Well, hello there! It’s good to see you guys again for more than just a drive-by posting! I took last week off for a readcation/Thanksgiving/child had the whole week off from school and it’s basically impossible to get anything done with her around but we’re going to focus on the readcation part. Because books.
I got the idea for a readcation from a post on Book Riot where the writer was taking a vacation from work but staying home to read because sometimes staycations are awesome when finances don’t allow for a trip and books help you feel like you’re going places anyway and you don’t have to wear pants which pretty much wins. For those who are interested, I did follow several of her suggestions like unplug (which I did, for the most part), stock up at the library (if you follow me on Instagram, you saw the picture), and pick a time that works for you (see above paragraph explaining that).
My readcation was slightly modified due to the whole parenting thing (seriously, why does she demand things like food?) and the overnight trip to my in-laws’ for Thanksgiving and the child free day after Thanksgiving spent with the husband (we saw Mockingjay Part 2 and had lunch a la gift card) but for the most part, my focus was on one activity: reading.
Even with all that I had going on, I still managed to finish 4 books which I’ll review for you next Tuesday for Show Us Your Books (and we have a holiday giveaway planned for that, too) but for the purposes of this post, let’s explore what I learned during my readcation (some of which I probably knew beforehand but fully understand and accept now):
- Reading is my preferred activity over everything. I can literally do nothing except sit on a couch and read all day, every day.
- Sometimes, I get so involved in a book, I forget about everything else. Eating, drinking water, my family, and one unfortunate time when I waited too long to pee and almost had to change my pants when I finally put the book down.
- I have absolutely no system for how I read books. I pick one up and read it. Although occasionally, I do organize them by due date. Or size order. Never alphabetically, though, because that’s just crazy.
- Speaking of due dates, I realized that sometimes, I see them as a test. Oh, I have 3 books due back in 5 days and I can’t renew any of them? Challenge accepted!
- eBooks. I do enjoy reading eBooks but I often forget I have them and then I wind up not reading them before they magically disappear from my Kindle and I also feel slightly guilty that I kept the away from someone else.
- When I’m reading and someone interrupts me, I get angry. Like, really, really angry. Irrationally angry. I don’t show it but inside, I’m spewing nothing but hatred and lots of f-words.
- Even when I go away overnight, I bring more books than shoes. And I pack my books before I pack my underwear.
- If I can’t read due to circumstances and despite the fact that I have a physical urge to pick up a book and sit down with it, I get twitchy.
- I start A LOT of sentences with “well, I read in this book…” I get A LOT of strange looks.
- A readcation is the greatest choice I could have made and I cannot wait to take another one.
Now that my readcation is over, and I’m back to life, back to reality (sing it, if you will), I’m sad. I mean, I like what I’m working on but let’s be honest. Nothing is better than sitting around in pj pants, under a blanket, reading a book.
P.S. The #inthedrawer challenge starts today. Hope you’re joining me and Nadine!
I have 3 weeks left of school and two papers due before then. I cannot wait for it to be over so that I have Christmas break to read for fun. I try to while I am in school but it takes a lot longer to finish one book.
Torry @ A World without Wheat recently posted…Thanksgiving Weekend
Glad you got to enjoy that time for yourself!
Tonya@Budget and the Beach recently posted…Merry Cringemas!
I could have written this list verbatim. Love it. I’m glad you enjoyed your readcation!
SMD @ Life According to Steph recently posted…Dog Stew – AKA Poop Soup
I don’t like getting interrupted while I am reading either. Sounds like you got lots read 🙂
Nadine recently posted…November 2015 Allure Beauty Box
Getting irrationally angry when someone interrupts you when you are reading? ME TOO!!! Do you not see a book in my hand???? Nothing you have to say is as important as this page I am reading!! 🙂 #twins
Mackenzie recently posted…Monday Meanderings: The Holidays Are Upon Us Edition!
I love the idea of a readcation! I am so embarrassed and mad at myself because I had my first late fee EVER for overdue books. The worst part was I had read them and just forgot to take them back! UGH! Otherwise, I’m like you and see due dates as a challenge. Of course I can read this 400+ book in 24 hours, provided no one rudely interrupts me and that includes you Mr. Bladder. Glad you had a good readcation and can’t wait to hear more about the books.
Tanya @ A Mindful Migration recently posted…5 Gratitude Exercises to Incorporate into Your Life
I’m the same way about the due date thing! I had to hurry and finish two books in three days once. I did it! But I hate when you can’t renew stuff. Grr.
