Monday Update

This weekend did not go as planned. To be completely honest, I overestimated my energy level, so it's not a total surprise.

Friday was interesting. I got home from work with every intention of eating something and falling in bed. However, my son had not slept much in several days and was talking and pacing and running on pure adrenaline. I think he was talking to keep himself awake. My other kid had a burr under her saddle also, so it was a tense evening. I did finally go to bed early, but not as early as I would have liked.

Saturday, we got up and went to play in a handbell festival. It was lots of fun, but there were a lot of people there. I got peopled out. I meant to go home and read furiously to finish my books, but I ended up taking a four hour nap. Oops. I did read a little bit, but not as much as I had planned.

Sunday, I slept in and it was glorious! I read a little bit in the morning while doing laundry, and then we went out to see the new Emma movie. When we got home, I really wanted to nap, but I knew if I did that, I would have trouble sleeping at night. Plus, the clocks changed, so I was extra sleepy. I canceled dance rehearsal to conserve energy. I did manage to finish one book on Sunday.

Since I only finished 1 of the 3 books on my list for next week, I have to rethink my strategy. I have 4 books on my list for this week. Well, 3.5 since I only plan to read half of Artemis, the book club book. But still. I was going to have to read 200 pages a day to get through all those books. I don't think that's going to happen.

I used to have evenings free to read after dinner, but that is no longer the case. Today, I have a nail appointment. Tomorrow, I work until 9:00. Wednesday, I take my mom out to dinner. Thursday, I work until 9:00. There just isn't reading time like I need to get all this stuff done.

Anyway, one of the books I didn't finish last week has become my bedtime book. I'll read a chapter of it before I go to bed. They're short. Hopefully, I can keep track of what's going on by just reading it in short bursts. The other book I didn't finish I'm listening to on audiobook. It's hard to read because it's about Elizabeth Bathory, who was a horribly cruel woman. It's slow going. I'm about 70% through it, so I'll just keep plugging away until it's done.

For the four books I had on my list to read this week: I have started one of them, Not So Pure and Simple. It reads fast. I blew through 50 pages in a short sitting. When I finish it, I will start Jane Anonymous. Hopefully, it will also read quickly. This weekend, I will stop whatever I'm reading and start Artemis. That one, I'll let bleed over into next week because it's on my list then, too. Then, I'll pick up a book from next week's list. The one that is probably going to get abandoned is one that hasn't met criteria for the award, yet, so it's okay if I don't get to it.

I really need to rethink how I'm going to get through these books. Probably 14 books is too much, unless a few of them are graphic novels. Especially while I'm working late 2 nights a week. Next month will definitely be a different process. Stay tuned to see the dramatic conclusion of The Books of My Life.