My new found love...the library system

So, recently I found a new love, our library system. I have used the library before, for checking out books, but now you can set up online accounts and download mp3 or wma files right from your computer and load them on to your iPod (some not iPod compatible). The Kent District Library is huge and also part of Lakeland Library Cooperative so you can place holds from your online account, request it for pickups at your favorite nearby library, they will simply email you when its ready. The number of books from libraries that I have access to is here.

So, I recently finished an audio book called The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold. I really liked this book and the author narrated the audio book and had a great voice. I started looking into her more, and she wrote a memoir called Lucky. I searched to see what was available and audio book format came up. I was not able to find it on a digital download, but figured I could just load the cds and add to the iPod manually. I picked it up yesterday (took about a week because they transferred it from Clarksville library).

I was excited to get home and transfer it to my iPod, BUT, I opened the case up and for some reason I had this worry in my head that these were cassettes because the way the box was shaped, not cd like....uh oh, I opened it, and it was this little gadget where you plug headphones into. Weird? I have never seen this...and I was bummed I would not be able to load this on the my iPod, no possible way to get the content out and into my cool iPods, oh well, I now have to carry another gadget around when listening to this book. I need a belt for my gadgets!



I am ok with this for now, but will now keep an eye out if there are details on specific formats when they list "audio book." I still like reading normal books too, as some books I put on my wish list about real estate and investing. Right now my normal books I am reading are Cramer's Getting Back to Even and The Dew Breaker (borrowed from Dana). I switch depending what I am in the mood for. So that's what I am up to on the reading front...and am trying not to buy books, only library, hell, I pay for it already!

When Life Hands you Lemonade

While reading my friend Jodi's blog, she nominated my blog for this award, thank you Jodi! I enjoy reading her blog about her family, what her kids are doing and just what is making her happy or sad, its always very insightful and I hear her voice when reading her blogs..its fun! Thanks Jodi, oh here is her blog The Thorntons.

The rules for this award are simple:

1. Thank the giver of the award and link their blog.
2. List 5 things about yourself.
3. Link 5 new recipients and notify them.


So......here we go! 5 things about me........

1. I have never been kissed. Ha! Just kidding. Ummm....hmm...I played in the Big League Softball World Series when I was 16. I was a fast picther, and pitched against Canada. We ended up third in the world. Not bad. Oh, and we beat Canada.

2. I have worked in the movie business for 16 years. Sounds like I am old huh, no, I am not old!! I started working in a movie theater when I was 16, and now handle Marketing for mid-west movie theater chain. I have worked for 3 movie theater chains, 1 video store chain and 1 TV station in my "entertainment" career. Ha!

3. I am a geek. I love everything technology, iPods, photo and video editing, hacking software, graphics programs, unique computer programs that do things like test the processing speed of my computer or order my movie collection, or cataloging my backed up computer software, excel sheets, digital slr cameras, podcasts, training computer videos, video cameras, motion-stop capturing, shooting video on green screens and keying out backgrouds, audio editing, mixing sound effects, blogging....

4. I LOVE sports! I workout 6 days a week, sometimes 7 if I forget to rest. I belong to a gym. I am now a triathlete and runner. I also play softball a little too much, 3-4 times a week. Tennis league, racquetball league. I love volleyball, but haven't been on a league lately. Skiing, Basketball and kayaking are some others I like to do!


5. I never leave home without my iPods. Between Keith and I we have 4. He has 2 Nanos, a 1g and 8g. I own 2, one that is a 60g video ipod and an 8g iTouch. I think the iPod is the greatest invention of the decade. I always listen to my iPod in the car, gym, grocery store or work. I always have something to listen to other than just music. I download a lot of podcasts. I have my Touch with me for Monday conference calls at work, I love to play the dice game when there is ranting going on for 2 hours. I also play the Touch when watching TV, when the battery dies, then I grab my laptop while watching TV. I am a tech gadget addict!! Oh - also just bought a small Kodak zi8 HD video camera.

Well, enough about me. Now it's time for me to nominate some other fun blogs:

Gladd to see you
Jilek-Wolfe blog
The Twaros
Smith's Blog
Triathlon Training Blog

A Day of skiing at Crystal Mountain

Today Ryan and I had a wonderful and long day of skiing at Crystal Mountain. We arrived about 9:45am and were on the slopes about 10:45 am due to waiting in line for rentals. I own skis, but didn't get them waxed and plus, mine are 15 years old and decided to try the rental skis for something different. Yes, they were different! My skis are over my head, I think 174mm, the ones they gave me were much shorter, over my shoulder and they were a bit bowed, I believe this is the new way of skiing, apparently you have more control with shorter skis. I didn't fall skiing, but did fall getting off the chairlift, a lady pushed all her weight off of me to get herself up, and I went down! Ha! We had some great moments when Ryan tried acting like goofy teens jumping off snow hills and wiping out! Didn't have the camera for that. I went down a black diamond hill called Wipeout, and did NOT wipeout! The skiing was a bit icy due to the rain we got a couple days ago, but overall a great day! And my new ski outfit made it all the better! Oh - and also have a cool new hat that has built in speakers for my iPod. Thanks Mom and Dad! Check ut pictures and video at the bottom.

