“A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies. The man who never reads lives only one.” 

- George R.R. Martin, A Dance With Dragons

Remember those “choose your own adventure books” from when you were a little kid? The ones that let you determine if Mary should go down the scary dark tunnel that may potentially lead to her death, or if she should turn back and wait for her friends? (To continue down the tunnel, turn to page 46)

I’m sure this doesn’t come as a surprise, but I loved them. My library hours in elementary school usually comprised of me reading every possible outcome in one of those books, then choosing the best one and pretending like it was my first pick all along… but hey that’s just me.

Seeing that I’m back on my book kick, I’ve decided that a post dedicated to some good reads is long overdue. Why, you may ask, would I tell you about the “choose your adventure” books? Surely I’m not planning on suggesting for you to read them? Of course not – you amateurs probably wouldn’t be able to guide Mary to safety anyway… 

But seeing that I’m in a nostalgic mood, I’m going to fashion this post after one of those books. Fear not loyal readers – there will be no dark scary tunnels, and none of the outcomes lead to poor Mary’s demise. Excited yet? Because I am. Follow along this blog post to discover the best books for you to read in 2013!

Journey to the Center of the Library
 by Ashley E. Gudzak

It was a dreary afternoon in Pleasantville and the skies were becoming darker and more ominous with each passing minute. Mary was at the library finishing up her essay when thunder shook the walls and a flash of lightning illuminated the sky outside. Realizing that she wouldn’t be leaving any time soon despite the fact that her project was almost done, Mary gave in and decided she might as well find a book to read.

There was just one problem: Mary was not a big reader and had no clue where to begin. The aisles at the library had so many choices and she wasn’t sure which one to venture down first.

After wandering around for a time, Mary decided to ask the librarian for assistance. “Excuse me, I’m looking for a book to read but don’t know where I should start. Can you help me?” 

The librarian smiled, “Of course, young lady. First, we’ll need to figure out which genre is the best fit for you. What are your favorite kinds of stories?”

To help the librarian point Mary (i.e.: you) in the right direction, pick an answer to her question below:

1.      “I love stories about hopelessly romantic men and the stupid women they date that do not deserve their love like I do. I swear, one day I will find my own Christian Grey. Excuse me? No, I have no idea why I am still single… why do you ask?” (scroll down to Romance)

2.      “I love stories about magic and supernatural worlds. Spells and made-up languages? Bring it on! Huh? No, I haven’t received my Hogwarts letter yet… Oh, I’m sure the owl just got stuck in the storm or something.”  (scroll to Fantasy/Sci-Fi)

3.      “I enjoy reading about the past and learning how people in other countries, cultures or time periods lived. Boring, you say? No way! I love reading books with accented writing and names I can’t pronounce. Namaste.” (scroll down to Cultural/Historical)

4.      “I’d like to read about survival techniques or potential fates for the world after the coming apocalypse. Oh, it is going to happen… just a matter of time now. Better be prepared and get your vaccinations up to date. Do you guys sell bows and arrows?” (scroll to Future/Dystopia)

5.     “I like stories about heroes and adventure! No sappy romance for me. A little scary or disturbing? No problem! I have a dream catcher above my bed.” (scroll down to Thriller/Mystery)

(Author’s note: Books with asterisks are my top choices for each genre!)

Romance

1.      Slammed by Colleen Hoover* (See previous blog post)

2.      Point of Retreat by Colleen Hoover (Slammed #2)

3.      Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire*

4.      The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger*

5.      Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen

6.      Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin

7.      Something Blue by Emily Giffin

8.      Reason to Breathe by Rebecca Donovan

9.      Barely Breathing by Rebecca Donovan

Fantasy/Sci-Fi

1.      Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling*

2.      Game of Thrones Series by George R.R. Martin*

3.      The Rook by Daniel O’Malley*

4.      Everneath by Brodi Ashton*

5.      Lorien Legacies Series by Pittacus Lore

6.      The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

7.      Bloodlines Series by Richelle Mead

Cultural/Historical

1.      Beneath a Marble Sky by John Shors*

2.      The Help by Kathryn Stockett

3.      The Lotus Eaters by Tatjana Soli

Future/Dystopia

1.      Partials by Dan Wells*

2.      Divergent by Veronica Roth*

3.      Insurgent by Veronica Roth (Divergent #2)

4.      Delirium by Lauren Oliver

5.      Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver

6.      Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins*

7.      Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins (HG #2)

