Book crazy (or just plain crazy?)

It’s a new year, a good time to start a new habit. (Once again, I’m bringing oodles of originality to the blogosphere. Wow.)

For those of you unfamiliar with my ways, let me confess to you…

I have a fondness for fiction books. No, fondness isn’t the right word. All-consuming passion is much better. I love reading a good page-turner, I crave good plot like fine chocolate. I must have it; life wouldn’t be the same without literary fiction.

Once I’m drawn into an imaginary world, I don’t leave easily. My real life during that time? I admit it suffers. Cleaning, cooking, all domestic responsibilities - I do the minimal. All home education activities, I do, yet I long to escape into my book, and I hurry the kiddos along, Not good for teaching long division. Interactions with Doc? Also not helped by book lust.

To get myself disciplined in this area, I’ve devised a simple plan.

Monday through Thursday: no fiction books. Since I have no control, and wife/mommy duties are viewed as a hindrance to my reading, I’m banning myself from fiction early in the week. (Books like To Kill a Mockingbird, read in only three days, or A Kite Runner. If memory serves me right, I read that in less than 24 hours. See why I need a schedule?)

A non-fiction doesn’t hold the same mesmerizing power, so it’s permitted. The Bible, obviously, I should be reading everyday. Anything that could begin with “Once upon a time…” is a NO.

Friday through Sunday will be reserved for fiction. I’m giving myself permission to let the kids run naked in the streets because I’m behind on laundry, serve cereal for dinner because I forgot the defrost dinner due to my reading, and basically ignore the world around me. All so I can indulge my love for great fiction. I could seriously read one book a weekend this way, all without feeling like I should’ve done something more productive.

I think it’s a good plan. I do well with routine and as long as I don’t start a new book late on a Sunday night, I should be able to do this.

Do you do need to limit your book reading time or are you more disciplined than I?

Happy New Year

I know. Fabulous blog post title, eh? I’m so original.

First, before I wish you a Happy New Year, etc., etc., I simply must give you an update on Kitchen Construction (Day 14). Because I know you’ve been dying, literally lying awake at night wondering, how’s it going? Is it near completion? And are they sick of take out Chinese food and pizza?

Answers: It’s going well. Doc is a work horse. It’s a bit of a job, so much more to do. Poor Doc. And yes, we grown-ups (translation: those that care) are tired of the take-out. Never did I think I would live to see the day. Me, tired of Bo Bo Kitchen’s Hunan Triple Delight.

But I am. And it’s all worth it. Here’s the latest picture.

As for last night, this was the first year we stayed up together to welcome the New Year. We all made it, minus one. Lucy went until past 10 p.m. then crashed, snuggled up in her toddler bed. I think this is the last year we’ll have a toddler bed in the house. She’s outgrowing it fast.

History has proved me a lousy late night party girl, except last night, when Susan asked me if I was going to stay up with her to see the new year come in. How could I say no? Her excitement of staying up hours past bedtime, with a party atmosphere complete with chocolates, salty chips and sugary drinks was infectious.

Almost didn’t make it. I did Movie Time (Prince Caspian), with popcorn and mozzarella sticks, washed up the dished in the utility sink and declared to everyone I was thinking of going to bed, but when I got under the covers, at the last minute I picked up a novel from the bedside. I read several chapters when the noise outside the window started. Fireworks. I made it into the New Year, wide awake, with Jem and Scout to distract me from sleep.

When I ran out to the living room, to see if everyone else had heard the fireworks, I found Doc and the boys playing Risk (Lord of the Rings version) and Susan on the computer. I went into the kitchen to see if I could see the last of the fireworks, forgetting the room is without windows at the moment.

How did you celebrate the New Year?

My Christmas without a kitchen

So as of last Friday, I am sans kitchen. I’m ecstatic, joyful, giddy and, quite honestly, a bit shocked. The Great Kitchen Renovation project has begun. I’ve lived with Functional Kitchen for ten years, and now I’m getting Beautiful Kitchen. To heck with function. I want to look at pretty cabinets and a nice floor.

With the rest of the house wrapped snuggly warm with insulation, we simply had to do something with the drafty, cold kitchen. Minimalist Kitchen, no insulation. Lovely Kitchen, top to bottom insulation to keep winter’s chill outside where it belongs.

Besides insulation we’re adding more cabinets, new paint, new windows, and ripping out the Ugliest Kitchen Floor in the Northern Hemisphere (it’s true, I have the trophy to prove it.) An oven vent, friends! Hallelujah!

Oh, goody yea. Santa has a credit card with Home Depot.

Okay, enough talk. Have a go with these pictures to get the full effect. (Can you tell I’ve been watching Crocodile Hunter?) This first picture features the fake dance floor and bare light bulb. Looking closely, one can see where the cabinets previously hung to the left of the stove. Dang, that wall is brown. *sigh*

More nasty walls again. Feeling slightly embarrassed I’m going to post this to the Internet. Notice old windows, glad to see them go. Yes, that’s Doc’s backside. Please ignore.

So that’s the old kitchen.

As much as I love what’s happening in my kitchen currently, there is a slight bummer in all of this: my refrigerator is in my living room, parked next to the Christmas tree. Behold, truth in blogging - my living room as of December 24, 2008:

Not exactly the holiday atmosphere I was going for this year.

Friends: do you say no to the Great Kitchen Renovation Project of 2008-09 just because it’s the week before Christmas? No way, Santa baby. You store all your dishes in the dining room, shove the table and frig into the living room and start ripping sheet rock from the walls. Besides, it’s the most logical time to do it; Doc’s company shuts down for a week between Christmas and New Year’s. No brainer. Gimme my new kitchen. Please.

It’s a good thing I’m not in the habit of cooking a traditional dinner on Christmas day, because no way is it happening this year. I’m thinking Chinese take-out will be on our menu Thursday.

***

I’m going to take a take a break from updating here until after the new year. May you have a blessed celebration of our Savior’s birth with your family, with lots of books from Santa.

Don’t drink too much eggnog, cause it’s really fattening, plus drinking too much eggnog is just gross. Eat more chocolate instead. (Is there such a thing as chocolate eggnog? Hmmm.)

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Update on our Pastor

Remember my November post, asking for prayer? Our wonderful Pastor in the hospital, suffering from a suspected brain aneurysm.

The picture below was taken last week.

He’s doing great. From what I’ve heard, the doctors are a bit amazed at his recovery.

Thank you, Lord.

Thoughts on inside play: my latest at NJ Moms

This is just a gentle look at my children interacting together and me the mommy-on-wall. I must say, I send my best mommy thoughts and tales to New Jersey Moms Blog.

At least, I believe they are worthy of sharing. Could be that I’m completely off. I’ll let you be the judge.

The post is Wintertime play.