I Am This Woman

This time of year, I savor all the books that trot themselves out into the displays, advertising, front list and “must-read” conversation of people I know. I may not ever get to read all the books I want to read, but that would be a dark day, if it ever came. There are so many wonderful books out there, and so little time. So little time. I wonder why I have cable TV at all.

A few years ago, I had a crisis brewing. My eyesight. Where before I could squint at a book in any position in bed, in any kind of light, into the wee small hours (the wee-est smallest hour is 1 a.m. by the way), I began to have trouble. First it was my neck which went all screwy in graduate school. Then it was my wrists and hands that fell asleep from holding a book. Then my eyes… headaches, holding the book farther away, etc.

I finally succumbed to reading glasses, and to reading less to save my neck and wrists… complications of keyboard RSI and not enough yoga, massage and too much stress. But reading less adds to my stress…

No more. I am dedicating myself to my book friends again. And will find that balance point. My 2008 resolution is simple: read more. That’s all. Everything else in my life has come from that - the writing, the stories, the friends, the career. READ MORE. (more…)

Let’s just say that THIS is a holiday classic in our house now. This links to a 49 second version (apparently videotaped from a computer monitor? does anyone have copyright to this?), but really to get maximum effect, you have to listen to THIS CONTINUOUS LOOP until your ears bleed. And whenever the phone does ring, it helps if the whole family starts singing and/or bouncing like cute little badgers.

Seriously, the first 40 times, it’s really cute and funny. The Kid is enjoying all the other versions, such as the Potter Banana Phone and the Simpsons… but I have housework to do. Come to think of it, so does he!