Month: December 2013
What Would You Do if the Whole World Turned Into Zombies?
I’m finishing up season three of “The Walking Dead.”
I admit, I wasn’t sure if I could stomach this series. A gal I work with first told me about the series and I thought, “sure, I’ll watch the pilot and go from there.”
I watched the pilot and just sat in stunned silence. I turned the TV off and just stared at a black screen.
What the HELL did I just watch? It was bloody and super gory and what was I doing wasting my time on something so … dark and disturbing?
I had no intention of watching any more episodes. It was just too much, it disturbed me and though it didn’t exactly give me nightmares, I confess, it took me a while to fall asleep that night.
I went back to work the next day and looked at the girl who advised me to watch it with new eyes. Had I misjudged her? Because honestly, what sort of person LIKES that sort of thing?? But I kept my mouth shut; I like to think I give people the benefit of the doubt. I made a deal with myself – I’d watch one more episode, see if it was any less gory, and see how I felt after that.
I became … curious. I can’t say I liked it any better and after almost three seasons, I still can’t say I like it any better, but it intrigued me. The whole premise intrigues me. Because the story is about so much more than a world that is suddenly overrun with flesh-eating zombies, it’s about human behavior and the extent people will go to in order to survive. When people are faced with life and death situations, the survival instinct takes over and people evolve (or devolve??) into a completely different personality. They turn into people they would normally associate with cold-blooded killers – but if it meant closing the door on personal morals in order to protect those I loved, I’m not sure I wouldn’t start toting a gun and routinely shooting zombies in the head, either.
I’ve always been fascinated by that story line – not about a world overrun with zombies, but a world where people have to make really hard and uncomfortable choices. How far would you go in order to survive? I’d like to think I would end up being a bad ass – someone who thinks quick on her feet and was a valuable member of my little society, but I don’t know – maybe not. Maybe I would end up being one of the whiny, sniffling cry babies that I get so impatient with on the show.
I confess, I don’t dig this sort of show, and after a while, you sort of become desensitized to the blood and gore and pay more attention to the characters’ struggles. Many fight their inner demons and make surprising choices – some characters completely lose their minds.
But who wouldn’t in a world full of zombies?
I’m hoping that season four is more about what exactly happened to the world. How did the virus, or zombie sickness get started? Is there a cure? Is there any way to stop the process and how many “humans” are actually left? Though the story has been really interesting so far, and has thrown quite a few plot twists in there, so many, in fact, that I’m actually surprised and compelled to keep watching to see what main character dies next, it’s almost becoming boring – it’s the same thing episode after episode – conflict, they kill lots of zombies, we watch zombies snack on other humans, tears are shed, more killing, decisions are agonized over, more zombie fights/killings … *yawn*
I’m almost relieved the season is over. Because I’m ready to move on to something a lot less dark and a lot more “human.”
Our House Has Teeth
It snowed another four plus inches last night – we broke a record.
The kids were out of school again today – they’ve already used up three out of six snow days this year.
But then again, why do I care? Our kids are no longer in school …
The comments people leave whenever weather like this hits and they have to make the decision on “weather” (pun intended) or not to call off school, or keep school open, on Facebook is a never ending string of entertainment for me.
The school system can’t win for losing.
Bottom line: If you don’t feel like your kid will be safe going to school in bad weather, then keep ’em home.
Be a parent. Make the call. Don’t apologize about whatever you decide.
Then shut up about it.
Easy.
So Many Books, So Little Time
I can’t read enough.
According to my Goodreads.com account, I’ve read 43 books this year (so far). I’m assuming that’s correct, why would Good Reads lie to me?
Honestly, I would have guessed half that many. I really feel like I’ve dropped the reading ball this year. But right now? I can’t read enough. I’m absorbed. I CRAVE reading. I CAN’T WAIT to bury my nose in a book.
I CAN’T WAIT to get away from real life.
Not that real life is bad, per se. I have a great life. But it’s dull – wait – no it’s not. Not really. I’m not unhappy. The boys are living their lives but not causing us stress. Kevin and I are fine. Its just … I don’t know – I like to use my imagination. I love submersing myself in a really good story. I love picturing the characters and quietly inserting myself into the story somewhere – a shadowy character with no lines.
I’ve been reading a lot of ebooks – in fact, I haven’t held a real book in … months (years?) I ADORE my Kindle. It’s not a fancy one – just the no-frills, cheap, paperwhite basic Kindle that comes with ads because I was too cheap to pay the extra price to remove them. It’s no bigger than a real paperback book and I take it with me everywhere – it no longer bothers me to wait for anything, in fact, I sort of hope I HAVE to wait so I will have an excuse to pull my Kindle out and bury my nose in a book. (Or stare at a screen).
I read it on my lunch hour (actually, it’s only 30 minutes and that’s when I actually take a lunch). In fact, I often find myself going over my 30 minutes because I just need to finish this one paragraph / page / chapter.
I used this website a lot at the beginning of the year – they give away ebooks from lesser-known authors. I actually like that, it gives me a chance to read stories on the fringe of society.
