Books, Oh How I Love Them!!!

I am a consummate book lover. My husband jokes about my inability to put a book down once I have started it. I have been this way my whole life. I had difficulty learning to read, and once I finally got it, I just never stopped. So this particular blog is to talk about the books that truly touched me..or were just so dang good.

1. The Stand by Stephen King - this is far and away one of the best books that I have ever read. It is not a book that I read over and over again, but Stephen King is a fabulous storyteller. It is a little gruesome, but I always love a book that is a battle between good and evil. If you read it I suggest you get the unabridged version. I read this as a senior in high school, because my English teacher told us about it, and I couldn't wait to get it.

2. To Kill a Mockingbird - one of the few books in which I feel that the movie is equally as good as the book. I think I love this book because my mother loves this book. Also Atticus Finch will always remind me of my father.

3. Harry Potter and...(insert title of book here) by J.K. Rowling - okay, for some people they think a grown woman loving this series is a bit weird. J.K. Rowling is probably my hero, she introduced a love of reading to a generation of children, and tells a great story as well. I picked up the first book (which was my sister's) because I was bored one day and decided to see what all the fuss was about...haven't stopped loving them since. Also greatest ending to a series ever!

4. Peace Like a River - I can't remember the name of the author, but you can find it in the fiction section. About a boy and his father, and the journey they take together with family to find the boy's brother. It will make you cry.

5. The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver - this was an interesting buy for me. My aunt Candi recommended it, so I bought it. It took me a while to read, but it changed my perspective on a lot of ideas that I held to be written in stone.

6. Outlander by Diana Gabaldon - this is the first book in another series that I love. It is a romance (for lack of a better term) with some time-travel thrown in. Don't let it weird you out, if you read it you will love it...promise. Also, Claire and Jamie are two of the best-written characters that I have ever found. I love to reread this book, because it is like revisiting old friends.

7. Clan of the Cave Bear - another start of series (I don't read series on purpose, it just seems to happen to me a lot) I don't really care for the rest of the books in the series, I feel that the author sold out on the way she wrote the books (in other words later books get a bit smutty). This is set in prehistoric times, but it a really good stand alone novel. I am still a little shocked that my mom let me read it when I was younger, but it was probably one of the first "grown-up" books I ever read.

8. Gone With the Wind - Scarlett O'Hara and Rhett Butler, enough said.

9. Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil - I think my sister stole my copy of this book, but it is just a very well written novel that I enjoyed.

10. The Shining by Stephen King - I am just saying this man can write! After I read The Stand I went bought several more of his novels. This is another favorite. Don't read it at night.


So those are some of my favorites, I have many more. If you decide to read any of them, I truly hope you enjoy it!

Danskin Triathlon

Alright, we did it!!!! Yes, we completed our triathlon (in less than three hours), and I will say that it was one of the best experiences of my life.

I will completely admit being very skeptical about how well this was going to work out..and a little afraid of the unknown...but it was awesome.

There were actually 2500 women that participated in the Danskin Triathlon. The winner actually completed the race before our wave ever even entered the water for the swim. I saw 70 year old women leave me in the dust, but it didn't matter. I did this for myself, to try and start a newer and healthier lifestyle, and I will do this again next year.

So I am a triathlete...how cool is that.

People

So I am almost there. In one week I will be "pinned" which in the world of nursing school means that you graduate.

After that it is just one huge, big terrifying test, and then I will be an RN. So that is what is going on in my life at the moment, nothing to crazy.

To My Girls

I just finished reading my sister's blog, and laughing really hard at the story I found there, so now I'm missing my sister and decided to write a little something to all my girlfriends that I am so blessed to have.

Rachel, I couldn't have a better sister. I enjoy the stories you have, and the innate way you can make a story that I have heard a thousand times make me laugh. I love you and I miss you. All that can be said at this point is .... Picadilly.

To Shelley and Courtney: My grown up friends, I am so blessed to have two such great friends, even though you are making me do a Triathlon I am excited that we are doing it together.

Karen, Sarah, Laney, and Leigh Ann: Ya'll have known me my entire life, which is so amazing. I find it weird that other people aren't still friends with people that they went to preschool with. I enjoy the times we get to have together, and watching ya'lls beautiful families grow.

I was just feeling sentimental. I love all of you.

So I was at clinical today at St. Joseph (which thank goodness school is almost done!) and on my PDA I found an application which was a pregnancy calculator. I fooled around with it for a while and it was fun, basically I was figuring out that if I got pregnant at such and such time, when would I have a baby...needless to say I was a bit bored.

Okay, so on the subject of babies...yes I want to have one. Not right now, not even probably within the year, but in a vague nebulous sometime area. What is funny is that I have moments of intense desire for a child. Such as this weekend when I went to a baby shower for friend that I've known since preschool, and all my other girlfriends are there and they have had children..and it hits me, "I want one!" So I get excited and think, "I can do this, no problem, we can have children."

And then on the drive back home I start thinking about my other friends (who are pretty much all older than me, and for the most part are done having children) and I think about how I wouldn't be able to just go somewhere whenever I feel like it, or I think about all the trips that Neil and I want to take, and then I feel a little nervous and think, "I so don't want children right now!!"

Basically what I am trying to say is that, I don't know when I want to have children. I think for right now it needs to stay in the vague nebulous "someday" area.

What am I thinking?

So I have a friend that has decided that we should compete in a triathlon. Now, if you know me I know you are right now lying on the floor, laughing maniacally, with tears streaming down your face. I do not find offense at that because my first response was, "That is really cute, what do you really want to do?"

Alas my friends, she was serious. So I have been peer pressured into possibly competing in a triathlon - did I mention that it is in less that 6 months?

So here are the fears that I have for competing in a triathlon:

1. It's a triathlon

2. I'm a little worried about getting kicked in the head during the swim part and drowning, because the lifeguard did not see me because there are 700 other women in the water.

3. I haven't ridden a bike in years

4. Running

5. IT'S A TRIATHLON!!!

So, my friends husband is gonna help us train, and well I guess we will see. You can stop laughing now.