Thursday Confessional...

So yesterday the Hubs and I were out and about, and he tried to convince me to go to Ollie's with him.  For those who are unfamiliar you can click on the above link, but it is basically a bargain outlet that specializes in closeout,  surplus, or salvaged merchandise.  It's like a high class flea market, but sometimes it can be hit or miss.

Well, I wasn't really in the mood to go (I wanted to go to Target instead) so the Hubs decided to haul out the big guns.  With a knowing smile he informed me that they had bought out most of Border's remaining stock when they went out of business.  Of course the obsessive reader in me perked up with the mention of possible book purchasing, so I readily agreed.  And am I ever glad I did.

I might have went a teeny bit book crazy, but thankfully the Hubs was there to reign me in.  I finally narrowed my selections down to five.

What I would have paid -  $82.95 compared to What I actually paid - $18.95
The Nine Lives of Chloe King by Liz Braswell - $2.99
Possession by Elana Johnson - $3.99
Wither by Lauren DeStefano - $3.99
White Cat by Holly Black - $3.99
Red Glove by Holly Black - $3.99
                                                                   
Umm...savings of $64.00 = A very happy me!

I also need to add that it is a very good thing that the Hubs is absolutely clueless to the size or location of my massive TBR pile, because he totally would have axed my purchases.  (In my defense though, the majority were purchased with gift cards from my birthday.)

And I guess while I'm at it I should probably include my library pile.  The Hubs totally gives me the eye roll every time I come home from a new trip to the library. (Again in my defense, I have actually read the top half already)

That's not crazy right?  I mean it's perfectly acceptable to have that many glorious books lying around on your bookshelf waiting to be read...right?  Right?  Ok, ok...maybe I do have an addiction...just don't tell the Hubs he might stage an intervention...although that would pretty much fail because the sister would be invited and she suffers from the same disease so then they would have to include her and it would just get out of control with the two of us screaming/crying while clutching/half lying on our piles of books...so yeah...I think we'll just keep this our little secret...ok?

My Temporary Hiatus...

I never realized just how daunting it was to return to writing after an extended hiatus.  I feel nervous and sick, my fingers itching to do anything but actually type.  In fact, this post has been the bane of my existence.  I just keep rewriting and rewriting and rewriting.  It's a constant and brutal cycle, and I've made myself promise that this is the final time before I (for real this time) hit the publish post button.

Now my hiatus wasn't planned, it was more or less forced upon me.   You see I've been really sick.  I don't want to get into the details (believe me I'm not asking for your pity, I've been supplying enough of my own), but it's been a rough month and a half.

But if you think that my manuscript and blog have taken a hit, you should see my house.  I never realized just how much the running of my house (cleaning, dishes, laundry, cooking...etc) actually depended upon me, until I got sick.  Now the Hubs has really stepped up to the plate, but the extent of his cooking prowess usually includes such wonderful items as hot dogs, chicken nuggets, mac and cheese, chicken noodle soup, etc.   My poor babies (although they love eating it.)

Anyway, I have finally kicked the flu (which decided "Hey Amber's already nauseous and tired from her meds, let's join the party), so I have a bit more energy.  And with that energy, I am attempting to dive back into my writing.  Hence the butterflies wrestling WWE style in my stomach and that infernal doubting voice telling me that I've lost my touch.

But I have to give a big thank you to my CP Carrie Bastyr who has been steadily checking up with me and giving such outstanding encouragement! I really don't know what I would do without her.

So here's hoping the muse hits and it's an easy transition back into the writing world!

Quote of the day:  "Write your first draft with your heart.  Rewrite with your head." -Finding Forrester