Project 365 – Days 333-365 and reflection

2015 is over, and now we’re in a brand new year. Hello, 2016! I hope the start of this new year is treating you well, wherever you may be. ๐Ÿ™‚ย I’m writing this from Chapel Hill, NC, my hometown. I go home every year for Christmas, spending much enjoyable time with my family. I started the daily photo challenge here, 1 year ago, and I ended it here, yesterday. Full circle!

Doing the daily photo challenge has been a great experience. I enjoyed taking random shots every day and picking my favorite for the site. Editing them was fun, and I enjoyed experimenting with various apps.

I managed to take a photo every day in 2015 EXCEPT for 3 days. I’m pretty proud of that!!

This year I’m going to take a break from doing the daily photo challenge. I’ll still be taking photos and experimenting like I did last year, but not every single day. In 2016, I’d like to focus on blogging, and get back into writing. I miss writing. ๐Ÿ™‚

I plan to celebrate my very first Project 365 with something special, which I’ll share in an upcoming entry.

So without further ado, enjoy the last 32 photos I took for my 2015 Project 365 challenge:

November 29, 2015 โ€“ 333/365

IMG_8530
Sunday afternoon lake jog.

November 30, 2015 โ€“ 334/365

Mini Christmas tree for my apartment (from Target's dollar section).
Mini Christmas tree for my apartment (from Target’s dollar section).

Decemberย 1, 2015 โ€“ 335/365

Lakeshore Avenue, looking festive.
Lakeshore Avenue, looking festive.

December 2, 2015 โ€“ 336/365

My foot, wrapped in arch support tape. I have flat feet and orthotics are in my future...
My foot, wrapped in arch support tape. I have flat feet and orthotics are in my future…

December 3, 2015 โ€“ 337/365

Shiitake mushrooms and red peppers.
Shiitake mushrooms and red peppers.

December 4, 2015 โ€“ 338/365

Oakland Renegades holiday party fun.
Oakland Renegades holiday party fun.

December 5, 2015 โ€“ 339/365

Dragon head for our dragon boat during the 2015 Oakland Lighted Yacht Parade.
Dragon head for our dragon boat during the 2015 Oakland Lighted Yacht Parade.

December 6, 2015 โ€“ 340/365

Colorful car. Looks like Google!
Colorful car. Looks like Google!

December 7, 2015 โ€“ 341/365

Inspecting...
Inspecting…

December 8, 2015 โ€“ 342/365

Festive tablecloth.
Festive tablecloth.

December 9, 2015 โ€“ 343/365

Night paddle on the Estuary. My last evening dragon boat practice of 2015.
Night paddle on the Estuary. My last evening dragon boat practice of 2015.

December 10, 2015 โ€“ 344/365

Lamp.
Lamp decked out.

December 11, 2015 โ€“ 345/365

Mushroom sprouted overnight in mulch after rain.
Wild mushroom that sprouted overnight in mulch after rain.

December 12, 2015 โ€“ 346/365

Nutcracker outside cemetery.
Nutcracker outside cemetery.

December 13, 2015 โ€“ 347/365

Gift bow in a puddle on a rainy day. I "rescued" this bow and took it home with me. I plan to turn it into an ornament. :)
Gift bow in a sidewalk puddle on a rainy day. I “rescued” this bow and took it home with me. I plan to turn it into an ornament. ๐Ÿ™‚

December 14, 2015 โ€“ 348/365

Downtown Chapel Hill from the airport taxi. Home for the holidays!
Downtown Chapel Hill from the airport taxi. Home for the holidays!

December 15, 2015 โ€“ 349/365

Santa Claus at University Place (formerly University Mall).
Santa Claus at University Place (formerly University Mall).

December 16,ย 2015 โ€“ 350/365

Cooking Shrimp Fra Diavolo.
Cooking Shrimp Fra Diavolo.

December 17,ย 2015 โ€“ 351/365

Giant microbes.
Giant microbes.

December 18,ย 2015 โ€“ 352/365

I love my Harmony kitty!
I love my Harmony kitty!

December 19,ย 2015 โ€“ 353/365

Christmas wreath.
Christmas wreath.

