30 Day Challenge - Day 3 and 4

Day 3:  A book you love (18 June 2011)

Ummmmm, this one is easy.  We the Living, by Ayn Rand.

This was her first novel written in 1936, far before her more famous publication Atlas Shrugged (which was the one and only book my mom ever asked me to read and how I found We the Living).

The story follows Kira, who loves Leo and lives in the post-revolutionary Russia.  She does not have an easy life to say the least - but she has heart, desire and conviction.  I started reading this book in Uni and have now re-read it multiple times.  When I first experienced Kira's life all I could think was that I wanted to live a life like hers.  At that point in time in my life, I wasn't even close.  I didn't really speak up or out about what I thought and I let others make decisions for me.  The more I read the book the more independent and self-confident I became.  I can honestly say that it has played a major role in shaping the person that I have become.

Here are some of my favourite quotes from the book.

"There is no such thing as duty.  If you know that a thing is right, you want to do it.  If you don't want to do it - it isn't right.  If its right and you don't want to do it - you don't know what right is and you’re not a man."

"You see, you and I, we believe in life.  But you want to fight for it, to kill for it, even to die - for life.  I only want to live it."

"I'll be afraid only on a day that will never come...The day when I give up."

Day 4:  Bullet your whole day (19 June 2011 (a Sunday))

• Woke up at 9:30 (no alarm which is nice)
• Uploaded photos from our Dolphin Kayaking Adventure
• Had breakfast in bed - which consisted of an old granola bar I found in my purse which was in reach without having to get out of bed
• Updated the blog for the Dolphin Kayaking Adventure
• Got out of bed and took a shower
• Cleaned the house, starting in my room, vacuuming the hallway, vacuuming Helen's room, vacuuming the family room (Helen picked everything up) and finishing with cleaning the bathroom.
• Met up with Sally, Keith, Natalie and Quinton for lunch at the Tap-Inn.
• Hit a few golf balls - attempting to perfect the Happy Gilmore swing
• Headed out after 300 balls were hit to get to 4:00 Bikram yoga class
• Made it home and took another shower
• Cooked nachos with the roomie
• Watched Knocked Up (really much funnier than I remember, but a bit gross during the birth scene)
• Went to bed about 10:30pm