Bookishness

So, I got this off a Stewie note on Facebook. In an effort to hide my facebook note obsession from the world at large I'm posting it on my blog instead. I'd love for my readers to do it as well. It's a really interesting one.

You have received this note because someone thinks you are a literary geek. Copy the questions into your own note, answer the questions, and tag any friends who would appreciate the quiz, including the person who sent you this. Don't bother trying to italicize your book titles. We know you want to.

1) What author do you own the most books by?
Charles Dickens, because he was my childhood favorite, Bryan Davis, because he's my dad. :)

2) What book do you own the most copies of?
Hamlet. Between college classes and my Complete Works of William Shakespeare I have 4 copies.

3) Did it bother you that both those questions ended with prepositions?
Sigh...yes, because I am judgemental.

4) What fictional character are you secretly in love with?
Marius from Les Miserables. So amazing.

5) What book have you read the most times in your life (excluding picture books read to children; i.e., Goodnight Moon does not count)?
Les Miserables by Victor Hugo. This book is my all-time favorite. I have read it at least 7 times and don't even get me started on the best musical in the history of the world.

6) What was your favorite book when you were ten years old?
Les Miserables. Yes, I read it when I was ten. I am a pretentious homeschooler.

7) What is the worst book you've read in the past year?
The worst book I started in the past year was Pillars of the Earth by Ken someone or other. I couldn't finish it; it was awful.

8) What is the best book you've read in the past year?
The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein; this book is written from the point of view of a golden retriever and I cried like a baby for half the book.

9) If you could force everyone you tagged to read one book, what would it be?
Dracula. That is one of my favorite books of all time and every seems to think it's some bloody horror book. It's unbelievably fantastic.

10) Who deserves to win the next Nobel Prize for Literature?
Garth Stein

11) What book would you most like to see made into a movie?
Raising Dragons. It's my dad's book and it would make a fantastic movie.

12) What book would you least like to see made into a movie?
Anything by Obama

13) Describe your weirdest dream involving a writer, book, or literary character.
I dreamed I was stuck in Moscow during Napoleon's campaign probably three nights in a row while I was writing my term paper on War and Peace. It was cold; I did not like it.

14) What is the most lowbrow book you've read as an adult?
The Bride, July Garwood. Yep, steamy romance novel. Guilty!

15) What is the most difficult book you've ever read?
Les Trois Mousqetaires. Yes, The Three Musketeers in French. It was so difficult, but my French skills skyrocketted. Go figure.

16) What is the most obscure Shakespeare play you've seen?
Coriolanus

17) Do you prefer the French or the Russians?
French; they have Dumas and Hugo; what more do you need?

18) Roth or Updike?
Roth.

19) David Sedaris or Dave Eggers?
Sedaris.

20) Shakespeare, Milton, or Chaucer?
Oh, Shakespeare, no contest

21) Austen or Eliot?
I really don't like either. But if forced to choose I would say Austen

22) What is the biggest or most embarrassing gap in your reading?
Probably the fact that I've read so little since leaving college. I plead the Baby Clause.

23) What is your favorite novel?
Les Miserables by Victor Hugo. It is a true work of genius. My goal is to read it in French.

24) Play?
King Lear

25) Poem?
Psalm 23

26) Essay?
Human Action - Ludwig Von Mises


27) Short story?
Babette's Feast - Isak Denisen

28) Work of nonfiction?
When God Writes Your Love Story - Eric and Leslie Ludy

29) Who is your favorite writer?
Mark Twain

30) Who is the most overrated writer alive today?
The moron who wrote those vampire books

31) What is your desert island book?
Robinson Crusoe

32) And... what are you reading right now?
Lord of the Flies

Improving

The days are getting longer and warmer. The snow is nearly gone and the sniffles are slowly subsiding. Zach and Gabriel are still a little off, but they are definitely almost well. In my exuberance over my improved (though not fully recovered) health I practiced ballroom for an hour, did ab work, ran a mile, went out to lunch, went over to dinner at the in-laws, and various other activities... Consequently it was a wonderful day, but I can barely stay awake long enough to type this. Sooooo tired.
Church tomorrow, possibly a game of frisbee, and I've been promised another ballroom lesson. And it's supposed to be 60 degrees!!

Life is good.

Thanks for all the well-wishes. We really are feeling much better. Almost recovered.

Epic Fail

Allow me to enumerate the way this day has been an epic fail:

1) Zach, Gabriel, and I are all sick. Zach is a faucet nose, Gabey is coughing, and my throat is so sore I can barely talk.

2) It did not get above zero until noon. It is currently a balmy 2 degrees.

3) In my attempts to trim Zach's hair I clipped his ear, like the poor little sicky needed to be more miserable. It took me 15 minutes to get it to stop bleeding.

4) Seemingly in revenge, Zach took the lid off his sippy cup and dumped the entire cup of milk on the floor. He dumped the first half in the front hall and the other half in the kitchen.

5) There is a good 6" of snow on the ground.

6) Johnny isn't coming home today between work and dance. He left around 8:20 and won't be home until near 10.

7) I'm too sick to workout or sing..

I think that about does it. I'm neglecting my "To Do" list for today and pushing everything to tomorrow. On the bright side, this Saturday is supposed to be near 60! I might get to go for a jog if I'm well enough.

Maddy

I have a niece!! Madeleine Verdene Banks was born last night at 7 lbs. 6 oz and 21 inches. Maddy is the daughter of Johnny's sister, Carolyn. I haven't heard any other details, but I have seen pictures of the little cherub. She is a cutey, with very appropriately chubby baby cheeks. I think she looks more like her dad than her mom. The middle name is for Grandma Verdene Thurow.
Actually, I don't know if I'm even allowed to call her "Maddy." I seem to remember hearing something about disdain for nicknames. But I can call her Maddy on my own time; she is my niece, after all. :) It'll be fun to have a little girl to dress up. A daughter definitely isn't in the cards for my near-future, so a niece will suit me just fine. I can't wait to meet her.

Ugh, on a far less pleasant note, I fried potato pancakes for a dinner side-dish tonight. I never eat food that greasy and my tummy is rebelling. Blagh.

Ballroom

I went from mopy to thrilled yesterday evening at about 6:30 pm when we managed to acquire a last minute babysitter so I could attend the party at Johnny's ballroom. It was a blast. It was a decent turnout, but not enough to be over-crowded. I improved my frame and taught the ballroom owner's 8-year-old darling of a little boy how to single-step swing and cha-cha. The little gentleman actually approached me each time asking for a dance. Not a shy bone in that kid's body. I found myself seeing Zachary 7 years into the future.

Today found us at church, lunch with Johnny's dad, and a tour of Julio and Susanna's (ballroom owners/dance teachers) work-in-progress mansion. It is stunning. Not only is it located on ten acres of peacefull hillside with an incredible mountain view, it is equipped with an enormous ballroom, complete with a balcony for a band. They plan to throw frequent parties when it's finished. The Quintanas also seem to have it in their heads that we are permanent Sheridan residents. hehehe... Well, if that is in God's plans, it wouldn't be so bad. We have Johnny's parents here, ballroom dance, and it's a great town for children. If we stay I might even end up teaching a bit of ballroom myself. Although it would not be a bad life, probably even a very pleasant one, I'm still holding out for a much better location.

Sunday is ending and that is sad. Monday means back to work for Johnny and three long evenings alone. However, Thursday brings Ryan, Bart, and possibly Mikey into town. It will be a fun weekend. I also have Zach's doctor appointment to look forward to on Friday.