8.      Mocking Jay by Suzanne Collins (HG #3)

9.      The Selection by Kiera Cass

10.   The Maze Runner by James Dashner

11.   The Scorch Trials  by James Dashner (Maze Runner #2)

12.   The Death Cure  by James Dashner (Maze Runner #3)

13.   Uglies by Scott Westerfield

14.   Pretties by Scott Westerfield (Uglies #2)

15.   Specials by Scott Westerfield (Uglies #3)

16.   Matched by Ally Condie

17.   Crossed by Ally Condie (Matched #2)

18.   Reached by Ally Condie (Matched #3)

Thriller/Mystery

1.      The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown*

2.      Angels & Demons by Dan Brown (Robert Langdon #2)

3.      The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown (Robert Langdon #3)*

4.      The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larrsson

5.      The Girl Who Played With Fire by Stieg Larrsson (Girl Who #2)

6.      The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest by Stieg Larrsson (Girl Who #3)

7.      We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver

"Sometimes life gets in your way.
It gets all up in your damn way.
But it doesn't get all up in your damn way because it wants you to just give up and let it take control.
Life doesn't get all up in your damn way because it just wants you to hand it all over and be carried along.
Life wants you to fight it.
Learn how to make it your own.
- Colleen Hoover, Slammed

As you know (since you are most likely one of the five people that read my blog... hi mom), I am a big reader. My kindle is probably 70% full of fiction books that fall into the categories of dystopic futures, fantasy or sci-fi, but every once in a while I do read books about real people in the 21^st century. One of the best books I’ve read this year (actually, probably ever) falls into this category: Slammed by Colleen Hoover.

Two of my biggest pet peeves with novels are poor writing and characters that make unrealistic/unbelievable decisions. Slammed’s characters are genuinely relatable and the writing is fabulous. I often found myself laughing out loud and, yes, even shed a tear or two at the end, which I think are both signs of a well-rounded book.

One of my favorite parts of this story is a cute tradition the characters have at their family dinners. Every night, the group takes turns going around the table and shares with everyone their “suck and sweet” of the day – their highest and lowest points.

It was brought to my attention by one of my loyal readers (hi dad) that my last post was kind of depressing. Although for me it was a positive experience to write, I understand reading about my shitty year probably wasn’t the highlight of your day. Seeing that I spent a whole post sharing my “sucks” of 2012, I am going to dedicate this post to the “sweets” since (believe it or not) there were a number of things that made me genuinely happy.

D.C. friends: Moving to a new state without a pre-existing group of friends is extremely difficult. This I know from experience after moving to Chicago two and a half years ago. At the end of the summer a lot of things started shifting in my life… these changes gave me the opportunity to meet and connect with some amazing people who I now consider some of my closest friends.

New roommate: After receiving a number of responses to my Craigslist ad from people who would clearly not be a good fit for a roommate, Jillian replied to my post. After a mutual friend confirmed she was indeed normal and not the Craigslist killer, she moved in the first week in September. What I thought was going to be a difficult transition from my previous living situation turned out to be a blessing in disguise and I couldn’t be more thankful.

   

New job: It’s no secret that I disliked my previous job in Chicago. In contrast, I could not be happier with where I have ended up and my new position at AIA. As the communications manager at the leading aerospace and defense lobby firm in D.C., I have had amazing first-hand experience with a hugely influential political campaign, coordinated national press conferences on Capitol Hill and worked on behalf of an industry that I truly believe makes a difference in this country.

