-book bloggers) to write about pretty much anything, bookish or otherwise (i.e. share exciting plans for the weekend, rants on things encountered during the week. **************************************************************************************

1. It's a miracle...I may have found a Podcast that I can actually listen to...The Book Nerd...so far I have only listened to 2 episodes, but so far, so good. 

2. It's late October and we are in the mid/high 80s, unusually high for TN. Add to that, the AC died for the 2nd time this summer Tuesday. Nothing like running on the treadmill when your house is 80 degrees. So happy the AC fixer-man came yesterday and it was a nice cool 74 in the house when I got home.

3. I'm glad the cooler weather will roll in on Friday as we will finally have time this weekend to make it to the pumpkin patch, though  it will only be me and Ethan since Oscar has to head back to VA for work. Can I say that I'm really "over" his 6 hour work commutes and they better get him a job site closer this next time around. #Overit  There is a chance that a friend from my previous job will join us at the pumpkin patch, which would be nice. 

4. My 5k on Sunday was mediocre. I watched the 1/2 marathoners take off and was glad I wasn't with them, but then on the other hand, after I finished the 5k, I felt like I hardly did anything. There were a few fairly steep hills and my time was slower than I had hoped, but that seems to be par for the course lately. Also, the course measured 3.04 on my watch so it wasn't actually a full 5k as normally my watch will read more than the course length due to zig-zagging etc. Oscar and Ethan dropped me at the start and went back to the hotel to sleep since Oscar is struggling with major Plantar Fascitis right now. It stinks not having someone at the finish line to cheer you on. :(  I did enjoy a leisurely and peaceful walk back to the hotel however and had my 10k steps completed by 9am. #winning

5. Ethan is really taking off with the drums. I think we have (finally) found "his thing"...he wants to quit baseball but I'm making him finish the season on the premise of teaching him the value of "commitment"....I think that's the right thing to do...he only has 5 games left and he has a good friend on the team....he STILL wants to quit. Ugh. He has a drum performance on Saturday night at a local elementary school Fall Festival. He is both excited and nervous. I am excited for him. He has also started voice lessons with his former music teacher who we love love love!! He wants to sing Motley Crue and Maroon 5 songs. :)

6. I think I'll go cast my vote for the lesser of two evils today and get that over with. The end result will be complete crap no matter the outcome.

7. Give me all the candy corn. Only the real candy corn though, none of those candy corn cookies or candy corn flavored whatever. Just the real deal please. I love it!! I eat too much of it! But I still want more of it!

8. Maybe I'm off here, but when someone arrives to work, they typically greet others with "good morning" or other friendly gesture....so there is a person I work with who doesn't "get" that philosophy as he says nothing. And when others come in and say "good morning"...he doesn't respond....and yet he told another co-worker that he had a reputation of being "bossy" and "arrogant" at his former employer and to let him know if he was ever acting that way here....um....I hope she lets him know soon. #jerk

Currently

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Watching: while I'm not a big TV watcher, I have whole-heartedly jumped on the THIS IS US bandwagon and I'm loving the ride!!


Reading: Be Frank With Me -for my November book club. It's really good already...with some quirky characters too!

Eating: Still with my Dannon Green Yogurt Black Cherry flavor. I'm also known to frequently consume tacos. Hoping to try some new tacos this weekend. 

Wearing: Having to dress up a bit more for this job than the school gig...which is just about killing me...I have NO shoes it seems...that are "fit" for the new job...even though it's business casual, it's more business than casual when compared to the school. I'm not planning to go out and buy any heels though, but have been struggling to find shoes and even clothing that I'm both comfortable in and will "work" for work. Ha!

Looking forward to: Thanksgiving weekend. We are FINALLY heading to the beach...as long as no hurricanes decide to pop up. SC, here we come!! At last!

Listening to: a lot of "Home Sweet Home" by Motley Crue and "Billie Jean" by Michael Jackson as Ethan practices his drums for performing these two songs in December. Love it!!

