First, lying. Now, thievery. I’ll explain.
I laughed when I read these lines from San Diego Momma this week, and decided to borrow them for my post:
Well hello there. Where have you been? Especially since I’ve BEEN HERE THE WHOLE TIME!
That kind of counts as both lying and theft, since I have not been here at all. (Which is what makes it so funny. Here ends today’s lesson in funny.) I haven’t been here because, you know, summer. That’s all the explanation you get, though. Not that you don’t deserve more, but rather there really isn’t more. Summer, kids, pool, beach, short road trips, the end.
So I’m stealing that line up there from Debbie. And now I’m stealing an entire post idea from Erin Margolin (A post idea she lifted from Felice Azorsky; it’s a crime ring.).
I’m done linking for today. Promise. But if you have some free time, all of those links are worth checking out. Would I steer you wrong? Maybe. You’ll just have to trust me.
Now, on to my stolen post idea.
This seemed like a great way to ease back into things here on Wonder, Friend. I think we all have some voyeur in us. Admit it, you’ve peeked into drawers and cabinets that didn’t belong to you (a quick side note to Aunt Gladys: I am appalled. Appalled.).
I’m nosy, but I also work hard to be appropriate and respectful, as dull as that can be. Imagine my thrill at getting to see other people’s nightstands without having to explain what I’m doing in their bedrooms. Uh, I lost an earring… I think my cat ran in here… Have you seen my three year old?
So here’s my bedside table.
Crowded.
What I’m reading right now: several David Mamet plays; Rules of Civility by Amor Towles; A Year of Writing Dangerously by Barbara Abercrombie; and on the iPad that’s buried somewhere in that stack I have The Uninvited Guests by Sadie Jones; This Little Piggy Went to the Liquor Store by AK Turner; Erma Bombeck’s At Wit’s End; Parenting the Strong Willed Child; and Paris Without End by Giola Diliberto.
I never realized it before, but I may have ADD. This is how I always read: 70 (give or take) titles at once, in various stages of completion. It might be time to focus on focusing.
Also on that table:
* a Bible and a devotional book. After many months of giving God the metaphorical finger, I’m trying to find my way back to a faith that has always sustained me.
* My glasses. After many months of denying that old age is wreaking havoc on my eyesight, I’m trying accept that I need those glasses to read.
* A journal and a pen that appears to have been stolen from a Hilton (more theft). After many years of being a failed journal-er, I’m trying.
* A random pile of things sent to me by Runner’s World magazine. After many years of not running, I’m trying again. That training log is mocking me. Stop it, training log.
* A cup of coffee. After many years of parenting, I need that coffee.
* Clock, baby monitor, photos.
So I took that picture and thought, Dear Lord, what a mess. I cleaned up a bit and now it looks like this:
A little less crowded.
So what did I do with everything? I threw it all in my Bedside Table Overflow Basket, where it’s possible I’ll forget about it until I decide it’s time to clean out all the overflow baskets around my house.
Stashed.
I wonder…
:: (Obvious question alert.) What’s on your bedside table?
:: How many books do you read at a time?
Lapsed homemaker. Looking to hire a full-time housekeeper who will work for the sheer joy of a job well done and free coffee. Interested parties, DM please. 
Missy—thanks for stealing! i love yours!
I need that basket for overflow. b/c actually? i cleaned mine up BEFORE i posted, LOL. Note to self: get giant basket and put next to night stand and then can buy EVEN MORE BOOKS!
lol!
xoxoxo
I JUST tidied my bedside table yesterday, but this is what was on it: Two books about eating raw that let’s face it, I’ll never read; The Distant Hours, which I DID read and can’t bear to part with just yet; two candles, messy; a photo of my husband and I that was tipped on its side (hopefully not a harbinger); and dozens of papers and an open notebook begun in 1999 with all my novel notes in it.
I was surprised at how many of us took the summer more or less off from blogging. I’d been feeling so guilty until I came back and saw I was in such good company!
I tend to only read 1-3 books at a time. If I’m not into a book enough to want to keep reading it, I usually just abandon it. The 2nd or 3rd book is almost always something for work or school.
My bedside table consists of a lamp, monitor, bedwarmer control (for winter, just not removed), new curriculum for work, my iPad. Everything else gets shoved into the drawer or cupboard beneath!
On my nightstand right now are eleven books, a lamp and two ceramic hand prints (one is holding a Chapstick) made my my kids in…ummm…let’s go with kindergarten.
Wait no. Now I’m going to have to check.
Yep. 2004 and 2005.
Anyway.
BESIDE my night stand is a clear plastic packing crate with 32 more books and my old writing journal stacked on it.
It’s a lovely as it sounds.
Who needs book shelves when I have packing crates?
And ceramic hands?
And chapped lips?
Life is good.
p.s. The packing crate has all of Karly’s classwork from kindergarten in it. For some reason I felt like that was relevant and had to share.
Only one book at a time. Does that make me incredibly organized or horribly boring?!
Missy, I like your original pic best. It denotes genius. Why mess with perfection?
I’m envious! My bedside table is tiny! I’m lucky to have a phone, alarm clock and cpap machine on it. BUT… I do have an iPad stand next to my bed. My husband made the stand and I read my books from the iPad.
Just one book at a time, but I read fast. And I can’t stop reading a good book until it’s finished… even if it means reading through the night. I’m bad like that. I’ll forgo sleep for a good story 🙂
I’ve managed to stop the clutter on my bedside table ever since my girls began to pluck the items off.
Currently, 1 book and my glasses, a lamp, and a clock. Not bad!
I should photograph it for you – it would be easier … several framed pics and a lamp (going to take a pic upstairs … hang on …)
a beautiful card from a friend
and a phone
a stack of books at the back
covers everything from The Last Lecture
Girls, The Faith Club, Captivating, This I believe (1 and2) Its never to soon … and more
Then there is the Womans Bible, and Becoming (Psalms and Proverbs) and Becoming (The New Testament) The Grown Up Marriage, Aspie Teens, Aspergirls, This is not the story you think it is, Unglued …
and more … sad but true ….
Don’t even ask what is actually in the nightstand ….
How is the running coming along?
I actually contemplated stealing this post on my own blog, but I realized that my bedside table is just a collection of stuff that I took away from my toddlers because they shouldn’t have been playing with it. So, at any moment, it might include body lotion, razors, toothbrushes, jewelry, sippy cups . . . a constant state of flux.