Author: Rachelle

Sunday's Sundries: Becoming A Warrior

Published on by Rachelle
A warrior begins to take responsibility for the direction of her life. It’s as if we are lugging around unnecessary baggage. Our training encourages us to open the bags and look closely at what we are carrying. In doing this we begin to understand that much of it isn’t needed anymore.” – Pema Chödrön,  “The Places That Scare You.”
Though this quote has more to do with emotions than with things, it struck me as fitting in regards to my life right now.  First I read The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo back in January and promptly emptied my apartment of a ridiculous amount of stuff.  Then I began working my way through everything that remains: using it, reading it, completing it, etc.  I’m finally finishing projects that have been sitting around idle for years.
I’m continuing to get rid of stuff I don’t need anymore.  I realized that I simply do not use Facebook on my phone, so when I found out that LibraryThing finally came out with their Android app, I made room for it by uninstalling Facebook.  I started participating in Down the TBR Hole as an opportunity to purge more books I know I’ll never read.  I also deleted my SuperBetter account.  I vaguely remember mentioning SuperBetter in one of my #FitReaders check-ins, and I enjoyed it while it was helping me.  However, I recently started using Habitica, and that’s much more useful and fun.  Why I continued to use SuperBetter is beyond me, but I realized earlier this week that it was taking up valuable time logging into my account and checking off stuff I’ve done when I’m also doing that on Habitica every day.
These deletions and updates in my life may seem like peanuts, but I find that as I get rid of unnecessary stuff or finish a lingering project, I have more energy.  I also have more space and time for the beginnings of new projects and things that make me happy; including writing posts for this blog.

Down the TBR Hole #2

Published on by Rachelle

Image: hjl

Down the TBR Hole was started by Lia over at Lost in a Story.  All book covers are linked to Goodreads unless otherwise noted.

How it works:

  • Go to your Goodreads to-read shelf.
  • Order on ascending date added.
  • Take the first 5 (or 10 if you’re feeling adventurous) books
  • Read the synopses of the books
  • Decide: keep it or should it go?

I will be repeating this process every week until I’ve filtered out my entire TBR.  I currently have 588 books on my to-read shelf.  Yes, that’s right, the mountain got bigger.  However, it was because I finally added some books that I own.  It would have been one book larger, but I moved a book to Currently Reading, The Man in the High Castle by Philip K. Dick.

This week’s five books:


The Yellow-Lighted Bookshop by Lewis Buzbee – KEEP.  As I mentioned in last week’s “Down the TBR Hole”, I love books about books.  Though I’ve had this one on my TBR and wishlist for a long time, it’s only because I prefer to buy books about books in either paperback or hardback.  I avoid buying them as ebooks if I can, but I haven’t found a physical copy of this one yet.

Leave Me Alone, I’m Reading by Maureen Corrigan – KEEP.  This one is a keeper for the same reason as the one above.

Sixpence House by Paul Collins – KEEP.  I already own this, and there is no way I’m not reading it.

Ruined By Reading by Lynne Sharon Schwartz – KEEP.  Again, I hope to own a physical copy of this one someday.

Book By Book by Michael Dirda – KEEP.  This is another one that I already own, but, unfortunately, it’s an ebook.  I think I gave up on the idea of finding a physical copy.  Regardless, I’m definitely going to read it.
So, my to-read shelf remains at 588 books and I’ll be starting off next week with book #31.

#FitReaders Check-In

Published on by Rachelle

fitreaders-2017-1

  • This check-in is for June 16th – 22nd.
  • I’m now on Stage 3 of the Appalachian Trail on Walking 4 Fun.
  • If you have a FitBit, you can find me HERE.
  • Steps: 24,113/70,000
  • Miles: 9.91/35
  • Total Miles: 240.18
  • Active Minutes: 45/210
  • Days I Drank 64 ounces of Water: 7/7
  • Virtual 5Ks: 0/10
  • Total Money Donated: $2.36/$10.00

Monday's Minutes

Published on by Rachelle

“Monday’s Minutes” is a weekly post in which I track my bookish life.  All book covers are linked to Goodreads unless otherwise noted.
Currently Reading:

  • The Once and Future King by T.H. White
  • Abarat: Days of Magic, Nights of War by Clive Barker
  • The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
  • The Secret History of Wonder Woman by Jill Lepore

  

Finished:

  • The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton
  • Anne of Avonlea by L.M. Montgomery

 
Challenges:

Total pages read this week: 572
Total # of books for the year: 42 of 85.  COYER Summer started on Saturday and in just a few days my Sci-Fi Summer reading challenge will start as well.  Until both are over, I won’t be reading any of the books I haven’t finished by today, except for The Count of Monte Cristo because I’m determined to finish that beast before I forget what I’ve already read.  Instead, I’ll be reading off of my reading list, and that means nothing but Science Fiction until September 🙂
What are you reading this week?

Down the TBR Hole #1

Published on by Rachelle

Image: hjl

I saw one of BrenhinesBooks Down the TBR Hole posts and thought, “What a neat idea!”  It was started by Lia over at Lost in a Story.  All book covers are linked to Goodreads unless otherwise noted.

How it works:

  • Go to your Goodreads to-read shelf.
  • Order on ascending date added.
  • Take the first 5 (or 10 if you’re feeling adventurous) books
  • Read the synopses of the books
  • Decide: keep it or should it go?

I will be repeating this process every week until I’ve filtered out my entire TBR.  I currently have 584 books on my to-read shelf, but I’m sure there are several books I already own that haven’t made it onto the list yet, and I know several of the books I’ve stacked on Litsy aren’t on my Goodreads.  So, the mountain may get larger before it diminishes.

