Book Meme

So Melessa is the latest person I've seen with this meme. Since my Mom is racking her brain trying to choose a Destin Book Club book, I thought maybe this list could help jump-start her.

The ones I’ve read (or started to read) are in bold.
The ones I want to read are in italics.
I've left alone the ones that I'm not interested in.

1. The Da Vinci Code (Dan Brown)
2. Pride and Prejudice (Jane Austen)
3. To Kill A Mockingbird (Harper Lee)
4. Gone With The Wind (Margaret Mitchell)
5. The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King (J.R.R. Tolkien)
6. The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring (J.R.R. Tolkien)
7. The Lord of the Rings: Two Towers (J.R.R. Tolkien)
8. Anne of Green Gables (L.M. Montgomery)
9. Outlander (Diana Gabaldon)
10. A Fine Balance (Rohinton Mistry)
11. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (J.K. Rowling)
12. Angels and Demons (Dan Brown)
13. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (J.K. Rowling)
14. A Prayer for Owen Meany (John Irving)
15. Memoirs of a Geisha (Arthur Golden)
16. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (J.K. Rowling)
17. Fall on Your Knees (Ann-Marie MacDonald)
18. The Stand (Stephen King)
19. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (J.K. Rowling)
20. Jane Eyre (Charlotte Bronte)
21. The Hobbit (J.R.R. Tolkien)
22. The Catcher in the Rye (J.D. Salinger)
23. Little Women (Louisa May Alcott)
24. The Lovely Bones (Alice Sebold)
25. Life of Pi (Yann Martel)
26. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (Douglas Adams)
27. Wuthering Heights (Emily Bronte)
28. The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe (C. S. Lewis)
29. East of Eden (John Steinbeck)
30. Tuesdays with Morrie (Mitch Albom)
31. Dune (Frank Herbert)
32. The Notebook (Nicholas Sparks)
33. Atlas Shrugged (Ayn Rand)
34. 1984 (George Orwell)
35. The Mists of Avalon (Marion Zimmer Bradley)
36. The Pillars of the Earth (Ken Follett)
37. The Power of One (Bryce Courtenay)
38. I Know This Much is True (Wally Lamb)
39. The Red Tent (Anita Diamant)
40. The Alchemist (Paulo Coelho)
41. The Clan of the Cave Bear (Jean M. Auel)
42. The Kite Runner (Khaled Hosseini)
43. Confessions of a Shopaholic (Sophie Kinsella)
44. The Five People You Meet In Heaven (Mitch Albom)
45. Bible
46. Anna Karenina (Leo Tolstoy)
47. The Count of Monte Cristo (Alexandre Dumas)
48. Angela’s Ashes (Frank McCourt)
49. The Grapes of Wrath (John Steinbeck)
50. She’s Come Undone (Wally Lamb)
51. The Poisonwood Bible (Barbara Kingsolver)
52. A Tale of Two Cities (Charles Dickens)
53. Ender’s Game (Orson Scott Card)
54. Great Expectations (Charles Dickens)
55. The Great Gatsby (Scott Fitzgerald)
56. The Stone Angel (Margaret Laurence)
57. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (J.K. Rowling)
58. The Thorn Birds (Colleen McCullough)
59. The Handmaid’s Tale (Margaret Atwood)
60. The Time Traveller’s Wife (Audrew Niffenegger)
61. Crime and Punishment (Fyodor Dostoyevsky)
62. The Fountainhead (Ayn Rand)
63. War and Peace (Tolsoy)
64. Interview With The Vampire (Anne Rice)
65. Fifth Business (Robertson Davies)
66. One Hundred Years Of Solitude (Gabriel Garcia Marquez)
67. The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants (Ann Brashares)
68. Catch-22 (Joseph Heller)
69. Les Miserables (Victor Hugo)
70. The Little Prince (Antoine de Saint-Exupery)
71. Bridget Jones’ Diary (Helen Fielding)
72. Love in the Time of Cholera (Gabriel Garcia Marquez)
73. Shogun (James Clavell)
74. The English Patient (Michael Ondaatje)
75. The Secret Garden (Frances Hodgson Burnett)
76. The Summer Tree (Guy Gavriel Kay)
77. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (Betty Smith)
78. The World According To Garp (John Irving)
79. The Diviners (Margaret Laurence)
80. Charlotte’s Web (E.B. White)
81. Not Wanted On The Voyage (Timothy Findley)
82. Of Mice And Men (John Steinbeck)
83. Rebecca (Daphne DuMaurier)
84. Wizard’s First Rule (Terry Goodkind)
85. Emma (Jane Austen)
86. Watership Down (Richard Adams)
87. Brave New World (Aldous Huxley)
88. The Stone Diaries (Carol Shields)
89. Blindness (Jose Saramago)
90. Kane and Abel (Jeffrey Archer)
91. In the Skin of a Lion (Michael Ondaatje)
92. Lord of the Flies (William Golding)
93. The Good Earth (Pearl S. Buck)
94. The Secret Life of Bees (Sue Monk Kidd)
95. The Bourne Identity (Robert Ludlum)
96. The Outsiders (S.E. Hinton)
97. White Oleander (Janet Fitch)
98. A Woman of Substance (Barbara Taylor Bradford)
99. The Celestine Prophecy (James Redfield)
100. Ulysses (James Joyce) -?did I read this in High School? Surely I did...

