Reading Update and Routines

I still haven’t gotten back into my exercise routine. But I have been writing (well, editing) more. Sometimes I wonder if that’s a correlation. I can either exercise or write, but can’t seem to do both in the same day. I need to fix that. Once I get motivated to exercise again. Of course, the weather is starting to warm up, so I may be able to get back to walking. I always enjoy doing that more than exercising indoors anyway.

Here’s what I read since my last update:

Book 9

Dates read: February 26 – March 8, 2023
Title: Finders Keepers
Year of publication: 2005
Author: Linnea Sinclair
Genre: Sci-Fi Romance
Series: N/A
# of Pages: 453
Paper or plastic: Mass Market Paperback
How obtained: Purchased
Blurb from Book: Trilby Elliot’s stopover on the uninhabited world of Avanar should have gone unnoticed—and would have—until she discovered that a Zafharin military officer had crash-landed almost in the middle of her illegal repair site. The attention of Rhis Vanur is hardly the sort that an independent trader and sometime smuggler like Trilby would ordinarily welcome. But in getting the injured Rhis back on his feet, Trilby has glimpsed the flesh-and-blood man beneath the arrogant military façade. The trouble is, Rhis isn’t quite who or what he seems He’s intent on commandeering her ship…and her heart. Until a warlike race begins hunting them both. Then suddenly Trilby and Rhis are in it together, for better, for worse—or till death blasts them to oblivion….
My thoughts: I thought this book was part of her Dock 5 series, but it isn’t. It’s strictly a stand-alone. And it was very entertaining. I waited too long to pick this up from my TBR stash (because I’ve owned the book awhile).

Pretty, sunny day today. But only getting as warm as the mid 40s. Brrr… Not exactly motivating me to go out and walk. And then this weekend we turn the clocks ahead one hour for DST. That’s gonna mess me up, too. Maybe it’s a good thing my treatment is tomorrow. I don’t tend to exercise the weekend after it anyway, as I find rest keeps me from getting a headache. And I hate the headache that came with the treatment. So I’ll be chilling this weekend for sure!

Happy Reading!

Stacy

Reading Update and Changing Routines

Amazing what moving one little thing can do.

I’m supposed to take extra calcium while I’m on this pill for my cancer. I can’t swallow those huge pills, though, so the doctor recommended I get the chews. They don’t taste the best (although the caramel is better than the chocolate ones), but they work and I don’t feel like I’m choking on a pill.

I have been putting the container of my chews with my other pills (which are really tiny, thank God!!). Thing is, I take my pills at night and lately I’ve been forgetting to take my chews in the morning (what with everyone here, messing up my old routine—yeah, I’ll blame them!). So last week I moved the container of chews next to the coffee pot.

It worked! I now remember to take them in the morning and at lunch now because I SEE them. Yay, me!

Here’s what I read since my last update:

Book #16

Dates read: March 9 - April 17
Title: So You Want to Talk About Race
Year of publication: 2019
Author: Ijeoma Oluo
Genre: Non-fiction
Series: N/A
# of Pages: 238
Paper or plastic: Trade paperback
How obtained: Purchased
Blurb from Book:. Widespread reporting on aspects of white supremacy—from police brutality to the mass incarceration of Black Americans—has put a media spotlight on racism in our society. Still, it’s a difficult subject to talk about. How do you tell your roommate his jokes are racist? Why did your sister-in-law take umbrage when you asked to touch her hair, and how do you make it right? How do you explain white privilege to your white, privileged friend?
    In So You Want to Talk About Race, Ijeoma Oluo guides readers of all races through subjects ranging from intersectionality and affirmative action to “model minorities” in an attempt to make the seemingly impossible possible: honest conversations about race and racism, and how they infect almost every aspect of American Life.
My thoughts: I read this with my RWA chapter as a book club read. Very informative. At times I just wanted to hug the author. It’s not fair how people of color are treated in this country (or anywhere, for that matter) and I’m trying to do my best to not make them feel less than they are by educating myself better. It’s something we should all strive to do.

