The Friday list (nice things you did for yourself this week)
Been kind of a rough week for a few of you, sounds like. Teeth being pulled (and not just you this time, Little Willow), traveling for work, packing the house to move–probably other impedimenta to good times that I don’t know about. I myself had kind of a sad sack day yesterday for reasons too boring to go into, but I handled it like a champ by putting in the DVD of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. If a movie that lovely doesn’t take your mind off of petty, stupid, paranoid, droopy, obsessive, depressive thoughts, don’t know what will.
In other words, it worked.
I’m heading for the airport momentarily to attend a weekend of graduation events, so my moderation speed will be somewhat hampered over the next two days, but please don’t let that stop you from telling me all sorts of happy things you did for yourselves this week. This list isn’t just for you, it’s for me, too. I truly enjoy hearing all the nice things you guys take the time to do for yourselves every week. You inspire me to do the same.
So lay it on me.
Technorati Tags: The Friday List, Pampering, Self-Care, Kindness, Happiness, Success, Relaxation
Healing thoughts for the hole where the tooth once lived.
I have difficulties with these lists because I tend to do something nice for someone else rather than for myself.
I have been up late writing every night this week. (Nothing in the way of original fiction, though – everything has been essays/articles/non-fiction for other publications and for causes I support.)
Have a safe trip and enjoy the special events!
Hahahaha… one word… vicodin!
And, I’m also rereading Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix! My first time reading it, I was like “eh”. The second time I was much more impressed, especially with the characters. This third time I am loving it!! I am reading the book *and* listening to the audio so that I can keep going with minimal interruptions! Fun, fun, fun! I want to buy both me and my dog “Dumbledore’s Army” shirts! =)
Well I went for a pedicure & leg massage yesterday. It has been a crazy week for me. Six days till we leave for Japan with 17 middle school students & 2 other adults. We will be gone 11 days so I have lesson plans to do also.
Then I find out that the grades for the graduate class I am teaching are due while I am gone. That will be interesting to accomplish. I guess everyone gets an A-not really.
Happy Mother’s Day.
Okay, this sounds a little pathetic, but the nicest thing I did for myself this week was not have a frenzied cleaning spree upstairs on Friday when I knew that people were going to be in my actual house for the filming. And, furthermore, that I did not spend the time on Sat. explaining to everyone and his brother how things have gotten a little out of control in my house cleaning, but that I’m a good mother who runs her daughter’s Girl Scout Troop while working part-time and having an blog and that we all need to realize that at times in our lives that different priorities take over and even though we want a tidy house, sometimes the best we can do is make sure that everyone is fed, dressed in clean clothes, and live our complicated lives.
So I didn’t say that to the fifteen people who were in my home, but boy, did it feel good to explain it here. Now that’s two good things.
I did something really, really good for myself (and I hope for others) this week.
I needed a new critique group–one that focuses on novels only, is challenging, and with higher-word count submissions. Because I live IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE, I can’t form such a group at home.
So, I put a call out on the blog and I have a new group with 10 members (including our very own HipWriterMama) and I’m am just thrilled.
Oh, and let me add that it’s a great group of active people, some published, some agented, and all trying to get that next (or first) book published. Yay! I’m so excited!!
Sorry about your sad sack day. But good on you for fighting it with a movie. I do think a good kick-ass movie will defeat that burlap-y feeling 98% of the time.
My nice thing: I went to the new bakery near my house and bought Cinnamon-Raisin Walnut bread. And I did not say no to the free sample of Popeye bread (that’s with parmesan cheese and spinach, good AND good for you.) I waved and winked at Ralph Fiennes on the way out. He said to tell you that Joe sends kisses. And he wants to be in your next movie.
I went to a paintball bachelor party last weekend.
I got to kill people.
This may come as a surprise, but my team kept winning.
I played racquetball with my children, and I laughed so hard I almost cried at their complete and total ineptness.
Sorry about your sad sack day.
This week I took much-needed time to myself, and I’m looking forward to Mother’s Day and getting more time to myself while El Husbando watches the girls (and a special pancake breakfast); yup, I’ll be hitting the bubble bath with a huge stack of books.
Happy travelling . . .
Yay, I have a non-run-of-the-mill nice thing this week! I had a pedicure with my sister. I have never paid for something so frivolous before but it was great fun. It’s still warm enough to wear sandals here so I felt very well groomed at various social events like a wedding.
I’m glad Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon cheered you up. But do you watch all the way through to the sad ending?
Emma and Readerdiane, apparently this was pedicure week and no one told me. Dang. I gotta get in on that.
Readerdiane, you are a WARRIOR. Can’t believe your to-do and to-go list. Please report on your Japan trip. Sounds like you might need your own blog for that one.
Mother Reader, I fully APPLAUD you for what you did not do. I completely sympathize with the impulse to apologize for not having a perfectly clean house for company, and you, too, are a warrior woman for holding your tongue and just letting people accept you and your house as they are. Bravo.
(Hm, all this warrior talk must be from Crouching Tiger hangover. No, Emma, I didn’t get all the way to the end this time, but I have seen it before, and it’s still okay. Sort of. I would have preferred a different outcome for a certain warrior person, but oh well.)
But back to you. Kelly, that is terrific! You’ll really love being able to work with other creatives. Such a jumpstart for the imagination and enthusiasm. And good for you that you didn’t just sit there wishing it would come to you. You made it happen.
Little Willow, I feel like you’re making progress here on Fridays, because this is the first time you’ve admitted it’s hard to do nice things for yourself. You know what they say about how admitting the problem is the first step. I now feel committed to getting you to pamper yourself in some small way at least once next week. It might be buying yourself a nice coffee, if that’s your thing, or choosing to spend an hour doing what you want instead of doing something for someone else. Just give us something! I know I’m not the only one pulling for you here.
