2012 goals and dreams

Fireflies © Juan Pablo Rodriguez

Reading:

The Aeneid - Read book I (Fitzgerald) last month...going to continue with a different translation.  Can't decide which, and I've heard good things about many of them.  I tend to prefer older translations, but newer ones are typically easier to understand.  Recommendations? 


✓ Beowulf - I think I read half of it and I feel bad for not finishing it. 


Lord Jim and/or Nostromo - I've never read any of Conrad's long novels, and I should. 


  

The Brothers Karamazov and/or War and Peace - I'd like to broaden my Russian lit "resume" and either of these would fit the bill.  And War and Peace isn't so intimidating now that I have my lecture notes on the Battle of Borodino and Alexander I! 

Sylvie and Bruno Concluded - Would've finished this already, but the (free) e-book had too many typos.  Still waiting for it from the library.

Paris in the 20th Century (re-read) and The Begum's Millions - Or anything Jules Verne.


The Hobbit (re-read) - Self explanatory!  ^_^

And that's about it, more or less.  My reading list is many leagues longer, but if I get those reads accomplished next year, I'll be happy. 

Writing:

Finish rewriting and publish my fantasy novella.  Maybe I'm just a dreamer.

Other:

 
Get a good grade in General Physics I, this spring (or summer).  I'm indescribably thankful that the physics class I'm taking is algebra-based and not calculus-based.  Much less stressful.  I've never taken physics, ever.  Some of it overlaps chemistry and math, though, so maybe it won't be too scary.  I got myself a textbook from the library, and if I'm a smart person, I'll read it in preparation.  (I'd like to think I'm that smart person, but in reality, I can be dreadfully lazy.)

Take as many history classes as possible.  We happen to have an amazing history/political-science professor, whose lectures are so good I'm even thinking of attending summer quarter. 

Try to be content with change.  I dislike transitions--it feels like no sooner do you get used to something then you have to give it up.  Some changes are good, so I know better than to hate change itself, but it's hard to adapt to new things, and once I do, I feel as if I'd be happier if it lasted longer.  Of course, only God knows what's best for me in the long run, so I'm glad I don't have to decide.  I rediscovered Ecclesiastes 12:13 this fall, and hope to remember it from now on:

Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

Isn't that beautiful?