A Week in Review

I seem to have disappeared for a week, huh?  Sorry!

The short story is, my brain is mush.  The long story is... somewhere on about December 14, I read a book that gutted me. Seriously. It was such a whining, ranting couple of days for me afterwards, that Kristine posted this pin in my honor.

Granted, she was ridiculing me publicly, but my legs are still longer, so I still win. If anyone's keeping score. (She is. The legs ALWAYS win. Booyah!)

Anywho.

Dec. 14: I read a book, was gutted and scarred for life, and in some really insane twist of fate I was struck silly by the most brilliant fiction idea ever.

Ok, so it probably wasn't brilliant.  It was totally self-serving and simple. It was still niggling in my head, poking at me to Just outline it, baby.  You know you want to. One little outline never hurt anyone...

You may or may not know this, but I've been working on a novel for the better part of six years.  (Technically, I've been working on twelve novels for the better part of twelve years, but who's counting).

Last year I refused to allow myself to work on ANYTHING ELSE until Novel A's first draft was finished.  The Stephen King rules of writing or whatever.  ANYTHING ELSE are known as evil plot bunnies in fiction-writing vernacular.  Personally, I call them book sluts. 

Dec. 15: I caved and started writing the simple, sweet story to patch up my heart, broken over the piece of emotionally manipulative trash I read the day before. (If you're still following my logic, yes. I'm a slut.)

The Past 3 Weeks : I wrote almost every day. It was easy. It was freeing.  It consumed most of my waking hours at home and some of my dreaming hours too.  What was intended to be a 10-15K word short story blossomed into a novella by two weeks time.  And I wasn't nearly done yet.

The Past 3 Days:  People. I have written a novel-length piece of fiction. I wrote 25,000 words in the past nine days. I have honestly lost my mind, because this puppy is never intended for publication anywhere. For one thing, it's too personal and for another, it's not that great, and for the most important other, it's a little scandalous.

(No I'm not giving you any juicy details.  Bite me, Kristine.)

I always thought this type of writing was a waste of time. 

I've had the biggest smile on my face for the past week because it has SO NOT BEEN A WASTE OF MY TIME.

Other tidbits from my life...

* I walked 5 miles this weekend but I skipped my hike today because of The Importance of Napping On Holidays.
* I ate four Chips Ahoy cookies this afternoon. They weren't as good as I remember.
* I forgot to have supper three days this week because WRITING.
* I haven't turned my sewing machine on in over a month. Mojo, why hath thou forsaken me?
* My sister is getting married next month and I need a dress.  Pattern suggestions? (afternoon wedding, conservatory, I don't think I'm in it. If I am no one's told me, so just a "guest" dress. I may have to play photographer. Bah.)
* I interviewed with a charity this weekend for a volunteer position, and it went really well. I was not nearly as dorky as my previous interviews. This is going in the "c'est la vie" column of my life, because I literally can't be anything other than what I was. Hopefully they get that.

I hope you all are hanging out in sewing blog land, having a bang up time and making loads of beautiful garments for me to peruse and slobber over.  I'm hopeful in another week I'll be back in the swing of things and maybe sewing, or blogging, or doing something that's not totally absorbed in this piece of fiction that totally stole my heart.

But, of course, then comes EDITING. (Not really. I'm not going to spend a buttload of time editing something that isn't going to be submitted anywhere.)

(famous last words)
 
PS...DOWNTON ABBEY.  PEOPLE. DOWNTON ABBEY IS BACK!!!  Shhhh. I'm still an episode behind. Don't spoil me.  But definitely expect fashion recaps later this week. Probs.

Wakey Wakey

There's a Snakey!

Snake Trail

Not something I want to see on my morning walk!  Although at least it wasn't the slithery thing it belonged to. Ew!

What else have you  missed the past few days... let's see.  I went back to school yesterday and got a TON done in my room (I'll share pics when I get it all set up).  I moved upstairs to the "penthouse" this year, so I have a new room again.  It's AWESOME.  I'm on the top floor with a corner room, so I have several beautiful window views to gaze out of.  Instead of working.  Hmmm..that could be dangerous.

