The Scoop

So if you are watching my blog with bated breath, you know it just isn't up to date. My contest sidebar is incomplete and outdated. I haven't been posting reviews and giveaways with the ferocity I usually do. In fact, I haven't read an entire book in over a week. I've read bits and pieces of a few books but sustained reading time has been interrupted as has my schedule. I have a personal blog where I will write a whole lot more about the past week or so (it's the square in the right margin, {a} musing mother). I won't bore you with my life but I believe a brief introduction might be in order in case you don't know who I am.

I am a mother of four children, ranging from 7 to 17, each unique, challenging and wonderful in their own ways. They are not the reason I have neglected my books.

I am an educator. I have been working as a high school counselor and work half time. This has not been why I have not been reading.

I am Neurotic with a capital N. I embrace this and use my battered DSM-IIIR from graduate school days to diagnose my neighbors that I love and not. If you are my neighbor, please don't ask me. Most of you haven't earned a diagnosis. If you have and it's under the category of "Anxiety Disorder" making you a certified neurotic, I love you and reserve a special part of my heart for you. This is why I read.

The reason I have not been reading or writing on my blogs is my short attention span has been sorely tested. Something actually forced itself into my life with so much bang! I could not force my own mind into a character from a wonderful book, although I did finally get my husband to read one of my very favorite books. He's still working on it and is completely engrossed. I am so proud.

If a picture is worth a thousand words, here are a few thousand words of my life the past week and half minus the amazing amount of laundry, planning, and farming out the aforementioned children because they were not invited. My dear husband only invited me. And my two Kindles which I kept packed most of the time.

Go ahead. Feel the awe. Be inspired. Be jealous. My own life was far more fun and different than its scheduled programming that I could not disengage. I barely read the latest People magazine but only because Elizabeth Smart married on Oahu.

My own life looked a lot like this only better:

Yes, it has been a rough week plus, having to live in paradise, have hours pass before I look at my husband and muse, "We have children, right?" because I forgot. No counting heads. No checking backpacks. No laundry. That felt so good I will say it again. No laundry. Swimming suits and snorkel gear, looking for sea turtles and listening to the humpback whale songs under the water. Luau with the most amazing fire dancer right on the beach.

And that's why I have been M.I.A.

I'm inspired. Aren't you?