Wishing: for a lot....that my knee wouldn't hurt when I run. that I could work less and be around for Ethan more. that I could wear jeans and sperrys every day. that Saturdays lasted forever. 

Bookish and Not-So-Bookish Thoughts

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Bookish and Not-So-Bookish Thoughts is a weekly blogging event hosted by Bookishly Boisterous. It allows book bloggers (and non-book bloggers) to write about pretty much anything, bookish or otherwise (i.e. share exciting plans for the weekend, rants on things encountered during the week. **************************************************************************************

1. I'm just finished reading The Cherry Harvest and it's a great book!! My typical genre - WWII historical fiction, though this one is set in Wisconsin, so that has been a very different perspective. Most of my reading time lately has occurred ON the treadmill. #NotEnoughTimeEver

2. I think I am hanging up the 1/2 Marathon running shoes for the year. I'll still do 5k races, but the 13.1s are killing me (and my knee) so I'm resigning from them (until April 2017). I have mixed feelings about this. I set a goal to do 10 this year and I REALLY wanted to accomplish that. The narcissist in me was really looking forward to that Facebook post where I would brag (a little) about meeting this goal *sigh*...anywho...I've done 6 this year. I am/was registered for 2 others, but changed one (this Sunday) to a 5k and the other one is in Charleston, SC and we decided that we aren't going to travel there for me to "just" do a 5k, so we are skipping the whole thing. My husband is happy that we won't be spending the money to travel so it's a win/win, right? Well, I did lose the $ from that race but oh well. 

3. On a brighter note, I'm super excited about this weekend's 5k because all year I've been working as a Race Ambassador (7 Bridges Chattanooga) and in exchange I am getting a free hotel room #bigwin and so we will head down on Saturday afternoon to enjoy the Expo and the day, Sunday morning I will run the 5k and we will have the rest of the day to enjoy the city. A 35ish minute race seems a whole lot better than a 150-minute race. #truth

4. Did you know you can order a FREE (and really awesome) calendar from Shutterfly right now? Hurry though, offer ends Sunday.  Disclaimer: You do have to pay shipping, which for the easel calendar I ordered was $8.73 - still totally worth it as it's super cute! Who doesn't love calendars?

5. Totally addicted to these easy-to-make and delicious cookies!! Pudding Sprinkle Cookies. Yummy!

6. You know what drives me nuts...ppl who quit talking to me for reasons unknown to me. It's one thing to know why someone is pissed at you, but when you are totally clueless (and you're not an idiot) about why someone is no longer speaking to you, that's just ridiculous. Note: I'm not even an out-spoken person on any issues of great controversy...so I'm really baffled by this...and there are currently 2 people acting this way towards me. #Lovely

7. So Ethan is at the age now where he wants to use my computer to play some of his games. I have gradually allowed it. As I'm typing on a sticky, crusty keyboard, I'm thinking I need to revoke these privileges. #Ick

8. Back to the grind Thursday, where I will put in 20 hours over the two days. Life as a (measly) hourly worker. *sigh*

9. I really want this adorable night light. I have NO need for it. I still want it.  

10. Is this election over with yet? Ugh...can't even enjoy Facebook anymore with everyone's ridiculous posts. 

Random Thoughts

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It's Fall Break!!!

I'm excited about it, but not quite as excited as I've been in the past, when I've worked in a school.

I took Mon, Tues & Wed off this week to hang out with Ethan and so far we've enjoyed our time together.

Let me back up though...this is after we both came to terms with our Myrtle Beach vacation being cancelled, courtesy of Hurricane Matthew. Bastard!

Since we were supposed to travel there with my dad, we decided to head up to see him on Monday and went out to lunch and enjoyed the day together. It was a great day and we didn't get home until 8:30pm. Phew. Day one was a success!

