projects progress (update 3)

March 22nd-28th.

>Mission: 50x50.

#15-Try 50 new recipes. Well, after very little progress on this goal during those first few months, I seem to be coming on like gangbusters lately. Of course, that's because I have extra incentive--as this also helps me make progress on my Mission: Recipe Reorganization. Anyway, this past week moved me six spots closer to finishing this particular goal. I tried Fantasia Bars (a recipe I might not have kept except that Annie went absolutely wild over them), Hot Pepper Rice (okay, but not worth keeping), Chili Relleno Pie (Rich and I both absolutely loved this one!), Spinach Cheese Swirls (another okay, but not worth keeping), Ravioli Casserole (another keeper--Annie really loved this one, and even Max asked for seconds), and a new recipe for Veggie Chili (Rich usually makes our chili, and does an amazing job at it, I might add. But I thought I'd go ahead and give this simple recipe a shot just for the heck of it. The verdict--okay. But I'm going to do a fair bit of tweaking when I try it again.)

#17-Make 50 different kinds of soup. Sheesh, finally just getting the first one checked off here. And poor Rich--I put this one on my 50x50 list just for him. Oh well, I definitely made him happy yesterday. I actually could have used this as a new recipe as well, but I decided not to double up on these "cooking" ones.

Quick Minestrone Soup

2 medium carrots, chopped
1 cup chopped cabbage
1 celery ribbed, sliced
1 small onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
2 tsps vegetable oil
3 cups water
1 can (14.5 oz.) petite diced tomatoes, undrained
3 vegetable bouillon cubes
1 cup torn fresh spinach
2/3 cup cooked pasta, cooked
1/4 tsp pepper

In a large saucepan or Dutch oven, saute the carrots, cabbage, celery, onion, and garlic in the oil for 5 minutes.

Add water, tomatoes, and bouillon. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 20-25 minutes (until veggies are tender).

Stir in spinach, pasta, and pepper. Heat through.

Okay, you can't really tell from this picture, but he really loved it! Good thing, since I made a double batch (half for him to have for lunches this week and half that I froze for another time).
















#39-Read 50 classics. Which, of course, is rather subjective. And since it's my list, I get to decide if it's a classic, right? Well, in my opinion, if We by Yevgeny Zamyatin isn't a classic, it should be. So I'm counting it. :)

#48-Find 50 new bands that I like enough to download something by them. I've got Ana to thank for this one. Again. :D Yep, she posted a song by Amanda Applewood on her tumblr, and I immediately went and downloaded three songs by her.

>Mission: Declutter.

The library is still moving along at a slow but steady pace. The reason this is taking so long is because I'm trying to catalog all my books (and all the books belonging to other family members that I want to read) on Library Thing as I go. (If I ever get all my books catalogued, then I can finally start keeping track of my progress, or lack thereof, in Mission: Tackle the TBR Pile.)

These are the shelves that have been conquered this time around:

Unfortunately, only four books were purged from that set of shelves beneath the window. And that other set of shelves--none. But only a few of those books are mine, so at least I'm not left feeling guilty about it.















The only other "room" I worked on this past week was my scrapbook area. And while I know I'm making progress in there, it's really hard to quantify at this point. I'm telling you, it's a complete, unmitigated disaster. I can't even use it at this point.

While I am making these "projects progress" posts for my own amusement and motivation, it is a more than a little embarrassing to know that others could see the state of that "room." :P Hopefully, there will be "after" pictures soon.

>Mission: Conquer the Unfinished Craft Projects

I asked Max to "model" with the bag I finally finished crocheting for Annie's birthday. He was quite a little sport in agreeing to do so, but I'm fairly sure that Annie will be using it as something other than a feed bag. :P















>Mission: Recipe Reorganization.

Not a lot of progress here. I did *start* going through this large collection of cooking magazines and tearing out recipes, but I only got through 11 of them.

>Mission: Create the Home I Dream Of

One of my goals on this list is to gradually replace our everyday dishes with pieces picked up from thrift stores. We've had our dishes for over 20 years now, and while I still like their plain simple style, they really have seen better days. Very few pieces remain that aren't chipped. And all of them are stained where the glaze has worn away so it's a tad embarrassing serving guests food on them. Believe me, they look even worse in person.

