Wednesday, August 21, 2019

Wednesday Reads and I Started Walking … Again

I don’t know how many times I’ve STARTED my walking regime. I was doing okay in May and June and then … Ooops. Yeah, it’s been hot, but still, I need to walk. It’s in my best interest to walk. And I hate being out of shape.

So yeah, I started … again. Just this past Monday. And I’m back to posting about it on Facebook. I’m hoping THAT will keep me motivated to walk. At least Monday-Friday. I won’t promise anything on the weekends, but that doesn’t mean I won’t TRY.

Now, can it be a little cooler outside? Maybe less humid? That would be nice.

Here’s what I read this week:

Book #38

Dates read: August 9-13
Title: The Forbidden Door
Year of publication: 2018
Author: Dean Koontz
Genre: Suspense thriller
Series:  Jane Hawk #4
# of Pages: 434
Paper or plastic: Hardback
How obtained: Purchased
Blurb from book: She was one of the FBI’s top agents until she became the nation’s most-wanted fugitive, a happily married woman before becoming a devastated widow. Now Jane Hawk may be all that stand between a free nation and its enslavement by a powerful secret society’s terrifying mind-control technology. She couldn’t save her husband, or the others whose lives have been destroyed but equipped with superior tactical and survival skills—and the fury born of a broken heart and a hunger for justice—Jane has struck major blows against the insidious cabal.
    But Jane’s enemies are about to hit back hard. If their best operatives can’t outrun her, they mean to bring her to them, using her five-year-old son as bait. Jane knows there’s no underestimating their capabilities, but she must battle her way back across the country to the remote shelter where her boy is safely hidden … for now. As she moves resolutely forward, new threats begin to emerge: a growing number of brain-altered victims driven hopelessly, violently insane. With the madness spreading like a virus, the war between Jane and her enemies will become a fight for all their lives—against the lethal terror unleashed from behind the forbidden door.
My thoughts: The best decision I made was waiting until Book 5 was out before reading Book 4. Man, what a ride. I can’t wait to see how it all turns out.

Book #39

Dates read: August 14-18
Title: The Night Window
Year of publication: 2019
Author: Dean Koontz
Genre: Suspense thriller
Series:  Jane Hawk #5
# of Pages: 417
Paper or plastic: Hardback
How obtained: Purchased
Blurb from book: A visionary young filmmaker hunted for sport across a vast Colorado ranch by the celebrated billionaire at the heart of a monstrous cabal…
    A brilliant computer hacker slipping through top-secret databases as whisper ahead of security trackers, gathering the facts to fight the all-powerful perpetrators of mass murder…
    A pair of brutal operators, methodically shadowing their targets with every cutting-edge tool in the arsenal of today’s surveillance state…
    A sequence of quiet heroes—everyday citizens—stepping up, stepping forward, intent on countering the advancing darkness…
    A Vegas mob boss teamed with a homicidal sociopath, circling a beloved boy and his protectors, aiming to secure him as leverage against his fugitive mother…
    And that fugitive mother herself, ex-agent Jane Hawk, closing in on the malevolent architects of ruin she has stalked as they stalk her, prepared to sacrifice herself to finally bring them down.
My thoughts: Whoo boy, what a finale. A very tense, suspenseful series. Horrific, too. Scary how easily I could see it happen. **shiver**

Every time I think I’m getting caught up in my reading, I’m still 17 books behind in my goal. STILL! I guess it’s better than 18, huh? I did get a lot of reading done during our trip to and from NJ this past weekend (the reunion was a blast, by the way!). But I’m also crocheting some coasters to give away at next year’s Literary Love convention (yep, I signed up for next year already, that’s how much fun I had). Figure it doesn’t cost me anything to make as I’m using up old yarn and I’m using up old yarn! That’s always a bonus. The coasters are turning out pretty neat, too. I’ll try and get some pictures taken later on (when I have a bunch to show). I’ve only got seven done so far.

So… Do you like to craft stuff? What’s your favorite? And do you start and stop your exercise routine? If not, how do you keep with it (provided you exercise, that is)?

Happy Reading!

Stacy
P.S. So far I haven't needed to push the button on my heart monitor and I've been wearing it a week! And it's still on (I think I'm more surprised at that). It comes off on Monday. Boy, will I be glad to get rid of it.

6 comments:

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

I've been going to the gym for over fifteen years now - determined to stay in shape. Walking is very good for you! I walk several miles a day in addition to the gym. Walk early in the morning. Not quite as humid. Do you have a FitBit? That might keep you motivated. Just keep walking!

Stacy McKitrick said...

Alex - I loved walking early in the morning. But then I didn't get any writing done. So I now write when I get up. Thus, my walking is suffering. What a conundrum! Yes, I have a Fitbit, but it doesn't seem to help in the motivation. Got the Nike app, too. What I need is a partner, but I don't know anyone around here (and I don't make friends easily). I'll figure something out!

sathya said...
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Robin Jack said...
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Todd R Moody said...

It's great you are walking again! I just got a hernia, right when I was hitting my stride running. Back to the drawing board in a month or two. I hope you can keep it up!

Stacy McKitrick said...

Todd - Oh no!! I hope it heals quickly. And it's no so much of me keeping up, but doing it! It's rained the past two days, putting a crimp in my walking. But I expect to get lots of walking this long weekend--Dragon Con!! :D