What a Year

As the final eve of 2006 approaches, I realize that I have yet to write my "Year in Review." Here are some accomplishments and pitfalls...

Book Review: These are the books I've read (amongst others - these just stand out).
Lords of Discipline (fantastic!)
Heart Shaped World (pretty good)
The Dead Secret (fantastic!)
The Woman in White (a bit long-winded)
Wicked (the musical is better)
Crime and Punishment (took me FOREVER, but good story line)
Grapes of Wrath (yes, I've never read it prior to this year... but I loved it!)
Cold Mountain (just as good as the film)
A barage of chick lit and popular fiction

Of the "new" books I read this year, I think the best one was definitely "The Grapes of Wrath." I taught it to my sophomores this year, and I would definitely teach it again.

Re-reads:
The Count of Monte Cristo (last year's Best Book Read by Erica)
Rebecca
A Tale of Two Cities

"A Tale of Two Cities" was a bit difficult for me to catagorize. Technically it's a re-read, since I read it in college. But I couldn't remember ANYTHING about it when I picked it up this year, so it was new-ish to me. And that's definitely my favorite re-read because I am enjoying it (I'm almost done).

Books I want to read this year:
Germinal
Oliver Twist and/or David Copperfield
East of Eden
Whatever else looks good! :)

Running
Races I've run:
Houston Half Marathon
New Orleans Half Marathon
Rodeo Run 10k
Bayou City Classic 10k
Crescent City Classic 10k
Country Music Marathon
Astros Race for the Pennant 5k
VA Beach Rock-n-Roll Half Marathon
Fleet Feet 25k relay (I ran the last 3rd)
Uptown Turkey Trot 10k

Races I plan on running this year:
Houston Half Marathon (if my doctor lets me walk it... I'll find out Tuesday)
Surfside Half Marathon (if my doctor lets me)
Rodeo Run 10k (if my doctor lets me)
Bayou City Classic 10k
Maybe the Crescent City Classic
Cincinatti Flying Pig Half Marathon
A half marathon in NY state (maybe Brooklyn)
San Antonio Half Marathon
A sprinkling of 10ks and 5ks

I joined a new running group, the Striders, and am having fun so far. I'm definitely looking forward to spending more time with their activities (as soon as the doctor clears me, of course).

Injuries
Torn cornea (two days before the New Orleans Half Marathon)
Sprained ankle/strained Achilles tendon (on my birthday! in NYC!)
Jacked up knee - diagnosis TBA Tuesday... probably a sprain or a tiny crack

Places I've Traveled
Nashville
New York
Washington DC
Virginia Beach

Places I'll travel next year:
Cincinatti
New York (probably)
Canada
Wherever I go on a vacation

Movies
I can't remember all of the films I've seen this year, but the best are...
The Departed
Marie Antoinette
Casino Royale
A Good Year
United 93
Hollywoodland
The Lake House
Clerks II


Overall, I think I had a pretty good year. I've had my frustrations, my low moments, my heartbreaks, my stresses but I managed to do a lot. I'm still in a job I enjoy, I've managed to experience so many things this year (and I met the Emperor, how cool is that???!!), my family and friends are safe and healthy, and as I sit here I'm in a relatively good mood.

I have no clue what 2007 will bring, other than the Rodeo, a couple of weddings I'm attending, school and a longer summer break. I'll probably teach summer school for extra money. I'll be moving to a new apartment in a couple of months.

But do I have any resolutions? Tons. Some are private and secret, but some are not. For example, I plan on eating more vegetables and less sugar. I plan to smile more. I plan to finish 2 scripts. I plan to learn to relax. I plan to take a sushi preparation class. I plan to take tango lessons. I plan to drink more water. I have high hopes, but I'm not going to count them as resolutions because I refuse to feel like a failure at the end of next year. But I hope that many of my hopes will come true. Some are very far-away hopes, but life would be very boring without hopes and wishes and dreams.

Happy New Year everyone. Don't drink and drive.

Cheers!