My New Year's Goals

I had a whole different post planned for today but, as I was reading a book a question came up that has been circling around in my brain for years. My book is about the Holocaust and of course, I always wonder how people can come up with such horrific ways to brutalize each other.

But the real question I ask myself is, "What would I do if presented with the same situation?" Would I be the one featured in a book as a heroine that hid, smuggled, rescued...my friends and neighbors? Would I freeze in fear and do nothing? Would I pretend not to see what was going on around me in order to protect my comfortable life? Would I actively participate in the persecution? Of course we all like to think we would do the just thing, the kind thing, the right thing but without being in that situation, will we ever know?

I bring this up because I think about this a lot and also because there are atrocities around the world that I can impact (even from my comfy house). So my question for the new year is: Am I doing enough? If I am honest with myself the answer would be no, I am not.

So, this year for my international effort I am going to more actively support efforts to end the violence in Darfur - http://www.savedarfur.org/ and, at home, spend my money and my donations on The Bridge Home For Children - http://www.bhfc.org/ They always need money, groceries and books (my biggest contributions). FYI: If you ever want to donate, I will be happy to provide delivery services. And last but not least, I am going to become much more vocal with my opinion on this "war on terror" and our shameful treatment of our "detainees".

10 Things To Do Before I Die...

OK it was really slow in the library last night so I played Dan's game.... kinda.

Before I Die I Want To:

1. Write the great American novel, or better yet, an incomprehensible "experimental" novel that will cause me to be hailed as a genius in my lifetime.
2. Take flying lessons, possibly even in a plane.
3. Take scuba lessons so I can swim in the coral reef in Australia before it's gone.
4. Become an Archaeologist, go on a dig and carry a whip, or maybe just carry a whip.
5. Go bowling in Canada
6. Learn enough Spanish so that the next time I go to Honduras I can have an actual conversation with the cute Latin hottie.
7. Fall in love and live happily ever after with (without actually dating) a hot guy who treats me like the princess I am or, option 2: become the crazy (better make that eccentric) lady on the corner with the cats.
8. Have 7 kids or 17 cats, or possibly not any of the above.
9. Live in another country for a year in a quirky house with charming sidekicks who adopt me and show me the "real" country or, go visit friends for an extended visit and have them give me the short version.
10. Sing Karaoke (hey, I have an awesome voice, I just have an irrational fear of Karaoke.)