Life sucks

 One of our cats is dying. Cancer. It won't be long now. Just a matter of days. It has absolutely crushed me. I'm 64 years old and find myself tearing up all day long. I'm frustrated..and heart broken. I had a feeling a few months back that 2023 was not going to be a good year. I tend to focus on the negative anyway, but I was really down. We noticed something was off with him earlier in the year and took him to the vet and the exam didn't reveal anything. Then at the start of March we noticed he wasn't eating with his usual gusto and took him back and that's when they said it was cancer. They gave us a couple of treatment options, including an intense chemo option, but we elected not to to that. We have been giving him chemo pills and fluids. His appetite has gotten less and less each day. We still see a spark of life in him. He loves to go outside so we've been letting him wander around. But I sit and watch him and just start crying.

We got him by accident. My daughter was a student at Gettysburg College, an environmental sciences major, and one day when she was out on the battlefield doing whatever environmental science majors do, when this scruffy cat walked up to them (she was with two others). They weren't near any houses so it was either a runaway or a dump job (and I hope God damns and and every one who abandons their pet). They took it back to the Science house and put up flyers to see if they could find the owner. They took it to the vet, got it checked out and cleaned up (and neutered), but there was no response. The cat lived in their "science house" and gradually it became our daughter's. She announced that she was bringing him home for Thanksgiving. Now we had never had a cat, so this was a challenge. And we DO have a dog, so that added to it. During the time he was home he stayed in her room (a nice sized room) and did the same over Christmas break. (Oh..since they found him on the battlefield they looked up the names of civil war generals who fought at gettysburg and gave him the regal name Leopoldo Von Gilsa, which was shortened to Gil (or Gilbert, when we were being silly). She graduated in May and announced she was taking a job that had housing that wouldn't permit a pet. So Gil became "ours". It also became clear that he couldn't stay in the bedroom the whole time, so we took a deep breath and let him have the run of the house. To our amazement, he and Sadie got along quite well. There was only one dust up the entire time we had him, over a piece of Salmon, but never again. Sadie is a very gentle soul and is not food aggressive, so it wasn't unusual to see Gil move up to the side of Sadie's food bowl and start to eat her food. 

With Gil around I started to learn about cat behavior. I loved finding him in different places in the house. In boxes, on shelves, on the radiator covers, tv stands, tables. When my daughter had him at the Science House she would post pictures of him with the caption "He is EVERYWHERE" and i soon learned why. It was always something new. He became an indoor cat with us, although he desperately wanted to go outside. We would only let him out on rare occasions and never on his own, one of us was always with him. We had to be careful about the front and back doors too because he would look for opportunities to escape to the great outdoors and we couldn't have that. He loved chicken, and i can picture him sitting next Sadie patiently waiting for my wife to finish chopping it up for them. Sometimes when Sadie was standing he would rub up against her. It was always fun to watch.

Other than the medical issue I will mention shortly, he had to deal with only two indignities in his life. The first was the "lion cut" we would get him twice a year. His fur grew fast so we had to cut it, and the groomer would give him a "lion" shape with a big poofy tail. I loved watching him swish that tail. The other was that he had to share the house with other cats when we started to get into fostering. Our first foster attempt was a "failure", in that we kept the cats. So now he had two other felines he had to share with. It wasn't an issue, although I never saw the affection with them that I saw her give Sadie. Also, we keep the fosters in our back room, which he used to like to go to look out the back window. He would go back there occasionally, but 90% of the fosters absolutely adored him and would crowd around him and he didn't have the patience for that.

We did have a major medical scare with him 3 years ago. He wasn't able to urinate and it required a surgery. It worked, and he was fine, and I have zero regrets doing it (I'd do it again without a second thought). It did force a change in his diet in that he now had to have special urinary track food. Gil was always highly food motivated so that sucked for him. That said, he never missed a chance to poach some of Sadie's food, or the other cats' food, or the kitten food for the fosters. He was quite a devil.

It is one of the weaknesses of my internal make up that I am super emotional about my pets. I always have been. When there is an issue, I shut down. I stop eating. I had a doctor appointment in December and I weighted 192 pounds. We found out about the cancer in early March. I had another doc appointment in mid-March and i was down to 185. The doc asked what was going on and i made up some crap about year end being very stressful. I'm down to 178 now. I'm a mess. Nothing matters. My friend keeps wanting me to get involved in a couple of things and I can't be bothered with any of it. I'm a mess. A complete mess. 

