Reading Habits vol.2

Earlier in the year, I dissected/analyzed/reported about my reading habits in this post.  I thought a 6 month recap was a good way to turn this into a series.  Maybe?  Or maybe this should just be an annual thing?  I don't know.  We'll see.  For now, let's look at my "reading habits" for all of 2016.

Fiction vs. Non-Fiction:  Apparently, I only read one more non-fiction book the entire last half of 2016.  Maybe that's why I got three of them as Christmas presents...to get more of them into my life.

Format:  book vs. ebook vs. audiobook - Nothing has changed since my last review.  I still don't own an e-reader.  I still don't want one.  I'm still old-fashioned. 

Source:  library vs. owned - I'm a little disappointed with this stat.  I wanted to make more of a dent in the books that I own already.  I'd like for next year to have these results be more balanced. 

Female Authors vs. Male Authors:  Girl Power!

Genre: crime/mystery/thriller, ya, memoir/bio, contemporary fiction, historical fiction, short stories, western, horror, children's lit, classics - This is what I said at mid-year, and it remains true:  "I know I read an assortment of genres.  I enjoy mixing it up.  I guess this (again, sorta kinda maybe) shows that is true.  Heavy on the crime/mystery/thrillers."

Ratings:  Obviously, I'm a big fan of giving books high marks.  I think that's a combination of reasons - I've learned what I like and tend to pick up books I know I'll enjoy, I'm not much of a book basher, and if I'm wavering between two ratings, I tend to be generous rather than stingy.  I feel like there were another couple of DNF in the mix though.

Favorites:  I told you about my faves of the year in this post:  Show Us Your Books Best of 2016: The Lucky 13; if you're interested and you missed that post of mine, take a look because I hit several genres with my recommendations.  I am confident there is something there for any reader.

Book Challenges:  You know, I am a book challenge junkie.  Here's a wrap-up of the challenges I participated in 2016:

Book Challenge by Erin 4.0 - read 17/20
Book Challenge by Erin 5.0 - read 20/20
Aussie Author Challenge 2016 - read 12/12
Read My Books Challenge 2016 - read 7 books that I already owned during the month of June
Semi-Charmed Summer Book Challenge 2016 - read 12/12
Semi-Charmed Winter Book Challenge 2016 - I've fumbled the ball on this one, and there's no picking it up - read 5/12
Around the World in 80 Books - read 18/80, but still going with this one; I've given myself a "due date" of my 50th birthday which is YEARS away.
USA Reading Roadtrip - read 6/50; same due date as above

As much as it pains this book challenge junkie's heart, I may sit out of the Semi-Charmed challenges in 2017.  There's a lot of crossover and a little bit of challenge burnout.  I am still passionate about keeping my personal book challenge a source of joy, so others may take a backseat moving forward.

Now, I need to stop posting and start reading.  I'm so behind in my blog reading, and I need to know what is going on in your lives!

Stuff and Things New with Me

I keep meaning to write about my thoughts and feelings about closing a small business.  I keep meaning to write about what the future holds for me (in the professional sense.)  I keep meaning to do these two things, but I haven't because, if I'm being honest, my thoughts and focus are scattered.  So, here's my stream of consciousness...random, jumbled, wordy and all.  No pretty pictures or funny gifs included.  My bad.

My husband and his father opened their store 12 years ago.  I joined the team 7ish years ago.  Throughout those years, in addition to me, there would only be one other employee, in a part-time capacity.  So, we were truly a small business, family owned and operated. 

Every sale mattered.  Every repair mattered.  Every customer mattered.  Because they paid for every aspect of our livelihood.  There was no set, stable, guaranteed income.  But, it wasn't just about money.  It was about our name.  Our family.  Our reputation.  Our business. 

And, when it comes to the product that we were providing...fine jewellery...often the purchase was made to commemorate an important occasion.  An engagement.  A wedding.  A birthday.  An anniversary.  A gift to oneself after earning a bonus that required hard work and commitment.  A gift to oneself to just "treat yo self".  A graduation.  And more.  We truly wanted the items from our store that marked these important events to be unique, special, quality, and memorable. 

