Let‘s try this again. I guess my last message didn‘t post. I probably shouldn‘t post just before bed. Lol. Anyway, excited to have started my first day of #bfcr2 with the #booknerdherd group. I started the week with 30 minutes of yoga and some one on one time with #TheAnansiBoys. Reading most of Neil Gaiman‘s work makes me feel like I know little to nothing about mythology. I‘m enjoying the ride though.

Weren‘t able to get in on round 1 of #bookfitnesschallenge #bfc? Doing well with round 1 goals & want to keep the momentum going?

Sign up for Round 2 here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfLOkhxk06vVWG9leYeNEa-JYLOfwZiOKPtrBuU...

I signed up today and have adjusted my goals a bit after a stressful couple of weeks:
4 paper books, 90 min. yoga, 60 min rollerblading, 1 hike or swim every two weeks. #ATB

Epic fail in meeting my #BFC goals. I‘m still working response to Arkansas flooding, and swim team started this week for the kiddos. So, time and sleep has been pretty limited lately. I‘ll have to start fresh next week. If work keeps up like it has been, I may have to adapt my goals, but I‘m determined to get back into it. I did get one book in. So, at least there‘s that. #Notgivingup #everydaysachoice #bookfitnesschallenge

Week 3 has been a tough one. We‘re having serious flooding issues in my area, so I‘ve been working a lot this week in response. My goals for #bookfitnesschallenge have had to be adjusted a bit.

Hikes- 2/1 every two weeks (3.6mi and 5.5mi)✔️
Yoga- 60/120 minutes 😕
Rollerblading- 30/90 minutes😕
Paper books- 2/3 books total
Audiobooks-1/2 books total

He next couple of weeks are not going to be crazy with work, but I think I can do it for week4.

I can‘t get out to local trails often and pick up the kiddos from daycare on time. After an embarrassing experience with trying to blade around my neighborhood (still working on stopping techniques), I‘ve moved to practicing at a nearby church parking lot. Overall I‘m ahead this week in my #bookfitnesschallenge goals:
Yoga 139/120 minutes
Rollerblading 77/90 minutes (24 minute walk to make up the difference)
1/2 audiobooks
1.5/3 paper books

Starting week 2 of #bookfitnesschallenge with what motivates me- Living a full life. For me this means exploring new places, reading more, eating healthy, and learning new things. Hope everyone is starting strong with their goals for week 2😊💪🏻. #ATB

Cut it down to the wire, and I had to make one adjustment week one of #BookFitnessChallenge. Here‘s the week 1 breakdown:
- 1/2 audiobook (The Notebook)✔️
- 0.5/3 of first paper book✔️
- 70/90 minutes of rollerblading (had to fit in a 30 minute walk at lunch to make up for the missing 20 minutes)✔️
- 123/120 minutes yoga✔️
- 1 hike for 2.23 mi today at lunch✔️

#ATB

Thanks #bookfitnesschallenge for motivating me to get my rollerblades on for the first time in 5 years. I only wiped out once...whoot! I‘ve gotten in my first full audiobook for the challenge as well. My kiddos started swim team back up, so audiobooks are perfect for meal prep time. Now I‘m off to yoga to try to work out the knot on my rear😂. #ATB

I hope everyone‘s off to a great start with #bookfitnesschallenge.Started a day late after dealing with my son‘s stomach bug issues all day yesterday. But better late than never. First 20 minute yoga session in the books for the week and I‘ve got a date with #Dune tonight before bed. Focus has been a challenge lately. So, I‘m hopeful that this challenge will get me back in the game.#adultingishard @wanderinglynn #ATB

I'm almost all lined up to get going on this challenge. Really looking forward to starting this with you guys. #Bookfitnesschallenge #ATB

#Bookfitnesschallenge

This sounds like a fun challenge, and need some motivation in both areas right now.

Goals for this challenge (and hopefully moving forward):
Books- 3 paper books in six weeks, 2 audiobooks
Fitness- 90 minutes rollerblading/wk, 120 minutes of yoga,1 hike every 2 weeks

It was more difficult than I thought it would be to find a poem fitting the #air prompt for #poetrymatters that spoke to me. #robertfrost came through for me though.