December 20,ย 2015 โ€“ 354/365

Our Christmas tree, newly-decorated!
Our Christmas tree, newly-decorated!

December 21,ย 2015 โ€“ 355/365

No picture today.ย Perhaps I was too caught up in the holiday festivities and spending time with family. ๐Ÿ™‚

December 22,ย 2015 โ€“ 356/365

Christmas tree close-up.
Christmas tree close-up.

December 23,ย 2015 โ€“ 357/365

My collection of stories I wrote as a kid about my childhood cat, Collar. It's one of the fun things about being home, getting to re-live the memories.
My collection of stories I wrote and illustrated as a kid about my childhood cat, Collar. It’s one of the fun things about being home, getting to re-live the memories.

December 24,ย 2015 โ€“ 358/365

My mom always does a great job of decorating and making the house look festive for Christmas.
Cozy living room, enjoying family TV time on Christmas Eve night.

December 25,ย 2015 โ€“ 359/365

Eating mac & cheese on Christmas Day. Grateful to spend the day with family.

December 26,ย 2015 โ€“ 360/365

Beautiful tree during family trip to Southpoint Mall. Never seen that mall so crowded!
Beautiful tree during family trip to Southpoint Mall in Durham. Never seen that mall so crowded!

December 27,ย 2015 โ€“ 361/365

The new Silverspot Cinema, University Place, Chapel Hill. Seeing Star Wars with family.
The new Silverspot Cinema, University Place, Chapel Hill. Seeing Star Wars with family.

December 28,ย 2015 โ€“ 362/365

Meadowmont Village Circle.
Meadowmont Village Circle, Chapel Hill.

December 29,ย 2015 โ€“ 363/365

Jelly Belly.  A Southern Season at University Place.
Jelly Belly. A Southern Season at University Place, Chapel Hill.

December 30,ย 2015 โ€“ 364/365

It's raining on campus and I'm LOVING it.
It’s raining on campus and I’m LOVING it.

December 31,ย 2015 โ€“ 365/365

New Year's Party food! A nice, quiet family celebration to end one year and welcome the next.
New Year’s Party food! A nice, quiet family celebration to end one year and welcome the next.

Project 365: Days 313-332

Getting down to the wire for this year! Here are the daily photos I’ve taken over the past few weeks.

November 9, 2015 – 313/365

Asparagus Prep!
Asparagus Prep!

November 10, 2015 – 314/365

Birthday presents from my family.
Birthday presents from my family.

November 11, 2015 – 315/365

Birthday flowers from my dad.
Birthday flowers from my dad.

November 12, 2015 – 316/365

Contrails.

November 13, 2015 – 317/365

Forgot to take a photo today.ย 

November 14, 2015 – 318/365

Common Sense
Common Sense

November 15, 2015 – 319/365

Pretty blossom.
Pretty blossom.

November 16, 2015 – 320/365

Santa Clara Avenue.
Santa Clara Avenue.

November 17, 2015 – 321/365

Millipede?
Millipede?

November 18, 2015 – 322/365

Shrimp with a tasty sauce.
Shrimp with a tasty sauce.

November 19, 2015 – 323/365

Stuck on a car.
Stuck on a car.

November 20, 2015 – 324/365

Bright blue van.
Bright blue van.

November 21, 2015 – 325/365

Blast off from the Estuary...
Blast off from the Estuary…

November 22, 2015 – 326/365

a nice little place to eat
a nice little place to eat. Glen Park, SF.

November 23, 2015 – 327/365

Sell me your house today
Sell me your house today

November 24, 2015 – 328/365

Universe on Netflix.
Universe on Netflix.

November 25, 2015 – 329/365

I LOVE freshly-poured concrete.
I LOVE freshly-poured concrete.

November 26, 2015 – 330/365

Happy Thanksgiving!
Happy Thanksgiving!

November 27, 2015 – 331/365

Refreshing mini-hike. Piedmont Park.
Refreshing mini-hike. Piedmont Park.

November 28, 2015 – 332/365

Christmas Decorations
Christmas Decorations

Project 365 – Days 292-312

A collection of daily photos I’ve taken over the past 3 weeks.

October 19, 2015 โ€“ 292/365

Cute monster house.
House Monster!

