Wednesday, January 1, 2014

New beginnings....

January 1, 2014

Do you know Janus, the god of two faces? Each face looks the opposite direction: one to the future and the other to the past. That old saying: How can you improve the future if you don't know where you've been? About.com provides this information:

"Janus is an ancient Roman, composite, obscure god who is associated with doorways, beginnings, and transitions. A usually two-faced god he looks to the future and the past. The concepts of January and janitor are both based on aspects of Janus."

So, the janitor cleans out the old before tackling the new. What do I need to clean out? JUNK! Everywhere I have junk! During this two-week break between semesters, I have been cleaning out, a process that will require much more time than two weeks. At least, I've begun!

What will I expect as I enter into the new year? That's always a mystery, isn't it? I have French classes to teach. I have sewing to do. I have cats that depend on me. I have financial obligations (the reason I came out of retirement to teach). Too much to think about. Last night I heard resolutions: most were concerned about not stressing or worrying about health (and diet). The best way not to stress is to be prepared in areas which allow you to do something.

So much for new thoughts and a possible hint of resolutions from me... I wish for you a prosperous New Year. Make something of those beginnings. Pick your doorway. Consider your options and which transitions will work for you. It's all good.

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A favorite souvenir

A favorite souvenir
These are my two girls from Ireland!

Judy's shared items

Books on my very ambitious TBR list (*denotes read)

  • *Reading Magic: Why Reading Aloud to our Children Will Change Their Lives Forever by Mem Fox
  • The Odd Women by George Gissing
  • The Zen of Fish by Trevor Corson
  • How to Get Your Child to Love Reading by Esme Raji Codell
  • The Cod Tale by Mark Kurlansky
  • In This House of Brede by Rumer Godden
  • *Joan of Arc by Mark Twain
  • Dag Hammarskjold by Elizabeth Rider Montgomery
  • The Wisdom in the Hebrew Alphabet by Rabbi Michael L. Munk
  • Children of Strangers by Lyle Saxon
  • Spiritual Writings by Flannery O'Connor
  • Nightmares and Visions: Flannery O'Connor and the Catholic Grotesque by Gilbert H. Muller
  • The Violent Bear It Away by Flannery O'Connor
  • Flannery O'Connor's South by Robert Coles
  • Wise Blood by Flannery O'Connor
  • Sylvanus Now by Donna Morrissey
  • *Vincent de Paul by Margaret Ann Hubbard
  • Reading Lolita in Tehran by Azar Nafisi
  • A Briefer History of Time by Stephen Hawking
  • The Library at Night by Alberto Manguel
  • Readicide by Kelly Gallagher
  • *Ruined by Paula Morris
  • Say You're Not One of Them by Uwem Akpan
  • Wandering Star by J.M.G. Le Clezio
  • Silence by Shusaku Endo
  • *The Assault by Harry Mulisch
  • Kari's Saga by Robert Jansson
  • *The German Mujahid by Boualem Sansal
  • Western Skies by Joseph Conrad
  • *The Giver by Lois Lowery
  • *Imperium by Ryszard Kapuscinski

School Library Journal - NeverEndingSearch

Imperium

Imperium
A semester course in one book about the Soviet Union. Click on image for my review.