It's about the books

So, one might ask if they still cared, where the hell have you been all this time Mira?

Well, I took a little detour through self pity land, and stopped writing because I'd pretty much written 8 months of miserable posts. Who wanted to read more of  those? Not me. But then we moved. And I discovered.....

dun dun dun!

Books. Wouldn't cha know?

I rediscovered the joy of reading. I'd been reading newspapers and magazines on parenting and Oprah, but I hadn't read books unless I was away for a few days. Which, naturally, was rare. But I got this book from my mother in law and started reading it skeptically. It was historical fiction and I had been reading mostly fluffy chick lit for all my rare chances to read so I wasn't sure. Brain? Meet Diana Gabaldon's epic tale about some damned woman who got transported back 200 years to Ireland and fell in love and so on.

Segue into musical interlude of "books glorious books" to the tune of the orphans and Annie singing about food.

In any case, I haven't been able to stop since. After I read a couple in actual paperback form I downloaded one onto the iPad. The problem with this was that books and iPad were never there when I needed them. Then I realized that I had the patience of a saint and could read books on my iPhone despite the fact that there are about 4 words on every page. I didn't care, I could read anywhere!!

I read while sitting outside my childrens' doors after lights out in between super nannying the party animals they had become after transitioning to big kid beds. I read while on the toilet, I read instead of paying bills, I read while waiting in line at the checkout. People, I read. Even two sentences at a time.

It was/is glorious. I love books. I actually reached a point where I ran out of suggested titles on iTunes and worried I had read every historical fiction book out there. Not true, but at current time I have read 63 books. Since last March. On my iPhone.

Addicted? um, yes. Happy as a clam? Yes, despite the people from collections interrupting me now and then. Getting stuff done I should get done? Not really. But I'm happy?

Well, feel free to use me as a warning tale. But honestly? It's not drugs, or alcohol or cigarettes or food. So I'll take my chances. Oh, and if you see me at the playground staring at my iPhone instead of my children? Well, at least know I'm not just texting or FBing. You know, because that makes it alright. Right?

Books again.

Ah books. Such perverters of good intentions. Back in the old days I could stay up late reading a good book and compensate by sleeping in or taking a nap. Not so much these days. I've lost the right to sleep in and apparently lost my napping mojo. I lay down and the brain kicks in. As does the fetus in my belly.

And with the triplets coming off of back to back colds, we are not getting great nights. At least 3 wake ups every night. I'd ignore it but we also just had two nights in a row of double diaper failures so one feels somewhat obligated to run in, feel up waists and legs for wetness and then run out at the very least. I can't expect them to sleep in wet pjs right? But extinguishing night wake ups begins again, or began again last night with B. After the requisite wet check he was roundly ignored by the mommy in her bed when he continued to screech for another 20 to 30 min. Off and on mind you, the most annoying sort, since you get all drowsy and then "wah!" and then you get all drowsy and "wah!"

But such is the nature of the beast. Or beasts, as there are three. But back to the book. It is so imperative that I not buy books people! Every time I have one in my possession and dare to read it I exhaust myself and ignore my responsibilities while I finish it. Bad plan mommy. But reading just feels so nice. And NORMAL. Kind of like sleeping.

Right now I'm reading a book about mormon polygamy (The 19th Wife) which is actually pretty good and may actually make me feel better about my situation, mightn't it? Although having another wife or two around to share childcare and house chores....

And the hubby would sure get more attention.

Eh, what can I do but sit around this last morning of the week where I get some free time and enjoy my book. It's grey and cold outside (great SF weather this week! Monsoon, fog, rain, cold, grey.) so I might as well enjoy hanging out in bed for an hour reading.

Thus this un-entertaining post. But honestly? My absences have lost me so many readers and commenters I felt I had better post at least a few times this week. I doubt I'll get them back but eventually....I'll get inspired and write again. Perhaps I'll even remember how to be funny.

But I'll leave you with one more crazy mom comment. Wednesday when A was trying a fruit snack thing and had sucked on it and spit it out into my hand but then wanted another? Mom says "you should make her eat it." Apparently force feeding toddlers is also in her skills book. She just forgot her toddler size gavage tube for direct shunting to the stomach of objects rejected by the toddler palate.

Oh mom. Back to the book.

My name is Mira and I'm an addict

I know I know, I deserve to be beaten with a wet noodle, as Dear Abby always said. Here I go off whining about comments or the lack thereof on my blog and what do I do next? Not post. How could I? Just when people were ready to pity comment for me for at least a couple of days. Well this is how it happened: I got a book? And I read it.

Yes, this rare phenomenon in a triplet mom's life is quite a sight indeed. Not only having the time to read at all but actually using it for reading. The problem all started when I decided to pick up a couple of books for the trip with the kids in a few weeks. I ostensibly will not spend my time at a lovely 'beach house' on the Russian River glued to the tv watching reruns after the kids go to sleep. I hope. So I will have time for some lovely sitting on a deck and reading. I have no deck at home, and it's unbelievably cold in summer in SF (thanks fog and no thanks to global warming as of yet.) So once I sit on the couch the tv clicks itself on (no really!) and that's it. So I picked up 3 books for the trip. But then I thought maybe it would be ok if I just peeked. I picked the lightest one (content wise) a chick lit book kind of. I'm not ashamed to admit that I don't read high quality literature right now. I don't have the brain power.

But that peek? Turned into a read-a-thon. I could not put the thing down. I spent the day running errands and playing with the kids dreaming of where I could find a few minutes to read. I even, and this is nuts, DIDN'T GET THE DAILY PAPER READ. I read the paper every day. I know I'm a throwback. Who reads papers these days? Me. But I always read the paper, and I always read my friendly blogs and comment and I always write my blog at some point. But kids, I couldn't help it. I GOT TO READ A BOOK!!

Ok, that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it. I am a lame-o but take pity on me once more. I owe my friend JennyMac over at lets have a cocktail a post acknowledging the lovely award she gave me and all that goes with it, but she will wait another day for me I am sure. I finished the book and am now back in the world. I will not make that mistake again for at least another few weeks.

Although I have to admit, now that the addiction has had a taste it's unbelievably hard not to pick up another book. But I see now the ravages of the addiction for what it is: a time sucking, happiness inducing, brain expanding, daily life stopping, only for the young and childless, unbelievably tempting disease. God save me from the books.