Weekly Goals

Let's see how I did last week:

1) Work on counted cross-stitch NOPE
2) Take hold of my email inbox - it's getting out of control A LITTLE BIT
3) Cut out my next sewing project NOPE

It was a perfect storm week.  I'll spare you the nitty gritty details, but I was miserable and barely functioning as a human being.  So nothing really got done.  I was doing everything I could do convince myself that the sky (or the roof/ceiling) wasn't going to fall down on my head.  I seem to have the fatigue and whatnot under control now so I can actually set goals that I'll accomplish - rather than hoping beyond hope that I'll be something other than a zombie and creating goals just to create them.

Now, for this week I'll attempt to:

1) Take hold of my email inbox - this is critical.
2) Cut out my next sewing project - if I want to have any chance of completing anything for March, this must happen

Book Review - Stupid Cupid by Rhonda Stapleton

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I should have known better than to read this book.  It's just not my type of book.  The cover screamed "you'll hate this", and the premise of a girl getting Cupid powers and setting up her friend with three guys at once.... just didn't appeal to me.  But, it was a book club book, so in fairness to the rest of my fellow book-clubbers, I suffered through it.  

The book is advertised as Young Adult, though I found the writing (and the attitudes/reactions of the main characters) more along the lines of a middle school-age reader.  One of the discussions we had during the meeting was why it was labeled Young Adult.  It was decided that the "sexual innuendo" where the parents are found lying naked on top of each other along with a scene where the protagonist states she needs to sleep with music to ignore the noises from her parents' room was what pushed it to the YA classification.

Other than the writing, I found the stupidity of the main character to be beyond belief.  She is given three rules with her Cupid powers - 1) she can't talk about being a Cupid, 2) she can't match herself with anyone and 3) she can only match two people together at a time.  Three rules.  And she goes right ahead and breaks rule three.  Now, this is not a situation where she didn't think the powers worked - she had already matched people together!  She just decides to disregard one of THREE rules and is surprised there are problems!  Ugh.

In case you hadn't caught on, I did not like this book. 

Weekly Goals

Let's see how I did last week:

1) Update my planner CHECK
2) Write at least 3 posts and schedule them CHECK (just wait, the last two are coming)
3) Work on counted cross-stitch (with pictures!) NOPE

2/3?  Not bad, not bad.  It was a rough week health-wise.  I spent a lot of time just trying to keep myself together.  The fatigue has gotten overwhelmingly bad.  Luckily, I have a dr's appointment this week so I'll be discussing that with him.  


Now, for this week I'll attempt to:

1) Work on counted cross-stitch
2) Take hold of my email inbox - it's getting out of control
3) Cut out my next sewing project

Podcast Spotlight - Bizarre States

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Bizarre States - Nerdist Industries

Jessica Chobot and Andrew Bowser host this new podcast.  With fewer than 20 (at this writing) episodes, they discuss weird and paranormal happenings across the states and occasionally internationally.  Listener stories are read, and they interview people who have had paranormal experiences or are interested in various mysteries - like Jack the Ripper.  

I think they're still trying to hit their stride - as some episodes have held my attention while others have meandered through seemingly random topics.  What I think they lack is the ability to tell a story effectively along with some organization - things that, I hope, will improve over time.  Overall, it's a good podcast if you enjoy hearing about others' experiences with weird things and exploring the black hole of the internet.  

Weekly Goals (Clearly Late)

Let's see how I did last week:

1) Keep a pain journal
2) Start The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood
3) Write post on the scarf exchange!


Well, that didn't go as planned.  I started the pain journal, and I uploaded the photos to Evernote for the scarf exchange.  I didn't do anything about the book.  That's not to say I didn't read.  I did, quite a bit, just not The Blind Assassin.  Whoops.


Now, for this week I'll attempt to:

1) Update my planner
2) Write at least 3 posts and schedule them
3) Work on counted cross-stitch (with pictures!)

Weekly Goals

Let's see how I did last week:

1) Finish Manila leggings and take pictures

2) Make (and mail) scarf for swap CHECK

3) Read 1 book CHECK

Woohoo 2/3 complete!  I read a book (follow me on GoodReads), and I made/mailed the scarf for the swap (a post is upcoming once I figure out an efficient method for uploading the pictures I took).  I also did do a little work on the Manila leggings while I was sewing.  Attaching the waistband is causing me a bit of trouble, but I think I have it sorted.  Unfortunately, it's going to be much too cold this week to venture downstairs for any length of time (unfinished basement problems).  

As for steps last week:

Monday: 1,589
Tuesday: 4,908
Wednesday: 3,549
Thursday: 4,992
Friday: 2,700
Saturday: 3,339
Sunday: 1,810

ARG THOR'S DAY!  8 steps to goal!  I didn't realize until just now how close I was!!!!  To be fair, I made that (and more!) during aquatherapy in the pool (where I don't wear my FitBit as I'm worried about damaging it).  I also likely made goal on Tuesday as well due to aquatherapy.

Now, for this week I'll:

1) Keep a pain journal
2) Start The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood
3) Write post on the scarf exchange!

Podcast Spotlight - True Murder: The Most Shocking Killers in True Crime History and the Authors That Have Written About Them

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Podcast Spotlight: 

True Murder: The Most Shocking Killers in True Crime History and the Authors that Have Written About Them      

Dan Zupansky's podcast spotlights many of the spectacular true crime books that have been written.  Started in 2009, there is quite an archive so you don't have to worry about running out any time soon.  I'm the type of person who binges this type of thing.  I'm fascinated by the idea that a person would kill another person.  Criminal Minds is one of my favorite tv shows, before that it was CSI: Las Vegas.  Investigative Discovery channel is my go-to for when there's nothing on.

If you're like me, this is a podcast for you.  The authors have done extensive research on the crime they are writing about - they talk to victim families, detectives, lawyers, and, sometimes, the criminal.   From the heartbreaking to the unbelievable to the downright hilarious, this podcast has it all.

It's a very well run interview, with Dan asking not only about the case, but about the personal experiences the author had while he/she was writing.

I highly recommend this podcast.  It's also a good way to up your true crime knowledge while waiting for the second season of Serial.  Especially since the most recent episode is on Serial!  Lots more information that wasn't covered on Serial.