Recovery Nation

It started with starting to read a novel after seeing a movie. Two activities I used to love, especially reading, and now I have started my dive back into MY life and it feels good.

Since reading again for pleasure (not self-help book - read my fair share of those over the last several years), it's like I pulled a plug to ME. I have since gone to another movie with my daughters, had my adult daughters and their partners over twice, have connected with co-workers in a nice way, accepted an additional part time position that should prove a good step for starting my own business soon, and most importantly I have RELAXED. Something I haven't really done for quite some time now, maybe years.

One thing I have always wanted to do for myself is plan a short weekend trip away to the beach where I could hold up with a great book, read, walk on the beach, have a relaxing dinner, read, sleep, read.... :-) I am starting to plan for this. Usually this makes husband all nervous and ends up guilty me out of it....or tries to go with me. Thing is I have no intention or even inkling to take such a trip to either find some random person to have sex with or go gamble a bunch of money away. I don't even plan on drinking, although may have a nice glass of wine with my dinner. Anyway, he spends hours at a time gambling money away, and I don't owe him anything besides telling him when I will be gone and where I will be. He can't seem to stop all the addictions at once - if he can't masturbate or be involved with another women, he gambles. If he can't gamble or masturbate or be involved with another woman, he drinks. He is the walking definition of chaos.

Anyway, feels so good to actually be re-entering my OWN life. For so long I have put myself, my own life on hold waiting for him to pull it together. Well, I am abandoning that idea and going to put my own self back together and start enjoying my life again.

And now, back to reading the final chapters of MockingJay. Life is good.

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"What day is it,?" asked Pooh.
"It's today," squeaked Piglet.
"My favorite day," said Pooh.

YAY!

I was gonna ask what book you were reading... I'm currently rereading the series myself. I love them.

I've been reading a lot of murder mysteries and horror novels lately, too. Seems to take something really intense to keep my mind off of other stuff.

Wow, fantastic Autumnrose!

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"The past has no power to stop you from being present now. Only your grievance about the past can do that. And what is a grievance? The baggage of old thought and emotion." - Eckhart Tolle A New Earth

Yes, I am loving the series. Well written but easy reads. The first book so clearly showed objectification, not for sexual but violent entertainment. You simply have to reduce a group of children to pretty little things if you are going to watch them kill each other for entertainment. The whole story really challenges some mainstream things like reality television and sporting events - where do those go when they get boring in their present state - how would you 'spice' it up, you know. And I love the main character and that it's her her humanity, compassion and her will to survive that propels her forward. Great reads.

I am going to have to find another good novel to read as I am thoroughly enjoying getting into stories again. Any suggestions?

Life is good.

"May the odds be ever in your favor."

_________________

"What day is it,?" asked Pooh.
"It's today," squeaked Piglet.
"My favorite day," said Pooh.

Good to hear Autumnrose! I am not on here too much lately because I am working on my thesis, which is very exciting. I had to take time off from school when this craziness all came to light over two years ago now, but I am thankful that I sucked it up and eventually returned. God willing I will graduate next year. It truly has been a Godsend to me even though my enthusiasm and creativity were a little shaky, I kept going.

I am sure we have all wished life would just stop for awhile until we could catch our breath or heal, but I guess in the end it is a good thing it doesn't. Have a good time at the beach! Make sure you follow through!

I am looking forward to getting outside more now that it is spring. Working in the garden is always therapeutic for me.

Wishing you peace and contentment,
Hollyhock

Book recommendations.....? I read like a fiend, so I should be good at this. But, really it depends on what you like. But here're some of my all time favorites.

There's the obvious ones (that maybe you have already read):
The Harry Potter series
The Dark Tower series
the His Dark Materials series (these ones are not for the religiously faint of heart, though. May be offensive.)
1984
The Handmaid's Tale (or anything by Atwood, really)
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series

Obscure stuff:
Bridge of Birds (can't remember the author's name. Gary something, I think)

Dark/Steampunk stuff:
Perdido Street Station by China Mieville
The Anubis Gates by Tim Powers

Young Adult Stuff:
The Percy Jackson series isn't bad
Scott O'Dell
Laura Ingalls Wilder

Man, I. Love. Books!

book recommendations.... as gorgon says, it depends on what you like.

Have you read anything by Barbara Kingsolver? I *love* her. "The Lacuna", most recent, takes some effort to get into but is well worth it. Fascinating portrayal of life under McCarthyism.

Ursula LeGuin. "The Dispossessed" one of my alltime favourites. She has a wide range of adult and juvenile fiction, many categorized as sci-fi/fantasy but I don't know how representative they are of those genres.

Caroline B. Cooney, YA fic author. "The Face on the Milk Carton" series and numerous others. Her strong social/political beliefs come through but do not impair readability, IMO.

M. E. Kerr, very humorous YA author. Boy, now you've got me remembering some of my favourite authors in years past... time to do some rereading!

Marge Piercy, anything by. First book of hers I read was "Vida" and I couldn't put it down. "Woman on the Edge of Time" was very popular also, back in the day. She has some volumes of poetry published as well.

I agree about Margaret Atwood - especially "Oryx and Crake" and "Year of the Flood". The second one mitigates some of the hopelessness of the first one. I hear she wants to write a third before she dies. Hope she does!

oh, and a gripping series from Australian author - think his name is John Marsden? First book in the series entitled "Tomorrow When the War Began". Follows a group of resourceful teens who become resistance fighters when their country is invaded by forces from an unnamed Asian country who need more "Lebensraum".

If you want to laugh out loud, there's a series by British author Helen Creswell (sp?) about The Bagthorpes, a quintessentially dotty English family.

Happy reading... I love threads like this as I get ideas for new authors to read :o)

edited to add: I am also halfway through the winner of this year's "Canada Reads" competition, which for the first time was for non-fiction books. "Something Fierce: Memoirs of a Revolutionary Daughter" by Carmen Aguirre is very well-written and utterly fascinating. And true!

Oooohh thank you for the book recommendations!

Another one I have heard about and will probably read is: "Birthmarked". Same type of dystopia story I guess.

I finished the last book in the triology last night and it was so nice.

Also looks like I may have a real shot at a much better job next year. I went to a training today offered at another district and there is an opening for next year and several of my colleagues encouraged me again to contact the director about a job. They offered me a job a few years ago, but I had already signed a contract with my current job and felt obligated so I turned it down. I'm excited about the new possibilities and the real probability of leaving my current job and all their questionable, unethical practices of my employers behind. Just need to polish up the resume and send it to the director.

Life feels good. I think I am going to putter around with the garden too. Another thing I loved in the past that has been extremely neglected.

_________________

"What day is it,?" asked Pooh.
"It's today," squeaked Piglet.
"My favorite day," said Pooh.