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40 Things (19)

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Cover of "Lord of the Flies, Educational ...

Cover of Lord of the Flies, Educational Edition

Following along with Boof‘s 40 Day Challenge leading up to her 40th birthday, her 19th topic is:

19) A book that scared me

Almost halfway there!  🙂

Not sure of the difference between being scared and being creeped out.  I don’t like either one and tend to avoid books (and movies and TV shows and amusement park attractions.. etc.) that make me feel either way.  I talked in a post about “Amityville Horror” (creepy and scary), which I read as an adolescent.  I recently (within the last five years?) listened to “Lord of the Flies” on audio.  It was very disturbing.  I remember I had to stop listening on my way to work and listen to some upbeat music to get some images out of my hear before facing my day.  I guess that’s pretty scary.

#19 on my list of things to do was to “Save money for trips.”  Ah, the constant battle to save money.  I did go on some trips – the wonderful trip to NYC with Deadra to celebrate our 40ths in August of 2008, and Las Vegas with my daughter to see the Spice Girls in December of 2007.  Maybe more, but that’s all I can think of right now.  That flood kind of was a set-back in the realm of money saving, so trips that I take tend to be economical.  No lavish spending on a European tour for me (yet!).  I love to travel, I just have a hard time saving my money!

Off to read!

40 Things (18)

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War and Peace

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Following along with Boof’s 40 Day Challenge leading up to her 40th birthday, next topic is:

18) A book that I tell people I have read but haven’t

I read an abridged version of “War and Peace,” so although I mark it as “read” in those which of these have you read? lists, it doesn’t count in my eyes.  But I mark it anyway!  I can’t think of any other book that I’d lie about… aside from text books. 🙂

18 on my list was to Learn how to play MahJong.  And I did!  On the computer, anyway, and I have played it once live as well.  Mostly I play it on the computer, and I love the sound of the tiles and the music that plays in the background.  Good stuff.

Off to read!

40 Things (17)

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Global constellation map

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Following along with Boof’s 40 Day Challenge leading up to her 40th birthday, her 17th topic is:

17) A book with the best evil character

I don’t read many books with truly evil characters.  He Who Shall Not Be Named was pretty terrifying in the Harry Potter series.  The bad guys in Stieg Larsson‘s books were pretty terrifying, because they were more human, I’m afraid.  Evil people scare me more than evil wizards.

The 17th thing on my list of 40 things was to “Learn the constellations from one season.”  Pretty specific and measurable.  But sadly, I’m lacking.  But not for want of trying!  We did have several successful star gazing parties at a friend’s home – lying on a blanket in the country gazing in wonder at the many stars.  I love the app on my phone called Google Sky that shows the constellations as you look at them.  Now I can always learn something!

Off to read!

 

40 Things (15)

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Cover of "Extremely Loud and Incredibly C...

Cover of Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

Following along with Boof’s 40 Day Challenge leading up to her 40th birthday, day 15!  Her topic for today is:

15) A book that I have read the most number of times

Well, I don’t tend to re-read books too much (save the kiddo books I read when smaller), so the books I’ve read twice include: the Harry Potter series, Pride & Prejudice, and Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close.  That’s all I can remember.  I sort of have a “keep moving forward” philosophy and so use my limited time to try new books.  I had some poetry books when I was younger (“Now We Are Six” and “Reflections on a Gift of Watermelon Pickle”) that I read over and over again because they were so clever and fun.

#15 on my list of 40 things was to WRITE.  Blog, journal, stories, poetry, letters and postcards.  Again, not measurable but it has made me more purposeful and intentional and to put stamps on things and to keep a book for haikus.  Good stuff.

Off to read!

40 Things (14)

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Elizabeth tells her father that Darcy was resp...

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Following along with Boof’s 40 Day Challenge leading up to her 40th birthday, her next topic is:

14) A favourite 19th century novel

I am going to be very unoriginal and say “Pride & Prejudice.” I love everything about Austen’s novel and will re-read it every few years forever. Easy peasy.

#14 on my list was to Apply for a New Job.  See yesterday’s post for how that went. I was content to happy in my old job, so although I applied for part-time work occasionally (the library or B&N) I wasn’t ever serious about looking for a new job.

Off to read!

