Sunday, September 8, 2013

What I'm Reading


I have always been an avid reader,  this year I had set a goal to read 55 books. I was  on track in April completing 27. Then progress came to a screeching halt as I started summer classes. I begrudgingly gave up any free moments to read for pleasure to study bones and molecular orbitals.

After pulling an all nighter reading Finding Colin Firth  I realized reading was "the something"  missing last in the few months. You could say reading in my guilty pleasure and once I start a good book it is so hard to stop! I love nothing more to get lost in the pages of a good book. Every now an then time really flies I look up and realize it's 3 AM. oops!

I vow to keep up the pleasure reading while in class this coming semester. So I'm adding a series of what am I reading posts to the blog. Feel free to give suggestions and read along with me! Here is my past, present, and future of what I am reading. 


Finding Colin Firth 
I found myself giddy with excitement when I saw this title and that is what drew me to this book at first. I love Collin Firth movies! Plus the Cuyahoga County library suggested it as a hot new read...why would they steer me wrong? I really need to stop starting books after 9pm as I had a rough book hangover then next day, but well worth it. Good suggestion BV library!

Finding Colin Firth was a light, fun, feel good story full of hope. The story follows three women one summer in a small town in Maine, where a Colin Firth movie happens to be filming. The three women one way or another are forever entwined in each others lives. One who placed her baby up for adoption 22 years prior returns to her hometown, another recently found out she was adopted goes in search of her birth mother and the last a recently unemployed journalist is  struggling with impending motherhood. Each women finds new ways to come to terms with who they are as a person, woman, and family member. I really liked how each chapter alternated a characters view point and I quickly got engrossed with each of the women's lives. I was rooting and hoping for the best for each of them as the story progressed. 

I closed the book with a smile on my face and it was just what I needed before starting a new semester. After reading I now want to have a Colin Firth movie marathon and check out the author's previous book! There are also questions at the end of the book to assist in book club discussions. Even though this book is on the lighter side touches a lot of topics that almost anyone can relate to and would be a great choice for a book club. 



For my current read, I going a totally different directions and trying a nonfiction. As August marked Curiosity's one year anniversary I thought this book would only be fitting.




Red Rover: Inside the Story of Robotic Space Exploration, from Genesis to Mars Rover Curiosity

Wiens paints the portrait of one of the most exciting scientific stories of our time: the new era of robotic space exploration. Beginning with the Genesis mission that launched his career, Wiens describes the competitive, DIY spirit of these robotic enterprises, from conception to construction, from launch to heart-stopping crashes and smooth landings.

An inspiring account of the real-life challenges of space exploration, Red Rover vividly narrates what goes into answering the question: is there life elsewhere in the universe?
source: amazon.com






Next on the reading shelf is a historical fiction, more my normal style. I love the impressionist artists especially Degas so knew this was a book I would have to try. I picked multiple copies at the library in hopes that all the girls in the family could do a mini book club. Only my mom has read it so far, so if you want to join in I hope to have this finished by the end of October. 

The Painted Girls:  A Novel

A heartrending, gripping novel about two sisters in Belle Époque Paris. 1878 Paris. Following their father’s sudden death, the van Goethem sisters find their lives upended. Without his wages, and with the small amount their laundress mother earns disappearing into the absinthe bottle, eviction from their lodgings seems imminent. With few options for work, Marie is dispatched to the Paris, she will be trained to enter the famous ballet and is soon modeling in the studio of Edgar Degas. Her older sister, Antoinette, finds work as an extra in a stage adaptation of Émile Zola’s naturalist masterpiece L’Assommoir.

Set at a moment of profound artistic, cultural, and societal change, The Painted Girls is a tale of two remarkable sisters rendered uniquely vulnerable to the darker impulses of “civilized society.” In the end, each will come to realize that her salvation, if not survival, lies with the other. 
source: amazon.com

Thursday, September 5, 2013

I Wanna Go Back to Ohio State, to Old Columbus Town...

source americanpostcards.info
I must say there is nothing like the smells, sights, and sounds of a crisp fall football Saturday at the Shoe in Columbus. Go Bucks! I am so excited to be heading down there this weekend to watch my dad march in the Alumni Band. While in school I spent 5 great years living in Columbus and it always feels a bit like a homecoming when I visit. 

