I don't care for Christmas - at all. I've posted about this before so I won't again as I don't want to upset those who get a charge out of this time of year. And that's not what this is about at all. But as the holidays approached, I found myself getting more and more stressed and the only thing that could relieve the stress is reading comfort books. I'd say playing endless games of boggle has helped, but it's only made things worse - I get more stressed trying to come up to average! I've just about reached it - but talk about trying to get there!!
I've mentioned before that as odd as it sounds, my best comfort books are the In Death series by JD Robb. Odd in that in each and every one of them at least one person and often more than one person get murdered - often brutally. Yet the sense if 'family' that the author has created in this series overrides the oftentimes grizzliness of stories.
Christine has offered up an In Death Challenge and as I blog hop around and discover different bloggers blogging about these books, it makes me feel part of a family too - that other readers all over the world are discovering these books and that we have something in common just as Eve, Roarke, Peabody, Feeney, Summerset etc. Although none of them are blood related, they are family, just as we readers of romance are also - bound by something deep and abiding in all of us even though are tastes are as different as each one of us.
I was invited to a coworkers place tonight for a few drinks and games of cards - all of which sounded very nice. But I worked the late shift - sadly, people needing health care can't wait for the holidays to be over and what I thought would be a fairly relaxed day as we were just emergency staffed, instead was an extremely busy and stress filled day. And as the day wore on, I felt less and less like going out after work and more and more like getting into my new cuddly jammies, making myself a nice decaffinated coffee with Bailey's and curling up with yet another In Death book. I finished the one I was rereading - Purity in Death, I have my jammies on and the coffee is brewing. Now I'm going to pick out another In Death reread book and curl for the night.
May you all find your own level of comfort and destressment and enjoy the next couple of days. Find that oasis in business and enjoy!!
10 comments:
Hi Kristie
All the best to you & your family.
You're smart to listen to your mind & body when they need comfort. I want to say that meeting you, Nath, Lea & the Smiths was the highlight of my year. You're am amazing person.
((hugs))
HI Kristie,
I am in the same boat as you. I am so not a holiday person. And finding a good pair of jammies is hard! So I hope you have a good weekend and pamper yourself with some of your favorite things!!
Brande
Hey Kristie,
This year I'm feeling the same. I didn't look forward to the holidays at all, and I didn't even send out Christmas cards this year (okay a few, to some troops and a friend who needed some cheering up). I can't explain it, maybe I'm wallowing in self-pity this year LOL. But curling up in comfy jammies with hot cocoa and some favorite books is always a spirit lifter.
Take care. Hope you get some quality "Kristie" time in :)
KristiJ, may you find all the comfort you need. Enjoy Pruity...!
I hope you are finding your comfort in the Bailey's and a nice book Kristie...
Know that I am thinking of you. All Best
Lea
Kristie, totally understand about the family aspect of the In Death books. It always feels like I know those characters so well, more so than some of my own family members.
I hope you find peace and can relax and enjoy your In Death re-reads. :)
I hope you have comfort and a great Christmas!
(((Kristie))) I hope that you have been able to spend a lovely evening relaxing and unwinding. And...I'm with you on the not caring for Christmas. Maybe one day we'll rediscover our joy of it, but if not then so be it.
I'm about to curl up with a Christmas anthology...I always re-read those at Christmas because I enjoy them and because it reminds me of who gave them to me :)
Mary: It was one of my highlights too!! I think we should make it an annual thing - and hopefully the numbers will keep growing. We need to catch up with the So Cal bloggers!!
Book Junkie: Hi back at you!! The holidays can be very hard!! I think most of us stress ourselves out endlessly looking for that perfect give for everyone and just never feel like we found it. And it can be a very lonely time too.
Stacy: It's been some time since I've felt this way - but the last few years have been even worse. And *sigh* there's just no escaping it for those of us who aren't that keen on this time of the year. But jammies, cocoa or coffee with Bailey's) and a good book help get us through.
Hilcia: I'm onto Ceremony now. I wanted to read Glory in Death but then remembered I lent it to a coworker. *grumble*
Lea: Thank you :-) And in a strange way I'm spending lots of time with family *wink*
Leslie: I find it amusing that they are my best go to comfort reads - yet - they are!
Kwana: And I hope you too enjoy the holidays. And if you need a stress reliever - a good book works every time *g*
Orannia: I feel kind of bad - my sons feel the same way. It's just not the same for them without their dad around. Ryan was saying today that maybe if they get married and have kids that will probably change - but as neither one of them even have girlfriends - I think it will be the same next year too.
You shouldn't feel bad Kristie - you all feel how you feel. Part of me thinks I am the biggest Scrooge out, but the rest of me thinks that I need to do what feels right for me, and trying to force it would be wrong IMO. I say, do what feels right for you.
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