Monday, May 17, 2010

Too much book info

If you're looking for pictures of my adorable kids or interesting info about our family's goings-on, look further. Try the next post, it's a cute on about Sheridan with far too many pictures. This one is all about my addiction.

Reading.

Hello, my name is Ali, and I'm a Bookaholic.

(Just so you know, I am not trying to make light of people with serious addictions, but I really think I have a problem with being a reading addict. Fortunately, it does not have as many negative outcomes associated with it.)

My friend Jenni posted this little reading Q&A on her blog and I think it's kinda fun. Never knew everyone didn't read the same way I do!

That might be a good thing (at least according to my darling husband)

Do you snack while you read? If so, what is your favorite reading snack?
Nope, I'm too sucked into the story. Who needs physical food when they have an imagination being fed?

What is your favorite drink while reading?

Water.

Do you tend to mark your books as you read? Or, does the idea of writing in books horrify you?
Only my school books. I like to keep my reading books as nice as possible.

How do you keep your place while reading a book? Bookmark? Dog-ears? Laying the book open?
I either lay the book open (if it's going to be a brief break) or remember the page (if I'm going on a longer hiatus).

Do you prefer fiction, non-fiction, or both?

Fiction. Reality usually involves something grim and sad, whereas fiction often is happily-ever-after. Plus, I haven't seen dragons in much non-fiction, so what's the point to that?!?

Are you a person who tends to read to the end of a chapter, or can you stop anywhere?

Actually, I like to read to the end of the book, like so mad-cap marathon. When that isn't possible, I prefer to read to the end of a chapter.

Are you the type of person to throw a book across the room or on the floor if the author irritates you?
No. I generally finish the story and then decide that I'll never touch the book again if I had really strong, bad feelings.

If you come across an unfamiliar word, do you stop and look it up right away?
Nope. I usually understand what is meant by the context. If I'm wrong, though, and I use the word later I end up looking silly.

What are you currently reading?
Nothing. My poor husband already had to put up with too much reading this month!

What is the last book you bought?
A Star Wars book for the oldest boy. For myself...I can't even remember the last book I bought myself! Maybe Elantris by Brandon Sanderson.

Are you the type of person that reads one book at a time, or can you read more than one?
I'm generally a one at-a-time person, but if I'm having a tough time getting into a book I'll start another as I trudge through the first.

Do you have a favorite time/place to read?
Favorite time of day: When kids are napping.

Favorite place: the couch.

Favorite situation: when Tyler's out of town so he can't give me a hard time about not paying attention to anything. Plus, it makes the time he's gone go by so much faster.

Do you prefer series or stand-alone books?
I like to have some good stand-alones, but I really enjoy series (it takes away the question of "whatever shall I read next?").

Is there a specific book or author you find yourself recommending over and over?
Brandon Sanderson. Not a lot of people know about him, but he's got a really fun style and a-typical fantasy notions.

How do you organize your books (by genre, title, author’s last name, etc.)?
Genre.

Saturday, May 15, 2010

Suddenly Sher Bear

"Once there was a girl with a curl in the middle of her forehead.
When she was good, she was very good..."
(She reminds me SO MUCH of my sister-in-law in this pict. She is ALL VIGUE!)
"And when she was bad, she was horrid!"
Yes, that is one of those "nursery rhyme" thingies. But, seriously, our little Sheridan is INTENSE! It's either stunningly good or devastatingly terrible with her--is there such a thing as in-between (and no, I'm not talking about her hair and makeup...although her but her bed-head is hilarious and I don't really think she needed to smear an entire tube of lip gloss all over her face...and I'm not the biggest fan of the "Kris Kross" style...but she cleans up well!)
Recently, Sheridan has indicated that she likes to be called "Sher Bear". She did this be constantly repeating, "You call me 'Sher Bear' most of the time, Mommy. You call me 'Sheridan' and 'Sheridan Marie', but you call me 'Sher Bear' most of the time." I think that whole monologue is what Mommy calls "wishful thinking", but since I don't exactly go by my whole given name I can't really argue with my daughter wanting to be called "Sher Bear". She also gets called "Mama" a lot these days, since one of her favorite games (besides Princess) is House. And she is most DEFINITELY the Mama in that game!
"Dress Up" is another favorite thing of Sheridan's. She generally has a costume on before she has real clothing on (which is amazing, as she loves to get herself dressed fairly early in the morning...certainly before either Jack or I have dressed!). Sometimes she's a knight riding a horse (see above)...other times she's a Musketeer (see below)...and other times...

she's a princess wearing no less than 5 layers (seriously, in the below pict. she has on 3 dresses and at least 2 skirts. I have seen her in 3 dresses, 4 skirts, 2 leotards and a top. All at once. You think the camera adds 10 lbs? You should see what 10 layers adds!). Sheridan loves to look pretty (although she DOES NOT like to have her hair brushed or styled, nor does she like to have it touched. Thus the movie-induced hypnotizing that allowed me to put in some good-old pink rollers!).Miss Sheridan loves to dance! She pretends she is Sleeping Beauty, excuse me, Aurora, and dances with her prince while humming "I know you..." Don't hum along. She doesn't like that.
Sheridan LOVES her friends. Poor kid doesn't have very many (they are either boys, and, you know, not as much into dressing up, or they live too far away!) but the ones she has she adores. She also adores her babies and Yellow Bear (haven't heard about Yellow Bear? She is a beanie baby-sized yellow teddy that my mom gave Sheridan as a very tiny baby. Sheridan loved that bear...slept with it, played with it, chewed on it...Eventually she chewed a hole right through its nose and I had to give it a nose job--I know, I'm not qualified, I didn't complete med school let alone all the extra training to become a plastic surgeon. But it has a nose again, so she's not complaining! I wash the darn thing and it still is matted and slightly grey and stinks of spit and who-knows-what-else. But she loves the thing and calls it her baby and she soothes the heck out of it. What can ya do?).
Above all, Sheridan adores her brothers. She would follow Jack to the ends of the earth. Of course, when they finally reached the ends of the earth she'd probably take great delight in snatching his favorite rock from him just to have the pleasure of him chasing her and screaming hysterically. Not that she would ever do something like that at home...
Sher loves to mother her "baby Henry". She doesn't really get that he's not a baby anymore. She still likes to give him food off of her plate, share her toys with him, and push him over when she walks by. Ah, sisterly love. I'm still astounded that I survived that sisterly kind of love from 2 older sisters with my sanity and self-esteem intact. We're currently hoping that Henry survives Nursery for the next 6 months with her "helping" him.

(This is a picture of when Sheridan broke off our dead cherry tree in the backyard. I just thought it was funny, and if you survived this rather lengthy post, you probably need a good laugh!)
Sheridan is a many-splendored thing. She adds a little spitfire in out life. And who doesn't need spitfire with their giggles?