There are not enough words to describe my husband's commitment and work ethic.  I won't even try.  Nothing I could say could do justice to how hard he worked, how committed he was to doing his best, providing the most, giving his all to the business.

Working with him, we learned that we truly made a good team.  We knew each others' strengths and weaknesses.  We bounced off each other well.  We knew how to depend on each other when needed and when to give each other space and autonomy.  Working together truly prepared us for marriage in some ways, without question.  I think that we made such a great team professionally in some aspects, that it convinced us that yes, we'd make great life partners too.

Deciding to close shop wasn't an easy decision.  Not at all.  Reviewing things that went wrong.  Recognizing things that should have been done differently.  Examining the business, trade, and market.  But, once the decision was made, we were ready for it.  The final day those doors closed, we were celebrating.  There was even an impromptu dance session to "The Final Countdown" mixed in there the last week.

What does the future hold? 

We have several ideas and ventures in mind. But, for now, I think we are both in a space that we want one of us (me!) to have steady, stable, known income...even if it isn't a big income...while the husband pursues other ventures in the jewellery trade that are a gamble.  He has some custom orders already established that he will be working on in our home workshop.  He has other opportunities that have been offered to him, and he has some new ideas for a different type of jewellery product launch as well. 

So, I will be on the job hunt.  I started resume writing today.  I haven't written a resume for myself in over a decade.  I reached out to a few people that I've worked with in the past to ask for a few adjectives/buzzwords to describe me.  I gotta admit: I'm pretty humbled, astonished, and quite frankly, proud of their responses. 

I have decades worth of sales experience from building materials to fine jewellery.  I've got a BA in Sociology and years ago worked as a caseworker at a juvenile prison.  A few years ago, I completed a Diploma of Tourism (similar to an Associate's Degree) because the travel industry has always interested and excited me.  Getting a focus on the avenue(s) I want to pursue is my challenge at the moment.  But, I'm confident I'll work through it. 

So, that's "Stuff and Things" that are "New with Me".  How about you?

Linking..... with Kristen and Gretchen:

Linking..... with  Kristin:

Wild Ropes at Taronga

When I decided that I wanted to tackle Taronga Zoo's Wild Ropes for a "50 Before 50" activity, I wasn't really sure what was in store.  I've heard of ropes courses.  I've known others who have done them.  This one hovers over animal enclosures at Sydney's Taronga Zoo.  Sounds cool, right?  They are open to kids 8 years and older (reaching a height requirement).  How difficult can it be?

I knew my friend Shelby and her son P were coming to visit.  My stepkid and I checked out the website and pictures and decided we'd buy all of us a package while they were here for a Christmas present from our family to theirs.  Prices actually seemed somewhat reasonable (because most things in Sydney are not reasonably priced.)  We selected the "Adventure Package" which consisted of:

Adventure Package + Zoo entry - includes access to two courses plus same day Zoo entry. Purchase a combined Wild Ropes / Taronga Zoo ticket online and save:
Adult $69
Junior* $45

We arrived a little early which was great...enough time to use the toilet, drink some water, check out the duck pond and water fowls next to the course...and check out these guys just chilling out...they are situated underneath part of the Wild Ropes course.

We weren't allowed to take anything with us...meaning no cameras and no phones.  We got harnessed up, were given a few basic instructions, had a picture taken, and then, we were on our way. 

P was the brave one who volunteered to go first, and he was an awesome leader!  We'd here him yelling through the trees shouts of encouragement: "Erin, you got this!" and "Good job, Liam!" 

Honestly, I don't even know how to adequately describe the challenges.  First, let me say, they were NOT as easy as I expected.  We needed balance.  We needed more strength than I predicted.  There were ropes (duh!) and platforms, things that swing and shake and rock and move.  There was a "lower" course that we tackled first, and a "higher" course that we conquered secondly.  We basically kept calling ourselves "America Ninja Warriors"; the stepkid called himself an "Australian Junior Ninja Warrior".

