Readers’ Workouts – 5/2

by Carol6 Comments
I was so close to my weekly goal. :( FitBit's running a 30-day spring challenge that I'm going to try to participate in. I don't usually do burpees and I hate push-ups but I'll try. FitBit May Challenge Day 1: Done (7687) This week: Thursday - Walk with the dog, Elliptical Friday - Walk with the dog Sunday - Walk with the dog Monday - Walk with the dog, Pilates Meal plan: Amber and I are on our own for half of this week, which changes what I eat a bit. I try to pick things that she particularly likes when it's just the two of us. Chicken with tomatoes and green beans Mac and cheese French toast Chinese Spaghetti with tomato sauce Buffalo chicken frites Roasted garlic-crusted chicken Year Fitness Goals: - Lose weight. Goal - Lose 26 lbs. I haven't weighed myself. We're working on the bathroom, so our scale is hanging out somewhere in the living room underneath the boxes, etc. And I am getting very tired of the mess.(starting 141.6) - Run 2 5ks, 1 10K and 1...
Read More

Spring into Horror Readathon Wrap-up

by Carol1 Comment
The Spring into Horror Readathon ended yesterday. From Seasons of Reading: Remember, it's two weeks now...and at the tale end (the finale weekend) will also be Dewey's 24 Hour Readathon! Official dates are April 17 through 30, starting at 12am CDT Monday and ending at 11:59pm CDT on Sunday the 30th. Guidelines for the readathon can be found HERE or you can access in the menu at the top of the blog. Any information you need about the readathon can be found there. The hashtag for checking in on social media is #SpringHorror.  You can also check-in and chat at our Facebook group (also can be accessed in the blog menu). Just remember...the one main "rule" of Spring Into Horror is that you must read ONE scary book (which can be a thriller, mystery, Gothic novel, or similar for those who are faint of heart). The rest of the week...anything goes! Read more horror, or go in for less heart jolting fare. 😀 I had...
Read More

Dewey’s 24 Hour Readathon

by Carol1 Comment
Dewey's 24 Hour Readathon is today!! What is Dewey’s 24-Hour Read-a-thon? For 24 hours, we read books, post to our blogs, Twitters, Instagrams, Litsy, Facebook, Goodreads and MORE about our reading, and visit other readers’ homes online. We also participate in mini-challenges throughout the day. I will be participating as much as I can, but I admit I always fall asleep way before the 24 hours is through. We might go on an artist's studio tour today, too, which will cut down on my time. I will also be posting on instagram, etc, randomly through the day. The official tag is #readathon. Instagram: carolsnotebook Twitter: carolsnotebook Facebook: Carol's Notebook Opening Survey 1) What fine part of the world are you reading from today? Eastern Ohio 2) Which book in your stack are you most looking forward to? I don't know. First I'll be finishing the ones I'm in the middle of. 3) Which snack are you most looking forward to? I bought some turnovers to bake this evening. 4) Tell us a little...
Read More

The End of the Day by Claire North

by Carol5 Comments
Charlie is the Harbinger of Death. It's his job. He's a mortal, has no super powers except a support staff at an office somewhere who are great at making reservations, getting him across borders and out of jail, and paying ransoms. He meets good people and terrible people, and sometimes he's sent for ideas or ways of life and not individuals. He celebrates Life and we travel with him. That's what we do, we see what he sees, hear what he hears, including random snippets of conversation, go where he goes. We're with him when he meets people, gives them gifts, tells them he is the Harbinger and sometimes he comes as a warning and sometimes as a courtesy. We're with him as he listens to people's life stories and when he is beaten and held prisoner. After all, not everyone is happy when the Harbinger of Death shows up; some are though. Yes, sometimes we see slices of the lives of the...
Read More

Thursday’s Tale: The Moon Rabbit

by Carol1 Comment
David, Amber and I were on our way to a baseball game Tuesday and just chatting. We were talking about the moon landing and Amber mentioned that the Japanese see a rabbit on the moon too. Amber and I had talked about the Mexican tale when I talked about it. She always has to hear about the interesting stories and books I read, but I listen to hers too so it's fair. I found a Japanese folk tale that talks about how the rabbit ended up on the moon. One day, Fox, Monkey, and Rabbit met an old beggar who asked them for food. Monkey climbed a tree and brought him some fruit. Fox went to a stream, caught a fish, and brought it back to him. But Rabbit had nothing to offer him but some grass, and he knew people don't eat grass. So he asked the beggar to build a fire. After the beggar started the fire, Rabbit jumped into it and...
Read More

My Favorite . . Romantic Movie

by Carol5 Comments
My Favorite.. is a weekly meme hosted by Maureen’s Books. In this meme we share every week something we love with each other. Because let’s face it.. The world can be a dark place and it’s time to share something positive. For more info: My Favorite Meme. I don't watch many romantic movies. We're more action/fantasy folks. I wish I could say my favorite romantic movie is Casablanca or Gone with the Wind, but to be honest I don't really remember much about them. The one that popped into my mind was one we watched years and years ago, but i still pull out the sheet music to play. The Piano takes place during Victiorian times. Ada McGrath is mute and she has a young daughter. They are sent to the New Zealsand wilderness with Ada the imported bride of dullard land-grabber Stewart. Ada immediately takes a dislike to Stewart when he refuses to carry her beloved piano home with them from...
Read More