Sunday, January 12, 2014

Change is A-comin'

The new year officially began a couple weeks ago but today is the day that big changes are really happening for me.

I'm beginning grad school. I think I'm ready for this next step but with it has come a lot of stress--mostly financial. Without getting too much into it, I'm still unsure how I'm going to pay for school. I feel like I'm waiting around for a miracle and "impatient" is putting what I am lightly. I'm a planner to the nth degree. Without mincing words, I'm a tad type-A. I don't do well hoping that things will work out because life, so far, has taught me that if you want, or need, something, you need to be the one that goes out and gets shit done. So I'm trying and I feel like I'm failing and that's a pretty crappy feeling.


But, back to the actual school part. I'll be taking one class on campus that meets weekly every Monday night for three hours (Information and Knowledge Professionals), and I'm taking two classes online (Information Organization and Adult Material & Reading). I don't have any books yet but I'm excited to get back into school mode. I'm sure this will change within a week but at least I'm going in excited about books and learning and making the next step in my career.

I'm also going to get back into watching what I eat and exercising. I was doing pretty well until the holidays hit and then I kind of just... gave up. I loved feeling like I was in control of my body and seeing results and I felt better physically. I'm ready to get back into taking care of myself.

My plan of attack on the Get Healthy front:

  • Step on the scale in the morning. Write the number down and don't get back on the scale for another week.
  • Track what I eat in My Fitness Pal. Put everything in there, both the good and the bad.
  • Make my way to the gym at least twice, preferably three times, a week. Exercise for at least an hour each visit. 
  • Reward myself at certain weight goals. Could be a new outfit or maybe a new book or something. #PositiveReinforcement 


And I'm also going to try to work on Zombie Book and edit/revise Road Trip Book. While I'm taking three grad classes and working part-time.


I have other new stuff on the horizon. 2014 has the potential to be pretty damn awesome or one anxiety fest after another. Here goes nothin'. 

Monday, January 6, 2014

Bout of Books 9.0

Bout of Books

Although my reading pile
is pretty daunting,
the anxiety is because of
grad school.



This is my sign up post for the Bout of Books 9.0 readathon. I have today, Wednesday and this weekend off so I'm hoping that I can squeeze in a few books when I'm not working on scholarship essays and binge-watching Being Human. I think this might be the motivation I need to move some books off of my massive To Read bookcase before grad school starts next Monday.
This is what my To Read bookcase looks like. 

And to be completely honest, this isn't all of the books I own and haven't read yet. I have a problem. I know this. One of my resolutions for this year is to make a pretty large dent in it.

Not sure what Bout of Books is? Here's the official blurb:

The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, January 6th and runs through Sunday, January 12th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure, and the only reading competition is between you and your usual number of books read in a week. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 9.0 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team

January 6th: 
Finished: Grasshopper Jungle by Andrew Smith

January 7th:
Worked, started The Orphan Master's Son by Adam Johnson

January 8th:
Reading  The Orphan Master's Son by Adam Johnson

January 9th:
Worked, still reading The Orphan Master's Son by Adam Johnson

January 10th:
Worked, still reading The Orphan Master's Son by Adam Johnson

January 11th:
Finished The Orphan Master's Son by Adam Johnson
Began Clever Maids: The Secret History of the Grimm Fairy Tales by Valerie Paradiz

January 12th: 
Finished A Feast for Crows by George R. R. Martin 

Books Reads: 3

Goals:

  • Read two books this week. (Done!)
  • Participate in some of the challenges and join in the #boutofbooks Twitter chats. (Participated in two of them!)
  • Comment on other participants' blogs and see what everyone is reading. (Commented on several different blogs.)

Wednesday, January 1, 2014

Resolutions for the New Year

It's a new year and I have spent the first day of it in my pajamas with my family. I have marathoned American Horror Story and Being Human and right now I have no regrets.



I rang in the New Year with some of my best friends and if that's a sign of how 2014 will be, then I consider myself very blessed.



Now for the resolutions. I have a list of 25 things I plan to do before my next birthday but the Big Resolutions are:

1. Be healthy. I have a weight goal but I want it to be about more than just getting to a certain number. I want to get back into exercising regularly and I want to stop eating out so much. I need a lifestyle change.


2. Query my book. Which means there will be lots of editing and revising and stressing and rejection but nothing comes from nothing and I need to face all of my fears and just do it.


3. This one is for me. I'll let you guys know if it happens.


Things I'm excited about this year:
  • Starting grad school.
  • Hilary will be visiting in March! I can't wait to see her and show her the D/FW area although I don't think it could live up to Portland.
  • Studying abroad in Germany and Czech Republic this summer.
  • Moving in with some of my best friends.

What are your New Year Resolutions? Do you want to learn a new language, move somewhere new, tell someone you love them? Whatever it is, I'm rooting for you.