If I had one wish granted....


It would be to return to Durban, a city on the Indian Ocean on the Eastern Coast of South Africa. I can recall waking to the sound of the Ocean hitting the sandy beach and the smell of the salty air still lingers in my olfactory memory. On my last visit I only had one day in Durban and I spent it wandering alone enjoying the pleasant vista. It was one of those perfect days.....

At this point in my life I do not have the resources to vacation in South Africa, the place that I truly consider my second home. However, my memories keep me smiling. Since I am unable to have a transatlantic getaway, I have been vacationing in my home, a staycation if you will. Traveling by plane, train and automobile, losing loved ones, and a job have kept my mind running and I've needed to take a break.

For the past few days I've spent limited time plugged in to the internet have read six books in as many days. Reading has been my favorite pass time for as long as I can remember and I have loved being lost in the world of mystery, murder and vampires. If you are a fan of vampires, I highly recommend the Sookie Stakehouse series - the HBO series True Blood is based on these books by Charlaine Harris and I've read three of the books so far and am off to purchase a few more.

If you like shows like Bones, you might enjoy the Kay Scarpetta mysteries by Patricia Cornwell. I have been a fan for a very long time and just read the latest - Scarpetta. I've also read the latest book by Tananarive Due, The Living Blood. If you love science fiction you might enjoy her books too. This book is the last in a series about Immortals that have healing blood....

Finally, I was introduced to a new author, Diana Orgain. Her book Bundle of Trouble is a "maternal instincts mystery" and follows the antics of Kate Connolly, the mother of a newborn that decides to become a P.I. during her six weeks of maternity leave because she can fathom returning to work. I loved the book and cannot wait for the next one. This book was a gift in my speakers bag from Type A mom and it was the first book I read on my "staycation."

My staycation is coming to an end soon - this weekend I am speaking at Blogolicious and next week I head to Vegas for Blog World Expo and SITScation. I will post again soon, but for now I am enjoying being enthralled by the fantasy world of my books.

We all need to unplug sometime.....



Comments

A staycation is a good thing! Glad you got some time to get all that reading in. You are a beast!! 6 books?? wow!! I wish you safe travels for the upcoming weeks. Please pack in advance :-) NOT!
Ooooh, thank you for the lovely book recommendations! I always welcome new books and I have had my eye on the Sookie Stackhouse ones for a while. Maybe I should just ask for the whole series for Christmas :-)

Enjoy your staycation till the end! I adore falling asleep and waking up to the sounds of the waves, but these days the closest I can come to that id turn on my dream machine ;-)
jmt said…
I've read and really enjoyed P. Cornwell myself. :) Her and Sue Grafton are excellent mystery/ladies in charge writers. Keep enjoying yourself...I've gotten back into reading myself and even wrote up thoughts on a few books I've read recently. "The Time Travelers Wife", "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society", and "Snow Flower and the Secret Fan".

ALL good recs, in my humble "I read for enjoyment only" opinion.
Felicia said…
I can definitely understand the need to unplug. I really need to make a conscious effort to do that myself sometime soon. I also love to read and am a huge fan of Ted Dekker. I have one of his books that is a sequel to one I just finished up that I am just dying to start! Maybe I'll do that tonight!
Liz Mays said…
I didn't realize that True Blood was based on that book series. I also can't believe you read 6 books in 6 days. I'm stuck on a book I dislike but I'm making myself finish it. Aren't I mean to myself?
Jennifer James said…
I should have unplugged. I'm definitely unplugging after next week. I'm going to give myself a few days to breathe!
Diana Orgain said…
I'm so glad you enjoyed Bundle of Trouble: A Maternal Instincts Mystery!!! Book 2 is Motherhood is Murder - out in March 2010 - thanks so much for your support!

Best,
Diana Orgain
Kristen Andrews said…
glad you are enjoying your staycation!
Anonymous said…
Wishing you a nice journey And looking forward to read about Blog World Expo.
SweetWICK said…
I love staycations! Good luck at your speaking presentations! Thanks for the book recommendations...life is better because of books!
Grand Pooba said…
Oh man, I would LOVE to live by the ocean, Durban sounds like paradise! I need to travel more, but I do love me some staycations too!
Unknown said…
*waves*

it's been waaay too long since i've been over here!!

such a great photo.

i've been mostly unplugged lately as well. just been dealing with so many changes and internet has somehow fallen low on my list of priorities. imagine that, lol!

this staycation you speak of sounds divine. i'm especially all for getting lost in a good book.
That sounds like a beautiful place...although a good staycation is hard to beat! :)
Live.Love.Eat said…
When you can't go where you want to the next best thing is creating your own little oasis at home. Yours sounds wonderful.

A friend is actually sending me part of the Sookie series since I am loving the HBO series.
My daughter is into vampire and fantasy books. I don't get them myself, but I let her enjoy them. I am a autobiography girl myself. Love to hear people tell their own stories.

The book you recommend sound interesting.

I sooooo wish I was going to Blogoclious this weekend. No funds to make it. Enjoy it!
TRochelle said…
Oh I am so out of the loop its ridiculous! I just love hearing about your many adventures so I can't wait for you to return from Blogolicious. Now I have to go see what that is exactly lol!

I am a True Blood fan but I have only read up to and including the one that involves my hometown of Dallas. I just don't read like I use to anymore. I am a fan of those Stackhouse books though. I think we need that escape sometimes.
Unknown said…
I'm currently reading one of Beverly Lewis' books. I love the images of rolling hills, horse pulled carts and country living.
Cynthia said…
Curious to hear about BlogWorld...keep us posted:)
ConnieFoggles said…
Good thing that you had time to relax. Sounds like you're in for a whirlwind of travel and fun now! Enjoy the events!
I, for one, am very glad that your staycation is coming to a close soon. That means that we are one week closer to meeting one another. What fun!

-Francesca
Clarissa said…
I unplug often to stay sane! :) lol
A staycation sounds so relaxing. But I can't wait to hear about your blogging-related adventures!!! How fun!!!
Petula said…
I love losing myself in books and those you mentioned sound great. I stayed unplugged all of Saturday and it was definitely wonderful.

The feeling you mentioned about South Africa, regarding the memories, is how I feel about Hawaii and Jamaica... and Turks & Caicos. Okay, anywhere near the ocean. LOL. The memories make me smile as well.

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