Best Book of 2019

I read 63 books in 2019, 11 more than my target.  Yay me!  Most were good, some were ok.  Both book clubs kept me reading things I wouldn't normally.  However, there were only two that I'd give 5 stars to:

A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles.  Long, but worth it.  Beautiful language, beautiful enough to make you cry.  Characters that live with you long after the book is over... ahhhhh.  Read it with one book club and have convinced the other one to give it a go.  Just go read it, you won't be sorry.

Meet Me at the Museum by Anne Youngson.  Short, quick read but the imagery will stick with you.  Like the above, these characters will continue to live in your mind and you will be thinking deep thoughts after.

In anticipation of Book 9 in the Outlander series (Go Tell the Bees That I am Gone) coming out sometime this year, I'm re-reading the series again.  Just finishing Drums of Autumn now...

Books of 2016

I read 32 books this year.  Not quite the 52 I always set for a goal, but I'm ok with it.  I added needlework back into my goal list last year and while I didn't complete a lot of those items this year, I'm happy with what I was able to accomplish.  My work hours increased in September so that was a bit of an adjustment.   I also added a more regular schedule of self-care into my life year and that has been far more important to keeping me on track and helping me maintain balance.   

Not too many books got a five-star rating and inclusion onto The List this year, but these did:

1. Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi.  This book stayed with me for a long time.  It's the story of two half-sisters in Africa several hundred years ago.  One is in the ruling class and eventually married to a British slaver, while the other is from another tribe and sold into slavery and transported to the New World.  The book follows the succeeding generations of the family and how their lives progress to the present day.  It is a page-turner and really makes you think about race, race relations, slavery and how families work to integrate all the pieces of their history.
2. A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman.  I really cannot say enough about this book.  It was so wonderful that I immediately went out and bought everything else Fredrik Backman has ever written.  I don't do that too often.  Ove is a curmudgeon in every sense of the world.  A grumpy old man, he has Rules and gets annoyed at the world when they don't follow them.  When a young family moves in next door, his world is turned upside down.  There are a few surprises here, but you will find yourself laughing and crying and cheering as you read.  And then you'll go want to find the curmudgeon in your life and give them a hug.  
3. My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry by Fredrik Backman. I told you I went and bought everything Fredrik Backman ever wrote :-D  This one was wonderful as well, and there were enough twists and turns and "oh! that's what really happeneds!" to keep you turning pages and glued to the story until the last page.  This one is about Elsa, who is aged 7 and a little different from everyone else.  Her grandmother has always told her fabulous about a mythical land where everyone is different and no one needs to be normal.  When her grandmother dies, she leaves Elsa a Quest in the form of letters that must be delivered to various people she feels the need to apologize to.  And as Elsa meets them all she begins to wonder - .could the Kingdom of Miamas and the people who lived in her grandmother's fairy tales be real? 
4. Come Rain or Come Shine by Jan Karon. Anybody who has ever visited the town of Mitford will fall in love with it all over again in this new book in the series.  Dooley Kavanagh and Lace Harper are all grown up and planning their wedding.  And in true Mitford style, the whole town gets involved whether Dooley and Lace want them to or not, mishaps happen and grace overcomes all.  
5. My Mrs. Brown by William Norwich. This book was so sweet!  Emilia Brown is a woman of a certain age.  She has lived her life in the background, always quiet and no frills and probably overlooked by most.  But in her heart she has dreams.  Dreams which suddenly seem to be embodied by an Oscar de la Renta sheath and jacket and somehow she must make them her own.  And braving the trip to New York all alone to get it becomes necessary as well.  Sometimes a dress isn’t just a dress.

This Year's Book Goal

Just finished Book #53 so I'm ahead of last year's pace.  Yay me!  Stay tuned for the end-of-year tally and recommended book list!

I Can Speak Bird

Around 4:30 a.m. the birds starts singing their little heads off.  I used to think they were singing "Tweet tweet! Welcome to the new day!  Tweet Tweet!  The sun will be up soon!  Tweet Tweet!" accompanied by cavorting deer and scampering squirrels while tying bows around the trees a la  Disney.

But what they are really saying is "Tweet tweet!  Let's piss off all the menopausal women who are trying to go back to sleep!  Bwahahahahahahaha!  Tweet tweet!" while twirling teeny tiny mustaches.

