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| >> Book >> Biographical >> ID #1207864 |   |
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| 2012 Goals
Write 365 Reviews / current = 14 Read 52 books / current = 15 Enter 12 Contests/Activities / current = 1 Host 1 Contest/Activity / current = 1 Other goals:  Daily meditation/yoga Daily photography Weekly journalling Walk/Run 10 miles per week Maintain Exercise/Nutrition Log Some other places you can find me: http://www.twitter.com/spidergirl502 http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1792019-tonia http://365project.org/spidergirl/365
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| 296. Christopher Moore | ID #751332 |
| Posted: 4-20-2012 @ 10:05 am EDT | |
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So I went to my first book signing the other day, and met one of my favorite authors, Christopher Moore.   I'm more than a third of the way through his new book, Sacre Bleu and I love it! Some have been saying it's not quite his style or that they're disappointed with it. I think they're just not interested in the subject matter. As an art history minor, and someone who is married to a painter, I find it pretty fascinating.
A really cool thing about the book is that the author has provided a Chapter Guide online (http://www.sacrebleu.info) with paintings and photos to enhance the story and provide some historical accuracy. The book can be purchased for an e-reader, but I recommend the hardcover. It's printed in blue ink and includes color photos of many of the paintings discussed in the book. And, of course, it's hilarious! (And an FYI for Moore fans: He's currently working on the sequel to Fool which will combined many of Shakespeare's other plays including Merchant of Venice and Othello. Moore first tried writing it in iambic pentameter, but when it took him three days to write one page, he abandoned the style. Next, he's going to be writing the sequel to A Dirty Job.) | |||||||
| 295. 4.61 miles, in music. | ID #749503 |
| Posted: 3-24-2012 @ 11:36 am EDT | |
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I've found that the music which motivates me may not be typical... I like LMFAO and The Black Eyed Peas as much as the next person, I guess, and the beat is nice to run along with. But when you need that deep down motivation, that voice that cries, "YOU'VE GOT THIS! DON'T STOP!" I just don't get that kind of motivation from most typical running playlists. |
| 294. change in goals | ID #748476 |
| Posted: 3-6-2012 @ 7:47 pm EST | |
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I recently started weight-lifting, following the plan in this book:
Previously, I was consuming about 1200-1400 calories per day, running about 3 times per week, and some strength training. My issue is that I think I'm borderline hypoglycemic, and I often felt dizzy from low blood sugar. Now, I lift heavy (heavy for me, that is) weights twice per week, and I consume 1800-2000 calories per day. I've done this for just over one month now, and my weight has stayed the same (which is my goal) and I lost half an inch from my waist! It feels awesome not to be dizzy from under-eating! I don't think I'll ever go back to how I ate before! The book calls for an increase in protein, about 96g for me, and a decrease in carbs. I am in no way a supporter of "low-carb" diets, even for short periods of time. I still get about 200g of carbs (as opposed to 20-50 in low-carb diets), but overall, the percentage of calories from carbs has dropped to about 40%. My diet previously was at least 50% carbs, then 25% protein and fat each. Personally, switching to complex carbs has helped keep my blood sugar levels steady throughout the day, in addition to increasing my calorie intake. On the weekends, I sometimes slip into my old habits of eating (with white breads, donuts, chips, basically "simple" carbs), and my blood sugar spikes, then drops. I really hate the feeling of being weak, confused and irritable because my blood sugar is too low! Part of the reason I could never do low carb (in addition to it being generally not very healthy) is that I couldn't give up fruit! One medium banana has 28g of carbs! I can't go without my morning banana!  I've definitely noticed an increase in strength, too. I've gone from using 5lb weights to going up to about 17lbs! The workouts are getting tough, too! I love it! There's such a sense of accomplishment and strength by completing a set of an exercise at a weight I know I couldn't do a few months ago! I love having shorter workouts that are obviously working for me. I definitely recommend the plan in this book, though it's not for everyone. Women tend to have a problem with the idea of eating more to follow a plan, and this plan isn't necessarily for people looking to lose weight (though building muscle may ultimately lead to a loss of fat). In order to build muscle, you need to consume more calories than you're burning, which means you probably won't lose weight. The number on the scale will most likely go up, and many women can't handle that. My original goal was to maintain my weight, but build muscle, and I'm finally doing that! I've been talking about building strength every Winter for three years now, and I'm happy I'm finally working on it! | |||||||
| 293. weird looks | ID #745769 |
| Posted: 1-28-2012 @ 9:33 am EST | |
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Yesterday, I just had to go running. It was raining, but it was 49 degrees! That's very unusual for January in central Pennsylvania. It stopped raining about halfway through my run, too, so it was really nice. I ran 3.3 miles and it was a tough run. My legs were pretty tired (which I blame on the short pilates workout I did before I ran), but I took it slow. I felt really good when I was done, so I stopped at a nearby playground. |
| 292. Bibliophile | ID #744211 |
| Posted: 1-14-2012 @ 9:18 am EST | |
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I've been crazy about reading lately. Maybe it was making the resolution to read 52 books in one year that's scaring me into wanting to read all the time, but I've finished 2 books so far this year, and I'm currently reading 3 books!