Obviously a Book-Clubber of some sort created this list. I'm disappointed that I've only read 43 of them. Although, I can think of some better choices I'd have put in besides EACH of the LOTR series, and EACH of Harry P. Like, The Borrowers. A Wrinkle in Time. Walden, hELL-oOh.

Sing song

We're beyond thrilled that AJ finally enjoys music. He enjoys it a little too much, to the point that we fear for the safety of his CDs. But we were WEARY of holding him up to reach the alarm clock/CD player every. time. we entered. his room., so recently I put it down on a nightstand for him.

OH THE JOY! He will stay in his room now, while I'm in the kitchen making dinner. Not that I NEED him to do that -- he WANTS to be there, alone if that's what it takes... So he can take CDs out, and put them back in. On "endless loop." He'll just play the first 2-3 notes, to confirm that indeed, that IS the Wiggles, then he opens it up, cracks it out of place, takes hold of the no-touchy part in order to slide the center gently down over his index finger -- you know, so it won't get any "feener-pints" on it, as we've taught him ;) -- and then quickly picks the next one in rotation. He clunks that into the player, scraping it just a bit and making me and DH wince.

I guess our parents worried that we'd yank all the tape out of their cassettes and 8-tracks, leaving it in a trail along the floor. So it's all relative. I pick my battles. And if he wants to listen to CDs, fine by me.

Here are the songs that most often get stuck inside my head:

"It's the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse! Come inside, it's FUN inside."

"JACK and Jill went UP the hill, to FETCH a pail of WAH-TER..."

"Little Mister Roo... don't grow up too fast, too soon...." (makes me cry)

"The wonderful thing about Tiggers, is Tiggers are wonderful things!"

"Look at you Now" (Bear and Treelo, from Bear & the Big Blue House)

"Lights, Camera, ActionWIG-GLES!"

I wish I could post clips but you Mommies should be familiar already. AJ also asks "Did loo bwing loor iPod?" every time we get in the car. Because I have uploaded all of his music to iTunes, in case he destroys the CDs. Because I am smart that way.

Just another night on the town

We didn't go to the hockey game Saturday because why? BECAUSE ATLANTA TRAFFIC SUCKS SO MUCH ASS. (Oh excuse me, was I speaking French just there?) I swear, you leave your house in the suburbs, oh, 2 HOURS before the game starts -- on a Saturday -- and there's still a rush hour. We didn't get even close to downtown 'til 5 minutes before the puck was to drop. AND there was no parking at the Arena. Who the hell scheduled the BMX motorcross, skateboarding whatever convention this weekend? And who the hell decided it'd be a good idea to construct all of Atlanta's major event venues WITHIN 2 BLOCKS of each other??? IDIOTS. ARGH. We went to dinner instead, which was lovely. The stinking Thrashers lost the game anyway, and the restaurant, we learned, is known for its GUACAMOLE, made tableside. So clearly it was all meant to be.

(Stating the obvious:) A glass of wine also helps in these kinds of situations.It's even more fun when it's from somewhere special that you've visited before. Awww.

When we got home (early, surprise!), every DVD that AJ owns and all the corresponding cases lay on the floor of the kitchen. Evidently the babysitter let AJ do whatevertheheck he wanted while we were gone. Which is exactly what babysitters are for, I commend her performance. I really like this girl -- she's on the school's Academic Team. And she drives her own car, bumping her right to the top of my list.

I don't have a witty end to this. It was our Saturday night.