Today, we headed to Pigeon Forge for some fun. Some of our friends went with us which made it even more fun. Yay! The kids played at Magic Quest and we enjoyed lunch at Mellow Mushroom - yum!!!!

Tomorrow will be insane amounts of fun....taking my car in for service!! We sure do live it up during Fall Break huh? I'm glad to have the time to get this taken care of though. We've had our car now for 1 year and the rear air vents have never worked. We will grab lunch with my mom and probably do a little shopping. I'll even attempt to cut the grass in the evening. See! Exciting!!

Thursday I go back to work for the rest of the week and will work two 10-hour days. Meh. Not a big deal really and since I'm hourly, it works to my advantage because I don't have to take as much PTO for this week. #score

Speaking of being hourly...what a strange thing...I've been "salary" for the past 10 years and it is so bizarre to have to track my hours and such. Oh well.

Also, let me just say that being OFF of work when you know NOTHING is happening (school), is WAY better and more calming than being OFF work but knowing things are happening and things could go wrong while you are out. This is exactly what happened on Monday. It was not my fault, but there was an attempt to throw me under the bus (yet again). Seriously, I feel like I've returned to high school in this new job sometimes. Can't everyone just do what they are supposed to do?!?! 

I need to win the freakin' lottery. 

Bookish and Not-So-Bookish Thoughts

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Bookish and Not-So-Bookish Thoughts is a weekly blogging event hosted by Bookishly Boisterous. It allows book bloggers (and non-book bloggers) to write about pretty much anything, bookish or otherwise (i.e. share exciting plans for the weekend, rants on things encountered during the week. **************************************************************************************

1. Not a whole lot new in my world. Still working the new gig. Still hating being there til 5pm. Still convinced that is one of few negatives to job change though I wouldn't say I'm 100% happy either. Oh and the mean girl got fired. Yeah that was interesting.

2. My people watching skills have been really put to the test lately. It's amazing how different people in corporate America are compared to, say, people who work in a school. Bottom line: people who work in a school are way nicer/friendlier (most of them anyway).

3. Running. I think half marathons are a historical thing for me at this point. Well, except for the Disney Star Wars in April that I dumped a truckload of money into. My knee has been giving me more and more grief lately. I ran, and walked a whole lot, a half marathon last Sunday. My knee gave out on me not short of 7 times and then I also ended up with some crazy shoe problem on my left foot which was worse than my knee pain. This makes NO sense as they are the same shoe I've been wearing all year, same brand, same style just a new pair...but I had already put 15ish miles in them. Taking them back to the store on Saturday. So frustrating.

4. Only two weeks to Fall Break...and it's a full week for students...which now becomes a point of difficulty for me as opposed to a time of joy, since I'm not automatically off work too. Real world. I am taking 3 days off however and we are going to Myrtle Beach with my dad. So excited. A much needed break from this weird new world I'm living in.

5. Some peoples FB posts after the debate were just ridiculous. I ended up unfollowing a few people as a result. I don't care who you prefer and I don't want to hear about it either.

6. Ethan made fast friends with a boy in his class this year. Turns out they live one street over!! This has worked out so well as his mom and I are sharing pick up and drop off duties. A huge help for me. Even better, she signed up to teach CCD on Wed nights and picks Ethan up from school and then takes them both to class...I had two hours to myself. Holy moly!

7. A friend challenged me to drink less diet Dr Pepper each day saying that her brother lost a crap ton of weight when he gave up pop. Ok so I don't drink coffee or tea and sure as heck am not going to commit to ONLY drinking water, so I will cut back on my pop intake, but not give it up completely. We will see what happens. With this sedentary job, I need to do something!

8. Into the YA books for some reason lately...now that I have nothing to do with middle schoolers... go figure. Anyway, reading All The Bright Places and so far so good.



9. I'm going to start checking out all the Little Free Library locations near me. I saw one whole running that half on Sunday and thought I'd look some up by my house, turns out there are quite a few...even some near work that I can check out during my lunch hour. Yay!


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