Josh is on this weird rotation where he works early, so he goes to bed early, and for the last week I’ve been the only one up past 9:30. What’s weird is that I haven’t wanted to write–normally a signal all is not well. But it’s okay. I’ve been preoccupied. Not unmotivated.
Be proud of me, my friends: my treadmill time is slowly becoming less of a dreadful thing. (New motto: More Tread Less Dread.) (That replaces the old motto: Cope Don’t Mope.) (My people have this thing about family mottos. I grew up on: Work Hard and Be Loyal.) Anyway, I still argue with myself daily, my will to put on my running shoes waging war on my desire for that morning cup of joe and nice game or 20 of Bejeweled instead. It’s ugly. But discipline is winning. So, my energy is coming back to me, becoming more steady. Yay. But my desire to write in the last week has diminished. Like I said, it’s okay.
This is a big week. I’ll have 12-year-old, this Wednesday. (I’m old.) Josh matches on Thursday. (FINALLY!) We received an offer on our house. (What!?!) Nothing is completely official, but my head is full of hope. And so these nights I’ve had alone, instead of writing, I’ve wanted to lose myself in reading. But, I realized last night, after the kids made a blanket fort stretching from the treadmill to the couch and beyond, that we have a serious lack of soft chairs in our house! Exact count: 0. We have a couch. I ended up in my office chair. Weird. I was actually going to read in the blanket fort, but then I realized we don’t own a flashlight either. (Note to Josh’s family:ย possible Christmas drawing theme: Light. Or, Flash? Wait, not flash. No flashing!) Anyway, I’m looking forward to the newness ahead, wherever it may be. This may be my last post before Thursday (maybe an Eleanor story on her birthday), but as I linger in these last few days of not knowing, I am happy to sit in the quiet and think about a chair, a nice cozy chair in a more peaceful and secure life. It’s coming eventually.
And while I’m talking about reading, if you are a reader, YA writer, or blogger, you may want to participate in Author Appreciation Week, an idea by debut author, Heidi Kling. Have an author you love? One who has inspired you to read more, live differently, become a writer, or simply given you a few hours of much needed escape? Take a few moments and tell the world, or leave a comment here if you’d like. You can see what writers influenced me over on the About Jody Sparks page. Sara from Novel Novice has more about the week, including this awesome thumbnail you can use to mark your participation.
Jody Sparks Mugele 
Jody!!! First, your daughter’s bday is a day after mine! Yay for pisces girls! ๐ Second, did you notice that your mottos both rhymed but your family’s didn’t? Maybe that was the problem. I hope no one said to you “Stop that rhyming and I mean it!” (Does anybody want a peanut?) Um, clearly I’ve already had more than my share of coffee. Good luck on all you have going on!
I surprised myself and wrote two pages last night, in between the shrimp tacos and the movie (which started at 9:45pm! I went out at 9:45pm on a SUNDAY! I hope this starts a new trend for me. Is that sad? Wait. Don’t tell me.). I’ve been distracted also… which as you know is bad timing. I have hopes that I’m doing that Incubating of Ideas thing I used to do in school that worked so well. Incubate…incubate… incubate… FINISH ENTIRE PROJECT in ONE WEEKEND of takeout, caffeine highs, no showers and serious butt-numbness caused by hours of contact with the desk chair. (Maybe I need to adopt part of your family’s motto? But I need a rhyme. “Work hard, you ass of lard.” Maybe not. How about: “Write, bitch, write, or you’ll be really embarassed at that conference on April ninth!” Er, it actually starts the tenth, but I couldn’t come up with a rhyme for that on such short notice.)
WOW!!! “Work hard you ass of lard!” is the motto ever! That cracked me up! I think I love it when you have too much coffee! And hooray for two pages. Two pages is two pages closer to done! Possible conference motto: “Butt-numbness commenth. Conference on the tenth.” So what if you have a lisp? (And, yes. I’ll have a peanut.) ๐
I meant “BEST” motto ever!
On Mon, Mar 15, 2010 at 11:45 AM, Jody Sparks wrote:
> WOW!!! “Work hard you ass of lard!” is the motto ever! That cracked me > up! I think I love it when you have too much coffee! And hooray for two > pages. Two pages is two pages closer to done! Possible conference motto: > “Butt-numbness commenth. Conference on the tenth.” So what if you have a > lisp? (And, yes. I’ll have a peanut.) ๐ > >
Uh-oh — you can’t get a cushy chair now that you have a house offer — you might jinx it. Plus, you’ll just have to move it. For light, how about a headlamp? Available in the camping aisle at stores with camping aisles. Lets you keep both hands free. Plus, if you run outside, it can give you extra visibility to cars.
Haha! I love the light! I suppose I would be alone…Also, I love the tagline on the ad! Did you see? “Because where youre going, there are no convenience stores.” Not in the book I’m reading!
I’m sorry I’m late in responding. You’re right. It’s a very big week. Not surprising if you can’t focus on writing. I find it hard to write when I’m too busy or too much major is going on.
I stay up later than everyone a lot and I love to read then. I’m too tired to write.
Love, love, love your blog!
Just ran across it because it was on the main page prior to me logging in to WordPress.
I’ve bookmarked you and I’m looking forward to reading more!
Take care!
Leilani
Thanks so much! I’ll look forward to checking out your blog as well!
I read your interesting stories …. they are breath of life. I add your weblog in my computer… for lonly time…when I haven’t any successful day…becouse I need a alarm that remember me…life is wonderfull if we want. be happy.
Thanks, Kambiz. I’m so glad you’ve enjoyed reading my stories.