Happy New Year!!?

Here it is, the end of the year... and I feel as though I ought to post something... If you click on the title above, you can hear Weekend America's "Trailer" for the new year -- that's something! I thought it was very creative.

I'm babysitting tonight. It seems like my life has come full circle: I used to babysit every New Year's Eve for years and years from the time I was about 12 or 13 or so until I was in my early 20's. But it isn't a bad thing -- I have always enjoyed the company of children and babies!! And a number of parents seem to like having me take care of their kids on occasion. So that works.

Let's see, what else... I'm reading an interesting book about the Silicon Valley and another about blogging, and I'm still working on getting those last few Christmas cards and gifts out. Lots of things planned didn't get done on this break, but I'm hoping that January won't be so crazy that I can't accomplish some of that in the coming weeks.

That's about all that's on my mind today. I'm not at the point of making "New Year's Resolutions" -- actually I've been reading about why not to do that! Here's a link -- let me know if it works!

Blessings to all in the New Year! And please drive carefully tonight, if you're out!

Random thoughts and news

The Christmas break is zooming by... I wish it would last a few more weeks!! On the other hand, work has been more sparse than I expected, so I guess it is about the right length. :-)

I need to start back with my Pilates routines... I picked up a new book Tuesday, Pilates for Every Body by Denise Austin, that has several routines in it which I can vary according to my mood. It boasts "...[A] Complete 3-Week Body Makeover". I'm ready!! My body's ready!!!

John, Brenda, Meredith, Daniel, Caleb, and Timothy were here yesterday, first time they have visited in quite awhile. We had a good time, though too short. They left during a thunderstorm. (A thunderstorm in January?!) I totally forgot to take any photos -- oops! Hopefully there will be another opportunity before too long.

Veggie Revolution update: There was a great article in the Observer about the book on Sunday. (Click here to read it.) Also, Sally and Sarah Kate have a bunch of signings lined up, the first of which was last night, at Joseph-Beth Booksellers. (I wonder how it went?) The complete list can also be found at the link above.

I've got to get my Christmas cards done... but at least this year I made a big dent in the list before Christmas. I got a response already from one -- Father John called Tuesday night! It was such a kick to talk with him after all these years! He is doing fine, and he said he would love to have visitors. (I'm beginning to think I ought to drive out to CA this summer, instead of flying...)

A random thought from yesterday: I wish movie-rental stores would categorize and display their movies using the same categories as bookstores. In particular, I wish they'd put biographies in their own category. (I was thinking about a movie about T.S. Eliot that I would like to see, but I don't remember the name of it...it would be easy to find if they just had the biographies together!! Come to think of it, the library probably has it...for free!)

Anybody else have random thoughts, news, etc., they'd like to share?

Advent --> Christmas transition

Well, it finally happened -- I started to get in the Christmas decorating mood! There is now a diminutive Christmas tree, complete with lights and two ornaments, in front of the fireplace!

I've been wanting to post but have not had a lot of extra time. Lots going on here: mostly a fairly full work schedule and today's Math Club Christmas party. This week work will be MUCH lighter, but Emily will be coming home very soon and John and Brenda et al. will be stopping by mid-week for a visit en route to visiting with Brenda's folks in Georgia so it's just as well if I'm not too tied up with students. I hope I can get this place in some sort of shape before then!!

Franciscans in the news

Tuning in to NPR's Weekend Edition this morning, I caught the tail end of a story about the Franciscans of Assisi. So when I got home, I checked in on the computer to find out what the scoop was. You can click on the link in the title above to get the Washington Post version of the story, which was just one I found. (There wasn't anything about it in today's Observer; no surprise there.) In my search I also checked out the National Catholic Reporter online. It was the first time I had gone to this site, and I was pleasantly surprised at what they had to offer, although I didn't find reference to the Franciscan story I was looking for. Joan Chittester writes a regular column, I gather, and there were other well-known writers and apparently balanced reporting. I'll be inter4ested in what they have to say on this Franciscan issue. Maybe there's already something there and I just missed it...