16 things

Once you’ve been tagged, you have to write a note with 16 random things, shortcomings, facts, habits or goals about you.

1. I read a book last night - from start to finish. Just because I could.
2. I like to think I like hard, thought provoking fiction or non-fiction, but I just like the escape.
3. I don't miss going to movies.
   
4. I hate it when my house is cluttered, I just want to pick it up. But I get discouraged and let it happen because it seems like too much work to clean.
5. I am sick of coughing and feeling tired. I've been sick for over two weeks and it is depressing.
6. I love to get away and travel. I like to see something besides the same stuff I can see every day. I get stir crazy when I haven't left town in 4 weeks.
7. I love working at home - although I miss the commute. The down time and the time to listen to NPR.
8. I hate when my computer makes noise - I wish there was a way to just shut off all the beeps without having to set it in EVERY single application.
9. I love the sunrise more than the sunset - I like the beginning more than the end. (And it's usually quieter and more private).
10. I wish I lived near the ocean - the smell, the sound, sigh.
11. I love living near my family.
12. I wish I had more local friends. Maybe I need to get out more?
13. I am still mad about being lactose intolerant - it's been 6 months but I feel like my body betrayed me.
14. I am thinking about getting rid of my books. I have this desire to just get rid of things. Clean it all out.
15. I can't remember the last time I listened to one of the CDs or watched a DVD.
16. I love my kids' bedtime routine and the fact that both of them learned the baby sign language for book before they learned the one for food.
    

Citizen Higgy

Congratulations to the newest citizen in my family - Higgy. The family turned out in sickness (mine) and in health (everyone else) to celebrate Higgy taking the citizenship oath. Favorite parts - seeing him wave from the 780+ crowd, hearing how many citizens from each country, watching O drink from his flag straw, watching L wave her flag and clap, and the grins on all those faces.

It would have been better if I hadn't needed a 3 hour nap to recover.

Playing on the bed

Recipe for Playing on the bed:
1 king bed
1 feather bed
4 feather pillows
1 down comforter
2 hyper children
2 tired adults

Place feather bed and down comforter on bed. Give 2 pillows to each adult. Lovingly throw one child on the bed. Laugh. Carefully place 2nd child on bed - push over (flop). Laugh. Repeat. Use pillows to push children over. Laugh. Repeat. Tickle. Laugh. Repeat.

Books in bed

I've been sick for about a week. It's left me tired and resting during O's bedtime routine. I've been unable to read bedtime stories without coughing so much that O asks "are you ok?" followed by "here's bob, he'll make you feel better" or "we could watch Sesame Street to make you feel better."

So when it was time for another book before bed, he decided to read it to himself sitting next to me while I read mine. He pointed to the pictures and talked to himself. He gave the little boy in the story advice - "you should wipe your feet", "you're making a mess" and then asked questions - "what is this for?". It was the nice end to a tiring day.

It's not football season

it's Sesame Street season.

at least, it is according to O.

Hope that made you grin - it made me grin.

Playing on the floor

For about 15 minutes today I just sat with L and watched her play. She had opened the pull out shelf with tea and coffee. She would take it out, stack it and put it back. Occasionally, I would take some tea bags or a coffee bag and put it back on the shelf. She was so intent on her task she seemed confused by where it came from.

Bat man

Bat man - noun - the man who hits the big ball with the bat
synonym: Baseball batter
Usage: What are you going to be for Halloween? A bat man. Mom then gives the definition as the person asking starts referencing that caped crusader and O looks on in confusion.

Political skits

I was amused by two recent skits one from Saturday Night Live and another from The Daily Show.

SNL: Palin & Clinton address sexism

Daily Show: Small Town Values

Friends

There is nothing like seeing a friend you haven't seen in years - I think it was almost 5 years for Jen - and feeling like you just saw them yesterday. Those are the friends you try to keep for life. In fact, I think that is the only kind of friend I have... I love you all.

Not sick

Ok - I'm not happy that there are those in my family who are keeping a tissue or handkerchief nearby. I'm not happy to be wiping runny noses and trying to convince people to drink more fluids and take a vitamin. But, I am happy that this is the second illness that only hit me with the mildest attack. I've been tired - but no antibiotics, no days off work and I wasn't miserable. Yippee!