A blend of physics and Buddhism? This is a perfect book for me, as it discusses topics in which I'm very interested. I also love how lightheartedly sarcastic Buddhists can be. For instance: In Parmenides' opinion, if things changed, then the appearance of something that previously didn't exist would become possible. But something that doesn't exist can't start to exist. So change is impossible. The viewpoint is typical of a philosophy that is rooted in the real existence of things. According to this way of thinking, all results must exist already within their causes, because nothing new can emerge. Buddhism's answer is as follows (in the terms in which it was given to Hindu philosophers with similar ideas to those of Parmenides): "If results exist within their cause, let them rather buy the cotton grains to wear. If the result was present in the cause and indistinguishable from it but not manifest, with the money you spend on cotton cloth, buy some cotton seeds and clothe yourselves with them! They too will serve the purpose of cotton clothes protecting you from the cold and wind, for, as you maintain, the cloth aspect exists in the seed." There are a lot of arguments going on back and forth in the book, and I find much of it to be quite humorous. I don't agree with everything in the book, but it presents a lot of interesting ideas. In fact, it presents so much that I don't read too much of the book at a time. I can read ten pages and it'll give me enough to think about for the rest of the day. So I'm reading other books at the moment, too.
I'm finally finishing the trilogy I started early last year. I think part of the reason I put this off (besides the fact that the books are rather violent) is that the word "Hornet" is in the title and I'm terrified of hornets. I don't like thinking about them, even, so I put off reading a book with their name in the title... I really like the bit on women warriors at the very start of the novel.
I've been wanting this book since I first heard of it, and although it just arrived yesterday evening, I've read almost the whole thing already. It makes a lot of sense, and I'm eager to start it out. I'm at a point where I'm happy with the number on the scale, but unhappy about the fat/muscle ratio of my body. I'm ready to lose fat and gain muscle, and that's exactly what this book promises. I can definitely see how women have a hard time with this plan. On my tough workout days, it asks me to eat almost 1,000 calories more than I'm used to consuming. Women are brainwashed into thinking that cutting calories is the only way to lose fat, and I think that's just not true. There's also the fact that the number on the scale is likely to not move a whole lot. As you lose fat and gain muscle, that number probably won't change much, and I think women rely on the scale far too much! Even though the number won't change, I expect to see results in my body shape. Women also somehow think they'll "bulk up" like men do if they lift heavier weights. Even my husband is warning me that he doesn't like the look of women bodybuilders. I don't either, and I don't expect to be able to look like them just because I'm not going to use 3-5lb weights! I'm taking part in a 28-day challenge at the moment (at www.sparkpeople.com, a great FREE website for healthy living, by the way), but once I'm done, I'm going to start the 6-month weight-training plan outlined in the book. The hardest part for me will probably be upping my protein intake. My current nutritional plan calls for me to consume 60g of protein per day and that's already tough enough for me to do. This new one asks for even more than that, though drinking a post-workout protein smoothie will help with that. I've been doing well with the rest of my "resolutions" for 2012, all except for reviewing. I need to catch up on that... | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 291. Favorite Reads of 2011 | ID #742936 |
| Posted: 1-1-2012 @ 9:18 am EST | |
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I read 42 books in 2011 (a high number for me), and they're all listed here: "Loves of a Bibliophile"
This book scared me to the point where I had to put it down for a few days. Some people might not be able to read it, since it's about an evil spirit going after a family which includes their young children. There was a scene with a mirror that really scared me. I loved this book!
One of the few non-fiction books I read, I saw this one at B&N and just felt like I had to pick it up right away. It's written from the perspective of a lawyer who defends criminals on death row. He explains what he does and why he does it. I've been against capital punishment for years, but I think this book solidified that position in my mind. I also think it might make supporters question their position. Regardless, it isn't an argument for or against the issue; Like Publisher's Weekly states in its review, "Dow's book is a sobering, gripping and candid look into the death penalty."
This was a re-read, as this book was one of my favorites from my high school utopia days. I still love it. (Note: Don't watch the Netflix film from . It's not a very good adaptation.)