Random Thoughts in the Middle of the Night

I'm blaming a lot of things on menopause lately (inability to lose weight, eyebrow hairs that decided to migrate to my chin, dry skin, the all-purpose insanity).  But the one thing I really hate is the fact that I wake up at night and can't go back to sleep.  My husband will attest to the fact that I love to sleep and that I get mean when I am tired.  (I can hear him in my head attesting strongly right now.)  So what to do? Once I got a basket of ironing done.  But as nice as that was, the next morning I was tired, mean and had a burn on my finger.  Reading doesn't work because if it's a crap book I feel disappointed and if it's a good book I won't put it down and then there's that tired and mean thing to deal with.  Housework is out.  I don't like doing that when I'm awake so why would I do that when I'm supposed to be sleeping?  So usually I just lie there trying not to wake everyone up. I make a lot of mental to-do lists.  I plan a lot of scrapbook pages, stitching projects, home decor and organization projects. I'm good about the planning and starting, not so good with the finishing. (There goes my husband attesting strongly in my head again.  What is with him?)  I plan a lot of parties that I may or may not have an excuse for.  I make imaginary recipes based on what I have in my cupboards.  I spend the money I'd win in the lottery if I ever bothered to buy a ticket.  I talk to folks in my head - things I need to remember to tell them, things I should have said, things I'd never say but wish I could.

In other words, normal stuff.

But more often my thinking goes like this:

• You know that picture of Sissy Spacek that Amy Leibovitz took of her standing near a river with her husband on the horse?  The one where you can't see any of her husband except his leg?  Well, I sure hope that Sissy Spacek has a picture like that in her house where you can see the rest of her husband.  Because she'd like to see him, I'm sure.  And at Annie Leibovitz prices, you should have the whole person or at least get a heavy discount.  Why I care about the state of Sissy Spacek's picture frames is your guess as good as mine.
• But Annie Leibovitz does take a good picture.  Except for some of those Disney ads, they were a bit creepy.  But those ones she took of the Queen were nice.  Except she wanted the Queen to take off her tiara to make it "less fancy."  How can the Queen be less fancy?  She's the Queen.  I think it's in her DNA.  There's a fanciness chromosome, I'm pretty sure.  Why not just take her photo in her pajamas if you're going for less fancy.  Just shoot the mystique right in the foot and be done with it.  Though if I was the Queen I'd probably wear the tiara with my pajamas.  Because, you know, why not?
• I saw a documentary once where Queen Elizabeth was chatting with a painter as she sat for a portrait.  They got to talking about the corgis and she mentioned that they bite.  Do they really bite or is she just using that excuse to keep people from getting too close?  Because, you know, she's the Queen.  They probably don't get that close unless she wants them to.  And if so, presumably the corgis would think "well ok, this one can be trusted."  Does she just say that to wind people up?  "Oh ho, you should watch it, Prime Minister, or I'll have to set the corgis on you. Ha ha!"  What's the protocol if HM's corgi bites you?  Do you still have to call her M'aam while you're screaming and shaking off a corgi?  Swearing is probably right out of the question.
• Maybe the Queen has plastic bags and dog biscuits in her purse.  I'm sure she doesn't have half the crap I have in mine.  No wonder I need chiropractic care.  But every time I try to pare down, I end up putting all that crap back in.  But at least my cell phone is little now.  Remember when they were new and were the size of a brick?  And getting service was a surprise every time?  And the phone company would just change your phone number whenever they wanted to?  Without telling you?  And you were getting a complex about no one calling you?  I bet my grandchildren will just have cell phones hardwired into their heads at birth.  They'll just pop out with all kinds of technology built right in.  
• Grandchildren?!  Where the hell did that come from?  I've got a good 15 years before I have to think about those.  I better have that long or those grandchildren will be orphans.  But that would mean I'd have to raise them.  And then my back will still hurt because I'll still be carrying spare underwear and crayons and Happy Meal toys in my purse.  Ok, enough about the grandchildren.  Not thinking about them anymore.
• Though a girl would be nice... and what would my grandma name be...

Is it any wonder that I don't get any sleep?

Life With Boys III

Overheard at the bus stop:

"I can too do the shoulder!"
"You're nuts, that's impossible."
"I can do the back of the knee."
"You're as nuts as he is."
"Bet mine is the loudest though."
"Bet it's not!"
"Bet it is!"

Armpit farts.

Ten Things About You at Age 10

Double Digits!

