What do you love?

1. If you are my former student and you are reading this post, I love you, but stop reading now. That's creepy, quit stalking me! Anyone else: stalk at your own risk. The internet is a (seemingly) anonymous place. Shout out to: Husband, Mom, BFF! (My only faithful readers! Much love.)

So. I have not blogged since October, but for some reason, I have decided to write a new post. I decided that I don't need to know details of everyone's lives, nor does everyone need to know the details in mine. In fact, I feel that an online community is a pretty strange concept. For example, some people who are currently reading my blog do not talk to me- ever. Don't feel bad... I do the same thing! It's weird, isn't it? I made a recent realization about myself, and I am sure I am not the only one in this category. When I spend to much time outside of my own private thoughts I lose a connection with my own passion. My desires and goals are no longer shaped by my heart, but by what I see and hear from others. More on this concept in later blog posts.

I am not much for making New Year's resoultions. I have found that people do not really resolve to do that which they are impassioned, but instead, resolve to do that which they feel they must to keep up with their peers. The age-old "keeping up with the Joneses" dilemma. I mean, do you really want to read the entire Bible in one year, or is that a band wagon you have jumped on? Do you really want to taking cooking classes? Do you really want to participate in a triathlon? You get the idea... silly goals based on silly reasons. NOTE: I am not against any of these if they are coming from an out pour of your own desires for fulfillment in life. My advice: Stick to setting goals that belong only to you. The only way to discover this is to spend time in solitude getting to know you. STOP reading everyone's blog, STOP spending hours reading your facebook newsfeed, and STOP watching so much damn (Hee-Hee) TV! That is all just noise. Loud, annoying, superficial noise.

Ok, back on track: New Year's resolutions. My goals this year focused putting my ever precious time into something I love: books. Hot, sexy, beautiful, books. Oh yeah... One book every month for life (Thought: Why do we only make goals one year at a time?). The only requirement is the book must not be a book I am teaching: that's work not leisure- I am, after all, an English teacher. Here is my progress thus far.

January: Light in August by William Faulkner. Loved it. I love to read anything that when I reach the end I only have a fraction of an understanding about what the darn thing was about. Nuff said.

February: Omnivore's Dilemma. Life changing. Food is a powerful force. Eat wisely.

March: Great Expectations. This was more a test of endurance. I am not a big British Literature fan, but I did learn the importance of finishing what you start. This one is slightly cheating since I taught it in the Fall.

April: Brownsville, a collection of short stories about the border town of Texas. Entertaining. I am sure there is more to it than I got out of it.
Also in April, The Catcher in the Rye. I thought it was entirely overrated, that is until I reached the end. A brilliant novel. A true reflection of humanity and of growing up.

May: The Hound of the Baskerville. A Sherlock Holmes book. SO FUN! You are totally lame if you don't read this one before you die.

June: I am working on Wuthering Heights. Not looking too good...

What would you recommend for me to read? I plan to read at least a couple books a month this summer.

More of what I love in future blog posts.

Love.