I couldn't have asked for a better first cat. I am going to miss him so much. I am going to miss finding him in all those places. I am going to miss watching him move next to Sadie. I'm going to miss his fast waddle when it was dinner time and he hustled to the side room where we fed him. I'm going to miss him coming in when i'm working at home and laying on top of my laptop while I work. I am going to miss the pain (yes, the pain) of his claw when he would scratch my leg looking for attention. I'm going to miss him sweeping things off the table he happened to be sitting on when he wanted attention.

I know it's a two way street. I hope I'm not being too arrogant to state that he hit the lottery when he walked up to my daughter that day. From a life with an unknown future, he was taken in, cleaned up, brought into a safe home, fed, and loved. He was never alone, as there was always another animal or two or three around when we went out. His medical issue was addressed and taken care of (plus he needed a tooth pulled, which we took care of). He was loved. So much. He always will be loved. He'll always be in our hearts and memories. We will never forget him. And I am heart broken.

 August 13 to 20, 2022. Left at 6 47 am. Ran into intermittent heavy traffic in Delaware, and then very heavy traffic crossing the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel. More traffic generated by lights in Chesapeake (after stopping at Aldi). Got notification that the house was ready at 3 30. Arrived at 5 30. We wanted to order at a sandwich shop but it was closed. Had home made pasta instead. Liz and Gen downstairs, Kelsey karen and me upstairs. Tim in far upstairs room.

Sunday August 14. Gorgeous day at the beach. Had the sandwiches we missed on Saturday night for dinner.

Just got back from spending a week at Groton Long Point (GLP) in Connecticut.  It was a last minute house rental.  It was a small house, but was ok for the week.  Unpaved, grass driveway leading back to a detatched two car garage. Front porch.  As you walk inside there was a staircase to the left leading upstairs where there were 3 bedrooms, one with a queen bed, one with a single bed, one with two singles and a "nook" in the front of the house, and a bathroom with shower. Walking into the house puts you in the main living area.  Off of that straight to left was the dining room.  To the right was the entrance to the kitchen.  From the kitchen you walk through the laundry area and then into a second bathroom.  There was also a door leading out to the back.  Nice piece of property.
We drove up on Saturday August 4 in off and on rain, sometimes heavy.  We took two cars.  I drove up with my daughter in her car and the rest of the family drove up (with the dog) in our car.  Traffic was awful and it took about 4.5 hours to get there (1 stop).
After getting unpacked we headed over to Olde Mystic Village and had dinner at the Pink Basil.  On Sunday the kids took the kyaks (the house provided two) to the "beach" and had some fun with those.  Then my son and I took a quick visit to Fort Griswald in Groton, Ct.  It was the scene of a British attack in 1781 (led by Benedict Arnold).  They have a monument to the battle which you can climb to the top.  The climb almost killed me.  I'm getting too old for that. 

My wife went out and got some floating devices including a giant clam shell and a couple of rafts. Later in the day my wife and I drove to Stonington to the overlook there.  It has a monument commemorating a battle that took place there in the War of 1812.  The view was pretty nice, lots of water and view of 3 states:  Ct, RI, and NY. 

Earlier in the day the wife went out and got some floating devices including a giant clam shell and a couple of rafts. The kids had a good time with those things.  Dinner that night was burgers and dogs (and veggie stuff for the vegetarians) at home.  The next day was another great weather day that began at the beach. (The wife went to the Williams Sonoma outlet).   The kids got a kick out of the dog swimming, but she'd only do it for a short while and then she was done.  We again ate at home and then went to Mystic Village for some ice cream.  Nice town, but very touristy and small.  Tuesday was a great weather day as well (they ALL were except for the day we left, which was no big deal).  Beach in the morning and early afternoon and then we went to Mystic again for a late lunch/early dinner at the Engine Room.  After that my son had to go back home to work so he took the dog with us.  She was fun to have and seemed to enjoy the water (no waves in the Long island sound) but she was also exhausted.  On Wednesday the kids did some kyaking in the morning and then we went and got a "parking permit" so we could park anywhere in GLP (it's a fairly "exclusive" community and they have "parking for residents and their guests" only.  Since we were renting we were a "guest").  After that we went to New London and had breakfast/lunch at Yoke.  Then I went to Fort Trumbull while the rest of the gang walked around New London. 

