10,457 Pages

Last night I finished my 25th book this year, crossing off another Life List item.  I am thinking I have one, maybe two, more in me for the year.  Immediately picked up Book Three from the Song of Ice and Fire series after finishing Book Two last night.  These are not exactly quick reads, with 1,000+ pages in each book and a lot of characters to keep up with.

My favorite books this year:
Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese - This book really stuck with me on so many levels.  The compelling story and characters, the medical slant, just the whole thing blew me away.
A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan - I actually read this twice, back to back, just to see how the benefit of hindsight changed the experience of the book.
The Wild Trees by Richard Preston - Need to climb a tree or at least visit the redwoods (new life list item!)
Stones into Schools by Greg Mortensen - Was really saddened by the 20/20 'expose' on Greg Mortensen earlier this year.  He remains an inspiration to me despite any doubts cast by the show and ensuing articles.
Bonk by Mary Roach - Stiff was amazing, Bonk just as much - just love this woman's writing style, subject matter, candor.

Emily's bookshelf: read

Emily Peterson's favorite books »

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Primal Challenge

I'm going on 3 months now.  3 months and about 20 pounds down (I haven't weighed in for over a week.  Because I haven't been to the gym in...over a week.  Tonight I will go to Sandy's class and weigh in - hoping to cross that next Life List item off!).  So yeah, feeling pretty great - people are taking notice which is as much a motivator as anything else (like sleeping better, having more energy, dropping a size, maybe more).  But over the past couple weeks, I have found myself more tempted than ever - and I'm cheating (just a little bit).  Skipping the daily walk/workout, indulging more on Trader Joes Dark Chocolate and Sea Salt Covered Almonds, not planning the week's meals, and even going to Dairy Queen (it was really really delicious).

  
All this said, I'd like to reach my ultimate goal of 30 (hmm - 40?) pounds down by the end of the year and these indiscretions, while not as bad as say, eating doughnuts for breakfast every morning, are going to make it harder to reach that goal.  Just in time, Mark Sisson is launching the 30 Day Primal Challenge on September 12 which should be just the thing I need to get back in the swing of things.  Looking forward to Monday!

feel better life list

opened up and updated the life list today.  all of the items checked off were in the 'feel better' category so i suppose that is my super focus right now.  among the items that have been checked off:

• attend regular exercise class (wednesday nights with sandy) - 6 consecutive weeks
• go primal - 2 1/2 months

items that i hope to check off in the next 7-10 days

• lose 10 more pounds (I am 17 total pouinds down - 3 more to check this guy off)

items that are in other categories that are seeing real progress:

• read 25 books in a year (I've read 19 so far - 12% ahead of schedule)
• volunteer regularly (Shamrock PTA - 3 projects so far and school hasn't started yet)

item that nags me every day:

• draw up a will

item I most wish I can achieve:

• buy a beach house

a mighty life list

one of the blogs that i follow someone occasionally is Mighty Girl, who happens to be a list girl like me (and i strive to be mighty). i have had life lists before - none of which i can find at the moment, which is so very disappointing because i think i have even completed several items off that last one (took photography class, sewed something, started a college fund). happened to check in on Maggie today and was inspired to start a list again. i've broken my list down into some categories:

• money matters: aka shit i hate to deal with like drawing up our wills. which i am 5 years overdue on. this particular item needs to move from the life list to the daily to-do list because it has GOT to get done. soon.


• wanderlust: places to go see and one special place to return to (i had a fahm...in ahhfrica).


• delicious things: all things food & beverage related - some of which qualify in the wanderlust category and vice versa.


• feel better: aka stop being so damn fat. lose 10 pounds is the first goal and i've got to say, i think i am pretty close! in other words, the primal diet is working.


• vanity: i am not especially vain but there are days i wouldn't mind turning heads.


• the abode: things i want to do for my house. also, purchase a second house that is on a beach (see money matters).


• my cub: things i want to do and share with caleb specifically. laughing about the toilet and farts and such not included because we do that DAILY.


• do some good: i am fortunate and others are not and i should take some time to help other people.


• for the brain: i am smart and want to keep it that way.


• i like ahht: arts & culture type things like purchasing a museum membership and using it more than the one time when you bought the membership

that december resolution

i completely crushed it! since that posting i have not only finished Oishinbo (great) but have finished seven (7!), SEVEN books since then! oddly enough and not really by design, just coincidence, the last six have all happened to be non-fiction. just when i was in to the last 20 pages or so of my last book (The Wild Trees) a package arrived from a friend with a couple books he enjoyed. Both non-fiction and so, the trend continues. does it make it more meaningful when a book is 'real?' when i think back at some of the books that have left me with a real call-to-action, go-out-and-do-something feeling it certainly seems that way. after my last read i am rady to go climb a tree FOR SURE.

as for january resolutions, pshaw. i continue to be on an on 3 days, off 4 sort of rotation. gotta find something habit forming. to replace my bad habits.

SO - the books - I started a GoodReads account in 2008 yet have updated it for the first time just today. adding a widget to keep up with books i've read and a handy list on my phone of things I plan on reading. i think i can add some sort of widget here - which i will do right now.