And for the second birthday of the week...MINE!
Thank you so much to all you internet peeps who already wished me a Happy Birthday on Facebook, Twitter, and email. I love you guys.
I think I'll go put on my tiara and eat some chocolate, just because I can!
Friday, February 27, 2009
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Images
For some reason I'm thinking in images today, not words. I borrowed these images from Flickr's "explore" feature, here:http://www.flickr.com/explore/interesting/7days/
All images link to the photographer's pages.
I love these, and they express my mood. What images are in your head today?
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
I'm reading...
I just started LAMENT by Maggie Stiefvater. I only had time to read a couple pages last night, and then for half of lunch today before I had to run off and do errands.
Damn you, Maggie. Now I want to spend the afternoon reading your book instead of working on work and thesis.* ARGH.
*Because so far, it's really really good. Tempting good. Maybe I could just read for a little while? Please?
Damn you, Maggie. Now I want to spend the afternoon reading your book instead of working on work and thesis.* ARGH.
*Because so far, it's really really good. Tempting good. Maybe I could just read for a little while? Please?
Monday, February 23, 2009
Birthday Thoughts
When they handed my newborn daughter to me, I was probably the least experienced mom in the whole hospital.
I was the youngest in my family. I had no related kids nearby to pseudo-parent. There were no little kids in our neighborhood, really. My one foray into babysitting--in college--resulted in 3 hours of tears, screams, and hurled toys, and me bolting for the door the minute the parents arrived home. No, thanks. I wasn't even sure I wanted kids--I was awkward around them, I didn't know how to hold them, I had no idea how to change a diaper. I was hopeless.
But there she was. In my arms, tiny, beautiful, heartbreakingly fragile. And my responsibility.
I was pretty sure the hospital people would figure out the horrible truth that I'd never be able to swing it, that I'd completely mess up this perfect little person if they let me take her home. I was half-expecting a conference with the nurses and doctors: "We're sorry. We'll have to take her back and give her to a real Mom."
But they didn't (thank God), and that was 7 years ago today. And you know what? We've kind of figured it out. Hell yeah, I've made mistakes, lost my temper when I shouldn't have, made poor choices about clothes or leniency or what to buy. But she's still there, my big girl. And she's a sweet, smart, funny, good kid, who I love to be around.
Happy Birthday, little one who is not-so-little anymore. I love you more than I thought possible to love anyone. I'm so grateful to have you in my life.
I was the youngest in my family. I had no related kids nearby to pseudo-parent. There were no little kids in our neighborhood, really. My one foray into babysitting--in college--resulted in 3 hours of tears, screams, and hurled toys, and me bolting for the door the minute the parents arrived home. No, thanks. I wasn't even sure I wanted kids--I was awkward around them, I didn't know how to hold them, I had no idea how to change a diaper. I was hopeless.
But there she was. In my arms, tiny, beautiful, heartbreakingly fragile. And my responsibility.
I was pretty sure the hospital people would figure out the horrible truth that I'd never be able to swing it, that I'd completely mess up this perfect little person if they let me take her home. I was half-expecting a conference with the nurses and doctors: "We're sorry. We'll have to take her back and give her to a real Mom."
But they didn't (thank God), and that was 7 years ago today. And you know what? We've kind of figured it out. Hell yeah, I've made mistakes, lost my temper when I shouldn't have, made poor choices about clothes or leniency or what to buy. But she's still there, my big girl. And she's a sweet, smart, funny, good kid, who I love to be around.
Happy Birthday, little one who is not-so-little anymore. I love you more than I thought possible to love anyone. I'm so grateful to have you in my life.
Friday, February 20, 2009
Take the buttons AWAY.
Last night I got to see Coraline in 3D. I'm one of those few who hadn't read the book (yet), but I was completely entranced by the story.
And creeped out of my wits.
The buttons. Oh, dear God, the buttons.
I now just might suffer from koumpounophobia:
And creeped out of my wits.
The buttons. Oh, dear God, the buttons.
I now just might suffer from koumpounophobia:
Friday, February 13, 2009
Still here...you know, still doing my Thesis Thang. Once February is over the load should lighten a little. I *think*.
Anyway, I know I've mentioned Twitter a few times, but have never linked my address. It's the only place I really still hang out when I'm swamped, because it takes such little time to update!
If you're a fellow writer interested injoining the dark side following me, I'm there at @susan_adrian.
Back to work!
Anyway, I know I've mentioned Twitter a few times, but have never linked my address. It's the only place I really still hang out when I'm swamped, because it takes such little time to update!
