Welcome to Top Ten Tuesday!
hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl
Welcome to another Top Ten Tuesday post. This week’s topic is Things Getting in the Way of Reading. This is a super easy list for me as it seems EVERYTHING is keeping me from reading. Some of it is sad, some of it is frustrating, and some of it is just life.
- My dad has been in the hospital since December 23, 2022. The past two weeks have been really rough. Two weeks ago, he was hours from getting out, but then had a really nasty fall and gave himself a brain bleed. This cause him to have seizures. The seizures caused him to throw a blood clot in his brain. And now he is have strokes. His kidneys are failing as well. It is devastating. Obviously, there have been several trips to the hospital to sit with my poor dad. I truly don’t care if I read a book right now or not.
- Work — why does every single day of work have to be so insane? Oh, did I forget to mention that I am a high school teacher? LOL! Yeah, I asked for a busy work day when I chose to enter the teaching profession. It’s the nature of the beast.
- Family — I do my absolute best to spend good quality time with my husband and my daughter each and every day because time flies. I swear I just had my daughter yesterday, and today she is 11. I’ve got to capture all our moments before it’s too late and she is an adult living on her own.
- TV — I have been re-watching Bones, Castle, Grimm, and The X-Files. It has been fun escaping into these quality stories with my husband and daughter. What has been really fun is introducing these quality stories to my daughter and seeing her reactions, getting her perspective. The conversations have been really awesome. So, I have put some reading time aside because I really like these interactions with my family all because of old TV.
- Chores — This is where I wish I liked audiobooks. I could get so much reading done if I could listen to books while I did my weekly chores around the house.
- Design Home — this is a game on Google Play and I LOVE IT! I had no idea that I had an interior designer trapped inside myself. I can spend literal hours and dollars on this game. It is so much fun.
- Being Overwhelmed — I am so overwhelmed by life right now, especially with my dad in the hospital, that I can’t read. I try. I read whole passages and pages and find I don’t even know what I have read. So, I give up and put the book down. It’s not the authors’ fault. The books I have on my TBR list are awesome. I just can’t get my brain to focus.
- Exhaustion — man, do I need a vacation. If I had to give one word to define my current state of being right now it would be escape. I long to escape, to hide. I am so tired that I’m definitely sleeping, but I never seem to sleep enough. It is wearing me down and that just makes reading all the more difficult. Exhaustion makes my dyslexia go crazy, and that makes me put books down, too.
- Holidays — Passover, Easter, birthdays, Mother’s day, awards nights, graduation, etc. — it feels like from March until June there is not a free moment to be had. So, of course, reading is not a top priority.
- So much to read — so little time to read it all. I feel overwhelmed by just how much there is to read. It’s not that one or two authors are releasing something new I want to read each week. That I might be able to keep up on. No, it’s tons of favorite authors releasing books each week. I just cannot keep up at all. I am so behind. And that makes me also kind of quit on reading for a time.
The Christian Fiction Girl 
Ooh, yes, getting overwhelmed with the TBR pile is a big one. I get that way as well. That Design Home game sounds fun! I love redoing the inside of houses on Sims4. Sorry to hear about your dad! I’ll keep him in my prayers!❤
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Thank you for the prayers. Much appreciated. And you should definitely check out Design Home. It’s hours of fun. 😀
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Your life sounds very difficult at the moment. 😦 This too shall pass, though.
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Thank you! It will pass. Just hard in the moment.
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I’m so sorry about your dad and agree that he takes priority, of course. I hope that he gets well soon and can go home again. As far as diversions from reading: time with grandchildren, medical appointments (I read in the waiting room but can’t concentrate well because I’m either thinking about my appointment or waiting to hear my name called), holidays and birthdays (birthdays require online shopping), my husband wants me to watch an old show with him (we usually watch Columbo or Matlock) and a game on my phone called Phase 10. Plus, like you, sometimes I just get overwhelmed with the vast number of books that are coming out and just shut down from reading. Wishing you brighter days!
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Thank you, Vickie! Phase 10…I’ll have to check that out. I’m always looking out for fun, new games. 😀
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Be careful! It pulls me in. I prefer the actual card game that I play with my grandchildren, but this is entertaining.
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I will be careful, but I get it. These games can really steal time away from you.
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I’m sorry to hear about your dad. I hope things take a turn for the better.
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Thank you! 😀
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Oh, Nicole, I am so sorry to hear about your dad. Yes, just reading about your “things” makes me feel overwhelmed. If I have too many review books I get overwhelmed and want to quit them all. I have to slow down. Praying for your family.
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Me, too, on the review books. I try to only sign up for what I know I can do, but sometimes my desire to read all the books and help all the authors gets the better of me. Lol!
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I’m sorry about your dad, Nicole. Praying for you all, my friend.
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Thank you, Gail. I appreciate you and your prayers!!!
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I am sorry about your dad, I hope that he is able to heal quickly and get out of the hospital. I know that must be hard.
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Thank you! It’s definitely a moment of hard right now. God will get us through. 😀
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I’m so sorry about your dad. That must be awful for him and for your whole family. I believe in the power of prayer, so I’ll definitely send some up for you guys 🙂
I love The X-Files! It would be fun to rewatch that series.
Audiobooks have been a lifesaver for me when it comes to housework. Immersing myself in a good story makes all those tedious chores so much more bearable.
Oh, and bless you for teaching high school. My third child graduates in a week and his stories about what goes on in his school are just crazy. You must be a saint to take that on!
Happy TTT!
Susan
http://www.blogginboutbooks.com
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Thank you for your prayers. I truly appreciate them.
I don’t know if I am a saint, but I do love my students. I teach AP and honors kiddos, so I truly do have the best kids ever. They make my job a true blessing.
Thank you for sharing your post. I’m heading over now…
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I’m really sorry to hear about your dad, I know how tough it is when family members are unwell and in hospital and I really hope things turn around for you all soon.
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Thank you! I pray for a turnaround, too. 😀
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