Mindless Twit

I haven't posted much in a while.  There's a reason for that.  My brain has been stolen.  It's gone.  I'd like it back, but I don't even know where to begin looking for it.  In an attempt to reclaim it, here are some of the activities I've taken up:

1.  I'm reading "Gone With the Wind."  It was supposed to be done last week for book group, but I put off starting it for weeks, because I was busy rereading other stuff so I wouldn't have to think while I read.  So now I'm reading it, and thoroughly enjoying it.  It's fun (is that the right word, when discussing the Civil War?) to read about places I've been, like Atlanta, Augusta, and the South in general.  I can picture the moss-hung trees, the swampy land, the vine-covered forests, and the enormous plantation homes because I've seen them firsthand.  While the descriptions are detailed, my experience in the South has made reading the book richer and more interesting.  Plus, I feel like I'm learning a ton of stuff about the Civil War I don't remember from my days in US History 17 years ago.

2.  I attempted today and yesterday to practice the piano.  I say attempt, because 2 minutes in, Jacob brought in a teddy bear to "help me play the piano," the phone rang, and Tyler had a poopy diaper.  But the point is, I tried.  Usually, when I'm involved in music, it wakes up my brain and gives me an emotional boost as well.  Attempts will continue to be made until I am successful (which may be when Jacob's in kindergarten and Tyler's potty trained). 

3.  I have cut out "The Bachelor" from my TV line-up.  It made me dumber by the second, and I couldn't take any more of the tears and smeared mascara.  Ugh.  Plus, it freed me up for other things, like my 1000 page book!  I have also started fast-forwarding Jillian's therapy sessions with her bawling, exhausted Biggest Loser competitors, as well as all the nasty back-biting and game play.  I just go right to the weigh-ins, because that's the good part of The Biggest Loser.  It saves me hours of pointless TV, and still inspires me to lose weight.

4.  Lately, when I've watched TV, I've been semi-comatose on my new couch, forming my new butt groove and letting the entertainment wash over me.  I was cleaning out my closet earlier this week and came across a crosstitch of Buzz Lightyear that I promised to make for Jacob 2 years ago.  I started up again on it, and am determined to finish it by Christmas.  I like doing something with my hands while I watch TV.  I feel a lot less like a slug.

5.  I have an obsession that started my freshman year of college when I started eating lunch with some old high school friends.  It's crossword puzzles.  I love having a book of puzzles to do on a plane or in the car on a long trip, and I really enjoy doing them online.  I went on a crossword hiatus for a while, I think because I kept getting frustrated when my fuzzy, sleep-deprived brain couldn't come up with any answers.  I started back up at Thanksgiving, because my dad had an app on his iPhone that was NY Times crosswords, which we enjoy doing together.  I was reminded that I really do enjoy a good crossword.  I am certain my brain is slowly finding its way home now.

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is why my posts have been few and far between, and why, if all goes according to plan, I will have something witty to say in a few months, when my head has its old friend back.