The troubling thing about vacations is that before they are even over you start thinking about them being over. Instead of being able to say “I have two weeks off” I can now only say “I have to go back to work on Monday.” I have no idea why I can’t say “I still have six days of vacation left.” That would be more positive, wouldn’t it? Thing is, I could really get used to not going to work everyday. I’ve been having such a lovely time catching up on things I have let slide, tidying things up, getting to the bottom of my “to-do” pile/ list and generally enjoying hours-long stretches of reading that Monday is a hard day to face. Not only will it mean going back to work but it is also the first day of winter quarter at library school.
I finished reading Proust and the Squid an hour ago and will post about it proper tomorrow. I have to let it settle in a bit before I write about it. I can say, however, that I found it fascinating and enjoyable.
I continue to read The Tyranny of E-Mail and find myself by turns enjoying it and wanting to argue with it. Then there is The Year of the Flood which is slowly building up to something in a way that is classic Atwood. As much as I am enjoying it though, I find myself also wishing she would move away from the scifi/future/dystopia themes and get back to the kinds of things she delved into with Surfacing, Cat’s Eye, and Alias Grace. But then, I am not far into Flood so maybe she does go there. Did I say I am enjoying it? Don’t let me convince you that I’m not.
I’m doing pretty well on getting through my TBR Challenge/ binge pile having finished six of the books (ok so I didn’t finish How to Read Literature Like a Professor but it is no longer on my pile at any rate).
By the way, does anyone know how difficult it is to write with a cat between you and the computer keyboard that has decided to, instead of curling up on my arm like usual, flip over with his back feet stretched out against my chest and his front feet vigorously kneading my left bicep? He’s got the high squeaky “I’m sooooo happy” purr going and digs in his claws and glares angrily if I attempt to shift him. Dear Waldo is such a sponge.
Where was I? Oh yes, I’m doing pretty well on the TBR Challenge pile, a good thing since tomorrow my Bookman and I will be venturing out to Half Price Books for the last day of their after Christmas sale. I am also tempted to go to Magers and Quinn on New Year’s Day to partake of their sale that will include live music and refreshments. If HPB is a bust tomorrow M&Q is a definite go but if HPB is full of goodies then I will refrain from M&Q. So everything hinges on tomorrow.
On Thursday I will be posting my year in review stats and favorites. On Friday I’ll be looking ahead to see what 2010 might have in store. How did the end of 2009 get here so fast?
Yes, how did the end of 2009 get here so fast? Have fun at the HPB Sale. I’m hoping to go sometime this week. You know I’ll be looking forward to your best of list!
I know exactly how you feel. I am trying so very hard not to dread Monday – but rather enjoy the free time I have left. Some hours I do better than others.
I too am feeling the impending doom of this coming Monday and the claws of an adorable but angry cat demanding my attention.
I am struggling with being in the present too. If I weren’t trying to get away from all the sugar I’ve been having, I think it would be much easier. Nothing says bliss in the present moment like a handful of chocolate chips. Sigh.
I agree. Vacations go too fast!
On the Atwood front–I’ve found some of her recent short story collections do a bit more on the themes you miss. (Moral Disorder and something about a Tent?) Although I really enjoy her dystopian themes, I sometimes miss the themes prevalent in Cat’s Eye. Perhaps after the third novel of the “trilogy-esque” thing, she’ll write something different?
Stefanie, the older you get the faster it will go – that’s the only sure thing. I am so looking forward to your year end review list. Time being at a premium, I figure if you liked it, I will too and it makes my selections easier. For my personal list for 2010, I am hoping against hope for Ghosh’s second book in the Ibus trilogy.
Enjoy your shopping spree! I’m looking forward to hearing how it went. I know what you mean about the end of vacation looming. I feel that way too, and unfortunately I can’t help but figure out how long the vacation is and then count down. What a silly way of looking at it! I wish I could just say, oh, I’ve got another day off — yay! But my mind doesn’t work that way, alas. At any rate, I hope you’re enjoying this day off!
It has gone so fast, huh! Glad you’ve gotten so many books read (or at least crossed off the list) and enjoy your next four and a half days of vacation!!
I too, know what you mean about holidays! I keep thinking that Monday means back to work, but am trying to block it from my mind… I’ve had a great holiday of making book lists, reading bits of this and that, watching movies and generally not doing anything on the list of household chores I’d drawn up for myself to catch up on over the break! Oh well, plenty of time for housework, that’s my mantra.
Looking forward to your year-end wrap up!
Catching up (very late) on your posts, I wish you happy holidays for the rest of the week to come! It’s true that time flies twice as fast during holidays. For my part I don’t really get in the mood because I have to drop by at the office on mornings (as many people in the accounting have to) ;( All the books you manage to read are pretty impressive!
I had a two-day work break in the middle of my vacation… so it feels like vacation is starting all over again for me! Yay! But yeah… I’m not looking forward to the return of “normal”… have fun book shopping!
I feel the same way about this two-week break–the fastest in history, I think! Enjoy your book shopping!
Iliana, I hope you make it to HPB, you have lots of shelves to fill up now
Molly, it is terrible, isn’t it? I am glad I am not the only one who has trouble with it though.
Colleen, chocolate chips are indeed bliss. I’ll be having some coffee withdrawals next week because I have gotten into the habit of having a cup in the afternoon while I curl up and read.
dailywordsandacts, oh yes, Moral Disorder was wonderful, but it being short stories it makes me only want a novel even more!
Grad, I am too well aware of time moving ever faster. Long, slow summer vacations are wasted on the young. What I wouldn’t do for three months of no obligations now!
Dorothy, the little spree was enjoyable, thank you! And I am having a pleasant day off today. I hope you are too.
Rebecca, thank you. I plan to enjoy the remaining days as much as I possibly can. I hope you enjoy yours too!
Melanie, you are right, household chores wait patiently for us. Someone needs to invent a self-cleaning house!
Smithereens, oh thank you! That’s very unfortunate that even on vacation you had to stop in at the office. I hope you were still able to have lots of relaxing time though.
Daphne, ah, maybe that’s what I need to do next year, go back to work for a day in the middle. Thanks! book shopping was fun. More on that soon.
Gentle Reader, and it seems like so much time at the beginning doesn’t it? But then when it is almost over you realize it wasn’t nearly enough time. Book shopping was great fun, thanks!
I can SO relate to your post. Since Monday I’ve been counting down the days and it gets a little more dreadful each day, I’m sorry to say. I only have four more days to sleep in and be lazy and do whatever I feel like and read for however long and stay up however late. I had better stop or I will depress myself!
Have fun shopping–I hope you find some great things at HPB!! And enjoy the rest of your vacation–try not to think of the days slipping away…and I’ll try and do the same.
I know!! Where did 2009 go? I do exactly the same thing and hate the creeping approach of the holiday’s end. Boo. But you are storming through your list and I’m looking forward to hearing about Proust and the Squid and have my fingers crossed for a mega book haul in the sales for you!
Danielle, it is terrible to count down, isn’t it? But I suppose it is only natural until the day we become independently wealthy and don’t have to be concerned about work. I hope you enjoy your remaining vacation days as well!
Litlove, and not only 2009 but a whole decade too! Weren’t we all just worrying about Y2K?
Finding that the TBR challenge works for me too, mostly sticking to reading from the list! I think it’s nice to be in a round number year again, 2009 felt so off balance.