January

I'm trying a new thing.

I'm a little late to start, but if I wait to start until the end of February I'll forget again! For those who have been following for awhile, in 2017 I tracked all of the books I read and then blogged about them every month. I didn't do that in 2018 for a variety of reasons, and I'm not going to start again! (sorry if that's a letdown). But here's the deal: I do a lot more than read. I still track what books I read every month, but I also spend time with family, do puzzles, listen to podcasts, meal prep, and take my dog to the park. And work (I have a real grown-up job now). But I miss writing, and I like having a record of things I've done (it helps mark progress when I think I haven't gone anywhere), and sometimes people ask what I'm reading. So, each month I'll tell you a few things: Something I read, Something I watched/listened to, Something I cooked, Something I did (at home), Something I did (at work), and Something I want to do next month. We'll see how it goes!

For January:

Something I read: The Library Book (finally)! Hailed by Booklist as "a riveting mix of true crime, history, biography, and immersion journalism," Susan Orlean's book tells the story of the 1986 Los Angeles Central Library fire, which ruined or damaged more than one million volumes. But it also tells the story of the Los Angeles Public Library, its librarians, its city, its resilience, and its future. I'd add "love letter to libraries" to its "riveting mix." Of course, I heartily recommend this book!

Something I watched/listened to: I'm not sure who hasn't tried at least one episode of Tidying Up with Marie Kondo on Netflix yet, but I definitely watched the whole series. And then I read The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, and now I think I need to Marie Kondo my house. 

Something I cooked: y'all, I made grits in my rice cooker and let me tell you.... LIFE. CHANGING.

Something I did (at home): I spent time with friends! I had friends stay with me over New Year's, I have college friends that live in San Antonio who I've been blessed to spend time with, and my good friend Jenna took a break from med school to visit me last weekend!

Something I did (at work): I got the attendance at one of my programs back up to its starting numbers! I have a homework/reading/outdoor club that meets once a week after school, and we regularly had 20 of our 25 registered kids coming for the first six weeks. After Thanksgiving those numbers dropped and our first week back in January we only had about 10 kids. So, I found all their registrations forms, practiced the very little Spanish that I know, and called all their parents -- we've had 18-21 kids for the last three weeks of the month! Even though it was time-consuming and a little embarrassing on my end to stumble through "la clase de biblioteca esta comenzando nueva esta semana," it had very obvious and positive results so I know it was worth it and am so glad I decided to just sit down and do it!

Something I want to do next month: I really want to read my own books this year, y'all. I know only reading my own books is impossible, but I had the idea to do a 1:1 plan. As in, read one book from the library, one I own, one library book, one bookshelf book. This way, I can still take home a cool new book once in awhile, still place a hold on something really popular, or read something I'm really in the mood for but don't own, while still making a dent in my home TBR pile. Here's the thing, though: I have no self-control when it comes to library holds, and I'm really bad at timing when they'll come in. For example, today at work I had two holds come in, and then this afternoon I got an email that an eBook I've been waiting on since before Christmas is now ready. And because those are time-sensitive I HAVE to read them NOW. And this is what always happens!! BUT. I have STOPPED placing holds (for now). So they should be slowing down (assuming I continue to have an iron will). My goal for February is to get all the books I currently have checked out from the public library (four? I think?) read and returned so I can start reading one of my own books! You (and I) would think that with 26 days this is more than possible... we shall see!