1. If you could figure out how to play Wizard 101, Skype with your cousins, play on your DS, eat, and still be able to roam around the house, your life would be set.
2. Ipod Touch!
3. You and Dad are bonding over 3 Stooges episodes.
4. You've got quite the witty sense of humor and are quick with plays-on-words and puns.
5. Fourth grade has not been wonderful this year, but we're working on it.  Art Club was a bright spot.
6. You've taken to calling your brother "B". At first I thought it was "Bee" but it's "B" as in Baby B (you, of course, were Baby A).
7. I love that you use words like "shall" in everyday conversation.
8. Making balloon animals is a new obsession.
9. When you find a good book, you can't put it down.  A series is even better.  Last weekend you started and finished a 200 page book and wanted to know did we get books 2, 3 & 4 from the library too?
10. You and Dad have been going to Mandarin Kung Fu twice a week and I catch you practicing your stances when you think no one is looking.

1. You're starting to make up jokes and silly games and your teacher reports that you're very funny at school.
2. If you could have the Christmas tree up all year you would.
3. Dance class is still going great.  Once you get there, that is.
4. The "David" books by David Shannon crack you up, and you'll sit there reading them to yourself now.
5. You still love your hats and now you think everyone should wear one too. But oddly enough the hat love does not extend to baseball caps. You will absolutely not wear one of those. You look at me with an expression that says "Too common! Everyone wears those, darling."
6. You've moved on from the Wiggles & Barney to Hi-5 and love to sing and dance with the show.  You also really love Signing Time and sing and sign and talk with Rachel, Leah & Alex.
7. We got a touch screen laptop and you have been figuring it out quickly!
8. This year at Fantasy Island we let you go on most of the rides without a grownup.  You were so proud of yourself!
9. You love to buy lunch at school when it is spaghetti or turkey & mashed potatoes.
10. You are only a morning person when there is no school.

Update on the Book Goal

Final tally for books read this year: 77!

MUCH much better than the 6 of 2010. Yay me!

Here are the books that stuck with me long after the cover was closed (in no particular order).

• The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake by Aimee Bender. The premise of this book, that the main character can taste the emotions of the person who prepared the food, was fascinating to me. Ultimately the book is about how we deal with emotions, our own and others, and whether we allow ourselves to truly feel.

• The Ten Year Nap by Meg Wolitzer. I've been both a stay-at-home mom and a work-outside-the-home mom and from the very first line this book resonated with me. Each of the women in the book struggles with finding and accepting her role in the world, her smaller community, her family. You look at other moms and think "she's got it all figured out" only to be incredibly surprised that she's thinking the same thing about you.

• The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery. I loved the language and the intellectualism of this book. Putting these three three protagonists, a middle-aged French concierge (kind of like a superintendent of a building) trying to hide her intelligence, a depressed 13-year-old girl and a dapper Japanese elderly gentleman, together was pure genius.

• Room by Emma Donohue. Haunting, terrifying, and intriguing. What is language? What is reality? What is home? What is family? What is safety?

• Elizabeth I by Margaret George. I confess that anything by Margaret George will be loved by me before I have even opened it. Her work is so well researched, so intimate, so in-the-moment that it is easy to forget you are reading about a well-known historical figure. Perhaps it is the first-person narrative, but you really feel that you know the subject. And Elizabeth I (and her dad, Henry VIII) are two of those hypothetical people I'd like to have dinner with.

• Madame Tussaud by Michelle Moran. I love historical fiction. This book gave me a lot of insight into the French Revolution and the history of waxworks. I did not know anything about Madame Tussaud other than her name and the multiple museums that share it. That an art we now view as somewhat kitschy has its roots in the struggle to share information openly with all classes was riveting.

• The Perfect Scent: A Year Inside the Perfume Industry in Paris and New York by Chandler Burr. I originally found this book because of reading "Perfumes: The Guide" and "The Emperor of Scent " and it was fascinating! The author gives an inside view of the perfume industry and follows the creation of a perfume from idea to creation to marketing. It also talks about the fairly recent trend of celebrity perfumes, which is interesting in itself. I love how reading one book can lead you on a journey of discovery about a subject, to other things the author has written, to things you never would have thought you'd be interested in.

• Still Alice by Lisa Genova. Whether or not you have been touched by Alzheimer's personally, please go read this book. Your notions of what constitutes self, memory, and what is quality of life may get turned on their ears.

