Starting over....

87 Days until my 30th birthday.

FTFT #9: "Secrets of a Shoe Addict" by Beth Harbison

I was very excited to finally get my hands on this book, being a big of the prequel, "Shoe Addicts Anonymous".  The story centers the sister of Sandra Vandersplice from the first book and her PTA friends who each find themselves in an enormous amount of debt and possible danger.  With the help of Sandra, they embark on a phone-sex operator venture to try and make money quickly to cover their debts.  In the meantime, their friendship grows and they all build the confidence needed to leave a bad marriage, save a marriage about to end and put the past behind them. 

Find it on Amazon!

FTFT #8: "Backseat Saints" by Jossilyn Jackson

"Backseat Saints" was the wrong book to read on the pool deck while you are stuck there for 14 hours with teenagers.  To sum up this book in a sentence: This book is about a woman struggling to escape an abusive marriage.  It is much more than that, but that is the gist.

"Backseat Saints" can be described as a sequel to Jackson's "Gods in Alabama" which I "read" (Audio CDs) a year or two ago, but it is more of a companion book.  The main character Ro or Rose Mae was a minor character in "Gods in Alabama", but a pivotal one in terms of plot.    You can really read either first, but I suggest Gods in Alabama first.  This new book explores her story dealing with an abusive marriage and an abusive father and absentee mother in her past.  She eventually reclaims the girl she was in the past, which helps her have the courage to escape and find her mother.  

The title refers to Ro's reliance on prayer to the saints to help her through.  She was raised Catholic and to be reverent of the saints, which is just another part of her that was oppressed when she entered her marriage. 

Find it on Amazon!

FTFT #7: "Twenties Girl" by Sophie Kinsella

"Twenties Girl" was another book by an author I have enjoyed in the past.  It was cute sugary fluff, with a ghost.  As I read, I was eager to see how it worked out and of course the girl got the guy in the end, but not the one she initially wanted.  Pretty clique, but nice when you are on the pool deck for 12 hours.

Note on Sophie Kinsella:   Love her.  Love her books.  Will read anything she writes.  The Shopaholic books have become classic chick-lit and for good reason.   They are fun and engaging with a main character whom you cheer for.  She also writes under the pseudonym of Madeline Wickham.  In general I prefer her books like "Can you keep a Secret?" and "Remember Me?" as Sophie Kinsella better than anything as Madeline Wickham, but all are great rainy day or beach day reads.

Find it on Amazon!

FTFT #6: "The Book of Tomorrow" by Cecelia Ahren

One of my favorite ways to find new books is to find an author I like and read everything they publish.   This is a hit or miss strategy, but one that has worked for me over the years.   This time I came across the latest book by Cecelia Ahren, the author of "P.S. I Love You" and several other books I have read over the years. 

"The Book of Tomorrow" was enjoyable and while I wanted to know what happens, I was more interested in getting through it and onto the next book.  The main character and I share a name, Tamara, which was highly disorienting.   Also, the main character was a 16-year-old girl who has some serious entitlement issues.  Throughout the story, she does journey through learning more about her history and learning to have a less narrow-minded view of the world.  This is all well and good, but I don't connect with characters who continually tell me that they are on a journey.   You are the main character of a book, I get it. 

My most favorite part of the book was the cover and binding.   And get this......   A ribbon bookmark!   That was fun.

Find it on Amazon!

George Harrison (The beatles Here comes the sun)

Real Music.

My Chemical Romance - "SING" - Official Music Video

The "Stadium-Rock Anthem" from the new My Chemical Romance, a surprisingly optimistic view of a rebellion in a bleak dystopian future.

Colin Firth's Oscar speech

LOVE

FTFT#5: "The Red Queen" by Phillipa Gregory

I have a secret to share.  I love historical fiction.  And I mean LOVE.  I mean, get married, have babies, live together forever, LOVE historical fiction. 

Sidebar:
So not a great secret, but I was thinking this is a Tammy fact that not many people know.  I don't share my literary pursuits with people in my everyday circles, because they will once again look at me like I am insane.  No one wants to know that I read two full books this weekend and considered it a highly pleasurable experience. I think even the librarians at the Wayne County Public Library are shocked to see someone coming in a check out books with such regularity that are purely for reading enjoyment. I am not trying to insinuate that my current place of residence is devoid of culture or intellectual pursuits (at least not too much).  I have been impressed with the many efforts to improve the cultural experience of this community.  There is a small, but thriving community theatre effort and a impressive arts council.  However, change takes time and it won't happen if people won't let it.  Enough of that....let's talk 15th century England now.

"The Red Queen" is the latest book from Phillipa Gregory, the undisputed Queen of Historical Fiction.  If you have been under a literary rock for the last decade, she wrote "The Other Bolelyn Girl".   Even though Gregory had been writing excellent novels for many years prior, "The Other Boleyn Girl" catapulted her into the general popular culture spotlight.  Though it resulted in a highly anticipated, but ultimately disappointing movie, my appetite for this kind of book and this time period has not diminished.   Gregory has kept us satisfied with more and more.  What I like most about her work is that she mostly uses a female voice to tell these histories. 

