The sniffles, coughs and bloody eye

One of the pitfalls of working in retail is that you are exposed to a lot of different germs. When you interact with that many people, 5 days a week, you are going to get sick. It's just a fact. And when you work with cash and interact with a lot of people, your chances of getting sick are higher. I am currently getting over my second cold this fall. I suspect that I never really got over my first cold so that is why this last one was worst then the first. I actually had to go to the doctor. Something that I avoid. Why go for just a cold? They can't do anything for that. Well, I popped a blood vessel in my eye so the doctor I went. I didn't go because I thought I needed to but everyone told me I had too. I have to admit it was a good thing because I do have an ear infection (Surprise!) and "yuckiness" in my lungs. My eye however is fine and will clear up on it's own. The other good thing about this visit, was I finally found a doctor in Brooklyn I really like. Dr. Azad was so nice and very warm. I really felt comfortable talking with her. So maybe, next time I get sick I won't need a blood vessel to pop to go the doctor.

In other news, I am watching Iowa vs. Michigan on TV. I miss watching my boys play. It's kind of funny. When I went to Iowa, I could have cared less about watching them play. I voluntarily worked on game days because they were the easiest days to work. We were dead during the game, giving us plenty of time to get work done that we normally get done on a Saturday but since leaving Iowa, I've become attach to the team. I guess it's one thing that keeps me connected to home. It's something that I still have in common with my friends who still live in Iowa. I know we have more in common then that but it's comforting to know that they are at home cheering on the Hawkeyes, while I am here. Iowa Alumni have a New York chapter that meets every Saturday in a bar in the upper east side to watch games. I have always wanted to go but didn't want to go alone. I haven't been able to convince anyone to go with me and I mostly have to work on Saturdays anyway. This Thanksgiving, with my Sister and Dad are in town, we are going to try to go for the Iowa-Nebraska game. I think that will be fun and get a chance to meet some fellow Iowans in New York. So, with that I say, Go Hawkeyes!!!

Yeah! New Job!

I have a new part time job. I work in the morning for doodledeals.com. It's a website that offers great deals for Kids and their moms! I have really been enjoying it. I am a customer service rep and work mostly from home. I do have to go into the office every now and then. It's a lot more work then responding to emails, answering questions. I'm actually surprised at how much research I have to do. I have to look up accounts, deals, and vendors. I've had to go through the payment process a few times, to make sure our directions in our vouchers are correct. It's very interesting. I'm not new to customer service. I have to a fair amount of it at Barnes and Noble but it's kind of a different animal when it's done over email and phone. In some ways, it's so much nicer not actually have to deal with customers in person but in others, it's a whole lot easier to solve their problem when you are talking to them face to face. I feel like I'm learning a whole new skill set. So, I'm really happy. I kind of wish that I don't have to do so many closes at B&N but oh well. Things are so much better now. I feel more relaxed. I'm not as worried about my finanicial situation as much as I was. I don't have to move. It's great.

Whats on my book shelf

I have been reading a lot of teen or YA (young adult) novels lately. I blame my sister. She lent my Cassandra Clare's Mortal Instruments Trilogy last summer and since then I have been hooked. Ok, so may be it's not fair to blame her because I read many Teen novels before then but since then that is pretty much all I have wanted to read. Some of coworkers make fun of me because I am an adult reading books written for kids but they are so Good! Well, most of them. I like them because they are easy and fast and fun. They are not going to challenge my world view or make me think. They are just easy, breezy fun books, mostly about vampires, werewolves, fairies and an occasional dystopia world thrown in. It's all those reasons that I need to read them. I'm stressed out at work. Frustrated that I haven't been able to find another job that will pay me more. I'm not exactly where I thought I would be at this point in my life that I just need an escape and Teen books give me that. So my friends my scoff but I have already read 23 books in 2011. How many have you read?

Here are some of my favorites Teen novels I have read in the last year. I'm posting in no particular order.

The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins: If you haven't read them, Why the hell not? The Hunger Games, Catching Fire and Mockingjay make up the best series I have ever read. They are very complete. The characters are strong and well fleshed, the story is interesting and Collins perfectly balances the action/violence with the romance and stops every now and then for much needed comic relief. Go buy them now!

White Cat by Holly Black: It's part crime novel, part mystery and part family drama. It was recommended by several of the authors I follow on twitter and it didn't disappoint. I can't wait for the second book Red Glove to come out in a week.

The Mortal Instruments Trilogy (part 1) and Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare: Both series are about Shadow Hunters. Humans ascended from Angels who protect the world from Demons. It has a little bit every super natural beings, which is fun. TMI takes place in modern day New York, while Clockwork Angel takes place in Victorian England, giving it a little Steampunk feel to it. There really should be more Steampunk in teen fiction.

Hold Me Closer, Necromancer by Lish McBride: I picked this up because I thought the title was awesome. I was so glad that the book was just as awesome. Sam, is a college dropout, he works at a fast food restaurant and he just found out he's a Necromancer. It's a tough life. Very funny and I hope she continues with these characters because I want to read more!

Shiver, Linger, Lament and Ballad by Maggie Stiefvater: Shiver and Linger are about werewolves and are pretty awesome and Lament and Ballad are about fairies but really should be read for James. He's kind of the perfect boy ever!

Divergent by Veronica Roth: This book isn't even out yet. I got an advance reader copy from Harper Collins. Several of the authors I follow on twitter where raving about it so I had to read it and it lived up to the hype. It's a dystopian novel that takes place in Chicago. The people have broken up into factions based on what they value. Knowledge, Selflessness, honesty, Courage and Peace. At 16, you choose which faction you want to belong too. For Tris, her choice is difficult. Does she stay with her family or abandon them for another faction. It's kind of like the Hunger Games because it has a strong female protagonist and is at times very violent but that's about where the similarities end. I highly recommend it when it comes out in May.

Ok so I'm tiring here so I'm just going to post a just a few more titles that I really like and you can find them all on my goodreads page.

Tiger's Curse and Tiger's Quest by Colleen Houck Before I fall by Lauren Oliver Beautiful Creatures and Beautiful Darkness by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl
The Maze Runner and The Scorch Trials by James Dashner

So what are you all reading? Any suggestions on what I should read next?

Weight Watchers

So kinda on a whim, after work I Monday I signed up for Weight Watchers online. I did it in college so I'm familiar with how the diet works and so I thought I should try it again. I had some success with it but like all the diets I have been on as soon as I plateaued I became frustrated and went back to my hold habits. I am determined that this will not happen again. When I weighed myself to set up my profile, I was horrified to find that not only have I gained back all the weight I had lost before moving to New York but I am now the heaviest I have ever been! When did this happen? I don't feel like I have changed my eating habits? I'm not eating more then I did before. I'm actually more active here in New York then I ever was in Iowa since I don't have a car and am forced to do more walking. So how can I really be heavier now then ever before? This puzzles me but I want to look as this as a good thing. Maybe this is what I need to push me to really lose the weight. I refuse to gain anymore weight. I wanted to lose some weight before we go to Florida in March but it's no longer about that. I'm not happy with the way I look. I know I am not healthy and I have been overweight for most of my life. I know this is something I can change and God willing this plan will help me do it.