100 Days

On the 100th day of reading I am only on letter H. Whoops. I should be way far ahead. This blog will commemorate the past 100 days of learning from books, laughing from books and being inspired by books. It will commemorate the love for books in which I hold dearly in my heart. It will also be to celebrate the fact that Barnes and Noble is entertaining and it will be to celebrate the fact that interesting things have happened...I have had good things happen, bad things happen...I have met all kinds of people, made new friends and taken some pretty cool pictures...books have allowed me to open my eyes to some pretty cool things.

So, H is Game Change by Heilemann and Halpernin.
G brought The Sandman by Neil Gaiman.
F brought Everything is Illuminated by Jonathan Safron Foer.
E brought about What is the What by Dave Eggers.
D brought about Funny in Farsi by Firoozeh Dumas.
C brought about Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll.
B brought about The Child Thief by Brom.
and...where it all began...A brought about The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams.

So far, I have gone from England to outer space. New York to Avalon. England to Wonderland. Iran to California. Sudan to Atlanta to Ethiopia to Washington state to Kenya. America to Ukraine. Dreamlands to Hell...and the almighty capital of the United States of America...Washington, DC...which has included side trips to Chicago and Iowa. Because of my budget being cut back this year, I have gotten to use books as my outlet for my love of travel. I have also had customers to talk about travel with and share experiences of my international travel. I have lived vicariously through books the past 100 days (even though no matter when I read, travel or not, I live through books). These are the places I have physically traveled since beginning my reading: Chicago, Homewood, Wilmette, Winnetka, Skokie, Niles, Lincolnwood, Oak Park, Evanston, Rogers Park, West Ridge, Sauganash, Rosemont, O'Hare, Wicker Park, Buck Town, South Shore, Andersonville, Old Irving, North Center, Lincoln Square, Lakeview, Lincoln Park, The Loop, West Loop, Streeterville, Old Town, Edgewater, Near South, Polish Village, Garfield Park, Hyde Park, Bridgeport, Indiana and Ohio...I know none of these places are anything compared to some of the places above, but they have been fun!

Over the past 100 days, I have had peeing children, bitchy customers and incredible people come by at Barnes. I have met teachers, Ozzy Osborne, Newbery winner Rebecca Stead, authors, publishers, illustrators and a number of other interesting folk. The L in Barnes and Noble has fallen off the store.

I have made new friends...Tim, Justin, Jeff, Bridget, Fabiola, Stefano, Troy and a couple of others. I have befriended managers and co-workers and customers. I have had entertaining trips to bars and restaurants with all of these people. I have attained a new roommate.

I have been on interviews and I have tried new foods. I have taken so many pictures and read on the beach. I have ridden the Skokie Swift and the 97 bus for the first time. I have seen Garfield Park Conservatory in two seasons. It has snowed, lightninged, thundered, rained, hailed and been incredibly windy.

In 100 days, I have been to the doctor for allergies and sinuses and a messed up wrist. I have had teeth taken out. I have had surgery. I have worked out. I have made two new workout partners on top of Brian...Dexter and Brandon. I have gained weight and lost weight, bulked up and added a little fat.

I have caught up with friends. I have been positive and I have been negative. I have been in graduate school. I have worked for Gap, too. I have seen an opera and I have seen a musical. I have seen January, February, March and April. I have learned to Skype and have seen my parents, Katie and the new dog Banjo.

I have been to South Carolina and I have seen tulips bloom again in the beautiful Chicago. I have seen my amazing family for whom I am so fortunate. I love them very much. I have also seen my wonderful SC friends including Dr. Criswell, Stephanie, Carolyn, Joyce, Camille and Jonathan.

I am truly fortunate for these 100 days, but most of all, I am fortunate for these books. They have helped me realize how much I love reading and what I want to continue doing. Books are the best. I never realized how much has happened and how much good has happened. I am here, I am alive. God has provided.

So, Happy 100! (author/illustrato Leo Lionni...will be turning 100 this year). Here's to the next group of books and many more fun days...

Thank you for reading my blog!!!!