WE'RE ON VA-CATION!!

It’s been a rough spring in Ontario. Even now we continue to enjoy random snowstorms, below average temperatures and gloomy, overcast skies. Every time I think it’s safe to take out the sandals and peep-toe stilettos, Mother Nature laughs her evil laugh and dumps more winter like weather on my newly pedicured toes. Enough already!

I just can’t take it anymore. I need the sun and the heat. I am desperate for a vacation. I need a week somewhere down south where I can thaw out and warm up.

So….

We’re on va-cation! We’re on va-cation! Come on, sing it with me. We’re on va-cation! We’re on va-cation! That’s right, friends. I’ve bought the tickets, packed the suitcases and loaded my eReader with books for the trip. So we’re taking the family to Walt Disney World.

I know. I know. It’s not my usual vacation. I’ve actually never been to Walt Disney World. Really, why would I have gone there? It’s not the ideal vacation location for an avid reader and beach devotee like me. In fact there’s no beach to be found. (But there is a pool, so I'm sure I'll survive.) 

When I go on vacation, I’m looking for peace and quiet and time to just decompress. Disney is the polar opposite of that. It’s loud. Its jam packed full of screaming, crying and crazy kids.

But we promised the kids a vacation. And we’ve been saving Walt Disney World for when our youngest child is old enough to remember the trip. Mini-Me is now tall enough to ride all the rides, old enough to listen (mostly) and smart enough to not wander off (hopefully).

It’s not going to be the relaxing vacation when I get to immerse myself in a book or five. But it’s better than snow. And Mini-Me has packed her tiara and is really looking forward to meeting the princesses. Maybe I should pack my tiara too. What do you think?

Serial Reader

I read a blog post on my friend Carla's blog a few weeks ago that has stuck with me (you can read her post here: http://by-the-waters-edge.blogspot.com/2011/03/mondays-musings_28.html). She mentioned how her partner stayed up late reading, despite having to get up early because he just couldn't put his book down. This happens to me at least twice a month. If you ask my husband, he'll say it happens at least twice per week. But I love reading, what can I say?

I just need to know! I need to know what happens next. I need to know who dunnit. I need to know if they all live happily ever after. I. Just. Need. To. Know.

On the other hand, I don't want the book to end. I always feel so sad when I finish a book. Maybe if I read slower or rationed my chapter consumption it wouldn't have to end.

But it does end and always the same way. It ends with me telling myself I'll only read one more chapter. Then I finish the book around 2:30am. It's a compulsion. I can't seem to stop myself. My desire to know how it ends outweighs any residual feelings of sadness.

And the sadness is always there. It’s hiding beneath my satisfaction at finishing the book; behind my happiness at knowing that all is well in the character’s lives.

Why do I feel sad you ask? Finishing a book is like getting into a fight with my best friend and never, ever seeing them again. It’s awful. I’ve been so immersed in the lives of these characters while they go through awful trials and amazing triumphs and now they’re gone.

So I’ve resolved to only read series of books (sorry, Carla). This way when one book is done, there’s another book sitting on my shelf or at the library waiting for me. Suggestions and recommendations are welcome.

But what will happen when I get to the send of the series????

Anne

Throwing in the Beach Towel

I’ve never been too shy to tell people what I was thinking…or feeling…or to offer up my opinion. So why, you’re wondering, did it take me so long to start blogging? Until now it just seemed like more work; just one more item to add to a never ending TO DO list. And I really wasn’t interested in more work. And even though I’ve never felt the slightest bit of shyness, I’ve been somewhat hesitant to put pen to paper, or hands to keyboard as it were.

So what has changed?  Not much really. A blog is still going to be another task on my seemingly endless list. And I’m still not sure that I will be able to write well enough to entertain you and keep you coming back for more. (There! You found it! My one insecurity; I want to be good at writing and don’t know if I am. Are you happy now?)

But I love reading. No. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE reading! I love reading anything and everything; books, magazines, newspapers, cereal boxes, etc. The only thing better than reading for me, is reading while lying in the sun someplace, anyplace, south of snow. So, I’ve always been a fan of other people’s blogs. In fact, I can spend (read: waste) as much time reading blogs as I can networking (read: wasting time) on facebook when I’m supposed to be working.

So I’m throwing in the beach towel. Maybe writing my own blog will be more productive than reading yours.

Anne