I haven’t stopped writing, only slowed down a bit as part of reflationary process which I mentioned back on January 7^th. In the mean time I found I have been doing a bit more reading. Not enough mind you but it is still an increase.

I would like to do more of both but with my time being so limited, and me having been bitten by the writefluenzia bug, I have to take what I can get. Just the other night I finally finished a book I started back in September, ‘Not Taco Bell Material’. It was a book dictated by the always verbally prolific Adam Carolla. I say dictated because I am pretty sure he didn’t actually write it. I think at some point in the book he actually admitted to having that done so don’t go getting all high horse on me thinking I am calling him a moron. Now you may also be thinking ‘It’s January, how does it take you this long to read a book?’ Good question.

I started the book days before going up to Lake Tahoe with the family to spend a long weekend at a family resort. Silly me, I thought I could wiz through the book while relaxing by the pool while the kids frolicked within in a kind of stepford dream every parent envisions their vacations will be play out like. Ha! My son and daughter did the whole ‘Daddy! I’m a complete failure at everything I do and need to you to hold my hand at everything I do.’ Have I mentioned my five year old son is afraid to use public toilets or even urinals because of the swooshing sounds they make? Yes he is afraid of being sucked down a toilet. My ADHD daughter needs constant attention ‘look at me Daddy!’ as well. I don’t know if I’ve mentioned that neither can ride a bike as of yet. They are deathly afraid. I’m sure most of you have heard of the ‘fight or flight’ mechanic that all creatures face when dealing with something stressful. Well my kids have the ‘freeze and do nothing’ mechanism thrown in as well. Getting back to why it takes me so long to read a book, have you ever picked up a book, and due to external stimuli, found yourself reading the same paragraph over and over until you finally realize that is exactly what you are doing? Yeah. Like I’ve said before, I do my writing on my train ride into work. It’s the only chance I get. The ability to read at home is a luxury.

Four months later I have started another new book. It’s more of personal aid book but it’s still reading.

Back when I was in the army and just married to w#1, at one point I was reading seven different books simultaneously. It was kind of fun as I had a book at work, a book in the car, a book on the toilet, a book on the nightstand, a book on the couch, and I can’t remember where else so much that I had seven at the time. It was easy to keep track as I was able to get back to each one within a week of having left off with it the last time. Now I’m lucky to be able to hide away long enough for wipe my ass before my kids start banging on my hideaway door.

Somebody asked me if I had ever read ‘The Wheel of Time.’ I looked right at her and laughed. Not because I actually had but rather because I was thinking there would be no way in hell I could ever read through that fucker with the life I’m currently living. If I started now I might make it through book 1 by the time my kids reach college age.

No, I want to write. I enjoy reading but writing is by far more important to me. I read when I can but often at the expense of the other.

-Tootles and Kisses