What's Up Wednesday- June 25th


 Solstice, Spartacus, Unhealthy Kerala Boat Obsessions & an Abundance of Katherines


What's Up Wednesday is a weekly blog hop geared toward readers and writers, allowing us to touch base with blog friends and let them know what's up.  Should you wish to join, check out Jaime's or Erin's lovely blogs and sign up with the link widget at the bottom of the post.

WHAT I'M READING

I figured out the solution to not being able to find a book as good as the last John Green book I read. I decided to just read another book by John Green. Annnd it took me the better part of the week to figure that out. (We'll call it my Eureka moment) (Smart people are Smart) :/

So I'm reading AN ABUNDANCE OF KATHERINES and loving it. And laughing my ass off.


WHAT I'M WRITING

More progress on LOVE AND OTHER CURIOSITIES. Small progress. But progress nonetheless. I also came up with some cool stuff for our new collaborative project SKINSWITCH. It's based around the idea of Chimera, and so it's been making me think a lot about how animals perceive the world. How they see, how they think. Research for this one has been very fun. And just when I think I know a lot about animals, I discover something that blows my little mind. And we're basing our setting on the Indonesian Archipelago (above). What's not to love? *sigh of wanderlust longing*



WHAT ELSE I'VE BEEN UP TO/ WHAT INSPIRES ME RIGHT NOW

  • I want to build a pedal-powered Kerala-style Houseboat. (sort of like the one pictured above) I've become rather obsessed with the idea and have spent far too many hours figuring out how I could make one. I have a Project Problem. I think I need intervention. I really shouldn't start a new project until I finish building my electric car, which is still sitting in the driveway. :/
  • I watched a very cool documentary on the Tiny House Movement called TINY . I love the concepts behind this idea. (Freedom from conventional mortgages, DIY, small carbon footprint, etc.) 
  • We celebrated Solstice in style. Solstice is Spartacus' Birthday, so we always throw a party in his honor. He's 13 now!! (We had to look that up in both our journals, which is hard, because Boy Chris' journal is pictorial and not in chronological order) We celebrated with Peach Sangria, 130 Chinese Lanterns (because 13 was too little and 1,300 was too many), and music around the bonfire.


Birthday Kitty- Chris has invented a game where he throws bougainvillea petals at Spartacus like confetti
& Spartacus tries to attack them all at once. 





17 comments:

  1. Your new project sounds really cool! Chimeras are awesome. Love the photos, too. Have a great week! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You're supposed to talk me out of my new project (all of them) *grin* I need an intervention.

      Hope you have a great week too!

      Delete
  2. Aww, look how cute Spartacus is with all those flowers! I hope he got lots of birthday squishes and belly rubs. :-) I love your take on the idea of Chimera. So cool! I think it's great that you're researching the different animals that make up Chimera. Great way of approaching it. As for John Green, I just watched TFIOS on the weekend (loved it as much as the book), and am thinking I might need to read another John Green. I've read AN ABUNDANCE OF KATHERINES, so I'm thinking maybe LOOKING FOR ALASKA. Such smart, thought-provoking writing. Hope you're having a wonderful week, Kris!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Jaime! And yes, birthday kitty got all sorts of belly rubs. :)

      I've heard great things about Looking for Alaska, so that might be next. I love it when writing is smart and funny and thought provoking all at the same time.

      Hope your week is marvelous!

      Delete
  3. aww happy birthday to your kitty :D I loved ABUNDANCE - it too made me laugh aloud. Though my favorite favorite John Green book is LOOKING FOR ALASKA. I have been a fan of his work since before he got the Printz for that book (so like 2005!). More people know about TFIOS but I love his early work best. Good luck with your new projects, Kris!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Rachel! I've heard Looking for Alaska might be his best book, so it's definitely on the list. I've been a big fan of his brother's work for a while, but I'm a late member of the John Green club. It definitely lives up to the hype though.

      Hope you have a great week!

      Delete
  4. Happy birthday, Spartacus. My cat's only nine. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Nine is a good year in cat years. Definitely worth throwing a party. :)

      Delete
  5. Those photos are making me want to sail off to a desert island. Wow :D

    Good luck with your very exciting new WiP ^_^

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Me too! If I build my houseboat, you're welcome aboard. :)

      Delete
  6. Sweet cat! What a lovely birthday celebration. I hear you on the "project" front. I love the Tiny house movement. Have you heard of the Not So Big House books? Really gorgeous books about redefining space, using every inch of space, and living in a really functional yet creative way. Great inspiring stuff.

    ReplyDelete
  7. The picture of the Indonesian Archipelago is GORGEOUS! Can I tag along with your characters please? And I love AN ABUNDANCE OF KATHERINES, such a funny book. Glad you're enjoying it!

    Have a great rest of your week, Kris!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Your cat has better birthday parties than me! I need to step up my game. :)
    I have becoming increasingly fascinated with the tiny house movement and minimalism lately, too. I love the idea of living as simply as possible and getting rid of all the distractions and mental noise around me. But I'd have to drag my family along with me. It might have to wait until the kids move out!
    Have a great week!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Happy birthday to Spartacus!

    My husband asked me earlier this evening if I'd help him make a hammock to use when he goes camping and it reminded me of you and your hammock. I say the more projects, the merrier!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Your kitty is so sweet! Happy birthday, Spartacus! And hello... That pedal-powered houseboat is the coolest. I want to help you build one!

    Have a wonderful week, Kris!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Haha okay, very very cool things going on here. Exhibit A - you have a cat named Spartacus that reacts explosively with Bougainvillea petals. My Wolf reacts in a similar way to bacon.
    So what's the collaborative project idea (is this Chimera as-in mythological creature with lion, goat and dragon heads?), and where is this taking place? Sounds like a lot of fun to do a collaborative writing project.
    Okay, enough from me. Keep up the writing, and take on three more projects, stat.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Aww, happy birthday to your kitty!

    I also loved An Abundance of Katherine's. :) Good luck with all of your projects - writing and otherwise!

    ReplyDelete