Two weeks until Christmas! I feel surprisingly prepared - so much so that I am beginning to fret about what I MUST have forgotten to do! Today's task is Christmas cards . . . right on schedule.
This advance work is not my usual MO - I am generally rushing at the last minute but I did that last year and it really ruined the holiday for me and I vowed not to let that happen again.
Thailand
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| Credit: Trek Earth |
Part of my pre-holiday to do list has included planning for my trip to Thailand which I head out on the day after Christmas - I am really looking forward to this trip! Thailand has been on my "must visit list" for a few years now - we are going to Phuket and Bangkok. I always like to read books set in the place I visit while on vacation - does anyone have any good recommendations for books set in Thailand?
It's That Time of Year Again . . .
About this time last year, I wrote this post about writing reviews - performance reviews. They seem to be taking up a good portion of my work days right now and while I know they are an important element of development for our colleagues and integral to assessing performance for compensation, I really dislike writing them! After the first two, I find myself repeating the same key phrases ("partners well with others", "could be more successful if . . .") again and again. Are any of you also plagued by these reviews right now?
Immigrant Stories Challenge 2011
You May Have Missed . . . .
Here are the reviews I have posted since the last Sunday Salon:
Queen of Babble in the Big City by Meg Cabot
I Know What I Am But What Are You? by Samantha Bee
Digging to America by Anne Tyler (Audiobook)
Hope you have a restful Sunday and a good week!
Have fun in Thailand- sounds like an amazing trip!
ReplyDeleteMy Christmas preparations grow smaller each year, as I "downsize" what I do. My decorations are minimal and require little time. My shopping includes gift cards for everyone...easy-peasy, but that's what the grandkids want.
ReplyDeleteI love Anne Tyler books, and have read Digging to America...loved it! I'm going to check out your review.
Here's my Salon:
(click my name)
Part of my Christmas-problem is the stress of vacationing right before the holiday. I'm off to Ixtapa, Mexico for the week before Christmas. Which means that Christmas cards/presents/etc. has to happen at the same time as finals at school. :) I have now promised myself I will not vacation right before Christmas ever again. Right after the holiday sounds better! Have fun in Thailand!
ReplyDeleteHurray for being prepared! I say I will do better every year, but half of my shopping is still not done :-( Wish I could help with books set in Thailand...
ReplyDeleteThailand?! I am so jealous!
ReplyDeleteWow, that is great that you are right on schedule. And I have also always wanted to visit Thailand, I hope you have a fun time.
ReplyDeleteoh, i hope you have a wonderful trip! I can't think of any books set there though, LOL :-) I'm sure you'll come back with some neat stuff!
ReplyDeleteHm, I haven't read either of them yet but there is A Chant to Soothe Wild Elephants by Jaed Coffin and Currency by Zoe Zolbrod.
ReplyDeleteSound like you are really prepared ... I'm jealous! I need to get working on our cards. And your trip sounds fantastic. Have fun hosting your first challenge; it is a great idea!
ReplyDeleteoooh I'm so jealous of your trip to Thailand!! I hope you have a blast over there and take a lot of pictures for us!
ReplyDeleteI envy you for feeling on top of the holidays. I stopped sending holiday cards when I started blogging and writing novels full time. It’s a push doing holiday shopping and MS revisions before the kids are home for vacation.
ReplyDeleteI can recommend plenty of books set in Asia written by Asians, but I can’t think of any Thailand books. The Hungry Tide by Amitav Ghosh is set in coastal India and is one of my favorite novels ever. Or if you want a really long (1,400 pages) fabulous book, read A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth also India. My favorite Japanese authors are Haruki Murakami and Yoko Ogawa. My favorite Chinese novel is Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress by Dai Sijie. For nonfiction I’d strongly recommend Wild Swans by Jung Chang about three generations of women spanning the Cultural Revolution.
Have a wonderful time in Thailand!
Sarah - thanks so much for your recommendations. I read the Glass Palace by Amitav Ghosh but not the Hungry Tide - will have to put that on the list.
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