The Tenth Day of Christmas

Thanks to all of you for the kind Christmas and New Year's wishes, and the nice comments, particularly about my scarf-a-thon.  I have been remiss about responding to comments, and I apologize.  Just one of the things I want to get back to doing on a more regular basis.  Oh - and if you didn't get a Christmas card from me, sorry about that, I just didn't get to that this year.  However, I found some highly amusing (well at least to me) cards for next year, as long as I don't forget where they are when the time comes to send them ...

Anyway.  I am not one much for making formal New Year's Resolutions.  This is partly because when I call something a "resolution," I seem to think it is carved in stone and can't be readjusted. Which then of course means that if I miss out on it, or deviate even one bit, I consider the whole thing ruined.  But I do like to think  of things I can try to concentrate on each year, if nothing else for the whole idea of self-improvement.  I think everyone has some part of them that needs at least some work.  So instead I think of goals for myself.  "Goals" are not - for me at least - final.  They are things that can be reinterpreted, revisited, and if necessary, abandoned, without the feeling or moral failure associated with a New Year's Resolution.

All of that is my long and roundabout way of sharing one of my goals for the year with you.  As you probably know, I love to read.  I'll read just about anything, but like most people, I like it a lot better when I'm the one to decide what I will/will not be reading.  According to Goodreads, last year I read 31 books.  Which is not bad, considering that for one reason or another, I had a few dry spells, when even reading a take-out menu seemed like a chore.  I always like to challenge myself with my reading endeavors, and a few years back, I joined a couple of online challenges, which were fun and introduced me to some new writers.  Last year I tried one, which I didn't complete, mainly because the remaining books on my list before the end of the year no longer seemed appealing.

Browsing around the other day, I came across this, and decided that it might be just the thing for me.

I like the idea of trying to read eleven more books than last year, and think that 42 books in a year is possible.  The thing that particularly appeals to me is that there are no specifics, you just decide for yourself.  My reading tends to go in spells - you know, sometimes I'm all about historical fiction, other times I like some of my old favorite authors, and I've even been known to venture into things like science fiction from time to time. 

Feel like joining me?  I think you should.  I'm pretty sure that all of the cool kids are doing it ...