THE COOP

Monday, July 12, 2010

So Then Chicken Says "Let's Do This Thing!"

Hi World,

My name is Chicken.  I'm a book junkie.

It started out innocently.  About 3 weeks ago I picked up some books at the library.  I read them.  I didn't blog.  I didn't read your blogs.  I finished all my books and I thought, "I should work on my blog".  But then I started to feel itchy and broke out in a sweat.  I couldn't focus.  I told myself I had to go to the bank knowing full well the bank is next to the library. I told myself I was just going to drop in. See what's new.  I absolutely would not borrow any books because I really needed to do some laundry and blog. I don't need to read book after book.  I can quit any time.

Sadly, I couldn't seem to control myself and I came back with another stash.  I read them.

Friends stopped by over the holiday weekend.  I sat calmly, sorta, okay not really, but then I developed an eye tic.  I turned to my sister-in-law.  Blink. Blink. Blink.

"Pssst.  Did you bring any, you know, stuff?"
"What?"
"You know...books???" (spoken in loud whisper and with furitive looks around the table).
"What?"
"Books (clenched teeth). Do. You. Have. Any. Books."
"Well, I have a couple historical romances in the car....?"
(Chicken relaxes a little) "Oh, well, if you're not reading them, I'll take them off your hands.  It's been so long since I've relaxed with a really good trashy novel, you know?"

Sadly, I manipulated all visitors (enablers) in this manner.  I became good at it.    I kept reading.  Eventually, after a couple weeks, I started actively avoiding the computer.  "Just one more chapter and I swear I'll stop", I said to myself.  But I was out of control.

It is not that I didn't have ideas.  With all that reading, you can't help but have the occasional brainstorm.  But then I'd just keep reading and somehow I'd never write down the idea, and two days later I'd give the computer an apathetic glance and say, "I just don't feel the same way about you anymore".  I might have said the same thing to BigB when he suggested I put down the book and cook dinner.

Last week my older son went away for a week, which gave me even more downtime.  It wasn't pretty, World.  I spent the weekend on the couch with the second Stieg Larsson installment.  Every once in a while I'd look over to check that littleb was still in the house.  Poor littleb.  He'd look up hopefully and say, "Want to take a walk, Mom?" and I'd say, "You know who would love to take a walk?  Daddy.  Go ask Daddy to take you for a walk.  Or you could go by yourself.  Yeah....you're what, almost 4?  You're big!  Just stay on the sidewalk, ok, littleb, and don't talk to strangers.  Unless they have Stephen King's latest because I'd really like to, ah, take a look at that.  I don't HAVE to....it's not like that....no....it's just sometimes Mommies like to, um, relax a little bit and books help them...."

But then yesterday, as littleb sat staring at Max & Ruby reruns, drool trickling down the corner of his mouth, I realized we were in serious doo-doo.  Sins of the mothers and all that. 

I told myself no more.  NO MORE!

I'm determined to find my way back to you, World.  I'm a little shaky, but I know I can beat this thing.  I know I can do it. I'm just going to do it.  (cue Rocky music)

Even though someone left a copy of "Julie and Julia" on my doorstep last night.

I swear, I just found it there.  I've been wanting to read it for awhile...

So, anyway, I'll see you tomorrow, World.  I'm just going to stay up a little while longer and, um, wash these dishes, maybe do a load of laundry.  Turn in early. (big yawn).

Carry on, World.  In case I didn't mention it my PC needs some, ah, maintenance.  I might be gone a couple days.  But I'll be back.  With recipes!!!

Chicken out

15 comments:

  1. ha ha ha. That was the perfect first response:-) Leave it to you, Dee.

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  2. Hi Chicken. I've been on vacation, so we're even.

    And you will not hear me complaining about your book addiction. Read on, my fine friend! The world needs more book readers to come back to us. Oh, and by the way, Julia and Julie is derived from a blog. So, see, it all comes full circle anyway.

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  3. Hi Joann-I hope you had a great vacation and I hope I didn't miss any of your posts-I haven't checked yet. I just read about the blog connection for J&J. What a great idea for one, too. Better her than me, though. I'd rather read about it.

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  4. I feel your pain.

    I picked up books a few months ago and haven't stopped either. Every where I go I have a book in hand and if I don't I pine to read it.

    Stay strong Chicken!

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  5. 'bout damn time Chicken!

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  6. Hey Chicken who says bloggers can;t take a break? just drop in every once in awhile :-) so we know you weren't dropped in a fryer :-)

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  7. Yay! You're back!

    CB

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  8. You were always the best person to give a book suggestion! Glad to see you haven't stopped. I'm reading the 2nd Stieg Larrson book right now. Any other titles you might reccommend?

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  9. Just yesterday I thought to myself, Chicken hasn't posted in a while. Or has she? Maybe she's somehow devised a way to cut me off from receiving updates to her blog. I started to worry that I wasn't cool enough to hang out with the popular blogging kids. I'm glad it wasn't me.

    By the way, have you read . . .

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  10. What? Like somebody who blogs under the name Bookjones is gonna throw stones at a fellow junky? I don't think so. Just stay clean long enough to post once in a while, huh? And BTW, did you see there's a fourth Lisbeth & Kalle Fucking Blomkvist, unfinished? Larsson's girlfriend is sitting on it right now, but it's out there.....
    GG

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  11. Ella-ssshh. They'll be setting up interventions for both of us.

    Anonymous-can you ever forgive me? Please?

    CB-Thanks-I expected a kick in the butt from you anyday now. You must be busy:-)

    Syd-emailed you but forgot to mention "Middle Place". Another memoir, as it happens, but a good one.

    Elizabeth. Sorry for the swears in my next post. Cover your eyes. And thanks for reading anyway:-)

    GG-we are pages out of the same book:-)

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  12. Yeah, crazy busy...I figured you were the same.

    CB

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  13. sweet summertime!

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  14. Glad to hear that the BJ in you is still alive, Chicken. My nephew had me on a 10-book stint that I have enjoyed immensely. But I am getting the shakes already since I am on the 10th book! I tried to wean myself off (I'm not addicted. I'm NOT Addicted!) after book 9 and found myself reading a copy of The Oddyssey (bought to impress visitors and left on the spare bedroom nigthstand)! It actually wasn't as bad as I had feared, but The Illiad is not up for consideration any time soon. Though I do find that when I am caught without a book in some waiting scenario, I will go as far as to read the ingredient list on a packet of Equal!

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