I'm still holding on to the boots and the snow pants as they are the sort of things I think fall in the acceptable Justincase category.
I finished up Bread Alone last night and only realized there was a sequel (The Baker's Apprentice) while I was going through my stack today. For those of you who've read it, is the second better or not as much? I liked the first one all right. My favourite bits were the parts about the bakery, Seattle in general, and the year 1988 and all the talk of cross trainers, synthetic fabric, and french braided hair. I was not particularly fond of the love scenes or the very end for that matter. While I decide what to do about book number two, I'm starting Eating Animals, which will be a nice break from all the lovey-dovey, talkie-talkie of the last two (the other being Colwin's Happy All the Time, which I liked a lot more). I also tried and abandoned (120 pages in) The Air We Breathe. The writing was wonderful, but the subject matter was difficult for me at this moment in time-- people turning on each other in such manipulating ways, etc.-- that I found myself moping around in an unhelpful way thinking about it. Another time, maybe.
I am making time to read because August has completely lost his nap. He, unlike the other two, will not entertain himself with books or toys if someone is moving around doing something (or nothing) in another part of the house. The only way of reconciling this is to sit with him on the couch, me reading and him messing around next to me. If I am not accomplishing anything of substance, he is happy. We do what we have to do. (If there was ever a child made for preschool, it is this one.)
