The Friday list (nice things you did for yourself this week)
A week ago I would have thought the most exciting thing about this week would be going to Stephenie Meyer’s Eclipse Prom tomorrow. But nay.
THE most exciting thing is going to begin at 4:00 this afternoon my time, 7:00 Washington, D.C. time, which is the time that matters, because that’s when the 48 Hour Film Project begins.
Back up. I got this wonderful e-mail several days ago from our blogging friend Mother Reader, telling me that she and her gang of various talented actors and director and crew participate in the 48 Hour Film Project every year, and that this year they were looking for a screenwriter, and that that screenwriter could be me if I was interested.
HELL YEAH!
Because (a) it involves a deadline; (b) that deadline is ridiculous; (c) it involves writing a screenplay; (d) I get to play with Mother Reader and a bunch of other creative people; and (e) it involves a huge element of surprise.
Because here’s the deal: at 7:00 Washington, D.C. time, everyone up there who is competing in this year’s contest will draw three pieces of paper from three plastic hats. Those papers will tell each competing group what genre their film has to be in, what the main character’s name and occupation are, and what one line must appear somewhere in the film.
Does that not sound like the FUNNEST THING EVER??
So then Mother Reader and her cohort director will call me with that information, and we’ll quickly brainstorm, and then I’ve promised to kick out a first draft of the script for our 8-minute film in one hour.
I cannot wait.
And then we’ll talk again, I’ll do a second draft, and then my part is done before bedtime tonight. Then the actors, directors, producers, camera people, and composer will all kick it into gear and actually make this film starting tomorrow morning (or maybe even tonight, for all I know) and have it completed by Sunday. They’ll rush it across town to wherever they have to turn it in, and then we’ll wait and see how it does in the competition.
The reason why all of this is the nice thing I’m doing for myself this week is that it’s an example of the fun things that come to you when you say yes.
I have not always been a yesser. In fact, some might say I was the opposite. Sometimes I’m ridiculously shy about trying new things or meeting new people. But I’ve been working on that, and so far I’ve been richly rewarded.
A few years ago I read an interview with Tina Fey (Saturday Night Live, Mean Girls, etc.) in which she talked about all the good things that have come to her as a result of saying yes.
Her motto? “The fun is always on the other side of a yes.†Thanks to Mother Reader’s kind offer, today I get to give myself that kind of fun.
So that’s my deal. How about you? What nice things have you guys done for yourselves this week?
Technorati Tags: Mother Reader, 48 Hour Film Project, Tina Fey, The Friday List, Nice Things You Do For Yourself, Pampering, Happiness
Let’s see…
This week I made homemade mayonaise. (because I can)
I got my hair cut.
I took a photo of my butt, because Robin wanted me to.
I’m still continuing to lose weight even though I am nowhere near a scale. I’m just assuming that I am.
Robin, (or YesGirl, as I may start addressing you)
This is too weird. I just followed the links (through MotherReader’s blog) to the film team you’ll be writing for…and they are less than 15 minutes from my house.
Standing ovation for saying yes. I can probably go to the screening here in DC next week.
Oh, and even weirder: the book I’m working on is about military kids and improvisational theater. I just wrote the chapter yesterday called “The Art of Saying Yes (Losing Sight of the Shore)”
….in which their teacher gives them a magnificent quote:
“One does not discover new lands without consenting to lose sight of the shore…†–Andre Gide
…and then jumps on a couch, begins rowing, and singing a jody call. It ends with her saying: “As a general rule, you should try not to pass out, die, or run off stage during an improvisation. The best thing to do is to say Yes and…”
The world is small. Tiny. Or maybe great minds just converge. Yes, and…
Sara, you just gave me chills. I won’t even begin to try to analyze it. All I’ll say is HOW COOL!
Patrick, I could have actually gone through my whole life without needing to see a photo of your butt. Just so you know.
I know Robin, but your life is richer for it now.
And we’re soooo glad you did say Yes! I’m so excited for tonight! Our screening is set for Thursday, May 10th and after that we put the film online so everyone can see. So your fans can see it!
