2012 in Review & 2013 in Anticipation

Okay, maybe I didn't reach my original book goal, in terms of number, that is. I did, however, learn what was possible and attainable while maintaining full time student status, and managing two awesome, yet time consuming, jobs. It's not 50, that's for sure.

But, in reflecting on the purpose of my 2012 resolution, I realize that I did meet my goal. I read more in general. I read more non-fictions. Like, a lot more. I think in 2011 I read five books. I read 18 1/2 in 2012. Win in my book (no pun intended). It's something I've had to discuss with my debate kids ("Was your goal really to make it to nationals, or was it to become a better debater in the process?"). I have to practice what I preach.

While I celebrate the holiday and ring in the new year with friends, I'll also be looking ahead to 2013 and what I want to have accomplished, or what I want to have done for myself and my sanity despite my busy schedule. So, here you have it folks, my 2013 New Years Resolution list:

• Read 30 books. Haha, funny. My friends and I are in it together and we're swearing it's actually going to happen this year. But I guess a better goal would be to read more than 18 1/2. We'll see. Although, I got the sexy Kindle Fire HD for Christmas, so maybe that'll increase my chances. :)
• 365 Photo Challenge: take a photo a day. It's true what "they" say: "the days are long, but the years are short." I'm not terribly good at it, but I love taking photos, and why should we only capture "special" occasions? It'd be fun to have a year-in-review set of photos to look back on when I think of 2013. 
• Leave more time for music. I'm a very casual piano, guitar, and now ukulele player. It's so relaxing for me to come home from a stressful day and sit at an instrument (especially the piano). I want to do more of that; we can all use more peace.
• Run in the Color Run 5K. I'm in such bad shape and I need to be thinking more about my health. Now, I always say this and I never follow through, so my hopes aren't too high for this one. Bad attitude, but so it goes.
• Graduate with my bachelor's degree (going to happen) and get into graduate school, the latter of which I'm very worried about. It's freaking competitive and I have mediocre academic accomplishments. Scary, man.
• Blog more. I don't want to limit myself to just book reviews and such things; it gets boring for you and for me. Not that my life is otherwise exciting, but god, blogging about the same thing always gets old.

That's all she wrote... Here's to a successful, happy, healthy, and enjoyable 2013... Cheers!

It is also my blog's one year anniversary!

One Year Ago

#18: My new goal is 20

I'm not sure why it is that I always forget how time consuming, you know, getting a degree is. It really does take over your life. Thus, I am 32 books behind on my original (ridiculous) goal. Although, going back and re-reading what the "goal" really stood for, I'm doing pretty well. I wanted to read more and I did that. I wanted to write a blog about it and I did that. I think that's a success.

But I digress.

Naturally, I went on to read book #2 of mega-series. It was good and I got more out of it, and all that jazz.

In fact, yesterday my debaters had their national qualifier tournament. Our team is part of one of the most talented, competitive, and cut-throat districts in the country. Our kids are incredibly hard workers and extremely skilled in what they do, but unfortunately a good handful of them missed qualifying by just about the smallest margin possible. Then I came home all bummed for them and finished off this book, at the end of which Dumbledore says, "It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities." It made me think of our debaters. They have incredible abilities, but they also chose to make this season about leading their team with sponsorship. They represent their school, their district, their state, with excellence and class. That is far more important than any national tournament. I'm so proud of them and honored to have coached them.

But I digress.

The last week of classes and, subsequently, finals week is coming. I don't expect to get much reading done, but I'm sure as hell going to try!

Peace out, cyberspace.

#17... Here we go!

Thanks to all those crumb grubber kids I spend time with (nannying, elementary school, high school, oh my), I caught my second cold in about a six week span. It pretty much royally sucked, but I was able to spend so much time with the face of my childhood.

Oh hey, childhood. Good to see you!

I've read this amazing series about six times now and I really do get more out of it every time. The experience is much different now than it was when I was eight. I just can't wait to read the books to my future kids someday. Brilliant stuff I tell you.

And I really don't know what else to say about it. Five stars, OBVIOUSLY.

#16... Slowly but surely...

Oh hello, blog. Have we met? It's been so long, I can't remember.

As I finally pass the halfway mark of my challenge, my only accomplishment is that the gap between books is getting shorter. Two months to a little over a month.... Yay?

I finally got around to reading another classic:

It took me FOREVER to get through it, mostly because I'm so ridiculously busy. But also: even though it is hilariously written, the plot isn't incredibly exciting. That's not to say it was bad. There were a lot of times when I reacted to certain lines with genuine laughter. Holden definitely has a way with words and he's just funny.

