Okay, I'm not even sure what my goals are going to be but I'm ready to start hashing them out. Here's a real obvious one:1. Since I just finished Christmas cards for my family tonight (January 3rd), I think a real nice place to start would be to finish next years cards say, sometime in December, maybe even in time to get them to recipients before Christmas! Actually, now that I look at them, I still have to take a sharpie and draw a Russian Orthodox cross on top of the church before mailing them out - there was no way I was going to attempt carving that into the block. I know it kinda looks like my pumpkin design this year - what can I say, the church is like 200 yards away and I think it's pretty . . . .
2. Reading 100 books. Yup, that is an aggressive goal, especially given that I read maybe 15 in 2008. I absolutely LOVE reading though, I always have, and I'm not going to let a silly thing like an 80 hour work week keep me from what I love. To help with this, we are dropping our cable modem (along with cable) and going with a wireless internet service provider so there will be no more 2 hours a week of television (since you need cable to get any channels out here). I'm going to record the books I read on that cool Shelfari widget that Jane uses on her blog so you can all watch me fail miserably at this one . . . . I am almost done with my first book of the year though, so technically I'm right on schedule! I'll get Shelfari on the sidebar in the next day or two.
Okay, two goals has worn me out. More tomorrow! Cheers . . . . .
15 comments:
I love your reading goal! As an English teacher, one of my goals is to help my students discover a love of reading. I have the same application you speak of on my myspace; I think I'll keep track of my books this year as well! Good idea.
I love your Christmas cards! I think your family and friends will be thrilled to recieve the cards in January. I know all I'm getting in the mail now is BILLS! BLECH!
Have a wonderful day!
Strangely, right after I thought about starting a new reading list, this popped up on my google alerts. Thought I would share.
Cheers!
http://www.adn.com/outdoors/story/642054.html
Hey little brother,
I don't think I'll manage to read 100 books but I have found a real joy in reading children's books and short stories over my break. I recommend A Stranger or Chirstmas by Carol Lynn Pearson. It's wonderful.
love ya
Mystic...is it weird that my just turned 8 year old is plowing through Harry Potter and a ton of other books? She is a third grader.
Steve the cards are beautiful. You carved the block yourself? wow. I cant do 100 books a year. I read more than that lol. But its a noble goal. even if you only read 50 its better than nothing...and we wont consider it a failure.
Nope Kim..not weird at all...encourage her to continue! If there is one single factor that I see as a teacher that can predict academic success, it is reading. Her love of reading bodes well for her in the future!
(Sorry to jack your thread Steve..please forgive me)
I like that book one! I am going to take your challenge too, although I am going to cut it down to 50. Good luck, gorgeous cards. I am off to google the Shelfari widget
The Christmas cards are cool and the fam. will appreciate them in Jan or even Feb. WOW!!
hmmm.... I think you started something here with the book goal. I think I will try for 50 this year.
I am highly impressed with your Christmas cards! I used to do a lot of linoleum block printing and know it's no easy feat! (I even did a Christmas card print one year! lol!) I always ended a carving session with bloody fingers thanks to a slip or two of the tool...I hope you fared better!
Oh, and keep that reading goal! I have also spent far too hours between the pages this year.
100 books! That is ONE lofty goal! I read like crazy and wouldn't be able to do that. With that in mind, AS, what genres do you enjoy? I would love to make recommendations if I know what you enjoy.
AND, of course, what might be your initial thoughts on the new Pentax, sir? Were your most recent posts made with it?
BZ
The cards are really nice and if it makes you feel any better, I have not sent out mine yet either. I wanted to wait till we saw the family and include photos. So I probably won't send any out till after we get home on the 14th! Oh well. AND I was going to do the 50 book challenge for 2009 but since you are doing 100, I might have to try to join you in that goal. Not sure if I will be able to achieve it either, but maybe it's better to really stretch myself! I think I could do 50 pretty easily if I kept myself on track so okay, 100 it is. :) Rich and I just left the B&N near our hotel in San Francisco and I bought four books, so there's my start. (I had a gift card and there was a "buy 2, get 1 free" table, so who can resist?)
No Resolutions for me for two reasons; I already do that 100 books a year (Mostly Sci-Fi Fantasy novels), And the fact that my Number one Goal has, and always will be, the complete Conquest of the planet Earth. People tend to look at you strangly when you relpy with that answer, so I pretty much just leave it go unsaid every year.......
Mystic, great link, I missed that article. I've met Roman Dial, he is quite an amazing guy and every year he does some freakish endurance adventure. I'm sure any books he recommends are worth a look. No worries on jacking the thread, I wish I could get on here more to respond to comments but it is always late at night after everything else is done . . .
Sis, I'll check that one out! Check your email, I had a few questions for ya!
I always end up compromising the design when i block print - somehow I can't get it through my fat head you can't show every tiny detail when you're carving unless you have way more time than I do!
BZ, I love all books, but my first order of business is to read the books in my house that I've bought in the last couple years and not read. I may be able to knock out the whole 100 that way!
Gigi, last year when I was on vacation Goldfish and I were buying books and shipping them home in the mail so we wouldn't have to lug them around so I know what you're dealing with - vacation + booksale = you having no chance to resist!
OK, my goal would just be to find the time to read more. I honestly have started reading more and am in the middle of the HP series, but I'm always distracked away from the series by other books, especially about AK. Good goal - thanks for the idea!
Steve, you've got my number exactly! Rich and I were just talking about either buying another suitcase (we were 3.5 pounds over in Phoenix and had to pay extra) or shipping some stuff from his sister's.
The Road was one of my favorite books last year. It's not the kind of book I usually read but I was intrigued by the subject. Absolutely loved it. I am wondering if the movie will be able to capture the characters' feelings and experiences adequately.
Gigi, 4 words - Flat Rate Priority Mailers - PERFECT for sending that book stash home from the road, especially the largest size . . . I'm really interested in how The Road will translate to a movie, it would seem hard to portray the unrelenting push to survive in that environment, although the love of a parent for a child is the driving force that moves the plot forward and I imagine good acting will get that across.
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