The nicest thing I did for myself this week is go shopping after I had to run a stupid errand thirty minutes from my house. But to make up for it, I spend ninety minutes shopping in the outlet stores for Children’s Place and Claire’s, coming up with some mega-cheap clothes and accessories for the kids and some too-cool accessories for me. I now have those oversized sunglasses that make me look like a movie star, except mine cost about seventy cents.
Talk to you tonight. Oh, though the drawing starts at 7:00, the contest begins at 7:30. Can’t wait!
Wow, Sara, I just went to your website. Not only do you apparently live near me, but we also both went to William and Mary – as did my husband. Small world.
Nice for me? Dunno. I’ve been cleaning like crazy for incoming company while trying to remain a competent mother.
Not easy.
(I have been eating cookies, though.)
And way cool on your 48hr film project.
Will we landlocked people be able to catch a glipse of this future masterpiece?!?
Nice things. I have to be honest in that I haven’t been especially nice to self this week. I’ve just been too busy, what with work, blogging, writing, dealing with a Mean Girls scenario with the 5th grader, etc., etc.
But I haven’t been mean to self either, which is a change. Does that count?
Have fun on the film, Robin! It’s sounds like a cool experience.
Heather, cookies count, and Kelly, not being mean to yourself definitely counts, too, since that’s a step up for a lot of us some days.
And Kelly, Mother Reader says the film will be available on-line in the coming days, so I’ll link to it when it is.
Sooo cool about the contest tonight! Enjoy and have fun!
For nice this week, I took a riding lesson and both my mare and I got a terrific workout. I went to a Cinco de Mayo party last night given by my orsey friends and ate way too much really good Mexican food. I am going to another Cinco party tonight at kid’s school and see my second grader perform some Cinco de Mayo related song and dance and then we’ll eat more Mexican food.
Tomorrow, (well, I guess this should really wait to be included in next’s Friday’s list; nah, I’m doing it now), my daughter is making her First Communion and I get to dress her in a really pretty white Communion dress, veil, gloves, the whole works and then after, at her request, we are going to a ‘fancy restaurant’ for celebratory dinner.
Have fun at the prom-don’t forget the photos!
Oops, I forgot to list my nice thing. Does shaving my legs count?
OK, I did sit out on the deck and let the sun warm my poor white feet. And I ate Ben and Jerry’s brownie chunk frozen yogurt. With a large spoon.
Robin… that is sooooo freaking cool!!!!!!! Wow! I can’t wait to see these movies!
Hmmm… nice things… Well, I finished grad school yesterday (Ye-Ahhhhhhhhhh!!!) and then Steve and I went out for margaritas to celebrate!! Oh, and I have a second interview for a librarian position on Monday. It’s for a job out of state and the library is actually flying me to them!!! So, I might be going out tonight to treat myself to a new outfit for the interview!
Patrick, I just saw the shot of your tush! Nice.
WOW. That sounds fun. It’s like a NaNoWriMo for screenwriters and film types…except, no, that’s not even doing it justice. It’s way crazier than that (in the best possible way). That’s more on the level of the folks I know who did NaNoWriMo in a day.
Gosh, that’ll be fun. At 7:00 I’ll be thinking of you guys!
Well, for me, this week, I totally disregarded my TBR list and went crazy at a local half-price book fair, because I am totally not about to turn down three-dollar books. Came home with Cry of the Icemark, Uglies, and Grim Tuesday (though I need to find Mister Monday before I can dig into that), for a total of $8.50. Three cheers for dirt-cheap!
Aww, Deborah, I love that you get to dress up your girl! Do you think she knows that you’re going to like that as much as she will?
Sara, leg shaving counts. That is definitely something nice you can do for yourself. Smooth skin is a treat. Plus the whole Ben & Jerry’s thing–I’d say you’ve got this down.
Christen, congratulations on graduating and on getting a job interview! That’s wonderful. Best of luck.
Miri, books are always a treat and a half, but especially at those prices. The TBR pile will always be there. Nothing wrong with fresh additions.
