New Year, New Books

       It's a new year, and that means a new year for reading.

     The first book I'll finish in 2015 is Laura Hillenbrand's Unbroken. If you've caught any of the numerous interviews of the author, you'd know that while she was working on this book, she dealt with a debilitating disease which prevented her from being able to leave the house for months at a time. Dragging herself to her computer took all of her energy. (It makes me reluctant to whine about my writing obstacles.) And yet she still pushed herself.

         She wrote Unbroken without ever meeting Louie Zamperini in person. Instead, they spoke for hundreds of hours over the phone. After the book was finished, the two finally met. Hillenbrand said not meeting him was an advantage. As she wrote his story, she didn't have an old man in her mind. She had a hellion-of-a-boy in her mind as she wrote about his childhood, she had a handsome young man when she was working on his college days, and so on...

     I'm only 1/4 through it (100 pages or so), but am thoroughly enjoying it. However, since I am trying to finish procrastinate when it comes to doing my report cards, I can't spend too much time reading.

      What is the first book you are going to finish/read in 2015? Procrastinating minds want to know... 

Out With the Old?

      For Christmas I had the opportunity to throw away my reliable Crocs. Here is a picture of Ol' Trusties if you missed my earlier post featuring these stylish shoes.

Warning: The photo below is not intended for all audiences. Only the strong of heart and sturdy of stomach should gaze at the picture below.

        The reason why I was tempted to toss these still-good shoes in the trash? I've gotten new Crocs--leather-topped Crocs--from my husband, and I received a gift certificate for a Crocs store from my daughter. (Hi, I'm Sioux and I'm a Croc-aholic. I can't help myself. My addiction is out of control because my family are enablers.)

         I would show you a picture of the new ones, but they are so dazzling, your eyes would be blinded by the sight of them. And Sioux is all about the concern for others (unlike the son of her blogging friend and fellow Croc-lover Val, a young man has no concern for anyone else).

          I'm not a big resolutions kind of person (I never keep them) but I do have some goals in mind--goals that I'd like to achieve.

• finish my WIP/NaNoGoneWrongo from a few years ago
• stretch a little as a writer (which means submitting to varied publications and writing in different genres)
• complete some digital writing pieces (this is mostly for work)

         But if the title of this post made you catch your breath--if you were terrified I was going to throw away Ol' Trusties--have no fear. Those shoes will still be chosen to put into service when I have to tromp across our muddy backyard... or when I simply want to be reunited with a couple of old friends.

       What is something old you'd like to get rid of/you've already gotten rid of? What are you going to replace it with(if anything)? Minds in denial want to know...