Book #17

Dates read: April 11-19
Title: How to Love Your Elf
Year of publication: 2020
Author: Kerrelyn Sparks
Genre: Fantasy romance
Series: The Embraced #4/Embraced by Magic #1
# of Pages: 312
Paper or plastic: Trade paperback
How obtained: Purchased
Blurb from Book:. Sorcha knew the mission was dangerous. Leaving the safe grounds of her brother’s kingdom and parlaying with the elves across their border…well, treachery seemed at least as likely as true peace. But to support her sister, Sorcha would brave far more than the underhanded ways of the elves. Or so she thought, before she was taken hostage.
    Of course, her captors didn’t count on her particular abilities—or on the help of the Woodsman, the mysterious thief who made his home in the forest. He saw the battle from the trees, saw the soldier attacking against incredible odds to save a comrade—and then saw the valiant fighter revealed as Princess Sorcha of Norveshka. He can’t tell if he wants to kidnap her or kiss her. But despite Sorcha’s stubbornness, his inconvenient honor, and a rebellion on the cusp of full war, something burns between them that neither can let go…
My thoughts: Enjoyable read. Wasn’t sure I would like fantasy romance, but I do enjoy this series and look forward to the next book. But if you’re looking to read this series, you’ll see the different series names. It seems the series moved to a different publisher, thus this is book 1 in the new series and book 4 in the other.

I may have found a solution to my calcium chew intake, but apparently I haven’t found one for posting this blog on Tuesday night. At least I remembered this morning!

Maybe I should just post a reading update after I’ve finished a book. What do you think? Do you only come here on Wednesdays or do you check occasionally to see if I’ve posted anything?

Happy Reading!

Stacy

Wednesday Reads and Fixing My Routines

I started exercising first thing in the morning back in December. Is it a coincidence I haven’t gotten much writing done since then? Nope. None at all.

I took this class on marketing (which didn’t help me in marketing, strangely enough) that suggested we have only so many hours of creative time in a day and that we shouldn’t waste it on non-creative stuff. That got me thinking (which can be a scary thing at times).

Last May, while at my mother’s, I got up early and wrote before everyone got up. It worked really well, and I had been continuing doing that…for the most part. But now I was exercising first thing in the morning and not writing. Hmmm…

So on Monday I switched things around. Got up and wrote first (and ignored the e-mails—that was hard!!) THEN exercised. Two days in a row. Wow! What a difference. I actually felt…PRODUCTIVE!! Now to see if I can keep it up until I get my WIP finished.

Here’s what I finished reading this week:

Book #3

Dates read: January 8-15
Title: Driving Heat
Year of publication: 2015
Author: Richard Castle
Genre: Crime Drama
Series:  Nikki Heat #7
# of Pages: 329
Paper or plastic: Hardback
How obtained: Borrowed from daughter (but bought it for her as a gift)
Blurb from book: On the morning of her first day as the new captain of the Twentieth Precinct, Nikki Heat is rocked when her NYPD shrink washes up dead on the banks of the Hudson River. But the jarring murder of the man who knew her most intimate secrets is only the first of a series of blows to batter New York City’s top homicide detective. She is soon blindsided by the discovery that her fiancé, Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter Jameson Rook, had been secretly meeting her psychologist as part of an explosive investigative article he is writing for a magazine.
    Nikki’s sense of betrayal deepens when Rook refuses on ethical grounds to share confidential information he has learned about the victim. His headstrong stance and continued meddling in Heat’s case strain their engagement to the breaking point as their professional lives drive straight for a collision.
    In this riveting new novel from his blockbuster series, New York Times bestselling mystery author Richard Castle steers Nikki Heat full throttle through the heart-pounding obstacle course of her most daunting and dangerous case yet. Her stakes have never been higher or more emotional as she races to stop an ingenious repeat killer with a chilling MO and a long list of targets. In her quest for justice, Heat confronts a narcissistic dot-com tycoon, deals with a headline-hungry auto-safety whistle-blower, weathers a hacking attack that cripples all of New York City’s police technology, and faces unrelenting danger to herself and the man she may yet marry—if they both survive this deadly ride.
My thoughts: These aren’t always the best books to read if you’re looking for a straight crime mystery (the person whodunit was a surprise for me—yay!). Not really told omniscient, but does some head hopping (although for the most part it is in Nikki Heat’s POV), which kind of pulled me out a time or two. But if you enjoyed the television series “Castle,” then you’ll enjoy these books (especially Jameson Rook). And that’s why I read them.