Doing

Everybody seems to be DOING something. I have pregnant friends, friends who are cleaning out their houses, friends who are planning weddings, looking at new houses, friends who are starting blogs, friends who are moving... I just feel stuck. I'm sitting here and not DOING or PLANNING anything. Waiting for something, but I don't know what. I talked to my friend Cantus the other day and she asked, "What's been going on with y'all?" I couldn't think of one single. damn. thing. We work, we come home. We feed the kid, we watch Lost and the Amazing Race. On weekends, we sleep quite a bit. Geezus, that's depressing.

It has a little to do with DH's job. He's kind-of in limbo, waiting for something that 'might' happen, but isn't certain. If it did, it might set off a whole set of THINGS. But he's been waiting for this something for 2 years now. I'm tired of it. Of stewing in this same grey dishwater. The endless loop. It might... oh, not now... oh, maybe in a month... oh, they say it's coming... (where'd it go?)... we'll see. It might.

It makes me want to... go spend a lot of money, just because it's something. And heaven knows I don't need to do that. We ARE planning to have a big old yard sale in the spring... maybe I need to start planning it. Or... and this has been on my to-do list forever, I probably need to schedule the siding replacement for the 2nd half of the house. Ugh. Not to mention getting our entire HVAC system in the house replaced. It's OLD. I'm praying it can withstand another summer (we had a service guy out a year or two ago and he said it might not). But those things are not fun things, or interesting. (Why am I blogging about them?!)

Of course I desperately want to replace the cabinets in my kitchen, and have my master bath redone -- seriously, I should take pictures to show you JUST how ugly they are. My mother-in-law is getting new cabinets this week, actually. DOING.

Yesterday I gathered up all my tax stuff, so there's one thing. And, we did go to Chuck E. Cheese last weekend. I can't get excited about any of it, though. We have hockey tickets Saturday, AND a willing and available babysitter. Do I care? Not really. What's with me? I'm not depressed, I'm just... bored.

Thursday Thirteen #8 - Lent edition

I can't help it. I'm addicted to the Thursday Thirteen. And then I find out today this is the LAST Edition! Waaa.

Thirteen Great Things about Lent A small display of my faith tradition today. I realized the other night at Mass, I feel guilty and 'unworthy' a lot: Catholicism still works! Hee. I'm joking. Anyway, I guess I'm "giving up" Starbucks this year, just for tradition of giving up something. But there's more to Lent than that. Here are some of my favorite things. 13. Ya can't have Fat Tuesday without Ash Wednesday, and Fat Tuesday is pretty darn fun! We used to go to New Orleans when I was a kid. 12. Praying Lent by Creighton U. I think I've used it for 3 years now to help me with the *prayer* part of the season. 11. The Thursday between Ash Wednesday and that first Friday -- you get to eat whatever you want, no restrictions. It's somehow a "relief" that you get this one day in between. 10. Going through the OCIA program in Lent is very meaningful; I got to do it as a sponsor for a dear friend who was being confirmed one year 9. Friday Fish Fry! All over America. We should go to our parish one this year. 8. Also: peanut butter and jelly, anyone? YUM. 7. Stations of the Cross on Fridays of my childhood 6. Running into other people with ashes on their heads on Ash Wednesday. (At my college there was an interdenominational Ash Wednesday service; so lots of people were showing their Jesus-spirit on those days!) 5. Seeing boxes of Matzoh and Passover foods on display in the grocery store. A special little bond with our Jewish ancestors and friends. At least that's how I think of it. 4. Speaking of the Seder, in my (Catholic) elementary school we had a whole-school Passover Meal every year. Picture "dinner tables" in the school gym, lights dimmed, candles. It was mysterious and interesting, and we read the stories and ate PARSLEY (bitter herb). :) 3. The good feeling you get if you go to after you go to Confession. 2. We don't have to sing the gosh-dang Haugen MASS OF CREATION for six whole weeks! HALLELU….. I mean, oops. GLORY TO GOD for that! (No Celtic Alleluia, either!) 1. Learning that Lent isn't supposed to be an entire 6 weeks of misery, but a time to deepen your relationship with Christ and prepare for his most Blessed Passion and Resurrection Day (grown-up Lent! I'm still trying to get there)...

Sun and Sand

I bought this votive candle yesterday (I know. I BOUGHT something. Frivolous!) -- it was called "Sun and Sand." Through the cellophane it smelled, hmm... fresh and... inoffensive, so compared to "Peach-Cranberry Pie" (too spicy) and "Ultra Vanilla Frosting Sugar," (possibly too sweet) it was a go... $1.79 wouldn't change my register total too much, since I was buying 3 throw pillows to replace the ones that recently smelled like puke. All about positive smells, yesterday's errand.

