New Year, New Chance to Read More Books

2014 is here! I didn't feel quite the same excitement for 2014 as I have for ushering in new years past, but maybe it's because 2013 was so darn great. Actually, there were a lot of parts about 2013 that weren't that hunky dory, but I choose to sidestep those moments.

As you know, I did not meet my 50/50 Challenge since I only read half of the required 50 books, but I'm off to a good start in 2014 with a grand total of: 1!

The Circle by Dave Eggers might possibly make you never want to post on social media again. Or, like me, you might smugly think to yourself, that would so not happen to me. I would never get sucked into such a cult-like vortex where all my validation comes in the form of 'likes' and other such made up online communication. Would I?

I'm not a conspiracy theorist and rarely think about all the things the NSA has access to regarding my life, although I know I should be more wary of it, but what do I have to share that is that exciting?

One of the creepiest parts of the book is the transparency issue. Like would you do certain things if you were watched at every moment? I know I wouldn't. Sure, I don't have much to hide but damn, a girl likes to blow her nose in peace. Maybe scratch her ass or make a mistake in private. That level of breached security, me no likey.

But, hey, that's fiction. Fiction that hits a little too close to home, but fiction nonetheless. I shall read 50 books this year! After all, I only have 49 left.

Book #1: The Circle by Dave Eggers

Freelancing in Fuzzy Socks

Cornflakes and turkey bacon to start my day

I have been purely freelance for approximately a whole 60 hours, so to say that I am an expert or know the ins and outs of how it's going to be long-term would be a bit of a stretch lie. However, what I do know is this:

I wake up to my alarm an hour later. I used to get up at 5:40 a.m., hit snooze three times and then roll out of bed and rush out the door, maybe having breakfast, often times not. Now, I set my alarm for 6:40 and am ready to get out of bed. I still get ready as if I am going to a desk job; when really I am headed to the makeshift office my boyfriend helped me set up in the dining room. I have time to make him eggs and time to enjoy a bowl of cornflakes while I check emails and plan my day. I still have a schedule, but this one is so much more my pace. And yes, I am wearing fuzzy socks.

I feel excited about writing again. For all my fellow writers who have balanced "real jobs" with their writing passion know what it's like to fit in writing over lunch breaks and after work only to feel exhausted and uninspired. To be a writer, you have to know from the beginning that as far as income, most likely, you aren't going to make shit. If you are in it for the money, you've already failed. If you are in it for instant gratification, you are in for some sore surprises. But now that I can segment my time, because all day long I'm writing, and give proper dedication to what I want to write about. Those creativity breaks have already helped spark better production in my professional writing as well.

I want to work harder. Some people like to equate freelance to being unemployed, and maybe had I tried this right out of college or even a few years ago, I wouldn't have the proper discipline to be successful. Maybe I'd wake up closer to ten o'clock, write a blog, and call it a day. Since freelance means that today you could be cruising on easy street and tomorrow your luck could dry up, I take every project I'm on seriously. I put 100% effort into everything I do, every writing assignment I submit. A former employee of mine went to a seminar once and came back with this: "What do you give your most valuable employees?" A raise? A vacation? Nope, my friend, you give them more work. I know now my hard work will be met with reward rather than more meaningless work. It makes me strive for more.

I get to decide what is the most effective strategy for success. I get to schedule time off without having to worry about if I have enough vacation built up. I get to choose to put in long days, knowing it is building something up for me in the end. I know I will be valued because I am my own boss. 

I get to feed my soul. I'd be lying if I said that everything I've ever written is interesting, exciting, or even that original. Sometimes the copy is meant to be more factual and therefore may seem dry. Sometimes the topic is flat out boring. But I get to feed my soul knowing I did a damn good job. I can be proud of my effort. When I turn my work over to someone, I know they can use that to help their business grow. When I meet my goals, I've helped others meet theirs, too.

I could go on and on about what I know when there are people who question what I don't. I don't know if it will work out. I don't know if this will be profitable for me in the long run. I don't know how to answer the questions that people ask someone who has to decided to give up a steady job for potentially unsteady work.

I've bet it all on the belief of creating a happy life. You can't possibly do that worrying about stuff you "don't know" and ignoring all the incredible things you do.

50/50 Challenge 2013: I Came, I Saw, I Conquered Kinda Sorta

So true. Give me a book and a carton of chocolate milk and I'm golden.

Another year and another shot at the 50/50 Challenge. For those unfamiliar, the 50/50 Challenge is the quest to read 50 new books and watch 50 new movies in one calendar year. No, there is no prize for meeting the challenge (much to my dismay in the first year), just the satisfaction of expanding your mind and/or your status as a couch potato.

As a whole, I surpassed the 100 mark (at least that I recorded in this blog) by watching 78 movies and reading 26 books, and I have to say, I'm pretty damn proud.

Did you know there are people out there that don't actually read? At all?! I averaged a book every two weeks, not too shabby. Currently, I am reading Divergent in anticipation for the movie and have a list at hold at the library, another list recorded on a note taking app on my phone. 

I know it sounds weird to the majority of the population who don't find reading to be enjoyable, but I am excited when I get library alerts saying a book I've been waiting for is in. A great gift to me is a book. Even if I have no interest in the book or don't know the author, the book itself is a gift. Someone else picked it up and thought, she might like reading this. I think that's nice.

I dated a guy once who bought me books within our first few weeks of dating, which gave me high hopes for a relationship. Let me just say, the books lasted much, much longer. He gave me two Elizabeth Wurtzel books though, so I don't know if that was a choice based off a reflection of him or of me. 

Sadly, I have to report that I didn't love a lot of the books I read this year. I liked some, hated others, but as for love, I have to reserve that for The Fault in Our Stars (anxiously awaiting this movie as well) and I liked Wild (movie also to come) and Inferno (movie should be; whatever happened to making one for The Lost Symbol?). 

One book I read - Defending Jacob - I read near the first of the year for book club and didn't like the ending. Then, I read it again near the middle of the year for another book club and liked it. Odd.

As for movies, fuggedabouit! Had I really tried, I could've reached 100. Lucky for me, I get to see new releases for free, but I also saw some other older ones that I had never seen before such as "The Usual Suspects." I figured that movie out before it ended, which inexplicably infuriated my old co-worker. He claimed there was no way I could and that if I did it's because of all the movies that have come after with a similar twist. Who cares? He's probably right. Or, maybe I'm a genius.

There were some big letdowns this year, but also some great triumphs. I never like to read movie reviews until I write my own, but I have realized that a lot of what I like others do not. But hey, that's what makes the world go 'round.

I have tried and failed before and I will try and most likely fail again. What it is they say though? It's not the destination, but the journey?

Cheers to more books and movies in 2014!