August

Summer is coming to an end.  I had all of August to read whatever I want (and no school assigned books).  Here is what I read (and their place in my book count for the year):

61. Mambo in Chinatown by Jean Kwok 8/5/14 ✰✰✰
62. Child 44 by Tom Rob Smith 8/5/14 ✰✰✰✰
63. The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin 8/6/14 ✰✰✰✰
64. Writers and Their Notebooks by Diana M. Raab 8/12/14 ✰✰✰
65. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot 8/13/14 ✰✰✰✰
66. The Care and Management of Lies by Jacqueline Winspear 8/15/14 ✰✰✰✰
67. Cavewomen Don't Get Fat: The Paleo Chic Diet ... by Esther Blum 8/19/14 ✰✰✰✰
68. Brutal Youth by Anthony Breznican 8/26/14 ✰✰✰
69. Perfect Peace by Daniel Black 8/27/14 ✰✰✰✰✰

Although August isn't done, I think that this will be it.  I'll try to finish one book I'm working on, but this is the holiday weekend, lots to do.

* * *

I have started the Paleo Diet.  I started on August 9, 2014.  It has been 20 days, and a short vacation in between.  I've lost 10 lbs.  With very little exercise and I'm not hungry.   I need to lose between 35 and 50 lbs. It is a big spread I know, but I'm not sure where my normal weight is these days.  So if I don't get to the 50lbs.  I will know that my base weight is higher than it had been when I was in my 30s.  I have no time frame, but I hope by next summer, I'll be there (or close).

* * *

My sister-in-law (former) got married this weekend.  We traveled down to North & South Carolina for it.  People in South Carolina are so nice and slow.  I'm not used to that.  Here is my post about it on Facebook:

My impressions of South Carolina: I couldn't live here, why? The people are too nice, it is unsettling. I am a New Yorker to the core. Don't talk to me, don't wave to say hi, keep it moving. I realized I should be thrilled there are nice people in the world with manners, but I am a product of my environment. The people are lovely, I am not. Now I understand why people think NYers are rude. It is the culture. We are not rude, we are just living in a different reality!

I truly believe it.  They were very sweet people, helpful, waved hello everywhere, good mornings all around.  But I'm from New York.  You keep your head in your book/newspaper/phone.  You don't speak to people you don't know.  You NEVER offer anyone a lift.  You don't escort them around JC Penney to make sure they can find what they need!!

What the Store workers think they are doing:

What New Yorkers feel like the Store workers are doing:

Every day in the South, people are friendly.  The acknowledge your existence:

No! I'm not used to that.  Every day in New York, people invade your space and don't acknowledge you are there:

I'm not complaining about New York.  For my entire life, this is what I know.
But it was an experience.  One I wouldn't like to experience daily, but nevertheless, it was one for the books.