I will say that I kept waiting for some sudden twist of events that forced me to continue reading and kept me away from my schoolwork. But alas, I never really got that. I kind of liked the ending, though. It wasn't terribly exciting, but I liked the reality of it. The fact that he really wanted to do something fun and wild and crazy, but that's not how real life works. Of course, fun and wild and crazy is what makes many books great, but it was sort of refreshing to read otherwise. Maybe it's just me, but I digress.

I give it a solid three stars.

My next book is part of a series that I read almost every year around Christmastime. Ah, traditions. :) Until then!

#15! ... Two months later...

Okay, so I will spend only limited time defending myself. And, by "limited," I mean I'm only going to use one word:

College.

Yeah.

So instead I will classify my completion of book #15 as basically an amazing accomplishment, all while successfully learning a new job, applying to grad schools, and ACING MY FIRST TWO EXAMS OF THE SEMESTER, BOOM. Yes, kind sir (or madam), I am patting myself on the back. But who couldn't use some praise once in awhile? (Also, let's ignore the fact that the idea of reading 50 books this year is now reaching absolutely ridiculous proportions.)

Anyway, since I've been leaving you hanging, this was the most recent book choice:

It's caught my eye ever since it first came out and I saw it at bookstores. I didn't really know what it was about, but the SLP student in me suspected some kind of connection to the field.

What finally got me to borrow it from the library (yes, I am a dinosaur and do not yet own what you call an e-reader) was my professor's use of the first chapter audio in class. It was about the author's first trip to a speech pathologist and it was freaking hilarious! Now, the remainder of the book had nothing to do with speech pathology and it wasn't nearly as funny, but, ehhhh, it was alright. I'd give it 3 stars, I guess.

Also. I've definitely reached my (ORIGINAL, WOO) nonfiction goal this year. At least I'm not a major f-up on my goals!

Also, also. Don't be surprised if there's another two-month wait before book #16. Senior year's a bitch.

Also, also, also (last one, I promise). This would be a great piece for one of my high school speech kids! So book #15 had double purpose. Score.

Major Suckage

Well. I'm still just under halfway done with the (new goal) challenge. Which means I'm still behind. :( And I don't see any chance of catching up anytime in August.

I was doing so well and read FIVE in July (go me!). But then I went on vacation with my family. One would think that being on vacation would mean tons of time for reading, but alas, it was like GO GO GO. Super fun and amazing, but BUSY (we went on a "harbor town tour" along Lakes Superior and Michigan in case you care).

And then... I put in my two-week notice at work to switch to a seasonal employee and be done once school starts. So they decided to schedule me 47923075029384023 hours to take advantage of me. Bitches. I haven't even been able to see my friends.

Now. I'm almost done with my summer job and I'm starting my school year debate and nanny jobs and ALSO studying for the GRE. OMGZ. Oh, woe is me. Why must general life responsibilities get in the way of my recreational reading!? Cruel cruel world we live in.

So, as much as I regret to say it, bye-bye until who knows when. Maybe I will get another book read between the start of September and after labor day when school starts.... Only time will tell!

Wish me luck...

#14: Fahrenheit 451 - Ray Bradbury

I'm getting as much reading in as I can before school starts because we all know school is a freaking time sucker. Boo. So my goal is to be decently past halfway by the time school starts. Looks like I'm on track!

I've owned a copy of this one for over a year now. When I was taking a Literature class at my old University, we had a book review assignment in which we basically recommended one of our favorite books to the class. One of my classmates quite passionately recommended this one. I'd heard about it before of course, but the way he described the book was very intriguing. So last summer I got it on sale and intended to read it eventually.

It was excellent. My only regret is that I hadn't experienced the brilliance sooner! There were so many deep societal and personal themes interlaced beautifully. It was about the pursuit of happiness, legacy, tradition, simplicity, societal impact, passion, with a touch a love and friendship. And so much more. It was a quick read, but it was compelling to me in a way different from how most books are compelling to me.

I chose to make this book number 14 in memory of Ray Bradbury who recently passed away at 91 years old. Bravo, Mr. Bradbury. Great work! Glad I finally decided to pick it up and stick with it!

<Update: Today I read all the extras (the Afterword, Coda, and "Conversation with Ray Bradbury" that came with the 50th anniversary edition). Let me just add that I think I love this book even more after these extras brought to my attention all the sickening similarities between Bradbury's prediction of the future and our current society. Powerful stuff. It's more than just about books. Makes you think...>