I didn't really want to buy a new set of dishes though. And I wasn't confident that I could find an entire set of dishes that I liked at a thrift store. But! I bet I can find several individual dishes that I like at the thrift stores. And that's what I've set out to do--just make a big old mix and match collection. Tied together with color (my kitchen is mostly red and white, with splashes of other bright colors) and bold-ish design. Anyway, I had found two plates a few weeks ago, and this past weekend I found two bowls.

Yeah, most people might think that's a really stupid idea, but it's this family that's going to have to look at them, right? :P









Hmmmm...when I put it all together in a post like this, it makes it look like I accomplished a lot. Even though I really didn't. :D

tidbits...looking for the bright side version

*How did the weekend fly by so quickly?!! I mean they always do, but somehow this one really got away from me. The bright side? It's a few days closer to spring break.

*The taxes took another few years off my life. Okay, probably not true...but they definitely did take away those nearly eight hours that could have been spent doing things much more fun. Like cleaning the bathroom. :/ The bright side? Well, duh. This is a no brainer--those lovely refunds that will soon arrive in our bank account from the feds and the state.

*Winter...are you ever going to take your leave? Normally, I don't mind this time of year when winter refuses to just slip peacefully away, but this year I seem to have ants in my pants. I blame Chris for all lovely garden photos and posts! Sorry, but I do. :P Meanwhile, it hasn't been above freezing here in a week, and while it is forecasted to finally hit the mid-30s tomorrow and even the low 40s later in the week, there is also the possibility of at least light snow Wednesday through Saturday. And Chris keeps rubbing it in with pictures of all his gorgeous flowers and his veggie plants just taking off. (I am, of course, teasing--I *love* his gardening posts!) The bright side? I really do love winter and snow and cold, and it won't be coming around again for several months so it is worth celebrating it's waning days.

*I've reached that point in the school year where I'm just really wearing down. Honestly, it's not that I want to complain. I do know how lucky I am that I'm able to homeschool Annie. And I do love it. Really I do. But sometimes I just want all that time for something else. I'm sorry if that sounds selfish. :/ For her lit class alone, we still have A Canticle for Leibowitz, The Martian Chronicles, 2001: A Space Odyssey, I, Robot, The Left Hand of Darkness, Neuromancer, and Blindness left to read for the last quarter. And it's not that I don't think I'll enjoy these books. It's just that I want to read what I *want* to read--not what I *have* to read. The bright side? The final quarter for the year starts in just a couple weeks. So really, the homestretch is at least in sight.

And now for the bright sides, without the dose of complaining first:

*I have been sleeping soooo much better lately. Not great, but really so. much. better.

*I'm excited to be starting my Project Life album again. I did great for the first month of the year, but then it just got to be too much to keep up with, and it got very sporadic. And then I just quit entirely. But I'm restarting, without my usual obsessing about how it won't be perfect. Yes, there will be a gap in time--but who the hell cares?!! Isn't it better to capture what I can than to capture nothing at all? Seems like a no-brainer, but believe me, it's an enormous battle to give up on "perfection."

*Life is good. Trite, but true.

it's a wrap

I just laid down the law with myself--I am not allowed to buy another roll of wrapping paper as long as I live! I know, I know, buying wrapping paper is quite an un-green thing to do, but what can I say--I'm an addict. Cute and whimsical, beautiful and elegant, and definitely the old "nature-inspired"...oh yes, I had to buy it all. Those after Christmas sales--oh my.

Addict, yes. But a recovering addict. With great restraint, I've been much, much, much better the last few years. I've started "creatively wrapping" many more of the gifts given here within our family. However, I've been hesitant to give gifts to others wrapped this way. Why? I honestly don't know. I mean, come on, I'm guessing that no one is going to turn up their nose at a gift because it's not wrapped in store-bought paper. And they can always bury them under the pretty packages under their tree, right? (Of course, some will be spared for a while I work my way through the rather large stash of store-bought paper I've accumulated over the years.)

Anyway, guess what? I've decided to share my alternative methods (a.k.a. bore the living shit of you) from time to time. (Thank god for that "mark as read" button, huh?)

