30 Day Challenge - Day 20

A picture of somewhere you would travel.


Rome....

I actually have tentative plans to travel there in 2012. Some ladies that I know through work, although I've actually only met two of them in person, are planning a trip to Rome and have included me. While I know there will be a lot of things about this trip that will annoy the poo out of my, mainly the actual traveling and the crowds that I'm certain will be there, there are so many things that are calling me to join them. For one, this trip will force me out of my hermit hole and I'm certain will lead to a fabulous adventure. For another, I need to visit Europe again before I die.

Yes, I have visited Europe once before when I was 17 and in high school. Trust me, I did not appreciate it nearly as much as I should have. I thank my parents for sending me, even though at one point there was a strong possibility that they were going to say no because I was acting like a spoiled 17-year-old brat, but luckily they did agree and I have a wonderful time...well, I had a good time....ummm, I remember some things when I look at my pictures....

Anyway, this next trip will be London and Rome, or at least I think that is what the plan is. We aren't going until May of next year, so there is still a little time, but I do need to go ahead and purchase my "Learn to Speak Italian" CDs so that I will be able to chat fluently with all the natives.

30 Day Challenge - Day 19

A picture of something you want to do before you die.

I want to climb Half Dome in Yosemite National Park. I know it is crazy since I'm so very out of shape and am not a hiker in any way, shape, or form, but when I first heard about this from my friend Samantha, I was intrigued and then when I actually went to Yosemite I was hooked. This seems like something that would really push me to a point beyond what I can imagine.

Here is a shot of the cables they have to assist people in the climb:

However, to be completely honest, if I just hike up to the Sub-Dome point along some of the trails, I think I would probably be pretty happy with myself....

30 Day Challenge - Day 18

A Picture of Your Biggest Insecurity

I'm not insecure about the woods, I like the woods....

No, I'm insecure about being a Leader and I'm faced with being one now.

I was recently promoted to a team lead position and to say the least, I'm a little freaked out about it. I'm touched that my bosses felt confident in putting me in the position and I want to deliver on their expectations. I also want to be able to guide and motivate my team, formerly my peers, and that is challenging.

Years ago I went to New Orleans with a bunch of my college friends for New Years Eve. We had a fabulous time, even though we were only there for 2 nights (eh, we were all still very young and could bounce back quickly). New Years Eve we went to Pat O'Briens Piano Bar and drank Hurricanes and sang and rang in the new year with great frivolity. The second night, we returned to Bourbon Street, with a slightly lower-key agenda. We hit a couple of bars, a voodoo shop, etc. One of the things that I did, and a couple of others as well, was I had some random Gypsy woman in some ally read my palm. During this reading, she told me that I was a leader and needed to except that fact as I would perform well at it. Well, I've avoided this mantel for probably 15 years as I never really saw myself as a leader. I've always seen myself as a support person. I once had a manager tell me I was like his Radar from M*A*S*H because I knew what needed to be done before he even asked for it. Maybe that is because I've been able to see the big picture as a leader should and not just my individual pixel in that picture.

Anyway, I'm taking on the challenge, but I'm scared to death that somebody is going to realize that I don't have a clue what I'm doing and that my feet are bleeding from all the tap-dancing....

Keep your fingers crossed for me....

2011 Book Six - In The Woods

I just finished In The Woods by Tana French. First, the back of the book:

The debut novel of an astonishing new voice in psychological suspense. In Tana French's powerful debut thriller, three children leave their small Dublin neighborhood to play in the surrounding woods. Hours later, their mothers' calls go unanswered. When the police arrive, they find only one of the children, gripping a tree trunk in terror, wearing blood-filled sneakers, and unable to recall a single detail of the previous hours.

Twenty years later, Detective Rob Ryan - the found boy, who has kept his past a secret - and his partner Cassie Maddox investigate the murder of a twelve-year-old girl in the same woods. Now, with only snippets of long-buried memories to guide him, Ryan has the chance to uncover both the mystery of the case before him, and that of his own shadowy past.

First, I want to say that I picked this book up innumerable times and put it back down trying to decide if I wanted to read it. Obviously, I finally made up my mind and got the book and did read it. Second, the premise was incredibly intriguing.... Sadly, though, I don't think it panned out. The story-line felt forced at times and there wasn't the big "oh my goodness, THAT is what happened...." moment at the end that I kept hoping for. Much like the case in the book, it felt like the author got a little bored and just decided to wrap it all up, stick a stamp on it, and mail it in.

Don't get me wrong, the writing is good and the first part with some of the character development was interesting, I just feel that the author realized that she needed to wrap it all up and be done with it and did so in a somewhat predictable manner leaving lots of stuff that I felt was promised in the early pages unanswered....

Ah well, they can't all be edge-of-your-seat-page-turners, now can they?

Would I recommend this book? Yeah, I probably would. Would I read another of this author? Possibly, I think she does have talent and perhaps in her next books she'll be able to flow better and either answer all the questions or leave the reader on edge waiting for the next installment...this had neither.