Finding My Balance!

I know, I know . . . I've been a little absent these days!! I really cannot use the holidays as my excuse. And, I cannot use lack of reading as an excuse!! The truth is . . . I am working on finding my balance in life!!

This past year has been a hectic one for me. I have moved once, remained "traveling homeless" for about six weeks, and then moved again. I then returned to work for the first-time in two years . . . almost as long as this very blog has been active. I have been staring at boxes and boxes still unpacked in my basement and garage since June. My two kids keep me busy, and during my usual blogging time, I simply am just too exhausted to write. I want to read and then just go to bed. Then, add the usual household duties into the mix, some traveling, and my husband who is now working very long hours . . . it simply results in my life taking a downward spiral!

This last week, both my husband and I took some time off of work. We vowed to start getting those boxes unpacked and the garage cleaned out enough so we can actually park our car in it . . . afterall, that is what a garage is for, right? And, we began doing just that!

Having most of the mounds of boxes unpacked, everything finally finding their place after more than six months, and being able to devote some time to things that I have been neglecting since our move (shamelessly, I must admit that balancing my checkbook happened to be one of these!!), I finally feel that I am beginning to find my groove once again.

I have yet more time off the remainder of this week. I plan to continue with these projects around the house . . . unpacking the boxes, balancing that darn checkbook that I have neglected since we opened our new account in June (yikes!), and finally getting our car to fit in the garage . . . and then, I plan to return with more reviews, author interviews, giveaways, and more! My biggest goal in the new year will be to finally find this balance in my life, to get organized, and get back to posting on a more regular basis. So, please continue to bear with me as I do a little housekeeping and get ready for some exciting *NEW* things to come in 2010!!

Featured at 451 Fridays!!

As I sit here on my lunch hour at work, I thought I would write a quick post to let you all know that I am featured over at 451 Fridays on As Usual, I Need More Bookshelves. This is a very fun little feature that Elizabeth does in which fellow bloggers and others discuss which books they would save and which they would prefer to become. If you haven't seen it, you have got to check it out! If you have, click on over and discover which books I feel are musts in saving!! And, while you are there, you may want to check out the 451 Challenge! I'm planning on joining (just need to get that intro post written)!!

On another note, I've been meaning for ages to write my many reviews I am behind on as well as a variety of fun little discussion posts. I really want to start out with a clean slate in 2010. Hopefully, my time off over the next couple of weeks will allow this to happen. Afterall, I will only have two days of work between now (T-4 hours and counting until I leave!) and January 4, 2010. With that said, I will be back soon . . .

Sunday Synopsis: December 13, 2009

Boy! It has been a while!! Things have been a bit crazy the last couple of weeks! I am tired from yet another hectic weekend, so I am going to keep this short. Here's my quick summary . . . I'm still behind in reviews (horribly behind!). I have discovered some great resources that I want to share with you, some of which I desire to dedicate an entire post to instead of briefly mentioning it here. I am in the midst of working on some new events and changes for the new year. I have a lot of catching up to do if I am going to start the new year with a clean slate. Therefore, I am going to leave you only with what I am currently reading. I hope to get a LOT done this next week and I will have a more thorough Sunday Synopsis next week summarizing the latest of my posts and some great links to follow.

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (audio, disc 2 of 9)

Royal Blood by Rona Sharon (page 118 of 488)

Read. Read. Read-A-Thon: FAILED!!!

Yes, I am just now getting around to writing my wrap-up post for the Read. Read. Read-A-Thon. And, I will give you a one-word wrap-up: FAILED!! I'm talking big-time!! I truly believe that I have read more every other weekend than I have for the two read-a-thon days that I have done. What is up with that?!?

In case you are wondering what my excuse was this time: kids, hubby actually home for the weekend, holiday season, and last, but not least, sick. I attempted to lay down for a few hours, with every intention of waking up again to read for the final three hours. I woke up feeling very, very sick and ended up going back to bed.

For those who may be wondering what my final totals really were, I have listed them below. Just don't judge me!!

Time Spent Reading: 2 hours, 25 minutes

Pages Read: 286 pages

Posts Written: 5 (1 kick-off, 1 check-in, 2 meme, 1 wrap-up)

Even though the read-a-thon is over, you can still participate in my Book Libs meme!! Participate yourself by filling it out or visiting those who already have! It'a guaranteed giggle!! :)

Read-A-Thon Check-In (Finally!)

Yep, I am finally back for the Read. Read. Read-A-Thon!!!! I have not gotten very far at all. I'm wondering where the day has gone and am a bit disappointed in myself. All I will say at this point is thankfully, I am a night owl and I plan to be up for quite a bit longer, finally getting some reading and writing done!!

I am quite embarrassed to post these numbers, but I am going to do it just the same. **blush**

Time Spent Reading: 11 minutes (Yikes!!)
Pages Read: 6 pages (Double Yikes!!)
Posts Written: 3 (1 kick-off, 2 meme)

I've got a lot to do to get caught up, so I'm off!! I will be back again in a couple of hours with hopefully, some better news and numbers! In the meantime, don't forget to check out my meme devoted to this event!!

Remembering the Garters . . .

In honor of the Read. Read. Read-A-Thon, here is my Book Libs for my personal meme. Enjoy!!

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Remembering the Garters . . .

Once upon a time in the land of The Roman Empire, there lived Michael and Lady Marguerite happily ever after. Is that not how the story always goes?!? On the night before The Order of the Garters, Michael was sleeping peacefully when all of a sudden there was a fanfare. He jumped out of bed to awaken Lady Marguerite.

As both stood there, looking at the Spanish Queen in their front room, they felt frightened. How could it be? Was it true? To be face to face with the Spanish Queen was not possible. What were they to do?

