Monday, December 15, 2008

Obsessions

I will admit that I am obsessed with something when, against my better judgment, I act in a manner contrary to my values.

Case in point: the past two weekends, I have planned to deal with my mounting laundry problem, as well as to pull ALL my winter clothes out of storage and put them away properly. Cleaning up around the house and getting all our Christmas decorations were also in the plans.

Alas, I didn't get that all done. I did a few minor tasks here and there, but I was most definitely distracted by two things:

1. Stephenie Meyer's Twilight Saga
2. Mystery Case Files- Return to Ravenhearst

To be fair to myself, I was given impetus to read the novels in the vampire saga as quickly as I could. I was sharing the books with my youngest who was sharing them with her friends, so it was easier for me to just hurry up and read all four novels. So I did. In eight days. If my calculations are correct, that's somewhere around 2550+ pages total. I started on Saturday night, 12/6 and finished before noon on Saturday, 12/13. I did not take any of the books to work. Additionally, I prepared a resume and applied for another job somewhere in the middle of it all. In fact, I think it's safe to say... if I could have stayed home Monday and Tuesday, I would have had all four novels done by Tuesday. Needless to say, I haven't had a lot of sleep in the last week.

All would have been just fine... my overworked eyes would have received some much needed rest... if it weren't for the note card I received in the mail reminding me that one of my favorite games had been released. I love Mystery Case Files... but I also have an insatiable need to finish the game immediately.

So, I downloaded Return to Ravenheast this past Saturday afternoon. I finished the game last night just before midnight. Total playing time was just under 8 hours.

What is WRONG with me?!?! I don't have my Christmas shopping finished. My house is somewhat a disaster. My husband did his laundry all day yesterday, so I probably couldn't have gotten much of my own done anyway... but still. This is ludicrous. Like I said... obsession.

I THOUGHT I was a grown-up who knew how to put away what I want to do for what I really should do.

But, instead of beating myself up about it all... I have decided to grant myself a reprieve. Perhaps I needed some stress relief, and that's how it manifested.

Yeah... let's go with that. ;-)


BTW, have you ever read books so quickly that you're then disappointed you're not still reading about those characters? I did that when I finished The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield, and The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger, as well as many many other books. I'm finding I miss Bella, Edward, and the Cullens a little bit too... however, not for the same reason my teenage daughters do. haha Meyer writes stories that you can't put down, and you really don't want them to end. I'm looking forward to the second movie now.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

I totally agree with giving yourself a reprieve. That's about all I've been doing lately - looking the other way instead of judging myself for ignoring all the stuff that "has" to be done. I asked my youngest about how he felt that nary a holiday decoration is out yet and he said, "Eh, it'll be over soon anyway - why bother." I was momentarily horrified before realizing that he's kinda right! While this will never quite be my way of thinking, I really need to hear it every now and then.

So from me to you: Forget about "no fear" - what we need is "no guilt"!!! So you didn't get caught up on laundry, get your clothes outta storage, and decorate the whole house? EH. You had way more fun reading and playing your game, didn't you? So there. :-)

Anonymous said...

I'm a lot like you in the reading department. I love to read... and if it's a good book, I will sit for hours and hours to finish it.

I know what you mean when you read a book so fast and wish there was MORE of the characters to read about.

You make me want to read something. :)

stinkypaw said...

I asked for the Saga for Xmas... will it be worth it? I'm afraid I'll be reading back to back, but not in 8 days, I'm pretty sure of that! Hee.

As long as you're enjoying "it"(whatever you're doing), it's all good!

Anonymous said...

How do you know the magic is gone: When she stops calling you Farm Boy.