Yep, so it’s probably been six months or so since I read a book. No, wait! I recently read two – maybe three months ago. This is seriously sad news for the girl who used to read books during class in high school instead of listening to the teachers. I think it was a problem for some teachers – do we tell her to stop, or encourage the reading?

I don’t remember which they chose.

I do remember guzzling books like I’ve always consumed caffeine – in large quantities, whenever possible. I read an awful lot of romance novels, sprinkled with a liberal amount of science fiction, and quite a bit of erotic romance. I read some Robert Jordan, and made it almost to the originally projected ending, book eight. I enjoyed a ton of Stephen King, until I slogged through The Dark Tower books I and II. Those were not my favorites, I don’t mind telling you.

I don’t receive books by the half dozen for Christmas anymore. I don’t keep my Barnes & Noble membership up to date because it’s not a savings for me. The last time I seriously visited a library and came away with more than one book for my kids was early 2004, before which I routinely came back from the library with ten or more books. I had to bring a bag with me to carry them to my car or dorm room, depending on my living situation.

I would bet five dollars that I didn’t read 10 whole books in 2009.

I can’t entirely blame my lack of reading on my kids. Sure, children are a time suck (albeit very cute, adorable, loving time sucks that I wouldn’t trade for anything). But other people with kids read. It can be done.

I can’t even blame the Internet for my reading deficit. I read a lot online, actually. It’s easy to do, and it’s better than the newspaper 75% of the time. But I can’t even clam having read more than one good eBook online this year, and on top of that, it doesn’t completely replace a good, heavy in your hand book.

Part of my 2010 plan is to read more. A lot more. I know I can’t go back to my 10 books in two weeks days, but I certainly could process at least one or two books a month without completely losing my mind. And if it turns out I can’t, I’m going to try really hard not to hate myself.

I would really love my kids to love reading as much as I do, but I’m afraid I don’t do as good a job of conveying that passion as I could. I need to start reading to my kids more, and let them see me reading, instead of hiding it away after they’re asleep.

I think I’m on the right path, here, for next year which is creeping closer and closer with each passing day. I’ll find a way to track my progress as I read. Did you know at one point I had a blog simply for the books I’d read? That was fun to keep track of – I would update it about once a day or so, and usually would take the time to write a review about it as well. That particular blog has passed away, but perhaps I’ll rediscover my book lust and get it going again.

Time will tell. :)

When I take a moment to sit back and try to treat me like someone else (are you following me, here?), I do much better. What would I think about if I was working for someone else? What would I want to know that would give me a hint about where to start? Those things help. Not completely, but a bit.

When I sit down and just draw, or doodle, as long as I don’t have a project in mind, it’s helpful. But when I start drawing with the intent on working on a current job? It’s hard.

(Oh, a fire alarm needs a battery. Note to self: buy 9 volts.)

Last night as I did my finances it became clear that I need to start getting the Internet to generate funds. I have a plan, but first I need to complete my own project first. Once that’s done, I think I can take it to the for-profit arena.

And now that October is almost over, it will become easier. This month was a flurry of activity. November is busy too, with National Novel Writing Month going on and me being a co-ML again this year, but it will be activities I’m now familiar with, and shouldn’t be too taxing. I think I’m also giving myself permission to not win at all costs this time around. November is a big month for me to gain weight, usually. Hmm, I wonder why? ;)

(I think I need a category for Gradually Off Topic…)