Semi-quick (for me) intro for the points:
Hello all you Lovelies and welcome to the Newcomers!
I'm going to go with fave book(s) because there are many different women inside me and some of these have helped shape who I am, at different stages of my life:
1. Brighty of the Grand Canyon by Marguerite Henry
-Hands down the best children's book I ever read. Made me fall in love with burros, the Grand Canyon, horses, reading and helped provide a necessary escape from a bad childhood.
2. Dove by Robin Lee Graham
-Read when I was a teen and made me fall in love with adventure, the ocean, sailing ships, & travel.
3. Taipan by James Clavell
-Epic, sweeping novel of Britain's founding of Hong Kong. Adventure, love story, intrigue, disaster, plus a strong, sexy, Scotsman (HOLLA, Kelly!) protagonist--this book has it all.
4. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
-The *wonderful* classic that helped SM create Twilight (IMO). Loved, loved, loved the heroine, how she was strong and NOT helpless, and how she and Mr. Rochester fell in love.
Ok Lovelies, you know I didn't want to start a new challenge without putting a
BIKE BRAGGING DAY under my belt! 21 miles today in the rain and wind, I got soaked but loved it.
Gina/Obava, I thought of you today as I was climbing my first big hill. At first I had to babystep my way through my ride, not sure if I had enough energy for all the hills I climbed today so I said, "if I just make it to the top of this hill, I'll take an epsom salt soak in the tub later while reading the book "Me & Mr. Darcy". When I got to the top of the hill I thought, "Gina, still can't cycle yet since the weather sucks there, so I gotta keep going for her." So I ended up climbing all the hills and knew I'd feel like a wimp if I didn't put on at least 20 miles today. My total miles for this year, paltry compared to this time last year, comes to 379. Century Ride, I *WILL* see you this summer, even if I'm STILL over 200 lbs at that time. I will not let my weight, my age, my binge eating disorder, my black & white (perfect of shit) thinking, my depression, my bad attitude, etc. derail me from this big goal. I will persevere!
Ok, will read all your posts and catch up with you soon. I'm just so happy you're all here.