October 20, 2015 โ€“ 293/365

Ms. Harmony lady.
Ms. Harmony lady.

October 21, 2015 โ€“ 294/365

Intersection.
Intersection.

October 22, 2015 โ€“ 295/365

Nose boink.
Nose boink.

October 23, 2015 โ€“ 296/365

Sunset.
Sunset.

October 24, 2015 โ€“ 297/365

Halloween Ball.
Halloween Ball.

October 25, 2015 โ€“ 298/365

Lovely water bottle from the 2015 Automattic Grand Meetup in Park City.
Lovely water bottle from the 2015 Automattic Grand Meetup in Park City.

October 26, 2015 โ€“ 299/365

Harvest Moon.
Harvest Moon.

October 27, 2015 โ€“ 300/365

Smoke Test.
Smoke Testing.

October 28, 2015 โ€“ 301/365

Greek-Yoghurt Pasta Sauce with Spaghetti Squash.
Greek-Yoghurt Pasta Sauce with Spaghetti Squash.

October 29, 2015 โ€“ 302/365

Halloween display outside someone's house.
Halloween display outside someone’s house.

October 30, 2015 โ€“ 303/365

Halloween outside Piedmont Grocery.
Halloween outside Piedmont Grocery.

October 31, 2015 โ€“ 304/365

Halloween costume.
Halloween costume.

November 1, 2015 โ€“ 305/365

Halloween Howl with my Oakland Renegades teammates!
Halloween Howl with my Oakland Renegades teammates!

November 2, 2015 โ€“ 306/365

A hint of Christmas at Walgreens.
A hint of Christmas at Walgreens.

November 3, 2015 โ€“ 307/365

Finally got around to framing these pictures on the wall in my apartment's entryway, and hung a new mirror. Plus changed the switchplate to a shiny silver.
Finally got around to framing these pictures on the wall in my apartment’s entryway, and hung a new mirror. Plus changed the switch plate to a shiny silver.

November 4, 2015 โ€“ 308/365

Looking back at my studio apartment's entryway. Finally have it how I want it!
Looking back at my studio apartment’s entryway. Finally have it how I want it!

November 5, 2015 โ€“ 309/365

Crow on a power line. He or she was cawing. I associate crows with fall.
Crow on a power line. He or she was cawing. I associate crows with fall.

November 6, 2015 โ€“ 310/365

Time zone clocks I got from Daiso. JST (because one of my best friends lives in Japan), UTC, and EST. It's great when your colleagues and friends live in other time zones.
Time zone clocks I got from Daiso. JST (because one of my best friends lives in Japan), UTC, and EST. It’s great when your colleagues and friends live in varied time zones.

November 7, 2015 โ€“ 311/365

Shopped at El Cerrito Plaza in El Cerrito for the first time.
Shopped at El Cerrito Plaza in El Cerrito for the first time.

November 8, 2015 โ€“ 312/365

Delicious early birthday brunch with the family at Boot and Shoe Service in Oakland.
Delicious early birthday brunch with the family at Boot and Shoe Service in Oakland.

A Week in Park City: Days 286-291

Here are some of my favorite photos that I took during the Automatticย all company meet-up in Park City last month. It was a great time overall, and I enjoyed getting to see my colleagues and meet some of them in person for the first time.

October 13, 2015 – 286/365

Beautiful view from the hotel.
Beautiful view from the hotel.

October 14, 2015 – 287/365
IMG_7372

October 15, 2015 – 288/365

Paint Mixer paintings.
Paint Mixer paintings.

October 16, 2015 – 289/365

Walk around the grounds near the resort.
Walk around the grounds near the resort.

October 17, 2015 – 290/365

Photo tour in the mountains, 9000 feet up!
Photo tour in the mountains, 9000 feet up!

October 18, 2015 – 291/365

10 year anniversary party for Automattic, featuring an amazing Automattician band! Plus guest DJ, the Jane Does.
10 year anniversary party for Automattic, featuring an amazing Automattician band! Plus guest DJ, the Jane Does.

Project 365: Days 278-283

October 5, 2015 – 278/365

Delightful fright.
Delightful fright.

October 6, 2015 – 279/365

There's something alive under there.
There’s something alive under there.

