Escaping Reality

Let's face it folks. I'm an escapist. I always have been, and always will be. I love fantasy and science fiction and video games and comics and every other facet of imagination. Because really, without these things, I find reality pretty stifling.

Ranking highest among my vices (yes, even above Whiskey and Caffeine) is reading. I am an avid reader - a good book to me is as addictive as crack. I just cant. put. it. down. I'll go in fits and spurts, but usually a new undertaking is a vast series of books that envelop much of my time. As it so happens, two series have ensnared me this week alone.

First: The Hunger Games. I've heard all sorts of buzz about this series of novels, set in a post-apocalyptic world, chronicling a young girls struggle with a totalitarian society and a brutal fight to the death. Yeah, up my alley much? And for all the buzz I've heard, I have to say that I wasn't disappointed. I devoured the first two books in as many days, and am oh-so-patiently ::eyeroll:: awaiting the chance to get my hands on the third.

Second: A Song of Ice and Fire. Propelled by the HBO series that was ohmygawdgood, I decided to delve into these massive novels. Not only am I enthralled, but I'm even more impressed with the series, for portraying the novel so far scene by scene, and doing incredible justice to George R.R. Martin's impressive work. I almost don't want to read past this first book, because the series was so edge--of-your-seat awesome.

Oh sweet escape, how I love thee. I may be still struggling, the house sure needs cleaning, but I'm a happy gal.

alrighty, dear reader, I'm getting that "must read now" itch. I'm such a junkie.

Atta Girl

perusing the internets is fun.

Mawwiage

Its occurred to me that this whole aging process is an insidious thing. I've blinked and suddenly everyone I know and love is married or pregnant or parenting or somewhere in between, your plucky heroine included.

I'm fully conscious of the ticking of the clock in many respects. I feel every moment of my 31 years on most days, and can even rectify the shift from young woman to adulthood. My child dresses himself, and gets annoyed with me on occasion (though not nearly as much as I am annoyed with him), and I am for the most part OK with the lines on my face. But then the tides shift, and life events bring into sharp focus both time and distance, from not just who you once were, but what your world once was and meant.

Tonight, I'm excited. Mr. Anti-Stepford and I are looking forward to an uproarious evening of homemade meatballs, a bottle of Moscato, and (finally!) SuckerPunch. Once upon a time, this wouldn't have elicited such a strong positive response from me. *Yawn* - a Friday night IN? My galloping pulse yearned for revelry to match it. But I'm genuinely pleased and looking forward to our quiet night in. Besides, the recliner is so comfy, why muss a good thing?

Perhaps its this second glass of wine, but more likely its the good news of one of my high school best friend's nuptials this afternoon, and tomorrow's most excellent wedding of my dear friend and partner in crime. Oh the wasted nights spent getting wasted at our favorite watering holes! Through good times and bad, she has long been my cheerleader, and the best darned hug giver ever. I don't think of myself as a girly girl, or incredibly mushy, but I know damned well that I need to invest in some quality waterproof mascara before she walks down the aisle tomorrow. Just because I chase my whiskey with beer doesn't mean I am incapable of human feminine emotion. Laugh, and I'll punch you.

Oh the shifting of things. Hubby is parading his cooking prowess around the house, and I'm laughing as I type. "Star Wars: A New Hope" is on TV while we finish dinnering, and rather than get maudlin about the time passed or how the people I love are aging and changing, I look forward to tomorrow's festivities eagerly.

Brianne and Jon, Katherine and Aaron, I wish you the happiness and comfort of inside jokes, homemade meals made with whiskey and love, and a hot hot date night in. I wish you joy and tears and time and tide, and resounding love every day.

::raises third glass with a mostly steady hand::
to you, my friends.