A lot of people say they like the show better than the book, as it gives more detail. Well, they stretch the first book out and make it an entire season, so, yeah, you're going to get more detail. However, I think you get a closer look and a better feel for the main character in the book. I definitely want to read more in the series!
I'm totally into the craze. I don't remember how I heard about the books, but I read the first one pretty early on in 2011, and I absolutely can't wait for the film in March. I'm not a big fan of the love triangle, but I find the politics way more interesting. I've always thought a dystopia for young adults could be really good.
Each book got better in this series, in my opinion. It got deeper into the politics of their world, and each book surprised me as to where the story ended up going.
My sister-in-law introduced me to Christopher Moore and I've loved all the books I've read by him. This re-telling of King Lear from the Jester's point of view is hilarious. I don't often laugh out loud when I'm reading but so far Moore and Douglas Adams have me giggling from their writing.
(Note: This is a FREE Kindle book on Amazon!) I worked for a few months as a teacher's aide at a high school and this was a Summer reading assignment for one grade, so I thought I'd check it out. Holy cow, I loved it. It's a short, gripping read.
My favorite of the three, I think it can teach kids that the rebels aren't always right. For me, it approaches Orwellian thought in a way.
I tend to not like when Douglas Preston writes books on his own (as opposed to his collaborative works with Lincoln Child) and this book doesn't get great reviews, but I simply loved it. Perhaps it's because of all the references to astronomy (which is a subject I adore), but I really enjoyed it. It's a guilty pleasure type of read.
Another hilarious read by Christopher Moore, but this one one-upped his other books for me - it got me thinking. Not for those with a closed mind to other religions, this one offered insights into Eastern thinking, such as Buddhism, and attempts to offer a hypothesis as to what Jesus Christ did between the ages of 9 and 30 (something which is not covered in the canonical Gospels of the Christian Bible). Some hilarity is added, and the book is obviously not meant to be taken too seriously. My goal for 2012 is to read 50 books, and to read more non-fiction (namely science and philosophy). | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 290. State of the World | ID #740736 |
| Posted: 11-30-2011 @ 9:55 am EST | |
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I'm a very bad blogger. Almost six months since a blog? Yikes!
Recommended by none other than The StoryMistress  herself! Wow. This is such a good story, I can't even explain it. Read it! I know it's long, but trust me, it'll pull you in and you won't be able to stop reading it until it's done!If you've got some time to watch an incredible documentary, take the time to watch this one. It's eye-opening and mind-blowing and other such phrases. Really, this reaffirmed and validated some thoughts I've had over the years, and it gave me a lot to think about, too. This documentary was made by a friend of mine and the singer of one of my favorite bands, a band from Harrisburg, PA, called Hierosonic. I think the human race would be in a better place if we could realize some things about ourselves and our world, myself included.  |
| 289. Job searching | ID #726839 |
| Posted: 6-22-2011 @ 8:55 am EDT | |
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I'm in job-search mode again. I really loathe the whole process! I scour websites and newspapers to find open positions, then agonize over whether or not they're right for me. I apply. I wait. Sometimes I get an interview, then I agonize over that. The, most of the time, they choose someone else. It's a constant feeling of rejection and not feeling good enough. It's mentally draining! Part Time Program Assistant: This position will require you to interact with individuals that have mental health issues in a homelike setting. You will be required to train individuals regarding the following: personal care, communication, daily living and social skills development. Requirements (included, but not limited to): must be at least 18 years old, possess high school diploma or GED, valid driver's licence with a good driving record, background checks and pass physical exam. Seriously?! Dealing with people with "mental health issues," teaching them to basically function and all that's required is a HS diploma or GED?? I bet it pays minimum wage, too... There's another listing just like this one, too, but the job title is Mental Health Worker. Since when did the qualifications to work with the mentally ill change to just graduating high school?! The thing is, there is a very, very low percentage of people living in my area with a college degree, which means I'm over-qualified for most jobs. And if I do get a job, they'll only pay minimum wage or slightly higher. This is the drawback of living in an area with a very depressed economy. It's so frustrating, and it makes me want to move to another area. I don't understand why people want to live here. I'm here because my family is here. But it's looking like I'm going to have to travel a good distance for a decent job, or someday move to a more urban area. |
| 288. I'm 7! | ID #726620 |
| Posted: 6-20-2011 @ 10:36 am EDT | |
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Today is my 7 year Account bday! Woohoo!! |
| 287. A new year! | ID #714452 |
| Posted: 1-1-2011 @ 7:25 am EST | |
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I love new beginnings! Usually, I can't wait and start my "resolutions" a week early! I know many people are against making resolutions because people tend not to stick with them. |
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