Two closets -- and they're both mine!

My youngest child moved into her own apartment Sunday. It's the first time I've ever had to live alone. (I've stayed alone quite a lot, but it's never been on a "forever" or even "a-really-long-time" basis before.) It's going to take some getting used to. I'm going to enjoy cleaning up after myself, and getting home from work to find that no one has messed anything up. I'm going to enjoy having the bathroom to myself again, without anyone else's towels or makeup or hair in the tub. I don't have to take anyone else into consideration; it's just my fleeting desires that matter in my own apartment. On the other hand, there's no one to share the silliness of the day, or to complain to when I come home from work. (The cat just doesn't care, and doesn't even pretend to listen like my teenager does.) There's no excuse to cook, since it's just me. There's no one to watch Glee with, or to take a walk with. And there's no one to blame when the dishes aren't washed. (I considered the cat, but even as smart as she is there is no way she's taken anything out of the cupboards.)

I am proud of my daughter. She's been wanting to get her own apartment for a while now, but she was smart enough to wait until she knew she could afford to live on her own. I'm also very proud of her organizational skills, which she obviously gets from me. The child packed her boxes by room, and clearly labeled each one with its contents. Of course, the wording of each label made it clear that even with my orderly influence, she is her own person:

• Bedroom: clothing - time to dress up and look pretty!
• Kitchen: plates - to be civilized for mommy
• Kitchen: paper stuff - everyday use

I've been promised an invitation to dinner as soon as she gets settled in. And I'm thinking of making Sunday dinners at my place mandatory for ALL my children. Because while I plan on enjoying my clean house, I'd rather have the kids around.

Really? You need a rule about that?

Today I had to chase a group of teenagers off the roof, where they were skateboarding. Of course they didn't understand why I wouldn't allow them to do that. As one young man told me, "Then the church should change the roof so that that we're not tempted to skateboard it!"

I think that "No skateboarding on the roof" is going on my list of Stupid Things I Never Thought I'd Have to Say. (Other favorites on that list include: "You're not supposed to date other women when you have a wife at home" and "I don't know why God put buggers up your nose, but until we figure it out don't pick your nose.")

February Book List

Books Read in February

015 - 01  Mr. Punumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore, by Robin Sloan (2/3)

I want to be one of the Bound! This book was a recommendation from my daughter, and it is definitely worth passing the recommendation on. It's centered around the blending of paperbound books and modern technology, with a wonderfully cult-ish twist. To be truthful, I had a little trouble in the beginning and I really wondered if my daughter's and my taste had finally parted ways. But as usual, she was right on the mark because I did end up getting caught in the tale, reluctant to do anything but read the next page.

016 - 02  The Inn at Rose Harbor, by Debbie Macomber (2/7)
017 - 03  No Defense, by Kate Wilhelm (2/7) AUDIOBOOK
018 - 04  Just Breathe, by Susan Wiggs (2/8)
019 - 05  Boomerang Bride, by Fiona Lowe (2/10)
020 - 06  At Home in Stone Creek, by Linda Lael Miller (2/10)
021 - 07  Objects of My Affection, by Jill Smolinski (2/14) AUDIOBOOK

I really liked this book. Which is amazing, since I didn't like any of the characters. The characters were well-written, and their actions and dialogues were very well suited to each character; it's just that I would never consider socializing with any of them. (Is it weird that I judge a book's character by how I would interact with that character in real life?) I listened to the first chapter on my morning commute, and decided that I would have to download something else when I got home that night. But I put the book back on for the drive home, and got sucked into the story. There were even a few days that I sat in the parking lot, just so I could listen to one more chapter!

022 - 08  Elemental Magic: All New Tales of the Elemental Masters, edited by Mercedes Lackey (2/15)
023 - 09  Reached, by Ally Condie (2/17)
024 - 10  A Fool's Gold Christmas, by Susan Mallery (2/17)
025 - 11  Starters, by Lissa Price (2/20)

This was a young adult fantasy/fiction. I was disappointed. It was a pretty good story, but the ending wasn't as developed as the start of the book. 

026 - 12  The McCafferty: Randi, by Lisa Jackson (2/21)
027 - 13  Code Triage, by Candance Calvert (2/22)
028 - 14  A Lawman's Christmas: A McKettricks of Texas Novel, by Linda Lael Miller (2/22)
029 - 15  McKettricks of Texas: Tate,  by Linda Lael Miller (2/22)
030 - 16  McKettricks of Texas: Garrett,  by Linda Lael Miller (2/23)
031 - 17  Runaway Heart,  by Claudy Conn (2/25)