Abandoned III - Detroit, MI

Favorite photos from January 18-22, 2016

Abandoned II - Detroit, MI

Books read in 2016

The Final Days, Bob Woodward & Carl Bernstein
Rediscover Jesus, Matthew Kelly

Currently Reading: Survivor's Guilt: The Secret Service and the Failure to Protect President Kennedy, Vincent Palamara

Favorite photos from January 11 -15, 2016

Abandoned - Detroit, MI

Books read in 2016

The Final Days, Bob Woodward & Carl Bernstein

Currently Reading: Rediscover Jesus, Matthew Kelly

Favorite photos from the week of January 4, 2016

Fisher Body Plant VII - Detroit, MI

Movies watched in 2015 - final count

•  A Walk Among The Tombstones (2014)
• Big Eyes (2014)
• Birdman (2014)
• Fireproof (2008)
• Run All Night (2015)
• The Intern (2015)
• The Theory of Everything (2014)
• War Room (2015)
• Watchmen (2009)

I didn't watch too many movies in 2015. I'm more of a TV watcher. My favorite movies were Big Eyes, Birdman, The Intern and War Room. My least favorite was Watchmen. I preferred the Watchmen comic book to the movie. 

Books read in 2015 - final count

Final count: 50

Favorite books of the year: Sin, Shame & Secrets: A True Story of the Murder of a Nun, the Conviction of a Priest, and the Cover-up in the Catholic Church, David Yonke   
Rediscover Catholicism, Matthew Kelly
The Unveiled Wife, Jennifer Smith & Juli Slattery
Five Days in November, Clint Hill & Lisa McCubbin

Least favorite book: 
Gracefully Insane: The Rise and Fall of America's Premier Mental Hospital, Alex Beam

The Bridge at Chappaquiddick, Jack Olsen  
And Then I Cried: Stories of a Mortuary NCO, Justin Jordan   
Art on the Block, Ann Fensterstock  
The Murder of Marilyn Monroe: Case Closed, Jay Margolis & Richard Buskin  
A Family Business: A Chilling Tale of Greed as One Family Commits Unspeakable Crimes against the Dead, Ken Englade   
Model: The Ugly Business of Beautiful Women, Michael Gross
Curationism: How Curating Took Over the Art World and Everything Else, David Balzer
Dead Center, Shiya Ribowsky
The Monopolists, Mary Pilon
Silent Witnesses: The Often Gruesome but Always Fascinating History of Forensic Science, Nigel McCrery
Lives of the Artists: Portraits of Ten Artists Whose Work and Lifestyles Embody the Future of Contemporary Art, Calvin Tompkins
Sin, Shame & Secrets: A True Story of the Murder of a Nun, the Conviction of a Priest, and the Cover-up in the Catholic Church, David Yonke
Living and Sustaining a Creative Life: Essays by 40 Working Artist, edited by Sharon Louden 
Gracefully Insane: The Rise and Fall of America's Premier Mental Hospital, Alex Beam
Look Who's Back, Timur Vermes 
Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, Ransom Riggs
Big Eyes: The Screenplay, Scott Alexander & Larry Karaszewski
Grace: Her Lives, Her Loves, Robert Lacey
Emergency 24/7: Nurses of the Emergency Room, Echo Heron
Hold Still: A Memoir with Photographs, Sally Mann
The Nurses: A Year of Secrets, Drama and Miracles with the Heroes of the Hospital, Alexandra Robbins
Conspiracies and Secret Societies, Brad Steiger & Sherry Steiger
Lights & Sirens: The Education of a Paramedic, Kevin Grange
Undertakings of an Undertaker: True Stories of Being Laid to Rest, Stanley Swan  
Unashamed, Jessie Minassian
Rediscover Catholicism, Matthew Kelly
The Unveiled Wife, Jennifer Smith & Juli Slattery
When Sorry Isn't Enough, Gary D. Chapman & Jennifer M. Thomas
Growing Up Amish: A Memoir, Ira Wagler
Quiet Strength, Tony Dungy & Nathan Whitaker
Uncommon, Tony Dungy & Nathan Whitaker
Longing for Paris, Sarah Mae
Brave Enough, Nicole Unice
Your Life Still Counts, Tracie Miles  
Watchmen, Alan Moore & Dave Gibbons
Fast Girl, Suzy Favor Hamilton  
Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Frank Miller, Klaus Janson & Lynn Varley
Street God, Dimas Salaberrios 
Wild at Heart, John Eldridge 
Captivating, John & Stasi Eldredge 
Taming the To-Do List, Glynnis Whitwer
The Mended Heart, Suzanne Eller
Simply Tuesday, Emily P. Freeman
Girl Meets Change, Kristen Strong
Unglued, Lyse TerKeurst
One More Step, Rachel Wojo
You're Going to Be Okay, Holley Gerth
The Man in the High Castle, Phillip K. Dick
Five Days in November, Clint Hill & Lisa McCubbin
The Last of the President's Men, Bob Woodward

