I have been fantastically devoid of motivation for about a month and a half now.
That’s fine; it’s understandable, I suppose. We’re in the “job hunting” chapter of our collective story, and it’s pretty stressful. Even though it’s obvious that we should be gung-ho about things now more than ever, it all kind of makes us both want to take a nap. Add to that the fact that it’s summer, where everything is HOT and my clothes are sticking to me in every place imaginable and CHIGGERS GUHHHHHH, and you’ve got a version of Lauren who just doesn’t want to do anything.
Thankfully, though, the weather has been gorgeous this past week. Perfect, I might even say, if I were feeling particularly excited, and forgetting about the sweet, crisp bliss that is October.
Thanks to the cooler air, my mood has improved a bit, and has led me to a revelation:
It’s time to turn off the autopilot.
One night last week, I found myself staying up late watching an episode of White Collar. The thing about White Collar is that, for the most part, I’ve lost interest in it. But, there I was, up late and by myself watching something I wasn’t actually interested in.
What was I doing!?
Watching entirely too much Netflix, that’s what.
So. My new personal mid-year resolution is this: Netflix only when I’m nursing Lucy, doing laundry, or watching a show I’m definitely interested in with Paul. Otherwise? Reading. Books. Listening to podcasts. Finding fun projects to do with the kids. Planning meals. You know, productive things?
I even have a book list for myself! Here’s what I’m reading right now:
Darkfever, Karen Marie Moning: This one’s about… well, bad fairies. Yep, bad fairies, ambiguously good ones, cryptic Celtic mystical talk, and lots of late 90’s/early 00’s references. And, I’m getting the impression that there’s going to be a fair amount of hanky panky… with fairies. Some of you may be rolling your eyes, but if you know me, then you know I’m enjoying the crap out of it.
Attachments, Rainbow Rowell: Rainbow Rowell is a very successful local author, and this book is CHOC FULL of life-in-Nebraska-in-the-90’s-references, and what looks like a relationship that will bloom from an IT guy reading emails between two female employees at his work. So far, I’m digging it, yo.
The Love Affairs of Nathaniel P., Adelle Waldman: This book is for book club, and it’s probably the “thinkiest” of the three books I’m reading now. It’s an incredibly well-written account (by a female author) of a modern man’s relationships in New York. There’s a lot of talking, a lot of relationship analysis, and just some fantastic writing so far.
Packing for Mars, Mary Roach: I haven’t started this one yet, but one of my favorite ladies lent it to me, and I am excited to read it. It’s a nonfiction (if you know me well, you know that nonfiction is something I generally run screaming from) exploration of what happens in space. Mary Roach is, according to one of the critics on the jacket, “The funniest science writer in the country.” I think a good step into nonfiction is a funny one, don’t you?
Magical Thinking, Augusten Burroughs: I haven’t started this one yet, either, but I’ve read Running with Scissors by Burroughs (a delightful memoirist), and I absolutely loved it. Just looking at it now, I see that it’s a collection of essays. I’ll let you know how it goes!
I feel that I should leave you with one of my favorite quotes from Beth in Attachments. Since the weather is heating up again, I’m going to need some hope to cling to.
“October, baptize me with leaves! Swaddle me in corduroy and nurse me with split pea soup. October, tuck tiny candy bars in my pockets and carve my smile into a thousand pumpkins. O autumn! O teakettle! O grace!”
What about you guys? What are you reading? What else do you think I should read?