I love A Perfect Circle, so I went with the lyrics to their song titled 3 Libras for day 2 of #poetrymatters this month. This song to me is an example that poetry is not lost with rock music.

This seems like an appropriate farewell poem choice after experiencing a break up last night. Loooking forward to discovering new poetry with this month‘s prompts😊. #poetrymatters

Well, I‘m calling it a night. I didn‘t quite reach my goal, but I got quite a bit of reading in and learned some new things relating to LGBTQ culture. Thanks for taking this #ATBWeekendReadathon journey with me. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.

If you are not a member of #ATB you are welcome to join in next time. The more the merrier. We can also be found on GoodReads. Just look for the Across The Bookshelves group to join us.

Getting the kiddos outside for a swim while I try to get my time in. We‘re at the home stretch you guys. What are you reading? Where are you most comfortable reading? #ATBWeekendReadathon

We‘ve reached the halfway point of this #ATBWeekendReadathon. How are you guys holding up? In keeping with the LGBTQ theme I wanted to share an article I found on sexual identity, what it means to be transgender, and the impact of this non binary view of gender has had on society: https://www.economist.com/international/2017/11/16/making-sense-of-the-culture-w...
I‘d like to hear you thoughts on the issue.

What is reading without a little music? Here‘s an article about songs that influenced the world in various ways: https://theculturetrip.com/north-america/articles/the-10-influential-songs-that-.... Videos included😊🎶.

What do you views on the impact that music has had on shaping our views? #ATBWeekendReadathon

Good Morning!

I‘m getting up and getting my tea this morning with book in hand. To start out our weekend of branching into LGBTQ literature I‘d like to get into why this gender exists in the first place. http://www.universitytimes.ie/2016/10/whats-the-point-of-lgbt-literature/ brings up some interesting points concerning this genre. #AtbWeekendReadathon

How are you starting out this morning?

I‘m excited to kick off #ATB second readathon! We‘ve got a whole weekend together of books and banter. In the spirit of diversity, this weekend we‘re focusing (for those of you interested) in the LGBTQ community. I‘ll be posting discussion posts throughout the weekend to build discussion. The goal is to read 24 hours out of 48. Stop by. Let us know your progress. Post your reads and connect to us using #ATBWeekendReadathon.

My game plan for this weekend‘s #24in48 weekend readathon focusing on diversity. I‘m a slow reader, but if I can get through these two in time I‘d like to start The Great Believer also. Bigs goals for the weekend. #ATB

Enjoying my escape from a busy day. Thanks to #losersclub I‘m finally getting around to getting this off of my TBR. Things have been really hectic lately. Fingers crossed that I‘ll be able to finish it in to participate in the discussion.

Haven‘t done one of these in awhile.

1.Winter...time too humid in the summers where I live.
2.Both, but I have a bad habit of over obligating to book club reads☺️.
3.Definitely print. I love the feel of holding a book, it‘s a more relaxing reading experience on my eyes, and I like enjoying filling the shelves with books I love.

@SilversReviews

Just came across a great question in LFE. “What made someone a mother? Was it biology alone, or was it love?”

What are your thoughts on this question?#ATB #24in48 #LittleFiresEverywhere

Looking at a late night if I‘m going to make today‘s reading goal. We had to take a pause so my kiddos could try out for swim team. They both made the city team though. WHOOT!

How are you doing? Are we going to bring this to a strong finish?

LFE #4- Mia‘s journey to becoming an artist is almost a beautiful novella of its own. Mia‘s art clearly has the power to change
lives. What piece of art has shaped your life in an important way?

I‘ve got my tea and I‘m pumped for Round Two of the #ATB #24in48 Readathon. Don‘t forget to check out the Across the Bookshelves group on Goodreads too for a tight knit and diverse group of active readers.

LFE #3- The debate over the fate of May Ling/Mirabelle is multilayered and heartbreaking. Who do you think should raise her?
#LittleFiresEverywhere

We‘ve made it to the halfway point. How did the day end up for you? I made my goal of reading half of the book today and am heading to bed before finishing strong tomorrow.

