The Friday List (nice things you’ve done for yourself this week)
Look! It’s Friday and I’m out of town, but I still remembered! Late, but still.
First of all, can I tell you all HOW DEEPLY embarrassed I am by my own whininess (did I spell that right?) of a few days ago? I need to filter my sad, petty little thoughts. Sometimes I post things that I know I shouldn’t confess, but I think, “Well, maybe someone out there has felt/is feeling the same way, and I can help to make him/her more comfortable talking about it if I talk about it first.”
WRONG!
Well, maybe not wrong, but I do sometimes regret how freely I spill my guts when the particular guts of the day may not be so attractive. But it’s done now, and you know how small and petty I can be, so let’s just move on. Sigh.
Because what I really want to talk about is what some of you pointed out a few days ago, which is that the kind of stuff going on up here in Pennsylvania this weekend is truly a gift to a writer, and it’s this kind of thing which really matters and lasts forever in mind and heart. So true. I’m so sorry whenever I forget that.
So. Anyway. Wipe the slate. Let’s start fresh. Forget everything that came before.
I LOVED today. Three school visits in a row, each of them different and wonderful. A Catholic school and public school in Hanover, and the high school in Dover–all fantastic. Great teachers, GREAT teens. The kind of day that makes you so happy that this is your job.
Before you ask, let me just say that the school performance thing at the Dover high school didn’t happen, but something even bigger may happen, and I’ll tell you about that as soon as I’m allowed. Sorry to be so mysterious, but Cone of Silence has been imposed on all involved parties at the moment, and I do take the C of S very seriously.
One thing I can tell you, though, is that it was almost eerie for me to be at the same high school where they’d had the big litigation over teaching evolution a few years ago, and to have in the audience some of the kids who had been around for the drama. They were freshmen then, seniors now. I’m such a dumkopf I didn’t even think to ask them the question that librarian George Matthew did this afternoon: how did it feel to be them during all of that? What a great question! And what honest, illuminating answers!
It sounds like the most common reaction was annoyance: annoyance with all the press constantly being in their faces, and with the people picketing in front of the school (including some guy who liked to wear a gorilla suit), and with the fliers being shoved at them whenever they left school grounds. One girl also mentioned that she hates the idea that when people hear the name “Dover” now, all they’re going to think of is that trial, when there are so many other things worth knowing about the town. I’d never thought of that, but I’m sure she’s right–for now, at least.
I still haven’t had a chance to digest everything the various groups and I talked about today, but suffice to say I had a perfect day. Last year when I told my writing teacher everything that was going on with my book, he told me something that at the time I didn’t quite understand: “The best part of the upcoming year is going to be all the wonderful people you will meet.” Turns out he was so right. Look at all the great teens and teachers I’ve met, and all you bloggers and authors and librarians I got to hang out with at the Kidlitosphere Conference–not to mention all the creative, supremely cool people associated with my publisher. It’s a true blessing to have a reason to get to interact with so many people I wouldn’t have met otherwise, and who have already enriched my life so much. Turns out that’s an excellent reason to write books (as if any of us needed one).
So that’s my nice thing for the week: traveling up here so I could enjoy a few days of meeting all these great new people. Thanks again to librarians Molly Krichten and George Matthew for making it happen. I’m in awe of everything they arranged. They even got Starbucks to give me coupons for free coffee! How perfect is that?!
Enough about me. Let’s hear from you. What truly excellent things have you done for yourselves this week?
Technorati Tags: The Friday List, Self-Care, Self-Pampering, Self-Kindness, Author Tours, Writing, Publishing
October 12th, 2007 at 3:20 pm
Robin, we love your sad,petty, whiney little thoughts.
I got a new superphone computer that is capable of destroying the universe. Now all I need is an army of robots.
October 12th, 2007 at 3:33 pm
Oh, man, all that and Starbucks kicked in? Yowza! I can’t wait for the C of S to be lifted… So glad you had an amazing day!
My nice thing: I read about pumpkin chocolate chip muffins on Adrienne’s blog (watat.com) and went straight out and bought some at my local bakery. I think there might be some sort of weird “blogging is starting to really influence my life” lesson there, but I’m ignoring it.
October 12th, 2007 at 4:01 pm
Patrick, you just love it because you get to be superior. Again. And good luck on the robots–I really see that for you.
Sara, let’s not even try to list all the many things I’ve done/eaten/thought/tried as a result of people’s blogs and comments on my blog. I feel like a clump of Silly Putty, just waiting for something new to imprint on. Pumpkin chocolate chip muffins sound DIVINE. Guess that’s next for me, too. Thanks a lot, you and Adrienne.
October 12th, 2007 at 4:44 pm
Our family went to the fair on Monday, and I enjoyed funnel cake with my little girl. Nothing like eating fried bread with your preschooler while the sights and sounds of the fair surround you.
But specifically for me, I’ve been setting aside 20 minutes each night before bed to read. This is incredibly nice of me because I’m swamped with editing work and really have no time to read, and I’m also exhausted from getting up with the baby. Now ask me how I’m able to read only 20 minutes of Twilight and still fall asleep afterward. (:
October 12th, 2007 at 4:46 pm
Oh, and Robin, I’m so glad you shared your confession with us the other day. It’s totally human nature, and it’s good to know that you really are human. I told my husband that, after reading several authors’ blogs, I’ve realized you’re “just like me.” Meaning you’re all human too, and have been where I am–longing to finish an MS and seeking courage to submit it and wishing for patience to have it accepted. And now you have books on the shelves and are striving for more. It gives me hope!
October 12th, 2007 at 4:55 pm
Kelley, thank you. Really. I need to know that you or anyone else feels that way. Sometimes I think I’m just mooning everybody, and they’re like, “Put it away! Have you no decency?”