Traveling: Although it is difficult being in a different state from my family and friends, I love the opportunities I get to travel and visit them. The 4.5 hour bus rides home from New York may be painful but the weekends I get to spend with my best friends from college are worth it. Moving from Chicago was very difficult to do since I was leaving behind the best group of friends I could have asked for and never imaged I’d have living in the Windy City. Going back has been wonderful and I’m looking forward to visits (and weddings!) this year as well.

Ollie: This little nugget may never understand what ‘heel’ means and will probably never stop eating socks but she was such a blessing to have in my life this past year. Seeing how I could write a whole post about her, I’ll just end now and let the pictures speak for themselves.

With all of these positive things in my life as support, I am looking forward to the year ahead and am pretty sure 2013 is going to be amazing.

xo
AG

“Never be afraid to fall apart… it is an opportunity to rebuild yourself the way you wish you were all along.”

Back in February my best friends and I all clanked our glasses in cheers to 2012. Already a couple of drinks deep and packed into a small New York bar, we declared that since 2012 was the year of the dragon (and we are all dragons according to Chinese zodiac), this was our year. 

It’s funny how sometimes the things we have the most hope for are those that crash and burn before we even realize something is amiss.

This year started off wonderfully. I packed up my Christmas presents, new puppy and remainder of belongings I had in Florida and started on the 12 hour drive north to my new life in Washington D.C. 

Having already experienced the highs and lows of moving to a new city without a preexisting group of friends, I knew that there would be a painful adjustment period before I truly felt at home in Virginia. Although I knew it would be a long first couple of months, I put on a brave face and looked forward to the year that laid ahead of me.

Looking back now, it is comical how on-point the Chinese philosophers were when they determined what this year’s zodiac would be. That night in New York, I thought symbolically I was the dragon and 2012 would be my year to dominate. Now I realize that 2012 was actually the dragon, determined to dominate me.

In the span of four months I lost my grandmother, a tree fell on and totaled my car and my 4.5 year relationship that brought me to D.C. came to an end. 

Even seven months later, it is still difficult to write about the first wave of destruction that hit my life earlier this year. At the end of April my grandmother passed away after her multiple-year battle with breast cancer. Being the only member of our close-knit family that was not there with her that last week was unbearable. Hearing the news over the phone and not in a room filled with love and compassion and warm embraces was surreal. Although I knew she was gone, reality didn’t come full circle until I was at her funeral in Jacksonville, crying in the pew of the church I hoped to one day be married in.

After being back in D.C. for a couple of weeks, the second wave came in the form of an actual storm. Waking up one morning and seeing a tree sprawled out across my car was the cherry on the cake of my already shitty season. Was I secretly hoping for my beloved Big Red to be totaled so that I could get a fancy new car that wasn’t falling apart? Yes, but that was before I realized I would be swapping my ’04 for used car dealers and monthly payments.

The third wave to hit had been slowly building up in the sea, waiting for the perfect moment to come crashing down and drown the last bit of happiness I had saved from the previous downpours. Still picking up the pieces of a broken heart and attempting to mend a stress-ridden body, my will was put to the ultimate test when I realized that I could not stay in my relationship any longer. In a way, my breakup was the second death I had experienced this year. I was mourning all over again, just in a different way.

 

I won’t say it is funny looking back (because humorous is the last adjective I would use to describe this year) but in a way it does give me a sense of pride. The world dealt me some pretty terrible hands in 2012, but in the end, I like to think I came out on top. 

It is easy to like yourself and appreciate the person you are when things are going great. If you want a glimpse into your true character and grasp the depth of your personal strength, you need to go down those difficult and rocky roads and observe the person you are when you emerge at the end.

“Don’t ask God to guide your footsteps if you aren’t willing to move your feet”

With recent inspiration from a friend who picked up her blog again (Duly Noted - read it!) I thought it was fitting to start back up as well. Seeing that my last blog was one year ago, I have a lot to reflect back on.