If you're a fellow writer interested in
Back to work!
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Show Time
Still head-down. I pop up occasionally to breathe, blog, and tweet. :)
And this month, to go to shows.
In the past 3 weeks alone, we've been to live performances of:
And this month, to go to shows.
In the past 3 weeks alone, we've been to live performances of:
- The Pajama Game (50s-style musical: think Doris Day)
- Annie
- New Shanghai Circus (Chinese Acrobats: AMAZING)
- To Kill a Mockingbird (last night)
Friday, February 06, 2009
Thursday, February 05, 2009
Winner!
The winner of a copy of CRACKED UP TO BE is...
Carolyn!!
Congrats, Carolyn! Please send me an email at susan dot adrian @ yahoo.com with your mailing address!
Also, this is your official notice: tomorrow is TIARA DAY. If you want to play, slap a tiara on your avatar (or take a pic of yourself with one!) and wear it on your avatar all day. Girls AND boys invited. It's fun to be royal for a day. :)
Carolyn!!
Congrats, Carolyn! Please send me an email at susan dot adrian @ yahoo.com with your mailing address!
Also, this is your official notice: tomorrow is TIARA DAY. If you want to play, slap a tiara on your avatar (or take a pic of yourself with one!) and wear it on your avatar all day. Girls AND boys invited. It's fun to be royal for a day. :)
Tuesday, February 03, 2009
Your turn
Y'all know I don't have a lot of "free" time right now. With thesis writing and classes etc., I shouldn't even be taking time to read for fun--but when I do it's excruciatingly slow, dribbled in little 20-minute increments whenever I can steal time. It can take me a month to get through a book, even when I really love it.
Which is why you know it MEANS something when I tell you that I devoured Courtney Summer's CRACKED UP TO BE in 24 hours, start to finish.
Wow.
Parker Fadley, the main character, is compelling and real and true. Even when it was uncomfortable, disturbing, I felt like I was right there in Parker's head for the whole bumpy ride. The plot is well done, the writing is fabulously spare--just enough.
READ THIS BOOK.
In fact, I believe in this book and Courtney so much, I'm gonna help you out. Last December I did an interview with Courtney and a contest, where she gave away a copy of CUTB. This time I'm going to spring for it.
If you don't yet have a copy of CUTB, post a comment below sharing a painful high school experience of your own, and you'll be entered to win a brand-new copy, shipped to you from Amazon! This contest will be open for 48 hours, until 10 AM MST on Thursday February 5th.
Edited to add: I'm not doing a value judgment on your posts or anything--it'll be a random draw. The sharing is just for fun, and to get you in that highschool frame of mind. :)
Ready? GO!
Which is why you know it MEANS something when I tell you that I devoured Courtney Summer's CRACKED UP TO BE in 24 hours, start to finish.
Wow.
Parker Fadley, the main character, is compelling and real and true. Even when it was uncomfortable, disturbing, I felt like I was right there in Parker's head for the whole bumpy ride. The plot is well done, the writing is fabulously spare--just enough.
READ THIS BOOK.
In fact, I believe in this book and Courtney so much, I'm gonna help you out. Last December I did an interview with Courtney and a contest, where she gave away a copy of CUTB. This time I'm going to spring for it.
If you don't yet have a copy of CUTB, post a comment below sharing a painful high school experience of your own, and you'll be entered to win a brand-new copy, shipped to you from Amazon! This contest will be open for 48 hours, until 10 AM MST on Thursday February 5th.
Edited to add: I'm not doing a value judgment on your posts or anything--it'll be a random draw. The sharing is just for fun, and to get you in that highschool frame of mind. :)
Ready? GO!
Friday, January 23, 2009
My 3 Life Lessons
I've slowly come to the realization that there are 3 major lessons I keep re-learning, over and over and over. Each time they dawn on me as Truth, as Revelation, even though I'm well aware I've learned them before. It's just so easy to forget. If I believed in reincarnation or karma, I'd say these are the lessons I'm working on in this life.
So I'm going to put them in writing this time, hoping that will help me keep them in mind. Y'all feel free to remind me, too.
I am NOT saying change is easy, or work is easy, or giving of yourself is easy. None of it is. It's freaking hard, and that's why I keep forgetting these lessons. (over and over and...) But I welcome the moments when I realize them again, and feel that surge of YES.
So I'm going to put them in writing this time, hoping that will help me keep them in mind. Y'all feel free to remind me, too.