Helpful

I like being helpful - it makes me happy to solve someone else's problem or make someone else's life easier.

Olympics

Six gold medals and six world records - amazing! Here's hoping for eight and eight.

Friends

It's always good to see a friend after a few years. And even more fun when they bring a lovely wife. While it was a short visit, it was great to catch up.

Vacation

I'm on Day 2 of 11 days of no required work - except that since I'll be home, I'm sure I'll check e-mail. In fact, I even said I would on my out of the office message... And of course, I have a 3 - 5 page document due - and I haven't even started it yet. Maybe it just feels good to have 11 days with a conference call?

Simple syrup

Sometimes it's the simple things - sugar and water melted together. Yum - add it to limeade, lemonade - or some mixed drink. Mmmmmm.

Kat's Cradle - Karen Kijewski

My fun, silly, book club book. This is one of those books that are part of a series with the attendant silly caste of characters. We needed something fun for book club after the stuff we had been reading, so I suggested this one. It has an interesting twist that is something to discuss at the end. Did the mother know - and did that change how she reacted? I look forward to discussing that on Thursday.

I might even go back and reread the entire series.

eat, pray, love - Elizabeth Gilbert

Someone gave me this book to read, I don't know who anymore. It sat on my shelf for months and I finally picked it up. I knew nothing about it other than that it seem popular these days. I think I saw it for sale at Sam's Club - a good indication a book is a bestseller.

Reading this book was so easy - the style of prose, the short "beads" for each of the 108 articles. Easy to pick up and put down. Reading about her divorce reminded me so much of mine - the despair, fighting, and sense of guilt for being the one to leave. Reading about her experiences, I thought I had forgiven my ex, but can you forgive someone if you still hate them? I know I have not fully forgiven myself - I don't feel guilt/shame for leaving, I feel the shame of having been there in the first place and been there so long. It's not something I think about much, but when I do, it's in the middle of the night. This book was so easy to read, but it's leaving me wondering where do I go next.

This book may be about one year of living abroad and finding yourself. It's also about finding out what is important to you. What is it that makes you want to get up and face the day? What are the things you do to yourself that keep you from doing those things?

Those are things I need to think about.

Where does TCMH come from?

A long time ago, when Higgy posted comments on the Dave Barry blog, he didn't want to use names. So once upon a time before I was TCMH, I was TFMH - The Future Mrs. Higgy. Then I became The Current Mrs. Higgy. But I also consider other c adjectives - crazy, cunning, clever, careful, competitive, cheerful (HA!), competent... I even said to him, shouldn't it just be TMH or TC&FMH. But I hate thinking of names for sites and I didn't want to use my name, so I used it. So that, dear reader is where TCMH comes from.

Another day down...

Happy thoughts - the simple things,

• a pair of dump trucks and a bobcat to start O's day with a laugh and shout.
• finding the missing "O" to his name stool - under the stove - it's been gone so long a friend of my parents had already made us a new one
• routines - they help with the stress of a missing parent - even if Higgy isn't here, the routine is helping O cope
• 80 mile drive to San Ramon, took 80 mins - both there and back! I hope tomorrow is the same.
  

Things aren't all perfect though. With the smoky air, school has been limiting the amount of outside play. O is going to bed at least an hour later than usual because he has so much extra energy. At least I realized that was the problem and adjusted tonight. No reason to have the endless get back in bed conversation for two hours.

2 days down, 4 more to go. and in 2 days, I have reinforcements.

I made it through the morning

3:30a alarm clock and Higgy is out of bed, getting ready for an early morning flight to Europe. Back to sleep, only to wake up as he walks in and out of the door waiting for the very late shuttle to take him to the airport. I found notes all over the house, making me smile, making me miss him even though he was just at the airport.

O was up just after I showered, enough to just settle him into our bed while I got ready for the day. We were able to share a little quiet time before L was up - which makes the start of the day so much easier. Somehow, we were all dressed, sunblocked, and fed before the 7a work day began. O even had his lunch packed - with a cookie.

I hope tomorrow works this well.