Anyway I got this candle home and unwrapped it, and y'know what it actually smells like? Y'know what its creators PURPOSEFULLY made it smell like? SPF 45. No kidding, it smells like steamy, lotion-y kids, and the inside of my beach bag. They probably tossed a bit of chlorine in there just to be sure they got it right. It's no "fresh air, zen-your-mind" beach fragrance like I thought -- it's the REAL smell. The 21st-century don't-get-skin-cancer smell. The where-is-my-kid-I-only-see-4-heads-above-water, and "has it been more than 60 minutes heneedsmoreBullfrog" smell. I wonder what they gave the guy who came up with it, after they slapped his back with hearty congrats over at the Yankee Candle factory? Maybe a day off... with a bottle of Coppertone, wink wink.

It's making me think about our beach vacation, which I was already dreaming about. June will be here in, let's see... 4 short months. Now, I wouldn't want to mention dieting, because Linda said that kind of talk on a blog is just beyond lame. (I trust Linda on this. She is very much to be trusted.) So I'll spare you. But yesterday I ate a vitamin-rich salad and a Whole Grain Lean Pocket for lunch. All I'm sayin'.

* * * * * * * * *
And now, from the I-Am-My-Mother's-Daughter News desk: I've ditched Fat-free creamer in favor of (skim) milk, warmed in the microwave, for my morning coffee. It's so much better. Simpler, more natural. Real Cafe au Lait. Thanks, Mom. :)

Gratitude time

Y'know what I haven't done in a really long time? FIVE THINGS.

1. I'm grateful for the weekend, with social plans. Even though they happen to involve a large mouse (I think?) named Chuck and a lunatic-bin named for him and his coagulated dairy product.

2. I'm grateful for a lunch buddy today, who didn't want to talk about anything deep or meaningful, and who appreciates a good salad bar as much as I do.

3. For jeans and a purple sweater.

4. For Diet Coke with lemon AND lime wedges. (it's the simple things)

5. For success and hard work, spurring me even now to want to complete a work project even if it means working a bit tonight. The fact that my mind is focused on this, and anxious to do it, helps so much... Since the deadline is coming fast and furious. Thanks be for all of that.

Being a responsible grown-up

Starbucks was giving away a FREE! EXTRA! SHOT! OF ESPRESSO! this morning so forgive me if I'm feeling a tad SPASTIC.

HI HOW ARE YA GOOD MORNING BOY IS IT COLD OUTSIDE AND OHMYGOODNESSIHAVE ALOTOFTHINGS TO TELLYOU!!

I am hooked on a new TV show that isn't nearly as funny as the genius Mac ads, but is equally compelling. I ran upstairs during a commercial break last night so I could hurry and turn on the "bedtime" TV and not miss a moment (sad, I know): MTV's "Juvies." Anyone else see this one? I'm probably the only 32 year old who actually watches MTV anymore but this one has edge. I never went to Juvie. (Surprise.) I don't even know where it's located in my hometown, or know anyone who went there. We were all quite boring and suburban and had supportive families who raised us right. So it's very satisfying, in a weird voyeuristic way, to see this side of young life.

I've always been highly annoyed by badly-behaved teenagers; even as a teen I thought, GAWD. What is the point, y'idiots? I feel the same about these kids, but it gives me some insight into "their side of it." And maybe as a parent, I see things differently. At any rate, Husband and I were talking last night as we watched, and we decided high school is just crappy no matter who you are. Pretty, popular, studious, party-guy, slacker. It's the Age of Rotten, no doubt about it.

I think it's incredibly smart of MTV to broadcast the documentary, not only because it paints the network as one who wants kids to BE GOOD (instead of as the Beacon of Bad Behavior (Jackass) and the Instigator of Fulll-On Drunken Hot-Tub Stupidity (Real World) that it has traditionally been since the 1990s)... but also because truly, kids need to see this stuff. They need to see that riding in the car with someone [who has illegal drugs] could actually get them in trouble. Not that it's showing anything violent or harsh "inside." The detention officers are actually quite caring. The kids wear sweatshirts and sit in a newly remodeled lounge (doing nothing). I loved the one security officer last night who was listening to an "inmate:" The runaway said, "I don't ever want to come back here." The officer, a mom-aged, tough-looking woman, responded quickly, "Well, ya shouldn't-a been here in the first place," and kindof shook her head & rolled her eyes sadly. Like, DUH. And the JUDGE is no-nonsense. You can tell she's had teenaged kids. She bangs the gavel heavily. Her judgements are very fair, and so far (3 or 4 episodes in) she's let most of 'em go home to their parents, but it's clear that her role is to put the fear of God in them, and she does it well.

personal disclaimer: watching MTV is Serious Market Research, thank you.

