1. I just finished this book:
It's a YA novel that I'd heard a lot about on the internets and was touted almost as highly as The Fault in our Stars. I'll admit it took me longer than I thought to get into this one. The beginning was a bit slow and somewhat overly cheesy for me (as YA romances tend to be, but admittedly that cheesiness is usually what keeps me coming back for more). But as I kept reading, I became more and more interested and invested in Eleanor and Park's story and ultimately really liked it. No spoilers here, but this is one of those books that just kind of ... ends. With loose ends and no real conclusion. I really dislike those kinds of endings in books. I mean I just invested DAYS of my life reading all your words on all of your pages and you're just going to leave me like that?! There better be a sequel here. And I can promise you this - when I write my first book, whether it be the next Great American Novel or a children's picture book - there will be a neat and tidy definitive ending people!
2. Came across this video of the one and only TSwift serenading a little boy in the hospital. Just one more reason she is my favorite ever:
3. Was at the park with my NannyKid this week enjoying the sun and sand(box) and a perfect stranger told me he thought I was a really great nanny! DAY MADE I love my job, but even more than that I just love my kids and am invested in making sure every day is the best day it can be for them :)
4. Last night I was lifting free weights in the ladies gym (I don't do my free weights in the main gym because that area is overrun with meatheads and their grunting is just too much for me), and a nice older woman approached me because she wanted to know if I could show her some exercises for the back of her arms (tris). Can I just tell you HOW excited I was to give her some one-on-one demos and instructions on how to do this?! I kept it simple and just showed her overhead extensions, kickbacks and dips. Then had her try each while I watched her. Well I'm quite sure this was the Universe calling me out to get started on my PT certification. Why exactly have I been putting this off for the past two years?!
5. I am addicted to cherries. It's becoming a problem. I eat them every day. I really don't know how I'm going to survive when it's no longer cherry season. Or for that matter, when all the summer fruit goes out of season. It's really not fair that we run out of peaches, blueberries, watermelon, sugar snap peas and everything that is good and right in this world after summer, and are expected to exist solely on apples and oranges for 9 straight months. Just another reason I need relocate to a warmer climate.
6. I just read this article on my Runner's World Facebook feed, in which they made the RW Half course flatter and faster this year by taking out some of the hills! Oh sure, the year after I run it, they make it flatter. This kind of has me considering running it again this year to see if I could better my time. Sooo, this one may be back in the candidate pool for my fall race. If the hills scared any of you away last year, this just may be the year to get in on the fun in Bethlehem. Come run in my hometown! Even if I don't run, I'll show up to cheer you on and give you the grand tour of the Christmas City! DO IT
7. Came across this on my FB feed from a distance runner and plant-based nutritionist I follow, and life really is that simple:
That's all for now folks. The end :)
Happy Weekend!
DO THE RW HALF! I'm one of the ambassadors and I am seriously SO excited to run it! I'm pretty scared for those hills though... we ran them in xc in college.
ReplyDeleteHahaha I'm actually seriously considering it now that they changed the course! I'm not a huge fan of running the same race again but it's back home for me and if you're an Ambassador does that mean you might have a discount to offer us?!
DeleteSee now, I liked how Eleanor & Park ended. Is it maddening? Sure! But I like that everything wasn't all tied up in a happy ending bow, because we get fed enough of that in all the other movies and books, and it's not real. :-)
ReplyDeleteWonderful point Bluemoon! I guess I was just looking for an ending, either way - happy or not. I don't know why I have such a pet peeve with completely open endings like that. Maybe bc I'm searching for my own 'ending'?! Either way, I just wanna know! Here's hoping for a sequel.
DeleteI did not love Eleanor & Park but I think that's because I generally don't eat up YA novels like some people do. But, actually, I didn't mind how it ended. It didn't occur to me to be irritated by it until you brought it up! ...but I get what you're saying.
ReplyDeleteHahaha well I'm glad it didn't irritate you! I wouldn't say I loved it, but it grew on me as I kept reading and I did end up liking it in the end. I went through a huge YA phase in college and I guess the genre has just stuck with me...into my 30's?! I don't even want to guess what that says about me! haha
DeleteI would love to do the RW half but it is a) $$ and b) 2 weeks after my marathon. So we'll see. I hate it when it seems like the author got bored and just tired of writing and just phoned in the ending. It's like, hello? You totally could have used some of the effort from the beginning to even things out?
ReplyDeleteAnd yes to cherries. Always and forever. And you ARE a great nanny, and I'm glad that it was glaringly obvious enough for someone to say something and make your day! Have a fantastic weekend my dear!
Oh wouldn't that be fab to just have a giant blogger meetup at the RW race?!?!! Well, I certainly don't want you to jeopardize your health or finances. Maybe you could just take a road trip down to hang out and you don't even have to run! You could stay at my PARENTS HOUSE with me!!! Ok I hope that sold you Susie :)
DeleteI love the quote! I actually read the book Park and Eleanor a while back and I loved it! I also qgree, the beginning is a bit slow!
ReplyDeletenatalie@ findingmyownvoice7.blogspot.com
Hi Natalie! Thank you so much for stopping by and sharing :) I look forward to checking out your blog as well!
DeleteI have a feeling you would make a FANTASTIC trainer and you should go for it! Just hearing how passionate you are about fitness and how you enjoy teaching others - I say go for it!!!
ReplyDeleteAww thank you for the encouragement and kind words Caitlyn! Too bad we don't live closer because then I could also offer you my babysitting services!
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