When we last left off, I was having the time of my life in Chicago. After being in the Windy City for a year, I was really starting to feel at home and as though I truly belonged there. 

The friendships I made in Chicago are stronger and more real than I ever thought post-college relationships would be and even after moving back to the East Coast, nothing has changed. Looking back, I’m thankful for the not-so-amazing job that resulted in me working with this fabulous group of girls.

Fall of last year I decided that Washington D.C. was going to be my next big move. I was growing more and more interested in the legal and regulatory workings of corporations and found myself wanting a position that enabled me to be in the thick of things politically speaking. One of the great perks of my old job was the professional connections you made with individuals you worked with from all across the country. I was lucky enough to find a mentor who realized my potential and helped me secure an interview with the premier aerospace trade association in D.C. 

In the meantime, I began moving preparations to pick up my life again and move from Chicago to the nation’s capital. Deciding to move and actually moving are two very different things. Sure, I had moved from Florida to Chicago after college, but I had lived in Florida my whole life and was ready for a change. The decision to leave Chicago after I was just starting to feel at home was extremely difficult. Although I miss Chicago every day, I will never regret making the move and following my heart -literally and figuratively- to D.C. 

Although it was a wonderfully liberating and empowering experience to pick up my life and move across the country to a city where I knew no one and had not secured a job in - it was hands down the most terrifying and difficult thing I have ever done in my life. In my year and a half in Chicago, I experienced my lowest of lows but also enjoyed my highest of highs. And for this – for having enough courage and faith in myself to do something a lot of people wouldn’t – I’m proud of my story.

Fast forward to the present and I’ve been living in D.C. for about 7 months now. I knew from experience moving to a new place and starting over was hard but knowing that didn’t make it any easier. 

My new job is completely different than the position I left in Chicago. It is interesting and challenges me every day. It keeps me on my toes and makes me want to 'keep up' with what is happening in national and current events, not the Kardashians. 

Even though the days are longer and the work is harder, I am finally able to say “I love my job” without crossing my fingers behind my back, and that is truly a great feeling.

Since my last post, I’ve also had a new addition to my life. If you and I ever talk, I am certain you’ve been bombarded with photos and videos of my 10 month old Wheaten Terrier even if you didn’t ask (or care) to see them.

After years of waiting and being patient, Kyle and I found Ollie from a breeder in Texas and had her sent to my home in Jacksonville the day before Thanksgiving. I shipped everything to D.C. and quit my job mid-November so I could come home and spend the holidays with my family in Florida, which was the perfect amount of time to house-break a puppy. She has the best little personality and is undeniably adorable and friendly. She's never met a person (or a sock!) she didn't automatically love.

For the purpose of only writing a blog post and not a novel, I’ll wrap up on that note! Until next time..

xo

AG

“If you are brave enough to leave behind everything familiar and comforting and set out on a truth-seeking journey, and if you are truly willing to regard everything that happens to you on that journey as a clue, and if you accept everyone you meet along the way as a teacher, and if you are prepared – most of all – to face (and forgive) some very difficult realities about yourself….then truth will not be withheld from you. Or so I’ve come to believe... and I can’t help but believe it, given my experience.”                Elizabeth Gilbert, Eat Pray Love

Although I began this blog back in December with good intentions of writing bi-weekly, I’ve found that it’s difficult to dedicate a good amount of uninterrupted time to writing when you are doing it for fun, and not when your grade depends on it. Nevertheless, I love to write and share my experiences with anyone who is interested (or bored) enough to read what I have to say. .. So, seeing that you are one of those bored or interested few- here we go!

Backing up a couple of months to February, I made my first visit to the Lone Star state. I wouldn’t necessarily say everything is bigger in Texas, but it sure is beautiful. Being able to put on jean shorts and a t-shirt in the middle of February was not only welcomed, but a much needed break from the snow and freezing temperatures in Illinois.

