What to do without Scandal?

It has been 57 days since the last new episode of Scandal and I am going through withdrawal.  Thank God I stumbled across the Scandal aftershow on AfterBuzz TV.  Back episodes of these have been keeping me from losing what little sanity I have.  Not to be disrespectful to the boys on the show but Kennelia and Sofia Stanley are amazing.  These girls get on and kill it.  Between Sofia talking out of both sides of her mouth (a phrase that I love) and Kennelia picking a cold piece of the week (it's Scandal - they're all deliciously awful) they have captivated my attention completely.  I am almost caught up to real time and can't wait to listen to their podcast right after the weekly shows.

But...it's not Scandal.  It's not Grey's.  It's not Viola Davis.  I have all this free time on Thursday nights now that I wandered aimlessly through the house the first couple of weeks, feeling like something is missing.  Then I remembered back in the day when I used to read in my free time.  I haven't picked up anything new lately because when I do, I tend to get get consumed and shut out the rest of the world.  And by consumed, I mean sucked in, stuck on the couch, barely stopping to eat, and biting the head off anyone that suggests I should do something crazy like sleep.  I pulled out my list of books that I have been wanting to read and got busy ordering.  I should start and finish one at a time, but I never do anything normally so I'm currently in the middle of all of them.

1. Facing the Music by Jennifer Knapp - anyone who's known me for 10 seconds knows that she is my favorite artist.  Her albums have been feeding my soul for nearly 2 decades and now she has a BOOK.  This will be one that I have two copies of - one to keep and one to loan out - because I'm going to recommend it to everyone who will stand still long enough to listen to me rave.

2. On The Road - The Original Scroll by Jack Kerouac - Who doesn't love Kerouac?  And this is his original scroll.  No paragraphs, no chapters, just pages and pages of writing all in a row.  As someone who journals in a stream-of-consciousness style this appeals to me in a huge way.  This book is all about taking time to enjoy the journey instead of focusing on the destination.  It makes me want to get in the car and go off in search of adventures.

3. The Energy Bus by Jon Gordon - You cannot read this book and be in a bad mood.  Even if you are annoyed by the cheerfulness of the characters in the beginning (I was), you start to realize what a grump you're being by Chapter 4.  It is exactly what you need to focus on the positive things around you instead of wallowing in the negative.  What?  I'm the only one who does that?  Fine.  Read it anyway - it's still good.

I'm starting my summer list of must reads now in preparation.  Is there anything you've read that I should add to the list?

It's Beginning to Barely Resemble Christmas

It turns out that I liked Christmas tree shopping better when the tiny was 2 and she didn't know she got to have an opinion.  We trekked out last night to find the perfect tree, which for me is anything that doesn't look like the Charlie Brown tree.  Alaina, on the other hand, had her sights set on this glorious 12 foot pine tree that was so perfect standing there in all it's grandeur.  Never mind the fact that we have 9 foot ceilings and it's not physically possible to cram the tree in the house, even if I was inclined to pay for it.  Finally I had to break down and do some kindergarten logic where we played greater than, to get her to walk away from the tree.  I'm not sure she was convinced but the promise of a tiny pink tree for her room got her on board really quick.  The first rule of parenting is bribery people, and I am not afraid to use it.

Two hours, $50 dollars and one million pine needles later, the tree has been wrestled into the stand and is ready to be decorated.  Which shall be taking place on Thursday night.  I need something to look forward to and Shonda Rhimes put all my shows on winter hiatus.  In the words of my beloved Mississippi, "whoever thought winter break was a good idea can jump off a cliff.  We need something amazing to distract us from all the family goodness we're trying to ignore."  So from here on out, Thursdays will be filled with Christmas decorating, present wrapping, online shopping and many, many hot toddies.

Cheers to the beginning of the madness!