Things to do on a Sunday in December

I decided to go to church early today.  I walked out of my apartment 15 minutes earlier than I usually do.  Relaxed that I didn't have to speed walk over and hope to find a seat.  When I finally got to the church, there were a lot of seats to choose from ... I also had time to read a couple of prayers from my prayer book before mass started.

And then ... I felt much better ... like my prayer was answered ... and that for this short time, I could feel that things will be OK.

Thank you God.

I didn't go to McDonalds today ... my usual Mocha Frappe was not to be today.  I just went straight home.

It took me five days ... but I finally finished the audio book !!

I listened to the last two discs today.  Now I'll probably get the "Book 2" of the series in the library.  I could do my squats / donkey kicks / lunges ... and get through several chapters.  I might actually use my iPhone while at the gym and listen to whatever book I download on Hoopla.

After finishing the audio book ... I was craving for some Starbucks .... so I went out to do a little grocery shopping ... and have a drink on my way back.  One of the baristas convinced me to get a Gingerbread Latte.  It was nice ... but not as great as the Caramel Brûlée.

When I got back home ... I remembered that I had a copy of Silver Linings Playbook.   I promised my co-worker that I'd get it back to him by Thursday, so I decided to watch it today.

It was really, really, really good.  The actors were fantastic.  And I loved the screenplay.

This was a good Sunday.

Work OR Listen to Audio Book for 8 hours?

Had to go back to work today since we didn't win the lottery.

But NO ONE won the jackpot ... so Tuesday will probably be $500 million dollars.

I figured in two months I'll be 39 ... it would be nice to be living in London by then and having no financial worries.

I listened to disc 5 & 6 of the audio book.  I feel like the next time I borrow an audio book, I could probably complete on in 8 hours.

Work ... blah
Audio Book ... yah !!

I had downloaded the Audible app from iTunes.  But was disappointed that I had to pay $14.95 monthly membership to download ONE complete book each month.  JUST ONE !!!!  There were some available titles with excerpts ... some at 30 min ... some at 45 min.  Big disappointment.

I decided to go to Starbucks during break and get my FREE Drink Reward .. which was a Venti Caramel Brûlée Frapp & had BOGO Chocolate Marble Loaf and Chocolate Croissant (which I gave to my co-worker).  On the walk over, I decided to listen to Bossypants ... read by Tina Fey.  It was really funny ... I had already READ the complete book ... it wad nice to be able to listen to some of it.

Must win lottery on Tuesday !!  Will have everyday of my life to listen to 8-9 hours daily and complete books!!

(I do intend to still READ a whole bunch too)

Friday The Thirteenth Millions

Tonight is Mega Millions night at $425 Million Dollars !!

7 of us have pitched in $1 each ... so we will each get $60,732,500

Then of course ... we pay taxes ... will most likely be HALF.

$30 million for my share at the end of the day ... and I plan to give half to family.

I think I'll be OK with $15 Million

I'll move to London and read books / write books / sell books.

Tonight ... I shall listen to TWO more discs of the audio book.

Not a bad day for Friday the 13th.

Multi Tasking

I finished disc two of the audio book today.

At the same time, I was able to do 100 squats & 90 donkey kicks.

I'm still stuck on Level 202 in Candy Crush .. and I'm still trying to figure out what this Dreamworld is all about ?!?!

BUT NOW ... i can still try to pass levels AND be able to have progress in book!!

Why did I wait this long to borrow audio books from the library!!

First Audio Book

I did something I said I would never do.

I got an audio book.

I was browsing the New Books section in the library, but didn't find anything I wanted.  The next shelf over was the audio books.

I always wanted to read books by Debbie Macomber, and one of the "books" on the shelf was The Inn at Rose Harbor.

So .... just to try out how much I could go through an audio book VS a "regular" book ... I borrowed it.

Now ... after finishing one disc ... I'm actually surprised that I like it.

Lorelei King is the person reading the book, I don't know who she is ... and I'm still getting used to her voicing multiple characters.

I'm glad I decided to do this.

Book Requests Granted

A couple months ago after reading Harriet Evans I Remember You, I submitted a "Suggest A Purchase" book request on the LAPL website for three more of her books.

A Hopeless Romantic
The Love Of Her Life
Happily Ever After

None of her books were available at the Burbank public libraries ... so I figured I might have a better chance since Los Angeles Central Library had three of her books.

I finally did a search again for the books ... and now ... ALL THREE are "On Order" ... possibly available in November.

This makes me really happy.  I love going to the library to borrow books ... I probably would love to be able to purchase every book I've read ... but with my broke status ... and my cubicle studio apartment ... that is not going to happen.

Now If only I win the lottery ... I can open my own bookstore ... and make contributions to the libraries.

