March Recap 2016

It has been a LONG March. I recently announced to my workplace that I would be transitioning out for another job. I wrapped up a huge project (see video below). AND I am gearing up for my last week at my current job next week. Add in that I somehow read ten books and attended quite a few events, I’m impressed you’re getting any sort of wrap up at all.

As part of my new job I am going to have to dress nicer (if you know me, you’re probably wondering why in the hell I accepted knowing that) so I went out last weekend and bought some new swanky shoes (above is one pair) and three pair of nice pants that I still need to get tailored. It’ll be different that’s for sure, but I’m excited for the transition. Now on to the books!

The one thing I haven’t done and am hoping to get done in the immediate future is Come Read With Me #10. I recorded it a while ago, but just haven’t had the time or the enthusiasm to edit it 🙁

Books & Bookish Things
I wanted to start with this hilarious advertisement that is all over Boston these days. I don’t know why I love it so much but it reads, “Oh no, why are you reading this ad while you wait for the train? Download the free Kindle app now and start reading a great book on your phone.” Who ever created this campaign at Amazon Kindle, kudos to you! Seriously, EVERY time I see it I giggle.

I’m in awe I read 10 books this month. For two of the weeks I’ve worked 50+ hour weeks, which probably explains why the books are front loaded in the month and no literary hard-hitters. I wrapped up The Magicians trilogy (OMG) and read four advanced reader copies/galleys. The last two responses will appear next week.

426. Many Waters (Time Quintet #4) – Madeleine L’Engle
427. The Magician King (The Magicians #2) – Lev Grossman
428. Girl In A Band – Kim Gordon
429. The Arm of the Starfish (O’Keefe Family #1) – Madeleine L’Engle
430. The Magician’s Land (The Magicians #3) – Lev Grossman
431. A Gentleman’s Position (Society of Gentlemen #3) – K.J. Charles*
432. The Stranger – Harlan Coben*
433. Fool Me Once – Harlan Coben*
434. Eligible (The Austen Project #4) – Curtis Sittenfeld*
435. 15 Things You Should Give Up To Be Happy – Luminita D. Saviuc*

This made me very happy last month, and she was right. I shouldn’t have saved it.

@geoff_whaley READ NOW!!!

— Curtis Sittenfeld (@csittenfeld) February 24, 2016

I also saw this come up on one of my favorite blogs this month. I love it when old books that will more than likely end up in the dump or languishing in some warehouse are repurposed in the name of art. I know that some people get very upset about this, but knowing how many books actually of a certain age actually end up in dumps I’m all for art!

Recent Aquisitions
I did not purchase a single book this month! I think mostly because I was too busy, but go me! I did however receive two physical books from a publisher and a digital galley from what may be my new Romance publisher go-to 😉 I also cleared my shelves of all outstanding TBR galleys/advanced copies.

• Fool Me Once – Harlan Coben*
• The Stranger – Harlan Coben*
• A Gentleman’s Position (Society of Gentlemen #3) – K.J. Charles*

Culture Corner
As I said above, I’m not sure how I did anything this month but most of it was front loaded. One of my old roommates graduated from Improv school/class(?) at the beginning of the month and I was able to go see his performance. It was great! That same day I also did my patriotic/civic/common sense duty and voted int he Massachusetts primary.

I was able to make it to pub trivia twice this month with my friends and on one of those occasions we scored a perfect score, WHAT?! I’m still not sure how we did it, but somehow we did getting very lucky on a few questions. (Below left.)

In addition to the new job, I can’t remember if I’ve shared already, but the boyfriend and I are going to China for two weeks this summer. I may have had a panic moment when I realized I know nothing of the language. Last year was easy, I knew Spanish and just had to brush up, this year not so much. So I panic bought a pocket guide (Below right.)

I also made my “directing” debut with my current job. We held a Giving Day March 30 and it was incredibly successful. I was the architect behind the entire day. I created the messaging, the communications plan, the collateral and giveaways, the staff assignments, everything. I had a lot of help (apparently delegation is important – more on that in another blog post), but overwhelmingly this has been my project for the past few months. I planned a series of web graphic videos and two recorded videos with the final one being the announcement of our success:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABns11E7FTU

Great way to go out of a job I say!

What’s Next?
Obviously my new job 😀 That’ll take a lot of my focus over the next month as I wrap up my current job and start there. It’s exciting and I can’t wait to get started. I’m also making plans to finish out L’Engle’s O’Keefe family series and probably read a few more lighter books so I’m not too stressed out while transitioning out.

What are you up to and what are you looking forward to as we get closer and closer to summer?