Ahhh...Books!

I Love to read. A passion that started during my late high-school years. My own personal library has been growing ever since. I have this certain fondness of owning what I read. Don't get me wrong, the library is a fantastic resource, but there is something satisfying about looking at the lineup of books on my shelves; sighing with satisfaction due to the endless hours of my life dedicated to these stories. Diving deep into a whole new world...differing cultures, eras, and places on this earth I have never dreamed of visiting. It brings me much pleasure.

I have friends who can read a book in a day. This amazes me. The discipline and focus it takes...amazing. I have always found myself a bit jittery after a few chapters. The need to get up and do something "productive." Lately, I have decided my philosophy about productivity sucks (to put it bluntly). Here I am...currently reading Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert...absorbing her journey through Italy. How she is purely focusing on doing what she WANTS to do...not what is EXPECTED. Oh you know...when you go somewhere new you are supposed to see the "it" things..certain landmarks, museums, etc. Instead, she chooses to explore on foot, with no maps or directions AND to eat a lot of really good food. I am inspired by this freedom she has allowed herself to have and realize that I can have the same freedom. Now, this by no means that I am going to sit on the couch all day, eating bon-bons and reading a book a day. Or just hop on a plane and venture to some new place (not without my husband at least). No, no. That is just not in my blood. However, I strive to find more joy in doing what I love and not being so ruled by the clock. If I choose to read for an hour or two smack in the middle of the day...dangit, I'm going to.

I may be especially giddy about reading lately because of the lucky "good-book" streak I am on. I am three for three and hoping it doesn't stop there. First came: The Namesake (by Jhumpa Lahiri), then was Water for Elephants (Sara Gruen), and as mentioned before, currently Eat, Pray Love (by Elizabeth Gilbert). If any of you are in hunt of a good book, I would recommend any of those without a doubt. At the end of Water for Elephants, I actually put the book on my lap and applauded it. "Well done!" I shout, "Well done in deed!" Now that is a Good Book.

The latest:

A few of my all-time favorite books:

New Years Eve

The Fly Boys

Nick and I decided to throw a New Years Eve party this year. We were ready to celebrate the soon approaching 2008 with a BANG! Something fun...something crazy...something loud! And no, I don't mean fireworks...I mean BUNCO! After receiving 20 RSVPs we were set...the perfect amount players to cram into our home. And just to add some more hecticness to the mix; we had Fondue! That's right...three different kinds of cheese fondue, chicken skewers with four different dipping sauces and a chocolate fondue fountain to wrap it all up. Talk about a good use of counter space! You must know that the entertainer in me was thrilled to have a house full of people in our home. I had visions of people pouring over the counter, reaching for the next goody to be stabbed on their stick. People screaming "BUNCO!!!" so loud the whole neighborhood could hear. I couldn't wait!

Our preparations started on Sunday (party was Monday). The house had to be cleared away of all Christmas decorations and room made for 3 extra tables, chairs brought in, a clear counter for the serving dishes, recipes ready to go as guests brought their assigned ingredient, punch cards created, dice counted, champagne chilled, and on and on and on.

Finally, 7pm arrived and guests started rolling in. This is when I discovered that Fondue is a high maintenance food. Please don't confuse some cheese in a pot to be on the same caliber as a casserole. No, no. Casseroles are easy. Put it in the oven, leave it in the oven, serve when ready. Fondue requires simmering of some ingredients then slowing adding the cheese and stirring the spoon just so at a specific temperature to prevent clumping AND then keeping it that way. Now try making three different kinds at the same time, so everyone could equally enjoy it! Thankfully, I had some fantastic helpers in the kitchen...at the ready for their next task. As Kristen shredded and Diana stirred, Nick chopped and I filled. It was a beautiful, chaotic process.

After filling our bellies with cheesy goodness...the games began. People paired up, rolled, won, punched cards, moved to the next table...losers, sulked sadly that yet again, they had to stay put. "Buncos" being yelled (mostly by Anne Marie) and no matter what room you were in...you could always hear where Dustin was. I love the loud ones! (for those of you who have never played Bunco...you MUST!!! then all of this will make sense!) It was great fun!

We took a break between the second and third rounds for dessert: Chocolate fountain with various fruits, pound cake and brownies for dipping. Given I had just taken the fountain out of it's brand new box that day, a new daunting feat was soon to be overcome (remember I am not so much a detailed person when it comes to directions). With some encouraging words from Brian and Kristi, it was a success! We poured the melted chocolate into the base and soon, gooey, smooth chocolate was flowing! Well, that was until a small figurine tried to make it's swimming debut in the fountain and ended up turning a nicely flowing stream into a sprinkler system. Chocolate ON everyone...if you like it or not!!!
All in all, the party was a blast. We had a few high rollers walk out with fatter wallets (hey, who said coming to our house wouldn't be profitable?), a lot of really good laughs and hilarious moments to remember! Kara and Kevin's "special dance" will be locked in my memory forever!

Alright...so the big question: Who's hosting next year?

The line up...

...the food....

...and the mingle.

Oh yeah....and the culprit for a spraying chocolate fountain. OR maybe the real culprit was Diana.