A few weeks ago I posted about being tired. I am now officially burned out. Seemingly never ending high pressure projects at work and more books than I can ever read piling up all over the house have got me in a funk. It just doesn’t feel enjoyable right now. I feel like I’m only putting 50% of myself into what I’m doing. I don’t like feeling that way. It’s not just work and commitments, either. I’ve really wanted to be more active in reading Possession with Medieval Bookworm and participate in Amy’s Summer of Hitchcock, but I don’t have the gumption. There is only so much I can do and I’m not, apparently, very good at saying when.
I am in desparate need of a break from every day life and have been since May. We have a vacation scheduled for the end of the month {I get to meet my two new nieces – Carly (born in Oct) and Lawson (born on the 4th of July)}, but I just don’t feel I can wait that long. I’m taking this week Friday and next week Monday off of work. I won’t do anything I don’t feel like doing on those days and I just might leave the computer off (although that thought feels like going without Diet Coke). As the kids were going to sleep I started having the repetitive “Gotta Read More, Gotta Review More” fits of anxiety and even was running a low grade fever. I don’t want to feel sick when I’m not so I decided not to give in. I don’t have to wait until Friday to relax a little and chill out. I remembered that Eddie and the Cruisers was on Reelz over the past week or so and I asked Danny to record it for me. I haven’t seen that movie since the 80s, but I’ve always loved the soundtrack. Why not lay down on the couch, cover up, and chill out to an old favorite?
I think this was just what the doctor ordered. The movie didn’t age as well as I had hoped, but it has aged a whole lot better than many of my other favorites from the 80s. I really enjoyed it – and more than just for Michael Pare, who happens to be some major eye candy. The whole looking back on your early adult years is somewhat lost on teenagers, so I got something more out of it tonight than I did back in the day. You have to smile back on those charmed summers where the present was all that seemed would ever matter. My life is much more stable now than it ever was back then, but it’s nice to go back and look at myself and remember. I may not have written the great American novel before I turned 33, but I don’t have any regrets – except for never kissing Michael Pare, that is (yeah right, like I ever had the chance. LOL!)
So at the end of the evening, which inevitably found me back on the computer, I think that my impromptu Tuesday night chill out was a success. I feel a tad bit rejuvenated add no longer at a loss for words (clearly). I think this may need to be a weekly tradition. I may not always watch a movie, but why not? I love them and they take zero effort after turning it on. Next week I’m going to be sure to have a special snack, too.
Now I can go to sleep at peace. That’s a good feeling. As a parting gift, I leave you with a picture of my girls celebrating Emma’s first lost tooth last night:
… and “On the Darkside,” performed by John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band. I wanted to show the video from the movie, but all I could find was someone who taped the scene on their TV in their living room. Ah well, sometimes you just have to make some concessions…
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I’m feeling exactly the same way! I think you’ve got the perfect cure although I don’t think I could give up the computer and I know I couldn’t give up Diet Coke!
.-= Lisa´s last blog .. =-.
I just read MyFriendAmy’s recent post in which she mentioned feeling the same way you’re feeling. It definitely makes me feel better knowing I’m not alone in the burn-out biz.
I remember Eddie and the Cruisers, though it wasn’t my fare at that time (I was more into the brat pack kind of stuff).
.-= The Kool-Aid Mom´s last blog .. =-.
I hate it when I get in slumps like that, but I think it’s inevitable. Is it hormones? The lunar cycle? Just something that has to work itself out of the system now and again? Don’t know. I was going to mention Amy as well…seems she is suffering from the same malaise. I can’t think of a better way than to spend the evening with Eddie and the Cruisers. I watched that movie a dozen times in high school. I remember always waiting with bated breath at the end to see his reflection in the glass, and then go “ooooooh”. I think since I started blogging, I now feel some self-imposed pressure to read faster, which is just wrong. It is supposed to be fun. We are over-achievers. It’s in our blood. Hope you have a good four days off. Get a massage, get together with girlfriends, listen to “Love Letters from Japan”.
.-= Sandy´s last blog .. =-.
I think everyone suffers through funks and your four day weekend may be just what the doctor ordered! Get outside and get some sunshine, take a nap, and just generally chill! I LOVE the picture of your girls!!
.-= Kathy´s last blog .. =-.
A lot of bloggers seem to be feeling fried lately. I hope you rebound very soon!
Lezlie
.-= Lezlie´s last blog .. =-.
Sounds like you know exactly what you need to do to take care of yourself! Enjoy your mini “staycation!”
.-= Amy Reads Good Books´s last blog .. =-.
I love Eddie and the Cruisers!
Now I have “On the darkside…” in my head.
.-= mari´s last blog .. =-.
I just totally LOVE that song! It’s on my iTunes. Thanks for the walk down Memory Lane.
Wow. I’m really feeling what you had to say in this post. I feel like I’ve been a funk that never ends. I suffer huge amounts of self-doubt every time I post, suspecting that very few people are going to read it because I find so little time to visit their blogs and comment. I wonder if what I’m reading is worthwhile in posting. Since January I’ve been trying to read ‘fast’ novels as well as ones that make me think and that has helped but I find that the only posts I really have are reviews and I can’t seem to find other bookish things to talk about. Oh well. I’m glad your movie night was so nice and I think it is an idea I might work on too – one night a week for a movie might be just what the doctor ordered.
Oh man, I loved Eddie and the Cruisers! Had a serious crush on Michael Pare too. Somewhere I have the soundtrack on a nearly worn out cassette tape. I think I need to get it onto my ipod. I’m going ot feel unfulfilled until I hear ‘On the Darkside’.
.-= SuziQoregon´s last blog .. =-.
I think a lot of us have been exhausted lately. It just always seems like something needs doing and there is never enough time for it. Your girls are so beautiful Jennifer! Love the pic!
.-= Darlene´s last blog .. =-.
Same here. And I just returned from a trip of 4 days, with the message “1000+” in Google Reader. And books piled everywhere with reviews due. It’s getting to be a lot of work! So I am totally in sympathy. It sounds like you found a great way to cope, and you sure have two beautiful girls!
.-= rhapsodyinbooks´s last blog .. =-.
Emma looks pretty darn proud!
It’s no surprise that those late work nights and work trips caught up with you! Too much out of routine stuff always gets to me after a while. Sounds like you found the perfect remedy, though…relaxation and eye candy.
.-= softdrink´s last blog .. =-.
First of all, what beautiful girls you have!
Second of all, I think a lot of people (bloggers) do feel similar about being burnt-out, I do too. And I also have the anxiety fits about reading more and reviewing more, sometimes I can’t sleep well because of it and I promise myself that tomorrow for sure I will write a review. I guess we are all in need of good vacation time. It is summer after all.
.-= lilly´s last blog .. =-.
ha! i’m actually ON vacation right now–we’re on a road trip–and we haven’t had an internet connection in days. this is the first time i’ve been online in almost a week. it was strangely liberating.
so, take a break, the book blogging world will still be here when you get back!
.-= nat @ book, line, and sinker´s last blog .. =-.
I know what you mean! I’ve been in kind of a slump too. I think laying on the couch watching a fav movie is always good medicine
cute pic!
.-= bookworm´s last blog .. =-.