I’ve been so busy writing a book this year I haven’t been able to read as much as I usually do. I’ve missed it. In fact, I have a whole stack of books next to my chair that are just waiting for Christmas break. TypePad for Dummies goes to the printer in a few weeks (it’s being proofed right now) and when it does, I am going to hole up and read like there’s no tomorrow. I’m not allowing myself to start the books until TPfD is at the printer because I’m certain something HUGE will come up and then I’ll be forced to stop my reading. I don’t want to jinx it. You understand, I’m sure.

All of that to say: I didn’t read much this year. I did, however, get sucked in to one series: The Southern Vampire Mysteries aka The Sookie Stackhouse books aka True Blood. Y’all? I cannot tell you how much I’m in love with this series. Also? I’m Team Bill all the way. I know many Sookie readers are Team Eric. If you’ve read the books, let’s discuss that and how we came to our team decisions.

I wrote about my addiction to Sookie earlier this year, but in case you missed it I’m re-printing that article today. I really talk about both the books and the HBO series–I don’t think you can be hooked on one without being hooked on the other.

Favorite Book (series) of 2009: The Sookie Stackhouse Novels

I’ve known for the better part of my life that I have some issues. Plural.

One of those issues is OCD. I have me a serious case of the obsessive compulsive disorder.

When I start something and enjoy it, I have to immerse myself in it completely and find every part of it and make it part of me. Case in point: Trueblood.

In June I was looking for something to watch on Netflix. I’d heard a bit of buzz about the HBO series Trueblood and figured what the heck? I received the first three DVDs the next day. I watched the first episode, laughed hysterically, then thought, “No. I cannot allow myself to be sucked into this madness! It is embarrassing to even admit that I like this.”

It’s campy. There’s a lot of gratuitous sex. (Hey, I’m not prudish in any way, but really, Season 1 of Trueblood has more sex than I’ve seen in TV or my own life in two years. Just sayin’.) But even the sex is funny (one character is known for his sexual prowess and routinely checks himself out in the mirror during the deed). And, honestly, I could not look away. I became absorbed with these characters and watched the full season in short order.

When I told people I what I was doing and how absorbed I was, I laughed uncomfortably and uncontrollably. I turned bright red from my ears to my toes. My embarrassment at not being able to stop was utter and complete.

Trueblood is based on the Sookie Stackhouse books by Charlaine Harris. Once I’d finished watching the series, the next logical step was to buy the first book, Dead Until Dark, just to see how it compared to the DVDs. I read it in seven hours. I returned to Borders every day (sometimes twice a day) for a week buying one book at a time, lying to myself that if I only bought one at a time, I was pacing myself and it wasn’t the OCD talking.

Then Amazon.com sent me an e-mail that Trueblood, Season 1 was on sale for $30. I bought it. I’ve watched it more than five times, thankyouverymuch.

I have every Sookie Stackhouse novel. I’m in the process of re-reading them all (I’m on book four again), thankyouverymuch.

Trueblood, Season 2 is in full swing, but I hadn’t watched it. I had reigned in my obsession. My issue. My addiction. Mostly because I didn’t have HBO and I couldn’t find any downloadable episodes online (and don’t think I didn’t spend several hours trying to find them, illegal though it may be). (What I did find, though, is that Vampire Bill & Sookie are dating in real life. Which makes me happy. Which also goes to show just how far I’ve gone into the deep. Comic-Con, here I come!)

I bought HBO Friday. I watched seven episodes (one hour each) in one day (mostly after 9:00p; yes it was a long night).

My name is Melanie. I’m a Trueblood and Sookie Stackhouse addict. It’s my dirtiest, guiltiest pleasure.

The articles I tend to love are those with political tones or those that are technical in nature. Many of the articles I find are not from mainstream media, but from think tanks and less biased sources than NBC or Fox (although, certainly, there is always a bias in news stories).

This article, A Turkey of an Economic System by Don Boudreaux, is a recent article, but it points to a story I love to share with others (particularly my left-leaning cohorts). From the article:

In 1620 Plymouth Plantation was founded with a system of communal property rights. Food and supplies were held in common and then distributed based on equality and need as determined by Plantation officials. People received the same rations whether or not they contributed to producing the food, and residents were forbidden from producing their own food. Governor William Bradford, in his 1647 history, Of Plymouth Plantation, wrote that this system was found to breed much confusion and discontent and retard much employment that would have been to their benefit and comfort. The problem was that young men, that were most able and fit for labour, did repine that they should spend their time and strength to work for other men’s wives and children without any recompense. Because of the poor incentives, little food was produced.

Faced with potential starvation in the spring of 1623, the colony decided to implement a new economic system. Every family was assigned a private parcel of land. They could then keep all they grew for themselves, but now they alone were responsible for feeding themselves. While not a complete private property system, the move away from communal ownership had dramatic results.

I know. You were hoping for Michael Jackson or something about the Iphone 3GS. Sorry, just a little story about welfare and communism.

The DL on the challenge: “Share your best moments of 2009 over the course of December. Don’t get hung up on details or length – if there’s an aspect of the question that doesn’t resonate, change it to meet your needs.”

