Guys, even when I'm not blogging, I am doing stuff, usually. I mean sometimes I'm watching Vernoica Mars on Netflix Instant, but other times..... I mean a lot of my goals are sort of humdrum things. So I've been giving some thought on how to keep some of my goals fresh, and I've come up with the following things. I'll check back in periodically to update my progress with these mini goals:
Yoga: two times a week, duh. Also, I'm throwing in taking 4 workshops this year. My studio has tons of awesome cheap workshops. I'm taking on this weekend! Fix Your Flow, on Saturday.
Reading: I've been reading up a storm! But I read lots of one type of book and then get bored and read lots of another type of book and so on... So I'm going to try to read at least one nonfiction book a month. I'd also like to read some classics but ommggg so boring sometimes! I mean, not to sound like some unwashed illiterate but some books I think are "classics" just because it's like a rite of passage, like old dudes are like "I slogged through this, and so must you!" So I need to really think about what classics I want to read... I think I'll start with Dombey and Son by Charles Dickens because that review really swayed me! I'm taking suggestions in both nonfiction and classics. And yes, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks is on my nonfic short list, calm down book clubbers!
Sewing: I would like to do at least one sewing project a month! This weekend I totally sewed like a spinster. I made placemats for our apartment and finished the 1/3 finished apron I started a long time ago. Now I feel like I've graduated to doing fun stuff. Will keep you posted!
Running: I am pretty sure I want to run my first 5K this spring. I looked at some upcomign races and I think I'm going to do the Earth Day 5K on April 30th! Possibly with special guest (spoiler: it's Paul! maybe!). I guess I could try to do one sooner but it's just so nasty and cold outside that I know I will not start running outdoors regularly for a while yet.
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Friday, January 7, 2011
Modest is hottest
Did you guys know that there is an entire subgenre of books that basically amount to Amish romance novels? I know, I probably just blew your minds. They are referred to in the trade as bonnet rippers.
Sometimes I think about how many books in the world I will never read and those pretty much top the list*. Then again, I do have a fascination with fringe religions (do the Amish count as a fringe religion?). But the weirdest part about the Amish romance books is that they sell at a rate far over the actual number of Amish people in this country, so someone else reads them. I can only assume that like me, these readers must be grappling with what I call a hate-crush. You know, when you are so annoyed/repulsed/enraged by something but also super fascinated? That's a hate-crush.
Also this little exercise in stream of thought consciousness reminded me of a book that I did read, Plain Truth, by Jodie Picoult. I don't recommend it, because it's terrible. I equate Jodie Picoult books to Law and Order SVU and Lifetime movies because she clamps onto some hot button issue and then churns out a legal thriller about, ensconced in chick litty feelings. Anyway, I read this book. It was about an Amish family and a mystery and it sucked. At the end I was like, this should be an episode of Law and Order SVU, or a Lifetime movie. And guess what you guys?? It was made into a Lifetime movie starring Mariska Hargitay**, star of Law and Order SVU! That's what I call destiny. Unlike SVU and Lifetime though, this book will not make you feel like you just indulged in a delightful guilty pleasure. And I bet Amish romance novels won't either.
*Note that I have never read a non-Amish romance novel either because I'm pretentious about books and I think romance novels are for pervy old ladies. Also, a pervy old dude/salty sailor at a marina where we had docked the boat once when I was a tween reccomended me some book and it turned out to be a romance novel and that really set the tone for my distaste for that particular genre.
**Come on Mariska, you're better than that.
Sometimes I think about how many books in the world I will never read and those pretty much top the list*. Then again, I do have a fascination with fringe religions (do the Amish count as a fringe religion?). But the weirdest part about the Amish romance books is that they sell at a rate far over the actual number of Amish people in this country, so someone else reads them. I can only assume that like me, these readers must be grappling with what I call a hate-crush. You know, when you are so annoyed/repulsed/enraged by something but also super fascinated? That's a hate-crush.
Also this little exercise in stream of thought consciousness reminded me of a book that I did read, Plain Truth, by Jodie Picoult. I don't recommend it, because it's terrible. I equate Jodie Picoult books to Law and Order SVU and Lifetime movies because she clamps onto some hot button issue and then churns out a legal thriller about, ensconced in chick litty feelings. Anyway, I read this book. It was about an Amish family and a mystery and it sucked. At the end I was like, this should be an episode of Law and Order SVU, or a Lifetime movie. And guess what you guys?? It was made into a Lifetime movie starring Mariska Hargitay**, star of Law and Order SVU! That's what I call destiny. Unlike SVU and Lifetime though, this book will not make you feel like you just indulged in a delightful guilty pleasure. And I bet Amish romance novels won't either.
*Note that I have never read a non-Amish romance novel either because I'm pretentious about books and I think romance novels are for pervy old ladies. Also, a pervy old dude/salty sailor at a marina where we had docked the boat once when I was a tween reccomended me some book and it turned out to be a romance novel and that really set the tone for my distaste for that particular genre.
**Come on Mariska, you're better than that.
Debt Free....
.... as free as the wind blow! As free as the grass grows! Debt free as can be!
Yep, yesterday I paid off the balance of my student loans. See, in December, the stars just aligned perfectly. I got an unexpected bonus. It was a three pay period month (love when that happens). I found myself sitting on a pretty large balance in my checking account. So I threw all that money at my loans! And the result was having such a small amount left that I figure I can spare it from my savings account until tax refund time. So I paid that off too!
Now I am beholden to no one, and I plan to keep it that way until mortgage time. In the meantime, I just freed up $800 a month in payments ($300 for car payments, $500 for student loans). Obviously most of that I will just save from now on, but it's definitely an improvement in my cashflow situation.
Yep, yesterday I paid off the balance of my student loans. See, in December, the stars just aligned perfectly. I got an unexpected bonus. It was a three pay period month (love when that happens). I found myself sitting on a pretty large balance in my checking account. So I threw all that money at my loans! And the result was having such a small amount left that I figure I can spare it from my savings account until tax refund time. So I paid that off too!
Now I am beholden to no one, and I plan to keep it that way until mortgage time. In the meantime, I just freed up $800 a month in payments ($300 for car payments, $500 for student loans). Obviously most of that I will just save from now on, but it's definitely an improvement in my cashflow situation.
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