So… Have you been having trouble being creative? Try mixing up your routine. Maybe that’s the kick you need.

Happy Reading!

Stacy

This Week Sucked

This week sucked…exercise-wise.

Tuesday it was snowing. No exercise.

Yesterday I had a medical procedure at 9:00am (had to leave at 8:00am). No exercise.

Today I am still recovering (yeah, I’m all right, but I was told to avoid lifting anything over 10 lbs). No exercise.

At least I exercised on Monday and Wednesday. I must make an enormous effort this Monday to get up early and go to the fitness center. These excuses, while valid, can snowball into invalid excuses. I know. I’ve done it many times before.

But… good news! My foot doesn’t hurt near as much as it did last week. I can walk on the treadmill again. I haven’t been able to do much, but what little I did do, didn’t come back to bite me in the foot! J Hopefully I can get my speed back up to 3mph (or better) next week. **fingers crossed**

This week sucked…writing-wise.

Due to appointments and errands, I’m behind in my writing. Figures, huh? On the upside, I am reading more. Helps pass the time while waiting for those appointments (or standing in line at the post office!). I really hate having so many appointments and errands in one week. Really messes up my routine. Not that I have much of one. J

So… If your routine gets interrupted, can you put it back on track, or do you let it derail for the rest of the day? I let it derail. I really shouldn’t, but old habits really are hard to break.

Here’s to a weekend I hope DOESN’T suck (Go Steelers! Go Penguins!).

 

Stacy

I'm Waning

Before I get into my "rant" I just have to say – "Breaking Dawn Part 2" was great!! That ending really blew me away. That's all I have to say. That, and I'll be seeing it again (with my daughter – again) this morning!!

 

Now, where was I? Oh yes. Since I lost my job, I've been doing a decent job at exercising. Hit the gym on M-W-F, walk outside on T-Th. Then the weather turned cold and put a wrench into things.

My motivation is waning.

I still go to the gym on M-W-F (well, except for those days, like today), but the walking isn't happening. First, it became too dark and I didn't have anything light colored to wear so I could be seen (since part of my course doesn't have sidewalks). Then it became too cold, so I resorted to the treadmill.

I'm finding I really, really, REALLY hate the treadmill in the basement. Ah heck, I just hate the treadmill. I don't mind using it for 20 minutes at the gym (as warm-up to weight-training), but for an hour, it's just too much.

I love walking outside. There's no quitting in the middle because I still have to walk back. But on a treadmill?

Yeah, I can step off that thing any damn time I want. And I am.

30 minutes into my walk outside, and I have a 30 minute walk home. 30 minutes into my walk on the treadmill, and I'm done. That's if I make it that far.

Why oh why is it so hard for me? My willpower SUCKS, that's for sure.

I sure hope I survive the winter. I'd hate to have to start all over again, because that's even worse.

Any tips on how I can stay on the stupid thing? Reading apparently isn't working (and I LOVE to read!!). Or should I just be glad I'm at least walking 30 minutes on the sucker?

Happy Friday!

Give Me My Coffee!!

My morning routines are pretty dull. But put a kink into one of them and it kind of throws me for the rest of the day.

My routine includes making coffee. I come downstairs, get the paper, then start the brew before heading to the computer to check on my e-mail & blogs. Well, yesterday I did all that, but when I came back to the coffee pot, it was empty.

What the???

The light was on as if it had brewed. And I could have sworn I heard the beep when it finished (probably phantom hearing). But the plate was cold. Not a good sign.

I tried unplugging it, thinking it needed a "reboot" (funny how we think in computer terms nowadays, isn't it?). After a minute, I plugged it back in and pressed start.

Nothing.

Well, drat!

I hate the coffee at work (it's free, too, so that should say something), but I was willing to drink it when I remembered I had my container of instant coffee in my drawer. Whew!

Last night I tried to clean the pot, thinking that was the culprit, but it wouldn't clean, either. So now it looks like I'm going to have to go out and buy a new coffee pot. Man, and this one wasn't even three years old.

Bummer!

I sure hope this isn't a sign of things to come. Kind of makes me nervous!