So Many Books, So Little Time!

I NEVER thought that I would ever think this, but right at this moment, I have TOO MANY books to read! Currently on my bedside table are the following books, many with bookmarks in them denoting my progress:

1. To the Scaffold--The Life of Marie Antoinette by Carolly Erikson

2. The Enchantress of Florence by Salman Rushdie

3. Luncheon of the Boating Party by Susan Vreeland

4. 1776 by David McCullough

5. The Book of Mormon--always reading

6. The Hero of Ages by Brandon Sanderson

7. Flags of our Fathers by James Bradley

8. Rapture of the Deep--a Bloody Jack adventure, by L.A. Meyer

9. Jacob I Have Loved, YA novel by Katherine Paterson

10. Seer of Shadows, YA novel by AVI

11. Mormon Women: Portraits and Conversations

I need a beach to sit on and no distractions!

The crazy thing is, I still love to troll the aisles of Barnes and Noble and I always have to peruse the offerings of the book table at Costco. A trip to Target is not complete without a quick swing by their book section.

It's a sickness.

an apology

As I was running around town yesterday, I heard Doug Wright talking about "sexting" on his radio talk show. As they described different aspects of what "sexting" entails, I realized something: I think I must have "sexted" everyone I sent that A&F model picture too! I am sorry!

I also realized something the other day. Without meaning to be rude, I found myself doing all the incredible rude things that we get upset with people for doing. These were all inadvertent acts of rudeness but, nevertheless, I did commit them: While TALKING ON A CELL PHONE I drove onto the freeway, using the CARPOOL LANE when I didn't have another passenger in the car. I realized too late what I was doing as I DROVE RIGHT PAST the line of cars waiting for the meter to turn green. Then I found myself walking through Pier One with a hot cocoa cup. As I was looking through some pillows I PUT THE CUP DOWN ON A DISPLAY TABLE AND THEN WALKED AWAY, forgetting about the cup. It wasn't until I was pulling away from the store that I realized that I had left my cup sitting randomly on a table in the store. At another store, I unloaded my purchases, then left without RETURNING THE CART to the cart stand (I usually always do this, I hate seeing orphan carts left in the parking lot, waiting to roll away and inflict damage on an innocent car). When I met some friends for lunch, I was running late and when I got to the restaurant I HURRIED IN THROUGH THE DOOR, right in front of someone, not realizing until it was too late that I should have allowed them through first. So what is it? Am I so distracted that all the good manners have flown out the window? Or do I just need to learn to be more understanding, more patient with others that do things that annoy me, knowing that, like me, they were just temporarily distracted?

I am so shallow!

I have had a personal boycott against Abercrombie & Fitch for years now, and my girls know not to even ask for anything from there because they know I will never get it for them. I have noticed that my boycott is working, at least in my family, because my girls won't even spend their own money there.

So how dedicated am I, really, when I couldn't even resist snapping this photo with my phone and sending it to my whole family (yes, even Steve) while on a birthday trip with Madi?

Aren't you glad that I figured out how to make the picture bigger? Otherwise, you'd have to look at him like this:

He really was quite spectacular to look at...Stop it! There I go again.

The rest of the St. George/Vegas trip with Madi was so much fun. She is so easy to be with and I actually like shopping with her. It feels like we are equals. Instead of being a glorified clothes hanger, Madi and I acutally helped each other pick out things to try on and we also looked at other things besides clothes. We looked out furniture, dishes, housewares, purses, jewelry, make-up, fine art, books....we had so much fun just meandering from store to store.

We went to Nordy's for lunch and shared a crepe for dinner. We tried the burgers at 5 Guys (first time for both of us) and we ate peppermint ice cream w/hot fudge back at the condo.

We saw the Blue Man Group and were blown away by the sights and sounds of the show, and the off beat humor. Madi had her birthday announced during the show via the moving text screen, and the whole audience wished her a Happy Birthday.

Sorry this picture is so tiny. We forgot our camera, so we had to take pictures with our phone. This is a picture hanging in the theater where we saw The Blue Man Group. The little men paddling the boat are The Blue Men and there is also one water skiing (to the left of the picuture). Madi and I thought that it was pretty funny.
On her actual birthday, we went out to dinner with both sets of grandparents, and then came back to the house for birthday cake and presents. We are missing Markelle and my parents from this picture:

That's my famous German Chocolate cake. It'll put you in a sugar coma. It takes a pound of butter, several cups of sugar, seven eggs, along with pecans, evaporated milk, lots of chocolate. It is quite amazing, especially the next day when it's had a chance to "ferment."