which means I'm only reading one to two books a day instead of three or more, and not sure what's causing it 
It could be just exhaustion, fifteen months of work with very little
holidays is beginning to take its toll on me, and having to be the
locomotive who keeps DH going in enthusiasm doesn't really help
Don't get me wrong, I don't make the mistake of thinking I have real
problems, I have a DH who loves me, two gorgeous sons with minds of
their own, a brother to help me with the logistics, a beautiful house
and food on the table. It's just that sometimes I get tired, and being
the only female in the house (I'm not counting the cats) means that it
gets tiring at times. The younger son with the mind of his own is being
particularly stubborn about expressing and impressing his opinion at
the moment, which doesn't really help when that puts obstacles in my
way, but at the same time I'm happy he has opinions and a certain
amount of willpower and tenacity.
We're a bit snowed under at work, which given that we've just had a
change in management is a good thing, but I used to like the periods
when we didn't HAVE to keep going at 100%, and had time to breathe
between projects. Trying to cope with all the ambient stress due to new
brushes sweeping clean when I can't do anything more than commiserate
is a bit of a pain at times too.
You will have noticed that my blogging has dropped off a bit, and
that my blogs are a little less enthusiastic but then something had to
give. And I've been blogging non-stop for nearly twenty-eight months
(the next book I blog will be my 2110th) so maybe I can be forgiven a
slight burnout. I'm going to "allow" myself a month or so to take the
foot off the accelerator. I'll still be reading but I might do minimal
blogs (cause even I can't face the idea of a month's backlog to be
cleared up when my energy levels rise, just the backlog would be enough
to slump me back down again 
)
And
yes I know that referring to a total of 50 books on the 17th of the
month as a slump may strike you as a bit ridiculous, but when you
consider that 45 was my worst month ever (once I had a reliable TBR)
and that my best month was 110 (books actually read and blogged in the
same month), you'll see I'm not just saying it 
Reading the books is NOT the problem, blogging about them is a totally
different kettle of fish, and I know the reaction I'll get if I even
suggest just giving the title, author, and a two-word evaluation 
Of course excellent books for which the blogs practically write themselves will be a good sign of my reviving energy levels
and I'd really like to find the time to visit other people's blogs,
because my wishlist doc is beginning to look pale and wan too 
Just so you'll know what not to expect for the next month 
Sadhbh
You have my sympathy because I only work 2 hours a day and I feel burned out. (I blame it on my hubby being gone.) I don't have a rough life and am very blessed too, but darn it sometimes you're just tired. My youngest son is also not afraid to express himself but is balanced by my 'easy' older son.
Do what you can. You are such a vital part of this community it is better to have a little of your time than none at all.
Angel
"I can fix a bad page, but I can't fix a blank one." Nora Roberts
www.angelinabarbin.blogspot.com
Entitles
Sadhbh,
Everyone is entitled to a slump now & then. Being a wife, mother, working out of the home is a lot for anyone to cope with. You wouldn't be human if it didn't all catch up with you once in a while. My humble opinion is that most of us of the female gender tend to take on more than we should. Be easy on yourself and take some time to enjoy your blessings.
I can live with shorter reviews while you recharge.
You are an amazing woman that I would miss if you weren't here with your blogs & reviews. Maybe someone else will do a blog while you are rejuvenating. 
Take care, happy reading,
Donna M, Dream Team member
Nature has a way of letting us know
when it's time to slow it down a little. Wouldn't be the same if we couldn't read your blogs. Even a little blog is good enough, given the great number of books you read! So take it easy, relax, and rejuvenate!
Lynn
Thank you all so much for that support
it really does make all the difference
It probably doesn't
help that my job involves working on a computer all day, and that my
current translation is in an EXTREMELY long Excel file which seems
never-ending because it doesn't have paragraphs or page ends, just line
after line after line of error messages to be translated, while taking
care not to put more than sixty characters in the first column, and
copying/pasting the excess into the column after it. And I have that to
look forward to for over a month
JOY! NOT!
Hugs
Sadhbh
Dream Team 2008 Challenge blogs
Kick back a bit
I am with Donna and Lynn, Sadhbh, kick back, relax, blog a word or two for a bit, but do a little so you don't start feeling stressed about the blog log backlog
. WOuld hate for you to burn out and disappear on us. We need your humor and your book count
Bonsal
Hugs
almost everyone I know is feeling stressed...and women are not traditionally the ones to kick back and chill, we worry and overwork ENDlessly with sometimes disastrous results. Do what you need to do for yourself. we will still be here when you get back:)
{{{{{{{{{sadhbh}}}}}}}}}
ever searching...getting there one step at a time lulu
(((Sadhbh)))
I totally understand the burnout. I am there myself. I am so exhausted from the 100 hour plus weeks from tax season that I haven't even the energy to finish reading the book I started yesterday.
Take care of your self. We gals tend to put everyone else before us. So make no apologies and do what you need to for yourself. We love you and will be here to support you.
Can't you convert the Excel
Can't you convert the Excel file to .doc? I'm lucky. I tell my clients that I work on .doc and.rtf and perhaps a short .ppt, but that's it. If they want something else, they go to someone else. But since you're working at an agency, I guess that won't work for you.
But, you can't burn out now. My measley 1 book a week is not going to cover for your 40 books a week. Give your DH a kick in the pants!!!
"Perhaps what the average member of a group is capable of doesn't limit what a given individual can accomplish." -- Boston Globe, letter to the editor
March's Member of the Month!
I would think that anyone
I would think that anyone can forgive you for brief blogs for a bit. Stress is a reality in everyone's lives, however, when you have new management...that can really send the stress level shyrocketing. Also, kiddo's who are asserting themselves can create a certain amount of stress...
Nancy