LFE Readers- what are your thoughts on the book up to this point?
#ATB #24in48 #LittleFiresEverywhere

How are you guys holding up? Are you making the progress that you had hoped up to this point. I‘m behind what I had hoped on time but farther than I expected on pages. It‘s time to bust out the Twizzlers and pretzels.

For LFE Readers: I just started Ch. 11 and am hoping Mia‘s story will finally come out.

LFE #2- What do you think really bothers Elena about Mia?
#ATB #24in48 #LittleFiresEverywhere

Mrs. Richardson‘s struggles with staying at the Sun Press after having kids than not being able to find work with larger press once she hit forty got me to thinking. I‘m nearing forty and it does feel like an age where starting over in life because increasingly difficult. There‘s the baggage of life thrown into the misconception that forty plus equals lack of trainability. Doesn‘t this idea lose sight of what experience brings to the table.

Definitely time for breakfast. My kiddos are also participating which is fun...they‘re totally in it for the snacks. Lol. I‘m on ch. 5. The rules of this suburb has definitely caught my attention though.

LFE #1. Shaker Heights is almost another character in the novel. Do you believe that “the best communities are planned”? Why or why not?

For those not reading LFE, what on today‘s tbr?
#ATB #24in48 #LittleFiresEverywhere

Here‘s #CelesteNg 90‘s Character Playlist to get the weekend started:
Lexie- Spin the Bottle (The Juliana Hatfield Three)
Trip- Insane in the Brain (Cyprus Hill)
Moody- Good Intentions (Toad the Wet Sprocket)
Izzy- What‘s Up (Four Non-Blondes)
Pearl- One Hand in My Pocket (Alanis Morrisette)
Mrs. Richardson- Pleasant Valley Sunday (The Monkeys)
Mia- 1979 (Smashing Pumpkins)

Spotify has her playlist titled Little Fires Everywhere if you‘re down.

Got your books ready? I‘m on my way to pick up snacks now and am excited to start the very first #ATB #24in48 Readathon running from April 14-15. If you have a copy handy join us for #LittleFiresEverywhere as we dive into discussions this weekend. Don‘t forget to tag me. We‘ll see you there. @jb72 @Jess_Read_This @AceOnRoam @ArteMitch @norsulaulu @paigesbookworm

Join the Across the Bookshelves for our very first April 14 and 15 for our 24/48 read-a-thon! We will be reading Little Fires Everywhere with an open forum discussion. We‘re also on Goodreads where this is our April book choice. So, you‘re welcome to join in the fun there also. We hope to see you then😊📖. #ATB #24in48 #LittleFiresEverywhere @AceOnRoam @jb72 @Jess_Read_This @norsulaulu @JaclynW @paigesbookworm @LitsyHappenings @ArteMitch

Here‘s a knuckle biting moment. Will he let him in? Will he live through this scene? Don‘t do it, Mark!

I am loving this book so far! This rhyme caught my attention. Wasn‘t there a rhyme that Bill used in It to help with his stutter that helped him in crucial moments of that story as well? #losersclub2018 #epicbuddyread @TricksyTails

Stayed home from work sick and I‘m just starting Ch. 5. #StephenKing never ceases to amaze me at the level of detail in his writing. It‘s impossible not to feel like you‘re there with the characters in the story. I feel like I‘m just now starting to get into the heart of the book. #Losersclub2018 #epicbuddyread @TricksyTails

Started Salem‘s Lot this morning and am already loving it. Prologue got me hooked. So many questions already. What are they running from? Why are the boy and the man together but not related? Why have their names not been mentioned as of yet?