But they’re not professionally edited and after a while, I just got too impatient with the misspelled words and sloppy format.
Then I discovered that my local library checked out ebooks and I’ve been in HEAVEN ever since. I haven’t paid for a book in probably two years.
However. I feel that trend is nearing the end, too. There are many books I’ve been interested in that are part of a series and the entire series is not available through my local library, so, I’ll most likely splurge and buy the ebook sequels on Amazon.
Which is why many authors like having their books being loaned out by the libraries – because then someone like me comes along and BUYS more of their work.
BONUS.
Even now, I’m thinking about the current story I’m reading and feeling antsy to get back to it. It’s not exciting and not especially easy to read, but it’s interesting in a sort of drowsy, charming way.
But only 43 books this year? I feel like I’ve failed. It should be higher. My goal is to make it higher next year.
But I feel overwhelmed sometimes – there are SO MANY good stories to read and SO LITTLE time.
I better get busy.
Don’t Use the Microwave If …
You know it’s winter when you have to put a sticker on your microwave to warn everyone in the house that they need to turn off the portable heater in the office before using.
Because if they use the microwave the same time the portable heater is on, we’ll blow a fuse.
Yes – we live in an old house.
It’s Scary How Fast Time Flies
So. It snowed.
What does that look like, six inches? Eight?
Luckily, it’s a soft, powdery kind of snow; there’s very little ice.
Thank God.
If all of that precipitation had been ice, we would have been in deep trouble (again).
I really hate winter. I like the cold, but I hate the snow and ice and that comes along with it. I hate to drive in it, but I REALLY hate our boys driving in it. And yes. I need to get over it. Blake is now 21, and Brandon is 18 – hey – they’re not kids anymore, we can drop the pseudo names. So they’re old enough to start living their own lives – it’s time for me to stop babying them – fly little birdies, fly.
For example: it’s slick today – like REALLY slick – like ICE RINK slick and Kevin calls me from the rental house (what? I haven’t told you about the rental house? Good Lord people, I’m so BEHIND, I need to catch ya’ll up) to tell me that someone slid off into the deep ditch across the street from us:
Oopsie. (They ended up hauling it off on the back of a tow truck so I’m assuming falling into that crevice did some damage – what a terrible time of year for that to happen).
And Blake is heading out – to drive – to Wal-Mart.
I confess, I panicked.
“You do realize that it will be like your driving on an ice rink, right?” I asked him, my eyes as big as saucers and my heart beating out “The Little Drummer Boy” song.
“It’ll be fine,” Blake answers back.
And he leaves.
But I catch him, “Hey – do you have your phone?”
“Oops.” He says.
*SIGH*
“Dude. You HAVE to take your phone every time you leave the house now. K?”
He just shoots me a grin, grabs his phone and I watch the growing twilight swallow him whole.
I try not to worry but come on, I’m mom – it’s sort of my job to worry.
But he makes it back in record time (he went to Wal-Mart to buy some techno gadget) and he’s in one piece.
I’m just going to have to accept the fact that he’s a young MAN now and he has to start taking control of his life.
Actually. I’ve been better. Honestly. I’ve been letting go and working 40 hours away from home has really helped me sever the maternal ties.
Kevin made the boys go out and clean/scrape off their cars today. It was a mild 13 degrees. Brr. They had to use the broom to sweep off the snow, then I took advantage of the free labor and handed Blake a snow shovel and they took turns shoveling off their driveway and then our driveway. The thing is, I think they enjoyed it. They got out of their rooms, they got a little exercise and a whole lot of fresh air.
Blake was going to go out in just a leather jacket and slippers.
SLIPPERS!
Sometimes, I seriously wonder about that boy.
Me? I vacuumed the house and finished decorating the Christmas tree.
It’s been up for a week. Kevin put the lights on last week, but I’ve been too lazy to finish it. I made the boys help me today and we got ‘r done.
I don’t know – I just haven’t been in the Christmas mood this year. I think I’m in denial because didn’t we just have Christmas like … a few months ago? It’s scary how fast time flies.
So life has happened these past months. Nothing terribly exciting … just busy. I’ve been so tired lately! I think part of it is my job, well, most of it is my job, it’s just mentally draining, but I think I have to blame part of the problem on the fact that I’m going through the change and I haven’t been sleeping very well since my body decided to declare war on me.
We went on a cruise to Alaska, hosted Thanksgiving dinner and bought the house across the street from us since the last time I blogged (we plan on renting it – but it needs MAJOR renovation before that can happen).
Blake is still working with Kevin, and Kevin couldn’t run his office without him.
Brandon is now working in the restaurant industry (and hates it) and is enrolled to begin school in January.
That sounds like a lot but it all feels so … normal.
I’ll write when I can. It stresses me out when I feel like I HAVE to write but honestly, it sort of scares me when I let my blog go because life just moves so freaking fast … I want to record as much of it as I can.
Merry Christmas – That’s Right, I’m Not Afraid to Say It. Are You?
Write From Karen 