goal #2

“Intellectual ''work'' is misnamed;

it is a pleasure, a dissipation,

and is its own highest reward.”

-- Mark Twain

This second set of goals is a hard one for me. I feel like sometimes I'm too ... well, everything. Too busy, too tired, too bogged down with other things. And of the goals, I think intellectual can suffer the most. I have a feeling I'm going to have to work pretty hard to keep this set of goals.

Intellectual --

1. Develop a new or expand an old, dormant, hobby

2. Be a "tourist in my own town"

3. Read at least 3 new Shakespeare plays

4. Do my family history

5. Complete a crossword puzzle a day

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Over the years I've started hobbies and then, for whatever reason, I've stopped. I knitted for a while, crocheted, cooked, baked, and did various other crafts. One hobby that I've taken up sort of recently is stationary making. Making my sister's baby shower invitations will help to cultivate this hobby. Its something that I like to do, and hopefully can develop my talent.

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People constantly complain that there isn't any "culture" in the West. Comparatively, there really isn't. Or maybe there is, and it's just harder to find. In any event, my goal is to be a tourist in my own town. Sadly, I've been in Phoenix for 6 months and have yet to visit a museum, seen a play or a show, or done anything else culturally amusing. There are still parts of the Phoenix area that I have yet to visit, like Scottsdale, and even places further away like Tuscon, Sedona, Flagstaff, The Grand Canyon, etc. Now, with the myriad of visitors I will be having in the next few months, this will help me a lot in being a tourist, but I need to branch out on my own. What is frustrating is that my roommates don't seem to be big on going and doing stuff (especially when it costs money, which i respect and understand). I will have to go at it alone.

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One of the parts of my job that I love the most is reading. I've gotten to read some things that I haven't read before, and it's fun to read and see references to other works. Last summer, before I headed out West, I would go to the library every day and teach myself Romeo and Juliet. I would sit at my table with my copy of the play in hand, a notebook, and all sorts of reference material, and go to town. I'm doing that again this winter break with Hamlet and I'm loving it. I'd like to read at least 3 Shakespearean plays that I haven' read before. Perhaps even one from each genre, comedy, tragedy and history. Any suggestions??

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Sitting on my bookshelf is a binder with the beginning of my family history. I actually had really great intentions on bringing my family history home with me over break and getting some information from family members. Alas, that did not happen. With family history on the internet, there really is no reason why I shouldn't have it done. My goal is to have 5 generations done by the end of 2008.

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I like crossword puzzles. I'm pretty bad at them, but I like them. They'll help to keep my brain in working order. Perhaps I'll done one at lunch each day. Wish me luck!