Monday, January 9, 2012

Prior proper planning prevents psychosis...


Right after New Year's Day, I put away most of the holiday decor, cleared off the book shelf and started filling it up with my armament to get through this political year. This is the year I'm going to ignore the political machine and read instead of watching talking heads. I think it's a good plan. I started a Shelfari account, but ran out of energy trying to add all of my books. Perhaps I'll do it a little bit at a time. It's not that it's hard, but it is a little time consuming.


My e-readers are full of books waiting to be read, and a hard copy of The Hobbit is on my shelf waiting to be re-read for about the tenth time. Hey! Peter Jackson's version of the story is being released on the big screen in December and I want the tale--which I do have memorized-- to be fresh in my mind. I think I'll savor it again in November. Another vintage book I plan on reading again is Charlotte's Web. I found a copy prior to the estate sale and rather selfishly rescued it from the .25 cent pile. The edges had been chewed by Stinkerbell, but the book is still readable and worthy of owning.

The bottom of the book shelf is filling up with knitting books and patterns I also plan to use as weaponry instead of watching or listening to political rhetoric. Also present is the Planet Earth DVD set that I'll watch while knitting. I hope Sigourney's voice doesn't lull me to sleep while I knit. Then there are television shows I never used to be into but now I am. The Good Wife is an example. I missed the first two seasons so I can rent those over the summer when the verbal barrage should be approaching the boiling point and try to catch up before season 4 begins.

I think I have the beginnings of a good plan and have kicked off the year reading, Midwife for Souls, which was recommended to me by a cloistered nun when I attended a death at her convent. She told me she was very moved by this book and thought I would be, too. Up until recently, it wasn't available on Kindle, but now it is, so I bought it this morning.

As an aside, the holiday baking is truly complete now. Last night, Sara started baking the one cookie that lets us know Christmas was here: Cherry Winks. As like last year, these got baked well after the holiday, and just like then, I think we're enjoying them even more when we have them late.

Leo the Unhelpful Baker

As usual when baking, Leo helped. This is him pouting because he got kicked out of the kitchen when he wouldn't stop licking the flour that had fallen on the floor and on his head. It wasn't a problem that he was in the way...it was just that by licking the spill, he wasn't cleaning, he was making paste.

14 comments:

SkippyMom said...

My dogs won't lick up spilled flour [or salt or sugar] but they will beg until given onion skins, carrot peelings and celery tops.

Yep, mine are just a weird. With stinkier breath. [if that is possible]

Happy reading. :)

The Bug said...

Oh that Leo - he's such a treat :)

Love your battle plan. I'm not sure what I'll do - half the time I'm amused & the other half I'm horrified by all the shenanigans. We certainly NEVER watch any of it on TV - but my friends on Facebook will waste no time filling me in on what happened. I sense that I'll just be using the "hide post" feature a lot!

Rose said...

Too funny, seeing the flour on his shiny head. The pouty face is adorable! Love your idea of reading instead of listening to the political crap. I've almost had to stop listening to NPR on my commute because 90% of it is about politics and it makes me nuts.

Celia said...

I agree. NPR has all been political. I like that channel, but I've been listening to books on tape during my commute rather than listen to that.

Brenda said...

Ha...today I have been trying to catch up with the political drama. I have to stay home because we are having carpet put in...and I just didn't know what else to watch. I think I will look for The Midwife for Souls. Sounds like a good one.

Mimi said...

Is that a knitted blanket Leo is sitting on?
I agree re after-christmas baking: I often make a Christmas cake during those lazy days after 25th, it's a last-minute cake recipe, and it tastes delicious when not competing with tons of rich food!

Empress Bee (of the high sea) said...

making paste! too funny! bless his heart, what a cutie...

smiles, bee
xxooxoxox

Stephanie V said...

Sounds like a great plan. I'm impressed with your forward thinking. I usually don't think of that until it's all kicked off. It already has, hasn't it? We see/hear it all as well.

NCmountainwoman said...

We bought the David Attenborough Planet Earth DVDs. I love Sigourney Weaver but thought her narration detracted rather than enhanced the DVDs. Still well worth watching.

Don't you love it when books are still interesting after frequent readings?

Ruth said...

poor Leo, in the dog house again

Unknown said...

Oh I love the adventures of Rudee and Leo. That is a great idea about not listening to the talking heads. I don't believe a thing anyone says any more. That makes it even harder. Yes I am cynical just like the rest of the country but we will move on as we have always done. Just hope it is in the right direction.
QMM

Rositta said...

Good plan, I just can't help myself. Your politics are just so much fun. Better than most tv shows. Thanks for reminding me about The Hobbit, I'm going to buy it right now...ciao

Unknown said...

I'm wondering if you'll truly be able to stay away from our Talking Heads boyfriends...:>) I have been watching and, seriously, how else would I know that Pres. Obama is a neo-monarchist attempting to turn the US into a European nation?? I did not know this. Nor did I know that every decision he has made since birth was wrong. For some reason this year watching the GOP has been restful and amusing for me. And Mitt Romney looks like Grandpa Munster so there's the baby boom nostalgia thing going on. Love knowing what's on your reading list and opinions, please??!! I've got Death Comes to Pemberley on my Kindle--a murder Jane Austin style and am loving to come home after 12hrs in the trenches to read about murder and manners.

Darci said...

I really enjoy the good wife too! I think you should review the books after you read them, because I would love some suggestions for my to read list.