New Year, New Goals?

Photo by Jamie Street on Unsplash

Happy New Year! 

I'm back! I had both an awful and wonderful break – awful because surgery sucks, wonderful because I allowed myself to read whatever called to me and I enjoyed almost everything I read (there was just one book that didn't thrill me). I'll probably do a lot of mini reviews of what I've read in the coming days, partly because I mostly read books I've purchased -- so no need to do do full reviews unless I feel like it -- and partly so I can move on into 2020 without getting too bogged down by what remains of 2019.

There's a question mark after "New Goals" in the subject line because I've decided this year is going to be one in which I don't write down reading goals, apart from the usual Goodreads goal. I have some things in mind, though, like I want to read more writing by indigenous authors and at least one classic per month. Since I pretty much failed at last year's elaborate list of goals, I'm going to just mentally fold some of 2019's reading goals over into 2020. If I don't manage to read what I hope to, I'm not going to worry about it. 

The same goes for the ARCs I didn't get to after I fell behind and then fell apart (the cancer diagnosis halfway through the year did not help my backlog of ARCs). I'll fold them over into the new year, as well, but I'm not going to stress myself about them. I already do have a few ARCs coming, this year, but if I can't keep up with the new ones I'll shut down acceptance of them completely. I think it's important to keep the burden light, at this point in my life. I'm not done dealing with my illness and won't be for a while, but I do love authors, publishers, and being part of anything that draws attention to wonderful storytelling. So, I'll do what I can cope with and no more. 

In other news, I am currently without a phone because I left my phone in a shop. Fortunately, it's a small shop and they know it's mine. It'll be a few days before I can get back over there because we're expecting heavy rain for the next two days and the store is 30 miles away (I avoid driving in the rain if it's not critical) but that's not entirely a bad thing, having to do without a phone. It does, however, mean that I have no access to photos to upload, here, and I'll have to wait to take photos of any books I finish. So, no Instagramming for me, either. 

First good belly laugh of the year was a couple hours ago when husband opened a can of coffee that was apparently under some pressure, a Christmas gift. It had a key-tab opening for the sealed lid and when he pulled the key tab back, a fountain of finely-ground coffee shot up in the air, coating his shirt, hands, face, the counter, and a little of the floor. It was a mess but it was also hilarious. And, wow, does that coffee smell good. 

I hope Christmas was a good one for you, my friends. Wishes for a safe, happy, healthy, and fulfilling year to all my readers!

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