What are you into right now?

On my nightstand: Jason just got A Dance with Dragons (book 5 in the series a Song of Ice and Fire), so I’ve laid aside all else and picked up A Clash of Kings (book 2).

Want to read: Books 3 and 4 in the aforementioned series, The Omnivore’s Dilemma, Zeitoun, and oh so many more.

TV show worth watching: Can’t wait until Game of Thrones comes out on dvd (a bit of a theme here). Really enjoying White Collar.

Movie I’ve seen (in or out of the theater): Jason and I got to see Tree of Life last week, and he wrote up some good thoughts on it. We also finally watched Harry Potter 7, so now we’re ready for 8.

In my ears: I am loving a mix that Joie Meador made for her wedding a few weeks ago. And I’ve also pulled out Mavis Staples. When we’re in the car, Simon alternatively asks for Joie’s music or Mader Steeps.

What I’m looking forward to next month: Two—yes, two!!—trips. One to celebrate our anniversary (just the two of us!) and one for family getaway. Also, our anniversary (6), my birthday (38), and my sister’s wedding. And even with all that, I’m probably most excited about our “big” ultrasound (and, yes, we hope to find out if this little one is a boy or a girl).

Several months ago—maybe even a year—Simon received a gift of a fire truck. It may have been valuable, as it is an older toy and was still in mint-in-the-box condition. Simon asks to play with it every time he finds it, and we’ve always said, “Not today.” But yesterday we watched Toy Story and Toy Story 2, and this morning when Simon brought the truck out from its sort-of hiding place, I couldn’t help but think of Buzz reminding Woody that (for a toy) “life’s only worth living if you’re being loved by a child.” So I caved. And because it’s just the kind of sap I am, I actually got a little teary while I was looking for a screwdriver to unfasten the truck from its box so it could be set free to be loved by Simon.

I hadn’t really realized that the truck was probably a bit too intricate for a two-year-old, and in less than two minutes, Simon broke the truck.

And when I explained to Jason how I had been persuaded by Toy Story to open the box, he reminded me that Simon has plenty of toys to love and neglect as he will. Take poor Rody, for example, muzzled and abandoned:

In hindsight, maybe I let my emotions get the best of me. Perhaps I should have let the truck stay in mint condition and watch Simon from his box, never to be loved. How will we pay for Simon’s college education now?