40 Things (13)

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Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason

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Following along with Boof’s 40 Day Challenge leading up to her 40th birthday, her topic today is:

13) A book that made me laugh out loud

Now that’s what I’m talking about. 🙂  There are a lot of books that make me smile the entire time I’m reading them – that’s the kind of books I choose, I guess.  As for laughing out loud, I have a vivid memory of reading “Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason,” and literally laughing until I cried. It’s not a great book, but it was the mood it put me in.  What a treat that was!  My daughter thought I was going crazy, on the other hand. I also chuckled a lot while reading Louise Rennison‘s books about Georgia.  How silly are they?

I love books like this, so I’m hoping for more recommendations!

#13 on my list of 40 Things was to make/update my resume.  I didn’t get around to that until recently – I guess I was content (lazy?).  Resume writing is so different now than the first few times I wrote mine.  I’ve decided it is an ever-changing document, because it needs to be tailored to the job that I’m applying for.  No more printing out dozens of copies on parchment paper (gosh, am I old??).

Off to read!

40 Things (11)

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Cover of "Little Bee: A Novel"

Cover of Little Bee: A Novel

Following along with Boof’s 40 Day Challenge leading up to her 40th birthday, day 11 –

11) A book that made me cry

I wrote earlier this week about feeling negatively towards books that make me cry by manipulating my emotions (“Sister’s Keeper” and “Beatrice & Virgil”). I cry a lot during good books and movies (and TV shows), but when I read this topic, my first thought was of “Little Bee” by Chris Cleave. What a beautifully written, sad story that was. And no negative feelings attached to it. Good stuff.

#11 on my list of 40 Things is: Write More Letters.  Again, not very specific or measurable, but something I made a conscious effort to do. I still try to write letters and send snail mail, because I know that getting mail other than bills or junk is so much fun.  (I don’t hardly get bills anymore, because everything is online! Mostly junkmail!)

Well, I’m going to write a few letters RIGHT NOW because I even have some cool stamps!  So much fun… (Happy Birthday, Troy!)

Off to read!

40 Things (10)

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Creepy Woods

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Following along with Boof’s 40 Day Challenge leading up to her 40th birthday, day 10 (not sure I’ve ever posted ten days in a row before!):

10) A book that gave me the creeps

Hmmm again. I tend not to read books that give me the creeps. “The Giver” gave me the creeps (don’t like dystopia anymore) and I remember reading “Amityville Horror” as a teen, and that is memorable. Whenever I see a lot of flies in a room, I remember…

I don’t like to feel creeped out or grossed out or scared, so I really choose not to “feed my head” things (books, movies, TV) that would make me have any of those feelings.

On my list, #10 Watercolor – a class? just for fun?

Again, pathetic. I did some watercolor classes in the past and have dabbled in it a bit, but never to much finesse. It is relaxing and fun. I wonder where my watercolor/art tub went… I think I loaned it to someone before the flood and haven’t gotten it back yet!  Must call her…

I took a Chinese brush painting class and spent quite a lot of money framing my “masterpiece” of that day, but it doesn’t match my decor at this point so it is in the closet.  Ah, well.

Off to read!

40 Things (9)

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Institute of Arts

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Following along with Boof’s 40 Day Challenge leading up to her 40th birthday and her next question is:

9) A favourite crime fiction book

It isn’t a genre I read often, but I have read some good ones.  On audio I have enjoyed Patricia Cornwell‘s novels about Kay Scarpetta, Diane Mott Davidson’s catering sleuth, and Sue Grafton‘s alphabet novels about Kinsey Milhone.  I remember staying up all night reading John Grisham‘s “The Firm” – I couldn’t sleep until it was done – and feeling just as compelled to read Dan Brown‘s “DaVinci Code.”

#9 on my list was to “go to the Minneapolis Art Institute,” which I did with Deadra and John in April of 2007!  I should make it a yearly pilgrimage, as there is always so much to see in a museum and I just love looking at art.

Off to read!

40 Things (8)

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Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close - Image Co...

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Playing along with Boof’s 40 Day Book Challenge, her next question is:

8) A book that blew me away

I’m not sure how to define “blew me away.”  I’ve read books where the ending was a total surprise and I’ve been a basket case (“My Sister’s Keeper,” “Beatrice & Virgil“), but although I feel “blown away” I never like that feeling.  I feel manipulated and left with a negative feeling towards the book.

“Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close” by Jonathon Safron Foer is a beautifully written book that “blows me away” without manipulating my emotions.  It could be because of Oskar’s personality guiding me through the book… it’s just such a good book.

#8 on my list was to “Have Dinner Parties” which I am pretty good at.  I love to entertain and sometimes use it as a way to “experiment with new recipes” (see #7) but often it is less about the food and more about the fellowship, in which case we order in.  I should plan another soon!

Off to read!