Meanwhile in my grown-up life, I've listened to Morning Edition all this week and their series on Shiite Islam, Iran, Hezzbollah, and That Situation. Have learned A.Lot. I hope to retain it. You just have to TRY to understand the history behind all of that mess in order to be an informed citizen in this world.

Heavy thoughts for a Friday, eh?!

Thursday Thirteen #8

Dude, is it Thursday again? I don't know how you people stay on top of things so much better than me.

In honor of my BEST FRIEND in the entire world, MARYB -- otherwise known as "larry" -- coming out of the dark and into the Light! of the Blogosphere! I present to you a list of my favorite blogs that maybe aren't in my links yet. (I am too stoopid just don't have time to figure out Blogrolling.) Tooot-toot-Ta-DA!

1. Playgroup Dropout. I am certain Beth thinks I'm stalking her, but I think more than one person reads both her ClubMom
gig and her "regular" gig, So the Fish Said. NB: Small Change -- it's time to re-up your charitable commitment to kids, go check it out. :) Love your smokin' a--, Mrs. H! :)

2. Purple is a Fruit. Also of "All & Sundry" fame. Her Riley could top AJ in the cute factor. Seriously, I am mom enough to admit that. And she is in Seattle, what could be cooler?

3. Procrastamom. One of the funniest Canadians I know.

4. Moxie. Best parenting advice on the 'net. Smart, sassy, (watches TV like me), and eloquent.

5. 4andcounting. Just met her, but I like her!

6. A Hole in the Fence. This is a delurk! Not sure I've ever even commented to this person but, she lives in GA and she's a working Mom = instant friend, right? (Hi, Sophie.)

7. Light and Momentary. Fantastic writer. Crunchy goddess! Model of goodness. Love, love, love.

8. Sam Jackson's College XP. I read this for work. Sometimes. He's pretty savvy at 18 years old, but then, he attends Exeter so that's not too surprising.

9. Amy. Met her through the T13! Howdy, neighbor!

10. a.k.a. Brandi. Met her through MaryB! They're real-live freenz. I'm tagging along.

11. Tomato Nation. Actually I haven't read Sars in a Loooong time but she is a witty observateur. Ann Landers she ain't and I love that!

13. The Advice Smackdown. AwYeah. Amy for the souuuuuul. And the slightly wrinkled eyelids. (beauty "advice")

So. Now you all have something to do Friday night. Linky, linky!

Valen-times, past and present

I'm sort-of borrowing this idea from Swistle, whom I've just discovered if you can believe that (Swistle, if you find this link, hello! you're neat!). Today is St. Valentine's Day and it means lots of things to lots of people. I wanted to share two of my favorite Valen-times. Bear with me as I fire up the old, rusty memory:

It's senior year in high school (right, larry? or was it junior year? you have to help me with this story!) and neither me nor my best friend is attached to any one guy. Thank goodness, right? Heh. So she came up with a brilliant plan to have a Valentine's Day dinner with two of our favorite guy friends, Mike and Alex. Both of these kids were "eligible" enough -- and by eligible I mean "cute," one moreso than the other -- but we never had the idea that we'd want to date either of them. And they were best buddies, as well. So we invited them over for a completely platonic, completely unromantic dinner at larry's house, which she and I would cook. At the time, she was already on her way to becoming a master chef, and I wasn't much interested in cooking... but we were lab partners in Chem and Physics, so I could follow her directions or read the recipe to her with no problem. :) We made it FANCY, because it was Valentine's Day: Cornish Game Hens with an orange glaze, (some side dish that I don't remember), (probably a salad, and tea), and Chocolate-Kahlua Cheesecake. We sat the boys down at the dining room table, with candles and everything, and they probably thought we were beyond weird for wanting to play happy homemaker for them. I doubt they've ever had a nicer Valentine's meal, even now that they're both happily married. That was a fun one.

This year, Husband decided and announced: "Let's not do the usual flowers for Valentine's. Let's do one of those Couples' Massages at that spa-place you like, okay?" To which I responded, ooooo-kaaaaayyyy... because he's had exactly one massage in his entire life and I didn't think he was that enthralled. But! I'm not one to turn down a dark room and a Swedish guy with big hands! And besides that I think we're going to take a Friday afternoon off to do it, which: ROK ON. I am happy about this gift. I asked DH, "Can we still give each other something small?" because I'd already bought him some chocolate espresso beans. (Extra-generous, I know.) This morning he answered that question by surprising me with a sweet little white-gold-and-diamond right-hand ring, fit to my middle finger, which I'd been wishing for. He is the best Valentine.

