The holiday was quiet and uneventful, which was perfect. Family events can be filled with stress and drama and I’m very grateful to have survived without those ugly elements present. The long weekend was heaven. I camped out on the couch writing, watching movies and hulu (how cool is hulu?), and listening to more of Stephen King’s memoir. I have too much in my brain to craft clever paragraphs, so I’m opting for a list of thanks this evening.
Thanks for…
1. Four day weekends. Enough said on that one.
2. Teenage Dirtbag, the movie. This is one of the least cliche-ridden movies about teenagers that I’ve ever seen. I couldn’t stop thinking about the characters afterward. I watched it again the next day with the commentary on and I’ve watched the trailer ten (ok, maybe twenty) times since. I can’t just like something, I have to be obsessed with it. Although my next book doesn’t relate to the subject matter, there is something about the mood of this film that I’m digging for my new work-in-progress.
3. Listening to the memoir portion of On Writing by Stephen King with Steve. He loved it too! King’s life story and the lessons he shares are universal. If you’re a writer or in a relationship with a writer, I can almost guarantee you’ll love the story of Stephen King and Tabitha Spruce.
4. Working through the beginning of a new novel. I’m researching the location, outlining the plot, talking it through with the hubs, and drawing maps of my new imaginary world. It’s not easy being on page one but I love the possibilities.
5. Creating the soundtrack for the new book. It’s dark and I heart it. Here’s a sneak peak…
6. It goes without saying that I’m thankful for my family, friends, and an amazing job.
7. Dreams. I’ve been blessed to have many dreams and also to have the opportunity (and courage) to chase them. Some of these hopes have become a reality (like my kick-ass job) and others are still just dreams, but that’s exciting too. It’s easy to forget the things you never thought were possible when they become a part of daily life. When Steve and I moved to Baltimore, I wanted to own a house in Hampden. We weren’t “ready” in many people’s eyes, but we set the intention and here we are, sitting in a Hampden rowhouse that we’ve owned for almost three years. If we’d listened to everyone’s advice, we would still be living in a tiny rented carriage house with a concrete front yard.
8. My first completed novel and many more in the future…
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I must confess, creating the soundtrack is one of my favorite parts of writing!
And I haven’t heard of Teenage Dirtbag! (Only the Wheatus song.) Must go check it out. Thanks for the heads up!
wow! both “only you” and “glory box” fueled my teenage angst – portishead, I thank you.