I am in need of a reading binge. Do you ever crave those? You take a couple days off of work to just wallow in reading. It’s been awhile since I’ve had one of those and with the rate of book acquisition around this house, a binge is a fast approaching necessity. I think the end of October might be the perfect time. It seems really far away, but I am hoping the weather will be near perfect binge-reading weather by then. And since I have accumulated so much pto that I am almost at the use-it-or-lose-point, perhaps I can get away with–dare I wish for it?–a whole week!
The end of October means it will be cold. Down into the 20s at night, high during the day in the 40s, maybe low 50s. This means I can lounge around in fleecy clothes, with socks on my feet and a hot drink by my side. It is warm enough that I can take a break from reading by going for a long walk or a bike ride. The newly naked trees will still be interesting and oh so beautiful against a blue, blue sky (unlike November when everything for some reason suddenly looks dull and I start wishing hard for snow to make things look pretty again). Wonderful as this is, it is only near-perfect because it’s not quite hibernation time around here and house-related projects can still be done, people are still active and I feel a slight bit of guilt over being inside reading (even with a break to go outside for a bit).
Perfect binge reading weather comes at the end of December and into January. Now it really is cold and I can lounge around in fleecy clothes, socks, and a blanket. And of course, there is a hot drink by my side. It is in the low teens or single digits at night and in the low to mid-20s during the day with the prospect of being even colder. And of course the perfect binge reading weather involves snow. Lots of snow. Hopefully over the course of a couple of days. I don’t have to feel bad about not going anywhere or not working on any kind of home-improvement project. I can happily hibernate, emerging every couple hours to shovel the sidewalk which is my favorite wintertime exercise (yes, I love to shovel snow. I know, I am weird).
So if I time this just right, I can potentially take a week off at the end of October and between Christmas and New Year’s a little over a week off. Yes, yes. It’s all coming clear now. I just have to be really nice to my boss and hope that no big IT project ends up getting scheduled for the week I want off. Ah, feels good to have a plan.
Do you want to come visit our place, say, sometime in January or February, just when the shoveling needs to be done??
Your reading binge plans sound blissful!
You might consider starting your book binge off on the 20th of October with Dewey (From Hidden Side of the Leaf)’s 24 Hour Read-a-thon!
A book binge sounds like just the thing I need right now! You always have the best ideas. But what to read? Something to take me away from myself. Any ideas on what you might read?
I always looked forward to raking leaves each autumn. We had four huge maple trees around our home when I was a kid that would drop the biggest leaves in a pretty yellow hue. We always had to rake the entire yard about four times until all the leaves had fallen, but I didn’t mind. Autumn has always been my favorite season.
Great to hear your weather related reading preferences.
I like to lay out in our not too hot sun to read, but it tends to make me a bit sleepy. So I know what you mean about colder weather. Personally rainy days are reading days for me – no reason or desire to go out, water lashing the windows, closed in within the house and the book.
We get so little significant snow, that when it does fall I tend to just stare out of the window at it, for a few hours till it melts!
Dorothy, I’d be happy to come shovel your snow! Just provide me with a comfortable chair and some hot chocolate so I can rest and warm my hands afterwards and I will be quite content.
Becky, thanks for the tip! I will seriously have to condider that.
Thanks Laura! It’s too soon to start planning what books I want to read yet, but one of the books on my Outmoded Authors Challenge list is a very likely candidate. I have a big maple in my front yard and love raking the leaves too!
Jem, rain used to be my weather reading preference especially when I lived in California. But much of the time rain in Minnesota means a thunderstorm. I love t-storms but maybe it’s the electricity in the air of something, I find I can’t sit still.
Your reading binge sounds great! In fact, makes me wonder if I should take a break too, just to read.
I think I get the shoveling snow bit. It’s therapeutic and it’s also about organisation — You get things (or snow) out of the way. And the physical labour can be a good counter-balance to all that brain-work you seem to do.
I was just thinking about taking an afternoon off to read my Mysteries of Udolpho, but I never got around to asking for the time off. Maybe next week. I love binge reading days–they are so few and far in between sometimes. I just snatch whatever time I can get. Yesterday it rained here all day and I wished I was at home with a book. It’s nice planning these and then having something to look forward to!
I may have to put a similar plan into practice! This sounds sooooo good!
Oooh yes. Sometimes I just NEED to read! Good luck!
Fantastic! I love to read, but seldom have the time. It’s ironic, really… I work in a bookstore!
Dark Orpheus, you’ve got the snow shoveling figured out! There is also a distinct sense of accomplishment and a communal feel because my neighbors are all out shoveling too.
Danielle, don’t settle for an afternoon off, take the whole day! It rained here all day yesterday too. I was also wishing I was home with a book.
Heather, it is a plan you will never regret.
Heather (errantdreams), thanks!
afrit007, that is ironic. You must give yourself more reading time!
You are describing a Utopia, Stefanie, with your every pronouncement and adjustment of scenario!
I want this world, thou art describing!
It sounds good, even with the snow shoveling intermingled!
– Cip
This is a marvelous idea, a few days to spend on some concentrated reading. How lovely…now I wonder if I can get away with it sometime soon
Cip, utopia for sure! You can have that world too. All it takes is some vacation time!
Verbivore, hope you can get some time soon!
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