Most things we buy around here are used. Used book stores, thrift shops, antique malls, whatever. And when buying used, there generally isn't a lot of wasteful packaging, but many shops still wrap things up your goodies in newsprint, etc. Now if we're just buying one or two things, we'll just tell them to skip it figuring we can manage to get things home safely. But sometimes it seems prudent to let them wrap our treasures up. And here is where I get the paper for one of my favorite ways to "creatively wrap." Yes, it's generally a little (or sometimes, a lot) wrinkled, but who really cares. (That brown packing paper that sometimes comes in boxes that arrive in the mail also works wonderfully. And stamped images on newspaper are fantastic, too.)

So when I head down to the laundry room to hang the clothes, but find the washer hasn't quite finished its cycle yet, I just use those few minutes to whip up a few sheets of wrap using a little bit of acrylic paint and my collection of foam stamps from past craft/decorating projects. (Seriously great way to use up those little dribs and drabs of paint left from other projects.)

Okay, I admit that this pile of presents may not be terribly stunning to look at, but it's reusing something I already had before sending it on to the recycle bin. Plus it's saving me from buying something new that will end up sent to the same place.






(And yes, I'm sorry--I really should have my blogging privileges revoked for using such a corny title.)

sun + snow = gorgeous

I *love* tree shadows on the snow!

(Sorry--just had to share that.)

spring is here...

...or at least it was yesterday

...but today I'm not so sure.

projects progress (update 2)

March 16th-21st.

*sigh* I seem to be heading in the wrong direction...far more is being added to most lists than is being taken off. :P But I knew the lists were nowhere near complete, so this was to be expected.

>Mission: 50x50

This list *is* complete, so anything I accomplish here really is getting me somewhere. :D Not that I've done all that much in the last few days...

#8-Donate 50 trunk-loads of stuff to charity thrifty store.
--One more trunk-load hauled off!

#11-Watch 50 documentaries.
--Annie and I completed our viewing of Rome: The Rise and Fall of an Empire. All 10+ hours of it.

#15-Try 50 new recipes.
--Creamy Lemon Cheese Pie (one of those super-duper easy recipes that is super-duper yummy--yes, it goes to the keeper pile)
--Cheesy Rice & Broccoli
--Walnut Carrot Raisin Muffins (another winner! unless you ask Max, that is)

(Recipe from Jean Childress' Muffin Cookbook--I *love* this cookbook.)












3/4 cup sugar
2/3 cup melted butter
2 eggs
2 cups flour
1 Tbsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 1/3 cup grated carrot (which was about 3 large carrots for me)
3/4 chopped walnuts
1/2 cup raisins

Preheat to 400 degrees.
Combine flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon.
In separate bowl, cream sugar, butter, and eggs. Add dry ingredients.
Fold in carrots, nuts, and raisins.
Spoon into greased muffin tins. Bake for 20-25 minutes.
(Makes 1 dozen. I think this would be another great one to double the batch and freeze half of them.)

#21-Buy 50 Etsy or other handmade gifts.
--Ordered a kitty ears hat for Annie for her birthday.

>Mission: Declutter

Not a lot of progress made in the library--just one more shelf...from which I got rid of one book and Rich got rid of three. Better than nothing, I suppose.

Annie's room has come a long way, however. Not only did she weed out her books (culling about 40 books--some of which will go to friends, some of which will be listed on PaperbackSwap, and some of which will be donated to the library sale), but we also went through her "closet." We managed to get fill 2 1/2 big garbage bags with clothes, shoes, and bags to donate! (I saved another pile to use for craft projects.) I so wish I had thought to take before and after pictures, because the difference is astounding. :D And another few hours in her room and I think we could finish it!

>Mission: Recipe Reorganization

I actually got to cross something off this list! :D All the folders of recipes I've been tearing out of magazines, printing off the internet, etc. for the past decade or so have been weeded out. Believe me, it was a much bigger task than it sounds. Hundreds of recipes went to the recycle bin. Unfortunately, I saved more than got rid of. :P But at least I did manage to try a few new recipes, so they could also leave the folders and be added to cards in the filing system. Finally, I got 7 tried-and-true recipes copied to cards.

Slowly, slowly...

Once Upon a Time...

