October Book Update

I have given up on finishing 50 books before the end of the year...now I am just going to try to read as many as I can... Who knows what may be added to my list by the end of the year...the books seem to keep changing...I have learned my lesson...book challenges are Challenging!

Red = Read, Purple = Reading, Green = Planned for November

Fiction
1 - 4. Twilight Saga by Stephenie Meyer
5. The Cider House Rules by John Irving
6. 1984 by George Orwell
7. Saints at the River by Ron Rash
8. The Shack by William Young
9. The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
10. The Pilot's Wife by Anita Shreve
11. Look Homeward, Angel by Thomas Wolfe
12. Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier
13. East of Eden by John Steinbeck
14. Evening by Susan Minot
15. The Constant Gardner by John LeCarre
16. Serena by Ron Rash
17. Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates
18. Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
19. The World Made Straight by Ron Rash

20. The Wilderness by Samantha Harvey

21.Tribute by Nora Roberts

22. Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen

23. Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen

24. Physick Book of Deliverance Dane by Katherine Howe

25. The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown

26. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society

27. Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger

Non-Fiction
28.The Devil's Picnic by Taras Grescoe
29. The Canon - A Whirligig Tour of the Beautiful Basics of Science by Natalie Angier
30. The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell
31. Blink by Malcolm Gladwell
32. Stumbling on Happiness by Daniel Gilbert
33. The Inner Path of Tai Chi by Caroline Demoise
34. A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle
35. Rx for Survival by Philip Hilts
36. A Woman's Guide to Sucessful Negotiating by Lee & Jessica Miller
37. Full Catastrophe Living by Jon Kabat-Zinn
38. Three Cups of Tea by Mortenson and Relin
39. The Art of War for Women by Chin-ning Chu
40. What I Know Now - Letters to my Younger Self edited by Ellyn Spragins
41. Basic Black by Cathie Black
42. Better by Atul Gawande
43. The World is Flat by Thomas Friedman
44. The Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan
45. Seabiscuit by Laura Hillenbrand
46. Audition by Barbara Walters
47. Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell
48. Life is a Verb by Patti Digh
49. The Holy Blood, & The Holy Grail by Lincoln, Lee & Baigent

50. A Home on the Field by Paul Cuadros

National Healthcare IT Week

I am having a great time in DC this week for National HIT week! DC is exciting with all of the health reform chatter. Today I met a ton of very interesting individuals...more to meet tomorrow. I am keeping my fingers crossed for good weather tomorrow! More on #NHIT tomorrow!

Bee Stings & Grass!

I haven't fooled with my bees in the past few weeks...until yesterday. I decided it was time for an inspection and more sugar water for my babies. As usual my mother helped me with the task. Either I was not gentle enough or they were simply agitated...but between the two of us we received 5 stings. My mother got 4 stings...ear lobe, foot, and two in the head and I was stung on my right elbow. She wasn't wearing any protective clothing, sat too close and had hair gel on...all no-nos. Her ear is very swollen...I have been teasing her and calling her dumbo...She really hates that!

Yesterday was also full of work. I planted grass seed in the front yard - I hope it will grow. Last year's planting was not that successful. We are considering selling the house and want to make slight improvements, just in case we decide to sell.

Next week...the job hunt continues. My mother has had a few leads and I really hope she finds something in the next few weeks. I think she is ready for a change...after 35+ years of working for the State, I think she is ready for something different for the next 10 years of her working life. I am also ready for a job! I am so sick of people telling me I am over-qualified for some things and that I do not have enough experience for others. I do not understand why HR people do not get the point that skills are transferable and that young, highly educated people ARE capable of doing jobs they have never done before! I'll get off my soap box...and on to other tasks for the day...buy airline ticket...get ready for company that will arrive at 3...and clean!

Last Suntan of the Summer

Yesterday my arms, neck and shoulders were sunburned while I was outside caulking windows all day. I absolutely hate caulking...and I am terrible at it! How do people make such perfect lines? I am just thankful I bought 50 year caulking - I hope to never do it again!

The weather has turned somewhat cool and I can't wait for fall to arrive! October is my favorite time of year, complete with rustling leaves, crisp breezes and my favorite holiday - Halloween. I haven't decided if I'll dress up or not - I haven't in a few years. That is a few weeks away... I have much to do until then - DC trip, find a job, finish up gerontology field experience, finish up cleaning out the house, and so much more! This year Labor Day will be full of labor...just the bad kind...unpaid :(