- Give without expectation. If you give love freely, or do things for others freely, without expecting anything in return (this is the hard part for me), the love will come back to you. People will choose to do things for you. CHOOSE, instead of being expected to, which is different and vastly better.
- Do the work first, and inspiration will follow. This is really just a different version of butt-in-chair, but it is SO easy to get frustrated when writing or life isn't going the way you want it to, and want to give up because it isn't coming. I realized this one again yesterday when (whew) I had a big plot revelation for SSP...after banging my head against a wall for 11,000 words. Yes, I start with ideas, but the story doesn't coalesce until I put the hard work in. Often I struggle to scrape the words together for my daily goal, only to find that at the end of the session words come, I get into the flow, and I go over my word count. You have to go through the hard part.
- Things happen for a reason. I know. This is an old saw, and can seem pretty flat when the world is falling apart around you. But it's true.
Example: I had some pretty miserable school experiences. I mean bad. At one point in 5th grade there was an "I hate Susan club", and many of my classmates were members. Yeah. Because I went through all that a little part of my psyche is still there, still dealing with social struggles and rejection.
Unforeseen Result: Now I write YA. I couldn't, if I hadn't suffered then. I understand what that place is like.
Example: Both my husband and I were laid off within 3 months of each other. We had a 6-month-old child, we had no income besides Social Security, and the economy was tight in our industries, so we had trouble finding jobs (sound familiar?).
Unforeseen Result: Instead of having our child in daycare, I was able to stay home with her for a year. Then I got a really good job in Montana, in a small town, and my husband stayed home with her for another year, until she was ready to start at a fabulous preschool that she loves. My mom moved here a year later (from somewhere else), and now Child is able to have a close relationship with her grandparents that she would not have otherwise had. It worked out in a way I never would have guessed 6 years ago.
I am NOT saying change is easy, or work is easy, or giving of yourself is easy. None of it is. It's freaking hard, and that's why I keep forgetting these lessons. (over and over and...) But I welcome the moments when I realize them again, and feel that surge of YES.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Yeah. It really is almost always like this.
Whew! January has so far been a leetle crazy. I'm just breezing by here today to say:
1) I'm alive! You've probably figured that out already.
2) I'm busy! (ditto) Trying to work (big time for us), write thesis, start crazy heavy-load classes, keep writing, attend all these board meetings for Child's school and create marketing materials I promised...you know. My Life.
3) I am SO so so so so happy about President Obama (squee) and his inauguration yesterday. Yes, I cried.
4) Hi! Just because I'm slammed doesn't mean I want to lose touch. Comment, if you will, and say hi and what YOU have been up to!!
1) I'm alive! You've probably figured that out already.
2) I'm busy! (ditto) Trying to work (big time for us), write thesis, start crazy heavy-load classes, keep writing, attend all these board meetings for Child's school and create marketing materials I promised...you know. My Life.
3) I am SO so so so so happy about President Obama (squee) and his inauguration yesterday. Yes, I cried.
4) Hi! Just because I'm slammed doesn't mean I want to lose touch. Comment, if you will, and say hi and what YOU have been up to!!
Friday, January 16, 2009
Survey! Please!
FINALLY I have my survey ready for my thesis research. Please, if you're an author--no matter what level--go and answer the questions for me. It won't take long, I swear!
Thank you!!
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=aKiQQ2gam6kAeSOypOK8lg_3d_3d
Thank you!!
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=aKiQQ2gam6kAeSOypOK8lg_3d_3d
The state of my head...ow.
The good, fabulous news: I know what the next book is going to be! I have a kick-ass situation, and the heroine is dribbling herself out to me. I even have the perfect working title: LIGHTNESS.
The bad news: I can't really work on it yet. I'm not one of those people who can balance two books at a time, at least not full-bore. And SSP has priority. So...I've got a little queue going in my head. Actually with all the other stuff, it's more like a prizefight.
And first up... *ding ding ding*...in this corner, it's THESIS! 500 pounds and getting bigger by the minute, THESIS is a real contender. This bad boy knows he has priority, so he doesn't mind throwing his weight around and knocking everybody else out of the way.
In this corner...*ding ding ding*...CLASSES! Two of them this time, so they pack a mean double-punch. If you're not careful, they'll start twisting you around, tossing you back and forth to each other with all their homework and presentations and reading and projects. Watch out for them!
In the third corner...SSP! SSP looks a little bit on the weakling side compared to the other two, but don't count her out! She can grab hold of your brain and hang on!