End of the year survey

1. What did you do in 2015 that you’d never done before? 

I entered art and photography in the Fulton County Fair in Ohio.

 2. Did you keep your New Year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

I officially didn't make any. But I always want to lose weight. This past year I lost 15 pounds. I took more personal photos, thanks to Instagram and finding a Urbex tour of abandoned buildings in Detroit.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth? 

No.

4. Did anyone close to you die? 

Yes. My favorite teacher and coach from High school, Ken Gitersonke died in January. Also, my very close friend of 14 years, John Castle died in September.

5. What countries did you visit?
Stayed in the US. Visited Florida for the first time.

6. What would you like to have in 2016 that you lacked in 2015? 

A job that pays well and more joy.

7. What dates from 2015 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

So many memories from this past year. Too many and personal to name.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?  

Winning two races and earning more ribbons for my photography and art at two county fairs.

9. What was your biggest failure?

Sorry, too personal to name.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury? 

Not that I can recall.

11. What was the best thing you bought?

Two guided tours through abandoned buildings in Detroit.

12. Where did most of your money go? 

Student loan, gas, groceries, e-books, race fees, other bills, clothing and art supplies.

13. What did you get really, really, really excited about?

Traveling to Florida with my husband back in February.

14. What song will always remind you of 2014? 

I'm Not The Only One by Sam Smith and Hello by Adele.

15. Compared to this time last year, are you: 

a) happier or sadder? Sadder.
b) thinner or fatter? Thinner
c) richer or poorer? Neither.

16. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Spend more time with my husband.

17. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Cry

18. Did you fall in love in 2015?

Yes. As always with my wonderful husband of 14 years. I love him more then words can say.

19. What was your favorite new TV programs? 

Chicago Med

20. What was the best book you read?

I had a few:Rediscover Catholicism, Matthew Kelly
The Unveiled Wife, Jennifer Smith & Juli Slattery

Five Days in November, Clint Hill & Lisa McCubbin

21. What was your greatest musical discovery? 

Contemporary Christian

22. What was your favorite films of this year?
War Room

23. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

 I turned 36 and walked around the county fair with my husband.

24. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? 

If I could have a do-over.

25. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2015?

My work uniform or shirt, jeans/shorts and running clothes.

26. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? 

None.

27. Who do you miss?

My dad who passed away in 1998 and my close friend John.

28. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2015.   

Remember the good times, be strong during the difficult times, love always, laugh often, and thank God every day.

29. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year. 

Don't lose who you are in the blur of the stars!
Seeing is deceiving, dreaming is believing,
It's okay not to be okay.
Sometimes it's hard to follow your heart.
But tears don't mean you're losing, everybody's bruising,
There's nothing wrong with who you are! 

30. Do you have any big plans for 2015? 

I actually don't. That's disappointing.

Miles run in 2015 - final count

I really didn't have a running goal for 2015. I guess my goal was to run healthy. I think that happened. I ran everyday this year. That is something that I have never done before. I'm happy with my mileage. I didn't run 13 miles everyday. The last part of the year, I only ran up to 11 miles. That is fine with me. I'm not trying to impress anyone with my mileage. I'm doing what makes me happy and feel good.

I will continue to keep running in 2016. I don't know if I will run a couple of half marathons this year that are out of town. Money will be tight this coming year, so I plan on participating in races that take place in the county I live.

Total miles run for the year:
 
2015: 3710.4
 
2014: 4548.4
2013: 5079
2012: 5213.3
2011: 5745
2010: 2764.9
2009: 1257.9
2008: 960.2
2007: 573.7
2006: 470
2005: 350.8
2004: 318.6

Happy New Years

Hope 2016 will be a great one for you and your family!