Tagged by Mopsy

So I got tagged by Mopsy for a book survey thingy. (Check her's out at Lifenut)
Well, here it goes...

Total number of books owned:
I'd say somewhere in the ballpark of 200... but if you add in all our comic books and trade paper backs that number jumps considerably.

Last book I bought:
Runny Babbit by Shel Silverstein. This book was published last March, six years after he passed away (a 20 year project completed by his family).

The last book I read:
The last one was Witch Hunt by Ian Rankin. I had started reading Ian Rankin's Rebus series a couple of years ago and enjoyed his style of writing. Hubby Mikey had set out to find me the next in the series for my birthday, but couldn't come across it, instead he pick this one up. I highly recommend it for mystery fans. It was nicely laid out and the characters were wonderfully developed.

Five books that mean a lot to me:
Book number one would have to be The BFG by Roald Dahl. It's been one of my favorite books since elementary school (I believe I first ready it in 6th grade). I've been a fairly avid reader all my life and I can attribute a lot of my zest for books to Mr. Dahl. He had an imagination to trump just about anyone and his books are perfectly suited for kids of all ages.

Book two is Brave New World by Aldous Huxley. I was supposed to have read this book my Sophomore year in high school, but (I hate to admit this) I only read as far as the first chapter. I faked my way through the rest of the book with the help of a group project. The year after I graduated my best friend started discussing it with me (thinking I had already read it). When I confided in her about my sliding by ways she forcibly let me borrow her copy. I enjoyed it so much I kicked myself for not reading it when I had chance to discuss it in class. A few years later I bought myself my own copy and still found it as intreguing as I had before. I'm amazed at how forward thinking the book is especially considering it was written in the early '30s.

My third book is Jitterbug Perfume by Tom Robbins. It has special meaning to me because it was one of the first of many things HM and I found we have in common.

For my fourth book I'm actually going to cheat and name all the Harry Potters. I know they're such a phenomenon and everybody loves them, but to me they mean something special because they helped give a resurgence to my love of reading. I'd lost touch with reading after Mikey and I got married, forsaking it during the first year of our marriage, our move to a different state, and having our first baby (although I did read a couple of pregnancy help books). When Bug was about six months old I picked up a copy of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone and was hooked. I got HM hooked too and together we roped in Mom, Mum and New Sis. It was wonderful because not only did I have a renewed passion for reading I also had four other people to discuss the excitement with.

My fifth book has also been a favorite for a long time, Mrs. Fields' Cookie Book written by Debbi Fields (Mrs. Fields of course) It means a lot to me not only because it's filled with cookie recipes (I have such a weakness for cookies), but because it was the first cook book I ever owned. I still open its pages at least once every other month, mostly for the same few recipes, but occasionally to try a new delicious different one.

Now to pick on 5 people... I choose HM (he can do a guest blog here teehee) Kate at Kate Geek, Desiree at Take These Broken Wings, Jennifer at In this Life, and Jessica at Just My Life

Thanks Mopsy! That was fun :)

Coffee news

The results are in. The coffee test has proven no winner. As far as I am concerned both filters brew a coffee adequate enough to give me my morning's quota of caffeine. Since the gold filter saves on $ and is reusable, that will be the keeper. On another note, Hubby Mikey approves of Peaberry's 15th anniversary blend(the new flavor) so apparently it's a keeper too.

Today has gone by far to slow for my taste. I've had some guys come to clean the carpets, HM came home for lunch and I even had a chance to put together some of our garage shelves, but still I can't seem to push the time forward fast enough. I think I've got a case of the middle of the week blahs. I keep thinking today is Thursday, but no matter how hard I try the calendar stays firmly stuck on Wednesday.
I'm looking forward to the weekend. Saturday we're hosting a BBQ. We've invited some new friends I've met through a mom's forum online. It will be nice to be able to put some more faces to the people I've known through quirky mommy driven questions, and also rants, & raves.
Of course Sunday is father's day, and although I cannot divulge our plans for the day here (HM is a daily reader), I can say I'm looking forward to spending time with the family.
Hopefully the clock will decide to cooperate and get on with things today -at least enough to bring HM home from work- of course, I wouldn't mind if it slowed down then.

Coffee Fantastic

Hubby Mikey said I need to start blogging more.
Actually the conversation went a little bit more like this:
Me: Wahhh, nobody likes me!
HM: ... What do you mean?
Me: No one ever comments on my posts *sob*
HM: Well sweetie I'm not sure you want to hear this, but you may have to write more often to keep people reading it. When you go on hiatus for weeks at a time you lose people's interest.
Me: ...

I remember having a conversation with Mopsy a while back regarding blog writing. She said that she finds herself choosing to do more interesting things during the day so that she'll have something to blog about later.

...

Uh, I tried a new coffee filter...