October 7, 2015 – 280/365

Bathroom walls before they were freshly painted. I had repair work done earlier and the walls looked shabby afterward.
Bathroom walls before they were freshly painted. I had repair work done earlier which is why the walls were so discolored. Glad to finally get it painted.ย 

October 8, 2015 – 281/365

Pie pumpkins at Trader Joe's.
Pie pumpkins at Trader Joe’s.

October 9, 2015 – 282/365

Kitty in the yard. Not my cat but very friendly all the same! <3
Kitty in the yard. Not my cat but very friendly all the same! <3

October 10, 2015 – 283/365

I needed a picture for today so I just snapped a photo of my laptop's corner. :D :D
I needed a picture for today so I just snapped a photo of my laptop’s corner. ๐Ÿ˜€ ๐Ÿ˜€

Project 365: Days 259-277

Happy October! Fall is officially here. But in the Bay Area, it feels more like summer. We get our warmest weather of the year from September through mid-October. 8) I’m enjoying it while it lasts. Here are all of the Project 365 photos I’ve taken since the last update.

September 16, 2015 – 259/365

Rain! We finally got some, even if it was just a little bit.
A rainy walk to dragon boat practice.ย ย Rain, finally! Even if it was just a little bit.

September 17, 2015 – 260/365

Dream Jar
Dream Jar

September 18, 2015 – 261/365

Ladyfingers Bakery, Oakland, CA.
Ladyfingers Bakery, Oakland, CA.

September 19, 2015 – 262/365

San Francisco International Dragon Boat Festival @ Treasure Island, Day 1. Beautiful day of paddling.
San Francisco International Dragon Boat Festival @ Treasure Island, Day 1. Beautiful day of paddling, sun, and fun with teammates.

September 20, 2015 – 263/365

Bay Bridge. Taken before Day 2 of the SF International Dragon Boat Festival.
Bay Bridge from Treasure Island. Taken before Day 2 of the SF International Dragon Boat Festival.

September 21, 2015 – 264/365

Ant Fairies. Picked these up from one of the many vendors at Treasure Island.
Ant Fairies. Picked these up from one of the many vendors at the Dragon Boat Festival.

September 22, 2015 – 265/365

Cute spray bottle from Daiso.
Cute spray bottle from Daiso.

September 23, 2015 – 266/365

Laundry Day.
Laundry Day.

September 24, 2015 – 267/365

Cascading fountain at the Rose Garden.
Cascading fountain at the Rose Garden.

September 25, 2015 – 268/365

Beautiful rose at the Rose Garden.
Beautiful rose at the Rose Garden.

September 26, 2015 – 269/365

BP is gettin' its Halloween on.
Gas stationย is gettin’ its Halloween on.

September 27, 2015 – 270/365

All I see is anger. Spotted in front of a house on the Oakland-Piedmont border.
All I see is anger. Spotted in front of a house on the Oakland-Piedmont border.

September 28, 2015 – 271/365

Started the Kayla Itsines exercise guides today. Start of a 28-week journey, wish me luck.
Started the Kayla Itsines exercise guides today. Start of a 28-week journey, wish me luck.

September 29, 2015 – 272/365

Cute barking dog.
Cute barking dog.

September 30, 2015 – 273/365

Staring at me as I wake up. She wants food and I'm not fast enough in feeding her...
Staring at me as I wake up. She wants breakfastย and I’m not fast enough to give it to her. Her patience wears thin…

Octoberย 1, 2015 – 274/365

Movie night with a friend at the Shattuck in Berkeley. Beautiful theater, great company, wonderful movie (Meet the Patels).
Movie night with a friend at the Shattuck in Berkeley. Beautiful theater, great company, wonderful movie (Meet the Patels).

October 2, 2015 – 275/365

Flowers on the curb.
Flowers on the curb.

October 3, 2015 – 276/365

The best way to spend a Saturday morning.
The best way to spend a Saturday morning.

October 4, 2015 – 277/365

Works.
Works.

Project 365: Days 237-258

I’ve been a bad blogger! August ended weeks ago, and September is nearly half over. What can I say, I’ve been lazy about posting. BUT I’m still taking a photo a day, so I’m doing something right. ๐Ÿ™‚ Here’s the large backlog from the past 21 days. My hope going forward is to start posting these photos daily again, like I did so diligently at the beginning of the year. Then I can avoid doing these large catch-up posts.

