Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Getting Used to It

Remember when you got married (assuming you are married)? Remember how it took a while to get used to? To writing a new name, to waking up with someone next to you, to thinking twice about what to make for supper or where to go on vacation?

Well, it turns out that the reverse is true, too. You have to get used to not doing those things.

Some of those things are easier. As a self-professed bed-hog, I'm quite content alone in the bed, thankyouverymuch. Some of those things don't apply. I'm keeping the name and you still actually have to think about feeding kids.

And seven months into this, I'm pretty much settled. I don't really think too much about things like coming home to an empty house or being the sole person in charge of waking up in tornado weather anymore. Other things like washing dishes are still a struggle. (Ten years of not doing a job affects your ability, not so much to do the job, but to remember that it is, in fact, a job and kinda needs doing.)

And all those compromises you make to live with another human being - pretty much out the window. Sleeping with the TV on and saving the bathroom rugs for company - FTW!

There are still things I have to learn to do. I'm still adapting to the girls being gone from me so much. I still don't so much know how to talk to people. I don't know what to say when they ask questions or say they are sorry.

The biggest challenge to my adjustment, though, is me. I feel sometimes like I've put everything on hold. I just feel like if I can get through until everything is finalized... If I can keep making it until summer comes... If I can keep on trucking until tomorrow...

For a long time I went to bed as soon as the kids were tucked in. Not that I slept that much. I went and watched TV and read and even did crafts in bed. I checked out movies from the library and ate snacks and treated my bed like a couch. I only lived in the living room when the girls were there to live with me. Otherwise, I was locked away in my bedroom. Just recently, I've come to understand that part of my mess (the literal house mess) comes from the fact that I turn out the lights as soon as little fingers stop pulling out everything in the free world.

Now, I force myself to stay up, even it's just to watch TV in a different room. Building habits, yo.

I stopped reading for a while. I'm over that. I'm still not as voracious as I was before, but I'm catching up. My new toy helps and so does my new bookclub. My crafting has slowed down and my housecleaning, well... Best not to discuss that. On the other hand, I'm nearly caught up on laundry for the first time in a century.

Slowly, but surely, though, I'm getting back to normal. I'm getting used to all the things. And it's not bad. It's just a matter of adjustment.

Friday, March 23, 2012

Five Things on Friday - Kids' Clothes Edition

Flapdoodles
My kids... Have I mentioned lately how cute my kids are? I mean, they are totally cute. Probably almost as cute as your kids. Definitely cuter than Suri Cruise (unless Katie Holmes reads my blog, then *blush* exactly as cute as Suri Cruise).

In any case, Brynna has this new top. From Lilybugs, you know. And it's smocked on top. Not fancy smocked, but sundress smocked. With elastic. Anyway - And, wow, do I love smocking. A lot. As anyone who wears over a C cup knows, however, there are just some people who can't pull off smocking. And it got me thinking about how much I love my kids' clothes and how I wish I could wear them. Which leads me to...

Five Kids Fashions I Wish I Could Wear

Skechers
1. Ridiculous Shoes - Kids' shoes have bows and flowers and lights and they are crazy colors and have big funky ribbon laces. I love kids's shoes. Shoes should never stop being fun.


Drake's Dresser
2. Leggings - So, I know that some adults can wear leggings, and I suppose that given the right outfit (like a knee length dress) I could wear leggings, too. But I maintain that leggings and Jessi just do not get along. Like even a little. Maybe someday I'll be swayed, but it will not be this day.

3. Backpacks - Trust me on this, after a certain age, you either look silly or like a wannabe hacker with a backpack. It's just the facts, ma'am. I'm sorry. I really am. I still have my bright red LL Bean, so I know how you feel.


4. Rainboots - You know who always looks precious in rain boots? Kids. You know who would look like they were trying too hard, plus have hot, sweaty, miserable feet in rainboots? Me.

5. Sailor Dresses - I'm pretty sure that the only way for an adult to wear a sailor suit is to star in Japanese porn. I may be making wide generalizations, here, but I doubt it.

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Good Enough?

I have this image in my head of who I want to be. She is glorious. She has a clean house, cooks well-balanced, healthy meals, including breakfast. She bakes fresh bread and makes clothes for her kids. She plays with them outside and walks to the park on a regular basis. She volunteers at her kids' schools and at church and she never misses an appointment or meeting.