Oh, and add to my list for this week that I just got back from buying myself a fancy dress for the prom–one that I actually like and feel comfortable in. Also bought all the relevant accessories, so now I’m fully good to go.
Good for you on getting the prom dress and all the accessories! Get some Mall Hair, lipstick, douse yourself in perfume and you are ready to kick some prom butt! Just be home by midnight…
Take pictures!!!! =)
the best thing i did for myself this week is get my blog on after slacking ala sara for awhile. question sara: what is a “jody call”?
patrick you had me at the “butt”–but i feel decieved. i and every other bloggie (but most particularly herb) had every right to expect a speedo shot. the dockers just don’t cut it.
annette: Ever seen any military films? An Officer and a Gentleman, etc? A jody call is a call and response, done while doing physical training, to keep up morale and to keep a steady pace, and sometimes, the group makes it up as they go along. (Improvisation)
Example: the leader sings out:
“I don’t know, but I’ve been told…”
And the rest sing back a response:
“Patrick’s butt is made of gold!” (Or some such.)
You try it…
Robin, have fun with the film project, and with the prom. I like what you said about saying yes to things. I’ve been inclined to say no to some thing lately, because I’m a little stressed out, but some of the yes answers from the past year or so have certainly led to fun things.
The nice thing that I did for myself this week was NOT traveling for work. This allowed me to do things like get a routine medical check-up, and get my car serviced, and catch up somewhat on my to-do list. These are not glamorous things, but I’m so happy not to have put them all off for another week.
Happy screenwriting and prom-dancing!
I went and got my haircut (and a touch up. and highlights. and lowlights. yes, I indulged.) And knowing it would take time, grabbed an ARC from the top of a pile. (I got it from a friend.)
I ADORE evolution. I managed to read up to ch 44 while at the salon and am going to finish it tonight but but could not resist logging on and telling you how much I like it.
rb, if there is ANY possible way you can get some jody-calling in that sceenplay, you’ve as good as won.
i don’t know but i can smell
mother-reader’s gonna sell
sound off–one, two…
Oh, my gosh, Liz, THANK YOU! What a surprise!
Good job, Liz and Jen, on the self-indulgences this week. Jen, I know it sounds boring, but spending a week doing all that catch-up is such a great relief, isn’t it?
And Liz, why shouldn’t you get both highlights and lowlights? You got elected onto the Printz committee this week! You deserve fancy hair!
Annette, I just finished the script. Sorry I couldn’t fit in the jody-calling–we were tight on time. Otherwise, I’m sure it would have made it a winner. Ahem.
My nice thing was going to see Spiderman 3 yesterday(haven’t done the opening day thing in awhile),which was fun but I really hope that they don’t make a Spidey 4,especially if Tobey,Kristen and Sam Raimi are not onboard. Three is a magic number,folks:)
Also,seeing the Harry Potter trailer on the big screen was sweet! Makes me even more pumped up for it. Speaking of pumped up,good luck with your movie,Robin!
Thanks, Lady T! I’m so glad you got to see Spider-Man. I need to get right on that. And I agree that they need to quit while they’re ahead. Hate to see a franchise putter its way to an end.
And can’t wait for Harry Potter!!
That is awesome. I want to see it!
(Cross-posted to MR.)
I worked a lot this week.
Little Willow, I’m not feeling like you’re in the spirit of this be-nice-to-yourself thing. Last month your teeth were acting up, and now unless you’re telling me that working a lot felt great, I think you need a change.
What we’re talking here is Little Willow the Queen. Little Willow the Princess. What minor kindness (we’ll start small so as not to scare the whole system) can you give to yourself TODAY?? Maybe rent a movie you’ve been wanting to see, or treating yourself to some take-out you hardly ever get, or calling a friend and gabbing on the phone for an hour?
Give us (and you) something!!
Hi Robin. Sorry I’m late to list this week. I’ve been travelling. Oh, and dating. Yeah, the dating is what I did nice for myself this week. I even took a day off of work specifically for a date. Which was perfectly self-indulgent and I may have to do that again sometime.
Good for you, Nancy! Nice work in self-pampering.