And last but not least, in the final and fourth corner...FAMILY! They don't look too scary over there, biding their time, but they will absolutely beat up everybody else at the least opportunity. Look for FAMILY to win the overall title!
So that's what it looks like right now. That doesn't even include WORK, who just jumps in the ring and spars occasionally, or FRIENDS, or my volunteer stuff. So LIGHTNESS is there, taking notes and watching the fight, but I really can't let her have a go yet.
The bad news: I can't really work on it yet. I'm not one of those people who can balance two books at a time, at least not full-bore. And SSP has priority. So...I've got a little queue going in my head. Actually with all the other stuff, it's more like a prizefight.
And first up... *ding ding ding*...in this corner, it's THESIS! 500 pounds and getting bigger by the minute, THESIS is a real contender. This bad boy knows he has priority, so he doesn't mind throwing his weight around and knocking everybody else out of the way.
In this corner...*ding ding ding*...CLASSES! Two of them this time, so they pack a mean double-punch. If you're not careful, they'll start twisting you around, tossing you back and forth to each other with all their homework and presentations and reading and projects. Watch out for them!
In the third corner...SSP! SSP looks a little bit on the weakling side compared to the other two, but don't count her out! She can grab hold of your brain and hang on!
And last but not least, in the final and fourth corner...FAMILY! They don't look too scary over there, biding their time, but they will absolutely beat up everybody else at the least opportunity. Look for FAMILY to win the overall title!
So that's what it looks like right now. That doesn't even include WORK, who just jumps in the ring and spars occasionally, or FRIENDS, or my volunteer stuff. So LIGHTNESS is there, taking notes and watching the fight, but I really can't let her have a go yet.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
SSP: progress, finally
Yay SSP! I got past a block and pushed up to 15% today, and got to do a kissing scene and everything. I'm feeling quite giddy about it right now, which is fun! It's been a struggle for the past little bit, which IS what will happen when you let it sit too long. I know this. Now if I can keep my butt in the chair for a while I can hopefully keep that momentum going!
Woot!
Woot!
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Tuesday Love Day
I'm declaring it a Love Day! Here are 5 things I love today. What are yours?
1. CHASING SMOKE, by Bill Cameron.
I finished this book last night. I have 3 words for you: Buy. It. Now. This was one of the best mysteries I've ever read--but it's more than just a mystery. The characterization is complex and real, the plot twisty and compelling, the writing stunning. Go.
2. Reepicheep in Prince Caspian.
We started watching Prince Caspian last night, and of course as a confirmed Narnia fan I love it. But even better: Eddie Izzard does the voice of Reepicheep. I'm a big Eddie fan (example here), so to hear his voice coming out of a little sword-brandishing mouse...Win.
3. Food.
Okay, to be more specific: the food I've cooked the past two nights. New recipes, YUM!
Sunday: Pork Tenderloin with Apricot Glaze and Cuban Mojo Sauce, served with couscous and sliced hothouse tomatoes. Did I say yum?
Monday: Asian Grilled Chicken Breasts, served with jasmine rice and a plate of cucumbers and carrots (with ranch, of course).
The rest of the week we'll have easy foods and leftovers, but I do like to cook every once in a while.
4. Fellow YA Authors.
Just a kick-ass group of people, who happen to be a lot like me. Where were y'all when I was suffering through high school? Yes, Joanna Levy, Courtney Summers, A.S. King, Rose Holck, Julie Kentner, Maggie Stiefvater, Diana Peterfreund, Melissa Marr, Liz Encarnacion, Sarah Prineas, Lisa McMann, Kelly Parra, Sara Zarr, Linda Gerber, Sue Seeger, and all the rest: I'm talking about you. You guys rock.
5. 2009 (so far).
We're only 13 days in, and yes, we're in a deep recession. But I have a really good feeling about this year so far. I hope I'm right, and it's going to be a great one!
What about you? Any things you love today?
1. CHASING SMOKE, by Bill Cameron.
I finished this book last night. I have 3 words for you: Buy. It. Now. This was one of the best mysteries I've ever read--but it's more than just a mystery. The characterization is complex and real, the plot twisty and compelling, the writing stunning. Go.
2. Reepicheep in Prince Caspian.
We started watching Prince Caspian last night, and of course as a confirmed Narnia fan I love it. But even better: Eddie Izzard does the voice of Reepicheep. I'm a big Eddie fan (example here), so to hear his voice coming out of a little sword-brandishing mouse...Win.
