my read-a-thon book pile...

weeded down slightly with your help:
(the ones in bold are the ones you chose for me)

1. This is my story about what happened to me last year when Mum got ill and Dad and I had to go and stay at Aunt Nan's and I had my weird dream.--Mirrormask by Neil Gaiman & Dave McKean (so sad this one didn't make the cut)

2. This is a story that took place long ago...in a faraway place...in the land of Koriyo.--Legend of Chun Hyang by CLAMP

3. They came at night...because they knew we were among them.--A Midnight Opera Vol. 1 by Hans Steinbach

4. Cheer up, Amber.--The Dreaming by Queenie Chan

5. Still no sign of the townspeople.--Bone by Jeff Smith

6. It was so weird.--Black Hole by Charles Burns

7. I'm off to school, Ma.--The Book of Ballads by Charles Vess (another one I'm sad didn't make the cut)

8. Yes, it's "once upon a time" time again.--Fables: Animal Farm by Bill Willingham

9. Once there was a king who dreamed of war.--Strange Roads by Peter S. Beagle

10. I once believed that life was a gift.--Green Angel by Alice Hoffman

11. The brain is soft.--Another Day in the Frontal Lobe: A Brain Surgeon Exposes Life on the Inside by Katrina Firlik

12. Like many fathers, mine could occasionally be prevailed upon for a spot of "airplane."--Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic by Alison Bechdel (hmmm...maybe I shouldn't have played this game after all)

13. "Let's get this party started, already!" Sabrina complained under her breath as she rubbed the charley horse in her leg.--The Sisters Grimm: The Unusual Suspects by Michael Buckley

14. Midsummer: The long days begin in bright, rising mist and never end.--Go With Me by Castle Freeman Jr.

15. The stench in his daughter's darkened room nearly brought Len to his knees.--Inside Out Girl by Tish Cohen

16. Crime was out there.--What Was Lost by Catherine O'Flynn

17. Everything you think you know about the world isn't true.--The Love We Share Without Knowing by Christopher Barzak

18. "Dive, dive, dive!" shouted Suzy as she clutched the old Chevy's cracked red-and-white steering wheel, jerking it back and forth in her hands, yanking hard on the turn signal lever to bring the ship down.--Island of Lost Girls by Jennifer McMahon

19. If standing alone on the back doorstep, Tom allowed himself to weep tears, they were tears of anger.--Tom's Midnight Garden by Philippa Pearce

20. "Once there was a beautiful garden."--The Garden of Eve by K.L. Going

21. "Skulls," said Lady Lamorna.--The Robe of Skulls by Vivian French

22. Once there was a Castle, high on a hill,
and a King who longed for a nap
and a Queen who yearned for solitude
and a Prince who loved poetry
and a Princess who loved herself
and a Spare Prince who loved his sword
and a Hermit who was wise.--The Castle Corona by Sharon Creech

23. After a year of hunting, I finally caught up with Sarah.--PEEPS by Scott Westerfeld

24. There are days that start off just fine.--Freak Show by James St. James

25. This is how things look:
Shady Pines Apartments, four shabby buildings tucked off the road near the highway.--Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott

26. Once, in a house on Egypt Street, there lived a rabbit who was made almost entirely of china.--The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo

27. Imo set out one day to catch some fish, but there was no sea.--Nation by Terry Pratchett

28. When I wake up, the other side of the bed is cold.--The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

29. Long ago, when earth and sky were still covered in darkness, a great bird with wings like curtains of night came to rest on the cold earth.--A Taste of Earth and Other Legends of Vietnam by Thich Nhat Hanh

30. Pay attention.--The Shadow Thieves by Anne Ursa

Man, wouldn't it be great if you could just make a huge pile like this and then ignore all other responsibilities until you'd read them all?!! You know, I once had a dream about something similar. In the dream, Rich told me that I wasn't allowed out of bed until I'd read all the books on this little bookcase we used to have in our bedroom (probably would have been about 100 or so books) and all I was allowed to eat until I finished was Skor candy bars. Now obviously, I would have died of malnutrition before I managed to finish the books, but in the dream I seemed pretty happy about it all.

Anyway, thank you to all who helped me to ever-so-slightly weed down my pile!

can't think of a title

I am feeling like such a slug. The kids have the day off from school today, some kind of conference or something. Anyway, I made a conscious decision last night to allow myself to sleep in this morning. And sleep in, I did! I did not get up at 4:00am, or 5:00am, or even 6:00am! No, I didn't get out of bed until 6:30! I thought all this extra sleep would be a good thing, but now I'm not so sure. I think I'm more tired than ever, and definitely lacking in motivation. Probably has nothing to do with sleep though...more likely it's just bad attitude :)

I must admit it felt mighty good waking up and getting to tell myself that I could just go back to sleep though. But you know how when you're sleeping and waking up frequently, you often have very vivid bizarre dreams? Yep, definitely had that going on this morning. One of the most memorable: I decided to legally change my name to Vampirella because I thought it would give me a better chance of getting to meet Wayne Newton. Now that is just one creepy dream! In real life, I'd be much more likely to change my name to Vampirella if it would save me from having to meet Wayne Newton! The brain certainly is one fascinating organ.


I did make the kids French toast for breakfast, but that's about all I've accomplished. Some technique this kid has, huh? We really do try to teach manners around here, but, well, I guess we don't always get through.

And speaking of imperfection, I posted "10 reasons why our home will never grace the pages of House Beautiful" over on my domestic stuff blog. I also have a new post on my reading challenge blog...Joy just had to go host another Non-Fiction Five challenge. Actually, I was really hoping she would...I loved that challenge last year. Even finished it on time! I love reading non-fiction, but somehow it always gets pushed to the side (unless it's for homeschooling). This provides just the motivation I need.

Okay, enough babbling for now. Hopefully next time I post, I'll be a bit more coherent.