They weren't too impressed with it.  After that we went back home and went to the "South Beach", which was much nicer than the beaches that were just down the road for us.  A word about the beaches here.  Most are quite rocky.  They're not at all like N.J. beaches.  The "south" beach was nice though.  On Thursday we went to the US Nautilus museum in Groton.  Free!  I went with wife and two older daughters.  My youngest wasn't feeling well.  I got them to go by telling them we wouldn't be long and we weren't.  It's a great museum and you get a tour of the sub.  Even the girls liked it. 

After that it was back home and then off to South Beach for sun and swim.  While we were there we did get rained on a little.  A fast moving shower that cleared out pretty quick and left nothing but sunny blue sky.  Friday was our last full day there.  We started at the beach and were there until about 2 30 pm.  Then we went to the Olde Mystic Village and I dropped the girls off there for tea/dinner at Alices (?).  I then drove to Stonington again and visited the lighthouse museum.  I got four lighthouse stamps there.  Then back to the Village where the girls shopped a bit after dinner, then back home.  That night we went back to South beach to watch the sun set.  Saturday we packed the car and off we went, after making a stop at Abbots in Noank.  Karen got the small lobster roll ($19!!!) and I got a lobster bisque, which was quite good.  Then onto I-95 with another stop at the Williams Sonoma outlet (nap time!).  After that we made a quick stop at the Weir National Park and I got the stamp there.  After that an interesting drive the rest of the way home through huge rain storms.  Our "Flash flood" alerts kept going off.  The parkway was jammed so we got off and took back roads home, having to detour around some very flooded roads.  By the time we got home the rain had stopped and the sun was out.  All in all a nice vacation.

Encyclopedia of Military History

I've had this book for several years now.  I've referred to it a few times but I've never really tried to read it. I'm going to now.  It's over 1,300 pages long but I'm going to take my time.  I begin tonight (7/31/2015).
Finished Chapter 1 - The Dawn of Military History; to 600 BC; on August 2, 2015.
Finished Chapter 2 - War becomes an Art, 600 BC to 400 BC; on August 16, 2015.
Finished Chapter 3 - The Era of the Giants, 400 BC to 200 BC; on September 11, 2015.
Finished Chapter 4 - The Rise of the Great Empires-East and West, 200 BC to 1; on October 10, 2015.
Finished Chapter 5 - The Pax Romana, 1 AD to 200; on October 15, 2015.
Finished Chapter 6 - The Decline of Rome and the Rise of Cavalry, 200-400; on November 13, 2015.
Finished Chapter 7 - The Opening of the Middle Ages; 400-600; on December 17, 2015.
Finished Chapter 8 - The Rise and Containment of Islam: 600-800; on January 6, 2016.
Finished Chapter 9 - The Dark Ages; Battle-Axe and Mace:  800-1000; on January 22, 2016.
Finished Chapter 10 - The Return of Sill to Warfare: 1000-1200; on February 11,2016.
Finished Chapter 11 - The Age of the Mongols  1200-1400; on April 1, 2016.
Finished Chapter 12 - The End of the Middle Ages 1400-1500; on April 28, 2016.

The Guns of Gettysburg

I'm reading a book called "Summer Thunder" which is about the artillery used during the battle of Gettysburg.    It's also a tour guide of the various sites where artillery played a key role.  Yesterday I paid a visit down there and had a little time to kill so I decided to try to figure out how many canon are CURRENTLY on the battlefield.  I did not cover the entire battlefield so this will be a work in process:
6  In the Peach Orchard area enclosed by Birney Ave and the Wheatfield Road.
2  Along Sickles Road after turning from the Wheatfield Road
6  Along Wheatfield road, prior to reaching the Wheatfield
2  In the Wheatfield.
2  Near the intersection of Wheatfield Road and Crawford Ave.
2  Along Crawford Avenue prior to Devil's Den
4  Near Devil's Den
17  Along Sedgwick Rd, between Wheatfield Road and PA Monument
8  Near the PA monument
8 From PA monument to Copse of Trees
2  Near "book" monument
10 From the copse of trees to the Bairn farm, including 2 set back on walkway
6 after Bairn farm, including 2 set further back (may be same 2 as above)
24 on East Cemetery Hill
16 In Soldiers' cemetery
2  in Evergreen Cemetery
4  on Little Round top
64 on W. confederate avenue until Lee memorial (including 4 at end of walk)
13 From Lee memorial to Millerstown Road
15 From Millerstown Road to Emmitsburg Road
10 until far right of Confederate  line.
1 on the college campus.
4 on Jones Avenue
2 near Meade's HQ
8 along Emittsburg Road
1 Near the 3rd NY Monument
2 Near General Lee's HQ
4 Near the Reynolds/Buford monuments
4 Along Reynolds Avenue
7 on Oak Hill
2 along Seminary Ridge prior to W. Confederate avenue
12 on Benner Hill
10 along Howard avenue, including Barlow's knoll.
1 at George Spangler Farm
2 on Baltimore across from National Cemetery
1 on Middle Avenue