I came across this too. I love it when books I‘ve read are referenced in other books. #losersclub #losersclub2018 #epicbuddyread #stephenking #atb @TricksyTails

What a great follow up to A Wrinkle In Time. There are some mind blowing ideas in here though about man‘s ability to comprehend the micro cosmos and macro cosmos, what reality means versus what we can comprehend, religious battles, and how viewing those different than us can only hurt us when it counts. I know A Wrinkle in Time movie just came out, but I would see #2 being much more difficult to translate visually. Is Hollywood is for it? #ATB

Love this line! Love definitely makes us do stupid things when fighting for it, in defense of it, or just in moments of being overwhelmed by it. #Shakespearereadalong @Jess_Read_This @readinginthedark

Having a snuggle up with a good book kind of evening as I work through the first act of As You Like It for #Shakespearereadalong. Orlando‘s envy is hitting early in this scene one isn‘t it? From what I‘m understanding Orlando feels that he is not gaining the respect he deserves as the son of the king from his older brother Oliver (the eldest). I‘m curious to see how this plays out. Thanks for including me @Jess_Read_This and @readinginthedark .

Please help me welcome @ArteMitch to Litsy. She‘s a very dedicated reader and will fit in perfectly here. Show her some Litsy Love😊📖.
#Litsywelcomewagon #ATB

@AceOnRoam @kindergartenkat @JaclynW @jb72 @norsulaulu

1. Work assisting with local floods
2. 5‘7”
3. Arkansas, USA for 12 years this past time around
4. Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche, Cymbeline by Shakespeare, Wytches: Vol 1, and Salt by Nayyirah Waheed. I‘ve been hitting the branching out pretty hard lately.
#friyayintro @jesshowbooks @Jess_Read_This @kindergartenkat @JaclynW

Thanks @JaclynW for the tag.

1. I was a big fan of the chose your own adventure books.
2. Pachinko
3. I know it‘s the point, but Humbert from Lolita makes my skin crawl.
4. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. I tried several times to read it and I just can‘t seem to get through it.
5. @AceOnRoam @Elizabeth8 @JenlovesJT47 #tuesdaytidbits

My greatest epiphany was learning that it was alright to be different. I finally realized a couple of years ago that I will never quite fit in, and life is too short to keep trying to fit a square peg in a round hole. It‘s much more fun to explore being a better me.
#abbsblinddatewonderland
@abbsinwonderland

Can‘t forget:
@Elizabeth8
@Jess_Read_This
@kindergartenkat

This makes me think of all how well intentioned Americans sent supplies of clothing, rice, eggs, etc. to countries in Africa based off of commercials of other Americans pleading for help....We Are The World type of help. Though there have been changes to these forms of aide they caused more harm to local economies to good. I wonder if “she does not belong to you” refers to how the US feels responsible for other countries.#poetrychallenge2018

Could do this version of Batman. He had way to much going on in the way of gadgets and the writing dragged for me. #LetsGetGraphicMonthlyFeature @TricksyTails @Clwojick

Oh you know...just another day of Batman being a bad mama jama. Lol. Very cool origin story of Batman, the Penguin, and Batgirl? I‘m definitely in for checking out more in this series. #LetsGetGraphicMonthlyFeature @TricksyTails @Clwojick

I LOVE Kevin Smith‘s take on the Joker/Batman relationship. There‘s some old school Joker level of crazy in this one. And Kevin Smith humor runs all through this comic. Joker let Batman know that if Batman were finally dead the Joker would be happy to spend the rest of his life in an asylum. Do you think that‘s true? #LetsGetGraphicMonthlyFeature @Clwojick @TricksyTails

I‘m geared up for #LetsGetGraphicMonthlyFeature . I‘m not going classic this month. I‘m really curious to see the direction Batman comics have taken. I even found one by Kevin Smith...too cool! This month is going to be fun @Clwojick @TricksyTails

This poem makes me think of the Japanese tea ceremony. It‘s a beautiful way to describe the act of writing in and of itself as the focus in lieu of the final product. Writing is more often described as this brutal process, while this takes a more nurturing approach.

I‘m learning that Waheed‘s work is minimalist in the use of words to get to a point. I‘m curious though why she doesn‘t make use of capitalization. #poetrychallenge2018

This is my first poem for the #poetrychallenge2018 . What a great point this makes about why we travel. Do we travel for the sake of new experiences or for the sake of showing others where we have been? Or maybe we take pictures in an effort to hold on to those experiences? I love to take photos but don‘t mind not having the camera. There are other ways to hold onto those moments. Sketching, journaling, making new friends to name a few.