...I stumbled across a reading challenge that literally changed my life. I know, I know--I sound horribly melodramatic here, don't I? But it's the truth. Back in 2007, when I joined the first Once Upon a Time reading challenge, it was mostly in an effort to enter Annie's world of reading. She was such a huge fantasy fan, and yet fantasy was something I'd never really read. Not out of any disdain, but more because it just never entered my mind to do so. So Annie and I joined together.

Yes, I got a taste of fantasy. But I got so very much more. So very much more.

It was really my introduction to the whole world of book blogging. That alone was a wonderful thing. For many reasons, but most of all for broadening my world. I read so many books these days that never would have even entered my radar screen prior to the spring of 2007. I've fallen in love with fantasy. With fairy tales. With graphic novels--how did I ever live without graphic novels?!! My previous love of horror was reawakened. I've dipped my toes back into the classics. I could go on here. But the point is that my life is so much richer because of book blogs.

But you know what? That's just the tip of the iceberg. Because what made me cry (yes, literally cry) when I read Carl's announcement post for Once Upon a Time V was the reminder of all the wonderful people I have in my life because of Once Upon a Time. I *cannot* imagine my life without the friends I've made by opening that first Once Upon a Time door. So, thank you, Carl...both for providing that door and for being one of those friends I'm talking about.

So, shall I now move away from the sappiness, and onto the challenge? :P

Fantasy. Folklore. Fairy tales. Mythology.

Fiction. Non-fiction.

Books. Short stories. Movies.

Does it get any better than this???

Again, the whole Stevens gang is going to participate. But likely I'll be the only one blogging. (Perhaps I'll just blog for all of us.)

The hard part--deciding which "quest" to embark upon. In that "my eyes are bigger than my stomach" vein, I really want to sign up for all of them. :P Of course, I'll be lucky to actually complete the ones I've narrowed it down to:

Read any five books from the fantasy, folklore, fairy tale, mythology realms.

Fantasy, folklore, fairy tale, mythology--in short story form.

And in the movies.










The even harder part--deciding what to read! And of course, I can't really decide ahead of time. But because I can't resist putting one together, here's a (partial) list of potentials to choose from:

*The Amber Spyglass by Philip Pullman (Why, why, why have I not read this yet?!!)
*The Love We Share Without Knowing by Christopher Barzak (This works for the challenge, doesn't it, Ana?)
*The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly (So hope I get to this one!)
*more Fables by Bill Willingham
*Flora Segunda by Ysabeau S. Wilce
*Haroun and the Sea of Stories by Salman Rushdie
*Small Gods by Terry Pratchett
*The Hunter's Moon by O.R. Melling
*Bayou Volume 2 by Jeremy Love
*Psyche in a Dress by Francesca Lia Block
*Cupid by Julius Lester
*The Sisters Grimm: The Unusual Suspects by Michael Buckley (The first one in this series totally enchanted me, and I can't believe I haven't read the rest yet.)
*The Unwritten Volumes 1 and 2 by Mike Carey (These would work, right?)
*The Search for Wondla by Tony DiTerlizzi
*Once Upon a Marigold by Jean Ferris
*Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman
*Stardust by Neil Gaiman
*The Ice Queen by Alice Hoffman
*Green Witch by Alice Hoffman
*Comet in Moominland by Tove Jansson
*Eternally Bad: Goddesses with Attitude by Trina Robbins
*Fearless Girls, Wise Women & Beloved Sisters: Heroines in Folktales from Around the World by Kathleen Ragan
*Trickster: Native American Tales, A Graphic Collection by Matt Dembicki
*The Book of Ballads by Charles Vess

And short stories possibles by Neil Gaiman, Charles de Lint, Ray Bradbury, and Francesca Lia Block.

Movies? Well, I really, really, really want to see Pan's Labyrinth again. And if I actually getting around to reading Stardust, then I'd love to watch that movie as well.

Suggestions? Where should I start? Any of these that I need to get to immediately? Or should I read something that's not even on the list?

Happy Once Upon a Time everyone!!! And thank you again, Carl!!!

tidbits

*Spring arrives later today...and yes, despite the fact that it is currently 22 degrees out there, there are signs of it! Birds singing--god, how I love that beautiful sound every morning. :) And spring bulbs starting to poke their leaves up through the ground. And the snow pants have moved from the backpacks into the closet (though we know this could be premature). But yes, I'm still waiting for one of my very favorite signs--Carl's Once Upon a Time announcement. :D

*It goes without saying that I'm really excited about OUaT. I'm hoping it will kick my reading into a higher gear. Though it really hasn't been a lack of *wanting* to read that's the problem, it's more that I've got so many other projects I'm trying to work on.

