Snickerdoodle Coffee

No more cheap coffee for me! Yay!

I have Starbucks coffee, but my coffee grinder broke about a month ago and, instead of driving all the way to WalMart to buy a new one, I simply picked up cheap, ground coffee from Albertson's. Therefore, I was never drinking good quality coffee--not on the road, and not at home. Saddest story in the world, verdad?
So last week, when I was in Bismarck, I picked up a new Mr. Coffee brand coffee grinder. I also purchased some snickerdoodle coffee beans from a local coffee shop. This morning I freshly ground the snickerdoodle coffee beans, and don't know I've tasted anything better and more satisfying within my month without fresh, quality coffee.

I've also managed to finish this week's book: Cross by James Patterson. He's done it again. I get so engrossed in his novels that they're quick reads and always leave me hungry for more of his literature. This particular novel launches a series of investigations into Alex Cross' wife Maria's murderer. It's almost a mini-series within the Alex Cross series itself, because the others are much more stand-alone novels. Cross is the foundation for Patterson's newer novels. In case you're interested, here's how the Cross series looks:
Cross (becoming a movie in 2011 or 2012)
Double Cross
Cross Country
Alex Cross's Trial
I, Alex Cross
Cross Fire (this one will be released in November of this year)

Lately Patterson's gotten into the habit of threatening to kill off Alex Cross in a novel, should he not sell enough of his books. I'm intrigued by this, and whether popularity will be the end of Alex Cross or not.

Random tangent, sorry. This novel brings me up to 9,449/10,000 pages for the year. I've only got 551 pages left and I'll have completed my goal!

I'm already trying to figure out where I should set my reading goal for next year. For those of you who don't know, I was inspired by a former boss (arguably the best boss I've had, but certainly one of the most influential) who sets page goals every year. Her page goals are significantly higher than mine, but I think it's best I set them to around where I feel most comfortable.
In 2006, my page goal was 2,500. Talk about starting small. I read 7,038 pages that year.
In 2007 and 2008, I read such a negligent number of books that I didn't even bother recording them. Tragic, I know.
In 2009, my goal was to read 10,000 pages. I failed, reading only 6,532 pages. When it came to choosing a page goal for 2010, I had thought about making it only 8,500 so it would be manageable. But then I realized I would never grow if I kept accommodating my handicaps. After all, my parents always told me I could do anything I put my mind to (best advice ever!).
Thus, in 2010, I created a goal of 10,000 pages. I believe it's very realistic I'll accomplish that goal by December 31.
Here's what I'm thinking for 2011's page goal:
11,500 pages
12,500 pages
14,000 pages
But I can't decide which one would be best. I guess I'll figure that out as the time draws closer. Every 1,000 pages added is approximately 2-4 more books, and I've already burned through 27 this year.
Well, comment if you'd like to help me out with this poll to choose next year's page goal.

I hope you all have a lovely weekend and that you, too, have the pleasure of curling up with delicious coffee and literature.