It’s been said by some (mostly my husband and my mother) that I read A LOT. That I can then write about it is even more confounding to them. It’s always been difficult, but in that great way that anything worthwhile is. When I can find the right words to convey to a reader what it is about a particular book that moved me or made me think, it is the best feeling in the world. Unfortunately, those words are harder to come by right now.
This site is my job and I take it that seriously but right now my creaky brain is full of things like: why didn’t they pull that cable wire out and patch it?, that light is crooked, I need to find our property lines before you can put in a fence?, are you sure that’s going to fit?, it’s 30V and needs a transformer?…home renovation minutia. We are in the final stretch but the process has been going on for months. I’ve tried to keep up with what I love but the mental space needed to manage all the moving parts of construction has depleted my brain, leaving it sludgy and sluggish. I’m reading (only non-pharmaceutical way to fall asleep at night) but my stream of words has dried to a trickle and I’m not comfortable repeating ‘marvelous, engrossing, intricate’ over and over because I can’t think of more and better words to describe what I’ve read. So while, I would like to be like this:
or even this
doing my best to keep everything straight without forgetting anything has left me feeling like this:
or this
I’m not signing off completely but my posts will be a little sporadic for the next few weeks, so bear with me. Carry on with your own reading and please feel free to stop by and share with the rest of us what’s great or what’s not. I’ll be back soon, all shiny and articulate, writing from a room in a finished home, which is likely to bring on a torrent of words, lovely words.
So sorry to hear things are *STILL* so stressful! Of course, take all the time you need… we’ll all be here when you get back. Hope you’re at least reading something good to take your mind of things when possible!
Thanks, Kerry! It’s mostly that we live here now and so it’s like having a house full of children- no privacy, lots of noise, everyone coming to me for answers- and so I have no brain space left for writing. Hopefully, it will quiet down once this week is over.
Ummm I can TOTALLY picture you as that chic reader in Paris!! Honestly, I can. 🙂
Join me and we’ll stroll off to a cafe and get a croissant! Wouldn’t that be divine?
I’ll keep picturing you lounging in your new office, surrounded by all your books with the husband cooking in that fantastic new kitchen – hopefully it will be there quicker than you can imagine!
It’s close, Shannon. Just ready for all the decisions to stop so I can focus on reading and not house stuff!
Will be here to read whenever it is you post! Best of luck on the finishing up!
Damn Catherine…and I just signed up…and my mom is checking out everything you write about.
Your posts are fabulous by the way.
Far and away the most interesting and compelling book reviews I have read.
I know how it is…you gotta cycle in and out of things and respect your instincts.
Still…don’t let the house win…in the end the house is just a thing…but your words are expressions of your self and your soul.
I will miss them. Don’t stay away too long.
Don’t despair, kind friend, I just need a bit of time to settle in and stop having to answer questions. My brain is more cluttered than my home!
Haha – not laughing at your situation, just this post! I can’t even imagine the overwhelming stress of a home renovation (it gives me heart palpitations just thinking about it!), though I know I likely have one in my future (we’re in a rental house right now).
Anyway – you put it perfectly when you said reading was your only non-pharmaceutical sleep aid…same here!
Good luck getting everything finished up and enjoy your for fun reading until you get back into the blogging swing!
Sarah, I just want the reading room from your blog. If Anne lived in Seattle I’d be calling her!
Well put. Summer in general seems to have this effect on me, so I can’t imagine blogging during a home renovation.
Wishing you more joy and energy in the coming weeks –
Oh Catherine, I just love this post. Not that you are going through a crazy time but everything you wrote on here made me smile and relate. The pictures were perfect as well. I’ll be checking in for updates…
Marisa, I’m so glad it didn’t make you run away in horror, thinking I am the whiniest person ever. I do still have my sense of humor (and love of gorgeous shoes) but this renovation has worn me out. the good news is I worked on nothing but the house all weekend and it was awesome!
Sorry to hear you’re still so stressed. I hope the madness is over soon so you can enjoy your beautiful new house (and your books)!