I hate being interrupted when I’m reading. And yes, reading is one of my favorite things to do.
Amber recently posted…Hey, It’s Okay Tuesday!
OK, I need to pick up some inspiration from you when it comes to reading…I was such a bookworm as a kid and as I’ve gotten older, I make so many excuses and just never do it. But the funny thing is, once I get a book I love, I can’t put it down. I have a few things on my to-read list and need to just START. I need to stop picking other dumb things like TV (and sleeping during my train commute) and read instead. You’re amazing!
Ali A recently posted…Death & Taxes
YESSSSSS! although books have taken a temporary back seat (damn work!!) i loooove reading. when i was on my cruise, all i did at night was escape to my room instead of walking around on the boat to read The Book Thief (SO amazing).
kathy @ more coffee, less talky recently posted…Treat Yo’ Self December
This sounds like such a great idea! I love that you took the time away from everything else to do what you enjoy. I always had the same problem of way overpacking books for vacation because I didn’t know what I wanted to read next (I’m basically just super indecisive). So my Nook has been the best thing for me because I can bring my whole library and not have to worry about not bringing a book with me on a trip.
Ashley @ The Wandering Weekenders recently posted…SCWBC15- December Check-In
All of this. Except I don’t forget to eat. Because I like food almost as much as I like reading.
Erin of TexErin-in-SydneyLand recently posted…Book Challenge by Erin 4.0
I’m the same way with e-books… I just love turning an actual page so much that I only read an e-book as a last resort. 🙁
Amanda recently posted…How To: Stuff a Stocking Like a BOSS!
I feel the same way. I could totally just spend a full week just reading all day. I do get a little distracted sometimes but get twitchy when I don’t read at least a little each day.
Kerry recently posted…Weekend of Thanks
I’m so happy for the invention of reader tablets. I was also the person who would fill half their bag with books because I’d read through them so quickly on vacation and didn’t want to run out. That always got heavy and took up lots of space – not very practical. Now I just load them on there and have endless options!
Kati Rose recently posted…#JAMpackedholiday Day One 2015
a readcation sounds like the most brilliant idea ever. i love it. those dang kids and their thanksgiving needs!! ugh!! 😉 ps: thanks for the sweetest comment yesterday.
ellesees.net recently posted…Yes, You Need to Try Liquid Lipsticks
Ah, this sounds fantastic! (LOL at “why does she demand food?”) I hear you on the interrupting thing. My husband will apologize for interrupting me while I’m watching a TV show (which, hello? that’s why I have DVR) but has no problem interrupting while I’m reading. Grrrrrrr.
Gwen recently posted…Two twenty-one year-olds and a first grader
All of these except for ebooks, I’ve read a total of one ebook and it’s just not my thing. I also can’t do audio books, I’m a book traditionalist.
Kelli recently posted…Sea La Vie – 11/19
1, 2 and 8. In college I actually skipped an entire day of classes (more than once, I think two or three times?) because a book I wanted to read was released on that day and I did nothing but drive to the bookstore, buy it, and read it until I finished it or passed out. Mind you, I was an ENGLISH MAJOR and all I ever did was read books and write about them. Didn’t matter. I wanted my damn books.
Also, I love the idea of your readcation. Glad you enjoyed!
alyssa recently posted…How to Actually Get S#!t Done
So much fun! I ended up lying in bed for reading until nearly 10:00 am over the 4-day weekend and LOVED it! I wish I could do it every day. But yeah, the kids needed food and stuff, ugh. My library checkouts have gotten so out of hand that I have to keep a list in my phone with their due dates and which library they belong to (I check out from three) and I totally race to read them a few days before they’re due!
Christina recently posted…Just Can’t Get Into It
haha i get super angry when someone interrupts me when i am reading as well. so rude. one day last year, i took a day off work (when KC was not home) and planned to read the entire day away, which i did, and it was amazing. like a mini read-cation.
So much of this is true for me as well.
I often forget to eat/sleep/get up to use the bathroom if I have at least an entire day to devote to reading. That’s especially crazy for me because I really love food.
I’m currently in the midst of an “I need to read these books immediately because I can’t renew them and they’re due in just a few short days” challenge. I’m worried I won’t be able to finish them in time because I keep getting distracted with other things (like reading and commenting on blogs, clearly) and because, you know, I have to go to work.
I’m glad the readcation was a success! I can’t wait to read your thoughts on the books you read.
Kristen recently posted…Tasty Tuesday: Vegan Chana Masala