so, on to life

I love being on break from school.
but, I also love school.
I wish there were a happy medium.
A school where I could take classes, read books, write papers all at my own pace.
I feel like I would probably learn more.
I would be taking the time to let things sink in.
I could chew on things for a while.
I could have meaningful conversations with my professors and fellow students.
I would thrive in a school like that.

I'm not so much thriving in the school I am in now.
I'm actually pretty disappointed with my performance.
I have always been very fortunate in that I have done well in school with very little effort.
But now, I am putting in all of the effort with half of the results.
I am working harder than I ever have, yet I am getting grades much lower than I am used to.

But, I think my head is in the right place.
I am learning a lot.
But, my family has priority over everything else.
Period.
I will not sacrifice my family for anything.
So, in perspective, I am doing the best that I can given my priorities.
I just wish my hard work was reflected in my GPA.

Oh well.
C'est la vie.

In other news, I was so excited to start my Christmas break reading that I chose way too many books to read at once.
I may not finish before school.
Oh, how I loath deadlines.
They will get read in their own time.

Here's my list:
1. My Life by Bill Clinton
2. Mastering the Art of French Cooking by Juila Child, Simone Beck, and Louisette Bertholle
3. On Agate Hill by Lee Smith
4. Dance of the Dissident Daughter by Sue Monk Kidd
And, 5. The Maternal Face of God by Leonardo Boff

Interesting collection, I know.


Here are my thoughts thus far.
Bill Clinton - excellent. I guess I was too young to really pay attention to his speech-writing skills when he was in office. But, in reading his autobiography now, his story leaps off of the page. I am a big fan of southern fiction, and I feel like I am reading a novel set in mid-century Arkansas.
I love it.

Juila Child - I am learning so much. I am one of those people who reads cook books for fun, and this one is definitely fun. I do not have the money {nor the pounds} to spare to experiment in French cooking often, but I love learning technique. Ultimately, I think I will come out as a technically better cook in the end.
Fun.

Lee Smith - Southern fiction. There is nothing better. I have loved her other books, and the first few pages of this one are measuring up to be just as good as the rest. This is the first one of here {that I have read} that is set in North Carolina {the rest have been in the tri-state are of southwestern Virginia}.

Sue Monk Kidd - It is a re-read. I loved it the first time, and I am sure to love it again.

Leonardo Boff - We'll see how it goes. I haven't started yet.