The end of 1997 is rapidly approaching. Wednesday is New Year's Eve, and it is also Make Up Your Mind Day, a day to make a decision and follow through with it. Wednesday is also No Resolutions Day, a celebration of not making New Year's resolutions because they set people up for frustration and waste energy.

Thursday, of course, is the beginning of 1998, and the beginning of a new month. January is January Diet Month (to shed those holiday pounds); National High-Tech Month; National Hot Tea Month; National Prune the Fat Month; National Radio Month; National Soup Month; National Yours, Mine and Ours Month; and Oatmeal Month!

Sunday is Trivia Day, which celebrates those who know all sorts of facts and/or have "doctorates" in uselessology. Monday is the anniversary of the day in 1914 when John Ford announced that employees would receive a minimum wage of $5.00 a day. To obtain this minimum wage, employees had to be of "good personal habits." Whether an individual fit these criteria was determined by the new Sociological Department.

WHAT'S HAPPENING?
It's back to basics with counting at Wednesday's 10:00 a.m. storytime. The Wednesday afternoon storytime will not be held this week. Saturday morning's "THREE" storytime features stories and activities that feature the number three.

The library will close at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 31, and reopen at 9:00 a.m. on Friday, January 2, 1998. The staff of your Roswell Public Library wishes you and yours a very Happy New Year!

BOOK TALK
Librarian Loretta Clark provides this weeks review. Every day each of us grows a bit older. For the first time in American history, citizens over sixty-five outnumber those under the age of twenty-five. There are a growing number of products, services, and books to aid people as they reach the senior years. The following books are just a few that are available at the Roswell Public Library:

"Elderdesign: Designing and Furnishing A Home For Your Later Years," by Rosemary Bakker; "The Complete Eldercare Planner: Where to Start, Questions to Ask, and How to Find Help," by Joy Loverde; "Elder Care: What to Look For, What to Look Out For!" by Thomas Cassidy; "How to Care For Aging Parents: A Complete Guide," by Virginia Morris; and "Caring for Yourself While Caring for Your Aging Parents: How to Help, How to Survive," by Claire Berman.

DID YOU KNOW?
Since January is Oatmeal Month, you may be interested to know that you should opt for the less processed brands of oatmeal that take 20 minutes to cook. Reducing preparation time with the instant variety, also reduces the fiber content and health benefits.

You may still have a few parties to attend this holiday season, so here are some tips for better holiday-party food control from "Natural Way." The day of a party, have a normal breakfast, light lunch, and healthy snack around 4 p.m. Have another snack, like a glass of vegetable juice, before leaving for the party. Be sure to exercise the day of the party to increase metabolism. At the party, choose only a few items to eat, even if there is a large buffet. Savor what you eat instead of gulping. Allow yourself a cookie or small dessert serving, and take a walk after dinner if you feel you ate too much!

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK: "Just about the time they plan to retire, some parents discover that the birds who left the nests are homing pigeons." (anonymous)

JUDY ARMSTRONG, ROSWELL PUBLIC LIBRARY, 624-7276 or 622-9218