She wears beautiful clothes and accessories and she's heavy, but not as heavy as I really am. She reads - lots - and crafts and plays scrabble on rainy afternoons. She always has fresh lemonade in the fridge and cookies in the cookie jar. Lest you think she's just Donna Reed, she's seen every horror movie ever made, knows more than any one person should about zombie mythology and is minorly obsessed with Charles Manson. She's a little rock and roll, is what I'm sayin'.

And I'm increasingly afraid that I'll never be her.

It seems like with every passing day, I'm a little less connected to who I want to be. And I'm trying to accept that. I'm trying to be okay with the idea of living in this life forever. Of failing at being both Donna Reed and rock and roll. Of being good enough.

I know how this sounds, it's sort of crazy-pants self-pitying, isn't it? And yes, I will admit to a certain amount of pity party here. But it's also just something I'm deal with.

I'm probably never going to have a perfectly clean house. Never. I may never master baking bread. My kids will probably never wear any of my creations. Except for that one sweater that Maren wore as a baby. Maybe scarves. And hair clippies. And maybe pop-tarts for breakfast will forever be balanced out by real dinners and lunches. Maybe I'll never be who I think I can be.

And maybe I will.

But the long and the short of it that I have to stop worrying about it so much right now. I have to learn to not beat myself up over every failure. To smile and accept that life is just this - doing the best you can. Or, as Dawson says in Dazed and Confused, "All I'm saying is that I want to look back and say... I had the most fun I could while I was stuck in this place." Let's just ignore everything else he ever said, shall we?

Friday, March 16, 2012

Five Things on Friday - Spring Obsession Edition

You know, I am a winter person. I like it cold, is what I'm saying. But, nevertheless, there is something undeniably magical about Spring. The rebirth, the sun, the rain, the warm, but not yet hot weather. I can't help but love Spring. Also, I love Fall. So I guess the only season I don't love is Summer. Evil summer.

Five Things I am Obsessed with This Spring

1. Hyacinths - All my favorite flowers are bulbs. But I think my favoritest of favorites is hyacinths. At my house, these are the first blooms to pop into the world. I have pink ones and purple ones and they always surprise me. Every year I see them and it's like a long-awaited announcement of Spring. Plus they smell like heaven.

2. Car windows - Nothing says Spring to me better than turning up the radio, rolling down the radio and rocking out. People may look at me funny, but rest assured that my hair flying wildly around the cabin is keeping me from seeing it.

3. Indigo Girls - I think it's Shaming of the Sun, or maybe three years of Lilith Fair, but whenever I hear the Indigo Girls, I am instantly transported to warm weather, flip flops and lazy days.

4. Braids - Ever since Brynna was born, I have wanted to fix her hair. She has resisted. She has this perfect, straight and thick hair that is so much fun to play with. But she has a tender scalp and a really tender ego and will barely allow me to be in the same room with her while holding a brush.  Until about two weeks ago, that is. Since then, I've given her about five braids, given Maren about three and given myself a couple as well. I think we're all gonna grow our hair out so that I can braid even more.

5. Lemonade - Lemonade is one of my life staples. There is no happiness in the world without it. And if there's one thing that topping 70 degrees means to me, it's lemonade.

What are you obsessed with this Spring?

Thursday, March 15, 2012

How do Frogs Sleep

This is an actual conversation I had the other night with my dad.


Jerry: Hey.

Me: Hey. What do you know about frogs?

Jerry: They start out as tadpoles.

Me: Do they sleep with their eyes open.

Jerry: They have a lot of eyelids, so probably not. What would be the point?

Me: That's right. You're right.

Jerry: Why?

Me: Well, there's this frog on my sidewalk and he's not moving and the cats are milling around and I walked right past and he hasn't moved and I think he might be dead, but he's just sitting there, like, not mauled. So maybe he had a heart attack. But his eyes are open. I thought maybe he was asleep.

Jerry: Brynna will get him.

Me: Brynna's in bed.

Jerry: Well, just pick it up.

Me: See, I thought of that. And I would, but what if it's dead? I have this thing about touching dead things and I don't really want to be holding it if it's dead. But I also don't want it to be sitting here all sad and dead when the girls get up. And I have no idea what one would do with a dead frog.

Jerry: What does it look like?

