Good morning. Second run of 2010 today. It was really, really cold outside (around 5 with the windchill). I wanted to start the week off slowly so it was a quick run today, just over 2 miles. No pain at all, and very little soreness from Saturday's run. So far, so good!
Total 2010 mileage: 5.01
Here are the stats:
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/22136906
Monday, January 11, 2010
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Everything After by Sharon Pywell
At some point soon I want to develop a standard way to do book reviews, but until then it's just going to be off the cuff, so my apologies in advance.
Overall Rating: * * * * (4/5)
I really wanted to give this book a 5/5, but I just couldn't do it. It was an amazing book. It moved me, it made me cry, I was very connected to the story and the characters, but there was always something missing. I think I was confused at first, and for too long, which delayed my really getting into the story. Iris, Angie, Perry and Eddie are the children of Aunt Eleanor and Uncle Charlie's best friends. For the first 50 pages or more I thought Eleanor and the kids' mother had been sisters. When you read the book you'll understand why this causes confusion and difficulty relating to the story. I also felt like the reader was introduced too quickly to everyone, which made it difficult to get a handle on each character's personality and role in the story. The number of characters is manageable overall, but as just mentioned, the relationships aren't perfectly clear at first so all the kids (5 in all) just kind of jumble together. But then sooner rather than later it's critical to understand who belongs to whom. That's really my only criticism.
The story is dramatic, but not unbelievable. It's romantic in some ways, but avoids cliches. For me, the fact that it was from a different time (Vietnam era) made it that much more interesting. I am a huge fan of historical fiction, and while this wasn't technically in that genre, the reader does get a sense of what some families experienced during that difficult time. I liked the book enough that I didn't mind flipping back to make sure I understood the relationships. This is a big deal because I rarely have patience for that and am more likely to just put the book down forever than spend the time to figure it out.
Overall, I highly recommend this book for any reader that enjoys novels and historical fiction. It's the kind of book that makes you want to wake up and immediately get cozy on the couch so you can spend as long as it takes (3 hours) to finish the book and find out what happens. That's exactly what I did this morning and it was wonderful!
Overall Rating: * * * * (4/5)
I really wanted to give this book a 5/5, but I just couldn't do it. It was an amazing book. It moved me, it made me cry, I was very connected to the story and the characters, but there was always something missing. I think I was confused at first, and for too long, which delayed my really getting into the story. Iris, Angie, Perry and Eddie are the children of Aunt Eleanor and Uncle Charlie's best friends. For the first 50 pages or more I thought Eleanor and the kids' mother had been sisters. When you read the book you'll understand why this causes confusion and difficulty relating to the story. I also felt like the reader was introduced too quickly to everyone, which made it difficult to get a handle on each character's personality and role in the story. The number of characters is manageable overall, but as just mentioned, the relationships aren't perfectly clear at first so all the kids (5 in all) just kind of jumble together. But then sooner rather than later it's critical to understand who belongs to whom. That's really my only criticism.The story is dramatic, but not unbelievable. It's romantic in some ways, but avoids cliches. For me, the fact that it was from a different time (Vietnam era) made it that much more interesting. I am a huge fan of historical fiction, and while this wasn't technically in that genre, the reader does get a sense of what some families experienced during that difficult time. I liked the book enough that I didn't mind flipping back to make sure I understood the relationships. This is a big deal because I rarely have patience for that and am more likely to just put the book down forever than spend the time to figure it out.
Overall, I highly recommend this book for any reader that enjoys novels and historical fiction. It's the kind of book that makes you want to wake up and immediately get cozy on the couch so you can spend as long as it takes (3 hours) to finish the book and find out what happens. That's exactly what I did this morning and it was wonderful!
Blogging
I know that very few people read this blog, but I still feel the need to explain why I haven't written since October and what the plan is moving forward.
About not writing...
After the half marathon, I stopped running. I still wanted to run, but I just didn't. So I was partially embarrassed, and partially out of content. I was also focusing on developing the website and blog for my career coaching/organizational development business and I wasn't sure how I wanted to manage that. Should I have a personal and a private blog? Where should each one be hosted? What should I include in my profile(s)? Over the past few months that has become more clear and I'm ready to move forward.
Moving forward...
I still working on the website and blog for my business, and I will definitely post that here when it goes live. However, I've decided to keep them separate and to use this as my personal blog. I started running again today (obviously) and hope I'll have lots to report as I train for the St. Patrick's Day 5K, the Run to Remember half marathon and the Baltimore half marathon. I'm also on a mission to try more new things in Boston, so I hope to write about new restaruants, etc. Finally, I discovered that I have 52 books in my apartment that I have never read. I have also recently realized that I don't really remember most of the books I have managed to read. I am a book fanatic, and I need a better way to manage my addiction! I am determined to "review" the books I do manage to read and to get through those 52 that are currently mocking me. There may also be a random entry every now and then. I think those are the most fun anyway. :-)
About not writing...
After the half marathon, I stopped running. I still wanted to run, but I just didn't. So I was partially embarrassed, and partially out of content. I was also focusing on developing the website and blog for my career coaching/organizational development business and I wasn't sure how I wanted to manage that. Should I have a personal and a private blog? Where should each one be hosted? What should I include in my profile(s)? Over the past few months that has become more clear and I'm ready to move forward.
