Gah, October? Where did the year go? I'm suddenly realizing we are entering the busiest season of the year and there's going to be tons to do for the next three months. It is unseasonably warmer right now, which makes it harder to believe that it's October. The colors have started changing but it's almost like the trees don't care and aren't even trying to put up a show. Renovation updates At this point, we have completed two weeks in our house while under renovation. Yes, it's every bit as irritating, annoying, frustrating, dusty, and allergy-triggering as they say a renovation can be. But it's also oddly fascinating seeing your house ripped down to the subfloor and peeking inside walls at the things that are typically hidden inside one. It was also satisfying seeing progress made - there's a wall one day, no wall the next day, and then all openings patched up the third day. This coming week is going to see the most progress - the hardwood flooring
Am I glad this week is over? It had been too hectic and I didn't get much sleep either. End of Masters course, please come soon!! I'm glad though that I do have this weekend free. I didn't get much reading yet, but I've been cleaning up my reader and browsing through all the fun bookish sites.
Two days ago, I went to get my state taxes done, and can you believe that the tax official carelessly filled out my form, wrote some wrong numbers and had me pay them 27 bucks? Ok, that's not much, but I should have got 120 bucks instead of having to pay the state! That infuriated me! I noticed the costly error only after reaching home, so I'm thinking of filing an amended return. Sloppy, really!
Last weekend, I went through my challenge lists and decided to drop out of some of them. I'm sure I will get a good many done by the end of the year, but there are a few that I have lost interest in or don't think will catch up with soon. So these are what I ditched:
- Audio Book Challenge: I joined this challenge because I was not a great fan of audio books and wanted to "get used" to them. No such luck! I still prefer the book!
- What's in a name? 3 Challenge: Some of the books I chose for this were challenged books for me. No wonder I am not making any headway here!
World Party Reading Challenge: I've realized that my reading choices are not geographic enough, so this would be a fun way to discover more books from various countries and try to read as many as possible! I missed exploring France in April, but will be globe-trotting starting this month. This challenge focuses on reading more international literature, but using US holidays and observances as the inspiration. It ends on March 2011.
The Orange Prize Project: This was the easiest prize project that I could join, mainly because I read more books by female authors than male authors? Isn't that so with many of us? Besides this is a perpetual challenge! You can almost see the thoughts running through my mind now, right, what with no deadlines? This challenge focuses on reading all the winners and shortlisted books honored by the Orange Broadband Prize for Fiction and the Orange Broadband Award for New Writers. The list has quite a good bunch of books that should be in my TBR.
So how has everyone's challenges been going? Some of you have posted your incredible progress recently and that got me all green. Right now I remember two such bloggers - Kathy and Helen. I wish I was that diligent.
Did you sign-up for the Glorious giveaway?
Comments
:-) Glad you decided on the Party.I like the going global concept.
I hope you have lots of reasons to celebrate at the end of the semester. My son said he's super busy right now.
Kathy, taxes are definitely irritating. And on top of that, when they make a mistake, it's even more irritating!
Wendy, I'm so glad to be joining the challenge too! :)
Helen, I know ... I'm so good at making my life easier.. LOL!
I still prefer books to audio books, I don't think I'll ever "get used" to them.
Definitely file an amended return! $147 error might not seem like a big amount of money to some people but it certainly isn't chicken feed!
Diane, I'm sorry too! I really really want to like audio books! Then I could listen to them all the time. :(
Lisa, I filed the amended return. Phew! I just hope the money comes to my account. I might have to stop accepting review books for some time too just to move my challenges along. Bummer!