Reading To Blasty

Earlier this week, Dan announced that he wanted to start reading to Blasty every night before we go to sleep. He wants Blasty to know his voice. :) Luckily, we already have a large collection of books! For our baby shower at Uncle Doug & Aunt Rita's, everyone was asked to sign their name to a book for Blasty's library rather than a card. (We had an entire duffel bag full of books that we brought home!) It has been so much fun to pick a new book every night and open it up to see who it is from.**

The first night was really funny though, because the first book he picked had about 2 words in it. LOL. It was a picture book of trucks. He enthusiastically read "Truck" and "Trucking" about ten times and that was it. I laughed so hard I cried! :) Every night was fun as we alternated picking books and often opened them up to find a signature and think of a good friend or family member. Last night we opened up one to find out it was from Papa & Noni, (my mom and dad) and it was a popular book I had heard of but never read, "On the Night You Were Born." It was so sweet! Oh boy it was hard not to cry! :)

Here is a list of Blasty's first books this past week...I know it is totally silly to share it, but hey, I'm a sentimental pregnant mama:

Truck by Donald Crews
Just Me and My Dad by Mercer Mayer (Both Dan and I grew up reading and LOVING the Little Critter books, didn't you??? My favorites were "Just Go To Bed" and "Me Too")
The Going to Bed Book by Sandra Boynton (I hear all of her books are great?)
On The Night You Were Born by Nancy Tillman
I Like Bugs by Lorena Siminovich (Petit Collage illustrations--I LOVE their stuff! I didn't know they did books...)
Gossie by Olivier Dunrea

Dan relinquished a shelf from his pint glass collection in the hallway for Blasty's books. (I guess he's officially entering daddy-hood!)

In an attempt to get things organized, I also got some baskets and a bin to hold toys (not that Blasty really has any yet, but I am assuming we will end up with quite a few and we don't have any closet space for them).

The red baskets were a big score from Cost Plus World Market (online) at just $7 each and then I super-indulged myself with 1 of those popular/trendy organic canvas bins (quite the deceptively HUGE container) by 3 Sprouts ($40).

**The most popular books at the baby shower were "Goodnight Moon" and "Guess How Much I Love You." Blasty received 4 copies of each. :) Another note of interest: He received books in Spanish and French, not just English! We will have fun practicing our horrible accents. :)

Books and a General Lament

I have been very depressed. Still waiting to see what Cymbalta can do for me.

I don't mean to be a downer. I find I have nothing else to write about.

There has been little happening since I got back from Illinois. I haven't done hardly anything at all other than apply for jobs among the massive 12% in Oregon searching too.

Well, this is not entirely true. I have done a few things. I've bought a lot of mochas, smoked too much, and talked on the phone a lot.

There has been no reading. I felt ambitious today with the redemption of the sun and bought three books for $9. God bless the bargain bin. "The Best American Nonrequired Reading 2007," "The Yellow House; Van Gogh, Gaughin, and Nine Turbulent Weeks in Arles," and "Demonology (Short Stories by Rick Moody - unrelated to demons).

Speaking of books, Dan's birthday came and went without a post. He requested Little Debbie Easter cakes. I provided (2 boxes!) and got him two library books as well: "Watching Baseball Smarter" and "Trout Bum." Dan is 32 and I love him. He has been extremely patient and supportive lately.

I made it a week without buying anything (I truly am an addict, so this is substantial) and then took 10 steps backwards with a few things for the rearranged living room: a poster, a shelf, two pillows. I am trying to make the space more cheerful. Will I be more cheerful? Too much gray, brown, and black. Dreary.

Did I mention the sun is out today? Beautifully warm. We are going to take advantage of this change of events and go fishing this weekend.

I also hung out at the library reading magazines. The interest is barely there, so it was more like an aggressive flipping through. I watched 3 Gilmore Girls episodes one afternoon. Otherwise, the TV remains off. I count stitches on furniture, think of new ways to write my signature, pet the dog and cat. Stare at the leaves on the trees.

When everything feels meaningless it brings such grief.

Tomorrow I will shower and we'll go from there.

I'm Just One More Person Obsessed with Twilight

This past week I read the Twilight series by Stephenie Meyers. Highly addictive. My friend Ali lent me the first two books. I read the 2nd book in 1 day (crying so much Dan was kinda worried...) and woke up the next morning and bought the third book. When I finished the 3rd book the next day, my eyes turned red in pure thirst for the last book. It was sold out at the Target in Sherwood! I raced around in the rain, desperate to find it, and then promptly started reading at red stoplights on the way home. I finished it by midnight.

I just want to say that they are great reads; fast, easy, and fun. I know that the movie isn't going to be exactly like the book (and it could never be as good as the book), but I'm excited to see it anyway. I'll be driving up to visit April (another I-will-stay-up-til-2-in-the-morning-to-read-this-book fan) to see the premiere together. Then I'll get to see an encore at a Sunday matinee with Ali, who feverishly texted me as I read the books to gossip about the plot-twists. ;-)

Fuego & Calendars

["The Gas We Pass" by Shinta Co, I Love You Braille Necklace, and Sofa Pillow T-shirt]

Yesterday I discovered a great store IN THE MALL. I'm picky, so that says a lot. I'm not a big fan of national chains (although I certainly shop the hell out of Target). If you go to the mall to buy a gift, in general you are looking at clothing, candles, Hallmark nick-knacks, and calendars. (Yes, it's that time of year when the enormous calendar booths descend upon the masses...I already have mine picked out--I traditionally get a William Wegman with the adorable Weimaraners. There are always at least 2--one of adult dogs and one of puppies--and the puppies usually win my favor. This year, the choices are:

[Family Calendar, Man's Best Friend, and Puppies]

...but this year, I'm leaning toward the family calendar with the stickers. Stickers! I'll let you know. As an aside, this is not the ONLY calendar I get for the new year. I have a bit of a calendar fetish. Already I have an Egg Press offset printed desk calendar and a letterpressed wall calendar waiting to be used--chosen for that combination of antique and modern that I love so much! We also usually receive a ridiculously funny calendar from Lorri & Carmen at Christmas. Year 1 was "Extreme Ironing" (I have to giggle at the memory of it) and this year was "Nuns Behaving Badly" (find similar here). In the yoga corner of our bedroom, I placed the new calendar by papercut artist, Niki McClure. Each portrait has a single word I meditate on. I've already started using it for this purpose, so I'm in October 2009 while I do yoga. The word is "Mother." There's more. I also have to get the new miniature calendar by Jill Bliss and Saelee Oh for their unique artistry:

[2009: Gathered Together]

[2007: Farm Life]

Oh my heck. I just realized how big of a tangent I went on about calendars. I haven't even finished; I haven't even got to planners and datebooks!)

The orginal point was: I like Fuego. It has a unique and fun selection of T-shirts, cards, jewelry, books, scarves, hats, toys, etc. It's small and a little trendy, but I picked up some fabulous items; A magnet I'm sending a friend and adorable cards to frame for the future-nursery. (Photos later. Haven't I given you enough eye candy for one post?) This is a great spot to hit for stocking stuffers, too. The web site doesn't feature as comprehensive of a selection as the store does, but it gives you an idea. Sorry midwesterners. For shopping the store, it's at Clackamas Town Center on SE 82nd.

Summer of the Memoir

Dan recently mentioned that his two goals for this summer were 1.) Play the drums in Rock Band on level medium and 2.) catch a steelhead. I have decided that I would like to 1.) complete a puzzle and 2.) Read a variety of memoirs. Does anyone have any suggestions? So far I've picked out: