Today was my first day of Level 3 at iO. Loved every minute of it. My instructor is really, really smart and hilarious. And my classmates are all super talented. I can't wait to progress through and just have a lot of fun with scenework.
Also, ah...I'm thinking too much lately.
I should stop.
Really.
Of course, it's usually a sign that my intuition is trying to tell me something...and I should listen. Problem is? I've got mixed messages. Bah. See? There I go again.
Ignore me...
...please.
Also: Fret-rubbing is nice. (98% of Chicagoans won't get what that means ;) )
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Day 75
After work, I decided to hit the Starbucks on Addison, and sit and write. I wrote for 2 full hours. Again, by hand. Afterwards I stopped by iO to check out Felt and a Harold, but the gall bladder was acting a little funky, so afterwards I headed straight home.
I also wanted to beat the massive snowstorm that was predicted to hit.
I got comfy, pkayed a little rock band, and then curled up into bed with The Lovely Bones.
Sometimes it's nice not to have anything super-exciting to write about...it means I'm still making time to relax...
...which is equally as important as making time to do awesome fun things.
I also wanted to beat the massive snowstorm that was predicted to hit.
I got comfy, pkayed a little rock band, and then curled up into bed with The Lovely Bones.
Sometimes it's nice not to have anything super-exciting to write about...it means I'm still making time to relax...
...which is equally as important as making time to do awesome fun things.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Day 74
My son is a prodigy.
Okay, okay, maybe not, but he did super-impress me this evening.
For Christmas he'd gotten a 500-page children's novel called "The Mysterious Benedict Society." It literally has smaller print than the book I'm reading.
I was worried the sheer size of it would deter him from ever reading it, so when I tucked him in tonight I suggested I read him the first chapter out loud. I got about 15 pages in when I realized it was getting late. When I went to put the book down, he begged me to let him have 15 more minutes to read it.
Considering that he typically falls asleep with a book in his hands, I obliged, figuring that when I came to bed in an hour I'd have to pull the drooled-on manuscript from his sleeping hands.
Not so. When I got up the stairs, there he was--still awake reading the book.
"It's midnight, Max! Bed!"
"I know, but it's SO GOOD! Just two more minutes."
Again, I obliged, as I still had to get things in order to get myself to bed. As I pulled back my covers and plugged in my cell phone, he came into my room.
"My arms are getting tired. Could you just read me a couple more pages? I promise I'll go to sleep."
I couldn't say no. I mean, this was a matter of fine literature...at least for a 9-year-old. And I was proud that he wasn't intimidated by the size of this book. That he actually enjoyed it so much he couldn't put it down. That's such an awesome feeling.
He curled up into my bed with me and handed me the book.
"What page?" I asked. I don't know what I was expecting...maybe page 25 or 30. Max flipped through the book.
"This one." His finger traced down the page. "I left off right here."
I looked at the page number: 64. The child had read 50 pages in an hour. At first I thought maybe he skipped a few pages, but as I read, he began to react to things...things I couldn't react to because I had missed the past 50 pages. He was laughing at things that to me made no sense, but he had read about something relating to them in the previous pages. He had actually read those pages. Became absorbed by them. Couldn't put the book down.
After a few pages, I closed the book and we talked about it for a few minutes before I turned out the light, rubbed his little arm, and he fell asleep.
As a writer, I couldn't stop thinking about how incredibly happy I was that my little spawn understood the power of a great story.
Before he had crawled into bed, I had been putting off starting my novel. But after that moment, after he fell asleep, I turned the light back on, picked up my pen and notebook and actually started writing.
That child...that child inspires me. Every single day.
Okay, okay, maybe not, but he did super-impress me this evening.
For Christmas he'd gotten a 500-page children's novel called "The Mysterious Benedict Society." It literally has smaller print than the book I'm reading.
I was worried the sheer size of it would deter him from ever reading it, so when I tucked him in tonight I suggested I read him the first chapter out loud. I got about 15 pages in when I realized it was getting late. When I went to put the book down, he begged me to let him have 15 more minutes to read it.
Considering that he typically falls asleep with a book in his hands, I obliged, figuring that when I came to bed in an hour I'd have to pull the drooled-on manuscript from his sleeping hands.
Not so. When I got up the stairs, there he was--still awake reading the book.
"It's midnight, Max! Bed!"
"I know, but it's SO GOOD! Just two more minutes."
Again, I obliged, as I still had to get things in order to get myself to bed. As I pulled back my covers and plugged in my cell phone, he came into my room.
"My arms are getting tired. Could you just read me a couple more pages? I promise I'll go to sleep."
I couldn't say no. I mean, this was a matter of fine literature...at least for a 9-year-old. And I was proud that he wasn't intimidated by the size of this book. That he actually enjoyed it so much he couldn't put it down. That's such an awesome feeling.
He curled up into my bed with me and handed me the book.
"What page?" I asked. I don't know what I was expecting...maybe page 25 or 30. Max flipped through the book.
"This one." His finger traced down the page. "I left off right here."
I looked at the page number: 64. The child had read 50 pages in an hour. At first I thought maybe he skipped a few pages, but as I read, he began to react to things...things I couldn't react to because I had missed the past 50 pages. He was laughing at things that to me made no sense, but he had read about something relating to them in the previous pages. He had actually read those pages. Became absorbed by them. Couldn't put the book down.
