The past couple of years I have been really trying to challenge myself. Some of the challenges were thrust upon me, but many I chose to do. Last year, I finally was able to get out of the driving department, and go into the area I wanted to be. It seemed to take forever to happen, I was doing overtime beyond driving, just to prove I had what it takes to do the job. It did not help that my pain from the car accident got worse for awhile, making it difficult to stay as long as I would have liked, having to make time for doctor appointments and therapy for the pain, but I finally made it. Unfortunately, now my supervisor, who has been a very good fit for me, has decided to move on, leaving me wondering what will happen next.
At the beginning of this year I decided I would finish 3 books. Three that I started years ago, but never finished. That all changed when I was asked if I was interested in a 50 book reading challenge to be completed within the year. The reason being, each book had to be from a different category from a given list. Since Les Misérables was on my personal reading list, I immediately dropped it. The book is long, and difficult to read, and I did not have the patience to put it with a list of 49 other books. The other two were fit into other categories, and I figured I would get them both done. I decided towards the end of the challenge, that I would leave one to finish after the challenge, so I could take more time with it, to enjoy it more.
The challenge started in mid January. I finished November 11. I have finished other books since, but I felt really accomplished in having read 50 books! It wasn't easy for me. I normally do not read that fast. I figured out a way to make things work out though. The challenge helped me find books in categories I might not normally seek out. I also reread books I had not in years, and felt I got something new out of them. I found new books I liked, but also realized some popular books are severely overrated. I wrote reviews for each one as well. If you are on Goodreads, I think you can view them here: Jackie's Extreme Nerd Reading Challenge Books/Reviews.
If that wasn't enough to keep me busy this year, I also decided to do Inktober, a drawing challenge that happens every year in October. People from all over the world draw from a prompt list (or create their own), doing one drawing per day. It started with someone interested in challenging their inking skills. I tried it last year, but only did a handful of the challenges. This year, I did every single challenge. There were times it was incredibly difficult to think of something to do, even though the word for the day was already given. Other times, it was a challenge drawing what I wanted to. I got through it, though, and hope to do more with my art in the future. You can see my artwork, and some of my photos from before the challenge here: Jackie's Instagram Inktober Drawings (as well as some photos).
In August, I decided to give myself an early birthday present, and take myself to the Train/Daryl Hall and John Oates concert. I invited my friend Jan, who I have known for many years, but have not done a lot with. I noticed she was interested in going to the same concert through Facebook. I invited her to go, and we had a blast! I have been a forever fan of Daryl Hall & John Oates, and have been to a couple of their concerts. I became a fan of Train around the time they first started, and have wanted to see them in concert, but never have been to a live show. I do have a DVD of them in concert, however, that cover all my favorite songs from the "Drops of Jupiter" album, but it is not the same as seeing them in person. It was definitely worth it.
Kandace Springs opened the show, and had a lovely beautiful soulful, jazzy sound. She set a nice calming vibe at the beginning. I really enjoyed her part of the show.
Even though I did not realize that Pat Monahan is now the only one left in the band since I became a fan, they put on an impressive, high energy show. I also did not realize how long Train has been around. I think it has been about 18 or 20 years!
Train started their set with a song called "Drink Up." I am not absolutely sure I had heard the song before, but I knew I really liked it, right away. As the show progressed, Pat took selfies of himself with some lucky audience members cell phones, and threw them back (I hope everyone caught their phones okay). Later, he brought out some Train t-shirts, threw some out to the audience in front of him, then put one on. He had each member of the band sign it, while he sang wearing it. Then he threw it out to the audience. An older guy who did not seem very excited (probably because he was more a fan of Hall and Oates, maybe?), caught it. He gave a little smile, then dabbed his head with the t-shirt. Such a shame. Too bad it wasn't thrown to someone more enthusiastic. The concert went on, and people lit up their cell phones during "When I Look to the Sky."
During a more upbeat song, Pat threw large beach balls out to the audience on the main floor. Everyone was singing, having a great time. Except for maybe the guy with the Train t-shirt, who knows? They ended their set with my favorite song still, which is "Drops of Jupiter." It sounded incredible. I wanted to hear it again right after it was preformed, but I was also excited to hear Daryl Hall & John Oates. It had been awhile since I had seen them live.
During intermission people were still excited and happy, the arena showed excerpts from Daryl's online show, "Live at Daryl's House." They showed a clip where he sings with Cheap Trick, several audience members (including myself) waiting for the next set burst into song, "Mommy's alright, daddy's alright, they just seem a little weird...." It was great.
The seats next to me, that no one was sitting in during the Train concert, filled. They really missed out, I think. As Daryl Hall and John Oates are taking the stage, two girls are standing, blocking the view, and talking to each other. Seriously? Someone yells, "Sit down!" They don't do it. I yell, "Sit down!" My friend Jan, taps on the guy in front of us, who then quietly asks the girls to sit down. They finally do.
Daryl Hall & John Oates are still amazing in concert. I was happy because I got to hear some of their more popular songs live, that I hadn't been able to before. They sang hit after hit after hit. They also sang a new song, that Train and Daryl Hall and John Oates collaborated on, "Philly Forget Me Not." I love the song, their voices really blend well together. They sang a couple of more songs together. "Wait for Me," a Hall & Oates song, and "Calling All Angels," a Train song. Pat leaves the stage, and the duo keeps singing. When the set is over, they leave the stage, but are called back for an encore. They sing three more songs. They finish with "You Make My Dreams." Even though it is late, I wish the concert wasn't over. I kind of feel the same way about this year. It was a pretty good year for me. So long, 2018.