That's 284.

My 80 Book Challenge for 2015

1.  Cockroaches, by Jo Nesbo.  Finished January 1, 2015
2.  Disgrace, by J.M. Coetzee.  Finished January 2, 2015 (1001 books to read list!!!).
3.  The Rebreast, by Jo Nesbo.  Finished January 5, 2015 (once I find a new author I like I get rather obsessive).
4.  Slow Man, by J.M. Coetzee.  Finished January 7,2015 (1001 books to read)
5.  Time's Arrow, by Martin Amis.  Finished January 9, 2015 (1001 to books)
6.  The 39 Steps, by John Buchan.  Finished January 12, 2015
7.  Nemesis, by Jo Nesbo.  Finished January 13, 2015
8.  The Redeemer, by Jo Nesbo.  Finished January 14, 2015
9.  The Importance of being Ernest, by Oscar Wilde.  Finished January 16, 2015 (Play).
10.  Hallowed Ground; A Walk at Gettysburg, by James McPherson.  Finished January 21, 2015.
11.  The Woman in White, by Wilkie Collins.  Finished January 23, 2015  (1001 books to read).
12.  Manhunt; The 12 Day Chase for Lincoln's Killer.  Finished January 28, 2015.
13. The Devil's Star, by Jo Nesbo.  Finished January 31, 2015.
14. The Boys in the Boat, by Daniel James Brown.  Finished February 4, 2015.
15.  The Leopard, by Jo Nesbo.  Finished February 10, 2015.
16.  Phantom, by Jo Nesbo.  Finished February 13, 2015.
17.  Deadline, by John Sandford.  Finished February 16, 2015.
18.  Police, by Jo Nesbo.  Finished February 19, 2015.
19.  The Complete Gettysburg Guide, by J. David Petruzzi.  Finished February 20, 2015.  (Owned).
20.  Collision of Empires, The War on the Eastern Front in 1914, by Prit Buttar.  Finished February 22, 2015 (owned).
21.  Cousin Henry, by Anthony Trollope.  Finished February 23, 2015.
22.  Operation Typhoon; Hitler's March on Moscow, October, 1941, by David Stahel.  Finished March 3, 2014 (owned).
23.  The Ice Princess, by Camilla Lackberg.  Finished March 4, 2015.  Not recommended.
24.  Money, by Martin Amis.  Finished March 5, 2015. (1001 books to read).
25.  Theresa Raquin, by Emile Zola.  Finished March 9, 2015 (1001 books to read).
26.  The Life of a Useless Man, by Maxim Gorky.  Finished March 12, 2015
27.  The Battle for Moscow, by David Stahel.  Finished March 13, 2015. Owned book.
28.  Green on Blue, by Elliot Ackerman.  Finished March 18, 2015.  Book group read.
29.  The Battle for Moscow, by Col. Albert Seaton.  Finished March 20, 2015.  Owned book.
30.  Personal, by Lee Child. Finished April 3, 2015.
31.  Revival, by Stephen King. Finished April 5, 2015.
32.  Mr. Mercedes, by Stephen King.  Finished April 10, 2015.
33.  Motive, by Jonathan Kellerman.  Finished April 13, 2015.
34.  The Harder they Come, by T.C. Boyle.  Finished April 16, 2015.
35.  Hitler Moves East, by Paul Carell.  Finished April 17, 2015. Owned book.
36.  The Road to Stalingrad, by the editors of Time-Life.  Finished April 18, 2015.  Owned book.
37.  The Stranger, by Harlan Coben.  Finished April 21, 2015.
38.  He Knew he was Right, by Anthony Trollope.  Finished April 24, 2015.  (1001 books to read)
39.  The Girl on the Train, by Paula Hawkins.  Finished April 26, 2015.
40.  The Life and Times of Michael K., by J.M. Coetzee.  Finished April 29, 2015. (1001 books).
41.  Youth, by J.M. Coetzee. Finished May 1, 2015. (1001 books).
42.  Moonlight Mile, by Dennis Lehane.  Finished May 2, 2015.
43.  Norway 1940, by Francois Kersaudy.  Finished May 6, 2015.
44.  Barbarossa, by the editors of Time-Life.  Finished May 6, 2015.  Owned book.
45.  A Room with a View, by E.M. Forster.  Finished May 8, 2015.  1001 books.