After a few pages, I closed the book and we talked about it for a few minutes before I turned out the light, rubbed his little arm, and he fell asleep.
As a writer, I couldn't stop thinking about how incredibly happy I was that my little spawn understood the power of a great story.
Before he had crawled into bed, I had been putting off starting my novel. But after that moment, after he fell asleep, I turned the light back on, picked up my pen and notebook and actually started writing.
That child...that child inspires me. Every single day.
Monday, January 4, 2010
Day 73
Back to the same 'ol same 'ol. Worked, picked up Max, watched Hoarders together.
Typical Monday. Nothing of note occured.
Then again, maybe I haven't been looking hard enough.
Well...shit.
Typical Monday. Nothing of note occured.
Then again, maybe I haven't been looking hard enough.
Well...shit.
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Day 72
I made a discovery today:
If I fail to put in my contacts, instead choosing to remain in my eyeglasses all day, I am undeniably super-unproductive.
Then again, maybe it was just the realization that after today the world, and my weeks, return to normal, but I didn't accomplish a single thing I'd hoped to accomplish. Nothing.
Instead, I just spent the day with Max, lounging around...both of us trying to hang on to every little minute and stretch it out as far as it would go.
But alas, we only got 60 seconds out of each, and now it's time for bed. Meaning Monday is just around the corner.
It truly was a crazy and amazing past couple weeks though.
Here's hoping 2010 is as interesting, fun, and brilliant as my 2009.
It's The Year of Creative Endeavors (and Continued Self-Discovery)...
...so I guess, really, it has to be.
If I fail to put in my contacts, instead choosing to remain in my eyeglasses all day, I am undeniably super-unproductive.
Then again, maybe it was just the realization that after today the world, and my weeks, return to normal, but I didn't accomplish a single thing I'd hoped to accomplish. Nothing.
Instead, I just spent the day with Max, lounging around...both of us trying to hang on to every little minute and stretch it out as far as it would go.
But alas, we only got 60 seconds out of each, and now it's time for bed. Meaning Monday is just around the corner.
It truly was a crazy and amazing past couple weeks though.
Here's hoping 2010 is as interesting, fun, and brilliant as my 2009.
It's The Year of Creative Endeavors (and Continued Self-Discovery)...
...so I guess, really, it has to be.
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Day 71
I got to sleep in today because Max was still asleep at his Nana's when I called to see what time I needed to pick him up. That was nice.
After I drove back from the city and got him, it was around 2pm. We basically spent the day lounging around...well I did chores. It was high-time I caught up on the laundry.
I love laundry day. Especially since I have a 9-year-old. It's always a treat to see what he's hidden in his pockets each week. Here were today's treasures:
A pretty nice crop of randomness if you ask me.
Not quite as interesting as the time I found 5 or 6 crusty shrimp tails, but still...
After I drove back from the city and got him, it was around 2pm. We basically spent the day lounging around...well I did chores. It was high-time I caught up on the laundry.
I love laundry day. Especially since I have a 9-year-old. It's always a treat to see what he's hidden in his pockets each week. Here were today's treasures:
A pretty nice crop of randomness if you ask me.
Not quite as interesting as the time I found 5 or 6 crusty shrimp tails, but still...
Friday, January 1, 2010
Day 70
New Year's Day.
I pretty much slept for most of the day. Recooperation was necessary. I had to work a shift at iO tonight, and for the first Friday in ages, well, I didn't stay for the rest of the Jam. I actually didn't even play. I was beat. It was busy, which is awesome...but after a super late night of NYE festivities, it was pretty brutal.
I ended up crashing at a friend's place. I was considerably too tired to drive all the way back to Indiana.
When I got there, he was reading a book he'd gotten for Christmas. I've been trying to reread The Lovely Bones after 6 years. I want to refresh before I go see the movie adaptation of the book.
So, for about an hour we both laid there, reading our respective books. And actually? It was really nice. I mean, I'd never done that before. Just sat there with someone, reading separately but together.
I've discovered I'm a vocal reader...audibly relating my reactions to what I'm reading to the rest of the room: laughter, sighs, grunts of disgust, tears. Everything.
My friend is not. And I'm really hoping I didn't annoy him to high heaven with my reactions. I don't think I did though.
Eventually, we both fell asleep. Reading has a way of tugging at your eyelids after a while. All in all, a wonderful day.
I pretty much slept for most of the day. Recooperation was necessary. I had to work a shift at iO tonight, and for the first Friday in ages, well, I didn't stay for the rest of the Jam. I actually didn't even play. I was beat. It was busy, which is awesome...but after a super late night of NYE festivities, it was pretty brutal.
I ended up crashing at a friend's place. I was considerably too tired to drive all the way back to Indiana.
When I got there, he was reading a book he'd gotten for Christmas. I've been trying to reread The Lovely Bones after 6 years. I want to refresh before I go see the movie adaptation of the book.
So, for about an hour we both laid there, reading our respective books. And actually? It was really nice. I mean, I'd never done that before. Just sat there with someone, reading separately but together.
I've discovered I'm a vocal reader...audibly relating my reactions to what I'm reading to the rest of the room: laughter, sighs, grunts of disgust, tears. Everything.
My friend is not. And I'm really hoping I didn't annoy him to high heaven with my reactions. I don't think I did though.
Eventually, we both fell asleep. Reading has a way of tugging at your eyelids after a while. All in all, a wonderful day.
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