By Mary (kilchurn)
So what makes you spontaneously take a day off from work? A big sale at your favorite store? A beautiful day that just begs to be enjoyed? A friend comes into town unexpectedly?
For me, apparently, it is the release of the latest book by one of my favorite authors.
I’ve had the date March 26th circled on my mental calendar for almost a year. JR Ward’s latest book in her Black Dagger Brotherhood series, Lover at Last was coming out. In the preceding weeks, I had joked with co-workers about taking the day off. Last Thursday, I began to seriously consider it.
I know myself very well, once I start a book, I’m 
not going to put it down until I’m done. The Kindle version that I’d pre-ordered would be available at midnight and I knew if I was still awake when it came out, I’d start reading – and not stop. So Monday afternoon, I peeked my head in my bosses’ office and asked him if he had a problem with me taking Tuesday off. He looked at me strange and asked why (I have most of my vacation days allocated at the beginning of the year). I could hear the birds chirping over the bizarre silence as I tried to figure out what to say. Do I tell him the truth? Tell him I have an appointment? I opted for the truth which got me another strange look. You could see him processing the fact that I wanted to blow a vacation day to read a book.
But it wasn’t just any book! It was the story I’ve been waiting on pins and needles for – for YEARS! It was the story I was terrified would never get written! There was no WAY I could sit at the office on Tuesday and wonder all day at the fate of Blay & Qhuinn!
Luckily, the boss was planning on being in the office on Tuesday, thus any of my projects would be covered so my vacation day was granted!
I went to bed Monday night comforted in the fact that come the morning, I could sit in my recliner and enjoy! It took me about 8 hours to cover 608 pages and it was SO worth the vacation day. The story was all I’d hoped it would be. I laughed, I cried, I raged –Tuesday was possibly the best vacation day I’ve had in years!
PS – Another of my favorite author’s books is going to be released sometime this week, originally scheduled for Saturday – I see another vacation day in my future.
Tags: Book Suggestions, Members
You truly are an inspiration to all who hoard their vaca days!
So glad you enjoyed your book!
Using a vacation day to read a book? Yep, Mary is now my hero.
Totally understand Mary. When I say T&G came out early I told the boss I forgot an appointment and took a few hours off to read it. I did take the day off to read A&D when it came out so yes, thank heaven for vacation days.