Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss!

Today I watched Coleman's best friend Amelia for a couple of hours while her mom went to the dentist. In honor of what would have been Theodore Geisel's 104th birthday, we read "The Cat in the Hat" and "The Cat in the Hat Comes Back". Then the kids made their very own "Cat in the Hat" bowties and hats and had Goldfish crackers. It was a lot of fun!

What's for dinner? Maybe some green eggs and ham.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Coleman and I made these Rice Krispy Treat "Heartcicles" as Valentine's for his friends. We just tinted the marshmallow/butter mixture red or pink, patted them out extra thick on a cutting board. After they were set we cut them out with a sharp metal cookie cutter and then drizzled them with white chocolate and Coleman liberally applied sprinkles. After the chocolate set we stuck them on popcicle sticks and wrapped them with saran wrap and ribbon. They turned out pretty cute!

Hope your Valentine's Day is full of the people you love, whether they live under your roof or far away!

Thanks Ya'll!

It was a long week at the hospital with my grandmom, but I was glad I was able to be there for her and my grandpa. She is recouperating at home now and hopefully will get stronger every passing day.

I would like to take a moment to thank everyone as well as to give credit where it is due.

* Thanks be to our Great Physician for His healing and comfort when things looked their worst.

* Thanks to my grandmom's doctors and nurses- though some of you were better than others, you all did your jobs well. Thanks especially to those of you who went about your duties with a smile on your face and a song in your heart. You really were an encouragement to me when I needed it.

* Thanks to the staff of the ICU waiting room. This was by far the nicest waiting room I have ever been in, and I appreciate the fact that there are strict rules to keep it that way. Thanks especially to Dorsett and Jessica who were always laughing, smiling and helping families who were wandering through days of anxiety, grief and sleep deprivation. Jessica, thanks for having the sensitivity to realize the gravity behind waking a family member up in the wee hours of the morning to tell them they are needed upstairs.

* Thanks so much for everyone that prayed, whether I know you personally or not. I felt the comfort of so many people praying for me and my grandmom, words can not describe.

* Thanks to all of you who called and offered help and just a friendly ear to listen. Whether you called from Thailand, Athens, Memphis, California or North Carolina, it was GREAT to hear your voices when I needed them most. For those of you I had not spoken to in say- 15 years- thanks for being a better friend than I have been.

* Thanks to Brandy for stopping by the hospital with goodies and a hug. It was so good to see you.

* Thanks to my wonderful Mother in Law for keeping Coleman and holding down the fort in Memphis so I could be away.

* Thanks to Amanda for watching Coleman on short notice when we needed it on Friday afternoon. I hope he was not too much trouble- please let us know when we can reciprocate. I wanna get my hands on that cute baby!

* Thanks to all of you who emailed words of encouragement. It was great to spend time reading and replying to all of you during those long hours between visiting times.

* Finally, thanks to that ex-boyfriend who either did not recognize me in WalMart today or had the kindness not to speak up after not having any contact with me for 15 years. (I suspect the latter.) I'd not had a shower this morning, conditioned my hair in days and basically looked like I'd stepped off the set of "My Name is Earl". I would have been mortified to have a conversation with someone from my past- I was just trying to get home to my hubby and son as quickly as possible.

What Does Carol Channing Know Anyway?

Whoever wrote that "Diamonds are a girl's best friend" must have had an awfully shallow gal. In our house, not much makes me happier than a good book. Books help keep your brain from turning to mush (important when you spend all day with a 4 year old), help you unwind (did I mention that 4 year old?) and are the perfect opportunity for a little "me time".

With reading in decline in the USA I made a goal for myself to read 100 books in the year 2008. This may sound like a tall order, but in reality that is only 2 books a week. I am a quick reader, and can easily finish a novel in 3 days, quicker if I am really into it. Since 1998 I have attempted to keep track of all the books I have read. Some years I read like gangbusters, while others I simply did not record many of the books I completed. All in all, I actually wrote down 297 books that I have read in the past 9 years- and that is not counting the ones I read multiple times (Harry Potter Series, Gone with the Wind etc.) In 2006 alone I read 78 books!

I wish I could say that all that reading was spiritually uplifting, brain energizing, or at least literary classics. However, I am a huge fan of junk fiction... and my list is full of popular authors-especially in the Forensic Science and Medical Mystery genres. I don't think there is a book out there by Patricia Cornwell or Kathy Reichs I have not read. That being said, I also have a very eclectic list of authors that I really enjoy that are worth mentioning. Maybe you will get an idea for some reading yourself in 2008.

(I'll be doing a week of authors sort of like I did the musicians and games.)