Books I Need to Read This Year

Am I the only one who has a huge pile of books to read that keeps accumulating more each day?

I have so many books that I want to read, so many books that I have waiting for me to read, and so many authors to try out I don't know what to do with myself.

First, I still haven't read the last Mistborn book yet by Brandon Sanderson. My intention is to read the first two again so that I can remind myself of what is going on. So, everytime I start to read the first book, something else comes up. And because I've read it before, I feel like Mistborn can go on the back burner.

Second, I still haven't read the last Percy Jackson book, which is making my nephew really angry.

I've started a few books that I need to finish. The Three Musketeers (again, a reread)...Crime and Punishment (another reread) and who knows what else. Maybe I should declare this year the year I reread all of my old favorites. I'm already halfway through The Lord of the Rings. All I need now is The Once and Future King, East of Eden, and Atlas Shrugged.

I think I'm on to something.

BTW, there are few people that I trust to make book recommendations to me. Chances are, you are not one of them. Don't take it personal. I'm simply a book snob. So please don't take this as a chance for you to tell me to read some Nicholas Sparks book or The DaVinci Code. But if your name is Michele, then feel free to recommend away. You have yet to lead me astray. Except you hate Ernest Hemingway. What's that about?

My Brush With Death

As usual, I spent my morning in the service of my fellow beings. Rachel needed to go to the airport and because I am such a good person, I volunteered to take her.

We made it to the airport in good time. I had mentioned to her earlier that I really needed to register my car and get new tires, as my old tires were getting pretty bald.

Flash to the ride home. I had just past Thanksgiving Point in Lehi when my car started making a funny noise. I decided it was nothing. Then the noise got worse and the steering wheel started to shake. I pulled over from the center lane into the borrow pit.

Yeah, my tire was shredded. So, after about fifty million calls, the tow car was headed my way and Les Schwab was expecting my Cruiser and I to roll in any time.

I didn't realize it until earlier tonight. I could have died. If my front tire had exploded rather than the back tire, I wouldn't have been able to steer the car. There were cars all around me. I could have crashed into someone else.

The miracle is that I was able to walk away without a scratch. My car has new tires and I am in an altogether better place than I was.

I'm not one for sharing faith building stories about how God helped someone find their car keys or something like that. But I do know that my dad had a feeling this morning that he should call me about my tires. I had been worrying about them all morning. It can't just be coincidence that this happened today and that no one was hurt. I mean, it could have happened during a snow storm or in the middle of the night.

Anyway, just thought you should all realize how close you came to losing the best part of your lives. And if you get a persistent nudge to change your tires, you should probably do it.

Robert Downey Jr

So I recently watched Iron Man for the first time. I know I'm probably the last person in the nerd community to have watched it, but better late than never.

Robert Downey Jr. is wonderful. Remember how ten years ago he was in and out of prison and drug rehabs. I didn't think he was going to make it. I am glad I was wrong.

Iron Man has made me want to rewatch all of the Robert Downey Jr. movies that I used to love and watch. Heart and Souls, Richard III, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. I, of course, saw Sherlock Holmes in January. That was good.

So, here's hoping that he doesn't relapse into drugs again. Cause, he's super hot and I am secretly hoping to run into him at Comic-Con 2010.

Crafting it up! starring me

So, I'm going to be perfectly honest, I love the thought of a do-it-yourself project. I long for the day when I can re-tile my bathroom or build my own deck. But right now I have to settle for painting picture frames and crocheting. (Yes, I know how to crochet)

I have also started collecting pop cans in an attempt to make a wicked awesome mosaic coffee table with the recycled (I'm green) aluminum. And don't even get me started on the pop-tab lampshade I also want to make.

The thing about the craft projects is...I have no place that I can lay out all of my crafts and leave them out without bothering the old lady roommate and my other roommate.

Another problem with sharing a house with two roommates is that I participate in something which involves tons of cutting out and newspapers. Lots of newspapers. I have been couponing since this summer. It is amazingly fun. Every week I get four newspapers delivered to me Sunday Morning and I go through that and pull out the coupon books (there are usually about 2-3) and clip coupons.

Yesterday I saved $95 at Smith's just by buying things with coupons on top of sales. The people in the line behind me always think, "great an annoying lady with coupons." But when they see how much money I save, they are always asking me how I do it.

Couponing has become very fashionable. I think it's because of the bad economy. I just cringe at the thought of paying more than $1 for Cheerios or Honey Bunches of Oats. The best part is that I save even more money than if I bought the store brands. It's incredible. And I can afford to be a little more picky with what I do choose to spend my money on. That's right...I have decided to switch fully to the cage-free eggs.

And I can buy Bella the expensive food that is all natural without breaking the bank. They always have coupons for the kind of cat food I like. I know people think that the kind of food animals eat doesn't make a difference and that the cheap stuff is just as good, but let me tell you something. It isn't. Bella's coat is shinier and, most importantly, she doesn't shed like a maniac when she is eating the more expensive food.

So, if you have a do-it-yourself project that you need some extra help with, or you need someone to coupon shop for you...let me know. I am available every other week. -