So many books so little time (6)

After reading In a Dark House, I wanted to read more - more brain candy, so I went to my local independent bookstore and picked up what he had for Deborah Crombie (including 2 of one by accident). And then I went on a binge of junk reading the first 5 books in the series. I don't think I read any of these over more than 1 day:

All Shall be Well
A Share in Death
Leave the Grave Green
Mourn Not Your Dead
Dreaming of the Bones

These are not as good as In a Dark House, but I feel I know the characters more.

And for book club, I read Kim Stanley Robinson's The Years of Rice and Salt. That one took a week of dedicated reading every night. It was interesting, but if the author hadn't been coming to book club, I would have stopped after 100 pages. I don't feel like it was a waste of time and after talking to Stan, I would have to say I think more favorably on it now than I did before.

But I've just been too busy to think about what I read and then write - sorry.

In fact, I keep think I read something else since I last wrote. For the life of me, I can't think of what it would be? I know I started Your Money or Your Life - maybe that's what's nagging at me?

Trampoline

Nothing like the shiny happy face of your neighbor and her friends, cousins, ??? as they pop in and out of view. Or maybe it was the many months without the trampoline due to the tree collapse - I'm sure it was one of them that made me happy.

A clean car

Yes, it is the little things - a shiny, clean (or better than it was, at least) car.

In a Dark House - Deborah Crombie

Set in London, this detective story must be part of a series. Rarely do I pick up a book in the middle of a series, but this time I did without even knowing it. I don't even know how this book ended up on my "To Read" pile - probably the friend I currently work for... I enjoyed the obviously recurring characters along with the mystery itself. While many mystery books rely on coincidences to make things happen, this one turned them around a little bit.

I find myself wanting to read the books that precede this one and the ones that come after; a good sign. I may keep it and re-read it when I get to it's spot on the chronological order of the series. But I'll definitely pass it around to other readers.

7th Heaven - James Patterson

After slogging through the last book, I needed brain candy. Patterson's Women's Murder Club series seemed like a good fit. I read it in a few short hours and generally enjoyed it. However, the last two paragraphs left me with a bad taste in my mouth. As usual there is more than one investigation going and a large part of the book focuses around one investigation. The missing party has a particular image and the end of the book didn't meet with that image. It left me with a feeling that someone would have had some insight to this, the end just didn't seem consistent with the personality of the character.

Fun book, but not one of the best in the series.

The Accidental Masterpiece: On the Art of Life and Vice Versa

The idea sounded good - an art critic talking about art and making it relevant to every day life. In practice, it was hit or miss. If I had reviewed the book 50 pages or even 111 pages in, I would have said it made great bedtime reading. I could barely focus on the pages and several times I found myself re-reading a section because I had not remembered a thing. At least 3 times I started reading and 2 pages later realized I had read that before. I was then able to skip ahead 10 or 20 pages.

Then somewhere around half way, I found myself actually enjoying the reading. It never made me want to keep reading when I was tired or make me think, I wish I could go start reading it. But I was no longer forcing myself to read it. At this point, it turned almost travelogue or adventure story. I believe the first chapter was about taking pictures in Antarctica on ill-fated journeys and one of the last was about traveling to artists making art in remote places.

While I don't recommend it for everyone, I think it gives insight into an artist's mind - which apparently sometimes bores me to tears.

The Namesake - Jhumpa Lahiri

I don't know where to start in reviewing this book. As I was reading it, there were several paragraphs that described perfectly how I have felt at different stages in my life. Other parts were wholly unfamiliar. I enjoyed the introspective nature of the main character, but didn't feel a good connection with many of the supporting cast. There were passages that made me ache and other ones that didn't touch me at all. Overall, it has me thinking and that is a good thing.

I would recommend this book, but I am still not sure whether it will be going on the permanent shelves. I already lent it out.

Quiet time

Just getting 10, 15 or 30 minutes to myself, no one calling Mom or crying. Having a few quiet moments to drink a mug of tea and read the newspaper or a glass of milk and browse a magazine. Or maybe it is just the quiet. It's something that makes me feel better, although I am not sure if that is the same as being happy.

The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway

As I read this book, I kept wondering why it is considered a classic. The only thing I can think of is the fabulous description of the bull fights. The rest of the book left me bored and struggling to pick it up. I even went looking for reader guides or discussion questions to give insight into what I failed to notice. Even with those questions, I don't see what the fuss is about.

