50/50 Challenge Update: First of the Month

Well let's just come out and say it, July was a blur. Yes, I was traveling during a lot of it, but I just think -- kids are going back to school! What even happened in July?!

I am just getting over a summer cold, which was the absolute worst. Note: Tylenol Cold & Sinus mixed with baking-inside-my-apartment temperatures is not a good combo!

But now onto my challenge update, which I am still determined to conquer this year. #thingsgeekssay

Movie #29: Magic in the Moonlight

I wrote a lengthier review of the movie, but I was a little underwhelmed.

21. The Rosie Project by Graeme C. Simsion

22. How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie

23. Summer House with Swimming Pool by Herman Koch

The last book I received free from Blogging For Books. If you love books like I do, then you should sign up to! The only "catch" is that you leave a review of the book you receive. How easy is that?

Summer House with Swimming Pool by Herman Koch

Herman Koch writes in such a way that has the reader intrigued at what's to come but not in a hurry to get there. For Summer House with Swimming Pool the novel is a mystery unfolding, but not a typical page-turner pace that most thrillers have. That's not to say the writing is slow or dull; it's more to the credit of the writer for setting the tone early on and allowing the reader to craft the story in the mind. 

Dr. Marc Schlosser is a family doctor who is bored with what he does and has a watered down look at the world. He and his wife are constantly invited to social events and after one such premiere, he meets actor Ralph Meier, a larger than life personality, who at the beginning of the story has wound up dead after a possible misdiagnosis, and the story travels backwards from there. The description of Ralph and more importantly, what he does (hacks at a swordfish on the patio to cook up on the BBQ) gives the reader a keen sense of what type of personality we are dealing with from him. 

Ralph is a ladies' man and takes an interest in Marc's wife, Caroline but is fleeting, while Marc, on the other hand, take an interest in Ralph's wife, Judith. They follow-up with a dinner party at the Meier's house, and this begins the subplot to the story that creates an interesting tension and intertwining of the families. 

The Schlosser family (Marc, Caroline, and their two daughters Julia and Lisa) take a camping trip near the Meier's summer house where they have been invited as guests. After their teenage daughter, Julia runs into the Meier's son, Alex the two families come together again and end up spending time together at the summer house. The families then face a dark turn and the details that follow lead to clues regarding Ralph's death.

It's interesting to hear the voice of Marc and how he sees things from a doctor's perspective in comparison to a father's and also in comparison to any other average person. Details from a doctor's perspective, while matter-of-fact, can be gruesome to the reader or at least create some discomfort, but it fits with the darker tone of the story. 

I enjoyed the writing of this book and the story overall. It definitely would ignite interesting discussion. 

My Floating Penny

Didn't it seem like the 4th just happened and now all of a sudden it's the middle of the month and before you know it, it'll be Christmas and you'll wonder, what the hell have I been doing?!

The fast-forward feeling of time reminds me of that part in "When Harry Met Sally" when Sally is crying to Harry and says, "I'm gonna be 40!" And he responds, "In eight years." Then, she adds, "But it's out there just waiting for me" or something like that. 

It's a constant balance of chase down everything you want to accomplish in life but oh no, slow down and enjoy it. Which is it? Chase or enjoy? How could I possibly do both simultaneously? Half the time I wonder how I am able to do anything simultaneously! 

But I will say this, time does fly when you're having fun. And luckily, while I feel like my wheels are going a mile a minute (much like yours, I'm sure), I feel like it's, for the most part, it's a fun movement. And that is a blessing.

There has been a lot going on in the past few weeks which is why there hasn't been a post. Too much to really detail to you, but I have to tell you about this class I went to about shifting your energy and getting in touch with your spirit guide. Before you brush it off, let me say that I am a believer in the power of positive thinking (necessary to both bold and italicize!) and you should be, too. Who wants to be a believer in "oh well, shit happens"? 

Anyway, the class was way beyond my current spirituality level, but one exercise we did stood out. We had to secure a penny to the wall by willing it. As in, I was to make it my intention to make it stick. I tried and tried, and it didn't work. Other people in the class were doing it no problem. They didn't have to hold it there, they just put it up and walked away. 

I decided I would take the exercise seriously and put my full concentration into it later at home and what do you know, it worked! Granted if shifting energy was so simple, then I'd make it my intention to win the lottery and travel the world, but of course, it's more the intent of challenging your mind to be positive when sometimes it wants to be a downer. Saying "I will" rather than "I won't." Seems simple enough. 

the action was more impressive than the photo

I end each day listing what I am grateful for and "setting my intention" on what I want my life to be. Say out loud, with confidence, what it is you want and how you intend to get it. Don't be half-ass about your dreams. 

At the very least, it clears my mind so I have peaceful sleep. At the very best, I am changing the energy around me one molecule at a time, so don't be surprised if you see me on TV holding that winning lotto ticket in whatever form that might be.

50/50 Challenge Update

Just a quick post to update my challenge progress. I have slacked in the book reading department despite the growing number of books being added to my nightstand. Currently, I am reading The Rosie Project, but for #19 I read This Is Where I Leave You by Jonathan Tropper. I read this one because soon it will be a movie starring one of my favorite actors, Jason Bateman. 

The main character, Judd, in the book has the dark, dry humor that I love so much and I think Jason Bateman will be a perfect fit to bring it to the big screen.

For book #20, I read Someday, Someday Maybe by Lauren Graham of "Gilmore Girls" fame. When I set out to read this book I thought that it was a memoir. I opened up the first page of the book thinking it was her memoir. Note to those going to read the book: it is NOT a memoir. However, it was entertaining and reminded me of my short time living in New York.

These past two books I recommend to readers and so far, I can't tell if I like The Rosie Project, but it's definitely intriguing. Who's read it? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

I'm always better about seeing movies and now have three more under my belt: 

26. Think Like a Man Too
27. What If
28. Boyhood

I will have reviews on "What If" and "Boyhood" on Examiner.com soon. Subscribe if you haven't already! I was entertained by "Think Like a Man Too" but not nearly as much as the first one. In my mind though, Kevin Hart can do no wrong right now, so I suggest seeing it.

So that's it. Keeping the pace, not losing hope that this is THE year that I will read 50 books and watch 50 movies. <insert inspirational song here>