December Reflections - 2017 - Best Book of 2017

I've done pretty well with my reading challenge this year.  I follow the categories in Pop Sugar's Reading Challenge (here is next year's list). I am just starting book 21 right now.  I'm hoping to be able to finish it by the end of the year.  Since I usually only read at night before bed, sometimes it takes me a while.

I have to say that my favorite book so far this year has been We Were The Lucky Ones by Georgia Hunter.

This was one of the "mystery books" that Bill brought home from one of his trips to Oregon.  They come wrapped in paper bags with just a snippet of description of the book and are actually drafts which haven't been published yet.  It was a very interesting true story about a family of survivors of the Holocaust.  It was well written and very easy to follow, even though the family was separated for most of the time.  It was nominated for a Goodreads book award this year. 


Here are some of the other ones I have crossed off my list:

Another of the "mystery books."  This one was about two sisters and a secret they unknowingly share.  I used it for my "book with a red spine" category.

This was interesting about the experiences of Frankie Presto, a musician.  I have read other Mitch Albom books and they are good.  I used this one for my "story within a story" category.

Had to read this book about Sherlock Holmes.  It filled my "book with pictures" category.

This one was interestingly told from the baseball umpire's point of view.  It filled the "book with a subtitle" category.  Now I know why they do some of the things they do.
 

I bought this book to use in making a junk journal but had to read it first.  I remember Al Jolson from "The Jazz Singer" but had never read about his life.  Another interesting read.  It filled the "book with a title that's a character's name" category.

This book was a tough one but I am stubborn.  It was letters and notes written by some famous people in history, going back to the beginning of America.  The first few centuries were hard going because of the style of language they used back then and the periods in history.  The last few centuries were easier going because it was something I was more familiar with.  "Book of letters" was the category I used.

Of all the courses I've taken by Susannah Conway, including this December Reflection, I figured it was about time to read her book.  I am certainly glad I did.  It takes us through her process after she lost a significant other unexpectedly.  She is a wonder.  It was a "book that's been on my to be read list for a long time."

I was a bit disappointed in this Mitch Albom book.  I thought from the cover that I would learn "life's greatest lesson" but I'm not quite sure that was true.  "Book with a month or day of the week in the title" was its category.

Andy Andrews never fails to enlighten and inspire.  Since it involves time travel, I used it for my "book involving travel" category.  Stretching it a bit maybe but I think that's okay.  If you've never read or heard Andy Andrews, you should definitely check him out.

When I saw on the Goodreads site that this book could be used as a "book with an unreliable narrator," I had to read it.  I read it so long ago that I forgot most of the story, which made it even more enjoyable.  Love my Dame Agatha.

This was another one that I was just a bit disappointed in, although there were a few of the authors that had some interesting dreams.  Some I felt just liked to talk.  It was my "book with multiple authors" entry.

I am not sure I got any real "career advice" from this book but that's the category I used it for. 

And there you have it.  I can't say anything yet about the current book:

because I haven't really started it yet although I did preview the first couple of chapters through James' website.  He is a blogger friend I have discovered through the A to Z Challenge and is a most interesting gentleman.  He is also doing a 365 challenge for himself and that is another one of the things we have in common.  I'll let you know how it is when I'm done.

Okay, how about you?  How many books did you read this year?  Take any challenges?  Any suggestions for my reading for 2018?  Love to hear about them!  

No - It Can't Be November!

Here we are already at the end of November!  I am finding it harder to get my new routine under control than I thought.  I wrote last month about starting to work outside the home for the first time in 17 years and while I am enjoying it for the most part, there are things that I could do without (cleaning the restrooms and working until 11 pm to name two).  I have just adjusted my availability so that I am a little more in control of when I am scheduled and I did have to say to my children (for the first time) that they were right and I was wrong about what it is like to work in retail.  I may make it through the holidays, although I did have to work Thanksgiving day from 5 pm to 9 pm and then the following day from 6 pm to 11 pm.