Columbus has a lot to offer (besides being the state capital) if you want a night out on the town, a bit of culture, or rooting on a sports team it's here.  Here are my top not to be missed things in Columbus. 

source osu.edu
*Ohio State University
There is something magical about this place for me. Maybe it's all the traditions (who doesn't like jumping in a lake in the middle of November), the fact that myself and other 8 family members attended, or the electricity of being with  100,000+ people wearing Scarlet and Gray. The campus is beautiful just to take a stroll around. Some highlights are Mirror Lake, Wexner Center, the library (go to the top floor for a fantastic view), and my personal favorite Orton Hall (check out the geological museum). OH-IO


source experiencecolumbus.com
*Franklin Park Conservatory
This is a botanical garden and conservatory located just to the east of downtown. Chihuly glass is embedded throughout the gardens and  as you travel through each room you feel like you are transported to different lands. In the spring is the ever popular butterfly exhibit. This is a great spot for weddings and photo ops, when you visit it is easy to see why!


source en.wikipedia.org
*Sports
Blue Jackets NHL, Columbus Crew pro soccer, Columbus Clippers minor league baseball, and OSU Division I you want it they got it no matter what the season!


COSI's Ocean Exhibit
source roto.com
*COSI
Formally known as Center of Industry and Science this is a hands on science museum that is fun for all ages. I love the ocean room and walking through the halls of yesteryear. There is also Extreme Screen movie, outdoor fun park, and tons of demonstrations to keep your interest throughout the day!


source tripadvisor.com
*Schmidt's
Nestled in the heart of historic German Village is this authentic German sausage house. It's notorious for the Bahama Mama sausage and Jumbo Cream Puffs. When they say jumbo they aren't kidding each are 1/2 lb! If you walk out of here still hungry there is something wrong with you. 



*North Market

This is Columbus' only public market (think Westside Market but smaller). It hold dozens of merchants supplying fresh produce, meats seafood, ethnic specialties, and gourmet groceries on a daily basis. It's a great place to stop and get lunch or that unique ingredient or beverage for dinner later. 

source onu.edu
*Gallery Hop
The first Saturday of every month over 40 galleries and venues along the Short North strip stay open late till 10 pm and entice all  to explore new artwork. It's a great evening to enjoy the sights, maybe some wine and people. Around the holiday months there are usually a bit more to do like carolers and horse drawn carriages.   




* Comfest (Community Fest)

This annual weekdend long celebration taking place in Goodale Park and brings together hippies, potheads, music lovers, free hug givers, rights activists, and trinket sellers from all over. There's live music, crafts, yoga, arts, and demonstrations going on constantly. This event is SUPER busy and is always the last weekend in June. This is by far my favorite people watching event of the summer. I would not consider it a real family friendly outing though. For example lots of women opt to be painted insted of wearing tops and you may get hit in the head with lube being tossed from a float during the pride parade (true story). 


source tripadvisor.com
*Thurman Cafe
This restaurant is also located near German Village and is voted Best Burgers in Columbus. I couldn't agree more, make sure you are super hungry before you go because these burgers are HUGE! Be ready to wait as it is a tiny hole in the wall bar, but well worth it. You'll see this restaurant featured on many food shows for the Thurmanator, created to fuel the body builders during the Arnold Classic.


Reading Room at Columbus Commons
 source streeteatscolumbus.com
* Parks
Columbus is constantly updating it's parks and has a plethora to choose from. Some of my favorites north of campus are the Park of Roses, in Clintonville and the 14 miles of bike path called the Olentangy Trail. 

A newer park directly in downtown  is called Columbus Commons.  There is movies,  live music, yoga, food trucks, and many more events going on all the time. Check out the event calendar here  My favorite thing about this park is called the reading room. The Columbus Public Library (which is fantastic) has carts of books for children and adults that you may borrow and read outside. So cool!  



* Columbus Zoo

I know I already posted about this and didn't want to repeat too much. But it's really any awesome place to visit. My favorite event is Wildlights running Nov-Dec!


If you need any more tips check out this link before the next time you are in town: 33 things you need to know about Columbus. Happy adventuring!