Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Reading and Trees - Because I Couldn't Think of a Wittier Title

Of all the wonders of nature, a tree in summer is perhaps the most remarkable; with the possible exception of a moose singing "Embraceable You" in spats. ~Woody Allen

I'm burned out on reading. I find that so hard to believe, but there are days I just do NOT want to pick up a book. I suspect it has to do with the fact that I "have" to read now, and may be a little of my natural defiance kicking in ("I don't want to, and you can't make me").

Still, I am reading. And, I typically enjoy what I read. I've been fortunate to have chosen some really good books... but just getting myself to start is the hard part.

Have you ever been there? I don't think I have, and it's weirding my out a little.

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Over the weekend, my DH went a little nuts with the chainsaw. Aside from the door, he also took down a birch tree in our front yard. It's the tree in the garden where I keep my bird feeders, and it seemed that the woodpeckers had all but killed it. Last year, the leaves died well in advance of all the other trees, and this year only the uppermost branches were budding out. Poor tree.

We actually bought a tree to replace it. All the other trees in our yard have been dug up from the woods and brought out. Or planted from seed. Birch trees, especially, grow amazingly fast. But, we didn't want a birch. And DH and I tend to keep the baby trees at a minimum (you'd have to understand how quickly things grow here...it's unbelievable), and the ones we leave are right where we want them.

So we bought a tree. A flowering plum. It looks so tiny, and the birds are very confused. They keep flying to where the old tree would have reached, fluttering around, as if they expect a branch to be there, and then flying off to the birch tree about fifteen feet away.

This tree will be lovely as it matures. But, to be honest, I really hope I won't be here to see it...

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9 comments:

Dru said...

There have been plenty of times when I have several books on my reading pile when I don't feel like reading. I want to read them, but just not right now. But once I pick up that book and open the page, I'm good.

The baby tree sounds cute. I hope for your sake it matures when you're far away in California.

Have a good Tuesday.

Sarita Leone said...

The bumper sticker nearly killed me! Beginning to smell, how funny! Totally unexpected. I'm awake now...

I know what you're saying about reading. I have been there. With me it's usually a case of being overloaded everywhere else so that even reading isn't enjoyable. Good thing is it passes. :)

Diane Craver said...

I had that same thing happen to me a couple of months ago. I just didn't feel like reading any books. I'm back to reading again.

Melissa McClone said...

I take breaks from reading. I never force it, but I think you hit on the explanation perfectly when you said you now have to read. Hugs.

A dh with a chainsaw. That is a scary thought!!!!!

My dad liked to cut things. Once I ended up with bangs that were only 1/4 inch long because he kept wanting to get them perfect. I was in Kindergarten. I still cringe when I see the picture. Another time, he thought our Christmas tree needed to be shaped a little. He kept cutting and cutting. By the time I got home for winter break the thing was tied together with fishing wire because he'd cut way too much! I asked my mom why she didn't just go buy a new tree. It was the saddest looking thing.

Anonymous said...

You might be in a reading rut. When I feel that way, I know it's time to toss in some nonfiction (or if I've been nonstop on the nonfiction, back to fiction).

Or try YA. YA is always good choice. ;-)

Brandy said...

I've been there when it comes to NOT wanting to read. Have you tried a totally different genre from what you're currently reading? Sometimes that helps.

You know a hubs with a sharp instrument is always a scary thing, add a motor and it's even scarier! *G*

LOL! The bumper sticker is fabulous! Mine was "Can't Sleep: The clowns will get me!"

I hope you have a wonderful day!

Ceri Hebert said...

"Work Harder: Millions on welfare depend on you."

I hardly have time to read at all these days. I've got too much going on and now I have to face editing Dreamer's Sea. And possibly rewriting the beginning? Reading?? I wish!

groovyoldlady said...

That was a GREAT bumper sticker!

Right now I'm only reading schoolbooks with the girls (which, incidently are all "real" books - both fiction and non fiction) and the occasional blog in between my current war on filthy carpeting and trying to get my mother's apartment "right" before she has yet another surgery on her other hand. I'm starting to think there won't be any let up until all the bodies are in MY trunk!

And WHAT si the deal with Blogger today? It refuses to keep me signed in that really annoys me.

OK, into the trunk with Blogger! SLAM!

Jen said...

I was thinking the reading rut thing, but I'd go more with classics - I think so many of today's novels are starting to sound alike - it might be good to get some Bronte or Austen going on!