Oh, that and I blog.
Pathetic excuses, but I did manage a few books. Looking back - some I still need to finish the last 50-or-so pages (a bad habit I share with Mrs. Salamander who reads about 4x as much as I do), the there is a mixed story in the collection.
There are the comfort food of books I have re-read for the umpteenth time; USNIPress's superb The Emden-Ayesha Adventure: German Raiders in the South Seas and Beyond, 1914
The classic The Long March: Xenophon and the Ten Thousand
As I could not have made the civilian transition the way I did if I were not a little lucky and a little smart with money over the years, I re-read Monster Stocks: How They Set Up, Run Up, Top and Make You Money
If you have never read a book on how to understand the stock market - read that book. 'Nuff said.
On a more personal note, it was neat to read about something about my corner of the war - something I was involved with on the side in "parallel play" during the first months of the Long War, Horse Soldiers: The Extraordinary Story of a Band of US Soldiers Who Rode to Victory in Afghanistan
There were also books I read by acquaintances & friends I have met over the years as my alter-ego "Sal," and have had as guests on Midrats; James S. Robbins's This Time We Win: Revisiting the Tet Offensive
Finally, there was a book that was simply horrible; James Bradley's The Imperial Cruise: A Secret History of Empire and War
So, that was the year in books.
On a side-note, the end of the year has me feeling a bit off to be candid. This is my first full year as a civilian since the early/mid-80s. I miss it in some ways - but am enjoying being a father while I can. Children don't wait for you. It is good to have a place to grow roots, have a nice boat, a home, extended family a short drive, some acreage, and all that I take for granted so many gave so much so I could have just a bit.
I am very happy in what I do now, but ... still. I miss the sea. I know I am not a warrior monk, but still. The military is a calling, not a job - at least it was to me. You can't have it all, but I tried as long as I could and then something had to give.
No, wouldn't change a thing. Not one. 2010 was a different year.
So much to do, so little time.