I'll be sending this back to the person I borrowed it from - and I'll have to think of something to say at book club next week.

A History of the World in 6 Glasses - Tom Standage

After looking through the bibliography of The Ghost Map, I decide to read A History of the World in 6 Glasses - and someone was nice enough to give it to me for Christmas. It really is a world history from ancient times to current. It all starts with beer - which was apparently a main currency back in the day. Everyone was given a ration, even slaves. As time went on, wine took on a larger role - increasing it's influence as the cultivation of grapes improved. Helping this trend along is that aged wine can improve where aged beer is not considered a delicacy. The discovery of the New World and the resulting slave trade and sugar production moved spirits (originally rum from the waste of sugar production) to the forefront. Not only was it cost effective to use the waste from the sugar process, it was smaller to transport back to Africa, where it was prized as the most efficient way to get drunk. The Age of Reason required everyone to sober up, so coffee and the coffeehouses moved to ahead - stimulating conversation rather than rowdy behavior and sleep. The British love for tea helped them become a world power, based on the antibacterial properties and the need to boil the water. And finally Coca-Cola - which did indeed (and incidentally still does) contain ingredients from the plant that is used for cocaine - is the best known brand in the world and made it there through the rise of the USA as the superpower. Reading this concise history made me look at things in a new light and gave me a better understanding of each area in history.

I would recommend this book, let me know if you want to borrow it.

Spring has sprung here

Spring has started to poke it's head out of the cold, wet ground. Nothing like happy tulips. I love them as my flowers around the house - not only when they are living and vibrant colors, but I love the way they die into interesting sculptural shapes. I'll be bringing some of that home today I think.

Safe Haven - Hannah Alexander

This one was lying around my parents house when I was taking a break. As expected, I picked it up and made it through 80% of the book before I headed back home. It's part of a Christian medical thriller series and I won't be going out of my way to finish it. I would pick it up if I happened to see it, but I have a pretty good idea where it will end up. The beginning of the book was pretty light on the save your soul message but the references to finding / relying on God are getting more and more frequent. The mystery isn't all that mysterious or thrilling to me, although I suppose if I finish the book I could be surprised.

Update March 7, 2008: Mom hand delivered the book to my house, so I finished it. I had barely 30 pages to go. Yup, just as a suspected. Not terrible, but not brilliant either. Since I am reading so much less these days, I am trying to be more selective in what goes onto my To Read shelf. Books by this author are unlikely to make it.

Deadly Gamble - Linda Lael Miller

Yup, I read a book that isn't from my "To Read" shelf - which is packed so full it should be shelves. My mom handed me this on and said she wanted it back when I finished. What a perfect excuse to read the introduction to the wacky Mojo Sheepshanks. This is fun in the vein of the Evanovich Plum series, but I don't feel that I need to keep it around. I look forward to more Mojo adventures in the future.

Now, back to A History of the World in 6 Glasses. I'm almost halfway through, or I think I am, since I am up to coffee having completed the beer, wine and spirits sections.

Happy Thoughts running low

• Calling a friend who says, "I was just about to call / write you" always brings a smile
• Having a friend say - "Can I visit on XXX?" smiles and maybe I'll even dance a jig
• Hearing the Little Miss laugh - it's only happened twice, but I look forward to more
• Thin Mints, yippee for Girl Scout Cookie season
  
• Marble Fudge ice cream from Leatherby's - only available as a "special"
• Shiny, glossy, primary colors for children's furniture and bedding (Thank you Mom & Dad)
  
• Seat warmers on a cold day
• Hot coffee with lots of sugar and cream when you've only slept for 3 hours
• Crossing items off your to do list - even if you have to add them so you can cross them off
  

The Edge - Catherine Coulter

Brad, owner of Book Lovers, recommend I read the Catherine Coulter's FBI series. She will be signing her next book at his store in the summer. Since I am generally looking for a new series of brain candy reading, I picked up The Edge.

It was good as brain candy of the mystery, detective goes, but it wasn't spectacular. I enjoyed the story when it was in Edgerton, Oregon. But once they were assaulted and whisked to South America, I lost all ability to suspend belief.

