More challenges

Every time I get a cold, the cough lingers forever.  It slows me down to no end, because every time I move, I cough.  I take a deep breath, I cough.  I lie flat on the bed, I cough.  I don't sleep well because the cough keeps waking me up.  When I don't sleep, I can't concentrate on my reading.  I either get the book/kindle opened and manage to flip a few pages, or I open it and fall asleep immediately.  Getting nothing accomplished, either way.

I also can't work out because of the cough.  I usually am able to prop the kindle up on the treadmill while I walk.  I'm not getting the time on the treadmill because I can't catch my breath.

I have been forcing myself to get a chapter a day read of several books for several reasons.  It looks like I'm not making progress because the progress is thinned out over several books.  Hopefully, I'll be finishing several all at once.

As of now, I only have two things on my schedule for this weekend, so maybe I can get some reading done between those two things.

I need to get these books done by these dates.

All Systems Red complete by 10/21, 4pm for scifi fantasy bookclub
Black Beauty chapters read for buddy read
The Bette Davis Club complete by 10/27 for Vegas bookclub
She's Not There complete by 10/24 for Avenues bookclub
A Second Chance complete by 10/17 for SS10 Goodread challenge
Where Nobody Knows Your Name chapters read for buddy read

I should also read these, but I'm not on a real deadline.

Less I was supposed to have finished for Avenues bookclub, but I wasn't getting into it and I was getting sick
Winnie the Pooh I checked it out from the library and have renewed it multiple times, expecting to finish it.
Invisible Man I started it for non fiction bookclub, but ran out of time.

I also want to get the stack of paper books down so that the pile on my nightstand isn't threatening to topple over on me in my sleep.

Disappointment in class

As part of my healing process, after foot surgery, I signed up for PE classes at the local community college. Both of my children and one of their friends are in the same class. I had taken a class with the same instructor over the summer, so he was already aware of my limitations from my foot.

The teacher had an evaluation on Monday, so he asked us all be there, so that he could show the evaluator that he had a full class. He does, but not everybody shows up everyday. A couple of days before the evaluation, I started having issues with my asthma. I got either is very mild cold or my allergies were acting up. I do have issues with coughing.  Once I get a cough, for whatever reason, the cough stays with me  for a very long time. I have allergy meds, an inhaler, and cough drops, which help me get through it.

I showed up on Monday, late, because we had an emergency at work that kept me overtime.  I walked in just as he was about to start class.  He lead us through twenty minutes of core exercises and asked some questions that will be on our written final.  This was fine.  I coughed a little, but not bad.

It comes time to do our individual workouts.  I had planned to walk on the treadmill to work on cardio.  Because I'm slow because of the foot rehab and the added cough, I can read on the treadmill.  I propped my kindle on the little stand on the treadmill and started off.   I had 22 minutes left in the book.  Perfect!  I could walk until the book was done.    

Three minutes later, I finish the book.   What happened?  I was all set.   It turned out that the book had a lot of blurbs about upcoming books.  I was disappointed, but was able to complete the 34th book of 2018.   And read the next chapter for my buddy read.  Thankfully, it was the Kindle and not a paper book.  Otherwise I would have had to cut my workout short.  

My Kindles

I used to read my ebooks on my phone.   I couldn't justify the cost of a kindle when the phone works perfectly well.   Then I saw one in one of my patient's hands.  It was the Paperwhite.   I hadn't realized how much like a book it looked.  I started thinking about getting one.   I ended up receiving one as a gift.  I fell in love.  I got a black and blue waterproof case for it so it traveled with me wherever I went.  Gym, pool, work, bathroom, bed.   I didn't need my reading glasses, either, since I could adjust the print.

I could read whatever I felt like reading.  I always had multiple books going, and now all the books could travel with me.  I discovered Goodreads.  I was able to track what I was reading, what I had read, and what I wanted to read.  I got recommendations from friends.  I found group challenges and the annual challenge.  I signed up for the annual challenge and have been reading up a storm ever since.  I have signed up for a yearly challenge every January ever since.

I discovered bookbub and the fussy librarian.  They both offered me free and discounted books daily. I filled up my Kindle.   I was given a Kindle Fire, but I was used to the anti glare surface of the Paperwhite, so the Fire became the music source for work.  I rarely read on it, unless I'm desperate. 

One day, I noticed a tiny crack on my blue Paperwhite screen.  Even though it was in its case securely, it managed to get a crack in it.  It was still working, but I couldn't read at night because that tiny crack shone brightly, right into my eyes.   I called customer service and there wasn't anything they could do for me, except offer a discount on a replacement.  I took them up on the offer and got my second Paperwhite, this time with a black case.

I got to work filling up that Kindle right away.   I had a difficult time with non reading things, and had to move quickly from where we were living.  I know the kindle went with us, but I managed to misplace it.  I thought I'd lost it at the grocery store, so I put my phone number in the title, hoping someone would find it and return it.   I ended up ordering a refurbished Paperwhite, this time with a black and pink case.

I was mourning the loss of the black Kindle while waiting the arrival of the pink one.  When the pink one arrived, it didn't work quite right.  After quite a while with customer service, we managed to manually push through an update and get it working perfectly.   It became my companion.   It was easier to find in my purse, too, since it wasn't all black.  

After several weeks, I found the black one, sitting in a dark corner at home.   It now has silver writing on it with my phone number.   It's been a backup when the pink one needs to be charged.

One day, I received an email telling me that I could turn in my Paperwhite for a discount on the new Oasis.  I started looking into it.   I could listen to my audiobooks on my Kindle?   Sure!  But, no.  Which Paperwhite could I part with?  None.  They all have sentimental value.   Plus, it was a cost I still couldn't justify, even with the discount.   I put it on my Amazon wishlist, expecting it to stay there.  

I received the Oasis for my birthday.   It was so light that I was afraid to use it until I got a cover for it.   I also had to get headphones for it, since I didn't own Bluetooth ones.  That delayed me a few days.   I did end up subscribing to Kindle Unlimited, since I could get books with the audio portion included.  I am not in love the headphones, so this isn't ideal yet.  Also, I've read that the Oasis isn't as sturdy as the paperwhite, so it's not traveling with me like the Paperwhite does.  It's a work in progress.   Is bigger, so it is easier to read, but it's an at home reader so far. 

My pink Paperwhite is my companion, still.   I am still waiting for the Oasis to convince me.

Just getting started

I have always been a reader.  And I work toward fitness goals.   A difficult time for me started a few years ago, and I'm still struggling to find normal.   Reading and the gym have pretty much been my happy places during the search.  I set goals for each and make attempts at reaching the goals daily. 

I plan on starting to put my book reviews here, along with my journey toward my goals.