46.  Knuckleball; The History of the Unhittable Pitch, by Lew Freedman.  Finished May 12, 2015.
47.  Summer Thunder; A Battlefield Guide to the Artillery at Gettysburg, by Matt Spruill.  Finished May 13, 2015. Owned.
48.  Dark Places; by Gillian Flynn.  Finished May 15, 2015.
49.  Battles for Scandinavia; by John R. Elting.  Finished May 16,2015.  (Owned).
50.  Dead Wake; The Last Crossing of the Lusitania.  Finished May 19, 2015.
51.  In the Heart of the Country, by J.M. Coetzee.  Finished May 20, 2015.  (1001 books).
52.  Gathering Prey, by John Sandford.  Finished May 22, 2015.
53.  Dusklands, by J.M. Coetzee.  Finished May 28, 2015.  (1001 books).
54.  1942; The Year that Tried Men's Souls, by Winston Groom.  Finished May 30, 2015.
55.  Empire of the Sun, by J.G. Ballard.  Finished June 7.  (1001 books)
56.  Robert B. Parker's Kickback, by Ace Atkins.  Finished June 8.
57.  Just after Sunset, by Stephen King. Finished June 11.
58. Ethan Frome, by Edith Wharton.  Finished June 12.  (1001 books)
59.  The Mediterranean, by A.B.C. Whipple.  Finished June 13.  (owned books)
60.  Glimpses of the Moon, by Edith Wharton.  Finished June 18 (1001 books).
61.  Moscow to Stalingrad; Decision in the East, by Earl F. Ziemke and Magna Bauer.  Finished June 22, 2015 (owned books).
62.  The Big Short; Inside the Doomsday Machine, by Michael Lewis. Finished June 23, 2015.
63.  Moonwalking with Einstein; The Art and Science of Remembering Everything, by Joshua Foer.  Finished June 25, 2015.
64.  Before Stalingrad; Barbarossa, Hitler's Invasion of Russia, by David Glantz.  Finished July 1, 2015. (owned).
65.  The Civil War; Day by Day: An Almanac, 1861-1865, by E.B. Long.  Finished July 1, 2015. (owned)
66.  The Civil War Almanac.  Finished July 2, 2015.  (Owned).
67.  Radiant Angel, by Nelson DeMille.  Finished July 2, 2015.
68.  The House of Mirth, by Edith Wharton. Finished July 9, 2015 (1001 books).
69.  The Renaissance and Mannerism in Northern Europe and Spain, by Alastair Smart.  July 10, 2015.
70.  Finders Keepers, by Stephen King.  July 13, 2015.
71.  A Lost Lady, by Willa Cather. July 16, 2015.
72.  Grierson's Raid; by Tom Lalicki.  July 22, 2015.  (Owned)
73.  V is for Vengeance; by Sue Grafton.  July 23, 2015.
74.  Connie Mack and the Early Years of Baseball; by Norman Macht.
75.  The Politics of Glory; How Baseball's Hall of Fame Really Works, by Bill James
76.  The New American Bible.
77.  Deliver us From Evil; David Baldacci.  Finished August 6, 2015.
78.  Sea Change; by Robert Parker.  Finished August 8, 2015.
79.  Cards on the Table, by Agatha Christie.  Finished August 10, 2015.
80.  Buzz Cut, by James W. Hall.  Finished August 13, 2015.
81.  The Kill Room, by Jeffrey Deaver.  Finished August 22, 2015.
82.  Ring of Steel; Germany and Austria Hungary in World War 1; by Alexander Watson. Finished 8/28.
83.  The Twelve Caesars; by Suetonius.  Finished 8/28.  (Owned)
84.  City of God, by E.L.Doctorow.  Finished 8/30.  (1001 books).
85.  Blue Labyrinth; by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child.  Finished September 3, 2015.
86.  Burr; by Gore Vidal.  Finished September 3, 2015.
87.  The Big Finish; by James W. Hall.  Finished September 5,2015 (book group)
88.  Alexander of Macedon, 356-323 BC; A Historical Biography; by Peter Green.  Finished 9/17/2015.
89.  The War of the Austrian Succession; by Reed Browning (owned).  Finished 9/19/2015.
