Sunday Salon: Distracted

A bright and shiny good morning to you all! If there was ever a week that I needed Prozac (or alternatively, a non-smashed foot that permits me to energetically exercise) this would have been it. I made a slightly disturbing self-discovery early this week...that I am no better than one of those obnoxious beauty queen stage moms. Fueling this annoying behavior has been my kids' sporting events. It turned out that my son's first football playoff game and my daughter's basketball tournament game were both on Tuesday night. I couldn't sleep Monday night. I couldn't focus on reading, I couldn't focus on my special project with James - I was a big fat mess. I attended the basketball game and had a four-way texting marathon to keep up with my son's progress. Serious case of cramping fingers. Turns out they both won that evening, and my blood pressure almost popped my head off. My daughter went on to lose her next basketball game the following day, but my son plays in the semi-finals TODAY, and I am facing another day of manic and unfocused energy. I know you really don't want to hear about all of this, but this is my life and I must share. I'll just warn you that if the boy wins today and goes on to play in the finals at the Citrus Bowl next week, you are in for more of my nonsense, at an elevated pitch.

So with all of that going on, the week was frittered away. I did attempt to walk once or twice, but my foot is absolutely killing me. How long does it take these things to heal? I played mediocre golf. I worked in the school library. We went to a chili cookoff fundraiser last night. Lots of running around to various practices. But my mind was elsewhere.

I did get my latest issue of Bookmarks magazine, which is always fun to study and use as a wish list. The theme, however, was Best Books of 2010. Some of their choices gave me pause...The Passage? Major Pettigrew's Last Stand? The Lacuna? Really? Sometimes I think hype and an author's reputation propels books onto these lists.

I did finish Room, of course. (And why, may I ask, wasn't THIS book on the "Best of" list???) I then started Carry the Rock, a book about race and football in Little Rock Arkansas, and an Okra pick. I am really struggling with it - so much fact and detail. Ugh. I did dig into it in earnest yesterday and have gotten a hundred pages under my belt, but I am at that stage where I just need to knock it out or move on.

The kids and I still are slowly making our way through the audio of White Cat. We just don't move fast on audios these days, to no fault of the story. They both do seem to be enjoying it, particularly my son, who keeps offering comment and theory from the back seat. I am entering a very scary and strange phase in my daughter's life right now, though, in which she doesn't want to talk to me at all about anything. So when she DOES open her mouth, the last thing I want to do is turn on an audio. I think the key going forward is to pick books that aren't too long.

As promised, I wrapped up Last Night in Twisted River on audio, and after deliberation, started (and finished) Red Hook Road. This was a good book, but don't let anyone tell you it isn't depressing because it is! But there is also great writing, great characters and some shards of hope to offset the sadness. I am going to lighten things up a bit now with Backseat Saints followed by some David Sedaris. At least that is my plan at his moment.

As I sign off here, I'd like to respectfully ask you all to do a dance, say a prayer, rub a good luck charm, payoff our refs, or whatever, at 4:00 Eastern Standard Time. We've got a football game to win.