Friday, December 31

New Year's Resolutions 2011

This year, I hope to:

1. Pass Comps so that I can...
2. Graduate with a MLIS in May.
3. Read at least 50 books this year.
4. Travel somewhere super fun.
5. Decrease my debt.
6. Be healthier overall.

Google Instant Search & Hank Green

Is Hank Green awesome?



Yep!

Wednesday, December 29

Resolutions 2010: A Review

End of the year. How did I fare?

1) Read a Tolstory. Preferably Anna Karenina. Preferably cover to cover.
I really tried to do this. I tried on two separate occasions with two different translations and still could not make it a quarter of the way through. The second time I at least made it past 100 pages, but I could not get into it. Usually, if I'm not into the book within the first 100 pages, I let myself give up. Therefore, I gave up.

2) Be more aware of my budgetary constraints.
I did better on this. Made a move to better pay my way in the world and incur the least amount of debt possible. I was amassing a nice fall-back cushion when car woes made me poor in November.

3) Read at least 50 books in the year. I probably read close to that this year (if not more), but I didn't keep track. Therefore:
4) Keep track of the books I read during the year.

Did it! 66 total chapter books! And I kept track, too. Go, me!

5) Being more organized in all aspects of life, not just work and/or school.
Hmm. Not so sure I did as well with this one. Not sure what I meant to accomplish with this goal, either.

6) See more than one live musical performance by a favorite musician. This one will be the most tricky, I'm afraid.
Success!! It took until the end of September, but I saw Jason Mraz when he came to Searcy, AR this year. I wanted to see Dave Barnes and had a close opportunity to do so, but I didn't want to go by myself. Guess I'll just have to take some concert leaps and see some live music solo.

I consider meeting most all my resolutions a success! #1 was an obvious fail and I'm not really sure what #5 was all about, but #2-4 and #6 worked out okay. Might have to make resolutions for 2011.

2010: A Review

This year has been the Year of the Paper-Writing. I feel like that is all I have done this year. Other not-so-flashy highlights and things I learned:

* I must have traveled to Tulsa 20-some-odd times for class this year. The drive is loooong.

* I read 66 books this year, not counting the at least four or so I read five times a week during story time. The last book I read this year, I read it within four hours. Completely blew through it in one sitting. It. Was. Awesome. And. Insane.

* I completed 15 hours of grad school. Another six to take in the spring semester and Comps to pass in order to graduate in May 2011.

* I got a new position within the organization where I already worked. I love it.

* People let you down. I suppose it is human nature to fail other people, but it doesn't make it suck any less.

* Finding a craft to fit a story time theme sounds easy in theory, but it really isn't. Especially when you have to prepare for one hundred kids, which is about half of what I see on a weekly basis.

* I really love Converses and pajamas. If I could spend all day in Converses and pajamas, it would be a very wonderful day indeed.

* Finding teen crafts and activities is even harder.

* I'm starting to see a light at the end of my grad school tunnel. I hope it isn't a train (i.e., failing Comps and being pushed back until December).

* I want to go to Boston for a visit.

* My car has cost me a lot of money this year: four new tires and a new windshield only scratches the surface.

* Glee has lost some of its original luster.

* I want a more luxurious vehicle. Being as that I drive a lot for work, I don't think that is an unreasonable desire.

* Many kids I went to school with got married or engaged within the last year. Makes me feel really stupid... or really smart. The feeling changes depending on the day.

* Apple computers are AWESOME! Apple repair service is pretty great, too.

* Kindles are super fun. :)

* I like Ben Affleck as an actor. And a director. And who knew how versatile and awesome Matt Damon would become when we first saw him way back when? Not me!

* I wish I was better at _________. Fill in the blank.

* My niece is wondermas. And I don't like the way niece is spelled.

* I still really want to write a book, but I don't know what to write. I have characters, dialogue, and some scenes, but nothing to warrant a full book.

* I wish that I had seen more movies this year. In the theater or otherwise. I've watched a fair bit of television, but I truly feel that all I have done is write papers or do homework. And I'm sick of it. If I don't get to graduate this semester, I think I will go on a bender. I'm not sure what a bender would entail for me, but I think that is what will happen, unfortunately.

2010 was just another year. Nothing superbly fantastic occurred. I managed to post at least once a month, except for November, which is more months than I've done in the last three years. So, yay me!