January Book Update

I've decided that I'm going to post books monthly, so while I think one of these has already been posted about.. too bad ;). Book club books are in a different coloured font, and the rest are my random books. I'm up for any suggestions too! (S-Carnavale is on hold).

• The Eagle - Jack Whyte. Book 8/9. Continuing from Clothar the Frank. Not my favourite, but still well written!

• A Patch of Blue - Elizabeth Kata. This was definitely not my favourite book, and from what I've heard from the other girls so far.. there's a reason why there aren't any copies in the VPL! It touched on racism, but not in a good way..
  
  
• Uther - Jack Whyte. Book 9/9! It only took from late September - early January to finish this series.. although, as you can see, I did read many other things in between. This was probably one of my favourites, because it was written from Uther's perspective, rather than the other side of his family like the rest. It did a fantastic job of tying up all the loose ends.
  
  
• Mini Shopaholic - Sophie Kinsella. Girlie chic-lit. What can I say? I'm a sucker for a quick, girly read once in a while too..
  
  
• Through Black Spruce - Joseph Boyden. This was the second Boyden book I've read.. It's not quite a sequel to Three Day Road, but is a few generations past the characters in that book, and they are related. I liked this one much more than the first!
  
  
• The Weed that Strings the Hangman's Bag - Alan Bradley. The second in the Flavia de Luce mystery books. Well written and quick to read. I'm looking forward to reading more of these.
  
  
• Spiced - Dalia Jurgensen. Book about a pastry chef in  New York. Not really that exciting, but again very quick to read. I don't think I'd recommend it.

That's all for January! February's a short month, but now that I have work (and therefore long commutes), maybe I'll go back to reading more.

C25K - W5D2

Weather was nice today!

Today was warm up, 8 min, walk 5, 8 min, cool down. It's not my favourite... Not that excited for a 20 min run on Wednesday!

My shoulder didn't bug me today, thankfully.

C25K - W5D1

Snow, again. Seriously, Vancouver!

This week's runs are all different. Today was warm up, run 5, walk 3 three times, then a cool down. Unfortunately.. my shoulder hurt almost the whole time, and the snow was slushy/slippery, so it wasn't the best workout.

C25K - W4D3

Run was later than usual today (only by an hour or so, but still), and since it's SUNNY! it was actually kind of warm. It's still pretty windy out here though.. but it feels much more like spring.

I definitely feel better about starting week 5 on Saturday, even though the 5mins are still not my favourite, but I could have run a bit longer after the second one today.

C25K - W4D2

Pouring, again. Windy, again.

Had more pain in my shoulder during the last 5 min run.. guess I still don't know how to breathe.

Glad it's done!

The list

It's January! Time for new starts, goals, etc... I figured now was as good a time as any to update the list.



1. Start a blog, and update weekly (not sure when I can cross this off though?)
2. Get my Silver or Gold Duke of Edinburgh award
3. Go skydiving or bungee jumping.
4. Go to Nicaragua or Ecuador (or anywhere international) to volunteer. This almost happened.
5. Hike the West Coast Trail
6. Get married. Happening FIVE months today. Scary.
7. Take a cooking class.
8. Get a dog. (I really hope this becomes possible.)
9. Take a photography course. Happening this Saturday!
10. Go to NYC. Hm... I should start planning..
11. Get a drastic haircut.
12. Learn Italian (because two other Latin languages are just not enough) I started, and withdrew. I really do not learn well with Rosetta Stone. However, I'm considering this done, because I tried, learned a few things, and let's face it.. with a language, learning is constant and never 'over'.
13. Go skinny dipping. No idea why I've never done this.
14. Be comfortable with my body in a bikini.
15. Become a BIT, or preferably, an RPBio. 
16. Read a Jane Austen book (preferably Sense and Sensibility ;) )
17. Learn how to decorate cakes/take a cake decorating class.
18. Hike to the Lions.
19. Canoe/kayak the Bowron Lakes chain.
20. Go to a spa (this probably doesn't seem like much.. but it's me).
21. Sell some of my photos (I'm trying, I really am.. ) 
22. Start dragonboating again.
23. Go on a trip with the group (Disneyland?)
24. Try a yoga class.
25. Buy a Mac. Bought a new computer in the fall, so this isn't happening.
26. Do a chinup (R's suggestion)

I guess that means that I've only crossed off one thing, with two more pending. Ugh! This will take me forever...

C25K - W4D1

Well. Today's run was.. interesting. Instead of snow, today's run included lots of rain (I can't say pouring, because I've seen it worse, but it was pretty steady), about 4C, and some really awesome wind. At least the sidewalks were clear, and the danger of slipping was very low.

This week is a 5 min warm up, 3min run, 90s walk, 5 min run, 2.5min walk, repeated twice, and followed by a 5 min cool down.

I think this is the most challenging so far, and the first time I've really felt tired after. That could be due to the little bit of Zumba R and I did yesterday..