Me: Well, it's brown and it has ridges on it's back.

Jerry: It's a toad. Totally different species from a frog.

Me: Okay. So do toads sleep with their eyes open?

Jerry: I don't know. But they're lazy.

Me: I don't think this is an issue of being lazy, but an issue of a completely abnormal lack of fear from a prey animal. Maybe it's rabid. I'm kidding.

Jerry: It's probably fine.

Me: Okay, I guess I'll just leave it alone.

A couple of points about the above exchange:

  • I never realized that I don't like to touch dead things until I was throwing sticks at a toad.
  • When did I become the woman standing on her sidewalk in the middle of the night, worrying about toads and their state of liveliness?
  • Schrodinger should have just put a toad on a sidewalk, because it seriously existed in both states for me. 
  • The toad was fine, by the way. About an hour later, I took out the trash and he was still sitting there, not moving and looking kind of inanimate, but in a totally different place. This morning he was totally gone. Toadally gone. Forgive me.

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

The Results Show

It occurs to me that twice a year I whine to you guys about Lilybugs, but I never report back. I mean, I am not a masochist who keeps doing this because I like torture. I actually do get something out of it.

I tried to take pictures, but there was just too much stuff.

So, after two weeks' worth of prep on my items and a two hour volunteer shift for the sale, I purchased:

For Maren

  • 3 dresses
  • 8 tops
  • 6 bottoms (shorts and skorts)
For Brynna
  • 2 dresses
  • 8 bottoms (shorts, skorts and skirts)
  • 8 tops
  • 1 3 piece bathing suit (regular two piece plus rash guard)
  • 1 pair shoes
  • 1 pillow
For these 38 items (which will comprise the majority of their summer wardrobes, Brynna may need another church outfit and they will both probably require a couple more pairs of shoes), I paid a grand total of $125, average of $3.25 per item. Purchased new, I am guessing that the 5 nicest items would have exceeded $125.

All the same, it was over the amount I budgeted for myself, because my ability to do math in my head is increasingly poor and also, I got tired.

But, it was all okay because my proceeds from my items that I sold totaled... drumroll... $195. 

That's right, it's like someone paid me to clothe to my children. 

Every season, a couple of days before the sale, I swear that this will be my last. The work, the messy house, the late nights, the arguing over the kids about whether or not we should sell that toy that's been in the basement for three years. It just seems like too much. And then, well, then it's not. It turns out to be worth it. 

Someday, in the not so distant future, my kids are going to outgrow this sale and I'll be fighting with Brynna over brand names and the mall. I have no illusions about clothing her forever in second-hand treasures. Someday, she'll want different. (Maren, too, I'm sure, it just seems so unlikely with her personality, but I'm sure there'll be something.) And I truly believe that the first time she presents me with a pair of $70 jeans, I'll feel a little better knowing how easy I got off all these years. Just remind me of that when the time comes.

Monday, March 12, 2012

The Worst Day of the Year

This morning as Brynna and I whined and stumbled around the house, looking not unlike the risen dead, Brynna asked, as she does each and every year, "What's wrong? Why are we getting up in the middle of the night? Why do I feel like I haven't slept? Why is it so dark outside?"

Typically, I refrain from answering because I don't trust myself to not pepper in a few pants. This morning, however, I answered thusly:

A long, long time ago, a bunch of morning people in government decided that if you and I get up and leave the house in the pitch black every morning, we can all stay out and play for a few extra minutes at night. This is apparently important to them, because they don't want the fireworks to start on July Fourth until all the world's children are cranky and mean, because they hate people with sleep disorders and want them to suffer and because they like for children to be hit by cars while waiting in blackest night for their school buses.

I think I handled that well.

Thursday, March 8, 2012

Sleeping with the Enemy

I saw this the other day on Pinterest:

My laughter was only equaled by my tears.

Maren has been getting in bed with me at some point during most nights for about the last five months. Most of the time, it's fine. I've got a queen sized bed and she crawls in that space next to wall where I used to sleep, but don't anymore and everyone's happy.

Until she wakes up, at approximately five a.m. and wants to "switch me sides" so she can watch TV. This typically involves her climbing my head like Everest. One broken nose later and she's back asleep and I'm crying over the combination of my nose and the Dora theme song.

It's an arrangement I can live with, though.

