EVERYONE Has Read This but Me - The Catch-Up Book Club discussion

What does everyone do in the real world? No specific details if you are not comfortable.

Keep house and read!
I need a life. Or grandkids.

I'm a stay at home mom and with 7 kids things can get hectic! Cheryl, you can help run them everywhere if you are bored!!

Heh, not bored enough for that! I'll read to them, tutor them, teach them how to make cookies... the fun stuff!

I'm a stay at home mom, I have 2 boys and a step daughter, my brother is sickly so he and his family live with me (my brother, his wife, and their almost 3 year old daughter) and I watch my niece and nephew 4 days a week while their mom and dad are working, I'm a very busy mom/aunt, but I like it that way!

I uphold the law and fight for justice - guess that means I'm a superhero of sorts :P

I'm «Directress» of Operations in a non profit organisation for prenatal and infancy care for vulnerable families. And I'm a student of the Psychology of the Organisation! Finding time to read is hard.

I recently got laid off from my job but am taking the opportunity to go back to school this fall and get a Masters degree.

ohhh cool in what? Applying to grad school myself

Also... my day job... Currently working in finance in Investment Management/Portfolio Management which is a fancy way of saying we give advice to others as to how to invest their assets.
My favorite part is the trading - certified to trade equities, bonds, options - and watching the dynamics of the markets. Everything I read about, whether politics, culture, even the weather, somehow affects the markets and, therefore, my job. Fascinating, maybe not my ultimate passion, but enjoying it so far.

I teach 7th and 8th grade Life Skills (severe intellectual disabilities). I LOVE my job and invest most of my energy into it, meaning that while being very enjoyable, interesting, rewarding, and entertaining.... once I get home I feel fulfilled and exhausted and am prone to wanting to hang out alone. That's why I love books and Netflix so much! I recently finished The Santa Clarita Diet on Netflix, it was pretty funny and has a neat spin on the whole Zombie theme. Not to sound like the Spinster that I am, but I also enjoy playing with my 4 cats. Firm believer in making time to play with pets instead of having them around just to look cute. I like trying new craft beers, so I'm a big fan of the "build your own 6 pack" stores. I'm up to about 525 distinct beers now, and damn I had to get through some nasty ones lol. I've begun to travel more in the past few years, and would love to increase this hobby. Recent travels have been Western Mediterranean cruise, Key Largo, and a road trip through West Virginia hitting national parks (random, but it turned out to be one of the best trips I've ever taken). This years trips include New Orleans, LA (July), Maine (August), and Charleston, SC (October). When summer vacation starts I'll get back to exercising and getting creative in the kitchen. I also like to dabble in photography and editing, mostly nature.

Sarah wrote: "This years trips include New Orleans, LA (July), Maine (August), and Charleston, SC (October)"

Heck yeah, Charleston! Best place on the planet.

I'm a home-school mom of three. So a lot of what I read these days is youth fiction with my kids. It's fun to read books with other grownups.

Christine wrote: "Sarah wrote: "This years trips include New Orleans, LA (July), Maine (August), and Charleston, SC (October)"

Heck yeah, Charleston! Best place on the planet.
"

What is that a picture of, Christine? I've never been to Charleston, but my sister LOVES it and that is why I am going. It's for her bachelorette party.

Charlene, my mother home-schooled me and my 2 sisters! Not an easy task, I know! Good for you! As a public school teacher and former homeschool student, I can definitely see the advantages to homeschooling. I'm glad we have public education for the masses, but it is just so very hard to make sure every child is learning on their own level at their own pace at all times. Plus homeschooling allows for more hands on, real world experience to generalize skills. Much more room for exploring future careers as well.

Hey Sarah,

That is Magnolia Plantations (not my picture tho). My dad was actually the bookkeeper there when I was growing up, so you guys are kind of seeing a little bit of my backyard ;)

Kaseadillla wrote: "ohhh cool in what? Applying to grad school myself"

My program is Athletic Administration....more sports!!! Haha. Where and what are you planning on studying? Also best of luck on your applications!!

Interesting versatility in the real life jobs :D

I've recently graduated as a Software Engineer, a fancy way of saying I make apps, websites, and softwares. I am currently looking for a job but I am enjoying the free time more than I should :p

Zainab wrote: "Interesting versatility in the real life jobs :D

I've recently graduated as a Software Engineer, a fancy way of saying I make apps, websites, and softwares. I am currently looking for a job but I..."

That sounds appropriate for the Goodreads job ads that are appearing on the right column of several pages, doesn't it? ;-)

Ying Ying wrote: "That sounds appropriate for the Goodreads job ads that are appearing on the right column of several pages, doesn't it? ;-)"

The job YES! The location .. not very much. I live in Oman, while the opening is in the US.
Thanks for the tip tho =)

I have a B.Sc. in Chemical and biological technologies and work now as a chemical laboratory assistant in a food laboratory :-)

I am a high school English teacher and is probably why I read so many books that wouldn't be under the "good" literary category. My brain needs a break during my personal reading. I try to get out that thinking every once in a while though which is why I joined this group!

I am a bench jeweler in CT for a small artisan gallery that sells fine jewelry and art jewelry as well as hand crafted glass, wood, ceramics etc. I try to make time to craft my own designs and hopefully sell them one day independently. That's the long term plan. I work in sterling silver but also like bead weaving as well.

I am in the middle of my Masters in Teaching so I can teach high school English. But right now I am substitute teaching, coaching tennis and basketball, and I am the yearbook advisor at the school where I coach and did my student teaching.

High school student with no idea how to balance school, friends and books.

I'm a scientific writer for more hours of the week than I care to admit. :) I write mostly manuscripts based on clinical research. I also do some administrative things for our family business (we own a fitness studio) and am a mom of 3 (15 months to 8 yrs).

