Once upon a time, a month ago, I said I wasn't going to blog about writing, but I don't know if I'll be able to help it. It's time for me to 'fess up and say that I think about writing all the time, these days.
*Note that I do not necessarily write all the time, I just think about it.*
I've really gotten into this whole writers'-blogosphere thing. I am completely addicted to two or three of them. I've even commented, which makes me legit, right? Like I've ever written anything decent- or an actual first draft- In My Whole Life. Ha! But it should be no surprise that novelists make good bloggers. And I'm hooked, and learning a ton.
Just thought you all would like to know.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
on vacation, i:
1. Swam with fish. I was way more into it than they were.
2. Discovered that a chocolate cream frappucino with hazelnut (and no coffee) is my new favorite thing at Starbucks. Yes, Nassau has Starbucks, and it's on every street corner, just like at home
3. Ate Italian food, Greek food, and what Lucille Bluth would call "pool food," but surprisingly little Bahamian food (two bites of conch fritter was enough for me).
4. Devoured Till We Have Faces by CS Lewis in less than three days.
5. Got jabbed in the ribs by a rogue flamingo at the zoo. No, I'm not kidding.
6. Met my first serval, also at the zoo (is this thing a cat or a freaking deer?).
7. Experienced "Sky juice," a Bahamian drink made from rum and coconut water. Yum.
8. Got a sunburn. Of course.
9. Watched the series finale of LOST on a tropical island. That was pretty cool. Naturally, I bawled.
10. Watched the series finale of 24, also on a tropical island. Not that it held any significance in this case.
10. Did not run at all.
11. Went to a museum and learned about Caribbean pirates. The moral of the story: if you're lazy, like to drink, have flexible standards and know how to clean a gun, hop on board! Oh, but you'll probably get hanged in a few years. Just try to ignore that part. "A short life, but a merry one," indeed.
(not my photo.)
2. Discovered that a chocolate cream frappucino with hazelnut (and no coffee) is my new favorite thing at Starbucks. Yes, Nassau has Starbucks, and it's on every street corner, just like at home
3. Ate Italian food, Greek food, and what Lucille Bluth would call "pool food," but surprisingly little Bahamian food (two bites of conch fritter was enough for me).
4. Devoured Till We Have Faces by CS Lewis in less than three days.
5. Got jabbed in the ribs by a rogue flamingo at the zoo. No, I'm not kidding.
6. Met my first serval, also at the zoo (is this thing a cat or a freaking deer?).
7. Experienced "Sky juice," a Bahamian drink made from rum and coconut water. Yum.
8. Got a sunburn. Of course.
9. Watched the series finale of LOST on a tropical island. That was pretty cool. Naturally, I bawled.
(I suppose I could have used a more iconic image--
and you know the one I mean if you've seen it--
but I didn't want to give too much away, just in case.)
10. Watched the series finale of 24, also on a tropical island. Not that it held any significance in this case.
10. Did not run at all.
11. Went to a museum and learned about Caribbean pirates. The moral of the story: if you're lazy, like to drink, have flexible standards and know how to clean a gun, hop on board! Oh, but you'll probably get hanged in a few years. Just try to ignore that part. "A short life, but a merry one," indeed.
(This is a display from the Pirates of Nassau museum.
The creepy tour guide said this was supposed to be the real Jack Sparrow, after he was marooned.
I kind of doubt that. There were no labels that said so.
Plus, Jack Sparrow was invented by Disney, I'm pretty sure.
I will concede that it sure looks like him, though.)
13. Had a very strange, amusing experience which involved a busted pipe and trying to get out of an elevator without basically going under a waterfall.
14. Spent a dollar on a slot machine and got a voucher for 46 cents back (which we never cashed in).
15. Was asked repeatedly if I wanted my hair braided and said "No, thank you," every single time. Can't you see I just came out of the ocean? It would take you an hour just to untangle this mess.
(ouch.)
16. Failed to post from the Bahamas because it always cost too much money to use the internet. Hope I've made up for it now.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
reintroducing myself.
Well, that was a long break. In the car last night, I thought up a delightful, clever way to reintroduce myself, but I have forgotten it now. No surprise.
Last week my friend Jesse Myers wrote to me saying that he enjoyed reading my blog, though I hadn't written anything lately. I responded:
"It has become a battle recently between writing on the blog, writing emails, writing for fun, reading novels, and reading the Bible. Sadly, the blog usually ends up at the bottom of this list. Even more sadly, reading the Bible isn't very high up, either. I've always struggled with that. It's like, once I'm reading it, I don't want to put it down, but it takes forever to motivate myself to open it up. Sigh."
Apparently, it has been this way for writing on the blog, as well. I feel like I have to devote a ton of time to a post, and always find myself wasting that time doing something else. BUT!! Since I was a big girl this week and successfully read from my Bible, I figured I could go ahead and tackle this as well. Also, I enjoy writing and I miss it.
Living in Knoxville has been just fine these last six months, but I must admit, pretty dull in the middle of the day. There was that one month when I didn't have a car and walked to the grocery store or to McKay's for entertainment, or the month after that when I did have a car again, and just drove to the Greenway to run all the time... Freedom is nice, but so is variety. So, to my great happiness, I FINALLY got a job. A fun job. The sort of job I've always wanted.
Believe it or not, I actually applied at Mast last summer, six months before I even lived here (I applied again at the end of March). Ohh... I think it'll be fun. I know I see the whole thing in a rosy fog right now, though. I am learning that my co-workers are just as imperfect as I am, even though I spent ten minutes telling my grandmother about how awesome everyone is (before I'd even met half of them).