This week’s five books:


Dreams of Gods and Monsters by Laini Taylor – KEEP.  This is a definite keeper since I’ve read and loved the first two books.
The Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen – KEEP. I already own this as an ebook and the synopsis is still interesting enough to not send it to the archive unread.
The First Pillar by Roy Huff – KEEP.  This is another one I already own as an ebook and am still interested in reading at some point.
Prisoner of the Daleks by Trevor Baxendale – KEEP.  I’m very much a Whovian, and David Tennant is one of my fave Doctors.
The Slitheen Excursion by Simon Guerrier – KEEP.  See above.  Enough said.
I’m not even going to list the next 5 books because they are all Doctor Who, and I’m keeping them.  It’s the same with the next 15 on the list.  Apparently, I went a little Doctor Who crazy on Goodreads when I discovered there were books 🙂 So, my to-read shelf remains at 584 books and I’ll be starting off next week with book #26.

#FitReaders Check-In

Published on by Rachelle

fitreaders-2017-1

  • This check-in is for June 9th – 15th.
  • I’m almost finished with Stage 2 of the Appalachian Trail on Walking 4 Fun.
  • If you have a FitBit, you can find me HERE.
  • Steps: 28,134/70,000
  • Miles: 11.56/35
  • Total Miles: 230.27
  • Active Minutes: 23/210
  • Days I Drank 64 ounces of Water: 7/7
  • Virtual 5Ks: 0/10
  • Total Money Donated: $2.31/$10.00

Mondays Minutes

Published on by Rachelle

“Monday’s Minutes” is a weekly post in which I track my bookish life.  All book covers are linked to Goodreads unless otherwise noted.
Currently Reading:

  • The Once and Future King by T.H. White
  • Abarat: Days of Magic, Nights of War by Clive Barker
  • The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
  • Anne of Avonlea by L.M. Montgomery
  • The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton
  • The Secret History of Wonder Woman by Jill Lepore

  
  
 
Challenges:

Total pages read this week: 426
Total # of books for the year: 40 of 85. I told myself I wasn’t going to start any new books so I would hopefully finish all or at least most of the ones I’m currently reading before the start of my Sci-Fi Summer reading challenge.  But then I saw “Wonder Woman” on Saturday and went on a binge of Wonder Woman books.  Not only did I get The Secret History of Wonder Woman, but I also picked up a sticker book and two volumes of Wonder Woman comics.  I immediately started reading The Secret History of Wonder Woman while I ate an almond croissant and drank a chai latte in the café of the bookstore.  It’s the only book I want to read right now because it’s so interesting.  The only other book I might finish this week is The Miniaturist, and that’s only because I can’t read while driving.
What are you reading this week?

#FitReaders Check-In

Published on by Rachelle

fitreaders-2017-1

  • This check-in is for June 2nd – 8th.
  • My focus is shifting to something I haven’t been paying enough attention to lately: how much sleep I’m getting.  More specifically, how much deep sleep I’m getting.  I discovered I’m only getting about half the amount of deep sleep I need.  It’s the same with my REM sleep.  This could be an explanation for why I tend to take long naps during the weekend; my body is trying to catch up.
  • What I don’t understand about this is that I practice good sleep hygiene.  I go to bed and get up at about the same time every day.  I keep the bedroom dark, cool, and electronics free.  I shut off or put away all of my electronics more than an hour before I go to bed.  I don’t eat anything three hours before bed.  I use melatonin, and I usually drink a cup of chamomile or Sleepy Time tea a couple hours before I go to sleep.  I’m not sure what else to try.
  • If you have a FitBit, you can find me HERE.
  • Steps: 23,707/70,000
  • Miles: 9.73/35
  • Total Miles: 218.71
  • Active Minutes: 50/210
  • Days I Drank 64 ounces of Water: 7/7
  • Virtual 5Ks: 0/10
  • Total Money Donated: $2.22/$10.00

Monday's Minutes

Published on by Rachelle

“Monday’s Minutes” is a weekly post in which I track my bookish life.  All book covers are linked to Goodreads unless otherwise noted.
Currently Reading:

  • The Once and Future King by T.H. White
  • Abarat: Days of Magic, Nights of War by Clive Barker
  • The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
  • Anne of Avonlea by L.M. Montgomery
  • The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton

  
 
Finished:

  • Succubus Shadows by Richelle Mead


Challenges:

Total pages read this week: 457
Total # of books for the year: 40 of 85.  The Count of Monte Cristo has gotten much more interesting this week.  However, Pack A Book’s next book, The Miniaturist, was only available as an audiobook through my library, so I’m taking a break from The Count of Monte Cristo to listen to that.  I seriously need to stop starting new books and buckle down to finish the one’s I’m in the middle of so I can hopefully start my Sci-Fi Summer reading challenge fresh.
What are you reading this week?

#FitReaders Check-In

Published on by Rachelle

fitreaders-2017-1

  • This check-in is for May 26th – June 1st.
  • I LOVE Habitica (Habit RPG)!  I’m already at Level 9 and I’ve collected several pets and pieces of gear.
  • I also love Walking4Fun.  My FitBit syncs with my profile and I can see how far along the Appalachian Trail I’ve gone when I log in to my account on the website.   Each section of the trail has pictures, a trail diary, and maps.  There’s also a public section to write your own comments, and another section to see all your stats.
  • If you have a FitBit, you can find me HERE.
  • Steps: 20,349/70,000
  • Miles: 8.35/35
  • Total Miles: 208.98
  • Active Minutes: 43/210
  • Days I Drank 64 ounces of Water: 7/7
  • Virtual 5Ks: 0/10
  • Total Money Donated: $2.14/$10.00