Life Happens Sometimes

My personal life has gotten in the way of my reading and blogging lately, and I feel I owe everyone an explanation. Two weeks ago, Christen (for those of you who are wondering who this random person I always talk about is, she's my girlfriend of almost six years) was offered a job in her hometown and given one day to decide because they would be putting an ad in the newspaper if she didn't take it. She took it.

So for the past two weeks, I have not only been dealing with the realization that she is moving back home without me (she's moving into her mom's house, who didn't feel comfortable with me joining) and all of the packing that involved, I have also dealt with everyone at work asking me all sorts of questions. For the past two weeks, I haven't been able to work a shift without someone asking me why? where? when? for how long? without you? It's been really hard, because the solitude of the first half of a work day is normally when I think about books and the story I'm ever so slowly writing. It's supposed to be my escape. But since Christen and I have worked at the same store the whole time she was down here, I couldn't separate home and work.

Well, Christen left yesterday. With Wade, her big fat cat (Rupert and Riley miss him already). She starts her new job tomorrow. She will be saving up money so that she can get an apartment in (hopefully) 4-6 months, and then I'll be moving up there to join her.

I'm happy for her, don't get me wrong. This whole things has just left me in a state of blah. I don't want to read, I don't want to write, I don't want to watch tv. I am currently half-way through two review books. I have put each of them down, because I don't want my personal life to interfere with how I end up feeling at the end of the book. I would hate to not enjoy a book because I'm depressed that I would love if the circumstances are different. I have put them aside and have tried reading other books that I have not made commitments to read. I'm hoping that as I get used to these changes in my personal life, I'll also come across a book that gets me back into my love of reading.

Basically, for the past two and a half weeks, I have read the first half of two books. It has put me very far behind on my list of review commitments and I would like to make a big apology to everyone I owe reviews to. I'm working on it, just a bit slower than usual. I promise that the books I have received for review are my top priority and I have not forgotten about anyone.

And I would also like to apologize for my lack of posting. I could've easily filled some of the gaps with quick Waiting on Wednesday, Top 5 Sunday, and Stacking the Shelves posts, but I don't like when they outweigh the posts with more substance (ie. reviews and author posts). I enjoy the memes, but I like to keep it balanced.

I think I may be getting back into the reading groove. I had an awesome surprise yesterday that has reinvigorated my love of reading and blogging. Last night, I received an e-mail from Anna @ Anna's Book Blog that my review of Beauty Dates the Beast by Jessica Sims was quoted in the new anthology The Undead in My Bed (Katie MacAlister/Molly Harper/Jessica Sims). This is the first time one of my reviews has been quoted in print, and I got way more excited than I thought I would. I hadn't gotten a chance to pick up a copy, but ran to B&N today because I had to see it with my own eyes. I'm surprised how something so little can make my day.

It may take another week or two for me to get back into my normal reading and blogging levels, but I will get there. The next six months are going to be tough for me, but I'm hoping reading will help the time go by a bit faster.