• Faithful Place by Tana French. I don't normally read suspense, but this third book by Tana French, like her other two grabbed me and didn't let go until the last page. I particularly like it when books reference familiar characters. It's like greeting old friends and fosters my favorite illusion that these are real people living real lives somewhere out of our consciousness until we can check in with them again. There were so many twists and turns that it was impossible to figure out the ending until you got to it. I appreciate that in an author and in a book.

• Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Nefenegger. Creepy but in a good way. As a twin and a mom of twins, I found this book about twin sisters of twin moms very interesting. I don't really have a way to describe this fully, you just have to trust me on this one.

• The Secret Lives of Dresses by Erin McKean. I love fashion and I love history, therefore I must love vintage fashion, right? A sweet story of family and finding your way in the world with storytelling magic along the way.

• The Harry Potter Epic, Books 1-7 by J. K. Rowling. Yes, I've read them before but I really do recommend that you read them straight through, one after the other. You get a better appreciation for J.K. Rowling's genius that way. And yes, even though you know how it ends all the little details still take you by surprise. That we can still be enthralled after 14 years, 7 books and 8 movies is a marvel.

• The Pile of Stuff at the Bottom of the Stairs by Christina Hopkinson. I could have written this book. Why didn't I write this book? Hilariously funny in the way that has you looking over your head for speech bubbles. The author *must* be reading your mind and putting out there all the things you think but would never dare say out loud. Very British, reminiscent of Bridget Jones' Diary and a happy ending to boot.

• Traveling with Pomegranates by Sue Monk Kidd & Ann Kidd Taylor. Part travelogue, part spiritual journey, part family saga, this book really touched me. Partly because we had just seen "The Way" right before I started reading this and I was in the mindset of spiritual journeys, this book made me remember things I'd forgotten. My wish to travel, the ways travel can open your eyes to things you already know deep inside, the ebb and flow of family relationships, the many faces devotion takes. I also enjoyed all the references to art, poetry and literature. I googled myself silly for awhile! It was a bit of a shock at first to find myself identifying with the "mature mom" half of the team rather than the daughter half, but I can't be the only one who has to remind themselves of the passage of time and your chronological age vs. your internal age. Sue Kidd struggles with issues of aging, menopause, moving onto another stage of life and wondering if it's going to be productive and if so in what form? All things I realized I was struggling with myself but not being able to articulate or put into concrete thought. And in the laws of serendipity, after googling all the religious icons in the book and remembering how beautiful I find them, I found a small one of the Virgin Mary while cleaning out a box. I think it might have been a baby shower gift. It's on my computer desk now.

• The Distant Hours by Kate Morton. A new favorite author. Like Tana French her work is so dense and has so many twists, turns and connections that you cannot possibly figure it all out until the last page. Every so often there is a little clue and you think "ah ha!" only to be turned on your head later on. Wonderful!

• My Lucky Life In and Out of Show Business by Dick Van Dyke. A class act and a gentleman. That he's one of my favorites didn't hurt either.

• The Paper Garden: Mrs. Delaney Begins Her Life's Work at 72 by Molly Peacock. Fascinating retrospective of an 18th-century gentlewoman's life and her creation of 985 mixed-media collage (previously unknown) botanically correct flowers (now housed in the British Museum). Like Traveling With Pomegranates, it is a meditation of creativity late in life, how one's life history culminates in unexpected ways. For all those still wondering "what will I be when I grow up" this book offers hope and inspiration.

• The Legend of Holly Claus by Brittney Ryan. My deepest admiration goes to those authors who can take a well-known story like Santa Claus and re-imagine it to make something totally new, totally believable and totally loved. This year I got to share this book with M. and he loved it just as much as I do.

Special Shout Out to my sister, R. who recommended some of these and many others as part of our family & friends book club.

More Entries from My Encyclopedia

• Sheetrobics - (No, not *that*, this is a family encyclopedia!) The workout you get from trying to put the sheets back on the kids' beds each day without dislodging 8 billion stuffed animals, 10 blankets, 8 pillows and a sippy cup. All the while exclaiming "what do you *do* at night? most people just sleep!" over and over.
• Sheet Ring - the grubby bottom third of the sheet when laundry day comes. You asked your kids if they washed their feet and they said yes. Silly you, you believed them.
• Compucrastination - the art of putting off whatever you don't want to do by clicking on all the blogs you follow, facebook, your email, etc. - every fifteen minutes.

more entries here

Stuff My Mom Said A Lot

• Remember! (meaning don't do anything you're not supposed to)
• You're cruisin' for a bruisin'
• Knock it off!
• Hob Dobbins
• If I make it, you have to eat it
• We're the only sane ones
• there's always room for one more
• Jesus, Mary & Joooowwseph
• who touched my curtains?
• I only want the best
• I love you
  