For her latest series, she is examining the era right before the Tudor Era known as the War of the Roses.  The first book was "The White Queen" about Elizabeth Woodville the beloved queen of Edward IV the York King. "The Red Queen" followed about Tudor matriarch Margaret Beaufort who clawed, schemed and prayed her son's way to the throne.

I enjoyed this book, but not with the passion that I did "The White Queen" or others.   Though I knew they were condensing at least 40 years of tumultuous history into one average sized book,  it felt rushed.   What I liked the most about it was how it parallelled "The White Queen".  The events happen at the exact same time.  When you read both books, you are truly getting both sides of the story.  You want to hate Margaret at the end of the first book and by the end of the second you feel compassion for both women.

Find it on Amazon!

FTFT#4: "A Vintage Affair" by Isabel Wolff

No it is not "The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest".  I wish it was, but I am having trouble getting my hands on a copy.  I borrowed the first two from my sister when I was home over Christmas, but she was still reading the third.  But never fear I have requested it from my friendly local public library and I hope to have it in my hands before March is out. 

So I started one book that I had lying around the house and was very excited about it, and then I made the mistake of going to the library.  I always defer to library books over my own personal copies, because I like the excitement of a time limit.  Also, if I see something interesting at the library, I must grab it.   I cannot guarentee that I will find it again.  This has caused me to go home with armfuls of books in the past.  I was really bad about that in college and I would keep them all semester because I worked at the circulation desk and would just continually renew them.

So "A Vintage Affair" was an impulse library grab off the 7 Day Shelf.  After a month of being seeped in the "Men who Hate Women" theme, I was looking for something light and fluffy.  This book was not as light and fluffy as I thought on a first glance, but had a warm, inviting feel with a touching story of loss, grief, and renewal.  It was light without being vapid and it was thought-provoking without hurting my brain.  It was a quick read that I did not want to put down.

Find it on Amazon!

FTFT#3: "The Girl Who Played With Fire" by Steig Larsson

I think I will elaborate a little more on this one. 

I wasn't quite sure what to expect on this one, because I felt that they tied up Dragon Tattoo pretty neatly.  I have plenty of friends who have read all three books and proclaim their brilliance at every given chance, so I wasn't scared about this next one sucking.   I just didn't know where he would be taking us next. 

I was surprised to enjoy this book greatly, almost more than Dragon Tattoo.  I liked getting more of Lisbeth's history and being able to understand why she is the way she is.  I won't elaborate any more than that, so I don't risk spoilers.

When approaching this series, I didn't know what to expect other than the very little I have heard from others.  I think it would be helpful for future readers and for those wanting to see the movies to know the books original title.  The Swedish title of "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" translates to "Men who Hate Women".  I wish I had know that going into this experience.  This fact doesn't detract from the book nor does it detract from the feel of shock and suspense, it just would have been good to know.

FTFT #2: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson

My opinion of this book can be summed up in one phrase.  "Every bit as good as everyone says it is."

What I am listening to right now: The Black Keys - Tighten Up

FTFT #1: The Passage by Justin Cronin

I stumbled across  The Passage on the new release shelves of the public library.  Normally I am not drawn to science fiction or mystery, but I was drawn to this book.  I picked it up a couple of times before deciding to take it.  The story deals with a post-apocolyptic America after a virus seemingly wipes out humanity.  The basic premise is similiar to that of  "I am Legend", but it views the "vampire virus infecting all of mankind until there is only one left" and examines it from a different angle.    The book uses several different literary devices to tell it story allowing us to become invested in the lives of the different people living these experiences.  My favorite line from the cover flap says, "an epic chronicle of human endurance in the face of unprecedented catastrophe and unimaginable danger".   The human endurance part of the book was the most compelling.  The largest section of the book tells about a colony of people who have managed to live through this epidemic and how they fight to find an answer once they realize that the walls keeping them safe are starting to crumble.  The Passage is book one of a proposed trilogy.  The next book is slated to be released in 2012 and the third in 2014.   I will definitely be picking up the sequels as well.

Find it on Amazon here...

Fifty Two Fifty Two

Fifty Two Fifty Two is a project where you aim to read 52 books in 52 weeks.   I came across the blog sometime last fall and thought it was an incredible idea.  I wanted to wait until the beginning of the year to start.  I like the symmetry of January through December.  I guess that is either me being anal-retentive or just a factor of my birthday being December 31st.

I am a little behind already, but that is because the first book I picked out for the new year was a 750-page science fiction that I got off the of the New Release section of the library.    My first FTFT post will be coming shortly.

To find out more about Fifty Two Fifty Two, check out this link or click on the button to the right.

