Reading is so fun!

I'm back!!!

And though I have lots to share, I'll just give a little preview of my new closet...

I'll share more photos later this week. It's SO pretty. :-D

*sigh*

I missed my blog. I missed reading blogs. I missed emailing. But...

I SO enjoyed being without internet for a few weeks. I read... a lot. I finished Eclipse AND started Breaking Dawn. And Breaking Dawn? I had to pee SO bad the other night while reading it, and I did NOT want to stop, so I actually brought it with me. LOL. TMI? Perhaps, but I just wanted you all to know how much I'm enjoying it. :-)

So even though I have my internet back (and my iMac.... which I missed even more!), I will continue to read... A LOT. And since I've remembered how much I love reading, I thought I'd share my favorite books. :-) If you're still undecided for a few people on your list, these may give you some ideas... ;-)

Favorite books:

The Chosen by Chaim Potok (Because it made me think. It made me feel serene and relaxed. I honestly wanted to take a vow of silence after reading this book. Seriously! ME!)

Light in August by William Faulkner (LOVE that there were like five stories going on at once. Held my interest. And had a bit of a platonic love story in there. Loved that. :) )

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley (This girl could write! She was only 18 when she started writing this, and that just blows me away [it was published when she was 21]. The imagery... just wow. I could picture every second of this book. I didn't want it to end. I need to read this again...)

The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster (I read it first when I was nine. And am reading it currently. It's just SO much fun.)

Children's books:

Purple, Green and Yellow by Robert Munsch (oooh, also Stephanie's Ponytail!) (I got Purple, Green and Yellow when I was eleven. It became my favorite then. The colorful photographs are on WHITE background, and it's just lovely. The story is hilarious... especially the last two pages.)

Jillian Jiggs by Phoebe Gilman (I STILL know this book by heart. Word for word. My aunt bought it for us when I was about... umm... 7 or 8, I think. Our room was almost always messy, so she thought we resembled Jillian Jiggs... whose mother would say, "looks like your room has been lived in by pigs!")

Diary of a Worm by Doreen Cronin (Found this book as an adult and laughed my BUTT off! She now has written the diaries of a Fly and Spider, and though they're cute, they're not as funny as the original Worm. If you're looking for a good book for a child [either sex], this is AWESOME! I still want the diaries of a Fly and Spider, but I have yet to make them part of my collection.)

Each Peach Pear Plum by Allan and Janet Ahlberg (My mom and aunt read this to me every night as a small child. It still holds a special place in my heart. I probably still know this one by heart too... LOL.)

What are some of *your* favorite books?

Holding my breath.

Sometimes I catch myself holding my breath. I'm not sure why. And when I notice, I take a breath, but it still feels like I'm holding onto something in there. Stress? Burdens? Happiness? Not sure what it is.

It could be creativity. And since I haven't been able to scrap, it's all pent up... LOL. ;-)

Or it could be longing. Longing for something I need, but don't know yet that I want or need it. I'm sure I'll figure it out... one of these days.

Bolting out the door.

Just a quick one.

I LOVE our house! It is SO quiet at night. SO quiet. We all slept SO well... even the puppies! :D

My newest review is up at Craft Critique today. It was my favorite one yet! Now I know which blank ink pad to grab! :D

We're out of town today until Sunday. No internet access. (YIPPEE!) It's the Annual Stark Thanksgiving (we always have it at the beginning of November because it's more convenient.) Just a lot of eating, talking, resting and playing dominoes. That's all. Hopefully, *this* year I'll remember to take photos. LOL.

And happy birthday to my beautiful sister yesterday! 27! She's OLD! HA! ;-)


This photo is of *last* year on her birthday. I haven't seen her since November 6th, 2008! Sheesh! One year! Much too long. I may need to visit soon. *sigh* I miss her pretty face.

Happy Day-After-Your Birthday, Shaina! :D

Remembering Nine Years Ago.

Journal entry from nine years ago today...

"Thursday, November 2, 2000:

Today Jeremy called and asked if he could come over, so of course, I said he should. He said he had to come over to get his laundry, but now I kinda think it was an excuse for him to come over.

Tonight he said, "Reyanna, do you know how much I like you?!" I said, "No...." I seriously didn't know he was that stoked on me. He said I'm gorgeous and lively and other stuff, which was pretty cool. I think he's pretty cool too. He said I'm a tease, but he's not complaining. (LOL!)

I like Jeremy too because I've always been myself around him. I had a dream about him the other night, and it gave me butterflies even!"

Ohmigosh, how cute is my 19 year old self?! LOL! Makes me giggle. We've always celebrated today as the anniversary of us getting together. It was the day we both admitted that we liked each other (though to be honest, I didn't think this would go anywhere... I just thought I would humor him... LOL. After all, he was one of my best friends, and we hung out just about every day).

Perhaps our first kiss (November 4, 2000) should be the anniversary, but we celebrate that too. LOL. I can't believe it's been nine years. NINE. That's a long time. LOL.

And since I don't have a photo of us from the day we got together, here's one taken November 2, 2005. Jeremy with Ruby on his face, and Amber by his side. LOL. So cute. :-)