2009 Resolution Reflection

I posted my goals in early January for 2009, looking back, let's see how I did:

1. Compete in at least one Sprint Triathlon
-This was completed in May 09, and plan to do many more!

2. Pay off my second mortgage
-This was completed in June, now focused on paying down the first!

3. Try snowboarding
-I went with Amanda to Bittersweet to try it in February, can you say sore butt? I am going to stick to skiing.

4. Volunteer my time in some way
-Not as much as I was hoping, but was able to give my time and volunteered for Variety Children's Charity and helped out at their Christmas party for underprivileged children.

5. Go on a photo walk once a month
-This did not happen, maybe once..

6. Write a monthly budget each month, stick to it, and review budget/actual on my excel sheet
-I try and do this, and its very difficult when things just come up, but still able to pay cash for everything, and feel like I am saving especially without a car payment and my second mortgage being gone.

7. Do 5 pull-ups in a row
- I can only do 2.5 in a row without assistance....even after p90x.

8. Run a 10k
- I never signed up for a 10k race, but the last tri that I did, the run was about 5.5 miles, ok...that's not a 10k...I plan to do it this year.

9. Read 1 book a month
-I still plan to do this, I have some books that I just got for Christmas like Getting Back to Even with Jim Cramer, and No Need for Speed (author forgotten).

10. Of course, something that has always been on my list, lose 15 pounds.
-This will stay on my list forever. Maybe lipo this year, ha??

Books I have read in 2009

So, I was looking over one of my goals for 2009, and it was to read/listen to more books, technically, I told myself 2 books a month, I think that was a little overkill! Ha! But it definitely got me reading: Here are a list of books that I read in 2009:

Jim Cramer’s Real Money: Great book, recently I have put some money into the stock market, this book I have listened to twice, I learn something new the more I listen to him, and also watch his show daily, Mad Money.

Push – Saphire: This book was really good, but warning, very disturbing and hard to listen to. Its about a illiterate, overweight teenager who has been abused by her mother and sexually abused by her father, in which she gave birth to two of her father's children. This book was made into the Golden Globe nominated movie Precious, which prompted me to read it. I am not sure if I can see the movie, as the book was very detailed and graphic, but its one of those books that just put you into another perspective of someone else's life.

The End of Over Eating: Good common sense book about food, dining out, snacking and just overall good health. Obviously, its not the end of overeating for me, ha! But you need these books every now and then when you need motivation of eating healthy.

Eclipse – Stephanie Meyer : I do enjoy these Twilight Saga books, I have one more to go, Breaking Dawn. Oh - and I am Team Jacob.

Born to Run - Christopher McDougal Interesting running book about the elite running world of ultra marathoners (50 plus mile races) and even those that run barefoot! It was a an entertaining story about how the author trained to run an ultra marathon and the people he met on the way. Good book for those into running or trying to love running. I still don't LOVE running, but gave me an better appreciation for it.


The 4 Hour Work Week: : Obviously this book is not going to help me quit work and start my own business and work 4 hours a week like the author, but it gave a lot of great tips for working more efficiently, and quality work, over quantity. It was a fast read, and I would read again.


The Shack - William P. Young: I did enjoy reading this book, a young child is abducted and murdered on a family vacation, the father, a year later, receives a note from God to meet him at the Shack where they found the body. A unique look at God and your relationship. I hope this is turned into a movie.

Fine Dining at Louis Benton

Last night Keith and I went out with friends all dolled up (Amanda, Jason, Marcia, Tricia and Dusten) and celebrated Christmas. We met at Tricia's house for pre-dinner drinks with her wonderful homemade Sangria. We exchanged presents (drew names a few weeks ago). Keith had Dusten and bought him a Michigan windbreaker. Dusten had Keith and got him Tortilla shell warmer bowls! I had Amanda and got her a blue breathable workout under armor shirt and bath and body lotion. Marcia had me and got me a candle holder and candle along with 2 handmade stretch bracelets.

We played a little catch phrase and laughed a little and the we were off to Louis Benton Steakhouse downtown. We knew the place was expensive, as there were no prices on the menu, but fortunately we had a coupon, buy 1 dinner get 1 free up to $25. We started with the calamari and I enjoyed a German Chocolate Cake Martini, and Keith had his staple, beer. The calamari was great, and Dusten ordered Balsamic Portobello Mushrooms. Wow!!! I hate mushrooms, but those were awesome, I could eat an entire meal of that!

I had the Top Sirloin steak with herb garlic butter, it was cooked to perfection, medium seems to be more medium rare, which was great! I upgraded my salad to the French Onion soup, that was phenomenal. Keith ordered Filet Mignon with Oscar topping, which was Asparagus and Hollandaise sauce and King Crab meat. We ordered a family size side of a Loaded Baked Potato, yum! Oh, and can't forget the delicious warm bread, when everyone was afraid to order another serving in fear we would be charged more, I ordered more, and no, bread is free!!

It was a great evening, and after spending $101 even with our coupon, it was worth it, we were living a little!!! Felt like the Trumps!

Making Christmas Cookies

Today I went over to Marcia's to decorate Christmas cut-out cookies. Me, Amanda, Trica and Marcia were bringing Christmas cheer by listening to Christmas music, frosting cookies, and drinking Holiday Nog. Egg Nog and Butter shots. Well Amanda and I had it. We made a ton of cookies and had a great time! Thanks Marcia!