*I did just finish up Shooter. My first Walter Dean Myers. And it won't be my last. Anyway, I seem to have started reading on a theme here. First Columbine, now this one. And I pulled Hey Nostradamus and Nineteen Minutes and We Need to Talk About Kevin and Hate List off my shelves to read in the near future. Seems rather morbid, I suppose.

*But hey, last night I moved to murder of a different "type" and started reading Strong Poison by Dorothy Sayers. I'm only one chapter in, but can easily say that I'm going to love this book! Thank you, Ana, for putting this on my suggestions list. :D (And speaking of that suggestions list, I'd really better start making a dent in it!)

*I made a dent, okay really more of a slice, in my hand for the second time in as many months the other day. Yes, again while washing dishes. Though this time I had my hand inside the glass when it broke and it cut down into the back of my hand between two knuckles. Doesn't hurt so much where the cut is itself, but the fingers just won't stop aching. I am such a darn klutz. :/

Okay, I suppose since I really have nothing of interest to say, I should really get on with planning this week's menu. I so hope everyone has a lovely week and thoroughly enjoys the changing of the seasons!!!

"oh no, she's at it again"

...I'm pretty sure that's the look I saw on Rich's face when I told him about my new "The Projects" page. :P But really, I don't think he'd know what to make of it if I wasn't making lists.

Yep, I'm at it again. Trying to reign in the chaos with a set of lists. But these are not my average wimpy little lists. No, these are freakin' monster lists. Lists that will take years, if not decades, to complete. Actually, some of them aren't even written yet because the prep-work is so time-consuming. And some of them will be constant works in progress, as items will be added as they pop up--I'm just hoping that I can cross things off at a faster pace than I add them. (Yes, TBR pile--I'm looking at you!)

Anyway, I don't suspect anyone is masochistic enough to click on The Projects page. The only reason I even bring it up to explain what the hell I'm talking about when I have "project progress" posts/partial posts. Believe me, I know the boredom factor of these posts/partial posts is extremely high, and goodness knows, I don't expect even my dearest, most loyal friends to read these updates. This is purely a self-indulgent endeavor to make my list-making, dreaming-of-being-organized, bordering-on-compulsive little heart happy. :D

*****
Project Progress Report for 3/15/11:

>Mission: Declutter

Managed but one shelf in the library. It's a time-consuming process because I'm adding the books to my library thing as I go. Good news, it's one more shelf done. Bad news, I only managed to cull one book.

>Mission: Recipe Reorganization

I not only went through one of my cookbooks and marked all the recipes I want to try, but I actually tried one of them! (The cookbook, btw, is Jean Childress' Muffin Cookbook, and I have enjoyed every one of the half dozen or so recipes I've tried from it so far!)

Pumpkin Muffins

(makes 1 dozen)

1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 tsps baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup canned pumpkin
1/2 butter, melted
1 egg
1 Tbsp sugar

Preheat to 400 degrees.
Mix all the ingredients except the Tbsp of sugar. Pour into greased muffin tins. Sprinkle with that Tbsp of sugar. Bake for 20 minutes.

Does it get any easier than that? Yeah, thought not. They were an almost total hit, too. Only thumbs down was from Max--but that little goofball doesn't like pumpkin so it's hardly surprising. (Yeah, I know--what kind of person doesn't like pumpkin?!!) They're not an overly sweet muffin, but could easily be made sweeter by sprinkling a bit more sugar on the tops. Next time, I'm definitely going to make a double batch and freeze half of the them for later.

>50x50

Those pumpkin muffins--they also allow me to make another check mark on Item #15 (try 50 new recipes).

today...

