Reading and the "Snow"pocolypse that Wasn't

First, let's tackle the second part of that title. Supposedly, I should be huddled in front of a fire right now, watching the sky dump buckets of snow, ice, and other wintery precipitation. But so far...nothing. Weather Channel, why do you do this to me? When I say you're lying, it snows. When I believe you, I am disappointed. Sigh.

On a good note, this does mean that school is canceled for tomorrow. And as much as I will miss my students and know that they will miss me terribly too, I really need some time to catch up on my laundry. About 8 more snowdays where I do nothing but laundry, and I probably will make a dent in that pile.

For the first part of that title...I love reading. I just finished reading an arc (advanced reader copy) of Kristin Billerbeck's A Billion Reasons Why. Loved it. And as I was sitting here thinking about it I thought about how much most people love a good love story. It's just a basic part of human nature. We like to hear how couples met. We like to watch movies about it. Read books about it. Even guys. Those computer games? There are love stories in there. For real. Anyway, it just got me thinking. Maybe it's one of those things God put in us just for fun or to point us to Him. Either way, I'm glad it's there.

I definitely recommend this book, though, y'all. I'm not going to say anything about it now, because I just wrote a review (check it out eventually on TitleTrakk.com--not for a week or so probably) about it. But it's good. Really. Really. Good.

So how about you? Read any good books lately?

I've decided, by the way, that I'm going to try to post every Monday or Tuesday-ish about a books I've read. Either one I've read lately or just a really super good one from the past. That way if you're just stunned by how amazing the book sounds, you can go buy it and have it in time to read the next weekend. Because who doesn't like to have a new book to read on a Friday afternoon? Ah. It's such an indescribable feeling. Anyway. Tune in this Monday or Tuesday-ish for my take on Erynn Mangum's double shot. And bring coffee. Because reading or reading about an Erynn Mangum book without coffee? It's just wrong.

Messy Houses and Adventures

Ever have one of those Saturdays where you wake up and feel so productive that you clean your entire house in, like, warp speed? No, for real. I've had them. Now if you've been to my house lately, you can tell by the baby food castle on the table (hubby went shopping and stacked up all his baby food purchases castle wall style), the Christmas tree that's still up, and the baby toys forming a new creative carpet on the living room floor that this has not happened to me lately. Nor did it happen this morning. This morning I wanted to DO something.

This is odd, because it's so my sister. SHE'S the one who wakes up on Saturday mornings and wants to drive somewhere, go hiking, or do something different. I love all those things too, but usually I'm too focused on productivity.

The bad news is, we kind of woke up too late and got going too late to be able to go anywhere "new". I'm holding out for a hike in a week or two, though. The good news is that I feel like I learned something. I don't HAVE to be productive every Saturday. Sometimes it's okay to just relax and do things I enjoy. Hm. How fun, right?

So this Saturday...dishes. And maybe laundry, because otherwise I'm not sure what the baby's wearing tomorrow. You don't think anyone will notice if I just leave yesterday's outfit on for a few days, right? No. Just kidding. Really.

But next Saturday? Or maybe next Monday when I have the day off from school? I'm planning an adventure. Until then, I'll just keep planning this Alaska trip. Did I mention yet that I used to live up there and have been hoping to go back every summer for the past eight years? Yeah, I'm excited.

What are your favorite Saturday adventures?

Happy New Year!

Confession: It's still 2010 as I'm writing this, but I'm thinking that writing a post at midnight is not going to happen, so there you go.

Last year I was SO ready for the new year. Not to hate on 2009, but it was kind of a rough year for me and my family. I had a new job (a job I love, but still a transition, you know?), but within weeks of starting it my grandmother and my great uncle (who was really more like a granddad) both died. Then on Christmas Day, the dog I'd had since I was...eleven, I think...died. It was just not my favorite year. I was ready for 2010. Really, really ready.

But 2010 has been good to me. Like I said earlier, I have an awesome job that I love. My family has been healthy overall this year, which I'm so thankful for. And in June, my son was born, which was definitely one of the highlights not just of this year, but of my life. 2010 hurried by, at least for me. I'm not quite sure I'm ready to see it go. See, I'm not good with change. And while the date is kind of a minor change in the grand scheme of things, it's still change.

What I do love about the prospect of 2011 is that it's a new start. It's a chance to make goals. It's a chance to look at life and think of little things you'd like to do differently. My family and I are building a house that we're planning to move into in 2011. My extended family is planning to go to Alaska in 2011, and if you read my post the other day, you know how excited that makes me. I know this year is going to be amazing. And I'm excited to see what God has in store. He's done so many amazing things in my life this year, so I just need to trust Him with this next year too.

In the meantime, I haven't forgotten my promised list of things-that-aren't-resolutions-but-look-suspiciously-like-them. Look for that...probably January 2nd. I have to let all the New Year-ness sink in, you know?

Again, Happy New Year! And for those of you not on East Coast time, Happy New Year whenever the date switches from 2010 to 2011 for you. =)

Stuff Writers Like

You'd think since this post is about writers and I like to consider myself one, I could at least think of a title that didn't have the word "stuff" in it. But nope. I'm still on vacation, and I refuse to think of a more descriptive word for a blog title.

This is probably going to seem random, but I'm so fascinated by the things (there I go with those awesome words again) writers seem to like, almost universally.

They usually like:

Pens

Paper

Computers

Those are obvious. They go along with w-r-i-t-i-n-g. Obvious, yes?

But the strange thing is that most writers I know also have an insane addiction/love for coffee. Black coffee. Flavored coffee. Lattes. Espresso. There are lots of different preferences. But interview ten random writers and I'm almost willing to promise you that 9 out of 10, as a minimum, will love coffee. I'm not talking tolerate. I'm talking love.

I also realized today that writers love Cary Grant. Ever noticed how many times he's referred to in books? I think it's because he's the epitome of a smooth, charismatic male hero. Or maybe just because his characters are so real. I'm not sure, but it's another thing writers love.

Anything else to add to this list? Writers? Readers? What do y'all think?

Summer Plans

Today I booked passage on a ferry to Alaska this summer. Unless you know me personally, which I think all....I don't know, 3 people who occasionally read this blog probably do, you have no idea how excited this makes me. Just in case you're unclear...

I'M PLANNING A TRIP TO ALASKA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Off to make a list (I love lists. I know I've mentioned that lately, but really. Love them) of all the things I want to do/see/take pictures of while we're there.

Hurray!

Merry Christmas!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas!

Blogging on a semi-regular schedule is something I'm hoping to start doing in January. This isn't a resolution, mind you. I don't like resolutions in the official sense of the word, mostly because it seems like they don't last past the third of January. So I kind of laugh at them, to be honest with you, which is probably terrible, but there you go. Anyway, I am planning to make a list of things I'd kind of like to do/pursue this year. But it's more like an idea list. Or an "in-a-perfect-world" list.

More to come on lists later. This was supposed to be a short post. Just to say that I hope you had a wonderful time celebrating Jesus' birth (and the fact that He came here to live as a human on earth so He could die for us), being with your family, opening cool presents, and eating yummy food.

On that note, there are Christmas cookies calling my name. Merry Christmas!

Black Friday

I learned several things about Black Friday shopping. And as I was driving somewhere...don't remember where now...I thought "hey, I should share those with the people (um, if there are any. haha) who read my blog!

And now my brain is too shopping fried to remember. So maybe tomorrow.

Those of you who get up even earlier than I did (4am) to shop? You're crazy. I admire you, but you're crazy. 4 in the morning is crazy enough for me, thanks. =)

Happy napping!