With quick thinking, Michael and Lady Marguerite exchanged a knowing glance and knelt.

From there, we may never know what happened in this story. It could be privy. Or, it could be delicious. It truly is a mystery! However what we do know is this . . . . He lifted her up in his arms, and she let the music of the drums heal her soul.

The End

Read.Read.Read-A-Thon Meme: Book Libs

Do you remember those crazy Mad Libs when we were younger, where we would come up with random words to fit into a pre-written story? Well, in honor of the Read. Read. Read-A-Thon hosted by Dreadlock Girl, I am hosting a little meme with the same general idea . . . but with a little twist!! We are going to be using our current reads to determine our words!

Go grab your current read as well as one book that you have recently completed, a writing utensil, and a pad of paper . . . don't worry, I'll wait for you!!

You will write down 10 words using the parameters below. They are pretty self-explanatory, but comment if you have questions.

1. Location: refer to page 3 of your current read.
2. Character Name: refer to page 7 of your current read.
3. Character Name: refer to page 18 of your current read and select a different character than #2.
4. Special Occasion: noted somewhere throughout the book that you have read thus far (i.e., holiday, birthday, milestone, etc.)
5. Action Noun: selected from page 57 of your current read.
6. Noun: selected from page 63 of your current read.
7. Feeling: selected from page 42 of your current read.
8. Verb: selected from page 100 of your current read.
9. Adjective: selected from page 124 of your current read.
10. Adjective: selected from page 82 of your current read.
11. Final Sentence: use the final sentence to your past read here (but don't tell any of us which book it is!! I don't want the story ruined for you or me!!)

NO PEEKING BELOW!!!!! It will ruin the fun!!!

Once upon a time in the land of #1: Location, there lived #2: Character Name and #3: Character Name happily ever after. Is that not how the story always goes?!? On the night before #4: Special Occasion, #2: Character Name was sleeping peacefully when all of a sudden there was a #5: Action Noun. S/he jumped out of bed to awaken #3: Character Name.

As both stood there, looking at the #6: Noun in their front room, they felt #7: Feeling. How could it be? Was it true? To be face to face with #6: Noun was not possible. What were they to do?

With quick thinking, #2: Character Name and #3: Character Name exchanged a knowing glance and #8: Verb.

From there, we may never know what happened in this story. It could be #9: Adjective. Or, it could be #10: Adjective. It truly is a mystery! However what we do know is this . . . . #11: Final Sentence.

The End

Once you have completed your story, copy and paste what is written above, insert your special words, and share it with the rest of us! Insert your own title upon completion and use that as the subject of your post! And, don't forget to come back and add your link here! Have fun and enjoy a few giggles into the wee hours of the night!!

Even if you are not officially participating in the Read-A-Thon, I still encourage you to join in! Whether it is to participate in the meme or to cheer on the others' creativity, you will not want to miss out on the fun!!

Image courtesy of Mad Libs Official Website.

Kickin' Off Late!!

The Read. Read. Read-a-thon is already two hours in. I am just now logging on for the first time!! This is not a great way to start!! However, I feel that if I can get my household stuff done now, then I will have the majority of the afternoon and late hours to devote strictly to reading. That's my plan anyways. Most of the morning I intend to work on housekeeping issues . . . getting caught up on my comments, cheering on my fellow read-a-thoners, and writing some reviews. I will then have to run some errands. By that time, I'm hoping to have lunch and get one kid down for a nap, so I devote a few hours to reading. I'm currently working on Royal Blood by Rona Sharon. It's a longer book and I am at the beginning, so I have some shorts by Poe handy to break up my time AND I could not resist picking up a copy of Matchless by Gregory Maguire earlier this week from the library. That should be a fun little break as well. It looks like one I can read in one small sitting.

So, until next time, I will give you my beginning numbers for the record . . .

Time Spent Reading: 0
Pages Read: 0
Posts Written: 0

Happy Reading!!

Read.Read.Read-A-Thon . . . .

I was so excited to be participating in the latest read-a-thon (hosted by Bethany over at Dreadlock Girl) not only to work on getting caught up before the end of the year, but also to just sit, relax, and read all day long . . . AND maybe make up for what I didn't get done during Dewey's Read-A-Thon! Unfortunately, things have come up and I will not be able to participate as much as I would like . . . AGAIN. My husband is working again that day . . . BUT, his shift should be much shorter this time around which is very promising to me! Well, then . . . I have waited until the last minute to get my holiday pictures scheduled and the only time available was on Saturday night. So, of course, I had to schedule them then . . . I was very reluctant though! The important thing is though . . . I am still shooting for medium participation. In fact, I am shooting for the goals as last time around . . .

7 hours

7 stories

7 posts

As for my books, I'm going to go with whatever I feel like picking up that day! I hope to focus mainly on those remaining review books that I have yet to finish and need to before the end of the year. However, I may opt into reading a few shorts as well to help break things up a bit. Only time will truly tell!!

Oh, and one final thought . . . I've decided to do a little meme. Not sure what time it will be held, but it will be a fun little bookish activity to use as a break to spice things up a bit!! Even if you are not participating in the read-a-thon, you will want to participate in this!!

And The Winner Is . . .

MJ

Congratulations!!! You have won the four pack of books for my Giving Thanks Giveaway!!! I will be emailing you shortly to receive your mailing address. Please respond ASAP so I can get your new books out to you in time for the holidays!!!

Thank You & Happy Holidays!!

All giveaway winners are chosen at random. A worksheet was created, assigning a number to each entry by the order in which it was received. The data was then input using random.org to generate the winning number.