-- Does my family and the odd person who comes across this blog want to hear about my coffee misadventures? Well considering there haven't been many comments you can also come to the conclusion that there haven't been many complaints against it either. So hey, coffee filters, why not?--

Early Sunday evening Bug and I were out getting groceries when we found ourselves at Peaberry Coffee preparing to quench our hot beverage cravings. While the barista was busy foaming my milk and adding whipped cream to Bug's cocoa, I wandered around looking at their merchandise. I came across some gold coffee filters and decided since I was almost out of filters at home, I'd go ahead and shovel out the extra cash to try one out. I'd heard they help to make a superior tasting coffee and over time can save some money. Monday morning I tested it out, but my coffee maker being what it is (generally good, but quirky) overflowed a bit onto the counter. I also discovered a taste testing mistake, I had bought a new flavor of coffee. How exactly was I to tell a superior coffeeness regarding the filter if I hadn't tasted the specific type of coffee before? Oh me, what's a girl to do? I brewed the coffee again this morning (again with the gold filter) and there was no lava flow from the carafe (a good sign) though, I've still no verdict on the new filter's superiority. I'm planning a paper filter test tomorrow morning. I know I'm riveted to know which does the better job. I'm always on a quest for a better tasting cup of joe. I'll be sure to post the verdict.

I'm sure this post comes across as one big (whiny, pathetic) plea for comments, but I assure you it isn't (well ok, it is). I am just blogging about my life and the things that happen in it (like whining to my husband about being unloved) however trivial they may be. It is in no way directed to people who I know read my blog (Mum) and comment to me in person (my parents) without leaving a comment on here (my brother x2).

Staying home

I said in last night's post, "I'm not planning on abandoning my post as a stay-at-home mommy any time soon."
I'd like to elaborate on that. When I think of a "career" for me to add to my life, I fully see my children involved. As far as running a restaurant, I picture the kids (somewhere in high school I suppose) coming in after school to sit at a booth and do their homework, possibly helping out a bit to earn extra money, but definitely there. With the dairy farm idea (yes I was serious about that) I see them as little curious kids helping to name the cows and chasing our dogs around the field.
I suppose I just want to clarify that I am happy with my choice of being a stay at home mom. I have no desires in the way of eight hour shifts or the world of day care (not that there is anything wrong with either of those).
I look at a career choice for me being something that can be added to our family's current dynamic. So if I'm to write a best selling novel (um, shut up) I picture Sweetiepeas at my feet squawking for Cheerio's while I'm typing, and both her and Bug on my bookstore tour, taking time in each city to eat at exotic McDonald's.

Nothing in particular

I'm in the mood to blog, but forgive me if it's just mindless babbling (for those of you who asked "so what else is new?" um- shut up). I can't really think of anything of importance to regurgitate regarding the past couple days (no, I don't suppose I generally have anything particularly important to write about -& um, shut up).

I've been thinking about what I want to be when I grow up. This question has been a tough one for me. I think that's because I'm so darn fickle. In general I have trouble with making decisions. Ask anyone I'm related to, or for that matter any one who's ever met me. What am I making for dinner? -I may as well start planning before breakfast. Choosing a restaurant? Prepare yourself for a 2 hour wait(you might want to bring snacks). I have to plan months ahead of time to come up with gifts for peoples' birthdays, it's craziness. The funny thing is, some of the biggest decisions of my life have been made in true spur of the moment, fly by the seat of your pants fashion. Marriage? -No problem. Should we have a baby? - Alrighty. Continuously moving around the country? How 'bout a coin toss to decide?
But when it comes to my ambitions career-wise I can't seem to flounder enough.

As far as I can remember the first thing I wanted to be when I was young was a ballerina. I'm pretty sure that ship has sailed, though, I stopped taking dance classes fifteen years ago. Lately I have been considering such a wide variety of professions it ranges from running a restaurant to being a dairy farmer. I even took a test online to help me sort out what it is I am best suited for. It didn't come up with anything I didn't already know. I don't want to work for anyone or have anyone work for me. I enjoy writing, mathematics, science, cooking, and don't like administration or sales. So what is a girl to do? I never stay on the same track for long, I'd say I have a fear of commitment, but I'd suppose my marriage would have an argument to that. Right out of high school I dove into photography, I decided after only a semester to venture in a different direction. English was my next, and unofficial major, and also lasted only one semester. When I transferred schools I was declared an art major by the school I switched to(sounded ok to me, I didn't argue). From that point I took an easy way out of decision making by quitting school and getting married. I'm very happy with the way my life is unfolding so far. Being a mom is the greatest "when I grow up" ending I could hope for, I would just like to sort out a career type decision in addition - you know the drill, I'd like to have my cake and eat it too. I'm young. I'm not too worried about figuring out something for my future career. Plus, I'm not planning on abandoning my post as a stay-at-home mommy any time soon.