Booking through Thursday: Multitasking

Booking Through Thursday is a weekly meme in which we answer a question about books or reading.

This week’s meme is:

Do you multi-task when you read? Do other things like stirring things on the stove, brushing your teeth, watching television, knitting, walking, et cetera?

I’ve always multitasked while reading.

I always read while brushing my teeth, just brushing my teeth would seem like a waste of time. When I’m really immersed in a book I even read while flossing. It’s a bit complicated and the book has to be laid down, but I can usually make it work.

If I’m alone I always read while eating. Just eating is too boring. My partner is also a reader, so sometimes we both eat and read.

I don’t read and drive but I always make sure to have a book along in case there’s a traffic jam that’s not moving, or I have to wait for someone or some other unexpected event occur. A few years ago my car overheated in one of our many local tunnels during rush hour. Having a book along while waiting for rescue was really nice. The policemen who came along to find out what was going on looked like they were used to people reading in their car while blocking a lane on the highway, so I’m sure I’m not the only one. I had called for a tow truck, so there wasn’t much else I could do while waiting.

Cooking and reading don’t get combined very often. Mostly I’m busy chopping things and putting things in. Cooking also has a tendency to be combined with other kitchen activities like emptying or filling up the dishwasher. But sometimes all I have to do in the kitchen is stirring something and then I read.

I sometimes read while watching tv, but not too often. Watching tv is more often combined with being online, like right now…. Tiger Woods just missed a put while Graeme McDowell made his….

I also enjoy doing nothing but focusing on my reading. I guess it depends on what I’m reading and what else is going on in the house. If I find something hard to read I need peace and quiet to focus, when it’s a book I find it easy being into the house can fall down around me without me noticing.

I’m still a bit like I was in school. Once I looked up from my book and discovered that the rest of my class was all outside playing. My teacher kindly let me read instead of chasing me outside when recess began.