book list

Here's a list of books that I own, and haven't read.  My original goal was to randomly select one every time that I need a new book.  It hasn't worked out that way yet, but I plan on getting through all of them eventually.  The problem is, I keep adding books as I browse book sales and stores and Amazon.

book list

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.  

Overcoming Challenges

I participate in Goodreads challenges.   The main one is the annual challenge.  I set my reading goal this year for 62 books.  I am lagging behind a little because of a variety of reasons.  Some issues are easier to fix than others.  I am finding ways to get myself back on track.

The moment I sit down to read, I am joined by a rather large black cat, Inky.  Inky tells me every day when it's naptime, even if it's not.  Inky just wants attention and wants to be up under my chin and cuddling.  Unfortunately, it's difficult to get anything done with a furry, 14 pound, purring creature between me and whatever I'm working on.   We try comprises until she settles down.   A blanket on my lap with her as my book rest occasionally works.  Sometimes her bed next to my pillow works.  Right now, it's a drooling head resting on my arm with my book off to one side so I can still see what I'm doing.  It's still not naptime for me, but I'm not keeping Inky from her nap.

Putting the phone down is another challenge.   Chatting, scheduling, games, etc.  They are all distractions.  I am making a conscious effort to turn off notifications on non essential apps on my phone.  I leave text and phone call notifications on, in case someone really needs to contact me, though.   These are not typical, though.  

I have managed to break myself of most of the tv habit.  I watch one or two hours of tv a week, and only specific shows.  That was a bad habit that was easier to break than I thought it would be.

I get disturbed by family chatting with me, but I just have to deal with it.  I am getting them to learn to know when I'm reading or trying to sleep, and they are respecting my quiet time more now.

I started buddy reads with friends.   Three friends, two different books.   We are supposed to be reading a chapter a night.   We are a little lenient on each other because life gets in the way sometimes.  The three of us who are reading Neverending Story had a little difficulty getting the book into one reader's hands, but we should be underway as soon as her library gets it to her.  Where Nobody Knows Your Name is delayed because my reading buddy has a job far from home and travels Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.   Reading time is limited.  I fully expect to finish both of these books soon.

I am also a member of two real life book clubs.   These give me deadlines to finish books and someone to report to.  I hate showing up at bookclub and having to announce that I haven't finished the book yet.   I have made a list of what book is due next.

Getting organized and getting my distractions out of the way before settling in to read seems to be a lot of the solution.   I am determined to overcome these challenges and finish the rest of the books by the end of the year.

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.