Scene III Act II

Setting: Dinner table. Family discussing events of the day, which includes something naughty done by Morgan. Morgan appears increasingly upset by conversation.

Morgan: This is the part where I cry!

Sobbing ensues. Exit Morgan. Door slams. Dog barks.

End scene.

In other news, we succeeded in making the most fantastically perfect ebelskivers tonight. I think bragging is appropriate for the occasion. It's only taken us 15 1/2 years to figure them out. I think my favorite part of the meal, though, was Morgan calling them "apple skeeters." It just hit my funny bone.

What I Read in 2011

I love to read, and I don't doubt I spend more than my fair share of time doing it. I suppose I could use my time more effectively. My house could be cleaner. I could plan my shopping trips and coupon strategies more thoroughly. I could help Morgan dress up her Polly Pocket princesses [actually, I can read and do that]. On the other hand, I could while away the hours playing Angry Birds or posting complaints on Facebook.

I find repose in a good book. My book club makes me happy. I savor beautifully crafted words. For my personal record, these are the books on my "Reads and Rereads" sidebar from last year. I just have to note my favorite find of the year was Leif Enger. I thought his use of words was masterful. If you're looking for authentic characters and language to relish, you should check him out.

• Daughters in My Kingdom by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
  
• The Long Walk by Slavomir Rawicz
• A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle
• The Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
• A Study in Scarlet by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
• Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare
• The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
• Beyonders: A World Without Heroes by Brandon Mull
• So Brave, Young and Handsome by Leif Enger
• The Tragedy of Pudd'nhead Wilson by Mark Twain
• At Home in Mitford by Jan Karon
• Peace Like a River by Leif Enger
• Loud and Clear by Anna Quindlen
• Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie
• When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead
• The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
• The Last Olympian (Percy Jackson #5) by Rick Riordan
• The Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan
• Far from the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy
• The Battle of the Labyrinth (Percy Jackson #4) by Rick Riordan
• The Brothers Karamozov by Fyodor Dostoevsky
• The Titan's Curse (Percy Jackson #3) by Rick Riordan
• The Sea of Monsters (Percy Jackson #2) by Rick Riordan
• The Princess and the Hound by Mette Ivie Harrison
• The Grass Harp by Truman Capote
• Our Mutual Friend by Charles Dickens

Who Told?

I want to know where the fly on our wall is hiding. This was pretty much how our new year played out. Even down to the time on the alarm clock. [I kid you not -- although I am a little ashamed to admit it.]

**sigh**