Happy Birthday to ME!

Well, I turned 38 today. I can hardly believe it. I sometimes still feel like I am waiting to graduate from high school. Perhaps it is just that I have been in and out of school for so long. It was not very exciting since I had to go to class from 6:30-9:00 and besides my car battery died and so I am buss-passing my way around town. Not that I had anything exciting planned. My birthday usually slips by quietly.

I found a blog that encourages readers to read a book a month based on a given theme and for January that theme was time. What I love about the blog challenge is that while it sets a theme it encourages readers to do book reviews from all genres. It's really a fun and interesting way of doing a sort of book club. Check out the blog here. I didn't get a chance to read a new book but I want to recommend a book I have read previously, "A Wrinkle in Time" by Madeleine L'Engle. I know many have read it as children, but it is a book worth reading again and again. Famous for its cliche opening line, "It was a dark and stormy night," this book has all the magic and adventure that makes me feel that anything is possible. I definitely recommend that everyone read it at least once.

Disney did make a movie version of it that I thought was excellent but it is one that is better appreciated after reading the book rather than instead of reading the book.

Well, I have started my new semester and am eager to see where this semester will take me but it is to soon for any profound revelations at this point so until next time...

Happy New Year

I cannot believe how quickly time is slipping by. I have so much to do and each little task seems to take more time than I expected. Maybe I am still in Christmas break mode. I enjoyed a very relaxing fun time with my brother Valden and his family over Christmas. It was really nice to spend some time with them. I am now trying to take some time and prepare for my final semester and graduation and the eventual move to someplace new (again). I am looking forward to finding somewhere that I can finally call home for a while. I really want to settle in to a job, a community and hopefully a home soon. I have filled out some applications but have a million more that I need to do and I need to make sure I work on my eportfolio so that I will be approved for graduation and all that. Anyway, I want to pick some new year's resolutions for myself so that I have something to shoot for this year. Feel free to send me some of yours, I could always use some good ideas.

1) Go for walks.

I could use the exercise but more importantly I need to just get out of the house and away from the computer. School has me sitting there for such long hours and I really just need to get out more.

2) De-junk my house.

Every time I move I find boxes of stuff I should have gotten rid of before I moved. My goal is to be prepared when the time comes to fill my home with better things, and make moving as stress free as possible.

3) Eat healthier.

Seems cliché but it is something that I really want to do. Perhaps I should be more specific in the hows and whys. I may come back and edit it later.

4) Dance more.

Not in public mind you, but I miss how I used to dance around the house. It always helped me work off stress and feel better. There is something very beneficial about dancing like no one's watching, especially when you know no one is.

5) Pick a hobby I like and really develop my skill.

I have so many things I like to do that I tend to spend a little time on each and never really get past the starting stage of anything, because I am on to the next. There are a few though that I really enjoy that I want to give more time to this year. First is crochet. I am finally moving past the basic stitches and am learning some new and exciting ones, now to actually make something with them. Second would be origami. I love being able to take a piece of paper and make something amazing and fun with it. It also helps develop my concentration and patience which everyone could use more of. Last one is creating pop-ups. I love working with paper obviously but creating pop-up cards and such really require some thought. You have to be able to visualize the final product before making the first cut. This is another fun way I am learning to train my brain to focus and concentrate and also to be creative and adventurous. It may sound silly, but for me it really is satisfying when it all comes together.

I have other new year's resolutions but these are the ones I have to share for now. I wish you all the very best of 2008 and hope that you find success and satisfaction in your resolutions too.