Blips

Around 11:30 p.m. I woke to loud sobs coming from the baby monitor. I went in AJ's room to find him comfortable, asleep, head on pillow, eyes closed, covered up neatly, but truly CRYING. "Mama... Mama..." Real tears had dripped down and his cheeks were wet. I stilled him with coos and my warm hand and "I'm here, it's OK"s, and that was that. It makes me so sad when he has bad dreams.

. . . . . . . .

Last night was Taco Night. (Ole!) I got all experimental in the kitchen and created for AJ a mini taco shell by cutting a smaller circle out of one of my 6" flour tortillas, and frying it up in canola oil. Then hung it over a wooden spoon, you know. You watch Food TV, right? It tasted like one of those edible Taco Salad bowls and he liked it. I figured something Tiny might entice him and I do believe my plan WORKED. Score one for Mama. (Never mind that he only ate the cheese and the shell. Score one for Fat, as well. But it's the PRINCIPLE of him eating the same thing we ate. I STILL WIN.)

. . . . . . . .

Kid phrases live on in family lore. I know this because I still think "maza-gine," for magazine, and "brek-swift" for breakfast. (Sis and I were so cute, weren't we?) One of AJ's latest goes along with his recent viewing of Scooby-Doo's various nemesises (word? Nemsii?)... He says, "I not scary of dat dhost." I hate Scooby Doo and I always have, but I just love when AJ says "not scary of dat." Preh. Shuss. Worth that stupid cartoon.

'Course, maybe cartoon monsters are creeping into his dreams. whoops.

. . . . . . . .

Last night hubby called to say he'd be home late. Then he called again "from traffic" which was supposedly very bad. I have a sneaking suspicion he was trying to fool me again. (Aren't I lucky?) :) I think it's more fun now for me to try and guess what his strategy will be, than to even receive the gifts. Hee hee.

Baby gift ideas

Since my next-door-cube-neighbor can't stop thinking about BABY, and since Julie has an announcement to make, and since Stacie asked, here are my five top most-favoritist baby gifts.

1. The "refresher" basket at the hospital.
One of my friends delivered to me, when she came to the hospital, a little decorative basket with "comfort" goodies. Since I had a blue baby (boy), nearly everything in the basket was packaged in blue. There were packs of peppermint Extra and Denteyne Ice gum, those little snack-size Oreos, I think a bag of Ghiardelli chocolates, some bottled water... Maybe there was a blue something for the baby, too. I just remember this being such a thoughtful thing. I clearly would have no inclination or time to go out and buy gum for a few weeks, so she did it for me.

2. A good quality classic toy.
One of my dear Book Club buddies bought AJ the coolest gift set of wooden blocks. I say "high-end" but I mean Pottery Barn, which isn't THAT out of the price range. (Much cheaper than some of these! Sheesh!) Ours came in this sturdy cylindrical canister, they're painted in solid primary colors (safe paint, of course), and building blocks are simply a must. Pottery Barn Kids doesn't seem to have those exact ones anymore, but you can find something similar.

3. Books A Million.
Of course, we started reading to AJ before he was actually born, which at first meant Reader's Digest jokes and sometimes a Southern Living. Oh, and DH read from Electronic Gaming Monthly. Therefore! When we started getting real books, some old favorites and some brand new, we were elated. We continue to read to AJ any time he asks (within reasonable limits, of course), and every night before bed. A couple first favorites: Jamberry, Owl Babies, and any books like this with the bright images and "learning words." LOVE!

4. Fluffy, cuddly things.
I know it seems cliche but we got some of the cutest little stuffed friends for Baby AJ. Sandwich was my particular favorite, because he was just about the size I imagined Baby would be, before Baby arrived. I'd tiptoe around the nursery and pretend, using that yarn-covered lovey. I've bought these for several new mommies and had great success. They're just so unique-looking. But this guy, too, proved invaluable. (Ours was a blue bear.) Soft and cushy, and AJ slept on him for many weeks in the beginning, in the pack-n-play. The head was perfect for propping Baby on his side to sleep (he was NOT a back-sleeper, ever).