I participated in two Holiday Boutiques this month.  One was a two-day affair to benefit Foster Children.  Here I am behind my table.  Another chance to wear my spiffy hat!

I did pretty well at that show, selling two of my scarves and some cards and mini albums.

The following week I was at a one-day sale.  This one I did not do too well at and I heard from a couple of the other vendors that they had done less business than last year and they attributed it to the location.  It was held in the local gym and was more difficult to get to than the Senior Center where it had been held in the past.  My setup looks similar:

But this time I had a snowman sweater to go along with my hat :)  Oddly enough, while I was there I got an order on my Etsy shop for 10 cards and I had to make sure to remove them from the table so they didn't get picked up. 

I did read two more books:  "The Murder of Roger Ackroyd" by Agatha Christie and "The Final Summit" by Andy Andrews... 

and started a third, "Pure Heart" by Troy Ball, which will be #20 on my challenge this year.  Not quite the 25 that I wanted to make but pretty close.  

Some of the pictures I got for the 365 pictures include:

Our Family Thanksgiving

Really neat lighted golf ball for night golf

Pretty true and I have to start noticing more

Snowman Poop looks kinda like white rabbit pellets 

One of the new bicycles that are popping up around town.  You can rent them by getting the app on your phone and using them, then leaving them for the next person.  This one is from Spin.

One more reminder of my word of the year, Believe.

When I get in the car to go to work, my phone not only tells me how long it will take to get there but also what is on sale!

Another fun thing sold in the "drive aisle" at work.  This is the spot near the check out line so you can pick it up while you wait in line.

And of course, the full moon for November.

On Thursday I will be doing Planning Day with Jamie Ridler to try and get a handle on what I want to do for next year and in December I will be participating in Susannah Conway's December Reflections again.  Here are the prompts in case you want to play along:

I've also gone to several doctors appointments with my husband who is having some heart issues and my 94-year-old mom who had an infected toenail.  Sheesh!  It's no wonder I haven't been able to post more often!    

But blogging is one of the things I really enjoy so my goal is to post as much as I can in December and to get a schedule down for next year.  Hope you all had a terrific Thanksgiving!  Have any plans for the end of the year?

Suddenly September - 2016

September 20 - 

"What is something you wish more people knew or believed?"

The "Butterfly Effect" is real.  According to Wiki, the Butterfly Effect is the idea that small causes can have large effects. The scientific premise is that the flapping of a butterfly's wings can, through the movement of air, cause a ripple effect which could make a tornado on the other side of the country.  Kind of impossible you may think, but it's been proven.  

We had the pleasure of listening to Andy Andrews speak at a convention a few years ago and I absolutely love his work. He has a very unique storytelling style and this is one of my favorites of his.  He explains the Butterfly Effect using people and the things they do in their lifetime to illustrate it.    

In it he says, "Your life matters and what you do today could affect generations to come."  Of course the obvious things are that we could use up all the food and water supply and pollute the air.  We know that.  

But I believe that it can be a very simple thing, like a smile, that may change the lives of other people.  Maybe it is by smiling at a person walking down the street or by making eye contact with the grocery clerk or salesperson, smiling at them and thanking them by name.  Maybe it is by writing something in one of my blogs that happens to make the reader smile.  I believe that by doing so, perhaps the smile will be passed on from the grocery clerk to the customer behind me and so on and so on.  Perhaps the smile will make someone who is feeling discouraged or upset just a little happier.

I have made it my goal to try to make at least one person smile every day.  I know I feel better when I smile.    

If you have not heard of Andy Andrews before, I would suggest that you read his books or take a listen to some of his other stories on YouTube.  Here is another favorite:  Amazing Grace:

        

I'll bet that one brings a smile to your face!

Hope you are following along with the Blog-tember Challenge.  10 days left!  Let me know if I made you smile :)