I've been going on my morning walks earlier and earlier, trying to get in the groove for "back to school".   The sun is so pretty coming up through the trees (and so much cooler than the 110+ we've been getting midday around here.)

I even got sprinkled on one day.  See, here's the one sprinkle:

That's pretty much the gist of my week, in photos! (and if you follow me on twitter you already saw them, ha!)

I did not get my dresses overnighted to sweet Rachel and her husband who are on their way to Haiti tomorrow, but she did give me a contact to her organization so that I can mail the package to them instead. Hopefully this group of dresses will go out with the next team.  Thank you SO MUCH to Tricia and Rachel.  I'll unbox the dresses this morning and snap some photos so you can see this batch!  They're so cute.

So many of you offered to contact groups or friends for me, and I appreciate every one of you!  Please do let me know if they are interested and I'll spread my dresses around.  My email is up in the right hand corner of this blog if you'd rather contact me personally.

I've had some of the best, most thoughtful and insightful conversations about donating to charitable organizations and philanthropy in general this week via email with several of you.  I heard from many readers (you lurkers you!) whom I had never gotten to know before, and I loved that part!

You guys are the best! 

ps...would you believe I just last night opened my July Burda Style?? I'll try to form some coherent thoughts about this issue and share them this weekend too.  I've even got a swishy SKIRT planned.  Yes!  Sewing!

Happy Weekend!

catch up...

Just a little catch up post!  Last week flew by in a whirlwind of ...  oh wait. Nevermind.  I did absolutely nothing of import last week.

I haven't touched a project with thread and fabric in a couple of weeks, so.... I still have a maxi dress to finish (so close!!)  No mojo tho, unfortunately.

I've seen several blogs go silent the past year. Seems the sewing blogger baton is being passed to a new generation. Not sure how I feel about that, or what that will mean for me and my space here, but I'm just going to keep on keepin on until I have nothing left to say. 

In "it's about time to screw up a body part" news, I've been walking every day for several weeks and yesterday I decided to be adventuresome and rolled down one of the hills on my hike.   Oh, all right, it wasn't on purpose.  I got off lucky...skinned one knee, wrenched one shoulder, sprained one ankle and one wrist.  I think I need better shoes.  I ordered these yesterday:

See that little spike?  They're cross country running shoes, and I need that extra traction since I walk/hike over land.  (i.e. no pavement!)

AND... I've lost little over 20 lbs since April.  This is pretty exciting to me, and I've been keeping it close to the vest because I hate oversharing.  Maybe in the next few weeks I'll make something and you'll be able to see my progress in the photos.  I'm starting to see it in my clothes.

I've also read about 12 books the past 2 weeks.  I'm not even exaggerating.  I'm a Kindle FIEND right now.

I've written about 15000 words on my little novel that could, that's starting to take shape and scare me with it's realness.  (That means I regularly have panic attacks about it and wander around the house and yard mumbling to myself. The kids just ignore me. Well, they ignored me before the mumbling too, so...)

We have Olympic fever at our house.  Do you??

G and I have decided we are moving to one of those tiny countries that sends only a few athletes to the games to increase our odds of qualifying to walk in the opening ceremony.  We think we could probably swing a curling team.  I'll be the sweeper.

For London, though, we're Lochte fans. 

But then...who isn't?

Except maybe Michael Phelps.

Speaking of...here's another Call Me Maybe parody.  This time with water!

pensive.

I'm not myself today. Why is it one back-handed comment can make you realize all the things that are missing? :(

Ab Fab makes it better (at least in 2 minute increments).

verified.

Beangirl & I have been trading interesting word verifications for a while now. (Because we don't have enough excuses to avoid sewing and stuff.)

This is my new favorite.


I will now use (and abuse) this expression for the remainder of the day (or possibly week). Like...
Beangirl: "You can replace 1/2 cup oil with mashed, ripe banana when baking!"
Me: "The DOG, you say!"

That's all.