3. Food.
Okay, to be more specific: the food I've cooked the past two nights. New recipes, YUM!
Sunday: Pork Tenderloin with Apricot Glaze and Cuban Mojo Sauce, served with couscous and sliced hothouse tomatoes. Did I say yum?
Monday: Asian Grilled Chicken Breasts, served with jasmine rice and a plate of cucumbers and carrots (with ranch, of course).
The rest of the week we'll have easy foods and leftovers, but I do like to cook every once in a while.
4. Fellow YA Authors.
Just a kick-ass group of people, who happen to be a lot like me. Where were y'all when I was suffering through high school? Yes, Joanna Levy, Courtney Summers, A.S. King, Rose Holck, Julie Kentner, Maggie Stiefvater, Diana Peterfreund, Melissa Marr, Liz Encarnacion, Sarah Prineas, Lisa McMann, Kelly Parra, Sara Zarr, Linda Gerber, Sue Seeger, and all the rest: I'm talking about you. You guys rock.
5. 2009 (so far).
We're only 13 days in, and yes, we're in a deep recession. But I have a really good feeling about this year so far. I hope I'm right, and it's going to be a great one!
What about you? Any things you love today?
Monday, January 12, 2009
Banning me from the library...section
I snuck into the forbidden section of the library this weekend.
I even brought Child with me (shameless!), and admitted to her that I was flouting the rules. That I was specifically banned, but I was darn well going in anyway. If anyone challenged me, I'd state my case and argue my right to be there.
Still, I felt furtive. I scanned the shelves quickly, with glances over my shoulder at the empty librarian's desk, at the other patrons who were allowed. Were they looking at me funny? Were they whispering about me, or planning to call in enforcement?
But the books...they were worth it. My favorites, the ones I'd seen on blogs for a year but hadn't had a chance to get, the ones my friends had been talking about...all there. I would've gotten a big pile, if I didn't still have Christmas books to read.
That's right, folks. It was the new YA section.
It was well-stocked. It had a manga section, new releases I was drooling over, and a ton of "classics", both the kind English teachers give you and the kind you run across for yourself. It is also "Limited to patrons 13-18 years old."
WHAT?
I sort of understand, on one level, that the librarians are trying to create a safe, teen-exclusive feel, like NO GROWN-UPS ALLOWED. There also might be some weird stalker issues they're worried about. But really? You think interest in YA books stops magically at age 18, and you should BAN anyone older than that from browsing the books? No, really? What about precocious kids under 13 who might want to take a peek?
I have a problem with this. To me it smacks of discrimination, not to mention pigeon-holing. And as a YA writer, I will absolutely argue why I should be there, why anyone who loves good books should be able to be there.
What do you think?
I even brought Child with me (shameless!), and admitted to her that I was flouting the rules. That I was specifically banned, but I was darn well going in anyway. If anyone challenged me, I'd state my case and argue my right to be there.
Still, I felt furtive. I scanned the shelves quickly, with glances over my shoulder at the empty librarian's desk, at the other patrons who were allowed. Were they looking at me funny? Were they whispering about me, or planning to call in enforcement?
But the books...they were worth it. My favorites, the ones I'd seen on blogs for a year but hadn't had a chance to get, the ones my friends had been talking about...all there. I would've gotten a big pile, if I didn't still have Christmas books to read.
That's right, folks. It was the new YA section.
It was well-stocked. It had a manga section, new releases I was drooling over, and a ton of "classics", both the kind English teachers give you and the kind you run across for yourself. It is also "Limited to patrons 13-18 years old."
WHAT?
I sort of understand, on one level, that the librarians are trying to create a safe, teen-exclusive feel, like NO GROWN-UPS ALLOWED. There also might be some weird stalker issues they're worried about. But really? You think interest in YA books stops magically at age 18, and you should BAN anyone older than that from browsing the books? No, really? What about precocious kids under 13 who might want to take a peek?
I have a problem with this. To me it smacks of discrimination, not to mention pigeon-holing. And as a YA writer, I will absolutely argue why I should be there, why anyone who loves good books should be able to be there.
What do you think?
Friday, January 09, 2009
Cool thing of the day
This guy's work is just amazingly cool. Check out the teeny-tiny Wizard of Oz, and the Six Wives of Henry VIII.
http://www.willard-wigan.com/#art
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bx8bp1JEKVs
http://www.willard-wigan.com/#art
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bx8bp1JEKVs
Wednesday, January 07, 2009
One brick at a time
Let me tell you about Travis Erwin.
