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Posts Tagged ‘2013’

My 2013 end of year post, or year in review.

Wednesday, January 8th, 2014

So, here’s my end of the year post for 2013. Yes, it’s almost 2 weeks into January, but I just now have the time to sit and write.
2013, perhaps one of my best years medically speaking, in a while. Only 1 surgery, and it was really relatively minor. Of course I probably have seen more doctors this year, but I believe the headaches may have been sorted out. I quit smoking, that was good..
I graduated from college with my bachelors degree, that was pretty cool. I started my masters program, sort of cool, sort of self inflicted pain? Lol
Let’s see, I’m still alive, I like that. 
2013 had its ups and downs, but all together, it wasn’t too bad. I read lots of good books this year, mainly the Dresden Files series and some book suggestions from RO .
I finished the 2013 booklist with a nice even number of 36, this averages out to 3 books a month. Not too bad given my current workload with my classes, but I’ll try to increase that number in 2014. 🙂
So, on to my goals for 2014…
1. I want to lose weight, inches, or whatever to put myself at a healthier place… I won’t disclose my weight, but it’s not acceptable anymore.
2. I want to reteach myself to eat 3 meals a day, not just 1. I have somewhere along the way, forgotten that a body needs 3 meals a day at the least… I want to get back to that.
3. I am reteaching myself braille. I learned it very briefly years ago, but forgot it since I never used it. I believe I’m older, wiser, and able to give it more time this go around and am giving it a shot. Taylor will also be a huge help with that.
4. I want to find a job. I have 2 degrees, a certificate of management skills, and working on my 3rd degree… I believe it’s time to be a productive citizen, and work for my money and pay taxes. Really I just want a routine, a reason to leave my house other than to get groceries or go to the doctor.
5. I want to be healthier, this probably ties in with the whole weight thing, but I don’t like visiting a whole slew of doctors every month… I want to be healthy and cut those doctor visits down.

Ok, so that’s my goals for 2014. Wonder if I’ll be able to get any of them, some of them, or all of them accomplished?
Please feel free to share your goals for 2014… I won’t call them resolutions, because resolutions fail more often than they succeed… by calling them “goals” I hope to give them a better chance. Now, I only need to get over this cold thing I have and I will and can start on goal number 1, the weight loss thing… excersise is first on my agenda to achieve that. Thanks to Taylor, I can track things because he bought me a scale that does weight and body fat percentage. This tool will make it easier to know if I’m losing the fat.
Anyways, that’s my end of the year post for 2013.
Here’s to a productive 2014!
TaTa,
Amanda Ellen

Starting the 2013 book list with Harry Dresden “Summer Knight” by Jim Butcher!!!!

Tuesday, January 15th, 2013

Well, I didn’t forget about this thing after all!
Thanks to RO I will do my best to do a 2013 book list.
If for nothing else than to help you fine folks find some new reading material! I also really want to know how many books I find time to read in a whole year, and this is the best way to do it!
I will do my best to remember to link each books title back to Audible or something similar when I can, that way you have quick access. 🙂
*Writers Note*
The numbering of these books does not reflect how I would rank these books, it merely states in what order I finished them.
Also, this will serve as a warning that I have a completely random tastein books and there is no telling what book genre the next title will be.
You’ve been warned. 🙂
*writers note end*
So, I’ll kick it off with my first finished book of 2013:
1. Summer Knight: The Dresden Files, Book 4 by Jim Butcher
finished: January 14
This is book 4 in “The Dresden Files” series by Jim Butcher. I think I got into this series by finding the first book in an Audible sale.
After the first book was better than expected, I was drawn in!
Harry Dresden is a wizard, but he’s also a private eye of sorts and a consultant for the Chicago PD.
He consults with Murphy (a female cop) on the “weird” crimes that happen in Chicago.
I really enjoy the magical twist Jim Butcher has put on routine cop stuff.
If you like cop and murder mysteries, and you don’t mind or even like a little bit of magic, then check this series out.
I don’t know how to emphasize enough how much I like this series and cast of characters more.
“My name is Harry Blackstone Copperfield Dresden. Conjure by it at your own risk.
I’m a wizard. I work out of an office in midtown Chicago.
As far as I know, I’m the only openly practicing professional wizard in the country.
You can find me in the yellow pages, under Wizards.
Believe it or not, I’m the only one there.”
That’s a piece of the publisher’s summary that caught my interest in the first book.
Right now, I think there is 14 books or so in this series, and I like to interchange them with Harry Bosch… but that’s a series I’ll get to later.

Anyways, that’s it… my first completed book of 2013!
Hope you enjoy and find a new good book to read here. 🙂

TaTa,
Amanda Ellen