I will try another book in the series, but at this point, I would only pick these up used and when I am running low on my "To Read" pile.

Their Eyes were Watching God - Zora Neale Hurston

Reasons this book should be considered a classic:

• Strong character development of the main character - insight into her thinking at different ages
• Non-idealistic view of love and how people who love each other can react - jealous, controlling, abusive, supportive, loving, friendly, etc.
• Societal norms - follow or not to follow?
• Sense of place - gives the feeling of the South during Jim Crow years

I'd never heard of this book before I found it on my "To Read" shelf. Even while I wasn't reading this book, I wondered what would happen next. I considered the life she had left behind and compared it to the life she was embarking on. I wondered how she would end up alone at the end (they tell you this at the beginning).

A wonderful book, I will be passing it on. If I wasn't paring back the bookshelves, I would keep it.

Bunco

Here are 5 things that make me happy related to my monthly bunco group:

1. I've played with this group since I was a teenager, and it's like extended family.
2. No matter how much I may want to sleep or veg instead, I am always glad I went.
3. Winning - even if it is the low prize.
4. Eating food I would probably never have made.
5. Laughing and hearing others laugh.

Sleep, blessed sleep

My happy thought for the day is my oh, so comfy bed. The feather bed, feather pillows and feather comforter make a fabulous nest to snuggle up and sleep the sleep of the dead - or at least really sleep and wake up refreshed. Sleep makes me happy, or maybe it is feeling rested and refreshed that makes me happy?

Dark Tort - Diane Mott Davidson

Another book in the Goldie Culinary Mysteries series. I wonder how long she can really keep this up. This was book 13 and I am really starting to get the hang of enjoying these. I have to read them quickly and not think about them too much. If I do think too much, I can easily figure out where things are going. Each book in the series has become less and less enjoyable. I will probably continue with the series, but I'll make sure to get them used and in paperback.

In this installment, the neighbor is murdered and Goldie discovers the body. Now, she is off to help find the killer.

This one will go to the family reading circle and then back to the independent bookstore.

The Blind Side - Michael Lewis

I'll admit it, I do enjoy football. I have probably watched 80% of the Sundays for 17 of the last 19 seasons - and with DirecTV NFL Pass, that is a lot of games. In all that time, I have heard the announcers talk about "West Coast Offense", "nickel and dime", etc., but I'll be honest, I didn't have a clue what they were talking about. I grew up with the legend of Joe Montana and Bill Walsh - and let me tell you, I am still sick of hearing about the 49ers. I have lamented the declining ability of players to actually TACKLE - all this shoving and pushing, bring the man down already.

The Blind Side helped me understand all of it and I am looking forward to watching for the left side tackle in the Super Bowl this Sunday. The Blind Side tells the story of the growing importance of the left side tackle position on the offensive line (and before this book, I knew that was a position but that was about it...). It starts with Lawrence Taylor (LT) and the new move to sack the quarterback. Before this book, I had assumed the sack statistic had been around since the dawn of football. Now, I know that it was invented after LT came to play. The topic sounds boring, but Lewis finds a way to intersperse the history of the game with the story of Michael Oher. Michael is being groomed to be a left side tackle and the story of how it happened is heartbreaking.

I loved this book and had a hard time putting it down. It will have a home in the library, and more importantly, I think it will change how I watch football.

Confessor - Terry Goodkind

Yippee, the Sword of Truth series is over! This last book in the series was fast paced and action packed; wrapping up all of the major characters that have played a role in the last 10 books. This is not a book that someone who hasn't read any of the rest of the series should read. I have read the rest of the series (more than once for most books) and I was thinking, "and how does this character fit again?"

Somehow he has tied up all the loose ends and still left the door open to return to this world sometime in the future. However, it wasn't enough for me to keep the series. Now that it has been finished, I'll be taking all of the books to the book store for credit.

Touchstone - Laurie R. King

I enjoy Laurie King books and usually, I enjoy her non-series books more than her series books. Touchstone was different. It is set in 1920s England with a US FBI agent investigating a terrorist who is believed to be an English gentleman involved in workers' rights. The book was slow going and in fact, I finished it a few weeks ago. I just didn't know what to say about it. I trudged through the beginning of the book and somewhere in the middle it picked up steam. It wasn't a book that made me think about larger issues as some of her other ones do, it was just a story to me.

