Manda Propaganda

Just as I did in 2009 and 2010, I kept a list of all the books I read in 2012.  Last year however, I discovered GoodReads and so I am also recording my reading list there, complete with reviews and individual ratings.

While those years saw me get through 18 and 28 books respectively, in 2011 - thanks in part to my Kindle acquisition - I got through 37 books.

• A Heartbreaking Work Of Staggering Genius - Dave Eggers
• Cold Comfort Farm - Stella Gibbons
• Fear & Loathing In Las Vegas - Hunter S. Thompson
• Justine - Marquis De Sade
• The Alchemist - Paulo Coelho
• The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night Time - Mark Haddon
• Killer - Stephen Carpenter
• The Bell Jar - Sylvia Plath
• The Importance Of Being Earnest - Oscar Wilde
• Brains: A Zombie Memoir - Robin Becker
• Cannery Row - John Steinbeck
• Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk - David Sedaris
• Kafka On The Shore - Haruki Murakami
• Women And Other Monsters - Bernard Schaffer
• Cycle Of The Werewolf - Stephen King
• Under The Dome - Stephen King
• Veins - Drew
• Apathy and Other Small Victories - Paul Neilan
• How to Tell a Story and Other Essays - Mark Twain
• Married With Zombies - Jesse Petersen
• The Little Prince -  Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
• How to Live on 24 Hours a Day - Arnold Bennett
• You Might Be A Zombie And Other Bad News - Cracked.com
• 250 Things You Should Know About Writing - Chuck Wendig
• The Serial Killers Club - Jeff Povey
• A Dog’s Tale - Mark Twain
• Dead In The Family - Charlaine Harris
• Dead Reckoning - Charlaine Harris
• Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead - Tom Stoppard
• Slaughterhouse 5 - Kurt Vonnegut
• The Secret Garden - Frances Hodgson Burnett
• My Wife’s Story - Richard Babcock
• Minority Report - Philip K. Dick
• Notes From The Autopsy Of God - Bo Fowler
• So Now You’re A Zombie: A Handbook For The Newly Undead - John Austin
• Z is for Zombie - Philip Hansen
• The Orchid Thief - Susan Orlean

There were so many great books in that list, Cold Comfort Farm was simply delicious, The Alchemist was beautiful and inspiring, Cannery Row was just gorgeous, Under The Dome was a very enjoyable tome, Apathy and Other Small Victories was brilliantly funny, but my top marks for the year go to Slaughterhouse 5, which not only changed my entire perspective on life, but inspired my newest tattoo.

In 2012, I’m aiming for 50 books! :)

Mark and I have been dating for 5 months today.  It’s been an amazing time, and I’ve enjoyed every minute of it.

We have spent the last 5 days at my place, and have had his kids with us since Boxing Day.  Today he has taken them to his sisters farm so he can go diving with his mate while I have some much needed time to myself.  ”Gotta take care of my introvert,” he says.

After I have a long bath, do some laundry and tidy up the chaos caused by Cyclone Emily and Hurricane Vincent, I will chill out with a violent movie (something not Pixar!), drink some wine and eat a giant Toblerone or a Terry’s Chocolate Orange.

The man I love will return this evening, kids in tow, and we will resume the life of the Clayton’s family we have become.  We will eat dinner, play with Lego on the lounge room floor, listen to music or watch another PG rated movie, and then begin the drama of getting two hyperactive and argumentative little bastards to get in pyjamas, brush their teeth, and go to bed at a reasonable hour.  And stay there!  Stop talking and go to sleep!  Don’t make me come in there!

This is not the life I thought I would have heading into 2012, but honestly, I wouldn’t change any of it for the world.  This man, these kids… they are my family, and I love them with all my heart :)

1. Trusting someone is a conscious choice
2. While I never fail to take my medication daily, I am rubbish at remembering to take my vitamins
3. Little things make me happier than big things
4. Getting adequate sleep is more important to happiness than almost anything else
5. Habits are easy to form, but hard to break
6. People will, for the most part, behave exactly as you expect them to
7. Regret is a waste of time and energy
8. You don’t have to be “useful” to someone to be valuable to them
9. Being smart is awesome
10. I am stronger than I give myself credit for

Seven weeks ago today I met a guy named Mark.  My first impression of him was that he is unbelievably sexy, but soon after I learned that he is also devilishly cheeky, brilliantly smart and has a wicked sense of humour.

We went for a drink and had dinner together, and later that evening we were walking side by side eating gelato when a shooting star raced across the sky.  We looked at each other and laughed.  How cheesy, we both agreed, that we should witness something like that on our first date.

Secretly, I wished on that star that he would kiss me, and wouldn’t you know it, my wish came true a few minutes later.  It was indisputably the best first date I have ever had.

By the time I got home, he had already texted me to say that he had enjoyed the night and hoped to do it again soon.  Despite making plans to see each other a few days later, he was with me again the very next evening, and even met a few of my friends who were over for a video night.

Things developed so naturally and easily between us, and although I had joked about waiting for a dozen dates to pass, after our 10th, we updated our Facebook relationship status.  He became my boyfriend.

Since then I have met his ex, his kids, his parents and his best friend.  He has met my sister, my best friend and successfully negotiated a party with all 15 or so of “the boys”.  He fits in so well with my life, and the time we spend together, even when we are being deep and serious, is full of laughter and joy.

I can honestly say that the last 7 weeks have been my happiest in recent years.  It has been simply wonderful having him in my life.

Thank you Mark <3