Sara, sounds heavenly. Truly. And that was even before you got to the Fiennes brothers part.
Laura, good to know you can cream your kids at racquetball. I think you and Patrick have some of the same competitive blood running through you.
Christen, please, please do buy yourself and your dog matching T-shirts. There’s just not enough of that going on in my world.
And Jules, I’m SO glad you’re getting some mom-alone time on Mother’s Day! Cheers to your husband for getting that right.
I’m writing all this from a hotel, and I’ll be checking in for more, so if you haven’t spoken up yet, do!
Hi all.
It HAS been that kind of a week, hasn’t it? (Dentist, scary medical tests, bad temper; I’d like a do-over please.)
Let’s see… what did I do for myself this week?….
I bought myself a new bed for my new tiny bedroom, also had the room painted this week and it is almost in move-in condition.
I ate chocolate with chili peppers in it (from Target – Choxie – awesomely good).
I went out for two great dinners — one with drinks and a LOT of laughter.
I took a nice walk around the neighborhood tonight while visiting my mom.
Here’s hoping next week is a better one for all of us!
Robin, I loved the film. Very smart and funny. I could have sworn the private eye’s assistant had Julie Andrew’s voice.
Kelly, I’m so glad you formed this critique group. I’m so excited about this process and look forward to working with everyone. This has been a truly good thing this week.
I hosted Poetry Friday Roundup today and it was so cool discovering some new blogs.
I stood firm and didn’t let myself get guilted into attending a function by some friends. That was tough, but I did it!
Vivian, I like that last item of yours best of all. As a fellow guilt sufferer (recovering, sometimes), I’m giving you a high five on that one. Outstanding.
Nancy, I’m so sorry to hear you had a crappy week! But I’m happy to see you managed some nice things in the midst of all that. You really seem to be a pro at this self-care thing. Sweet.
On Tuesday afternoon, while on a business trip, I spent an hour browsing at Powell’s Books (a suburban one in Beaverton, OR). I love how they have lists of series books in order along the shelves for many authors. So very helpful! That’s what a bookstore ought to be like. I bought several books. Then on Wednesday on my way back out of town I went to the Powell’s at the airport (which is hands down the best airport bookstore out there), and bought another book. All part of my greater plan to make business travel bearable.
Kelly, so glad that the writer’s group had such a positive response. I’m not surprise. I was tempted to respond myself, and I’m not even writing anything.
Jen, pampering via book is the BEST.
the best thing i did for myself and the world this day and everyday was to give birth some twenty-plus years ago to as fine a now young man who graduated from college this very evening (thus the late night posting).
he is the real thing (opinion shared by many who do not also share his dna) and will do much good. i’m high as a kite both with his success and with seeing the incredible accomplishments and aspirations of his fellow graduates.
i also want to give a SO for educators. we had the pleasure of having one of the preeminant department professors and our son’s research advisor at our table. his personal interest in each and every student and his obvious sense of pride in them was genuine, we were overwhelmed by his emotional investment in them.
so rb, here’s hoping your weekend leaves you with this same high. from what i saw tonight, the future looks bright.
ps this post also qualifies for my best mother’s day gift, which i know will be coming monday.
Annette, I love what you said. Congratulations on seeing your boy graduate! As you’ll see from my next post, I, too, share your optimism about what the current graduates can do for this world. It really is exhilarating to see so much talent in so many bright kids.
And I second your shout out to educators. The truly dedicated ones are making a difference every day, every year.
Well, my birthday is tomorrow, so I had a few friends over last night (seeing as today’s busy and tomorrow’s, y’know, Mother’s Day), and we played Dance Dance Revolution, four different card games, and Risk, and rounded off the evening with the movie The Princess Bride. Love my friends. Love the movie. Niceness all around!
Plus, there was death by chocolate involved. That’s this lovely layered desert incorporating brownies, pudding, coolwhip, brownies, pudding, and coolwhip, in layers, until the top, where it’s sprinkled with crushed Heath bar. Mmmmm.
Well, I did it. Last week I purchased a violin (which will arrive this coming Monday.) This week I’ve interviewed two potential violin teachers. So that is the ongoing nice thing I’m going to be doing for myself. I’ve wanted to play fiddle since I was little and just somehow never got around to it, first because my parents decided guitar was better (for whom? oh well, water under the bridge.) And then because life just plain got in the way. Well, I’ve decided it’s happening, and it is. Once I get some licks down I’ll put some audio clips on one of the websites. (Though I imagine that will be pretty far in the future, measured in multiple months if not years.)
BJ, that’s GREAT! What a nice present to yourself! Love that you’re taking up violin, just because you want to.
Miri, I cannot BELIEVE that dessert you described. I want your friends to be my friends. And of course we’d all get along right away with that whole Princess Bride thing going.
Happy Birthday!
Congratulations to Annette’s son and Robin’s stepdaughter on their graduations!
Congratulations to everyone who is graduating, moving, moving on, enjoying spring, changing jobs, working on new projects, and feeling happy.
Robin, I rarely indulge myself in anything, and I force delayed gratification upon myself for other things. I’ve always been that way. I’m very stubborn! I was very glad today, however, when two of my characters who have been quiet for quite some time started telling me their story again.
Little Willow, I will accept “writing for pleasure” as something nice you can do for yourself. You had me worried there for a few weeks. Now if we can just get you to get a pedicure or something . . .
I appreciate the concern. I’m hanging in there. It helps to stay busy.