Moving forward...
I still working on the website and blog for my business, and I will definitely post that here when it goes live. However, I've decided to keep them separate and to use this as my personal blog. I started running again today (obviously) and hope I'll have lots to report as I train for the St. Patrick's Day 5K, the Run to Remember half marathon and the Baltimore half marathon. I'm also on a mission to try more new things in Boston, so I hope to write about new restaruants, etc. Finally, I discovered that I have 52 books in my apartment that I have never read. I have also recently realized that I don't really remember most of the books I have managed to read. I am a book fanatic, and I need a better way to manage my addiction! I am determined to "review" the books I do manage to read and to get through those 52 that are currently mocking me. There may also be a random entry every now and then. I think those are the most fun anyway. :-)
Restaurant Review: Fuyami
A new japanese/sushi restaurant named Fuyami opened in my neighborhood a few weeks ago, which of course was very exciting for me because I love sushi. As everyone who knows me is aware, Fugakyu (warning - I have never understood why they don't have a better website...) is my restaurant of choice. I don't live close enough anymore to pick it up though, and delivery is just too expensive. I save a ridiculous amount of money no longer living within walking distance of Coolidge Corner, but I miss sushi.
In any event, I wanted sushi this evening and decided to give Fuyami a try. The process of placing my order took about 15 minutes, including repeating my phone number at least 4 times. I understand, it's a new computer system, etc., but seriously...I also indicated on several occasions that I wanted my tuna w/ avocado maki with the seaweed outside. Not inside, outside.
Turns out this place is even closer than I realized, less than a 5 minute walk from my apartment, which is great because it was freezing outside. I walked in and got even more nervous because the whole place was dark and empty. Granted, it was only 4:30, but it was completely, totally EMPTY. This is not a good sign when you are planning to eat "fresh" fish. I had a nice conversation with the sushi chef, they gave me more coupons than I will ever be able to use, and I left, wondering if this was the best idea.
Turns out, the food was really tasty. I ordered edamame (I know, difficult to mess up), Idaho maki, and the tuna/avocado roll, which I know you already figured out was NOT made with the seaweed outside. The spicy mayo was almost as good as at Fugakyu. The sweet potato was perfectly cooked and crunchy but still tender. And Marty thoroughly enjoyed the tuna.
Will I go back? Definitely. I tend to cheer for the underdog, the food was great, I love sushi, and I'm lazy when it comes to food. Sounds like the beginning of a delicious relationship!
In any event, I wanted sushi this evening and decided to give Fuyami a try. The process of placing my order took about 15 minutes, including repeating my phone number at least 4 times. I understand, it's a new computer system, etc., but seriously...I also indicated on several occasions that I wanted my tuna w/ avocado maki with the seaweed outside. Not inside, outside.
Turns out this place is even closer than I realized, less than a 5 minute walk from my apartment, which is great because it was freezing outside. I walked in and got even more nervous because the whole place was dark and empty. Granted, it was only 4:30, but it was completely, totally EMPTY. This is not a good sign when you are planning to eat "fresh" fish. I had a nice conversation with the sushi chef, they gave me more coupons than I will ever be able to use, and I left, wondering if this was the best idea.
Turns out, the food was really tasty. I ordered edamame (I know, difficult to mess up), Idaho maki, and the tuna/avocado roll, which I know you already figured out was NOT made with the seaweed outside. The spicy mayo was almost as good as at Fugakyu. The sweet potato was perfectly cooked and crunchy but still tender. And Marty thoroughly enjoyed the tuna.
Will I go back? Definitely. I tend to cheer for the underdog, the food was great, I love sushi, and I'm lazy when it comes to food. Sounds like the beginning of a delicious relationship!
New Running Shoes
In honor of starting a new year and a training for a new race, I bought a new pair of running shoes yesterday. I'm back to Brooks, this time the Ghost. Something has been going on with my feet in the past year, and I had really bad luck with my last pair of shoes, so I'm hoping these will work out. My old Mizuno Wave Riders just can't take any more miles! I ran a couple miles in the new kicks today and they felt great, but we'll see how I feel tomorrow and on subsequent runs.
Here's what they look like...
One of these days I'll have a pair of blue and white running shoes...
Here's what they look like...
One of these days I'll have a pair of blue and white running shoes...
Running: Saturday, January 9
First run of 2010 today! Since the Baltimore half, I've only run a bit here and there, so for the past few weeks I've been dreading what it would be like to get started training again. Turns out there was nothing to fear. It wasn't exactly my best run ever, but I'm not as out of shape as I thought I was! The plan is to run casually for the next couple of weeks to get back into it, and get used to the weather, before I start my training plan for the Run to Remember in Boston at the end of May.
Pain: very little - right leg a little stiff but nothing to slow me down
A couple stats:
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/21998465
Total 2010 mileage: 2.71
Pain: very little - right leg a little stiff but nothing to slow me down
A couple stats:
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/21998465
Total 2010 mileage: 2.71
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