Book Recommendations?

If you didn't know it already, I love to read. A while back I joined up with some other great bloggers to review books on Book Nook Club. I had no idea that reviewing some of my favorite books on my favorite blog would eventually lead to me getting emails at least 2-3 times a week to see if I'd like to review a book. Which means I get a lot of books, brand new books even that other people want to read as soon as I'm done with them.

And now comes the point of this post - I use paperbackswap.com to trade out books that I've read for other books that I want to read. I finally went through my bookshelf last week and sent 24 books to people, which gave me 24 credits in return. Add that to the 13 credits I already had and I now have almost 40 credits, or 40 books I can request.

I have 40 credits and no books to use them on, which is where you come in. I know the majority of you read, a lot. What are some of your favorite all-time books or favorite books you've read recently? What books should I use those 40 credits on? I've got an open shelf for books in my room and am counting on you to fill it up for me. I'll take any recommendations you've got and if you have a list of more recommendations than you want to include in the comments - feel free to email me.

Hawaii 2011

I know I'm a little late with this post but better late than never right? Here are just a couple of my favorite moments from our Hawaii trip in January. We started the trip with two days in Oahu where we went to the flea market, visited Pearl Harbor, and went to the Polynesian Cultural Center.

Then Monday we went on a muddy hike with some of our friends that live in Hawaii. The hike ended at a beautiful waterfall with cliffs to dive off of.

On Tuesday morning we flew to Maui where we stayed for the rest of the week. Tuesday morning we went on an incredible whale watching tour where we saw probably close to 50 different flutes. The scenery was almost as incredible as the whales.

Wednesday (and Friday) we went scuba diving and saw a couple of sharks and some pretty fish. Not the best scuba diving I've ever done but it was still pretty fun.

Thursday was probably one of my favorite days - we drove the road to Hana. If you're ever going to Maui and are planning to drive the road, don't do it without first reading Maui Revealed. It has an entire chapter on the road to Hana that includes fun places like secret (but safe) caves, unique ice cream stops, and hidden pools to swim in. It was definitely a day to remember.

Friday we went scuba diving again then ended the day playing at the beach, playing some very competitive beach volleyball during a gorgeous sunset, and eating a delicious meal at a homemade Italian place.

Saturday was our last play day. We started it out with surf lessons (everyone got up and rode a wave) then went and played a game called Monastery Tag at one of the beaches near our apartment. I haven't laughed that hard in a long time, maybe ever.

And then came Sunday, race day. This half-marathon was different from all the rest in two ways - this was #10 and my mom and grandma (yes I said grandma) did it with us. There is something incredible about three generations of women crossing the finish line at the same time.

Half marathon #11

Training for my next half starts Monday complete with a colorful training chart and prize bucket.

My Next Project: Me

I'm a project manager at heart. I love spreadsheets, lists, and planning. I love following up with people, writing with bullets, and scheduling and crashing schedules. Working with other people and being in charge of a team, check. It's much easier going and doing a job every day when it comes naturally to you.

Now why can't I take that same mentality, that mentality that comes so natural to me, and apply it to me own life? I just read a soon to be published book called The Me Project - it's similar to The Happiness Project but not really - and in the book it says this about the project manager, "You are the only one who is going to make this happen, so when I refer to the project manager - that's you, baby." It's incredible that I never really put two and two together. A good goal is something that is specific, realistic, and has a set period of time (e.g., run a marathon by the end of the year). A project is something that has a set beginning and end. A goal = a project.

I should be treating my goals at home like I treat my projects at work - put together a plan, schedule it out, and stick to the project plan. The project team may only consist of me, myself, and I but I still need to keep myself (as the project manager) accountable for making sure the project gets done. My own personal projects are no less important than the ones for clients at work because I am just as important. And I need to keep telling myself that.

So no, there is absolutely no reason I shouldn't be able to run a project from start to finish in my own life as well. So tonight instead of running, ironic isn't it, I'm going to put together a project plan for running a marathon this year. Because there is just something that is less intimidating to me about starting and working on a project than working on a goal.

All I Want is a Roller Coaster

Do you ever have those times that you just feel blah? Hawaii was incredible but ever since I got back I've just been feeling stuck/stagnant/blah, whatever you want to call it I'm there. It's kind of like when I was younger and too short to ride the roller coaster so I had to settle for the merry-go-round. A merry-go-round has its place in an amusement park and don't get me wrong, I always go on it at least once. But it is nothing like a roller coaster, not even a kiddie one.

Around and around in a circle going up, down, up down but never feeling the anticipation as you are pulled up the first big hill or the rush as you speed through the loop or even better the feeling of weightlessness, that you could do anything, as you speed over the quick but gravity-defying bumps on the track. At the end of a merry-go-round ride you don't think ooh let's do that again, you think well that was nice, what's next.

That's where I'm at right now except I feel like I can't get off to see what's next. I know there is some huge coaster looming in the distance waiting for me to get on, but I'm strapped to this painted horse going in circles with no end in sight.

And maybe I shouldn't be complaining, I'm not depressed and the merry-go-round I'm stuck on isn't a bad one. It's just not a roller coaster. And once you've been on a roller coaster once, it's tough to be satisfied with anything else.