  

Stuff My Dad Said A Lot

• You make a better door than a window.
• When have to is your master you can do a lot of things.
• Pick up everything that doesn't grow.
• It's not cold, it's just a little cool.
• Now son... (even to the girls)
• Put one foot on the floor.
• Want some poultry seasoning on that?
• Lovely girl, married her twice, wouldn't do it again.
• You're my best girl. (to whichever daughter was in the room at the time)
• A man could drown in those eyes.
• If you name a baby Harold, I'll haunt you. That's an old man's name.
• This'll do.
• Want to go on an adventure?
• Your mother'll kill me if she finds out I let you... (but of course she already knew and didn't!)
• This is Mother's Goulash Number X (different number every time).
• You Snooze, You Lose!
• Smoke 'em if you've got 'em
• Jesus H. Christ
• What am I gonna do with you?
• What page are you on?

Life With Boys II

When is a smoke/CO alarm not real? When it is the toy metal detector!

Life With Boys

The newest game here is "throw your socks at the brick fireplace wall and see if they stick" accompanied with lots of hysterical laughing. All this Mom can say is "Huh?"

Four Stages of Dirt

Stage 1: Dirt Obliviousness. This is when things are dirty and invisible at the same time. Note the difference from Stage 2. From this state, it is possible to progress to either Stage 2 or directly to Stage 3.

Stage 2: Dirt Ignorance. This is when the dirt is visible but you have entered into a peace treaty with it. So long as it does not wave its hands in the air, embarrass you with horrible smells or cause botulism or other fatal illnesses you are willing, in return, to ignore it for a little while longer. From this state it is possible to progress to Stage 4.

Stage 3: Dirt Flabbergastedness. This is when the dirt blindsides you into such a state of shock, that you cannot possibly ignore it. Like when you look over your husband's shoulder while he is hugging you and blurt out "My god! When did the ceiling fan get that disgusting?!?!" and you push him away and immediately climb on the table, shouting for Clorox, rubber gloves, a tarp, copious amounts of hot water and possibly the National Guard. Note the difference from Stage 2. From this stage you skip right over Stage 4. There is no progression except into disgust with everything followed by exhaustion and possibly death (sometimes your own, but not necessarily).

Stage 4: Dirt Eradication. This is when all dirt is banished from your home at the same time. A very rare condition that if you are lucky enough or insane enough to reach, it will be fleeting. How fleeting depends on how many people share your house and how adept they are at picking up after themselves. In other words, about five minutes. From this stage it is possible to continue back to any of the previous stages, either exclusively or in progression.

Stuff I Say A Lot

• We've got to leave in 10 minutes.
• We have to go.
• Get in the car.
• Come on! We're going to be late!
• I told Grandma we'd pick her up, she's waiting!
• Getinthecargetinthecargetinthecaralreadydammit!
• Did you pee before we got in the car?
• Go pee.
• You do too have to go, you're dancing all over!
• Put that down/Stop talking/Tell me in a minute and go pee.
• Do you have to pee? Are you sure?
• Well *I* have to go, so you may as well go too.
• Yes, you can use the men's room. But don't talk to anyone and come right back.
• You have to pee now? Here?
• You washed your hands, didn't you?
• What am I making for dinner?
• No, you cannot eat spaghetti again.
• Well, what are you going to eat?
• No, you cannot eat that.
• Spaghetti!? You're going to turn into spaghetti!
• You need to eat more than that.
• You ate all of that today?
• Oh no you don't. You've already eaten. Put that back.
• I hear my phone ringing. Do you know where it is?
• Daddy's at work.
• Daddy's upstairs.
• Daddy's asleep.
• Daddy's stopping at Grandma's on the way home.
• I bet nobody calls me when I'm not here, do they?
• 10 minute warning!
• Don't you dare tell me those shoes are too tight.
• You're fine. It doesn't hurt.
• Should we close the drain?
• We'll cross that bridge when we come to it.
• Look at Mommy! Smile!
• Keep doing what you're doing, pretend you don't see the camera.
• Have I got the camera?
• Dang, the camera battery is dead again.
• How come I'm never in any of these pictures?
• Yes, I did tell you that. About 10 times.
• I do not want to hear another word about (Halloween/Christmas/Your Birthday) until after (Back to School/Thanksgiving/New Years).
• Not today. But you could put it on your list for Santa.
• Well if you don't get it for Christmas, maybe you'll get it for your birthday.
• I'm just a little bit turned around
• I made a wrong turn
• I know where I am but not how to get where I should be
• Stop snorting and use words please.
• Remember the rules! No stitches until you're 10 and no broken bones til you're 15! (I keep upping the ages. So far it's working!)
• Why do I spend good money on pillows if you're just going to throw them at each other?
• Why are your sheets off the bed?
• There's no room for you in that bed with all those toys.
• This place is filthy!
• Do NOT spray that hose inside the windows!
• Go spray over there!
• If you get me wet, so help me...
• Come over here and spray the mud off my hands/feet/shoes.
• They arrest people who go outside without pants on.
• It's in the (bedroom/pantry/basement/closet/your room/etc)
• I don't know where your stuff is. I have my own junk to keep track of.
• Well where did you leave it?
• Where's your brother?
• Go play with your brother.
• Turn off that computer/DS now.
• You're going to have to hang up soon.
• You're silly!
• I'll call their mom and set it up.
• Of course I'll read that book to you.
• This book sounds really good, we should read this one.
• Yes I want to hear, tell me all about it!
• Super job! 2 Thumbs up!
• Who wants a smoothie on the way home?
• You can have a donut, either one.
• Who loves you?
• I love you!
• Daddy and Mommy and M./P. love you the best.
• Everybody loves you!

