What's Up Wednesday is a meme started by Jaime Morrow and Erin Funk
to bring reading and writing bloggers together once a week. Go to
Jaime's blog to add your link and check out posts from other writers!
Also, both of my last two entries contain giveaways: My Life After Now by Jessica Verdi+ charitable donation here, and Starglass by Phoebe North here.
Also, both of my last two entries contain giveaways: My Life After Now by Jessica Verdi+ charitable donation here, and Starglass by Phoebe North here.
What I'm Reading
I've finally started a book that's been sitting around my shelves for AGES--At Home: A Short History of Private Life by Bill Bryson. I'm not a huge reader of non-fiction so I often put off even non-fiction titles that sound fascinating. I've never started a Bryson book and been disappointed, though, and this is no exception. I find myself wanting to text my husband "did you know" ten times a day, and I save up good parts to read out loud before bed.
What I'm Writing
Well, this was not a great week, writing-wise. Last week I had some meetings for a new job I'm starting, we were traveling on the weekend, and the last two days were brutally hot--the kind of hot that just melts me into a puddle of mush.
But, it's Wednesday again, so it's time to reset. This week, I just need to get back into my routines, so my goal is a straight 750 words/weekday. I'm not going to mess around with scenes or challenge goals--I just want to remember what it feels like to do what I'm supposed to do every day. And so far, so good: I've already gotten today's words done!
What Else I've Been Up To
We spent the weekend up in Williamstown, where Mr. S and I met in college. We rented a little house with a bunch of "the guys", as we call his pals from college who, by now, are also some of my favorite people. We played Guillotine and Spot It and Apples to Apples (all of which I highly recommend!) and enjoyed some of our favorite old haunts.
In my heat-induced mush state, I developed a serious addiction to playing Ticket to Ride on my iPad. I had never played before but in the space of a week I'm totally hooked (to the extent that we actually bought the board game version, too!) Definitely worth checking out if you like board OR tablet/phone gaming.
What Inspires Me Right Now
Our air conditioner! The landlord came by yesterday afternoon to build a shelf so we could install it safely, and OMG, it is amazing. I can be a human being inside my house again! I can focus on things, I have energy, I can think actual thoughts! It's truly unbelievable how much the heat was affecting me. I am incredibly grateful for the AC and how much better my brain works now.
What's up with you?
Mmmm, AC. The weather here is in the high 80s, but this is England and we don't have AC ^^; It's all a tad sticky, but I will not complain. It's SOOOOO beautiful! Sun, yay!
ReplyDeleteOooh, Ticket to Ride! My brother has the boardgame version. I need to play it next time I'm at his place.
Good luck getting back into your writing routine :)
Oof, I don't think I could deal, long-term. (I recommend ice water, which I know is another thing that isn't super-British, but it's SO helpful!) Stay cool!
DeleteDon't even get me started on Ticket to Ride. I love that game so much! I have the original version (U.S.) as well as the Europe and Scandinavian Countries version. I'm seriously hooked. My mom and I play match after match when she comes to visit at Christmas time. Sometime if I'm able to visit you in Buffalo, we'll have to have a tournament!
ReplyDeleteSo happy to hear that your landlord finally came by. And that you had a great weekend with buddies. :)
Yes! Someday, we will be in the same place again and we will play Ticket to Ride. It's on.
DeleteI love Ticket to Ride but didn't even know it was an app. I've only ever played the board game. It's fun except for some reason my husband ALWAYS wins. I hate it when I repeatedly loose at games that should be mainly based on luck. There must be some stratagy I'm missing.
ReplyDeleteMy husband always wins at strategy games like that--but this time, I had been playing dozens of games on the app so I actually beat him (by like, a lot!) I definitely recommend practice :)
DeleteGlad I’m not the only one w/ an off week! We’ll get back on the bike this week though! Good luck this week!
ReplyDeleteLOVE LOVE LOVE Apples to Apples! Will have to check out this Ticket to Ride…
Oh gosh I’d DIE without AC. I live in FL so there’s maybe 2 months where it doesn’t run. Haha.
Sounds like your week was super busy, so don't feel too bad about your goals going by the wayside. And it's awesome you had such a great time with your college buddies. Those are the moments that are worth sacrificing some writing for. I can totally relate about the heat. One of the scenes I worked on last week was cold and snowy, but it was like a sauna in the house. Definitely not prime writing conditions. I'm so jealous of your air conditioner! Enjoy the ac and settling back into your routine this week! I hope the nice, cool air prompts many words! :)
ReplyDeleteYay for AC! Your trip to Williamstown sounds like it was so much fun -- I'm a little envious! Best of luck with your writing in the coming week. I'll be writing in the evenings if you ever want to "meet up" via Twitter. :-)
ReplyDeleteYay for AC! I hope you have a better writing week this week :)
ReplyDeleteI installed a new AC window unit in my office this past weekend. Oh my goodness, what a difference it makes! Yes, back in the UK I suffered warm summers without AC, but we never had summers like the ones we have here in NC. If it was just a day or two of upper-80s weather, fine. But when its weeks of upper-80s/low-90s, and temps never below mid-70s at night... ikkkkkk!!! Oh, and add to that thunderstorms just about every night to make the air nice and humid. IKKKKKKK!!!!
ReplyDeleteI hope your writing schedule feels the benefit of the cooler room temperature, Jess! :)
Omg - we have an air conditioner upstairs that is AMAZING! So glad you were able to get one!
ReplyDeleteAnd I'm cheering you on this week! Yay for getting off to a good start!
Hear hear for air conditioning! It has saved me these last few weeks. We're supposed to hit 106 today-- in Connecticut. Don't get me started about climate change. I gave the Bryson book to my hubs for christmas a few years ago. I've loved several of his books (The Mother Tongue, A Walk in the Woods). Anyway-- hubs loved it. And he was constantly telling me little facts and tidbits from the book.
ReplyDeleteYour weekend sounds great! :D And YAY for AC! We don´t have it in a lot of places in Europe and I miss it...
ReplyDeleteWhat job are you starting? Oh and I have to try that game you´re talking about...:D
This heat wave has been ridiculous. I'm glad you have an AC because it is very necessary right now! I'm glad it's supposed to cool off a bit starting tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteYour trip sounds really fun! I'm the sentimental type so I love revisiting places that hold a lot of meaning to me. Must have been fun to reminisce and play games!
Good luck with your writing goals this week. :)