Kelly wrote: "I'm a scientific writer for more hours of the week than I care to admit. :) I write mostly manuscripts based on clinical research. I also do some administrative things for our family business (we o..."

All your activities sound very time consuming, Kelly! I am glad you can still make time for reading :-)

I'm an administrative assistant at a synagogue and religious school. That doesn't say anything about what I really do all day at work, though! I help run the school, edit and produce the monthly (12-16 page) bulletin, maintain the website and do a lot of behind the scene things that keep the place running. I also pass out a ton of hugs and treats to preschoolers and elementary/middle school kids. That's the best part of my job!

I am the General Manager of a tea lounge that turns into a gin bar at night. I work all days so mainly into the tea side of the business. We have 50 different blends of tea that we sell as retail as well as in the Lounge. Books and tea, my perfect night in!

Leesa wrote: "I am the General Manager of a tea lounge that turns into a gin bar at night. I work all days so mainly into the tea side of the business. We have 50 different blends of tea that we sell as retail a..."

That sounds so interesting! Do you have Dragon Pearls?

Thanks Kandice! No not dragon pearls, we have lots of blends completely unique to us and the only pearled tea we have isn't green but similar, it's a white jasmine and it's beautiful!

I love tea. My youngest wakes up to the tea kettle. I get up about 15 minutes before her so I turn it on and the whistle is what gets her up. Goodness knows how she will get up at college next year. Maybe there's an app for tea pot whistle alarm? O_o

Haha they've probably made one by now! My house is getting ridiculous with the amount of tea I have now... there's bags and loose leaf packets spilling out of cupboards, tea pots and different sizes of cups and mugs everywhere- but I love it just the same!

I am a Supervisor in a Call Center for a large hotel company. It certainly isn't what I set out to do, since I have a BS in Natural Resource Studies. But I enjoy it for the most part. I work with some amazing people, and the hotel discounts mean I can travel for less with my family. Also, having a mechanic for a husband means road trips can happen frequently, since we don't have to worry about being stranded. :) Our kid is pretty spoiled when it comes to staying in nice places. We wouldn't be able to do it without my job.

I am a senior in high school (not for long though!), but I have gone a bit against the grain. I have 4 classes, all with separate schools/organizations. I am taking AP Literature, which is my only class at the high school, I am taking Calculus 3 at the community college, an online course in Geographic Information Systems for a professional certificate at Michigan State, and I am taking online German language courses with the Goethe Institut (a German organization, they have many schools around the globe). In fall I will be moving to Germany, where I will live for at least the next 5 years, as I will be going to college there. I am taking the GIS course because my grandmother owns a software company that needs a GIS technician, and I can work from my computer, hence I can work while in Germany. I am going to college in Germany because I fell in love with the German culture, and then a German girl, and it is also ALOT cheaper than in America. Sorry for the long post but I have no idea how else to explain what I do day to day!

I love it, Ben. I love everything about that post. I got my undergrad degree in International Studies and learned some about the German culture and it really does seem like a beautiful and fun culture. Best wishes as you finish up high school and go into college.

Ben wrote: "I am a senior in high school (not for long though!), but I have gone a bit against the grain. I have 4 classes, all with separate schools/organizations. I am taking AP Literature, which is my only ..."

Wow! Impressive. My step-dad was stationed in Germany for three years and came home in love with it. We always thought he would go back someday.

Thanks guys! It really is amazing, and the more time I spend there the more I love it. All of the little things I discover really add up

I'm an accountant and I work for a big company. I read whenever I can to run away from real life!

Currently nothing other than sit in the recliner and recover from ankle surgery!

Ben wrote: "I am a senior in high school (not for long though!), but I have gone a bit against the grain. I have 4 classes, all with separate schools/organizations. I am taking AP Literature, which is my only ..."

Very cool! As a German I want to wish you a lot of fun over here ;-)
Where do you want to study if I might ask?

Thank you Lena! It's all a bit complicated right now, first I must go to a school called a Studienkolleg, which is a sort of 1 year integration school for foreigners, I am hoping to be in the North (everyone I know is in the north), and then for the actual university I want to go to the Freie Universität Berlin :)

Thanks, Brady! applying for an MBA... but did it round 3 so pretty difficult. When I very likely don't get in, will be expanding to doctorate programs in engineering as well likely.

And Athletic Administration sounds great! Kind of wish I went into sports medicine after working with trainers so much in college, or anything sports related really.

Ben - good luck in Germany! Sounds like it will be an adventure you'll have to keep us all updated.

I'm an intern in the European Parliament and I'm currently finishing my Bachelor in English in France. Next year I'll be going to Montreal to study publishing.

Good time to read, Jenny!

I work in a library! Best job ever!

Sara wrote: "I work in a library! Best job ever!"

Yes!

Jealous of the library job! I've entertained the idea of going back for my masters in library science, but it's so technology and media involved now that it's lost its charm for me!

Ying Ying wrote: "Kelly wrote: "I'm a scientific writer for more hours of the week than I care to admit. :) I write mostly manuscripts based on clinical research. I also do some administrative things for our family ..."

I really do enjoy the pace of staying busy, but recently made a concerted effort to read more often for fun. I had forgotten how much I enjoy fiction. This group is a great help to keep my reading hobby in mind. It is great for the soul.

Arthur (Arby) wrote: "I'm studying to become a neuroscientist and I'm interested in the biologic basis of consciousness, sleep, and time perception. But I like to read all sorts of books when I feel like my brain starts..."

Arthur, I cannot believe your eyes can see straight enough to read fiction! I remember those days well (hippocampus, hippocampus, hippocampus...). I am a neuroscientist by training, but ended up a science writer.