Maren is rough when she's awake, but she sleeps like the dead. With her arms pinned at her sides, she settles in and then that's pretty much it.

Brynna on the other hand, sleeps like the walking dead - ie, trying to rip your face off and break your ribs all while being unaware of anything. She never stops moving. She wakes up tired most of the time and I have no doubts as to why. Child burns more calories sleeping than I do on a treadmill.

The other night, they were out with their dad and got home kinda late. Brynna had a tummy ache and Maren was an over-tired Cryie McCrierson. I had about three more hours worth of work I had to do before I could so much as think about sleep. After trying to comfort and tuck them in, I gave up and put them to bed in my room. So, sure enough, three hours later, I came to bed, only discover that there was no bed left.

Don't ask me how a three year old and a seven year old can occupy an entire queen sized bed, but they did. I probably spent another half hour moving them so that I could make a me-sized space to sleep.

By morning, I was curled up in a ball at the foot of the bed with my head on a velvet beaded decorative pillow.

"You two are never again sleeping in my bed," I announced.

"Why, mommy? It was sooooo comfy." Brynna responded.

Of course it was.

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Making It! Home Made Laundry Edition

It started on Pinterest. I happened upon a recipe for home-made laundry detergent. And for some strange reason, I was fascinated. I am, pretty much always, a slacker. I am not the type of person who makes my own laundry detergent.

That being said, I am cheap. Incredibly cheap and laundry detergent is not cheap. At all. So that was the initial appeal.

Then I read about how lots of people see an improvement in their eczema when they use home made laundry detergent. Since both of my rugrats suffer to varying extents, that was another appeal.

So, right after Christmas, I made two gallons of laundry detergent.

And now, I'm hooked. I've just made two batches, so I'm still perfecting my recipe, but here's how it stands now.

Jessi's Laundry Detergent
(Based on Jillee's Laundry Detergent)

1 bar Fels Naptha
1 bar Yardley Lavender soap
1 cup Washing Soda
1 cup Borax
Approx. 2 gallons of water

Start by grating your soap bars. I do mine in the food processor. See above re. slacker. I use both Fels Naptha and Yardley because I think Fels Naptha does a better job, but I like the smell of the Yardley. Empty soap shavings into a large pot and add 6-8 cups of water. Place over medium high heat and stir intermittently until soap is completely dissolved. Add washing soda and Borax, stir until combined. Remove from heat and allow to cool partially. Pour evenly into two one-gallon containers. I'm using orange juice bottles, but someday I'm going to buy something a little sturdier. See above re. cheap. Add water to within one inch of lid and shake. Allow to cool completely and preferably to sit overnight. Use approx. 1/2 cup per medium to large load of laundry.

So, then there I was, quite enamored of my detergent and I saw a recipe for Fabric Softener. I am using Heidi's version exactly (well, except for scent) so I won't bore you with the recipe. I love, love, love the smell - especially that I can have such a wide array of smells. I am washing everything in coconut this summer, I swear. But I also love the feel of the clothes when they come out. No static and towels are just amazing with the fluffy.

And then, this weekend, I was prepping for Lilybugs and I was separating out everything that needed to be ironed and I thought, wouldn't it be great if I could afford enough Wrinkle Release spray for this? And then, lo and behold, Jillee thought the same thing. Sort of. I tried to pull this up on my phone at home and ended up with a recipe that didn't call for the vinegar.

I used a spray bottle (the kind you get in the cleaning aisle). Mine is marked with ratios (1/1, 2/1, 3/1, etc.) I wanted a 4/1 ratio, so I filled the bottle to the 4/1 line with my homemade fabric softener and then topped with water. I have to tell you that I think this stuff is better than what I've bought in the store in the past. And smells like heaven. And is way quicker than ironing.