I'll be keeping it for now, but if it wasn't a Laurie King book, it would probably get passed on with out having a permanent home in my library.

Happy birthday Higgy!

In honor of Higgy's 38th B-day, here's 38 happy thoughts related to having him in my life:

1. Wonderful warm bear hugs
2. Cuddling on cold winter nights
3. Fabulous sunny side up eggs (yes, he can cook)
4. The way his eyes crinkle when he smiles (or laughs)
5. A son who looks like him
6. A daughter who does too!
7. Wearing his extra large sweats when my maternity clothes weren't good enough
8. Mentioning that I want the bed changed, and finding it with clean sheets at bed time - I thought I was going to help
   
9. Watching British comedy (ok - at least some of them)
10. Vacations in Wales - complete with family
11. Walking in the snow in Paris - probably the only time I didn't absolutely hate snow
12. Discussing our future
13. Reminiscing about our pasts
14. Bedtime stories - I love hearing about his pre-me exploits (most of them, anyway)
15. Seeing him read stories to our son
16. Watching him hold our daughter while he's playing games on-line
17. Being able to have him hold a child during a Bills game - he has to calm down
18. Watching him sleep
19. Seeing him vacuum - he knows I HATE it
    
20. Hearing him laugh out loud at the movies - it almost always prompts me to do the same
21. Curry and chips - something I never would have tried without him
22. Morning tea, pots and pots of it
    
23. Being able to say, "I can't believe I married a frat boy"
24. Being able to tell shared stories
25. Having fond memories of Columbus, Ohio (date 2)
26. Reading R.A. Salvatore - something I wouldn't have done without him
27. Hearing the term "knackered" with an accent on a regular basis
28. Knowing that the reason it is pronounced yog-urt (yog rhymes with jog) instead of yo-gurt is because in Britain it is spelled yoghurt
29. Holding my hand up when asked what the best money he spent was (or any time he tells the stories of his 2nd and 3rd best expenses were)
30. Reading aloud to each other in the U-haul as I moved across country
31. Having a husband who my friends consider a friend too
32. Feeling so much love for one person and feeling it returned
33. Having someone who loves our kids and lives so much he has taken thousands upon thousands of pictures in the last few years
34. Warming up my side of the bed before I get in, even if it means his side is cold
35. Looking at pictures on my wall that have a crazy Higgy mustache from his college days
36. Looking through our photo albums and seeing the smiles
37. The view from the top of the Lincoln Center, our first kiss
38. Knowing that our future is together

Happy birthday Higgy, I love you!

Cuddle & Chat before sleep

One of my favorite parts of the day is cuddling with Higgy while talking about the day. It's my favorite way to unwind before going to sleep.

LIFE tiles

If you play the new Game of Life from Milton Bradley, you will get to collect LIFE tiles. These are tiles you pick up for doing things - have a child, go on vacation, those memories that make up your life. So, here is a LIFE tiles list of happy thoughts from the last few days:

• Learn more about a friend - nothing beats some one on one time to talk
  
• Family game night - because friends are family
• Visit the Zoo - you gotta love like the wide-eyed look on your son's face as the hornbill hops then spreads its wings and flies

In the game, each LIFE tile then earns you money for some acheivement - Pulitzer Prize, Invent a Game, etc. I think the experience is worth more than the money (even if it were real).

And strange aside - we have 3 boxes of The Game of Life. How does that happen?

One happy thought for each day since I posted last

1. a clean and empty sink to start the day
2. watching my son pick up after himself, without prompting
3. seeing my daughter smile in her sleep
4. shopping with Mom, although I usually find way too much good stuff
5. free long distance phone calls (maybe I need more local friends?)
6. my car's seat warmers on a cold night (yes, I know it doesn't really get that cold here)

Hugs and Kisses

I am happy to have family and friends who give me hugs (and kisses) when I need them. Sometimes you just need that human comfort.