My favorite restaurant moment of 2009

In May we went home to Walt Disney World. Although I research the bejeebus out of Disney before each trip, we tend to like what we like and, though we know our options, we stick to the tried and true. This time we wanted to try several things we hadn’t done yet. One of those things was the Hoop-de-Doo Revue and I can’t recommend it enough. It’s a singing, dancing, slapstick extravaganza. Luckily, we were seated at the very back of the room, but since it’s Disney we’re talking about, there is no bad seat. I thought the back of the room would at least allow us to escape the eyes of the performers so we wouldn’t call attention to ourselves (being a family of introverts, this is important I assure you). Besides, if you’ve met my husband, you know he’s not big on audience participation. Throughout the show I’d catch him and Max chuckling a little so I knew they were having a good time. And then, near the end of the dinner, I look over at my husband and our son and they are waving their napkins like mad men. They are giggling. Giggling! How could I not follow suit? Chilihead, Jr. is always up for a laugh and taking part in the shenanigans, but my boys? Never. That’s why the Hoop-de-Doo Revue was my favorite restaurant moment this year.

When I was a teenager, I *loved* the end-of-year wrap-ups on various news shows. I enjoyed seeing the year unwrap itself with the benefit of 20/20 hindsight. It’s been a long time since I’ve sought out those kinds of year-end recaps. As an adult, I find I’m busy and preoccupied. No time to remember! That’s why I take pictures! I’m too busy living life to remember it! (Oh, wait. That may just be the early-onset dementia…) At any rate, just looking at Gwen’s first writing prompt (What was your best trip in 2009?) has me reminiscing and realizing that, wow! 2009 was a great year for travel in the Nelson home. So, even if I don’t go past today’s prompt, I’ve gotten more out of this challenge than I would have by adding it to my doomed to-do list.

What was your best trip of 2009?

My best trip of 2009? I don’t know. How can I choose? I mean, I loved every place I visited!

January: Disney Cruise. BSM Media and Disney invited me and several other bloggers (all of whom I’m proud to call real friends) on a cruise to the Bahamas.

February: Dallas. Every February my dear friend Emily and I hole ourselves up with a few hundred other die-hard movie fans and watch, back-to-back, all of the contenders for Best Picture of the Year. It’s a 12-hour ordeal that is not for the weak. It takes real stamina to sit on your booty for 12 hours and watch some of the finest acting and most interesting story lines of the year.

April: Dallas. We attended the Sally Ride Science Fair, an event geared to encourage girls to stick with math and science to be all they can be. Of course, we stayed with Emily’s family and they attended the fair with us. The next day Chili, Jr., Emily, and I stormed the American Girl store and had a lady-like lunch with very large, un-lady-like portions.

May: Walt Disney World. I wasn’t able to take my family on the Disney Cruise in January, so we had to make up for it with a family trip to The World in May. Come to think of it, I still owe y’all a recap of that one. While we were in Florida, we took a day and visited Husband’s old neighborhood, his dad’s grave, and the ocean. It was cathartic on many levels.

June: Dallas. My first WordCamp. My BFF Emily graciously watched my kids for me while I braved my introversion and aversion to crowds. Hmmm. I’m noticing that “introversion” and “aversion” are very similar words. I doubt that’s a coincidence. As an introvert I have an aversion to many things. Among those is the act of meeting new people in a crowd.

July: Colorado. My dad and Robin are the best hosts. This year Husband and I flew the kids out a week before we arrived. That maneuver was a huge hit, both for the kids and the grandparents. I look to try that again next year. When Husband and I did arrive, we had so much fun. I was already stressed about writing the TypePad for Dummies book (our first chapter was due asap and I had to write while I was on vacation!), but I found time for my first hot-stone massage and some reading. My dad treated us to fabulous seats for our first-ever MLB game. Since I detest sports, I was sure I wouldn’t enjoy myself and considered more than a few ways I could excuse myself. In the end, I went and–would you believe it?–enjoyed myself! I cheered and rooted and laughed and sang and danced and embarrassed my kids mightily. It was a sweet night.

August: Norman, Oklahoma. We traveled with friends to meet Emily and her crew at the Sam Noble Museum of Natural History. How is it that I’d not visited this museum before? It’s amazing. My kids love museums and this was one of their favorites. I wonder if it had anything to do with the fact that we had our best friends with us? Those kids have grown up together and, as we all grow older, it’s harder to find time for us all to connect. When we do, though, it’s like we never missed a beat.

October: Las Vegas. I attended Blog World Expo again this year and, though the conference itself was fine, I hated being away from my family for five days. I was the most miserable I’ve been all year. My depression can be seen in this photo:

November: Iowa. I attended the first annual I_Blog Conference and, I have to tell you, it was the best conference I’ve attended to date.  It was very small–about 30 women (and a few men) and those women reminded me why I started blogging in the first place. I enjoyed meeting them all and learning from them. It was fun to meet them (where was my introversion aversion?) and it was fun to see my extended family (who happened to live down the road).

Wow. I hadn’t realized that I’d done so much traveling this year–and I had been cutting back because Shannon and I were so busy writing the TypePad for Dummies book! How can I choose just one trip as my favorite? It’s impossible. I love my family and my friends. I love spending time with them and am just happy we have the means to do it as often as we can.

Thank you, Gwen, for being the brain behind this project. My writing is rusty; I hope this challenge will encourage me not only to remember the year behind me, but also to remember my narrative writing skills. For those of you who made it this far, I promise I’ll try to remember those skills sooner rather than later.