Cheapie McCheaperson and Her Cheaptastics:
Laundry detergent comparisons:
$16.75 - 100 oz. bottle of popular name brand "free and clear" type laundry detergent
=$0.17 per ounce

$1.59 - 1 bar of Fels Naptha soap
$1.00 - 1 bar of Yardley lavender soap
$6.99 - 55 oz. box of Washing Soda (used about 1/8 box)
$9.49 - 76 oz. box of Borax (used about 1/10 box)
= $4.41 for 2 gallons of detergent
= $0.02 per ounce

Fabric Softener comparisons:
$7.49 - 34 oz. bottle of popular name brand fabric softener
=$0.22 per ounce
$2.99 - 34 oz. bottle of bottom shelf super generic fabric softener I've been using
=$0.09 per ounce

$1.99 - 22.5 oz. bottle of Suave conditioner (I used about 1/2)
$5.29 - 128 oz. bottle of white vinegar (I used about 1/5)
=$2.05 - 88 oz. of home made fabric softener
=$0.02 per ounce

Wrinkle Releaser comparisons:
$5.75 - 17 oz. bottle of popular name brand wrinkle releaser
=$0.34 per ounce

$0.04 - 1/4 cup homemade wrinkle releaser - dilute to 1 1/4 cup
=$0.004 per ounce - practically free

A Couple of Things:

  • Diluting fabric softener apparently makes the cost increase by 12 cents an ounce - according to the major name brand I used for my comparisons
  • My fabric softener is so much better than the cheap stuff I've been using, I'd be okay if the cost breakdown showed mine was slightly more
  • Since even my skin (which is made of steel, people) is better since I started using this stuff, I can't imagine that it's not way better for those with skin conditions. Brynna's eczema has gotten better and Maren's has disappeared. 
  • There's a million tutorials, recipes and everything else on-line so even if mine don't sound so great, there's something out there you'll love.
  • I spend about one hour every two months making laundry supplies. Understand that I've only been doing this for three months, so that may alter slightly, but my point is it isn't as time consuming as you might think, because you make so much at a time.
  • We are getting ripped, people.
Have you ever made your own cleaning products. What were your results?

Monday, March 5, 2012

My Semi-Annual Post Whining About My Semi-Annual Sale

So, if you've been around for a while, you've heard me talk about Lilybugs. Lilybugs is a huge consignment sale in my hometown. It's pantsin' huge. Seriously, seriously big. And it happens twice a year. And twice a year, I throw myself into an absolute panic by underestimating how long exactly it's going to take me to prep 200 or so items for sale.

This is that week, folks. The sale is Friday and I've got to have everything entered in the system by 10 on Wednesday and all the tags cut and pinned on by Thursday at noon.

And the panic is unpleasant. I won't lie. (Although I've found a fabulous alternative to ironing that reduces the panic, but more on that later.)

But one thing about this week that is pleasant is the rediscovery of a multitude of things I've forgotten.

I forgot that I have an incredible penchant for small children in sailor dresses. (I remembered because I have about 17 sailor dresses for sale this time.*)

I forgot Maren's white shoes from last summer that I was sure she would completely walk through because she wore them so much.

I forgot about Brynna's fascination with horse shirts.

I forgot about Brynna's phase of absolutely refusing to wear pants for any reason at any time.

I forgot about Maren's annoying monkey toy and how I had to hide it from her to keep her from playing with it 24-7.

I forgot how amazing Brynna looked in that navy plaid sundress and how terrible and skinny she looked in the other navy plaid sundress. And how the navy plaid sundress that looked amazing on Brynna made Maren look ridiculous and the one that made Brynna look anorexic made Maren look like Shirley Temple.

I forgot the joys of little kid crocs and the wonder of dresses with matching hair bands.

I forgot about the little hot pink jacket that's really just a long sleeved tee shirt that snaps up the front that both girls wore forever, it seemed, but that just seemed like the perfect topper for everything.

I spend most of this week, twice a year wanting to pull out my hair. But I'm always glad that I take the time to go through these items, one at a time, carefully, before passing them on to someone else to love. I hope that someone gets those white shoes who thinks they are fabulous and I hope that whoever finds themselves with that little pink jacket understands just how amazing it is. I hope that the crocs bring someone joy and that the horse shirts are met with a similar passion.

And for what it's worth, I hope that I bring home at least a few things filled with as much magic as those I'm taking.

*Only a slight exaggeration.

Friday, March 2, 2012

Five Things on Friday - Can I Have a Writer, Please Edition

Last night, Brynna had her annual school concert. I didn't do this when I was a kid (we had plays, yo) so I'm not sure if this is a universal concept. For those uninitiated among my loyal scions, each grade has a night and all the parents are dragged into the gym to listen to the second (in this case) grade sing songs they've learned in music class. I suppose this is so we'll keep appreciating our arts funding, but frankly, I think a nice art show with canapes would be more enjoyable. 

