Any re-reading we then have to do is bound to make sense, because at least we comprehend what is going on and what we are looking for.вЂњItвЂ™s days like today that IвЂ™m pretty sure the robot uprising isnвЂ™t happening any time soon.вЂќ And suddenly the book becomes readable, the story makes sense, and we find that we can remember all the important characters and events simply because we know what is important.

But there is another alternative: to read faster, to push ahead, to make sense of what we can and to enjoy whatever we make sense of. The probable result: one Russian novel lost forever. If such a course is followed, the second reading is almost certain to be more incomprehensible than the first.

At this point we can give in to our anxiety, and start again to read more carefully, trying to memorize all the details on the offchance that some may prove to be important. Every reader must have experienced that depressing moment about fifty pages into a Russian novel when we realize that we have lost track of all the characters, the variety of names by which they are known, their family relationships and relative ranks in the civil service. My two words of advice are exemplified in what I call the Russian Novel Phenomenon. And my second helpful hint is that you should not try to memorize anything you read in this book. I found time to get in touch with myself and my life and i think this just might be a necessity! Please try it for yourself, and someone you love.вЂќ

The inspiring music of Back or Vivaldi adds an exquisite elegance to the otherwise unruly scene, and I am in heaven. There I spend the next two hours reading, eating and dreaming while the snowflakes swirl through the treetops outside my bedroom window. I put it all on a tray with a cloth napkin, my book-of-the-moment and the 'Travel' section of the Boston Globe and take it back to bed with me. Then I'm off to the kitchen, where I very calmly (so as not to wake myself up too much!) prepare my breakfast, seomthing extra nice - last week I had fresh pineapple slices wrapped in bacon and broiled, a warm croissant, hot chocolate with marshmallows and orange juice. So one Sunday morning I decided to do things differently - now it's gotten to be a sort of ritual! This is what I do: at around 8:30 am I pull myself from my warm cocoon, fluff up the pillows and blankets and put some classical music on the stereo. Sometimes I think we get caught up in the hectic happenings of the weeks and months and we forget to take time out to relax.

And whether you are inside in front of a fire, candles burning brightly on a wintery day - or outside on a patio enjoying the morning sun - whether you are having a group of friends and family, a quiet little brunch for two, or an even quieter little brunch just for yourself, breakfast can set the mood and pace of the whole day.ДЄnd Sunday is my day. Breaksfast is the place I splurge with calories, then I spend the rest of the day getting them off! I love to use my prettiest table settings - crocheted placemats with lace-edged napkins and old hammered silver. I think of bowls of sparkling berries and fresh cream, baskets of Popovers and freshly squeezed orange juice, thick country bacon, hot maple syrup, panckes and French toast - even the nutty flavor of Irish oatmeal with brown sugar and cream. вЂњBreakfast! My favorite meal- and you can be so creative.

Relax now in the fire gif