Music, Books, Miles, and Looks of November

And just like that, it's December. Whoa.

Music:
 


Ghost by Ingrid Michaelson - Be still my heart, Ingrid Michaelson has a new album coming out!  This is the first single that has been released off that album, which will be released on January 24, 2012.  You can bet your bottom dollar I will be buying that album.  I have GOT to see her when she goes on tour next year.  No ifs, ands, or buts.  Now if only Becky lived close as I KNOW she would go with me.



Learning to Love Again by Mat Kearney - Be still my heart, take 2.  I love Mat Kearney. This is one of my favorite songs off his most recent CD.  Mat Kearney was here in November, I wanted to see him and tried to get tickets for a friend and I, but it was sold out.  Then I found a single ticket for sale on Craigslist and decided to go.  Yes, it is unconventional to go to a concert alone, but I figured if I could go to Paris alone, I could go to a concert alone.  It was AH-mazing.  He is so talented.  It was the last show of his tour, so I think they were especially good.  At one point, Mat jumped down into the crowd and walked around, going all the way to the back (it was a standing venue).  It was the coolest thing I have ever seen happen at a concert.  He's even more swoon-worthy in person. 

Books:

The Postmistress by Sarah Blake - I really, really liked this book, which was the November selection for the blogger book club.  It started slow but it was worth sticking with.  It is set during WWII and the story unfolds through the eyes of 3 different female characters.  My favorite narrator was Frankie, a female radio newscaster in London.

I'll Never be French by Mark Greenside - This book was recommended to me by Nora's mom.  She's well aware of my obsession for all things French, so she recommended this light read.  It's about a man who buys a cottage in Brittany.  It's a light, fun read!

By the Time You Read This by Lola Jaye - This was a light, mindless read.  I am not sure how I stumbled upon it.  It somehow ended up on my library book request list (but I totally do not remember requesting it... a sure sign I request a lot of books!).  It wasn't a bad book, it just wasn't amazing.  It's about a young girl whose father passes away when she is a child.  He leaves a journal for her with advice for how to live her life from her teens until age 30.

Very Valentine by Adriana Trigiani - I technically did not read this, I listened to it when I spent 18 hours driving across the states of Iowa, Minnesota, and North Dakota earlier this month.  I really, really enjoyed it and it made the drive go as fast as 18 hours in a car alone can go.  I have read another book by this author and I really enjoy her books.  They feature strong female characters.  And they make me want to be Italian.

The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton - My sister-in-law recommended this author to me and I finally got around to reading one of her books.  It tells the story of Nell, a child who traveled from England to Australia on a boat in the early 1900s - alone.  A dock worker takes her home and him and his wife raise her as their own.  On her 21st birthday, Nell's father tells her that she was not actually their child.  The book uncovers the mystery of her past. 

Miles:

Another low mileage month for me.  I am still fighting the sinus infection I've had since mid-September.  I went on a new med this month which has a side effect of tendinitis or a ruptured tendon.  The doctor told me it's more prevalent with runners/athletes so he said to take it easy this month.  So I did.  I did run a strong 10k race on Thanksgiving, but that was the only noteworthy run.  The rest of my runs were short 3 milers.  I hope to increase my mileage in December, but I will have to see how the month goes as I am on yet another medication, as the other one I tried this month didn't work...  Fingers crossed in hopes that this 5th medication does the trick.  The next step is sinus surgery.  If that's what it takes, then so be it.  I just want to be well again. 

Looks:

 This is a tiny, iPhone photo of me, but it's the best I can do.  I got this dress at Banana Republic for 1/2 off and wore it to a friend's wedding.  It was nice to wear something besides black for a change!

The lighting in this photo is horrible, but here is another favorite outfit from the month of November.  Of course, it involves stripes.  I also got this top & corduroy skirt half-priced at Banana.  I paired it with brown tights and brown boots.