5. The ever-wonderful "Meal on Wheels" gift.
I know you can't tote this to a shower, but I'm telling you the single nicest thing you can do for a new mom is make a quick casserole (nothing spicy or weird, just some delicious comfort food), buy a bag salad, whip up a pan of blondies (not chocolate 'cause some mommies don't want chocolate if they're b'feeding), and pop by the house. She's got to entertain, you see, while she's trying to recover. And even if it's her own Mom visiting her... well, just EVERYONE will appreciate an already-cooked supper. I received, for posterity: chicken pot-pie & lemon/blueberry pudding, which were divine, as well as a tupperware-full of gumbo, YUM. :)

I also condone and encourage:
anything from her baby registry
gift cards from WalMart, Target, Babies R Us
a box of diapers in any size (seriously)
a "mommy's brag book" small photo album (or daddy's, or both) - purse sized

There aren't any real practical gifts listed here, and practical is great if you've had success with something. But these things really meant something to me and have been cherished.

Thursday Thirteen! #7

Things I daydream about:

1. You can probably guess the first thing.

2. Having a clean car. My darling hubby keeps saying he's going to wash my car "this weekend" (for the past 4 weekends)... but it keeps being SO FREAKING COLD OUT that he goes outside, shivers once, then turns right back around to say, "Damn! Not washing the car today." I'd go get it done somewhere, but I hate to step on his toes. (He's really good at detailing.)

3. What heaven is like. Is it, where you sit in a glass-bottomed room and watch your family and friends try to continue life without you? A la The Lovely Bones? Or is it more of a feeling, a flying, warm, everything-that-ever-was-good feeling, a la Embraced By the Light? What about Purgatory, is that for real? Are there Pearly Gates? I've skipped Mass a few (dozen) times: Do I have any hope of getting to heaven, anyway?

4. Great gifts to get my husband. Like currently I'm thinking for Xmas next year, since we won't be buying season tickets to Thrashers hockey, I'm going to seriously try to get him some All-Star game tickets. That would be COOL. Of course I probably won't remember. When the time comes to get him gifts, I panic and wait until the last minute and end up disappointed in myself.

5. What AJ's going to be like as a school-age kid, pre-teen, and teenager. I love to picture him as just sweet and innocent, an A-student who gets along with everyone, even the freaks and the geeks, (and is devoted to his mother, NATCH). But I am not stupid enough to think that it's going to be all roses and scholarships. So sometimes I giggle when I daydream about silly "But MO-OM!" arguments, acne, surly pre-teen boy with his mouth agape (because there is that stage where, you know, they just hang their mouths open), and all that fun stuff.

6. My Oscars speech. Or really, how fun it would be to get all dressed up and parade down the red carpet. Not that I'll ever be a celeb! But that's the whole point, it's a daydream.

7. Currently, I'm daydreaming about baby gifts. Which ones I appreciated most, and what to get my friend who's due in May! I LOVE buying baby gifts, don't you? :)

8. Destin, FL. Week-long beach vacation. Delicious.

9. Geography and Genealogy: In other words, what it would be like to live next door (or down the street from, or in the same town as) my parents. And/or my sister. And/or my friend "larry."

10. Baby #2. And names for such.

11. A new iBook and Mac OSX-point-four TIGER. Raawwwrr.

12. What might've been. This is maybe something people don't admit, but I do sometimes catch myself thinking about the road not taken. There was a fella in college, for instance, upon whom I had a large crush, and he me, but we never pursued that for some reason. (Mostly for the reason that I had A BOYFRIEND at the time, and I treated that relationship in all CAPS like it was THE most important love of my life. Which it turned out not to be.) I often wonder what would have happened if we'd taken a chance. Is that bad? I'm perfectly, one-hundred-and-ninety-nine-percent happy in my marriage, and my husband is absolutely the ONE for me. But I still wonder. I guess (hope) that's just human.

13. Being a pro blogger. It'd be mighty cool to get paid for typing the nothing that is in my head. I can hardly beleive that exists, actually. Dream job.

Stalling

A play in one act.

Scene: Present-day. Post-dinner, Dad's calmly washing dishes and Mom's tidying up in the family room. A young boy stares at the TV. Or alternately, throws small plastic letters onto the floor.

Mom: "AJ, let's turn off our James and the Giant Peach DVD and go up to take a BATH!" :) :) :) [symbol represents the level of Mom's effort to make something fun! or happy!]

AJ: "Yah, and foost let's put dat James an-a Diant Peat DFeeDee in-a its TASE."

"Honey, we don't need to put it in its case; let's just leave it in the DVD player [because God KNOWS we'll be hitting the Play button the MINUTE we are both in this room again tomorrow]..."

"Tase?" [stomps little feet]

"No, honey. Time for Bath."

[tries new tactic] "May I pease toon off da DFeeDee player, Mama?"