Travis is a fellow writer-in-the-trenches, a fellow parent (his boys are 6 and 8), and a friend. I met him through Twitter and soon got sucked into his blog, especially when he posted the brutally honest, heart-melting story of when his son was born, and things went wrong.
On January 4th, Travis's house burned to the ground. Typically, he tweeted about it the same day. Now his family is temporarily living with parents, struggling to figure out what to do next and how to explain to the boys about lost Hotwheels, Christmas presents, and what happened to Captain Jack the turtle.
Everybody's been asking how they can help. Superstar authors Erica Orloff and Stephen Parrish have set up a website for donations to the family: you can buy a brick for Travis's family, and help get them going again.
Donations here: http://www.habitatfortravis.blogspot.com/
Or, Travis has asked for donations of Hotwheels or kid's books to go directly to his boys:
522 Casino Amarillo, TX 79118
If your post-Christmas, horrible-economy wallet can spare, or you have some books or Hotwheels lying around, please help!
Travis is a fellow writer-in-the-trenches, a fellow parent (his boys are 6 and 8), and a friend. I met him through Twitter and soon got sucked into his blog, especially when he posted the brutally honest, heart-melting story of when his son was born, and things went wrong.
On January 4th, Travis's house burned to the ground. Typically, he tweeted about it the same day. Now his family is temporarily living with parents, struggling to figure out what to do next and how to explain to the boys about lost Hotwheels, Christmas presents, and what happened to Captain Jack the turtle.
Everybody's been asking how they can help. Superstar authors Erica Orloff and Stephen Parrish have set up a website for donations to the family: you can buy a brick for Travis's family, and help get them going again.
Donations here: http://www.habitatfortravis.blogspot.com/
Or, Travis has asked for donations of Hotwheels or kid's books to go directly to his boys:
522 Casino Amarillo, TX 79118
If your post-Christmas, horrible-economy wallet can spare, or you have some books or Hotwheels lying around, please help!
Tuesday, January 06, 2009
Confession
We have an internet problem in our household.
Addiction could be a good word. Compulsion. It's gotten to the point that hubby and I can sit side by side on the sofa, both with laptops open on our laps. Or if he didn't bring one home from work, one person will have the laptop open...and the other will be hungrily staring at it.
So when we heard a radio show this weekend where the host announced that as a New Year's Resolution he and his wife vowed to turn the computer off at 7 PM--just OFF--we looked at each other. When the guest claimed he'd done the same thing, and they'd found they already slept better, relaxed better knowing they didn't need to check, couldn't check until the next day (and what was so urgent?), we raised our eyebrows at each other.
Last night, we tried it. Ceremonially at 7 PM we turned the thing off. There were a couple of odd moments, it's true. Something came up that we wanted to look up on imdb. I thought of my email, once. But I absolutely didn't miss it. We spent a lovely evening doing chores together (instead of one doing chores and the other hunched over the machine), reading magazines, watching a movie together. It did feel more relaxed, more us.
So this is our great New Year's Resolution, and I sure hope we'll keep it. I think it's a Very Good Thing.
Sound like something your household would consider? Or could use?
Addiction could be a good word. Compulsion. It's gotten to the point that hubby and I can sit side by side on the sofa, both with laptops open on our laps. Or if he didn't bring one home from work, one person will have the laptop open...and the other will be hungrily staring at it.
These are familiar statements. We know it's a problem, but the compulsion is real.
I just need to check my email really quick.
Let me just take a peek at Google Reader.
I just want to look something up (and also check all my emails, and Twitter, and Facebook, and my message boards.)
So when we heard a radio show this weekend where the host announced that as a New Year's Resolution he and his wife vowed to turn the computer off at 7 PM--just OFF--we looked at each other. When the guest claimed he'd done the same thing, and they'd found they already slept better, relaxed better knowing they didn't need to check, couldn't check until the next day (and what was so urgent?), we raised our eyebrows at each other.
Last night, we tried it. Ceremonially at 7 PM we turned the thing off. There were a couple of odd moments, it's true. Something came up that we wanted to look up on imdb. I thought of my email, once. But I absolutely didn't miss it. We spent a lovely evening doing chores together (instead of one doing chores and the other hunched over the machine), reading magazines, watching a movie together. It did feel more relaxed, more us.
So this is our great New Year's Resolution, and I sure hope we'll keep it. I think it's a Very Good Thing.
Sound like something your household would consider? Or could use?
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