...I am feeling more refreshed than I have in a while, having gotten nearly 5 hours of sleep over the course of the night

...I am feeling ever so cheerful hearing bird beginning to chirp in the mornings again

...I am feeling sad that Gray is under the weather (nothing major), but feeling delighted to have him home with Annie and I for the day

...I am feeling a wee bit anxious about taking Annie (and Gray, of course) to the dentist...just because I so very much hate driving

...I am feeling both excited and tinge apprehensive about starting a new book for school today, We by Yevgeny Zamyatin

...I am feeling out of touch with my dear friends, but am feeling hopeful that this will finally be the week when I can catch up a bit

...I am feeling a bit mixed in emotions about waking up to a new blanket of white...only being March, I know the snow isn't over (and usually I don't mind), but it was rather nice seeing the grass for a few days there

...I am feeling motivated about my new "Projects" page and feeling eager to start knocking things off the many lists

...I am feeling content looking ahead to an evening of reading with the boys and hopefully finishing a gift I'm working on for Annie's birthday (Rich and Annie have classes Monday evenings)

...I am feeling incredibly grateful that my family and home are safe, and so very helpless and so very heartbroken for all those who cannot say the same

If I pretend I have my act together...

then it will actually happen, right? Unlikely, but possible? Oh come on, humor me.

Okay then, let's just have a look at the randomosity which is my life...

*I have immense respect and compassion for those who have long suffered with insomnia. How do you people deal??? The past few weeks have nearly driven me around the bend. I'm one of those lucky people who can deal pretty effectively with 6-ish hours of sleep a night. But the 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 hours a night that has become my norm this past month--so not cutting it. It's coupled with incessant worrying in one of those vicious feedback loops, and I just can't seem to break the cycle.

*I want to move so badly! :( Not out of the area, in fact I hope we can stay in the same school district just to make life a little easier on that front. But out of this house, this neighborhood. I want a little breathing room. I'm afraid to even let the kids play kickball in the yard for fear the ball should accidentally go over the fence into the yard of the "wicked witch." I really want a place where we can put in geothermal and solar and have a bigger garden and have chickens...I don't want much, do I? :P

*Because of this huge desire to move, we've made up a list of projects we need to do to make this house more sellable. (We're kind of hoping to really make this move a reality by the summer of 2012.) Just this weekend Rich has conquered two things on the list...fixing a leaking pipe in the basement and replacing some leaking sump pump outflow pipe in the yard.

*For being my hero and fixing those two things that were driving me crazy, I just wrapped up this little guy to give him. I'd made it to go in his Easter basket this year, but I just can't resist giving it to him now. :)

(The pattern for this adorable little dodo can be found here. It's by an obviously talented designer named Melissa Mall.)











*We forgot to get the mail yesterday...which means that I got the most delightful surprise this morning. The sweetest, most cheerful, most smile-inducing little card I could imagine! Thank you, Care! You are forever a ray of sunshine!!!

*And speaking of smile-inducing, I can't tell you how much I love Ana's post today about reading. Before I started reading book blogs, I read mostly thrillers, true crime, and natural history. And I don't think I ever really judged myself over my reading choices. But that changed once I started reading book blogs. That's when I started feeling that I was just terribly unsophisticated compared to *everyone* else. Started feeling like I had to make excuses for my reading choices. I will say that I am forever grateful for having my reading horizons expanded. But while having horizons expanded is undoubtedly a wonderful thing, internalizing guilt over reading choices is not. So thank you, Ana! And now, because of you, I can unapologetically say that Columbine by Dave Cullen is one of my favorite reads of the year thus far.

*And this leads me to something else--Columbine is the first book I've read on my Nook (which Rich got me for my birthday). And well, can I just say how VERY surprised I am by how much I enjoy reading on it! Yep, another never say "never" moment for me. ;)

*I've been having trouble getting much reading done at all lately though. My ability to concentrate is shot. I'm guessing this relates back to the whole insomnia/incessant worrying thing. But I really need to start getting to my reading swap books---so many incredible sounding books on my lists, and I've yet to finish a single one. And the year's nearly a quarter of the way over. We won't even discuss how that can possibly be so. :/

Okay, it's well past time I shut up already...

it's worth a try...

*sigh* The amount of books I've acquired over the past two months. Pathetic. Seriously, things are getting out of hand again. So, yeah, it's time for another purge. And time to institute another acquisition slow-down. Not an out-and-out ban, as that tends to makes me desire all the more. But a slow-down. I'm thinking of allowing myself two books a month. Which is still more than I *should* bring into the house, but it will be a tremendous improvement.

