So far on some of my '09 goals, I'm right on track but on others I'm way off. First, I'll concentrate on where I'm going right and then I'll discover where to improve next. I'm planning on reading 25 books overall and so far I've read and reviewed six books. I feel this is going great! I also have a few extra books that I read in February, since that was a huge reading month for me, that I'll be counting in as I review them on 5-squared.
My next goal that I'm on task for is writing poetry. I'm planning on 10 poems and I've written three so I'm staying strong with that. I feel it will come and I'm making sure to write down the bits and pieces of inspiration that come which I can later create into a poem.
Here's my discovery part of my goals given the fact I need a lot of improvement in my next few goals of '09. I'm behind on two of my stories to my sister which I'm going to remedy in the next three days and send them to her. I haven't been working on conversational Spanish like I had hoped with my children so I may give that up for now. I have walked some but not every day like I should be. Although, I have read my scriptures here and there, I'm behind on the actual lessons for Sunday School but I'm not ready to give up here. I do have excuses, perhaps even valid ones, for my lacking to do what I intended but who doesn't? I'm ready to do better and I will eventually.
Lastly, I'm going to put a lot of things on hold and concentrate on Tristi's Writing Challenge in April. I plan to wildly write as much as I can. I plan to write a series of short stories. I plan to write a first draft down that I'm aiming to be a novel. Of course, I'll still add to my poetry & three more poems would be great too. I'm not getting any younger and I do have writing that I dream of doing but I'd like to make that more of a reality now. This will be my first writing challenge ever! I'm looking forward to it and I know this excitement will carry me thru to the end of April.....and beyond!
I'll keep updates on this challenge here.
Update on my '09 goals and a writing challenge
Tile Coasters
Originally, I had wanted to make tile coasters for gifts for some of my friends at Christmas time but I decided on a few other projects instead like the tote bags, journals, calendars etc... Anyway, I wanted to let you see the tile coasters I made. They were so much fun and I love the way they turned out! Perhaps, at another time I'll make some up as presents. For now, I'm just enjoying using them at my house.
What's your #1 song?
I thought this was fun! See for yourself about your song if you'd like.
Do you know the #1 song the day you were born?
Go to http://www.joshhosler.biz/ and look up the number one song for your birth date.
My #1 song is: "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" by Roberta Flack
David Cook (Self-Titled) CD Review
Alright, I'll admit I'm a bit of an American Idol TV fan. I've enjoyed watching the seasons of the show and seeing what actually happens to the contestants after winning or losing. So far, two seasons have impressed me the most and that was the first season, because it was new, and this last season 7, because I came to love David Cook!
I'm happy that he won Season 7 and he was so graceful about it too. I've been awaiting his CD debut and it happened in Nov. last year!
I've read reviews and many were not very nice at all about his CD, so I was worried about this. I still purchased his self-titled CD, though. I waited a bit and eventually found one for about $11.00.
During the first couple of times I played it, I wasn't sure how I liked it and a lot of the songs sounded so similar. I was thinking that DC would have all completely different songs as he tried to showcase on A.I. I know he worked very hard and did his very best with what they envisioned for his debut CD and the genre they tried to go for, being rock, I think. Now, I realize the music business must be really HARD! Excruciating and unforgiving, even.
Now, that I've listened to the CD a lot more the songs are magically growing on me! I'm coming to hear what the true D.C. is trying to convey and I'm enjoying rediscovering D.C. all over again. I think he has such potential and I look forward to what he'll be able to achieve. I'm so hopeful for D.C.! I'm still a fan!
So, please listen to his songs more than twice and give him the chance to make another very unique album that I know he is capable of.
My favorite songs on his current CD are: Light On, Life on the Moon (I made a Flair on Facebook in honor of this song), Time of My Life (from A.I., of course) and Come Back to Me!
See what you think, here.
Library - Under my Bed?!
Recently, I was talking with my mother about books, which we often do, and I was mentioning that I really missed having bookshelves in my house. I hadn't been able to get any and I want ones that are skinnier so that they blend into the wall so as not to take up much room. I guess I'd really like them built in. I know I'm probably being too picky, I'm sure, but I like an open, clean look around my house - although you'd never guess that if you saw my house right now but anyway... She gave me a great idea!
My mom has dubbed herself the "Paperback Queen" and she has a lot of paperbacks! Anyway, she has used ordinary boxes and cut them to size to fit under her bed. She has filled them with books and she reads all of them eventually! She told me once that she has read as many as 25 books in a month!
This is really incredible for her as she became overlooked in school and she didn't really learn to read until she was in the 5th grade! She said school was so challenging for her until she learned to read! Reading was something magical and incredible to her and she conveyed that to us as children, I believe. I remember when I was young, she always stressed reading and she made sure that I knew how to read. She took us to the library often. Reading and gaining education, even a self-education, was so important to her even though she doesn't have a college degree. I think she helped me realize this and I am so thankful to her for that.
She buys all of her books on sale or at thrift stores like I do as well. It's become sort of a hobby - collecting books and we share what we read often. When I go visit her, I take some of my books for her to borrow and she gives me some too. It's been fun to do this!
So, now I've been cutting up boxes and organizing all my books. I've enjoyed this little task and so now I have a library under my bed. Perhaps, I'll sleep better now. Anything you'd like to check out? You're welcome to it!
Just for fun, here's a funny little blog post out of UK that is sort of about Heathcliff, one of the classic characters from Wuthering Heights that I'll never forget:
Look!
Clean Reads
If you're looking for good, clean reading check these sites out:
http://cleanreads.blogspot.
http://goodcleanreads.
I know you might find these sites interesting at least. Have fun!
Don't forget that I post all of my book reviews on 5-squared!
Reading Challenges
I was inspired by all the reading challenges that my friend, Amanda, is doing. I haven't been involved in this before either. So, I searched the web to find some that would fit best with me. I found them, amazingly enough, and I posted them in my side bar as links.
I've decided to join "My Friend Amy's Buy one book and read it!" challenge for 2009! I do love to buy books once in a while because I can't help browsing through the book racks anywhere I go. While I was shopping for some Christmas books to give, I bought Mozart by Peter Gay for myself as a Christmas gift. I've always wanted to learn a bit about Mozart's life so I thought this looked good. I'd like to do that one for the challenge.
I was also interested in the LOST book reading challenge also hosted on Amy's site but it is well-underway, so I'll have to try that another time. Besides, the new LOST season will be starting soon, right?
Another challenge that I joined is called "Read your Name Challenge: 2009" hosted by Victoria (a.k.a. Phantom Inkheart)The basis of this challenge is to read your name in book title first letters an at the end you'll spell out your name. I'm planing on using my first name 'Julie.' Here's the ideas I have for books I'd like to read so far:
J: Jungle, The by Upton Sinclair
U:Uglies by Scott Westerfeld
L: Love Walked In by Marisa de los Santos
I: Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer
E:e by Matt Beaumont
If all goes well with my reading than I should reach my goal this year for 25 books with possibly reaching as many as 3o. I'm going to aim for 25 first! Be sure to read all my reviews on 5-squared. Most of all, I'm going to have fun reading!
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