Weekly Weigh-In

After surviving one of the longest swim meets of the year without completely sabotaging myself, I weighed-in this morning.   Debs and I are both weighing ourselves on Tuesdays, so I have been getting Facebook messages at 6am or earlier telling me her result.  It took two weeks for me to remember that she now lives in Ohio and is in another time zone.  Ooooops!  I guess 7am isn't that early to be on the scale.  I am proud to say that I have lost another 4 pounds.  And I am going to eat an apple today.  I am so freakin' excited about that apple.

What I am listening to right now: Mumford and Sons - Little Lion Man

I am just a little bit obsessed with these guys right now.

Lessons Learned

1) Vegetables taste good when you are not allowed anything made with flour, sugar, or fat.

2) Sometimes I feel outrageously unqualified to do my job.

3) Dieting is easier when you start to see the results. 2lbs in week #1. I am hoping for another 2 lbs at my next weigh-in on Tuesday. If I can lose 2lbs a week, I will reach my goal weigh in just over 3 months.

4) I have decided that if I reach my goal weight, I am going to get my navel pierced.

Seize the Day (Chorale) to Bad Romance

Just because I needed a pick-me-up this morning. You are welcome.

2011: Goals are just dreams with deadlines....

I normally do not make resolutions. I am horrendously bad at keeping them. My follow-through track record is abysmal. So instead of resolutions, I am going to set "intents". That way I won't feel as bad if I do not follow through. My first intent is to not feel bad about myself if I fail. As a fellow blogger wrote....2011 will be a year of unbridled optimism.

1: Blogging. My intent is to write at least twice a week if not more and to not feel blocked because I do not think anyone else has any interest in what I have to say. I also want to try to write about something other than myself. I'm boring. But my kids are funny. Be prepared for lots more about swimming and my swimmers.

2: Swimming. USMS has a on-line program called Go The Distance. Last year, when I signed up in May, I just picked an random number of miles to complete for the year. I picked 100 miles. That was stupid. I finished the year with just about 66 miles. I felt like a failure. In reality, 66 miles of swimming in 7 months is pretty awesome. I would have even hit 100 if I had kept swimming after September. So I am going to try for 100 again this year, but starting in January instead. You see, setting myself up to succeed.

3: Running. I will never run a marathon. I don't want to. I will not be some crazy ultra-distance runner. I don't care that much. But much love and light to those who do and are. This is what I do want. I want to jump on the treadmill and run a couple of miles, a couple times a week. I do want to do a 5K a couple times a year. I want to be physically able to complete a triathlon. It is my intent to rebuild my running endurance (was destroyed by Christmas bout of bronchitis) and run 2-3 times a week for at least 20 minutes, until I can get back up to 3 miles.

4: Losing Weight. Though I do not like the way I look, I am used to it. My body and I have been fighting for a long 29 years, with my body winning the entire time. I just want to be skinny once before I have babies. My friend and Health Enhancement Director or the "Food Nazi", decided in December that she was going to put me on a diet. She is doing it with me of course, but she just wants to lose 10 pounds. My 30 pound goal is a little more daunting. We started this past Monday. We are essentially doing a modified South Beach. I was OK with that because I tried South Beach one summer in college and it worked. And then I went back to school and it all went down the drain. Today is Day 5. When I eat, I am not hungry but I am not nearly satisfied. Telling an emotional eater that she can't have bread or sugar is bad, but it is worse when she is single and very unhappy about it. It turns out that carbs contribute to serotonin production. I told SPD about that and laughed saying, "Oh Tammy, you are hungry and depressed!" I weigh myself for the first time on Tuesday. Don't hurt yourself stressing over the anticipation.

5: My job. My intent is to continue doing the best job I possibly can, keep my swimmers injury free, and make the best decisions I can. And to make it through the year without someone trying to get me fired.

If there is anyone still out there, share your intents for the new year, and I will intend to help keep you accountable!

2010: Lessons Learned

1: Blogging is hard.

2: Swimming is hard.

3: Running is hard.

4: Losing weight is hard.

5: Being a swim coach is always interesting.

I've achieved a lot in the last year, but not much that I think people would find interesting. I started 2010 saying that it was going to be the "Year of Tammy". Part of me thinks I accomplished that and the other part thinks that I utterly failed. The swimming, for example, I did solely for myself, but I did not accomplish my goal of swimming in a meet. I loved the blogging, but I eventually fell out of habit and thinking that I had nothing to say. I exercised like a demon this year and I still look the same. I was able to run two 5Ks this fall, but then I got bronchitis and now I can't run for more than 5 minutes with out stopping (on the treadmill!) My job was alternately wonderful and horrible. Literally something great would happen, and the next day the sky would fall down.

In 2011, I would like to actually achieve something.

There was a high point to the year. I did see one of my all-time dreams come true.










Yeah, that's right. I met Ian Crocker. Suck on that 2010!