I was thinking about how much I read today and realized it's a ton. I keep a list of every book I read every month for each year and when I printed it out it was crazy this year. It's wild to think I was able to read that many books, but I did it. How do you ask? Here's a few of my tricks.
1. My biggest trick to reading so many books: I listen to books on CD in my car. It's amazing how much time I spend in my car. I have a 45-minute drive to work and then another 45-minute drive back. Besides that I drive from school to school all day so I have 10 minute spurts here and there. I remember when I was listening to the Twilight CD, I used to jump at Chad's suggestion to go to Target because I was dying to get back in my car, even if it was only 5 minutes to Target. Every little minute adds up.
2. Before I lost my iPod, I was importing books on CD into my laptop and then putting them on my iPod. That meant I could listen while I was doing housework or working out. When I saw Gods Behaving Badly by Marie Phillips on my list I instantly remembered running around my neighborhood and listening to that earlier this summer. Anything mindless, like working out or doing housework totally warrants audiobooks to me.
3. I always have a book with me. Whether I'm waiting for a doctor's appointment, waiting for a meeting to start, waiting to meet friends for dinner: I have my book. In November, at book club, one of the girls called the restaurant to tell us she couldn't make it. She told the hostess there would be someone with a book...I cracked up when the hostess came over and told me that because there I was reading a book! I've always been the kind of person who can read anywhere at any time. I can block out background noise and just focus on my book so it works for me.
4. I read at lunch. I've never been a staff lounge kind of person. I have so many schools and my schedule changes from day to day so I usually eat on my own. What do I do? I bring my lunch, either eat while I read or eat (it so doesn't take 30 full minutes to eat) and then read for the rest of the time. I learned early that those 30 minutes are my 30 minutes so I make sure to chill for a little bit and read instead of getting work done because it's just healthy.
5. I read before bed. I've found that the best way for me to transition from being awake to getting to sleep is to read before bed...or do a word search or Sudoku. Some nights Chad will be watching TV and I'll burst into tears or yell out and he gets all confused. I love my books. Other nights, he'll be watching TV and I'll turn the page and he'll think I'm closing my book to go to sleep but I'm really just turning the page to read more. If I'm tired I don't last long, but some nights I can read forever because I'm so into a book. I love to read in bed.
In my mind, it's all about your mindset. As a teacher I need to be reading what my students are reading so I can talk to them about book and make recommendations to them. Since I love to read, I made it a goal to read as much as I possibly can, to benefit my students and myself. Where and when do you find time to read??? Please share!!!
We have been drinking lots of hot chocolate lately. Mostly, he just likes to use the spoon to scoop up the marshmallows floating on top and then ask for more marshmallows, but that's okay. This is Jordan now, December 2009. 
After all the presents were opened and we were just hanging out, Jordan found a basket of red bells that he had to put on the tree. I love his little face when he's concentrating. So sweet.
