Friday, January 28, 2011

Book 6

Against All Odds by Irene Hannon

Good book. It is in the realm of Christian romance. It was suspenseful and intriguing. I didn't want to put it down last night to go to bed. It was a free kindle book, which is why I have it at all. If you like the genre, I think you'll like the book. Oh - more than just Christian romance, it's a mystery and suspense as well. Not over the top Christian. At several points early on, I was wondering if it was a Christian romance.

Thursday, January 27, 2011

Book 5

The Red Pony by John Steinbeck

"That was a weird book" is what I said to Hannah as I finished it. After 2 chapters, I thought it was depressing. Now I think it was just weird. Chapter 1 tells how the little boy got a horse. Chapter 2 tells how an old man came to the ranch and stole a horse (different horse). Chapter 3 tells how the boy took care of a mare until she "threw a colt". Then chapter 4 tells how grandfather came to visit. I left out a lot, so there's much you could glean. But overall I wouldn't recommend the book. It's odd, disjointed. It's 4 little stories rather than one big one. This book was on Hannah's literature list for the year.

Just talking to Katie - she had to read Old Man and the Sea which was also strange but better. But that was last year. :-)

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Marathon course - spring 2011



Tuesday, January 25, 2011

I'm tired

I've been feeling like this running thing isn't fun anymore. I want running to be fun again. It's like this at this point of training for a marathon. Halfway through training. It's all work right now. Have to do the high miles to be able to run the marathon. I get that, but it's not fun.

So I decided I was just going to go run today. I plugged in my iPod, listened to tunes and just ran. (I haven't been listening to music while running. I've just been running.) I wasn't going to push it I was just going to take it easy and make it fun. Well, as fun as 5 miles could be.

I went out and felt really slow, but also still sore and working things out from Saturday's 17. The sore muscle that only bothered me twice on Saturday was almost yelling at me today. I could not run any faster if I had wanted too. First mile - 9:30. Second mile still choppy - 19:00. Third mile, I really felt the hill - 30:10. Fourth mile another big hill - 40:15. Fifth mile, finally feel like I can stretch out a little bit - 50:59.

I guess this means all this running is doing some good. A slow feeling run isn't really, not to my ordinary pace anyway. Ten minute miles is what I shoot for on a "pace" day.

It's a good feeling to look back on today's run and see those times. I just wish the legs felt that good. :-)

Monday, January 24, 2011

Friends or family

Where does your loyalty lie - with your friends or with your family? This is a really, really frivolous thing in the grand scheme. Who shall I root for at the Superbowl this year?

Green Bay is playing Pittsburgh. I have several friends who would say root for the Steelers without fail. But then my IL would frown at me and say why would I even think to root for anyone but the Packers.

Then there is the issue of Hannah and Matthew and tennis. Last year, if you rooted for the Steelers, you didn't have to run any hills at the end of practice. But Matthew will be rooting for Green Bay - just because that's who grandpa roots for. No other reason. Matthew has no ties to Green Bay. Grandpa grew up in Wisconsin. It's the hometown team.

My folks for the same reason would root for the Lions. (Do they play football? Or is it the Tigers? No, I think the Tigers play baseball in Detroit. The Lions play football.) Anywa, it's a big cat!

You see in our family, we don't really watch sports. I know enough about sports to know a good game from a bad one. How to actually root for one team. What to tell them to do. That sort of stuff. But who wins the Superbowl doesn't actually matter to us. For that matter, the teams going to the Final Four don't really matter either. But for the record, I'll cheer on whichever NC team makes it that far. And I'll cheer all the NC teams to make it that far since neither my alma matter nor John's will even be in the tournament.

No, it doesn't really matter, but who should I cheer for now?

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Book 4!

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

Another book on Katie's literature list. One that is an interesting read! I would recommend this one!!

It is well written. I can see how we are going down the same road now - no books. Burning books. Books are illegal.

Well written - it captured me and made me want to finish it. I read it while cooking. :-) The hard thing was it's only 3 chapters. Hard to find places to pause and actually do stuff.

Monday, January 10, 2011

Book 3

I'm on a roll! Not even 2 weeks into the new year and already I've finished 3 books!

Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett
Interesting book. I thought I had remembered that I read it in high school and didn't like it but I have no memory of the book now that I have read it. It's kind of strange. It's about two men who are... wait for it... waiting for Godot. They have interesting problems and are interesting companions to each other. Another book on Katie's literature list for the year. I can't wait to read the teacher notes on this one! The back says it's an allegory, but I just don't see it. An allegory for what? Notes, must read the teacher notes.
Recommended? Maybe, once I read the teacher notes and truly understand it myself. :-)

Book 2

Beyond Belief to Convictions by Josh McDowell and Bob Hostetler

This book is about reaching our youth for Christ and confronting postmodern thinking. Wonderful book! Recommended for anyone who works with youth or parents youth.

Ok, this book is a cheater book. I actually started it last year. But from past experience I need all the help I can get. :-) I have finished this one so soon after the last one because I've been reading this one during quiet time.

52 books in 52 weeks Rules

The rules:

  1. The challenge will run from January 1, 2011 through December 31, 2011.
  2. Our book weeks will begin on Sunday.
  3. Participants may join at any time.
  4. All books are acceptable except children books.
  5. All forms of books are acceptable including e-books, audio books, etc.
  6. Re-reads are acceptable as long as they are read after January 1, 2011.
  7. Books may overlap other challenges.

The goal is also to have fun, explore new books, rediscover old favorites and just plain old enjoy your reading time.

What are you reading this week?

Sunday, January 9, 2011

2011 - 52 books in 52 weeks

I'm trying this again. I didn't get much more than maybe 20 books last time. Maybe this year will work out better.

The thought is to read 52 books in 52 weeks. You can re-read an previously read book, but not one you've read this year. I'm already a little late with this book. I should have finished yesterday. :-) We'll see how this year goes.

Books 1 - The Crucible by Aurthur Miller.
This is on Katie's literature list for this year. It's actually a play. On the surface it's about the Salem witch trials but it was written in reaction to the McCarthy "Red Scare". I can see how it fits both. And it's scary how someone can take something so far! It was hard to read in places at the trust put in the wrong people and how judges wouldn't listen to reason.
Recommended - not really.