"[OH you ask so politely so as I cannot refuse!] OK, turn it off. Push that off button. Good job."

"I did a dood job wif dat, Da-da."

"Come on, AJ. Let's go up the stairs. Move it, monkey, move it." :)

"You tarry me????"

"No, buddy, you can walk like a big boy."

"You hafta hold my hand."

"Okay, I'm holding your hand, here we go."

(insert whine) "Mama, you TARRRRRRY me. [I'm so forLORN.]"

"Nope, walk like a big boy. Or Ah-ma gonna GET YOU!" :) :) :)

"Aaah! Mama! NO, don't GET ME. [stops walking, pouts] TARRY ME."

"I will carry you halfway, then you have to walk by yourself."

"Otay. I goin' all da way UP."

"Up, that's right. [All 28 pounds of you. My poor knees...] [winces]"

"Tan I listen to a HeeDee in my room?"

"We will turn on a CD while we get undressed for your BATH. [Remember, the bath? THE BAAAATH.]"

[runs off] "I put dis HeeDee in my BED? OH! Dere's Woody and Jesse!"

"No, honey, CDs don't go in your bed. PUT WOODY DOWN and come over here, let's get undressed."

"I wanna be a DOGGIE [pulls shirt over head, halfway]. Arf! Arf! [crawls away]

"Which CD do you want, AJ? Come on, pick one [already, and get over here]."

"Mmm, whit one I want? [quizzical. also adorable.] Hode me up an I will hee, Mama. Hode me UP."

[opens and shuts each case]

[begins to lose her mind] "HONEY. Just pick one or I am going to put in the Wiggles one."

"NOOOOO MAMA! I don' WANNNNN A Widdles one!!!"

[ohnolordjesus, please not this now.] Okay, how about Pooh Bear?"

"Pooh. An maybe... Mickey Mouse? TWOOOO HeeDees, Mama? ...*I* will put it in. [long emphasis on I]

[mama debates addressing the 2-CD request at all, decides against] "You do that. Okay. There we go. Push Play. Very good. NOW. Bath time!" :)

"I tan't hear dat. I need a toon it UP."

[fortheloveofpete] "Turn it up. Now that's it. Into the bathroom."

[...much strife over Mama's soliloquy, "To Pee or Not To Pee"...]

[AJ runs to bathtub] "*I* wanna do da bubbles. *I* do it."

[Mama sits wearily on tub's ledge] "Yes, honey, you do it."

[pours bubbles]

"Now I haffa rinse dat (the bottle cap)."

[mama sighs]

"Now I haffa dwyyyy dat. Where my Mr. Frog...?" [goes looking]

[mama crumbles to floor] "AJ the bath is getting full. Let's go."

"Maybe Woody wan to take a baf wif me, Mama? Tan I go get him an' put him in?"

[mama looks up from the floor] [Have we even moved from ten minutes ago? Are we progressing? No? Okay, good. I'll just lie here then...]

:) :) :).... :)


Curtain. (The story-reading in Act II was equally entertaining.)

Yay, the little ponies won!

So, did ya watch the Game? We went to our friends' house and it was a bona fide PARTY. I mean, look at these cutie patootie partying kids:

In JAMMIES! My favorite kind of kid, now that ya mention it.

Everyone was rooting for Peyton, to no one's surprise, since one of the aforementioned kids (the middle one) is NAMED Peyton. Not for Mr. Manning, but coincidentally this family is a bunch of Tennessee fans. They'd picked the name because it would work for either gender, and then realized, hey, this will also showcase our team! The ultimate bonus in baby-naming, yes? Okay, maybe not. Anyway, it was fun to be together, and besides that we ate pigs-in-a-blanket(s) -- help! grammatically clumsy phrase! -- with honey-mustard sauce and PUFFY CHEETOS. My heavens, did AJ love the Puffy Cheetos. I was reminded of a boy named Cartman, whom I used to watch way back in the late '90s. ("Screw you gahs, Ah'm goin' home!")

Oh, sorry. Tossing out "South Park" lines used to be funny. Right?

I thought the commercials were SUB-PAR. Not a one of 'em, in my opinion, deserves to be in the hall of fame of million-dollar SuperBowl ads. Except maybe the KFed one, in which he totally gets points from me for making fun of his own craptastic public image. ("You need a dollah? 'Cause I got a wholllle stack." HA!)

It turned out to be a late night so I am more tired today than I should be, even though I've had my requisite two cups of coffee. What's with that?

Krissy called it

I need to learn to keep my trap shut. Remember this?