The First Few Pages

We have spent the first few pages of 2011 just like this: fire, shared ottoman, books. Sometimes (like now) tea. Nearly every night this week, we have cleaned up the dishes and settled in for at least an hour. It is heavenly. I actually feel like I'm doing something extravagant and probably irresponsible, even though the only things hanging over my head are dinner (and since, inspired by Andrea, we made this recipe for lunch today, we are not at all hungry yet) and a pile of constituent mail that needs editing.

You may notice, by the way, that Jason is reading Harry Potter. I know, I'm completely beside myself but trying not to overreact and thus scare him away. He has committed to reading at least through the Prisoner of Azkaban, which is generally agreed to be the "hooking point." The other day he randomly wove the phrase "house elf" into a conversation about not wanting to empty the dishwasher. My heart leapt.

So far, 2011 is exACTly what I had hoped it would be. There are delicious new recipes (this and this are for dinner tonight). There is working out (oh! THAT'S what's hanging over my head today!). There is a new Congress where my boss is both presiding over the House floor (yay!) and chairman of the approps subcommittee on which I work (double yay!). There is paced organization of everything, starting with a new spreadsheet of the recipes I want to try from my cooking magazines. There are new boots found on clearance on their way. There are long hours with books by the fire. There are twinkle lights, at least until the rest of our neighbors have taken theirs down. There is the tantalizing anticipation of a graduation celebration on the beach.

The only thing missing is chocolate cake.