Rain, Rain, Go Away

It's raining.
And it has been all. Day. Long.

Now, I'm not usually one to bash the rain. A rainy day is the perfect opportunity to curl up and read a good book or catch up on some of my shows (I'm 3 episodes behind on Game of Thrones!)

But I had so much I had planned to do outside today, and I didn't get to do any of it because there was a storm! And let's not even talk about the power outage. Life gets especially difficult when the only light you have to read by is a tiny little book-light and that is dying.

Thankfully, the power came back on before I lost my sanity. (And before my book-light died!)

But I'm still upset at all of the things I missed. I was supposed to start my plan to become a "well woman" today! I was supposed to run (ahem, walk) a mile! And I, my friends, am certainly not doing that while there is thunder and lightning outside. It's enough of a struggle to get me to run when the weather is clear.
I've been trying to figure out an indoor activity to do today instead, but I haven't found anything that really suits me yet.

And the pool.

I didn't get to go to the pool! The pool at my apartment just opened for the summer this past weekend, but I haven't been able to go because of graduation, Mother's Day, interviews, cleaning, etc, etc. And now because of the rain.

Yes, curling up reading a book on my bed is nice.
But reading a book while laying out by the pool so much better.
Not that I would know, since the lovely storm ruined my plans.

I spent all day lounging around, reading a book (Shopaholic Takes Manhattan, if you're wondering) and playing QuizUp on my bed.

I am an ADULT. That is not how I should be spending my time on a rainy day!! 

(In all honesty, I should be working. But I have two interviews coming up, so hopefully that'll be remedied quickly!)

I should be lounging by the pool, enjoying my mindless novel and sipping something fruity while I try and develop some sort of tan.

See that white blanket on my bed? Yeah, it might be darker than I am right now. It's that bad.

Tomorrow the weather is supposed to be nice a clear, with just a few clouds, so hopefully I'll just be able to enjoy myself tomorrow.
And I have an interview tomorrow morning, so already I'm excited!

I'll enjoy a nice run (walk) in the morning, go to my interview, treat myself to lunch, and then spend the rest of the day (or until I feel myself turning in Sebastian) by the pool! Sounds perfect.

These Are a Few of my Favorite Things: Books

So, my last post was about the few things I do to help keep myself from going completely insane, which got me thinking: there are so many things that I love. That inspired this post: My favorite things.

Specifically, this week I am going to tell you about a few of my favorite books. Reading is definitely one of my favorite ways to relax and it also allows you to experience a world and a life without leaving the comfort of your home. It's basically a cheap way to travel, if you ask me. I mean, could you imagine the price of a ticket to Middle Earth? Meanwhile, you can get The Lord of the Rings for as little as 10 bucks. What a bargain.

Here are the books that currently make my top 5:

1. A Song of Ice and Fire by George R. R. Martin
   Okay, okay. This is actually a series of books, but you didn't actually expect me to pick just ONE, did you? Every single book in this unfinished series is such an adventure, with so many different characters and plot lines, it's basically impossible to lose interest. But there isn't so much going on that you get confused; just enough to make it seem realistic--despite the dragons. I'm just hoping George R. R. Martin can finish books 6 and 7 before the HBO series gets there! I love watching the show, but I'm the type of person who wants to read the book first, especially considering the show has already made a few significant changes to the events that occur in the books. I am especially mad at a certain character that they just invented.
   
   
2. Where'd You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple
   Definitely on the other end of the spectrum from ASOIAF, but such a good book in a completely different way. There's a fabulous aspect of mystery without being too cliché and, just like ASOIAF, just enough to keep your attention without losing you completely. It also touches on family life and expected societal roles, and a brief mention about mental health, so I definitely recommend it to someone currently struggling with one of those issues.
   
   
3. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
   If you haven't heard about this book, you certainly will soon. It's been made into a movie and is coming out in theaters June 6! How exciting. Like most of John Green's books, it's rather sad, but with a twist. You'll cry, but you'll also be relatively happy; it's strange. It's a book that makes it seem like you've become a part of the characters' lives, which can be sort of depressing since it is focused around 2 young teens who meet in a cancer support group. Despite the brief feeling of despair, it's a great book for almost anyone and a fabulous read.
   
   
4. Angels and Demons by Dan Brown
   If you haven't seen the movie yet, you should make sure to read the book beforehand. I mean, even if you've seen the movie, READ THE BOOK! The movie is quite an adventure, but multiply that by 100 and you get the book. There are so many plot twists that jump out at you and send you on a roller coaster through The Vatican. If you're looking for an adventure in a book, this is definitely for you. This is the first in the Robert Langdon series by Dan Brown (contrary to belief, since The DaVinci Code--book 2--was made into a movie first) and if you enjoy this one, I definitely recommend you read the others.
   
   
5. The Book of Joby by Mark Ferrari
   This book. Man, this book. I picked it up in my friend's dorm room our freshman year and was hooked by the first paragraph. The writing style of Mark Ferrari is so entrancing, and accompanied by the exciting tale this book holds--loosely based on, shocker, the Book of Job from the Bible--it is an exciting read. Believe it or not, you will be on the edge of your seat for most of this book: fists clenched, eyes wide, biting your lip, just trying to anticipate what's going to happen next. It's quite a thriller, but not in a Silence of the Lambs way; more of a Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince way.

If you've read any of these, you should definitely tell me whether or not you like them!

And if anyone has any book suggestions, I am so ready to take them! Like I said in my last post, I am currently reading Bossypants, but as soon as I am done with that, my reading list is completely open!

Book Review: Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?

I'm not gonna lie, this book wasn't exactly what I was expecting it to be. That's not to say it wasn't good; it was a very interesting read. Maybe not as interesting as say, Game of Thrones, but interesting nonetheless.

In my opinion, Mindy spent more time expressing her feelings about subjects than actually telling the story of her life. And the way it is written is very choppy, jumping from one part of life to the next without the barest mention of a segue.

For these reasons, I consider this book a 7/10.

Now for the good:

It's a very well written book. The structure and grammar is there, of which I am a big fan. And, of course, it's funny. If you're buying a book written by Mindy Kaling, it had better be funny. It is certainly not a book that disappoints.

It's also a relatively quick and easy read. It took me maybe 4 days to finish, reading it in the 20-30 minutes before I go to bed. So I'd say a little less than 2 hours in total. Not bad at all.

Like I said, it wasn't entirely what I was expecting, but that does not stop it from being a good book. I would definitely recommend this to a friend.

If anyone else has read it, or has any book suggestions (currently reading Tina Fey's Bossypants,) feel free to leave a comment!