Things That Freak Me Out

• Bats
• Those LED headlights (are they LED? the bluish ones?). It's like a Transformer is following me
• An article I just saw about how bugs are great for the diet because they're big sources of protein. Including a section about which ones to eat if you like this or that food. Um.... no
• Driving over the Grand Island Bridge
• Driving over the Grand Island Bridge at night
• Driving over the Grand Island Bridge at night in the rain
• Millipedes
• The sound grinding teeth make
• That puff of air they put in your eye to test for glaucoma. How on earth do they expect you to keep your 2nd eye open after that?
• Venus flytraps
• Troll dolls

I Hide, You Seek

The other night P. wanted to play hide and seek before bed. "No way, " I told him, "it's already very late! Get in bed!" I turned around from putting clothes away, turning on the fan, confiscating the books, etc. and there he was under the covers. "I see you! I know you're under there!" M. cracked up laughing. "That's not him, Mom. He's in the bathroom." Sure enough, I go in the bathroom and there he is, laughing at me. You can trick Mommy sometimes!

Goal Exceeded

In 2010 I read 6 books. Six.

Ok, so maybe I read a few more, but I'm not counting bedtime stories. These were books for me. Books read for pleasure and information gathering and just for fun. Six books. Six. This pathetic little number made me sad, dismayed, and a bit angry. To be frank, I was appalled. How did I let this happen? Me? The girl who can read a 700 page book in 2 days? I could give a lot of reasons for the decline in number of books read, like I went back to work full-time, I spent a lot of time in the car ferrying kids back and forth and I hate audio books, I am exhausted, etc etc etc. Who cares what the reasons are, Lizzie, what are you going to do about it going forward?

So for 2011, I set a goal to read 52 books. I thought one a week was reasonable and left some leeway for the short reads that might take a day or two and the longer ones that might take more than a week. The important thing was I set a goal and I put a reminder out there to help me do it, namely my account on Shelfari.

Reading has always brought me great pleasure and making a conscious effort to put it back into my life just made me happy happy happy. There were books I adored (The Ten Year Nap, Elizabeth I, Madame Tussaud, Still Alice, The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake, Perfumes: The Guide), books that freaked me out but kept me turning the pages to find out what happened next (Room, Faithful Place, Her Fearful Symmetry), books that I could take or leave (we won't single those out because opinion is subjective) and books I hated (I stopped reading them).

I'm happy to say that as of today I've read 55 books, so I've surpassed my goal and there are still 4 months left in the year. Yay me!

Current book: Re-reading all 7 Harry Potters in succession. I'm on Chamber of Secrets now.

Next challenge: get needlework back into my life on a regular basis...

If You Shouldn't Go Grocery Shopping While Hungry

clearly you shouldn't be bringing 2 hungry boys along either. A trip for 3 things resulted in 5 bags and $125...

Who Knew?

Apparently, if you angle the jets in the whirlpool tub just so and let out just enough water, you can have a nifty water cannon that shoots hot soapy water out the bathroom door and down the stairs!