It hardly seems like it has been a year since Iris Chang passed away. I received a copy of her amazing book, The Rape of Nanking for my birthday last month and I'm looking forward to reading it next year. It's on my list of books that I should have read before and now in 2006 I'm determined to enjoy. Next year is my reading improvement year, something I probably should have embarked on a long time ago, but you're never too late for it, you know?

I saw Dolly Parton's video for her remake of Imagine last night and I should have hated it - I was prepared to hate it - but man, it is very cool. I love Dolly but another take on John Lennon seemed sacrilige at best. Her vocals are very good (as always) but what I really liked was the way she turned it into a strong and passionate song by the end - and the video is really fantastic. I love this song, I wish the whole damn world would love this song.

Still getting over the flu, still struggling to read much of anything and still not totally ready for Christmas. But we baked cookies today and that was fun. Give a 4 year old a rolling pin and you're going to spend some time laughing, guaranteed.