Then and Now - if at first you don’t succeed....

At first I wasn’t going to write a New Year’s related post because I hadn’t made any bookish resolutions.  The first thing I did this year was switch from a PC to a Mac, so I have been up to my geeky eyes playing around with it, transferring, organizing and weeding out files, folders, programs, etc..     

While I was doing this, I came across my post from last years topic Top Ten Bookish Resolutions from the weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish   

For fun, I thought I would look at my Top Ten Bookish Resolutions for 2011 and see how well I kept them.  Here goes:

1- Organize my books better, and the flash drive I keep all blog/book related material on. 

Then: I tend to stick everything in a computer folder and fool myself with the idea that “I will take care of this later” but later never comes. 

Now: I started off well, but soon slipped back into bad habits.  A new computer prompts me to try again. 

2- Use my Nook more, even though I like books better.

Then: Sometimes I guess an e-reader is handy, but I am not good about using it. I have borrowed some library books on it, but that is about all. Barnes & Noble will never break the bank on my e-purchases.  

Now: I am proud to say that I am indeed using my Nook more, though I have always been a sucker for a great book cover and find I still buy books which have covers I like, instead of purchasing the e-book.  I am working on a solution for that.

3- Create lists of books for the challenges I have elected to participate in.

Then: Another thing I put off for that “later” that never comes.

Now: I read books for my challenges as they came to me, never making a list.   But I completed all but two challenges.  The Civil War Challenge hosted by Anna and Serena at War Through the Generations didn’t quite work for me, for some reason.  And the host of the Forgotten Treasures Challenge sort of faded away in May, so I never read all 25 pledged books, but came close to finishing. 

4- Read the books on the above lists.

Then: OK, truth is, I would read books for the challenges even without lists.

Now: Well, I did read them, I just didn’t list them before I read them.

5- Update my Good Reads and Library Thing accounts and keep them updated.

Then: I am very bad about these, but resolve to either do better or cancel the accounts.

Now: I updated and kept my Good Reads account current, but not Library Thing.  That is for this year.

6- Since my blog is branded, try not to feel guilty when I read book not pertinent to it.

Then: This refers to the list I made last Top Ten Tuesday.

Now: I don’t know where my head was when I wrote this.  Guilty about reading a book - never!! And I did read many of the books on the list - guilt free, I might add.

7- Find or start an active book club in Manhattan.

Then: Most book clubs here fill up fast and close. Starting my own would definitely be better – perhaps in the local indie store or Barnes & Noble.

Now: Never did this, but I did start going to the Children’s Literature Salon at the 42nd Street Library regularly.

8- Read more non-fiction.

Then: Not my favorite, yet the non-fiction I have read is always so interesting.

Now: Yes, I have accomplished this resolution.  Still not my favorite genre.

9- Learn how to do things on Blogspot.

Then: I need to find an easier way to get pictures side by side and learn a little more html.

Now: I have learned how to do more things on Blogspot, sometimes to my own determent - I can get carried away with html.

10- Finally read Black Beauty the book instead of the Classics Illustrated comic I used in 3rd grade for my book report. 

Then: I am kidding myself again - that’s not going to happen.  I just don't like that book.

Now: Didn’t happen, not gonna happen.

Revised 10- Try to do Top Ten Tuesday on Tuesday.

Then: Getting better already, today is Wednesday, just one day away from Tuesday.

Now: Of the 5 Top Ten Tuesdays I did in 2011, 3 were done on Tuesday, 1 was done on Wednesday and 1 was done on Saturday.  Also, do more Top Tens and shoot for more Tuesdays.  This one doesn't count, it's not official.

And, lastly, the moral of this story is 

Thank you, Winston Churchill