2010 Books I Read

1. Why we Hate the Oil Companies - John Hofmeister
2. The Sign of Four - Conan Doyle
3. The Ugly American – William Lederer
4. A Study in Scarlet - Conan Doyle
5. On Paradise Drive - David Brooks
6. The Conscience of a Liberal – Paul Krugman
7. Brave New World - Aldous Huxley
8. Homegrown Democrat - Garrison Keillor
9. Basics of Retaining Wall Design - Hugh Brooks
10. The Virginian - Owen Wister
11. American Revelation - Neil Baldwin
12. Comeback America - David Walker
13. Audacity of Hope – Barak Obama
14. Take this Bread - Sara Miles
15. Sleeping Murder – Agatha Christie
16. Murder at the Vicarage – Agatha Christie
17. False Economy - Alan Beattie
18. 1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus - Charles Mann
19. The Survivor’s Club – Ben Sherwood
20. Before Columbus: The Americas of 1491 - Charles Mann
21. How to Raise Totally Awesome Kids - Borsellino
22. Nemesis - Agatha Christie
23. The Secret Adversary - Agatha Christie
24. Disciplines for an Inner Life – Bob Benson (partial)
25. In Between a Rock and a Hard Place – Aron Ralston
26. The Politically Incorrect Guide to Global Warming - Christopher Horner

2010 Books I Listened To

1. Supreme Court: The Law of the Land - Kermit Hall
2. Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows - JK Rowling
3. The War Within - Bob Woodward
4. Playing for Pizza - John Grisham
5. All the President's Men - Bob Woodward
6. Seldom Disappointed: A Memoir by Tony Hillerman
7. The Fellowship of the Ring - JRR Tolkien
8. Mountains Beyond Mountains: The Quest of Dr. Paul Farmer, a Man Who Would Cure the World - Tracy Kidder

An abbreviated list of the items I deem valuable to my up-and-coming maturity

Besides the obvious desire to be of age and partake in all things adult (iPod, malt liquor, etc.), in the spirit of helping those loaded with doubt on what to purchase a young lady in waiting, I offer the following to ease your mind:

1. Lego Harry Potter - the bigger and more complex, the better
2. Architectural Drawing set
3. Markers, pencils, pens, highlighters, and anything else which one can tag a piece of paper found lying around
4. A secret Diary
5. Books, especially period piece fantasy, as long as Mom reviews ahead of time
6. My own room would be nice;)
7. A couple extra blankets and pillows for my bed
8. A Skype account to talk to Alexa

Short and Sweet Christmast List (like me)

To be purchased and delivered with receipts, in case there is some error in you understanding what I desire or in case I change my mind:

1. Video-camera-sticking-out-of-my-back-Barbie, retail $52.99

Thank you in advance.

I wahn...

Let me make it clear from the getgo what I wahn for Christmas: a bit less estrogen and a bit more testosterone in the house. I'm sayin...

I wahn:

1. A boy-dahl ("No, Garrett, it's an action figyour"), like Spiderman or Ironman
2. Mr-the-King car
3. Alex to move in an be my brother

4. Toy Story Legos

The easy to understand guide to what I want for Chrismas

There has been a consistent concern from others the past few weeks, and it seems prudent to lay this information out there in a quick to understand, easy to act on manner.

What I want for Christmas:

1. Jessie Doll


2. to be a BIG kid


3. Louise's toys


4. a proper Coronation ceremony


5. and finally, a Jessie Doll

Did I mention that I haven't found anything under the tree that looks like a Jessie doll?!?! I'm saying...

I'll stand on the stairs...

"DADDY, DADDY", they both exclaim as they hurry around the upstairs corner into my room.

"There's a sound, a 'Grrr..., Gruhhhh', in the kitchen," Eliza announces.

"It's just the refrigerator", I dismiss.

"NO, it's coming from the PANTRY!" she insists, this time encouraging the requisite buy-in from her counterpart.
"Yeah."

"Oh," I reply, "I'm sure its a giant pickle," relying on theme humor to remove the intensity from their a-feared eyes.

"OK," she announces, "Garrett, let's go downstairs to see what it is. I'll stand on the stairs while you go see."