On the home front and personally, this year was a pretty calm year. Not much went on, actually. But that means I really didn't make any progress toward anything. I think I was just recovering from the total CF of 2016. 2016 was an awful year. My husband was out of work with a back injury that required surgery for nearly the entire year on disability (Thank God for great insurance). I worked the year in retail for some extra money. I have ultimate respect for those who work retail.....people can really be A-holes. But hubby had his surgery.....it was a success.....and he returned to work, and in 2017 things went back to normal. The horrible year did give me a new respect for all the hard work my husband does....and a new found pride in our ability to work through difficulties. We did it! But.....as far as progress on my goals for our home and my health/fitness.....2017 was just a blank slate. Sigh.
Big huge goal for 2018 -- actually DO something!! lol
Let's get specific.......
I'm in a really awesome bootcamp exercise class with nice people and a great trainer. BUT.....I haven't been doing the homework (daily walking, diet changes......the Hard Part). So, my actual results have been lackluster. Although I do feel so much better, and I can tell I'm stronger. But weight loss? Being able to start running again? Nope. So, beginning New Year's Day, my normal class is twice a week in the evenings and I added a Saturday morning class at my trainer's larger facility. And I'm going to start doing the homework!! I replaced our scale (the old one broke about a year ago, and I never replaced it.)I'm going to weigh infrequently though, as it can be discouraging. If I'm really putting in the work, I will see results. Doesn't matter how fast I show weight loss. I lalso bought a nice accurate digital kitchen scale so I can start watching my portions more closely. I have learned over the years that I can really cook up some wonderful healthy meals.....I need to do that. Every night. And not get sucked into the lazy habit of going to McDonalds (one is 3 blocks from my house -- the horror!) because I feel too tired to cook. I will cook up some meals ahead and put them in the freezer. No excuse when good food is just a few minutes away. I don't need McCrap food.
In short.....I started moving in the right direction, but really putting no effort into it. I need to find my motivation, and put in some actual hard work in 2018. Or all that money I'm paying my trainer is just money I'm wiping my butt on and throwing it into the street. I want to return to joining in on local 5K races again.....to be more active.....healthier. I miss that! And living in western NC....there are trails, white water rafting, lots of outdoor sports.......I want to get back out there! It's beautiful here!
Home goals. Our house is 40+ years old. Things are starting to really wear out. In 2018, our plans are to really start fixing things up, and planning for larger repairs.... The roof needs reshingled, the heat pump needs to be replaced. We want to try to do one or both of those in 2018. Plus smaller repairs like replacing the water heater, closing in our screened porch, painting the house, repainting the porches..... Our house is the biggest investment we have.....we need to do some sprucing up this year. And getting The Big Projects out of the way will let us just sit back and relax on the porch when we are old and going senile. We can just rock and yell curmudgeonly things at passersby, not wonder how we are going to fix our roof. This will be a multi-year project....just getting started in 2018. Taking it slowly, being financially prudent and planning ahead. One project at a time.
Reading and writing. I consider reading a hobby. I love to read. But my writing.....that's more of a side career. I have three partially written books....I need to finish them and get the editing process going. I'd like to look into self-publishing and other avenues in 2018. Three unfinished manuscripts saved on my computer do not make me a writer. I need to make my writing more of a priority. I've wanted to publish a book since I was 9 years old. Childhood dreams don't come true if you never put the work into them. I need less creative absent mindedness, and more focus & drive.
Reading and book reviewing. I've had a blog for nearly 3 years now. I just post book reviews on it because I enjoy writing them. A few people read them. My goal is not to make my mark, but to join in the discussion with other readers. Plus I enjoy sharing my thoughts and maybe helping a few authors sell some books. I think I have accomplished that.
In 2017, I read 278 books. There were only a couple that I didn't finish or didn't like. I consider that a success. I wanted to gain back some shelf space by reading as many of my own books as I could, donating or trading them when I was finished. While I did read a lot in 2017, I read more library and review ARC books than I did my own. Here are the stats to show that: audiobooks listened to - 11; Kindle books read - 6; Local library books checked out & read - 62; read off my shelves - 36; digital online books read - 11; read review copies 2017 - 152.
So....I did read a few from my own shelves. But new releases read for review purposes way outnumbered the backlist books I finished from my own crowded shelves, followed closely by books from my local library. I really really really (really x 20) need to clear some shelf space in 2018....so I am going to be more picky about books I read for review, and tackle some of the books that have been languishing, ignored and lonely, on my over-full bookshelves. I can't feel bad about reviewing so many new releases in 2017 -- I wanted to add more content to my blog. And I did that. I rarely get turned down for ARCs now....so I accomplished that goal at least. Things are going to have to flip-flop around in the new year....
In 2018, I am going to be more picky about what I read for review purposes so I can focus on reading the older books off my own bookshelves. I'm embarrassed to admit that I have some books on my shelf that have been waiting 10 years for me to read them. I'm going to put them at the top of the TBR for 2018. I can't possibly read them all.....but I can knock out a few that have been waiting a decade for me to even look at them. Read, review and donate/trade. By the end of the year, my shelves will be more organized and with room for a few new ones. I will reach this goal by limiting my NetGalley shelf to 10 books....paring it down to that number during January...and I will keep it there. Only 10. And I must concentrate on my backlist books, not new releases. More old than new! I joined a challenge on Twitter to help me stay on track... #beatthebacklist! Lots of people with the same goal. I also need to limit my check-outs at the library to two at a time. Right now, looking at the shelf next to me as I type, I have 11 library books...and two more waiting at the library for me to pick up....and one more on hold in transit from another library. That is too many at one time. I end up hurrying to get them read by the time they have to go back....and sometimes I have to return them and come back in a couple days and check the same books out again. Too many at one time! Two is enough.....the others will still be there when I finish the ones I have.
Not only will those changes in my reading habits help me read my backlist books, clear some shelf space and better organize my personal library.....but I will be able to ENJOY reading more. I don't like having to rush. I don't like coming up against deadlines. I don't like those times when I HAVE to read something....I graduated college a long time ago. I don't want to HAVE to read something. I read because I WANT TO. A couple times this year I let my NetGalley shelf edge up above 40....and I had to read the books in a certain order to get them all done by publication date. I don't enjoy that. I want to enjoy the books I read.....read at my own pace.....and then be able to think about my review and take my time. When I have 40 books I need to read......I can't do that. It becomes work then, rather than my zen.
I look forward to reading some of the books I've ferreted away in my collection. I acquired them all because I truly wanted to read them....great biographies, interesting series, scary horror, nerdy sci-fi & fantasy....I have a bit of everything.
I want 2018 to be a productive year!! I can't wait to get started!!
HAPPY NEW YEAR everyone!!!
Now......what book to read first?? I have the rest of today to decide!!
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