What's Up Wednesday- November 12th



Swimming Hole, Creative Juices & my Brain is powered by Lemons


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 finished BLUE LILY, LILY BLUE. Who am I kidding, I read it in one afternoon. I want more. We're still listening to THE NIGHT CIRCUS before bed. And I downloaded some fun new library books. Our library doubled down on their ebook licenses. (Yay!)


WHAT I'M WRITING

Slower writing week this week. Other demands on my time sucked up some of my writing days. But I figured out how to fix a sticky wicket in one of my WiPs. And I did some fun research for my new project. Which made me feel like I'd officially entered Nerdom, if I wasn't already of permanent resident.

WHAT WORKS FOR ME
I find when my creative juices are flowing in one area they sort of waterfall everywhere else. Let me explain. If I'm making art projects or writing songs or doing other creative stuff, I get more writing ideas. My brain makes more words. And the words are better. I go through slumps where I'm just "not feeling it". And then Wham! it all hits at once. The trick for me, is to take all those ideas and get them down. Actually, sit down at the computer and Type Them. Otherwise, I have this fantastic book and these fantastic characters but they are all living in my head. I'm still working on that balance. Harnessing all that creative energy for good. You know, instead of playing the guitar in the bathtub at 2 in the morning, which though fun, doesn't get chapters written. (But I did write a new song. It's been a good year for new songs. And some of them don't completely suck.) :)

WHAT ELSE I'VE BEEN UP TO 


Our drummer moved out of our guest house, so I have this little empty cottage saying "fix me". And because I'm a crazy person without enough to do presently, I say "okay". (I think my Brain is powered by Lemons...like in the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy*) So I started by tearing up all the floors. How very satisfying to get rid of that nasty carpet. But carpet glue...who glues carpet to the effing floor?! (I'm so sore from that evil process) It is going to look so much prettier when I'm all done remodeling/redecorating. Of course I'm doing everything on a ridiculously small budget, so I'm going to be making a lot of things myself. (Because Crazy Art Projects at 3am are my specialty) *sigh* I'm taking lots of before and after pictures so I'll share. We're thinking of maybe renting it out as a little vacation rental on airbnb. That way we can have friends and family come and stay and still recoup some of the moola I'm investing in buying All The Things. :)

* "Nobody think..no ideas...no theories...nothing"- Ford. (Yup that's what I get for having ideas. My brain is my worst enemy)




**Above: Boy Chris' office is at a beautiful park. Said park has a swimming hole fed by a natural spring. So lunch and a hike and a dip are all possible (and highly recommended)


16 comments:

  1. dude I LOOOOVE THE NIGHT CIRCUS. One of my favorite winter-y books. What are you thinking about the audio book? Hey, Kris, slower writing is better than No writing =) have a great week!

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    1. I LOOOOOOVE The Night Circus too. I've read it so many times now it's almost embarrassing. But I learn something every time I read it...so Justified. And the audiobook is actually quite good. The reader is British and somehow that just makes it better. (love me a British accent) ;)

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  2. I'm also a permanent resident of Nerdom, so I guess that makes us neighbours. Nicely done on figuring out your story issue! That's always a huge relief and sometimes more helpful and satisfying than writing lots of words.

    It always amazes me how many projects you have on the go at once. I can see how inspiration from one would spill over into the others. Kind of like getting on a creative roll. Your guest house project sounds busy but fun. What a great idea! Good luck with that and with the writing this week! Also, you're really, really tempting me to read THE NIGHT CIRCUS again... :)

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    1. Hi, welcome to Nerdom!! Gives you the secret handshake and Official Welcome Basket. Seriously, you would be the most awesome neighbor! Can I trade you and yours for the "family" kitty corner from us who thinks that being a good neighbor involves not speaking to your neighbors at all for over 20 years. o_O! (They must have been so "happy" when we moved in) *evil grin*

      Hope you have an amazing week!

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  3. Loving the Hitchhiker's references :P Best of luck with all your projects and getting those ideas down!

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    1. Yay! I was hoping someone would like/get/not hate the Hitchhiker references. You can come live in Nerdom with Erin and me. :)

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  4. I think you are making me tired. All these years I've told myself I could write a book OR remodel a house...Good luck, that's all I'm saying!

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    1. How about...
      Running 2 businesses
      Writing 4 books (simultaneously)
      Starting a Band
      Opening an Etsy Shop
      Building a Houseboat (from scratch)
      Building an Electric Car (not from scratch)
      annnnd remodeling a House

      No? Crappola. *rethinks current time management strategies* *eats ginger cookies while staring at half-built electric car*

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  5. I definitely find playing my violin helps me work through book-related issues. Multiple creative outlets is very helpful :D

    Have a great week ^_^

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    1. I am infinitely impressed by anyone who can play the violin. I'm gonna stick with guitar, because it's a much more forgiving instrument and rarely sounds like I'm strangling a cat. (I said rarely) :)

      Hope you have a great week too!

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  6. I feel very similarly about following other creative pursuits and finding inspiration for writing. I do that, too! Sometimes I'll use those other pursuits to purposely inspire writing. Like, recently I knit myself a pair of fingerless mitts with poppies on them as inspiration for my current WiP. I'm knitting another pair of mitts with poppies on them as well. Trouble is, I spend more time on those pursuits than working on my WiP lol. I need balance too. ;-)

    I can't wait to see pics of your guest house project. Especially with all of the things you'll be making yourself. Crafters of the world unite! Have a great week, Kris! :D

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    1. I love your fingerless poppy gloves! Sometimes I wish is was cold enough down here to need gloves...and then I remember how long winter was and think better of it. :)

      But Balance, yeah not the easiest thing to pull off.

      And Hah! Crafters/makers of the World unite indeed. We should have a flag. ;)

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  7. Can't wait for the pictures! I love watching remodeling projects but somehow my own house is still looking and awful lot like it did the day we moved in...:) Good luck with all your projects!

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    1. Funny thing is, after all I'm putting into it, the guest house might look a lot better than our house. Maybe we'll just move into it. I'm sure it will be cleaner and have less laundry. ;)

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  8. Best.Office.Ever. I am currently sharing my desk chair with a tabby cat. Guess who is sitting on the edge of the chair, completely cramped? Hint: Not him.

    Your house sounds so fun. Sometimes I daydream about the house I'd own if I was ridiculously wealthy and my latest idea is to have a roller skating rink in it, complete with disco ball and announcer. You are, of course, invited :)

    Have a great week!

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    1. Tabby Cats have the right of way when it comes to chairs, beds and all other soft articles. It's in the fine print.

      I want to come roller skate in your rink. I'll bring the disco ball. (I actually bought one for Halloween because I was trying to mimic stars in a forest. Hah!) But roller rinks used to be a ton of fun. So did drive in movies. Let's bring them back.

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