Author: Geoff W

Reading my way through life.
Random, Updates, Workout Wednesday

10 Months later…

Geoff W

After 10 months of CrossFit and two months of the Couch-to-5k I did a 5k today. That’s a pretty awesome way to spend my first day of my 30th year. (It took us WAY too long to figure that out, I turned 29 yesterday). Here are some awesome pictures:

Over 3000 people showed up from the original 7000 (it was delayed a week).
Post race free Harpoon and our medal/bottle opener.
MY FIRST 5k IS DONE!

It was a lot of fun and I finished in 36:49! My original goal was less than 36 minutes but I changed it to less than 40 minutes as I neared the end of the 5k! I ran almost the entire way minus about 20 seconds at the water station and 20 seconds up the very last hill. So I did what I wanted to do and can’t wait until the Rás na hÉireann USA 5k inMarch! 😀

I hope you all have a good holiday season! I’m hoping to get one last review in of War and Peace before the New Year, but no promises.

Random

Three Shopping Days Left…Wait a Second…

Geoff W

Why would that matter when clearly my Birthday (aka today) is MUCH more important than that 😀 This is mostly just to show I’m alive and busy enjoy the photos while I lounge around in my pajamas and do NOTHING for a few more hours and then spend time with my sister and friends!

Gallery One: Baby It’s Cold Outside…no seriously I refused to get out of bed twice in the last two weeks until it hit 10°F (-12°C).

Seriously? It wasn’t even officially winter until 12/21!
Remember the beautiful fall path? Just as beautiful in Winter.
Creepy. Yeah. Should be Doctor Who villains.

Gallery Two: Because of the above snow storm my first 5k was postponed until tomorrow (12/22)! I’m totally excited and ready for it and have done a LOT of prep work.

Finally finished the Couch to 5k! Tried multiple times over the past few years, but this time did it!
And I walked/ran/jogged/shuffled 500 miles since July 1st.
Awesome t-shirt for the Jingle Bell Run!

Gallery Three: So far it’s been a very Star Wars and Literary Christmas/Birthday. The only thing missing is my dear Jane, but I can handle that since we share a birth month and can never be separated. Just goes to show my friends, family and coworkers know me WAY too well.

Star Wars Coasters, AMAZING birthday card from my grandparents and a Shakespeare’s Star Wars and a coming out novel.
New Desk Toys: R2D2 Candy Despenser and awesome PEA Kikkerland PEA windup toy.
Never say no to a free book. Not a present, but got this from seeing “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug” which was my Birthday movie.
2014 Challenges, Random, Updates

2014 Challenge Announcement! (Or Not…)

Geoff W

2014 Books

(Don’t you love the image?!?! I found the book image via Google and then I made the overlap—I am art!)

If you haven’t noticed I have been missing again for a while. I’m slowly working my way through Leo Tolstoy’s War and Peace as my final 2013 Challenge Read and am (surprisingly) thoroughly enjoying it.

I’ve known for a while I wouldn’t do any challenges next year, but I hadn’t officially decided until recently. I feel bad abandoning the three challenges I’ve done for two years now, but I think I need the distance and freedom to read what I want when I want without restrictions other than those I put on myself. So far the only thing I’ve decided to read next year are more library books, re-read a few books that I haven’t made time for in years and just to have fun. In addition to the no challenges I am currently debating on the format my blog will take in 2014 but won’t make any major decisions until I do my 2013 recap.

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ARC, Books

Book 247: Marionette – T. B. Markinson

Geoff W

How do I approach this book? I want to be honest, but I don’t want to be too over the top in either direction. I received a copy of Marionette via the author, who is a great blogging buddy, and this is my honest response and I received no compensation for my response.

I guess I’ll just rip the band-aid off. I HATED the first half of the book. (Sorry TBM!)

I can’t put a finger on it, but I’ll call it sophomore slump. I’ll talk more later in the response, but I just could not identify with Paige even though there was a great line which convinced me I was going to! TBM’s first book, A Woman Lost, was a phenomenal debut novel, but this one fell short (at least for the first half of the book). However, with that said, the last half of the book was AMAZING (mostly :-D).

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ARC, Books

Book 246: Unleashing Mr. Darcy – Teri Wilson

Geoff W

What can I say about a book like this? Not only was it giggle inducing and full of fun and even some drama, it was an easy read and left me wanting so much more on the last page! I’m honestly not sure the last time I blazed through an Austen fan-fiction novel as fast as I did with this one. I’m so happy I requested a copy from the publisher and I received no compensation for my response. Unleashing Mr. Darcy will be published on December 31 by Harlequin and EVERYONE should check it out.

So I’ll start out with my biggest concern: I was TERRIFIED this book was going to be yet another S&M/50 Shades effort, but thankfully it was not! I mean seriously, what could I think with the cover art and the title!? Looking back now the title and cover art make perfect sense and would’ve made even more sense if I would’ve re-read the back cover blurb, but oh well the dread only added to the buildup.

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