Reading this week:

All Oregon Battle of the Books titles. Check out the lists — really good this year, as always. The state competition will be 9 a.m.-1:30 p.m. on Saturday March 5th at Sunset High School in Beaverton, Ore. (Check here if you’re looking for OBOB book recommendations for next year — including confirmed titles.) Happy reading! — wm

“The players make the manager. It’s never the other way.” — George “Sparky” Anderson, who died Nov. 4, 2010, at age 76

“Of all the preposterous assumptions of humanity over humanity, nothing exceeds most of the criticisms made on the habits of the poor by the well-housed, well-warmed, and well-fed.” — Herman Melville, novelist and poet (1819-1891)

“Libraries are far from the rarefied cathedrals of secular humanism they pretend to be, while librarians are the shadiest creatures this side of the Russian mob. Scratch the adamantly bland demeanor of any librarian and you’ll find trails of broken hearts, bathtubs full of meth fixings, and covert careers in porn.” — David Schmader, Last Days, 17 October 2002

Quote of the day (from one of my girlfriends):

“May today there be peace within. May you trust that you are exactly where you are meant to be. May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith in yourself and others. May you use the gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you. May you be content with yourself just the way you are. Let this knowledge settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love. It is there for each and every one of us.”

one guy to another, at Starbucks this morning: “To her credit, my wife is a good mom.” (big pause… I’m thinking, Wait for it, wait for it…) “She’s sometimes too good a mom, if you know what I mean.” (yeah, there it was.)

they exchange meaningful looks.

well, no, I don’t know what you mean, will you please explain?

“It is absurd to divide people into good and bad. People are either charming or tedious.” — Oscar Wilde

Maybe I should post some before and after pix of our yard? The lot is terraced in the back, had some raised beds that were reinforced with pressure-treated wood (ie, nasty if you want to grow vegetables and berries) and needs a big ol’ makeover. Bones? Three birch trees, one of which was dead and already got yanked out by Steve. The other two were planted too close together. And there’s a pine tree in a pot, back in the other corner. I call it Pine Barrens.

I did plant some primroses, and Steve tore apart one of the raised boxes, only to find that half of the good wood (cedar) was rotted. We spent a big chunk of the weekend (along with Wacky Girl, who sketched for us) trying to make a blueprint of how we want the garden and yard to look. Wacky Boy doesn’t want to lose any of the grass; we want to lose all of the grass. We are a work-in-progress.

Will post pix when it stops raining long enough to go out and snap some.

Happy Monday, yins. Sorry, Steelers. (Dan, how could I forget Pittsburgh was playing? It’s Steve’s hometown. Bad football fan, bad, bad ;)

— wm

…i will write a story about my childhood, and it will all begin with how messed-up “I’m OK — You’re OK” and Transactional Analysis really are, but… that day will not be today. HaHA!

— wm

ps did u know that Steve has been blogging for five years this month and I’ve been blogging for six? Happy anniversary to us!

* 1 1/2 cup shredded coconut, unsweetened
* 3 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
* 2 cups chopped pecans
* 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
* 3/4 cup maple syrup
* 1/2 cup dark brown sugar (packed)
* 1/2 cup olive oil
* 1 cup bing cherries, raisins, cranberries, etc.

Directions

1. Heat oven to 300-325 degrees.

2. Whisk ingredients together (except cherries).

3. Bake for 45-60 minutes total, until golden brown. (Stir every 20 minutes.)

4. Add cherries in last five minutes.

5. Cool completely and store in airtight container.

(My daughter says anyone who says nom-nom-nom ever again is going to get punched in the neck. So all I can say here is… mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm…) (edited later to say, it turned out so good. I added dried cranberries and cut-up apricots. i’m never buying granola at the store again.)

Big announcement: We are having an Un-Superbowl Party over here. It starts right now. First, we’re watching “Romeo + Juliet,” not the Zeffirelli version. Then the Puppy Bowl (Animal Planet). A little All-Star hockey, a little college hockey, perhaps? Some snacks, some more snacks. And “GLEE!” The end.