Well Hello, Old Friend...

The old friend I'm referring to is books. I used to be an avid reader until.... I got an iPhone on my 40th birthday. That was three years ago. Let's count, shall we, how many books I've read since then.... 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. I used to read that amount a month, at least. That silly little box of technology is just too much fun and gives such instant gratification. Oh, how I like my instant gratification. Some of my favorite things to do on my iPhone are Facebook (of course), Words with Friends, Scrabble, Pinterest, Instagram, and a bazillion photo editing apps. I absolutely love editing my iPhone photos with those apps and what better place to display them than Instagram and Facebook?! What's your favorite picture editing app?!

But, I'm not here to talk about my iPhone or app addiction. No, I'm here to tell you I've rediscovered my love of reading. However, I've not given up on the technology addiction entirely. You see, Priss shared with me how much she loves reading on her iPad. She also shared with me how much more she enjoys walking on the treadmill because of reading on the iPad. My daughters got iPads for Christmas from their grandparents. My youngest is 5 so she doesn't mind sharing with mama. I mean, she is at school when I go walk on the treadmill and then there is always bedtime for reading. I've got a sweet deal going. Oh, and by the way, there are some pretty cool photo-editing apps on the iPad that are different than the iPhone. I think I already have three folders full on her iPad. Hi, My name is Mrs. Albright and I have an addiction.

Normally an hour on a treadmill seems like two hours. Not anymore. Now my treadmill shuts off and I'm bummed. Did you just hear what I said?! That's not normal, for me anyway. I am loving the time alone to read for an hour uninterrupted. I don't even tell anyone I'm going to the gym because I want to go alone so I can read. It sounds a little selfish, but I'm enjoying my me time, burning  calories and reading. I actually look forward to going and I'm bummed if I miss a day. I will admit, I'm not getting the best workout because I'm only walking, but it's better than what I was doing before - NOTHING! I am burning calories and that's all that matters at this point. I've got so many extra calories to burn due to the holidays. Oy to the vey!

In case you are wondering what I'm reading, I will tell you. The first book I read on the iPad was a free one I found. It's a Christian fiction by Dee Henderson entitled The Witness. It's a murder mystery love story. It was quite good. I've just started a Christian fiction series that's the equivalent of Stephenie Meyer's Twilight. It's called Angel in the Shadows by Lisa Grace. If you guessed it's about angels instead of vampires, you'd be correct. Have you read the books? Mrs. Montgomery read them and really enjoyed them. I think my teenage daughter will enjoy them as well.

I'm really happy to have my old friend back. I love living in another world for an hour at a time. Oh, and I haven't given up actual paper books. There really is no replacement for a real book with the smell of the pages as they turn. The real book that I'm reading is called A Discovery of Witches. Actually, I haven't read in it for months. But, I plan on picking it back up. My dear friend, Amy, LOVED it and is completely put out with me that I didn't read it non-stop as she did. Sorry about that, Amy. I WILL finish it, even if I have to buy in on the iPad. Ha!

 What are you reading? Are you on Shelfari or Good Reads to keep track of your books? I am on both, but I'm trying to get my books all moved over to my shelf on Good Reads. It's going to take some work.

Sweating with an old friend, like...