In any case, it's typically sort of hilarious. Don't get me wrong, I love my kid and I think she's super-spiffy. For instance, she was (by far) the prettiest and most talented kid there last night. The other side of that, though, is that approximately 120 second graders sang West African tribal music. 

In any case, The Ex came and as you can imagine, we haven't spent a great deal of time just hanging out lately. So, being shoved into each other's personal space on the world's smallest bleachers could have been a pretty miserable experience. So, I did what I always do when I expect things are going to be uncomfortable - I make jokes no one but me gets.

At one point, I leaned over and said, "Oooh. Look. She has my rhythm." This was supposed to be funny. Because she had not once clapped at the right time - the entire second grade was clapping on beat and my kid - who was the prettiest, smartest one there - was clapping on the off beat. Perfectly and without variation. See, it's cute. Self-deprecating without being self-pitying. 

Only it fell flat. He looked at me with great pity and Papaw jumped to Brynna's defense, telling me how talented she is. Ooookay.

And it got me to thinking - what I really need is a Hollywood screen writer to follow me around and feed me lines that are more universally funny than my random sense of humor. And then, I laughed out loud, germane to nothing around me as I thought about walking around all the time with some guy in a plaid shirt and ripped jeans, following me around with a cigarette in one hand and a coffee cup in the other, telling me what to say. 

This has been an inordinately long intro to say that writers write the best lines. Here are

Five Funny Lines Written by Writers Writing

1.  Here's the deal: I'm not easy to get along with, and I'm sensing you're a bit of a bitch. Tallahassee, Zombieland. What's great about this line is that it is simultaneously mean and blaming yourself. You know, it's kinda you, but it's mostly just my inability to deal with you. 

2. Bren: What is your job title exactly? 
    Ultrasound Technician: I'm an ultrasound technician, ma'am. 
    Bren: Well, I'm a nail technician and I think we both ought to just stick to what we know.

Juno. How many times have you wanted to tell someone to just shut up because they obviously didn't know what they were talking about? Bren (who is already my hero for having such an awesome name) shows you how to do it. Nearly a tie from Juno and also from Bren: "Because doctors are sadists who like to play God and watch lesser people scream."

3. "Frankly my dear, I don't give a damn." Rhett Butler, Gone with the Wind. Short, sweet, to the point. The perfect line on which to leave the room. 

4. I'm the squire in Caroline's quest for attention. Norah, Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist. Perfect imagery.

5. She's starting to damage my calm. Jayne Cobb, Serenity. I actually quote this all the time. To my kids, mostly. I love them like fire, but they definitely damage my calm.

Thursday, March 1, 2012

A Convert

I love a new toy. I really do. Once upon a time, I was a little bit of a techie. The years have passed and my disposable income has waned and I'm not leaning on my walker while complaining about those young whippersnappers and their empeggy things.

And the whole digital book thing nearly exploded my head. I love books. I truly, truly do. And part of that is about loving the stories and the words and the magic between the pages, but part of it, if I'm being totally honest is actually about the smell and feel of a new book. The feeling of your left hand getting heavier and your right hand gets lighter. The feeling of history when you open up a book whose paper is yellowed with age and the feeling of magical discovery when you carefully open a book with an uncracked spine.

I got a Nook. Have I mentioned that? My awesome and wonderful mommy got me a Nook for Christmas and I am a wee bit obsessed. Case in point? The obvious lack of a book in my purse and the fact that I now can neither leave home without my Nook, nor without its charger.

Reading on the Nook is lacking in some ways, of course, but in other ways - oh mama. I don't need a light to read. Because the screen is lit and in fact, has a nifty little "night" setting that makes it really easy to read in the dark. I don't have to hold it, making my arm go to sleep in bed. I don't have to carry two books in my purse when I'm about to finish one.

The best thing about the Nook (and I'm speaking widely about all e-readers, here) is that the world is your oyster. I can check ebooks out of the library from any computer. I can browse and download books from Barnes and Noble from anywhere with Wi-Fi.

While I can't see myself ever completely abandoning the lovely feel of paper betwixt my fingers, I can definitely see the benefits of this. And for now, at least, I am loving the freedom and convenience of reading whatever I want, whenever I want.

Tell me about your experience with ereaders? Fan or foe?