Prize Winner

I'm a prize winner !!

I got an email the other day from the library that I was selected in their weekly random drawing.  I thought that maybe it might be something like a keychain, or magnet, note pad, etc.

I was somewhat hoping for one of their tote bags ~ when I went to the reference desk, I was given this cute bag.  Just the right size to fit a book, or sever CD's, or a snack.  

Ear ~ Read ~ Live

What a wonderful surprise.

Eat Read Live

I signed up today for the Eat, Read, Live summer reading club for grown-ups at the library.  It's not a reading club per se ... people don't really come together and discuss the books we are reading.  More like a book tracker / book reviewer.

Oh well ... at least I joined a reading club.

Boston Public Library

It has been 10 years since I've been to Boston.

Really miss the city.

In honor of Library Week ... I shall visit again some day

2013 National Library Week

It's National Library Week !!



Paris Day Three

Prayers At Sacre Cour

Music At Opera House

Books At Shakespeare And Company

Sunset At Arc de Triomphe

Famous Novelist: Part 4

DOUBLE FAIL !!

I've been posting the 12 Days Of Giveaways this past week ... and now I have time to write about "Famous Novelist". 

A package had arrived for her on Monday, but she was no longer in LA.  So just the other day, I decided to email her about the package.  I wanted to tell her "by the way I read your first book" but I couldn't.  I was looking at that email for about 15 minutes before I sent it just asking her what she wanted to do with it.

She replied back that we could just donate it ~ it had been replaced by company.  I could have replied back again .. "by the way I read your first book" ... too shy again.

First and Last

It's the first day of the last month of the year.

This year has gone by really fast, and I'm somewhat disappointed that I'm "stuck" at the current state I'm in ... and that I haven't accomplished some of the things I wanted to do this year.

I'm nowhere near the "100 Books in 2012" goal ~

Then there is the other stuff ... the really, really, really important stuff.  I feel that because of "this-and-that" I've got to do something really soon, I'm really tired of how I feel about things ... and I can't let another year go by again.

Famous Novelist: Part 3

I could not talk to "Famous Novelist" yesterday!

Well actually I did ... just a Hi, Hello, Bye ... I was too shy to tell her I've read one of her books.

She was sitting down for awhile with her MacBook ... YES ... we both write with a MacBook!

But I could not talk to her ... there is no possibility that she would send me copies of the rest of the series ... (like she would IF i did talk to her about being fan) ... WHY DO I HAVE TO BE SHY!!

Famous Novelist: Part 2

I was right!!

It is "Famous Novelist"!!!

I'm wondering if it'll be OK to talk to her about her books.  I just don't want to sound stupid saying "well I've only read your first book because I only get books from the library, and the rest of the series is not available.  Sorry, because I'm poor I can't actually buy your books online."

This is a MAJOR COINCIDENCE for me!!  I really want to talk to her ... but argh I have a feeling I could embarrass myself in a major way.

Famous Novelist

I might be wrong.

But I think a Famous Novelist will be here at work.

There can't be two people with her name ... but she'll be here in LA for three days.  I'll find out Tuesday if it is her.

Should I tell her I'm a fan.  I've only read her first book ... only because it was the only one available at the library.  I still can't believe the other books from her series isn't available.

Maybe ... just maybe .. she'll be nice enough to send the whole series to me??

I might be wrong.  It might just be someone with the same name.

Fifty Shades ... Must Have

Halfway done ... and I must say ... I'm glad I bought the book ... I can't read it while riding the bus ... but it is definitely taking my mind off stress at work!

I'm going to HAVE to buy the whole trilogy!!

I checked the "B" library ... and they are finally going to have the first book in their collection.

Fifty Shades ... of blushing

I find myself blushing while reading this book at work.  I'm actually a lot less stressed out.  I take a full break just reading ... and not really eating (Christian would hate that).

I found myself hoping no one sits next to me in the bus!  Please, please, please DO NOT glance over and read ... because there is a whole lot of STUFF happening in almost every chapter!

New Guilty Reading!!

I decided to BUY the book!

I went to Barnes & Noble and decided to buy Fifty Shades Of Grey!!

The store had the whole triogy on a table right next to the cashiers.  I could have just grabbed a book and lined up, pay, and leave.

But I decided to scope out the books.  Walk around the store.  Then come back again.  No one was in line.  Looked over all the books, found one that seemed "nicer" than the others.  Then went to the cashier.

I really hoped that the guy behind the register did not judge me!!

Fifty Shades ... Not In ... Literary Guild

I think I'm not suppose to read this book!!

I've checked The Literary Guild and BOOK ONE of the trilogy isn't avail!!  I can't even get DISCOUNTED SHIPPING on the two books!!