Remembering Isaac by Ben Behunin

I read this book for my book group. It was okay, but it didn't just set me on fire. The author is meeting with our group when we have the discussion, and I'm hopeful that it makes the book seem better.

Isaac was the potter of Niederbipp. He died, and Jake takes over as town potter. The town residents come in and talk to Jake about Isaac and how wonderful he was, and how he changed and improved everyone's lives. And of course how humble he was.

About half way through the book I thought, "Okay, Isaac was a great guy. Now let's move on."

This is the first in a series. I really don't have any desire to read any more of the books.

Library Book Rant

I started reading the book Quiet by Susan Cain. After about 25 pages I had to stop and return it to the library. I requested the audio book instead, and I'm waiting for it.

The reason I had to stop reading the book was someone had written notes all over the book. Not just underlined, which in itself is offensive enough in a library book, but comments in the margins, and all over the place. At the beginning there is a little quiz you take to see if you are an introvert or not. That person's answers were right there for all of us future readers to see, in addition to his/her comments about that quiz.

When I own a book, I feel free to make notes and highlight parts of it. But never a library book. It was so distracting I could not read the book. It is so maddening to me. Who in the world thinks that is okay?

Now I'm even further away from getting this book read. I hope the audio version becomes available soon.

First Family by David Baldacci

No, this is not the book about John and Abigail Adams (that book is sitting on my bookshelf waiting to be read). This one is the next in the King and Maxwell series.

I enjoy these fast action books. They catch you on the first page, and keep you involved until the end. There are only a couple more in the series. I'll be a little sad when I'm done with them.

January Report

Two things:
1. I can't believe it's February already!
2. At my current rate of blogging for the year, I'll have about 20 posts for the whole year, 12 of which will be monthly reports. I need to carve out more time for recording in my blog.

January started off with a bang. Our son got married on January 4, and we had our daughter Debra and her family here with us for a week during that time. Here are a couple informal shots of the wedding time:

Four of my granddaughters: Elizabeth (4), Rachel (4), Madeleine (6), and Diane (3)

Me and my son Ray on his wedding day

But I digress. Back to the matter at hand--my January report.

1. First Things First. Coming along. I have committed to increasing my exercise and taking a strength building class at my gym three days a week for the next two months. I'm hoping that will be enough time to show a little benefit and give me time to learn to enjoy it. If after two months I hate it, I will try something different.  All other aspects of this goal are marching along.

2. Personal History. Scanning photos has gone great guns this month. Most of it has been helping my sisters-in-law, but I've done some of my own, and they are on tap to help me next time around. The journal writing has not improved yet.

3. Temples. We went to the Jordan River Temple and the Draper Temple this month. They are nearby, and that worked well for us.

4. Home Projects.
Cleaning: My goal for January was my kitchen, top to bottom. I didn't get it top to bottom, but I sure made great progress. I think I went through all but one cupboard, and two drawers. I cleaned them, reorganized, and purged lots of stuff we no longer use. I had hoped to scrub all the outsides of the cabinets, but that didn't happen. At least the insides got scrubbed.
Projects: Reorganize my dad's files. Ha! I completely forgot about this one. I'll roll it over into February.

I feel like I did pretty well on making some progress on most of these goals. If I can keep this up, by December there will definitely be an improvement over the year. Feels pretty good.

For February: clean our master bedroom top to bottom. Ray went through his stuff a couple of weeks ago, so I'm itching to get mine taken care of too. I'll also work on reorganizing my dad's files.

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein

I find my mind reaching back into parts of this book several times a day. I just can't seem to shake it.

Audrey read it and loved it. Joseph read it and loved it. Audrey was going to return it to the library and  I said, "let me keep it. I'll return it when I'm done." I read it and loved it. I bought it.

It is a story that takes place in occupied France and in England during WWII. When I finished the book, I had to bring myself back to the present, and it wasn't easy. I didn't want to let go. I wanted to turn  back to page one and start all over again right then and there. Unfortunately I had a meeting to attend, or I would have. Meanwhile I haven't started a new book for a few days. Still mulling over this one.

It is a young adult book. I found it in the teen section when I went to buy it. It's clean except for some swear words that seem entirely appropriate in context.

It's my turn to choose our book for reading group next month. I was going to do a different book, but now I am going to review this one. I can't wait to read it again.

Fingal O'Reilly: Irish Doctor by Patrick Taylor

I've been busy lately, and reading has taken a back seat to some other activities. I was excited to have this book to read, as I have really enjoyed every book in this series.

It didn't disappoint. It is a little less story-driven than the other books. The stories mainly drive the medical information you learn about the 1930's and 1960's. That sounds dull, but it isn't. The stories are still fun and I found it fascinating to learn how the field of medicine has progressed just in the time of my parents' lives. And how it changed drastically from the 1930's to the 1960's. Compare back then to now, and it is really a marvel.

I flew through the book. I'm impatient for the next one to come out.

Simple Genius by David Baldacci

I'm loving this King and Maxwell series. I've already got the next book in the series checked out and waiting on my nightstand.

2014 Goals and Resolutions

It's a new year, and I'm setting some new goals, and renewing some old ones. It really helps me to be accountable to myself and that's why I write about it on my blog. Even if I don't accomplish everything I set out to do, I accomplish some of it along with some other things I didn't plan on doing - a bonus! Plus I have a record of it, and can actually look back and remember what I got done, and that I did indeed get something done.

This year is my golden birthday - I was born in 1957, and I turn 57 this month. This is the year I plan to take care of myself, and get my life in order (if such a thing is possible). So without further ado, here are my goals for the year:

1. First Things First:
Say my prayers and read my scriptures daily.
Regular exercise.
Eat more healthy foods.
These are lifelong goals. Each year I get a little bit better, and a little more consistent at these things.

2. Personal History: in the past this has consisted mainly of trying to get my photos scanned and labeled. That will continue this year, as I have barely begun to make a dent in the process. But I also want to be better about keeping a personal journal too. All these things together help to record my life. I'm not very good at it, but it is an area I'd like to develop and improve in.

3. Temples: Utah has 13 LDS Temples. I want to go to every one of them this year. Some are local, some will require a little travel.

4. Home projects: this is the area I always have such high hopes for, but always seems to take a back seat to everything else. That's okay - every bit I chip away at is a help. As I looked over what I had on my list for 2013, and what I got done, I was amazed at all I did. So even if my list is very optimistic, I'm happy with coming up short because I still get some of the things done I want to get done. This year I have two areas here I want to do. A monthly cleaning project that will hopefully have my house organized and clean by the end of the year (very optimistic here). And a few ongoing projects that I will assign to my self for a month at a time, and rotate them through the year. Don't worry, it makes sense to me, and I'm the one who matters in this case. I'm going to set them down in writing here, and reserve the right to change and modify them at any time. It will be interesting to see what actually happens by next December.
Cleaning
January: Kitchen
February: Master Bedroom
March: Master Bath
April: Family Room
May: (yard) Living Room
June: (yard) Library/Music Room
July: (yard) Downstairs Bathrooms
August: (yard) Upstairs Bathrooms
September: (yard) Guest  Rooms
October: Office (mine)
November: Laundry Room
December: Temple Service
Projects
Reorganize Dad's files
Update emergency info
Year Supply info
Motorcycle - organize gear
Take pictures for insurance

So there it is for 2014. Each month I will return and report my progress, and set out goals for the following month. For January: Clean my kitchen top to bottom, and reorganize my dad's files.

Here's to a great year! Happy New Year!