Author Archives for grace

another sunday night writing post

I’m only a day or two from finishing this revision (knock on wood) and I can’t wait to be normal again. Seriously, I’ve spent the last week eating nothing but cheese for dinner (you think I’m joking) and only doing enough dishes so that I can drink coffee and feed the cats. When I haven’t been at work, I’ve been on my couch trying to revise this novel. No time for petty things like dishes and vacuuming and making food.

It’s probably good I’m not a professional writer, I’d never put on clothes or get off the couch or eat a vegetable.

Anyway, I’m going to switch couch cushions and carry on. How are all my writer friends doing out there? Don’t forget to brush your teeth!

sunday night writing/revising/arrrrgh

I’ve finally started revising this novel again, and I’ve gotten to the part where I had previously figured out this annoying complicated plot knot, but since I lost all of my notes and revisions when I was burgled I now have to figure it out again. My brain already hurts.

But in lucky things I have a hockey game to listen to as I work, because iiiiiit’s playoff time! GO SHARKS!

 

notes from the road: Seattle

I spent much of the last week in Seattle. I took very few pictures, and none actually of Seattle, but I would say this one kind of sums up how the week went:

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all the dessert

Yes, that’s 10 distinct pieces of dessert and yes I tried them all. (Not shown: the second lemon square.)

Seattle is a lovely city. Some of the highlights: Pike’s Place, of course (my favorite shop is Old Seattle Paperworks on the lower level), and The Purple Cafe, our best meal of the trip. I highly recommend both.

Our last night there was May Day, and I’m not sure how much of a national news story it was but some peaceful protests turned not-very-peaceful a few blocks from my hotel. I watched on the news as police clashed with protesters, using pepper spray and flash-bangs to control the angry crowds. Watching things explode as helicopters buzzed overhead was uncomfortably reminiscent of a few weeks ago in Boston. Luckily, it seems to have all turned out okay except for some minor injuries, but it was a stressful couple of hours.

So that was Seattle. I’ll try to take a more interesting picture next time I travel. :)

do I have to be an adult now?

So I think I’ve discovered the key difference between being a grownup and being a child. When a piece of mail arrives for a child, it is an awesome exciting experience. Who could it be from? Letters are magic! When a piece of mail arrives for a grownup, the grownup sighs because it is just someone who wants money—either a bill or a charity.

I’m a grownup now, I guess.

Related to grownupness, as I get older (can you tell I had a birthday recently?) I don’t really understand how functional adults actually function. Between work and play and paying bills and doing dishes and vacuuming and seeing friends and making friends and trying new recipes and buying cat food and doing more fucking dishes, how do grownups have time to do everything?? Where do Project Runway and Disney movies fit in? I don’t understand.

Also I am one person and two cats, how do I get so many dishes dirty? I’m going to have to start basing my diet on plate-free foods, because really. Suggestions, anyone?

4/15/13

It’s cold in Boston tonight.

I wasn’t near the marathon finish line yesterday; the closest I got was around mile 22.5, which is where I was accidentally stationed when the pack of elite men ran by. I cheered, I went home, and I was watching MST3K when people started tweeting about the explosions.

Boston is not my hometown, but it’s my home now and I love so many people and places here. Yesterday was tough. Today, in some ways, was tougher, as my friends and coworkers and I relived our yesterdays. Tomorrow probably won’t be so great, either.

But we’ll get through it.

notes from the road: Philadelphia

Spending a quick couple of days in Philadelphia. It’s my first time in this city and it’s pretty cool.

view from the top of the Comcast Center

view from the top of the Comcast Center

Last night we went to Distrito, a Jose Garces restaurant near Penn. The food was delicious—I highly recommend the shrimp and chorizo tacos—and they have a fancy tequila bar. The restaurant felt very Disney World, though, like it didn’t just feel designed, it felt themed. There was even one table that was an actual car, like the Sci-Fi Drive-in restaurant at Hollywood Studios.

Aside from that fun adventure, I’ve been mostly working. I like what little I’ve seen of Philly, though, and I’d like to come back when I’m not working.

Back home tomorrow! See you soon, Boston.

 

i’m old now

My birthday was this week. I am now 27, which switches me over from “mid-twenties” to “late-twenties,” which means I’m almost 30, which basically means I’m decrepit.

I kid, I kid.

This last year has been good professionally and pretty peaceful personally (except for the recent break-in). The only truly unfortunate aspect of my 26th year was the complete lack of writing progress. I feel like I did a lot of work but it just didn’t go anywhere. This year is going to be such a badass writing year though, guys. You don’t even know.