First past the post...
Crumbs, I've already fallen behind on my posting resolution. But I am still back, which I think suggests a strength of character in the face of personal failure that is sadly lacking in the modern world. Or something like that. Onward and upward, or at least forward along the linear path of time.
I thought of something I might have added to my list of resolutions - keep track of what I've read. I don't know that I'll ever get to 50 books a year, but I do read quite a bit and sometimes lose track of what I read when. So far this year, I've read:
The Children's Book by A.S. Byatt
I love A.S. Byatt. I read Possession eight years ago, loved it, and wrote down hundreds of words that I didn't understand to look up later. This time through I didn't look up anything, but loved the story, the sharp observation of characters, and the richness of the historical detail. A wonderful book, really. I also learned lots about the Victorians and Edwardians, and when I went to the National Portrait Gallery on Saturday, more of the portraits than ever actually meant something to me - Edwin Chadwick, William Morris, Edward Carpenter, and I knew better the difference between the Pankhursts (which makes me, frankly, a better feminist than I used to be).
The Ghost Map by Stephen Johnson
The story of the cholera outbreak in Soho in 1854, how it helped to prove the theory that cholera transmission is waterborne, and how urban networks both increase and help defeat the patterns and proliferation of disease. Cholera, which I never knew much about outside of some of your wagon party in Oregon Trail would die of it, is a horrible disease. Really. Horrible.
Now I’m reading Nemesis by Agatha Christie. That shouldn’t last me too long, but I love a classic cosy mystery.
Other things I’m loving - Episodes, Glee, new Being Human, Chongga kimchee, Nishiki rice, Laura Solon’s China Lion sketches, Eastenders, the prospect of later evenings, and Hayao Miyazaki. And fun weekends, like lat weekend - National Portrait Gallery, my introduction to Wong Kei as well as stewed eel and pork belly, lovely beers at De Hems. Then lovely film Sunday and KFC. KFC!
As a check-up:
1. Be less of an idiot. Well, I'll be honest, I'm still an idiot. But I have scheduled a doctor's appointment, a dentist's appointment, and sorted out my tax code since we last spoke. Not too shabby at grown-up normalcy, as opposed to childish idiocy. Oh, and I got my PhD application in on time! Fingers crossed, please.
2. Drink more champagne. Well, I haven't had any champagne yet this year. Must try harder.
3. Learn about budgeting. Again, I haven't actually sat down to budget anything yet, but I do have a bit "extra" left over from my December paycheck, which is really pretty good, don't you think?
4. Save money and keep it saved. Success here. It goes into the ISA. I shan't touch it, come hell or highwater.
5. Post more. This post will bring me up to three this year, which is 30% of last year's posts. Success, even if it's a small one.
I thought of something I might have added to my list of resolutions - keep track of what I've read. I don't know that I'll ever get to 50 books a year, but I do read quite a bit and sometimes lose track of what I read when. So far this year, I've read:
The Children's Book by A.S. Byatt
I love A.S. Byatt. I read Possession eight years ago, loved it, and wrote down hundreds of words that I didn't understand to look up later. This time through I didn't look up anything, but loved the story, the sharp observation of characters, and the richness of the historical detail. A wonderful book, really. I also learned lots about the Victorians and Edwardians, and when I went to the National Portrait Gallery on Saturday, more of the portraits than ever actually meant something to me - Edwin Chadwick, William Morris, Edward Carpenter, and I knew better the difference between the Pankhursts (which makes me, frankly, a better feminist than I used to be).
The Ghost Map by Stephen Johnson
The story of the cholera outbreak in Soho in 1854, how it helped to prove the theory that cholera transmission is waterborne, and how urban networks both increase and help defeat the patterns and proliferation of disease. Cholera, which I never knew much about outside of some of your wagon party in Oregon Trail would die of it, is a horrible disease. Really. Horrible.
Now I’m reading Nemesis by Agatha Christie. That shouldn’t last me too long, but I love a classic cosy mystery.
Other things I’m loving - Episodes, Glee, new Being Human, Chongga kimchee, Nishiki rice, Laura Solon’s China Lion sketches, Eastenders, the prospect of later evenings, and Hayao Miyazaki. And fun weekends, like lat weekend - National Portrait Gallery, my introduction to Wong Kei as well as stewed eel and pork belly, lovely beers at De Hems. Then lovely film Sunday and KFC. KFC!
As a check-up:
1. Be less of an idiot. Well, I'll be honest, I'm still an idiot. But I have scheduled a doctor's appointment, a dentist's appointment, and sorted out my tax code since we last spoke. Not too shabby at grown-up normalcy, as opposed to childish idiocy. Oh, and I got my PhD application in on time! Fingers crossed, please.
2. Drink more champagne. Well, I haven't had any champagne yet this year. Must try harder.
3. Learn about budgeting. Again, I haven't actually sat down to budget anything yet, but I do have a bit "extra" left over from my December paycheck, which is really pretty good, don't you think?
4. Save money and keep it saved. Success here. It goes into the ISA. I shan't touch it, come hell or highwater.
5. Post more. This post will bring me up to three this year, which is 30% of last year's posts. Success, even if it's a small one.