Believe it or not, the graphic above is the number 1,000 in Wingdings 2. I was playing around with fonts to use with the number 1,000 when I stumbled on the Wingdings 2. But why was I looking at the number 1,000 in different fonts? I was all set to do a post this morning with the title “Ending the Year with a Whimper”, but when I went to create the post, I noticed that my last post was actually my 1,000th So huzzah for My Porch. I am grateful for the platform to blather on and even more grateful that so many of you decide to comment on my blather and in some cases even listen to my blather in person. Perhaps counterintuitively, the cyber world, rather than cut me off from the real world, has actually helped expand my social opportunities with flesh and blood humans.
So why was I going to do a post on ending the year with a whimper? Because I am finding little inspiration in the four books I currently have going. Because I haven’t had any inspiration for a clever blog post in ages. And because I haven’t had time to keep up with all of your blogs. I should note that some of this reading/writing/online ennui stems from the fact that December tends to slow me down on all of these fronts–too many other happy distractions like Christmas trees and socializing. But, the fun in my real life doesn’t distract from the boredom in my reading life. I have half a mind to chuck all four books into the “not going to finish” pile, but I am too far along in each of them to do that. Plus, I kind of want to finish them all off so I can start the new year with a clean slate.
hogglestock 
Read some John Buchan. Try “Greenmantle”. Buchan knew T.E. Lawrence and made him a character in that book. Or how about Ian Frazier's “Great Plains”- a hilarious road trip book. If all else fails, I re-read Didion's “Slouching towards Bethlehem”. Or “Nostromo” or “Two Years Before the Mast”. Or “The Glass Bees” by Ernest Yunger. ( Talk about a prescient novel). Anything by Graham Green. The Father Brown Mysteries.
Just looking out for you Thomas. Hope you don't mind the suggestions. I never regret ditching a boring book.
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Congratulations on your wingdingy status, so to speak!
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Go ahead, be bold, Thomas! Chuck those books!! There's no such thing as 'too far along' to quit. Life is way too short. If reading is boring, it's time to quit. :<)
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I am still 88 posts away from 1000 so I tip my hat to you.
Of those four books, since you are so far along, I would start skimming to get through them. I'm curious as to what those four books are though.
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Blather on, Thomas! Merry Christmas and Happy 2012, Denise
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Yay for 1000! I do enjoy your “blathering,” and hope it lasts for a great while. Have you tried a reread of an old favorite to get you back into the reading mood? I have started the Lost Traveller (finally!) and I have you to thank for it. :)
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Please do blather, I enjoy it. :)
I encourage dropping those books that aren't doing it for you! There are TOO MANY good books in this world for a person to ever read them all, but I know you want to read as many GOOD books as possible. So why waste any precious reading time on the bad ones? (Or the ones that don't speak to you for any reason.) That's what I like to think, at any rate. Chuck 'em! Move on to the good!
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Chuck the books. Although I'll admit that I'm the same way. December is my wrap-up reading month to make way for grand new year's plans.
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Wow, congratulations on your 1000th post! Like you I've found that blogging and being online has expanded my social circle both online and in real life.
Also, I think you should ditch the books at least until later. Pick a more exciting book to finish the year off with :)
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I echo Susan's sentiment. Toss those books and pick up an old favorite to get you back in the reading mood.
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Congrats on your 1000th post. Jenny and I are coming up right behind you at 989, but it took two of us to get that far! And keep on blathering–I always enjoy it, here and in person :)
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Congratulations! 1,000 is a milestone.
I always love stopping by your blog — I end up reading all the posts from my last visit. You really keep my attention!
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happy 1000th – hope your reading kicks back into flow soon.
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Betsy: Those are good suggestions, but I think I need to hunker down with what I have at hand.
Jill: Wouldn't be the first time someone has called me a wingding.
Nan: Normally I would agree with you, but I think the OCD is going to win out on these four titles. They were in a pile I wanted to clean-up by the end of the year, and I am not sure I can go back now.
Ti: The Vicar of Bullhampton by Trollope, a George Eliot novella, a slim volume of Oscar Wilde's fairy tales, and The Summer Book by Tove Jansson. All of them worthy, just not doing it for me at the moment I wrote this.
Denise: Thanks, and to you!
Susan: Thank you so much for the picture in your Christmas card, so nice to put a face with a name.
Julia: The thing is, they actually are good books (see my response to to Ti), I just got into a lull I guess.
Amanda: Yeah, I definitely need to do a wrap-up. No putting these aside.
Amy: I know. How else would I find anyone locally who likes what I like?
Jeane: Maybe I will use the old favorite as a reward.
Teresa: But many of my posts are far less substantive than yours.
Rose City: Thank you so much, I am glad you enjoy it.
Simon: It has! I am steaming my way through them and plan to finish them all by NYE.
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Congrats! I chucked a book recently even though I was quite far into it, but I was just so bored! Good luck with finishing the ones you've got. Start off 2012 with some amazing books.
– Christy
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