Good work Cano! Jeter scores! #Yankees

Made it to Yankee Stadium!

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This is living life!

Who said you can't buy happiness? Or eat dessert first?1

Quote from my readings. . .

The life of prayer and communion with Jesus must be at the center. One's whole ministry arose from it.

—	Chapter 18: “Zingst and Finkenwalde,” Preaching the Word from Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy by Eric Metaxas (Thomas Nelson, April 2010, ebook)

Quote from my readings. . .

"The teaching and the living must be two parts of the same thing.”

—	Chapter 18: “Zingst and Finkenwalde,” Preaching the Word from Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy by Eric Metaxas (Thomas Nelson, April 2010, ebook)

Working on Winter Flame. . .

 ...so I ran into my friend Sujin this weekend, and realized I've become a true knitter -- I have several WIPs going at any given time.  Right now, that means another coffee cozy for my BFF, my first set of mittens, a baby blanket that includes the skyline of Chicago, and two scarves for myself. I've set aside the Peaks & Valleys scarf, as it takes more patience and the color isn't exciting me right now.  So that means I've been focusing on Winter Flame, which I'm making with Knit Picks' Comfy Worsted Fairy Tale yarn.  The color is one that I keep buying -- I also own similar colors in Vanna's Choice, LB Collection Angora Merino, and Knit Picks Wool of the Andes.  I stopped myself from buying some more in the S&B Nation yarn, but there is something about these wine colors that keep calling to me.  Go figure -- I'm sure it will be something else soon enough! In the meantime, here's my progress on the Winter Flame scarf. Argh, it really does need a lifeline after my next repeat so I don't have to repeat too much at some point when I start to get tired and make mistakes (I can acknowledge that I tend to knit past my exhaustion point!)

Not that I don't need to lose weight BUT...

...I will try to remember there's more to me than my measurements!

Just Be You. . .

...which is easier said than done. And also easier to do as I age :-)

Inpiration for a New Year

Words of wisdom for the next year. . .

Forgiveness -- So Difficult, yet so Cathartic

Friday Reads

This week I #amreading Bonhoeffer by Eric Metaxas for #DePaul Reads Together. #fridayreads #TGIF

My new WTTW bag...

I love this roomy bag - just stashed my yarn & needle with the pattern for making a Chicago illusion baby blanket! Plus I am showing my love for and support of WTTW, my favorite trio of PBS stations. Pretty cool all around.

Inspiration for 2012 Goals

Karen Salmansohn's bright, positive, proactive messages and the truly brilliant art that accompanies those often bring inspiration to my days.  This is particulary relevant to my goals for 2012.  You can get your own dose of inspiration from Karen on her blog or facebook page.

When you need a little magic. . .

I had a crazy week so today was the first time I was home when my building's office was open and able to grab my packages, which for a change I had several.  The one I was most excited about about was from my friend Sara, who makes fun and funky, and often whimsical, crafts, and I highly encourage you to check out her etsy shop.  Inspired by Alice's Adventures In Wonderland, I plan to wear it whenever I need a little magic in my life.  I'll post the other goodies I purchased from her as I wear/use them. I am truly blessed to have such wonderfully talented and creative friends to keep me inspired!

2012 Goals

This year, I waited to post my goals.  This is in part due to wanting them to stick.  So here we go...

For reading, I am taking part in three reading challenges:

• Mount TBR Reading Challenge 2012 (goal: 25 books)
• 2012 Ebook Challenge (goal: 25 books/CD level)
• Goodreads 2012 Reading Challenge (goal: 100 books)

As per the usual for sanity, the first two challenges overlap with the final challenge. 

I also want to expand my knitting and crochet skills.

Mount TBR Reading Challenge 2012

I have decided to take part in the Mount TBR Reading Challenge 2012. I am shooting for Mt Vancouver (25 books) with the extra personal hurdle that the books have to have been added to my TBR before 2011.  I'll keep my running list here throughout the year.

1. Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates
2. Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel
3. Claude & Camille by Stephanie Cowell
4. City of the Century by Donald L. Miller
5. The Radical & the Republican by James Oakes
6. Best American Short Stories 1998 ed by Garrison Keillor
7. After Race: Racism after Multiculturalism by Antonia Darder & Rodolfo D. Torres
8. The Best American Short Stories of the Century edited by John Updike
9. Nothing But You: Love Stories from the New Yorker  published by The New Yorker
10. Grimm's Complete Fairy Tales by The Brothers Grimm
11. The Shipping News by Annie Proulx
12. The Department of Lost & Found by Allison Winn Scotch
13. Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
14. The Jungle by Upton Sinclair
15. Dune by Frank Herbert
16. Critical Race Theory by Richard Delgado & Jean Stefacnic
17. The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell
18. Blink by Malcolm Gladwell
19. Chain of Command by Seymour Hersch
20. Who Will Write Our History? by Samuel D. Kassow
21. The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon
22. The Angel's Game by Carols Ruiz Zafon
23. Never Eat Alone by Keith Ferrazzi
24. Who's Got Your Back by Keith Ferrazzi 
25. Infidel by Ayaan Kirsi Ali

2012 Ebook Challenge Sign-up

Thanks to Adam at Roof Beam Reader I have decided to participate in the 2012 Ebook Challenge, hosted by Sarah at Workaday Reads. This post suffices as the direct URL to link to and I'll update my list as soon the fall quarter projects are complete.  I'll add my monthly wrap-up links to this post as we move forward. I'm aiming for DVD status (25 ebooks).

Care to join me?

Shelf Awareness for Readers

The publication booksellers turn to for news on the book industry is now publishing a version for book lovers! Shelf Awareness: Enlightenment for Readers is a FREE emailed newsletter with reviews on the 25 best books publishing each week along with author interviews, book excerpts, giveaways and more. Right now they’re running a contest for new subscribers. Check out the widget on this website to sign up for the new publication and to be entered for a chance to win a great book!

Goal #3: Reading More Broadly

I am a bit behind on updating my latest reads toward my two book challenges: Where Are You Reading? and Support Your Local Library.  Whew -- just added six more books:

HBR on Return, Reenergize & Reinvent

I'm writing this blog post in January, to post in March, just as my students leave for Spring Break.  Why? Because about that time we'll be closing in on then of Q1 for 2011, so I'll need reevaluate my progress on my 2011 goals and also determine if how to keep myself going until the end of the semester (for my students) and through the next quarter of my own classes.  So thanks Harvard Business Review blogs, for giving me inspiration throughout the year, even when I actually plan two months in advance to tap into it :-)