At night after my conference had ended for the day, I had a chance to shop in one of the largest malls in the nation, the Galleria in Houston. The impulsive shopper in me loved wandering through the stores and doing minor damage to my shiny new credit card, and my inner child loved the in-door ice skating rink that made Millenia Mall look quite unimpressive.

March brought about reunions with family and old friends (or should I say “sisters”). Audra made a trip back to her roots which gave the current Chicago Zetas an excuse for a nice dinner and night on the town. With Jessica Roy acting as our bar-scene tour guide, the four of us had an amazing night full of tall drinks, strong shots, and “remember when’s.” Being thousands of miles away from home, it felt great to be in the company of people who knew me before making the big move. 

At the end of March I had the opportunity to experience a little Florida sunshine and visit the people who mean the most to me. Kyle and I took a weekend trip and went back to Orlando to celebrate the wedding of Craig and Erin Fortin. After picking up Kyle at the airport, we made an obligatory stop at UCF for el Corral (Number 1, please!) and then it was off to the weekend’s festivities. The wedding was beautiful and so was the bride. The dancing and drinks went well into the night, and Kyle got to experience first-hand how entertaining get- togethers with my mother’s side of the family can be.

This year was the first time I have not been with my family to celebrate Easter. Airline prices have gone up substantially, and with the high cost of travel it is difficult to come home unless you are prepared to eat Ramen noodles until your next paycheck. Luckily, my subscriptions to 10+ travel newsletters provided me with a cheap last-minute flight to DC. Although I missed the annual Easter egg hunt at my aunt’s, it was nice to spend the weekend with someone special.

So, you know the saying “April showers bring May flowers”?  I would repeat this to myself every morning while walking through puddles to work, counting down the days that the showers would end and the sunshine would begin. As if to mock me, the rain continued through a majority of May and the beginning of June. The Windy City was now turning into the “rainy city” and my hope of a sunny spring was slowly dwindling.

A work trip to New York was the perfect break from the relentless showers pounding the mid-west. This was my second visit to the Big Apple and it was great seeing my best friends and experiencing the city in the spring.

Little did I know that the remainder of my trip would have an interesting turn of events… A conference protest, emergency plane landing, and overnight stay in Detroit later, I was finally back in Chicago and ready to move into my new apartment.

June was full of running errands and decorating our new place. I moved 5 blocks south of my first apartment and am now rooming with one of my best friends and co-worker, Sam.  Our 2/1 came complete with exposed brick walls and all of the charm a Lincoln Park walk-up has to offer. Before we could officially call it home, the small task of moving in all of our belongings laid before us…

Even though I only moved half a mile away, I still needed a means of transportation for my belongings. For those who have had the pleasure of driving with me, you may agree that I’m not the savviest driver on the road. Considering I had not drove a car in months and that Chicago is full of narrow one-way roads, I am surprised that driving an oversized U-Haul through Lincoln Park didn’t end in disaster.

At the end of the day Sam and I were both moved in, and our empty apartment was starting to look a lot more like home. We wrapped up the month of June a week later with a trip to Cleveland to visit Diana’s hometown and visit some of Man Vs. Food’s favorite food joints. When Adam Richman tells you the best Gyro he has ever had was in a Cleveland food market, you wait in line for an hour to get it. No exceptions.  

All in all, these past 4 months have been nothing short of amazing. The rest of June and beginning of July have already been great, and I am looking forward to an equally wonderful remainder of the summer in the city.

AG

"Happiness is the consequence of personal effort. You fight for it, strive for it, insist upon it, and sometimes even travel around the world looking for it. Once you have achieved a state of happiness, you must never become lax about maintaining it.”    Elizabeth Gilbert, Eat Pray Love

January and February kicked the year off to a wonderful start. From bringing in 2011 with family and friends in Florida, to traveling to DC for work and visiting someone special, the first 2 months of this year have brought me wonderful experiences.