Speaking of the stepkid...I can't tell you how proud of him we were.  There were some times when he was nervous, scared, unsure, and outright saying, "I'm not doing it".  There were moments of coaching, encouraging, supporting, and even bribing him to tackle certain apparatus challenges.  He rocked at some, and others were rocking him to the core.  But, he did it!  He did them all! 

Look at that little "Australian Junior Ninja Warrior" crossing that rope!

Speaking of overcoming some obstacles...the stepkid overcame fear.  Shelby, well, she overcame injury.  At some point, in the first course, she felt her arm/shoulder pop.  She pushed through.  She thought maybe she wouldn't do the second course, but after seeing Liam overcome his fear, she thought she'd overcome her discomfort.  (Since she's gone home and seen a doctor, she's learned that she strained a pectoral muscle and ruptured a rotator cuff; she was even sent to a specialist to make sure surgery wasn't needed!)

Once finished, we all needed about 6 gallons of water each.  We were sweaty messes, all pretty happy with our accomplishment and experience, and ready to visit the zoo. 

Another "souvenir" from Wild Ropes - matching bruises on our arms!

This is the type of activity that is exactly what I wanted for my 50 Before 50 list - something I've never done before, something I shared with loved ones, and something that made me feel pumped about myself after doing it. 

Have you done a ropes course?  What did you think?

December scavenger hunt recap

From jenn's post:  ten things to celebrate in december: a scavenger hunt 

I knew that I most likely wouldn't accomplish all the tasks, but here's how I did with the ones that I tackled:

from jenn:  two. december second. national salesperson's day. i've done more than my share of time in retail hell. i know how dreaded this time of year is for the gals behind the counter. when you're out shopping for those special gifts, ask an associate what a good pick-me-up would be. what can you do to put a bright spot in her day? chances are good it'll be a simple as a cup of starbucks or, in the case of one of my manager friends, a route forty-four diet coke from sonic with hardly any ice in it.

What I did:  Renee sells gemstones and finished jewellery too.  She is accessible, knowledgeable, reliable, and efficient.   She cares about the successes of her customer base.  She runs all over Sydney (and the rest of this big state too) providing excellent customer service to retail jewellery stores.  December is the most hectic month for most all retailers, and to have a reliable supplier like Renee is beyond helpful to the business.  So, in the spirit of this scavenger hunt, I gave her a little "thank you" gift.

from jenn:  three. december fifth. bathtub party day. things are about to crazy, yeah? or maybe they've done so already? all the shopping and the baking and the trimming of the tree... treat yourself to a time out. snag a favored scented shower gel from bath and body works (or wherever you go for that stuff... i'm partial to bodycology's white gardenia, which can be found at the grocery store for like four bucks), pour a glass of wine, put on some music or listen to a bit of an audio book you've been dying to read but haven't had the time. give yourself a blessed hour. your family will probably thank you for it.

What I did:  I take a lot of baths already.  It's my little sanctuary on a regular basis.  This particular bathtub party consisted of a book by a favorite author, bubbles, and a Christmas candle (cranberry spice.)  Plus, two cats (not pictured)...they like to hang out in there with me.

from jenn:  four. december sixth. st. nicholas day. surely you know a nick or a nicholas (or maybe a nicole?). take some time out of your day to send a special note to that person. 'tis the season... 

What I did:  I don't know a Nicholas (or a Nick), but I do have a friend named Nikki as seen below with her sweet Sebastian.  So, I combined it with "cat herder's day" (see below) and surprised Nikki with a small care package and a note.

from jenn:  five. december tenth. nobel prize day. here's a list of the laureates in literature. choose one and share a line or two from a work you admire.

What I did:  Sorta lame, I know, but I spent some time to read quotes from Toni Morrison, courtesy of goodreads. 

from jenn:  six. december twelfth. poinsettia day. pick up one of these gorgeous creations and take it to a friend you've not seen in some time.