But in the meantime, I need to update blame from these last two months of excess.

So which of these babies come with blame attached? And why?

*Reading Women by Stephanie Staal. POINT FOR ANA. Because of this.

*Global Woman: Nannies, Maids, and Sex Workers in the New Economy edited by Barbara Ehrenreich and Arlie Russell Hochschild. POINT TO ANA. Because she brought it to my attention in that link above. :P

*The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher by Kate Summerscale. POINT FOR ANA. Because of this.

*The Hours by Michael Cunningham. POINTS FOR CHRIS, MATT, AND ANA. But my reasoning is so convoluted that I couldn't even begin to explain. :P

*So Long a Letter by Mariama Ba. POINT FOR ANA. Because of this.

*Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit by Jeannette Winterson. POINT FOR VIVIENNE. Because of this.

*Daddy-Long-Legs by Jean Webster. POINT TO ANA. Because of this.

*In the Woods by Tana French. POINT TO MELODY. Because of this.

*Two Weeks with the Queen by Morris Gleitzman. POINT TO ANA. Because of this.

So this brings our totals to:

Amanda - I
Ana - XVII
Becky - I
Carl - II
Chris - VI
Heather - V
Matt - I
Megan - I
Melody - I
NPR - II
Pat - I
Staci - I
Vivienne - I

Nightschool: The Weirn Books Vols. 1-4...*really* random thoughts...

*I originally decided to read these because Annie loved them so much, and well, she really wanted me to read them.

*I'm still not entirely sure I've got the hang of reading manga. Their pace is so unique that I tend to get a bit thrown off. And yes, of course, that statement about their pace is a gross generalization--I'm sure it's not an accurate statement to lay upon an entire medium. I've honestly only even read about 15 to date. But of the ones I have read, the pace has been very fast and sometimes there's a slightly disjointed feeling to it.

*All the babbling above in no way means I don't like reading manga. It just means I'm still learning how. :)

*I freakin' love Svetlana Chmakova's art! I loved it in her Dramacon series, and I love it the Nightschool books every bit as much. Maybe more.

*There was a character named Gray. :D He was not a nice guy. :(

*In her little "extra" at the end of the second volume, she mentioned her trips to do panels and signings at the Texas Library Association Conference in Houston, TX and the Rochester Teen Book Festival in Fairport, NY. Annie was at that Rochester Teen Book Festival, and got Dramacon signed by Svetlana Chmakova...and I'm pretty sure that was the highlight of Annie's day. :)

*So which do I like more--Dramacon or Nightschool? Such a ridiculously hard question. If I'd asked myself this question after reading just Vol. 1 and 2 of Nightschool, I'd have easily said Dramacon. Not because I wasn't enjoying Nightschool, but I hadn't been thoroughly drawn in yet. But now? Yeah, I'm hooked. :)
Of course, I still haven't answered the question, have I? These two series are just so incredibly different from each other...hmmmmm. Okay, okay...Dramacon. I think. :P See, I think I felt a little more emotionally invested in the Dramacon series. But damn, is the Nightschool series fun...in an eerie sort of way.

*I'm glad I waited until this entire story arc was done before starting to read them. However, when the next Nightschool book comes out, I'll probably not be able to make myself wait for the next arc to be complete before reading. ;)

fresh starts...

The first day of March. (Sort of scary how fast that happened!) Anyway, first day of a new month seems like an appropriate day for a fresh start. Actually, any day is a good day for a fresh start, don't you think?

I love fresh starts. Truthfully, I think I'd go insane without them. The chance to say, "Okay, so maybe I haven't been getting it all done. So let's just regroup and begin again." Sure, it's just a psychological trick, and I know it, but it still makes me feel better. So I'll take it.

*Click the "mark as read" button. Try to keep up.
*Make schedule of school prep. Stick to it.
*Pick a new room and begin the major cleaning/weeding out. Finish it before moving on.
*Card/gift list. Try to get ahead and give yourself a cushion.
*Start blogging more regularly. Lots of ideas (update blame game, talk about any of the books you've actually finished, thoughts about Inception, show off antique mall purchases, etc.)...just need the follow through.

So yeah. Another fresh start.