Firmin - Sam Savage

This is a book club pick and not one that I voted for. It is " Savage's sentimental debut concerns the coming-of-age of a well-read rat in 1960s Boston." The rat lives in a book store and tells his life story. It was definitely different, and thankfully quite a quick read. I started it this morning and finished it this afternoon. It wasn't terrible, it was just forgettable. Rat eats book and lives in slum...

I borrowed it and I'll be giving it back.

Caffeine and medication

I have had a horrible headache for going on 4 days now, so my happy thought is the caffeine and medication that is able to take it from blurring my vision painful to just annoying. Without these wonderful things, I would be entirely unable to function.

Leatherby's

We started going to Leatherby's so long ago that I don't remember not having Leatherby's in my life. Friends have been amused at how quickly we can gather 10 family members for ice cream with less than 20 minutes notice. One of yesterday's happy moments was the seasonal Apple Pie ice cream sundae with caramel, whipped cream, nuts and a cherry. I am looking forward to Strawberry Chocolate Chip in the spring.

I survived today

There aren't many days when I have both kids to myself for hours on end; today was one of those days. Higgy helped my sister move in SF. Since 2 kids 2 and under would really not help with the move in process, I stayed behind. We've all been sick this week and I was really not sure if 3 sick (although healing) people would be something fun. I had more fun than I thought. Big Brother was very good and only asked me to put the Little Sister down once. Well, one time he did want me to let her keep crying to stay with him. Little Sister was her usual charming self - although with more sleeping and less crying than usual. Somehow I was able to get them each to sleep during the day and through bath time to go to bed at night.

I got many smiles from each of them and they made my day.

Stardust - Neil Gaiman

This book was a fairy tale. A boy goes off to find a fallen star for his love and the star is a girl. A delightful story filled with talking animals and all manner of adventure. It brought a smile to my face several times. But, I don't think it would be worth reading again.

I'll be passing it on.

New Year's Resolutions - and a new thing to blog about...

Anyone who has been around me lately knows that I have been more cranky and negative than usual. At least, I am going to guess they think so, I would hate to think that I am like this all the time... My New Year's Resolution is to blog about happy things at least 4 times a week.

Hopefully, this will at least start me focusing on the good things and not just all the bad.

Today's happy thing - the sound of rain. I love rain. I don't mind getting wet and I sure do enjoy the rain dropping on a roof, car, puddle, anything really. We're in for a huge storm this weekend; I'll have a few days to enjoy it.

Books to look forward to...

Last year I gave the preview of what I would be reading in the coming year, so here's an update on what is to come...

Received for Xmas:
Your Money or Your Life - Joe Dominguez and Vicki Robin
A History of the World in 6 Glasses - Tom Standage
Banker to the Poor - Muhammad Yunus
A Feast for Crows - George R.R. Martin
The Blind Side - Michael Lewis

Book Club for the next few months:
Firmin: Adventures of a Metropolitan Lowlife by Sam Savage

The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway

The Accidental Masterpiece by Michael Kimmelman

The Years of Rice and Salt by Kim Stanley Robinson

Where I Was From by Joan Didion

Books left over from last year's list:
The Invisible Circus - Jennifer Egan
White Fang - Jack London
The Christmas Box -Richard Paul Evans
Adam Bede - George Elliot
The Cloister Walk, Dakota and Amazing Grace - Kathleen Norris
Under the Banner of Heaven - Jon Krakauer
Selected Fiction - Henry James
The Time of Our Singing - Richard Powers
The Winter of Our Discontent - John Steinbeck
Stolen Lives - Malika Oufkin
Dearest Friend, A life of Abigail Adams - Lynne Withey
Africans in America, America's Journey through Slavery
Time to be in Earnest - PD James
Sappho's Leap - Erica Jong
A Fine Balance - Rohinton Mistry
Sixth Precinct - Christopher Newman
Protect and Defend - Richard North Patterson
Family Orchard - Nomi Eve
PG County - Connie Briscoe

For the other books I have already on my shelf, which as you can see from last year's list doesn't mean I'll read it anytime this year, I have added an applet on the bottom of the blog. It's a facebook application that allows you to put in your coming reading and what you are reading now. I still have to add in the books I got from Christmas and the ones coming up in book club, but it will give you a look at what is lying around - in case anyone cares.

Happy New Year!