After the first couple of months of winter, I came to realize that the promise of a “snow day” was a mere myth that Hollywood used for movie plots, and a tool the news channels used to up their viewership when bad weather hit.

I pouted every morning on my way to work when it was gusty and snowing, wondering to myself when the city would grant its citizens the fabled day of no work and all play. Little did I know that my wishes would soon become a historical reality. The silly little Floridian who took pictures of snow out of her window at work asked for a blizzard, and she got one... for her birthday.

Cook County, Chicago was declared a national state of emergency Wednesday morning, February 2, 2011, after 2 feet of snow and 60 mph winds immobilized the city. After getting word that there would be no work, I thanked Mother Nature for giving me two of my birthday wishes: a day off from work, and a true northern blizzard.

This was the first time I had a chance to fully experience heavy snowfall outside of my commute to and from work. After froclking around the barren streets of Lincoln Park during the day, my lovely friends braved the un-shoveled streets and CTA reroutes to have a birthday dinner with me. Cheesecake Factory’s Pasta Divinci and Red Velvet Cheesecake were well worth the half hour commute and salt-ridden boots. Although my ‘fuggs’ are completely ruined from the blizzard, I am highly flattered that the City of Chicago took its first snow day in years to help me celebrate my 23^rd birthday :)

Speaking of birthdays, what would they be without the company of good friends and strong drinks? A trip to Duffy's happy hour was the perfect end to a long and snow-filled week. After celebrating, the night ended with a trip to the classiest of food establishments, The Weiner Circle. Just our luck, a young man who had one too many cocktails earlier happened to order a "chocolate milkshake” to go with his cheeseburger. For my Floridian friends who are unfamiliar with this and would like a good laugh, google it. To the Chicagoans who know what this means, I assume you will join me in agreeing that it was an interesting end to a fabulous night. 

Needless to say, I had a wonderful birthday and truly appreciate all of the love and warm wishes from friends and family back home and across the country.

Cheers to another wonderful year!

AG

I think that's how Chicago got started. A bunch of people in New York said, "Gee, I'm enjoying the crime and the poverty, but it just isn't cold enough. Let's go west."     Richard Jeni

After graduating the first week in May, I spent the remainder of the month enjoying my time with friends and family.  On June 1, 2010, I hopped on a plane and flew to Chicago on a one way ticket to start the next chapter of my life.

A week or so before my flight, I got news that the company I was positive would be my future employer decided to “go in another direction."  In other words, I was now an unemployed 22 year old college graduate living in one of the most expensive cities in America. 

I arrived at my new apartment mid-morning and was not even in the city for 3 hours before hailing a cab and heading to Michigan Avenue for interviews.  Looking back now, being passed over for the job I thought I wanted then was a blessing in disguise. I ended up landing one of the positions I applied for the day I arrived, and soon after joined the world of Corporate America.

Although the 8-5 days are extremely tedious, and I have come to learn “Casual Friday” is just a rumor in many companies; I love the friends I’ve made through work and the opportunity my job gives me to travel. Since September, I've traveled from the West Coast to the Nation's Capital. I loved my first ever trip to San Francisco and being able to visit Kyle when in Washington DC.

Aside from adapting my life to a full-time job and responsibilities bigger than attending chapter once a week, facing the winter has been the most difficult challenge yet. I have decided that the beautiful Chicago summer is just a pretty picture painted to distract you from the permanent deep-freeze that takes over the city from November-February. Deciding to embrace my inner-northerner, I bought my first winter jacket. Although I feel like I am walking around in my bed comforter, I’m pretty sure its the only reason I have not yet developed severe hypothermia.  

Although the transition has been difficult, I’ve been blessed with amazing friends I never would have met without moving here. They are not only my “Thank God Its Friday, Let’s Get a Beer” friends, but are also the best support system I could have asked for living thousands of miles away from home. Wherever the next chapter of my life may lead, I know the friendships I’ve made here will last long past I leave the Windy City.

AG