August 25, 2015 โ€“ 237/365

Morcom Rose Garden entrance.

August 26, 2015 โ€“ 238/365

Chai Tea @ Samovar Yerba Buena. Mother-daughter lunch.
Chai Tea @ Samovar Yerba Buena. Mother-daughter lunch.

August 27, 2015 โ€“ 239/365

Tupperware Party featuring Sally Bowls.
Tupperware Party featuring Sally Bowls.

August 28, 2015 โ€“ 240/365

Family lunch in SF.
Family lunch in SF.

August 29, 2015 โ€“ 241/365

Green smoothies at the Farmer's Market.
Green smoothies at the Farmer’s Market.

August 30, 2015 โ€“ 242/365

Patio decorations. My mom helped me make it fun and pretty.
Patio decorations. My mom helped me make it fun and pretty.

August 31, 2015 โ€“ 243/365

California Academy of Sciences. One of my favorite places in SF.
California Academy of Sciences. One of my favorite places in SF.

September 1, 2015 โ€“ 244/365

Pretty toe polish.
Pretty toe polish.

September 2, 2015 โ€“ 245/365

Sleepin' in the blanket drawer.
Chillin’ in the blanket drawer.

September 3, 2015 โ€“ 246/365

At the Bar Method.
The Bar Method.

September 4, 2015 โ€“ 247/365

The figure in the vines.
The figure in the vines.

September 5, 2015 โ€“ 248/365

That face...
That face…

September 6, 2015 โ€“ 249/365

Labor Day cookout.
Labor Day cookout.

September 7, 2015 โ€“ 250/365

Happy Labor Day @ Home Depot.
Happy Labor Day @ Home Depot.

September 8, 2015 โ€“ 251/365

Can't get enough of this beautiful Macbook Pro.
Can’t stop marveling overย this beautiful Macbook Pro.

September 9, 2015 โ€“ 252/365

Banana Berry smoothie.
Banana Berry smoothie.

September 10, 2015 โ€“ 253/365

2nd St. San Francisco.
2 ND ST. San Francisco.

September 11, 2015 โ€“ 254/365

Tech Inclusion Conference, Day 1. Galvanize, San Francisco. WONDERFUL day.
Tech Inclusion Conference, Day 1. Galvanize, San Francisco. WONDERFUL day.

September 12, 2015 โ€“ 255/365

Tech Inclusion Conference & Career Fair, Day 2. More wonderful.
Tech Inclusion Conference & Career Fair, Day 2. More wonderful.

September 13, 2015 โ€“ 256/365

Bento Box kitty.
Miss Bento Box.

September 14, 2015 โ€“ 257/365

A quiet night at home.
A quiet night at home.

September 15, 2015 โ€“ 258/365

Trader Joe's. Oakland.
Trader Joe’s. Oakland.

Review: Beyond the Summerland

Beyond the Summerland
Beyond the Summerland by L.B. Graham
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

3.5/5. The world-building and storytelling in this book were phenomenal. Also, the author does a reasonable job of developing the characters (though some more than others) and I cared about what happened to them, and I was fully immersed in their world.

However I couldn’t rate this higher for the following reasons:

* The women are for the most part weak, powerless, underdeveloped, and useless. They’re objects of affection for the men.
* To the above point, this book is male-dominated. Allfather (the “God” that everyone worships) only seems to speak to men. All of the teachers are men, all of the prophets and mythical beings are men, the men do most of the fighting, only the men have powers, gifts, foresight. Women are just wives, mothers, and love interests, who can’t think or find their way out of any trouble without the men there to rescue them.
* The storytelling was good, yes, but the writing was so-so. Grammatical errors, weird instances where it lapsed into first-person, awkward character point-of-view shifts, etc. The pacing was strange, with some sections dragging and others summarized quickly.
* The ending was frustrating. ๐Ÿ™

I’m willing to forgive all of the above faults except for the first two. If L.B. Graham made the women stronger and developed them a bit more, this would be the PERFECT fantasy series. Sigh. I’m still going to pick up Book #2 and hope the women are better in the that one!

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