Another Post? My Pledge to do Better.

Good Morning!!  The sun is shining and the snow is melting.   Makes for a beautiful day!   I've been so out-of-the-loop for so long now, I'm not even sure I can make it back.  But I figured, "What the hell.  Gotta Try, right?"   So....here I am with the 1st post of 2012. 


Lately I've been trying to decide what to do with this blog.   Since I haven't regularly posted in over a year, I have been contemplating just shutting it down.   But that seems so sad.  I started this blog oh, so many years ago and it would be too hard to shut it off completely.   Do I just post once every blue moon?   I don't like that idea either.   In a perfect world, I would get my baby back up and running just like the "old" days.   However, I'm not sure that is reasonable.  My life went from busy to just plain out-of-control when I started back to school.    I very rarely have any time for just me.   Unfortunately, me-time IS blogging time.   When I'm not at school, I'm doing homework.  Or helping a kid with homework.   Or trying to keep my house from being marked for demolition.   Or playing chauffeur.    Or grocery shopping.   Or working.   And this list goes on......


But if I am honest, I MISS my blog.   I miss interacting with all of you...if there is anyone out there that actually checks this blog anymore.  I miss talking about books.   I miss reading other blogs.   I miss signing up for reading challenges I never even come close to finishing.   I miss finding out about new books from people that I trust and respect.   I miss....THIS. 


So, I hereby pledge to do a better job at managing my time.   With that pledge, I also plan on keeping this blog going.   Even without posting more than a handful of posts last year, I STILL get bombarded with review requests.   I will probably take it easy on the ARC's for a bit.   I just need to read more for pleasure.   This will be hard, but I really plan on doing it.  I get cranky when I don't get a chance to read!  


With a wonderful Christmas and birthday already behind me, I have some new toys to play around with.   Thanks to a wonderful family (and this includes my in-laws), I now have a great new laptop to take with me to school....and let me stay connected almost anywhere!  AND I also got a Nook!  I swore up and down I would never have one.  But the girls picked it out for my birthday, and the family got it for me.   So, I HAD to give it a try.  Truth be told, I really like it.  The amazing B&N gift card from my brother came in handy and I have already downloaded some great  books to my library.   Since it's a Nook Color, I'm able to connect to the Net and maybe keep up better that way too.   Hopefully. 


I'm hopeful I will do better this year.  I don't make resolutions on New Year's cause I never follow thru with them.   But this pledge is different.   It's something I need to do to keep my sanity, so follow thru is a must for me.   I'm even looking into self-hosting...finally.   A blog redesign is definitely in the works, though I may not get to it till summer break.  This semester is already going to be tough enough.   One week of classes down, and I am already struggling.   Had to have a Lab Science class, so I'm taking Chemistry. Yuk.   Exceptional Learners (Intro to Special Ed).  Modern Humanities.  Modern Western Civ (for my History Minor) and Masterpieces of Classic Lit.    The Lit class is an honors class and is going to be tough.  Had a writing assignment on the first day (though I did get an A) and the reading list is HUGE and TOUGH.   Starting with Homer's Odyssey.    And I'm trying to get in about 5 shifts a week, so my time is going to be limited.  BUT I WILL DO IT THIS TIME.   

Looking forward to hearing from you, if anyone is still out there!!   I gotta go now.  The books are calling.   Textbooks, that is!!    I'm leaving you with a quick pic of me and my Nook!!   Later all!