what i'm reading now

i'm actually reading two books at once right now
one for fun
and one for knowledge
book names are links again

11/22/63 - this is the newest stephen king book (who happens to live in maine) and actually, sad to say, the first one i've read (although right this second "bag of bones" is recording on the dvr).  i hate time travel movies so was guessing i wouldn't like this book but sean read it and couldn't put it down so i thought i'd give it a shot.  it's about a guy that goes back in time and tries to save kennedy from being shot.  king leaves no questions unanswered - like how do you get money.  i'm hooked and about 40% through the book.  with no work travel the rest of the year (doing the no-work-travel-dance!) that means no airplane rides so i probably won't finish it until next year (can you believe that's only a couple of weeks away?!?!).

Integrative Nutrition:  Feed Your Hunger for Health and Happiness - one of my friends is a holistic health counselor and this was offered for free on her website last month.  i love the approach to health and happiness this takes.  it's a wealth of information about what food is and what it should be.  i've already started to make some changes and can already see a difference (and i've actually lost a little weight too).  after i finish up the book (although not a prerequisite), which i'm about 40% through, i'll be setting up my counseling sessions.  can't wait to see what the new year will bring with this new way of thinking!  if you're interested in checking out her services head on over to her website, Healthy Weigh to Live, and schedule a free initial consultation (if you don't live in her area, no biggie, she also offers phone or skype!).

on my kindle

another benefit to traveling so much is all the little perks
a while back the hotel brand i usually stay at ran a special
for every so many stays you got an amazon gift card
i "lucked out" and stayed enough to get a gift card with enough on it for a kindle!
and since i got it i've read more than the last 20 years combined
so here's what i've been reading
(the book names are links in case you're interested in any of them - i get nothing by recommending them to you - i just want to pass along a recommendation)

The Hunger Games Trilogy - i think this is technically a children's book but i just couldn't put it down.  i decided to read it based on a recommendation from a friend.  it's about a post-apocalyptic word where children are forced to fight to the death in the "hunger games" by the government.  i can't wait for the first movie to come out in march.

Millennium Trilogy (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo) - after seeing everyone in the airport with this book and after the recommendation of a fellow passenger i decided to take this trilogy on (they're really thick books and that usually deters me but thanks to the kindle i have no idea how thick the book is!).  the whole series is about a super old murder and trying to solve it.  if you can get past the names and that you'll never be able to pronounce them you won't be able to put it down.  i've already watched the swedish movie version and can't wait for american version later this month!

One Day - this was also recommended by a friend.  the writing was very clever.  each chapter was the same day but a different year and it followed the lives of two individuals.  i really enjoyed this and yet another book that became a movie.  it's at the top of my netflix list.

The Glass Castle - also recommended by a friend it's a true story of a girl and her unorthodox childhood and upbringing.  it made me realize my upbringing wasn't so bad.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society - this is another one with a very unique writing style (and another recommended by a friend).  the entire book is written as letters.  once i got used to the writing style i really enjoyed this book.

Gunn's Golden Rules - yea, i read it - i admit it.  i liked reading the "backstage" stuff from project runway - the rest, eh...

Room:  A Novel - this one i saw an ad for when we were in london for new years.  another one written strange - from a 5 year old.  it's about a woman that was kidnapped and had a baby while in captivation.  it was highly predictable and not the best book i've ever read.

what have you read recently that you would recommend?  i'm always looking for a good book to read.

post-processing - week 1

i've been taking another online photography class
don't know what i was thinking doing it during december
but i am - and i'm two weeks behind
this one is about enhancing your photos after you've already taken them
i don't feel like i have a very good eye for this
so i thought i'd show y'all and see what you think
before

after

before

after

before

after

before

after

thoughts?  what would you change?
keep in mind this is only from week 1 where we learn the basics

key west - random sights

this is my final posting about our trip to key west
it was a great time...and beautiful and sunny and a nice climate and fun and relaxing
and if you've never been - book your ticket now
and drive the 7 mile bridge
and get some kino shoes - just don't go when the cruise ship lets off
enjoy the hodge-podge of sights from our trip!

the boat races

our time in key west happened to coincide with the speed boat races

we didn't plan that
they take the boats in and out of the water with cranes!

it disturbed my spa time by closing down the path to get to sunset key

my dream boat

and disturbed the peace during my massage by being so load

but also offered us a little entertainment by watching

and hitting up the parade on duval

unfortunately multiple people died in the races
they're soooooo fast!

and it's soooooo very dangerous
and is exactly why i am soooooo scared by sean's new toy

i'm so glad we were not watching when the accidents happened

better 1, better 2

this may be my all-time favorite picture i took from our trip to key west
but i can't decide which i like better
so i thought i'd ask you...

better 1?

better 2?

practicing in key west

while in key west i did take a couple minutes to practice using the macro lens i figured out i had
enjoy!

these totally remind me of paintings
so i really need to get back into learning how to paint
so i can try making my own version with paint
good thing i went to painting with a twist today