90.  Two Graves; by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child.  Finished 9/21/2015.
91.  Fever Dream; by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child.  Finished 9/28/2015.
92.  A Battlefield Atlas of the American Revolution; by Craig Symonds. Finished 9/28/2015. (Owned).
93.  Ty Cobb; A Terrible Beauty; by Charles Leerhsen.  Finished 9/30/2015.
94.  Where the Iron Crosses Grow;  The Crimea 1941-1944, by Robert Forczyk.  Finished 10/1/2015.
95.  Make Me; by Lee Child.  Finished 10/7/2015.
96.  Relic; by Douglas Preston and Lee Child.  Finished 10/9/2015.
97.  X; by Sue Grafton.  Finished 10.13.2015.
98.  Own your Future; Paul Brown;  Finished 10/21/2015
99.  The Landmark Arrian.  Campaigns of Alexander; by Arrian.  Finished 10/22/2015.
100.  Cold Vengeance; by Douglas Preston and Lee Child.  Finished 10/28/2015.
101.  Black Mass:  Whitey Bulger, the FBI and a Devil's Deal; by Dick Lehr and Gerard O'Neill.  Finished 11/3/2015 (bookgroup).
102. The Rule of Four; by Ian Caldwell and Dusting Thomason.  Finshed 11/6/2015.
103.  The Fifth Gospel; by Ian Caldwell.  Finished 11/13/2015.
104. The Great Beanie Baby Bubble; by Zac Bissonnette; Finished 11/13/2015.
105.  The Pitch That Killed; Carl Mays, Ray Chapman and the Pennant Race of 1920; by Mike Sowell.  Finished 11/17/2015.
106.  Clockwork Orange; by Anthony Burgess. Finished 11/19/2015.  (1001 books)
107.  Between Giants; The Battle for the Baltics in World War Two; by Prit Buttar.  Finished 11/30/2015.
108.  Going Long; History of American Football League.  Finished 12/1/2015.
109.  Depraved Heart;  by Patricia Cornwell. Finished 12/5/2015.
110.  Where you Go is Not Who You'll Be; An Antidote to the College Admissions Mania; by Frank Bruin. Finished 12/6/2015.
111.  The Crossing, by Michael Connelly. Finished 12/8/2015.
112.  Rising Sun, Falling Skies; The Disastrous Java Sea Campaign of World War 2; by Jeffrey Cox.  Finished 12/11/2015.
113.  Spy Secrets that Can Save Your Life; by Jason Hanson.  Finished 12/12/2015.
114. Rites of Passage; by William Golding (1001 books).  Finished 12/18/2015.
115.  Babbitt; by Sinclair Lewis (1001 books).  Finished 12/25/2015.
116.  Age of Innocence; by Edith Wharton (1001 books).  Finshed 12/31/2015.

Reading

Back in 2001, for reasons I no longer recall (something that is happening with increasing frequency as I continue to advance in age) I decided to start tracking the books I read each year.  I've actually followed through with it, dutifully recording what I read year after year.  I started keeping track in a paper notebook, then started an Excel spreadsheet, and then added the website Goodreads to keep track of what I read (I use librarything to track what I own).  I keep track in all 3 places.  I like to keep the notebook going.  Maybe I'll have it filled when I finally depart from this existence.  About two years ago I did a memory dump and tried to recall all the books I read pre-2001 so that I would have a complete list of a lifetime's worth of reading.  As of the end of 2014, by my best guess, I have read 1,199 books.  My 2014 total was 119, which is the second most for a year (the most being 122 in 2010).
For 2015, I'm setting a goal of 80 books.  I'd like to read 20 from the "1001 books you should read in a lifetime" (2006 version).  I have read read 121 from that list thus far.  I also want to read at least 20 books that I already own.