And those 20 minutes for reading before bed? SO important. Both for you as a writer and you as a human being apart from your mothering and wifing duties. Twenty minutes may not sound like a lot, but when you stand up on your hind legs and protect time for yourself like that, you’re sending a message that your time and your work and your mental recreation matter. Good, good, good. I know it’s hard to put yourself first sometimes, but how else are you going to continue growing as a writer and a person? Bravo!
October 12th, 2007 at 5:08 pm
Robin, why would you ever feel bad about complaining? To complain is human, imo.
Nice Thing today: A blogger meetup. In my own town! Turns out another kidlit blogger was a student at the college I teach at. I didn’t know her when she was here, but we did talk on the morning of 9-11 because she was close friends with one of my students. She’s in town for an alumni event and we got together. It’s amazing how small the world is. Now she reviews for the Forest, is a judge for the Cybils, and we overlapped in Real Life. Strange and good.
Another good thing I’ve done for myself this week: Stuck it out with the Richard Russo book. Way better than I gave it credit for. Way better than the “big reviewers” gave it credit for. I actually suspect now that none of them finished it. Interesting epilepsy subplot, including a character who has my sleepwalking/sleep paralysis issues. Fascinating to see it in a fictional character.
Third good thing: Stayed home sick when sick yesterday. (I worked when sick Wednesday.) Caught up on Cybils work when home sick
October 12th, 2007 at 5:39 pm
Because we all know that I would make the lists?
October 12th, 2007 at 6:06 pm
P, you’re on more lists than you know.
Kelly, bravo on the staying home when sick. So hard when there’s work to be done. Sounds like so many people came home from the conference sick. This is what happens when we stay inside too long, like newborns. First time we go to preschool, bam. And good job on scouting out another kidlit blogger! It’s like an Easter egg hunt.
October 12th, 2007 at 6:40 pm
Nice things list. I skipped an evening event last night because it was more important to sleep. Last weekend caught up with me yesterday. I even missed Grey’s Anatomy, thankfully it is tivoed.
I bought dark chocolate for just me.
October 12th, 2007 at 6:42 pm
I made zuccini bread and muffins with zuccini from my garden. I also am sick and also decided that today, for once, I will not try to plow my way through whatever UR thing I have and besides baking I didn’t do much of anything all afternoon and that is certainly being nice to myself. Of course, in one and half hours I’m on-call for the rest of the night, but I least I gave myself a little time to heal.
I’m so glad you are enjoying your trip-are you seeing any leaves turn? I went to school in Philly and remember this time of year as pretty darn nice weather wise. Enjoy-it’s still 95 here.
October 12th, 2007 at 7:03 pm
I’m totally having blog spillover into my real life. I was thinking about Adrienne’s post when I was at the grocery story, and I bought chocolate chip muffin baking supplies, two bottles of wine, and brownie mix. Not that I’ll be using those all today, but I had this “oh, treat yourself well” thing going on that came from her post. Thanks, Adrienne! Oh, and I started reading Extras by Scott Westerfeld, even though I have like 100 other books in my to-read stack, just because I wanted to.
October 12th, 2007 at 7:21 pm
Robin,
Um, didn’t you forget to mention another good thing? Like…a birthday? Hope you had a wonderful, wonderful birthday!
My good to myself thing this week: I had an amazing visit with my sister. Everything else has been kind of a blur.
Have a wonderful trip!
October 12th, 2007 at 7:56 pm
The nice thing I did was read outside for an hour on what will prove to be our last day of summer - on October 10th. I couldn’t let sunny and 82 degrees go to waste, even if I had a mountain of work to do inside. Now I’m in fall appropriate long sleeves and jeans, and I’m glad I took the time to breathe in the last warm day.
October 12th, 2007 at 8:01 pm
Oh, I forgot to add, that I don’t mind you venting here. In fact, I rather like it, because it does make me feel a connection to your experience. I’ll be thinking how unlucky I am in one thing or another, and then I look at my perfect girls and realize how little the other things even mean to me. If you want to whine a bit, that’s fine. We’re all friends here.
October 12th, 2007 at 11:14 pm
I realized that I didn’t have to make a decision right away, and I kept my options open.
October 13th, 2007 at 1:57 am
I had to go back and check I hadn’t missed a post when you apologized for your ‘whininess’. Honestly - would you slap a friend around (figuratively of course!) for admitting to feeling down occasionally? Your book is open and honest and look how we all love that!
I’ve been spending a lot of time this week bolstering my beloved teen’s self-esteem (can you guess?) and kind of needed battery-recharging. Got two lovely comfort reads, had lunch with a friend yesterday, and daughter and I kicked back last night with extra-nice dinner and later watched Gossip Girls on the new computer. Just what was needed!
October 13th, 2007 at 9:18 am
Hmmm…I had a nice slowed-down week overall, but as for something especially nice, I guess I’d say that yesterday when my kids so rudely had only a half day of school, we went to lunch and then to Starbucks to play Yahtzee (pumpkin spice latte!), and then I made them see Hairspray with me even though they didn’t want to because I KNEW they’d like it, and they did.
October 13th, 2007 at 2:40 pm
Okay, so this is going to sound a little odd, but your reference to Starbucks reminded me — I sprang for not one but two pumpkin-spice Frappuccinos this week.
It’s been a stressful week — I had a big video presentation due Friday, and as of Thursday morning I still didn’t have the information I needed to finish it. So I figured I deserved it.
(And for the record, the video presentation went off without a hitch. After which I stuck around for a couple of beers at the office happy hour. Which might count as one more good thing I did this week.)