What I did:  Knowing that my friend Kim's son was in the care of hospice after his battle against brain cancer, I felt helpless.  What can I do?  What gesture shows that I'm thinking of them?  So, I used this list as inspiration to send a poinsettia letting them know my thoughts are with them this holiday season.  Sawyer, her son, passed away about a week after I sent them.

from jenn:  seven. december thirteenth. national cocoa day. take a breather from the christmas shopping. treat yourself to a cup of hot chocolate.

What I did:

from jenn:  eight. december fifteenth. cat herders day. surely you know someone who's got one too many cats in his or her house. and surely those cats are wreaking havoc on the christmas decor. find a cute cat card and send it their way. they may be needing the reminder of why they love the things right about then.

What I did:  I sent Nikki's kitty cat care package to her in St. Kilda (a funky, eclectic suburb of Melbourne).  Also, I encouraged her to "pay it forward", to send a care package to someone that doesn't expect it, to spread more happiness.  The world needs more care packages.  Nikki agreed to "pay it forward" and has already reported that she sent an adult coloring book and colored pencils to a friend unexpectedly. 

Jenn has another scavenger hunt ~  "ten things to celebrate in january: a scavenger hunt" ~ I'm going to participate again (like I did for December); join in the fun if you choose.

Sunday's Seven-Plus Snapshots vol.104

Sneaking in for my weekly "Sunday's Seven Snapshots", and since I missed last week, this post is photo heavy...

What's been happening in my world the last couple of weeks?

Shop closed and cleared...more on this to come...

My friend from Texas, Shelby and her son P came to visit.  We had such a phenomenal time scratching the surface of all the amazing sites that Sydney has to offer.  I absolutely love playing tour guide in this city!

Silly shark selfie at the aquarium

There's this little thing called "Christmas" that was thrown in the mix. 

Christmas Day beach shenanigans at the Royal National Park

Our family Christmas photo

Outdoor adventures are often the best kind of adventures - this is Fitzroy Falls.

Another view from Fitzroy Falls

We went camping here last year and brought Shelby and P back because of all the Aussie animal sitings.  This year did not disappoint.  We saw an echidna, wallabies, kangaroos, kookaburras, native lizards, and......

...wombats!  I just love these plumpy guys!

Our camping crew

Another gorgeous view in Kangaroo Valley

Speaking of gorgeous views, this one is seen from the ferris wheel at Luna Park, a small amusement park along the harbour foreshore.

The boys riding the "Hair Raiser" which the stepkid announced he would never ride again ~ ha!

Another beach visit, this time at Cronulla Beach

We came, we saw, we conquered "Wild Ropes" at Taronga Zoo.  I'll have a fuller post on this activity because it ticked off one of my "50 Before 50" checklist.

These guys just hang out all over the zoo.

I am such a fan of the Taronga Zoo in Sydney.  I have mentioned before that I'm torn with zoos...with animals kept in captivity for the amusement of people. But Taronga's breeding and conservation programs are superb.  Here's a couple of momma's and babies born in Taronga....

I could watch the gorilla exhibit all.day.long.

We had an adult night out complete with tapas, wine, and good company.

A friend of mine offered to take us to the Hunter Valley, a wine region not too far from Sydney.  It turned out to be a fabulous day that it gets its own post soon.

We spent Christmas Day at the beach, so why not New Year's Eve day too?  This time...Balmoral Beach.

Finding a vantage point for the Sydney fireworks is no easy feat...especially if you don't want to deal with enormous crowds or get there at noon to wait until midnight.   But, my guy is da bomb diggity for finding this little enclave along the shore.  We got there at about 6:45pm, and it was filled with families and space to chill, chat, and people watch.

Final dusk of 2016...I sat the phone down and enjoyed the "family fireworks".  Sydney has two scheduled fireworks displays ~ one at 9:00pm and one at midnight.  We watched the 9:00pm ones here...

...we were home in front of the tv to ring in the New Year!

Happy 2017!