Songs put on repeat:
Best: "Read My Mind" The Killers. This song is so fabulous. Graham and I groove out to it in the car, the kitchen, and anywhere else I can plug in my ipod. I love mimicking the little "tssst, tssst" noise of the drum. I'm going to get mocked for including that tidbit.
Worst: "Forever" Chris Brown. Again, a kitchen dancing favorite. However, I always feel like I'm supporting a man who hits ladies when I listen to it.
Books (I'm putting in both serious and guilty pleasures because let's face it, that's how I roll):
Best: Team of Rivals, Doris Kearns Goodwin. Loved it. I'm sure I still would have gotten a little weepy at the Lincoln Memorial if I had not read it, but wow, it sure made an impact. It is hallowed ground if ever there was. What a man and what a nation, all the good, bad, and ugly that encompasses us.
Worst: Truth & Beauty, Ann Patchet. AAaaaaaahhhhh!!!! It was extremely depressing, and this is coming from a girl who loves poetry and the gritty side of life. It was more self-loathing and self-destructive than anything poetic or gritty. I do not recommend.
Best Guilty Pleasure: The Hunger Games Series, Suzanne Collins. Loved it. It is teen lit and completely awesome. A little gory but fabulous story. I highly recommend.
Worst Guilty Pleasure: At First Sight, Nicholas Sparks. I really should know better by now, but I always get pulled in and can't get out until the end!!!!!
Purchases:
Best: Audible.com membership. I've found that my two hands tend to be a lot more occupied of late whether with laundry, or dinner, or poop (whatever the case may be), so I did a trial with an audio book and I'm hooked. It's fun to be read to again, and I've been able to "read" more this last year than I have since I graduated. Now, we could surely argue about whether or not listening to a book can be considered "reading," but I'm of the philosophy that any type of exposure to a book is good exposure.
Worst: The Ped Egg. Don't waste your dollars. It does not give you anything close to the pedicure found at your local Salon de Belleza. Learn from my mistakes.
Parenting Moment:
Best: Buying Hand, Hand, Fingers, Thumb. Reading together will never be the same again.
Worst: Laughing at a toot. Because it got such a great reaction, our Graham now tries to toot on command. Eyes bulging and all. He is all boy.
Karma:
Best: Realizing I kept my old phone after I lost my new phone. Being a pack rat has never paid off so much.
Worst: Yelling "I hate people!!!" once I was safely inside my car after a particularly rough trip to Costco only to have a nice gentleman tap on my window with my wallet that I had just dropped in the parking lot on my way to the car. I was appropriately chastened.
Well, that is what I've come up with so far. It has been a remarkable year, and we are so grateful for the opportunities and blessings and good friends and family around us. Here's hoping 2010 is only the better.
