Looking Back and Figuring Out What's Ahead

Welcome to the 2013 Edition of Things I Failed To Do!

When it came to books this year, I was a big loser. Big, fat, hairy, hand in my pants loser. I set a goal of 50 books - just under a book a week - and I ended with 31. I blame the internet and life. But mostly the internet.

So, I'm trying to find my Year of Happiness - because 2013 was NOT it (So.NOT.it.) - and thinking about what I want to do in 2014, what I have to do, and what I will probably end up doing. I don't want my goals to be too easy, but yet I don't want them to be too hard or too varied. But that's the problem with having a high I.Q. - my interests and abilities to learn are endless. I could be all over the board trying to conquer my physical, spiritual, educational, and career. I'd be exhausted by the end of the day. So, here's what I already have going on for sure in 2014:

• Church Secretary (requires approx. 2 hours/week)
• Committee Chair (time requirement unknown)
• Youth Group (10 hours/week, including 1 hour class + baking)
• Full-time job (including at least one trip to China in 2014)
• Home Business Pangea Organics (time requirement unknown)
• Two weekly newspaper columns (time requirement unknown)

So, add in mommy duty, my meager housekeeping skills, and sleeping... Not to mention that I have (FINALLY!!) found The One and he has three beautiful children. Four more people to give love, attention, and time to. I'm tired already. Albeit a happy tired.

Here's the "Extras" I'd like to accomplish in 2014:

1. Read the Bible. The ENTIRE Bible.
2. Read some books.
3. Run a 5k.
4. Get back into Yoga once a week.
5. Finish an Engineering class.
6. Take a Language class.
7. Get my finances under control.
8. Projects.
9. No-Spend January, April, July, and October.
10. Travel: NYC is at the top of my list.

Obviously not all of this is going to happen. It just can't. So if I narrowed the list down to half... that would still be too much. Four? Does four seem reasonable? And which four? And what's the plan? And accountability?

Sometimes, I'm really good at making things harder than they need to be. I'll get back to you on what I figure out in the next few days. If you have any suggestions, please post them!

Inkheart

Inkheart by Cornelia Funke
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book took for.ever. to get moving. I'm glad I stuck with it because it really was a beautiful story. Very creative plot, interesting characters, and humor. A nice bit of fantasy for bookish nerds.

Synopsis: Twelve-year-old Meggie learns that her father, who repairs and binds books for a living, can "read" fictional characters to life when one of those characters abducts them and tries to force him into service.      


Recommended Reading:
Inkspell by Cornelia Funke
Inkdeath by Cornelia Funke
The Golum's Eye by Jonathan Stroud
The Amulet of Samarkand by Jonathan Stroud
The People of Sparks by Jeanne DuPrau
Magyk by Angie Sage               

October and November

I'm not quite sticking to the plan... but it's an improvement! Unless by some miracle I no longer require sleep, I won't even get close to the 50 book goal this year. I'm kind of sad. I mean emotionally sad. Not pathetic sad. So I've bumped the number from 23 to 28 books read, and only one month left in the year.

So what is taking up my time? Let's see...
              work
              still rocking the single parent gig
              Youth group leader
              Trying really hard to pretend I'm not in pain every day
              Church secretary
              Stripping the dining room wallpaper
              Not cleaning my house (mostly it's just cleaning the same three rooms and telling people to close their eyes when they go through the other rooms)
              Attempting to get a Pangea Organics business off the ground
              Trying to keep my sanity

We won't even discuss my obsession with Farm Heroes Saga right now.

Right.

Back to talking about books... On the plus side of all this, I am managing to hold the TBR list under 100. I feel there will be a purging before year end. Hopefully I will finish Inkheart before year end...