It makes me a little nervous to know that they've talked about "the new girl." I haven't been a "new girl" in a while. Or had a job. Come to think of it, I haven't worked since September. I had no idea I'd be taking eight months off. Jeez.
I'll admit, I was a little hesitant to work again. Since moving to Rockford, I had really started to enjoy my days a lot more. It's nice to be able to step outside and run any amount you like, whenever you like. I had also really gotten used to reading and writing a lot, and I remember thinking, "If I get a job, I won't be able to run and work and read and write, all in one day!" I have a feeling this will be true. I will have to learn true motivation to accomplish all of these things. For example, I woke up at 5:00 on Tuesday to run before going to work. I did it, but I'm still exhausted from it. How do people (like my husband) get up at this hour every single day? Will I ever be able to train for this marathon if I can't even pull myself up out of bed?
For those of you not in Chattanooga at 11:00 pm on Thursday, May 20, you may not know that it is thundering like mad outside. Joshua and I are in his parents' basement guest room, and he's already out cold, curled up under the covers. We're here for two reasons: first, today was his mommy's birthday (yay!), and second, we're driving to Atlanta tomorrow morning to fly down to the Bahamas for four days. Yes, the Bahamas. I don't think either of us have ever been there. Joshua's had this trip up his sleeve for several months, now. I knew we would be going somewhere beachy, but I didn't know exactly where until recently. Surprise! Wouldn't it be fun if I could post while we're there? I may very* well do so, if we can ever find cheap-as-free internet.
*Sidenote: I recently came across an excellent list of quotes (mostly writing advice), which included this hilarious one from Mark Twain: “Substitute “damn” every time you’re inclined to write “very;” your editor will delete it and the writing will be just as it should be.” So perhaps I should edit my above statement to read, "I may (well) do so..."
My favorite on the list was one I'd heard before from Madeleine L’Engle:
“You have to write the book that wants to be written. And if the book will be too difficult for grown-ups, then you write it for children.”
:)
Last week my friend Jesse Myers wrote to me saying that he enjoyed reading my blog, though I hadn't written anything lately. I responded:
"It has become a battle recently between writing on the blog, writing emails, writing for fun, reading novels, and reading the Bible. Sadly, the blog usually ends up at the bottom of this list. Even more sadly, reading the Bible isn't very high up, either. I've always struggled with that. It's like, once I'm reading it, I don't want to put it down, but it takes forever to motivate myself to open it up. Sigh."
Apparently, it has been this way for writing on the blog, as well. I feel like I have to devote a ton of time to a post, and always find myself wasting that time doing something else. BUT!! Since I was a big girl this week and successfully read from my Bible, I figured I could go ahead and tackle this as well. Also, I enjoy writing and I miss it.
Living in Knoxville has been just fine these last six months, but I must admit, pretty dull in the middle of the day. There was that one month when I didn't have a car and walked to the grocery store or to McKay's for entertainment, or the month after that when I did have a car again, and just drove to the Greenway to run all the time... Freedom is nice, but so is variety. So, to my great happiness, I FINALLY got a job. A fun job. The sort of job I've always wanted.
Believe it or not, I actually applied at Mast last summer, six months before I even lived here (I applied again at the end of March). Ohh... I think it'll be fun. I know I see the whole thing in a rosy fog right now, though. I am learning that my co-workers are just as imperfect as I am, even though I spent ten minutes telling my grandmother about how awesome everyone is (before I'd even met half of them).
It makes me a little nervous to know that they've talked about "the new girl." I haven't been a "new girl" in a while. Or had a job. Come to think of it, I haven't worked since September. I had no idea I'd be taking eight months off. Jeez.
I'll admit, I was a little hesitant to work again. Since moving to Rockford, I had really started to enjoy my days a lot more. It's nice to be able to step outside and run any amount you like, whenever you like. I had also really gotten used to reading and writing a lot, and I remember thinking, "If I get a job, I won't be able to run and work and read and write, all in one day!" I have a feeling this will be true. I will have to learn true motivation to accomplish all of these things. For example, I woke up at 5:00 on Tuesday to run before going to work. I did it, but I'm still exhausted from it. How do people (like my husband) get up at this hour every single day? Will I ever be able to train for this marathon if I can't even pull myself up out of bed?
For those of you not in Chattanooga at 11:00 pm on Thursday, May 20, you may not know that it is thundering like mad outside. Joshua and I are in his parents' basement guest room, and he's already out cold, curled up under the covers. We're here for two reasons: first, today was his mommy's birthday (yay!), and second, we're driving to Atlanta tomorrow morning to fly down to the Bahamas for four days. Yes, the Bahamas. I don't think either of us have ever been there. Joshua's had this trip up his sleeve for several months, now. I knew we would be going somewhere beachy, but I didn't know exactly where until recently. Surprise! Wouldn't it be fun if I could post while we're there? I may very* well do so, if we can ever find cheap-as-free internet.
*Sidenote: I recently came across an excellent list of quotes (mostly writing advice), which included this hilarious one from Mark Twain: “Substitute “damn” every time you’re inclined to write “very;” your editor will delete it and the writing will be just as it should be.” So perhaps I should edit my above statement to read, "I may (well) do so..."
My favorite on the list was one I'd heard before from Madeleine L’Engle:
“You have to write the book that wants to be written. And if the book will be too difficult for grown-ups, then you write it for children.”
:)
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