Monday, January 7, 2013

miracle years. and jem and the holograms.

Listening To: Lover of the Light by Mumford & Sons
Quoted: "If I waited for perfection, I would never write a word." - Margaret Atwood
If you go to Starbucks this week: the free book download is Amber Mcree Turner's SWAY, a magical, lovely, bittersweet, DELIGHTFUL middle grade read. Just FYI. :) 



Hey all! Happy 2013! Lately, I've seen this definition floating around on tumblr:
I adore that. I want that.

... but I don't think I'm quite embracing it just yet.

Because so far in 2013...

* I've battled a fearsome headcold that will not vacate. Just when I think it's gone, it comes back. Its a ninja-cold. This is happening with lots of folks right? It seems like everybody is flu-like right now.

*I've met up with my favorite artist for pizza. 


My favorite artist/the unbelievably adorable guy in that photo is my nephew, Andy. Technically ... we ate pizza together a week or so before 2013. But he's nine today (9!!!) so I couldn't resist posting a pic. I'm going to try not to be too goofy and teary when I call him later. But NINE!!! His smile is pretty much my favorite thing in the world. And I'm serious about the art - the boy's got talent. He's the creator of my favorite superhero, Mini Mandy. He also made a superhero out of me - NatGirl is the size of a gnat, with little bug-wings and dark rimmed glasses. Even though she's little, she can fly crazy-fast. She's so fabulous. (But Andy is more fabulous.)

* I've done The Writing and The Revising and The More Writing and The More Revising and wondered if I'll ever figure out what the heck I'm doing!! And felt like a Supa-Stahhh.

* I've eaten Nutella straight from the jar. #Boss

*I've worn my Jem & The Holograms t-shirt. Outside the comforts of my home. Because it's truly, truly, truly outrageous.

* I've exhausted myself watching Les Miserables. Seriously, don't worry about setting workout goals for the new year. You can just go see Les Miserables instead. Watching that movie is like running on an emotional treadmill for hours. You'll need a nap when you're done. I was so anxious during the movie, that I burned off the entire box of Sour Jacks as I ate them.*  (*Probably.) Hugh! ANNE! Eddie! And when the soldiers stormed the barricade and Enjorlas hoisted the flag above his head all brave and defiant and handsome? Guh. I nearly came out of my seat. The theater applauded at the end. It's fun when that happens isn't it?

* I watched Downton Abbey. I was going to post some quick thoughts, but I think I'll save my brilliant and astute analysis for later this week.

* And! I got bangs!


They're fun. When I wear my glasses, I feel kind of like the nerdy girl in Scooby Doo.

... I don't know if any of that adds up to annus mirabilis just yet. 

But this still feels like a good day to write about miracles. Maybe because this day feels like a good day to write. The sky is pale blue and sunlight is sparkling off the grass outside my window. The coffee-maker is gurgling. Biscuit is snuggled up beside me, snoozing quite happily. Chris Thile is singing to me through the speaker. Most importantly, I'm about to read through some notes for the ten thousandth time so I'll be ready for an important phone call. I'm nervous and anxious and a little bit excited about it. Thankfully, this is a phone meeting and not a face-to-face, because my eye makeup is all smudged and shadowy. I never took it off last night. Usually, I look like a sleepy raccoon if I forget to take off my eye makeup, but today it looks more like accidental smokey eyes. I don't know that people who own Jem & The Holograms t-shirts should ever be sought for any kind of style advice, but I think Day 2 eye makeup, when it's kind of a smudgey flakey mess like this ... looks kinda rad. Kinda like Day 2 hair.

I like that kind of messy.

And I like any kind of miracle.

Here's to a year of wonder and miracles and enough sensitivity to see them as they open my days and sneak right in. :)

Have you seen Les Miserables yet? Beyond the barricade, was there a world you longed to see? ;) Get any new books for Christmas? I have a big deadline at the end of this month, so I might be very sporadic with the blogging for a while. Feel free to pop back in and let me know how you're doing though! I hope your year is straight-up mirabilis!

8 comments:

  1. I too have spent my entire first week of 2013 sick. I'm finally starting to feel better, this has sadly prevented me from seeing Les Mis but I hope to change that this weekend.
    Although I think that my nephew is the most awesome little guy in the world, yours does seem quite fantastic!
    And Downton, yes. It was beautiful. I missed it so...
    Awesome post.
    LF

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  2. I am so sorry to hear that you've been sick! I had to go to a walk-in clinic this weekend to get some antibiotic for a sinus infection -- last week I had the headache from you-know-where that kept getting worse day after day after DAY. It was awful. Hope you can officially kick this cold soon. It seems like anyone I know who is sick is having trouble getting ride of whatever they have...everything seems to want to stick around FOREVER. *sigh*

    So all of that to say I STILL haven't seen Les Mis! I really need to try and squeeze that in this week!

    I'm working on a Downton post about last night's episode in my spare time -- look for that later today! :)

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  3. Also, Happy Birthday to your nephew!! He is SUCH a cute kid in that picture and SO lucky to have you for an aunt!!! :)

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  4. I saw Les Mis on Friday, i think. I loved it! It was super long, i thought, and by the end i felt like i was sitting on hot coals instead of a movie theater seat. But it was really good. My favorite part was the beginning, with Fantine. Gahh!!! And i did get some books for Christmas: the perks of bring a wallflower, the one by justin bieber's mom and a bunch by sarah dessen.

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  5. I want to know more about this writing and editing and important phone calling. :)

    You are so right about the emotional treadmill known as Les Mis. I wept and I loved every moment of it. Also, thought the extreme close-ups were a nice addition, given how little you can see at a theater performance.

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  6. I'm about thirty minutes into Downton Abbey so far. We don't have TV, so I have to watch it online, which is a very slow process. I could probably read a book during the time I'm waiting for it to load through the episode. :) But I'm hoping to finish it tonight.

    I haven't seen Les Miserables. As much as I love musicals, I actually have no experience with it, other than being vaguely familiar with a couple of the songs. I have the book and would really like to read it first, so I guess I'll see the movie on DVD. :)

    ~Kristin

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  7. Les Mis was incredible. Tres incroyable, as the French would say. ;) I cried so much at the end.Tucker and I went with several friends (brownie points for the hubs when he said, "That was really good!").

    Nutella. Eat it often and from the jar, when it comes to that stuff. It makes for a happy, hazelnut-y soul.

    I am reading The House at Tyneford by Natasha Solomons. I think you told me about it? OR you posted it on Pinterest? I picked it up about a week ago and had I had more time, I would have already been finished. The book is amazing. I am loving it.


    I cannot wait to hear your thoughts on Downton Abbey. We had a 20s themed Downton Party at my sister in laws house. It was delightful. I'll have to post pics. :)

    Praying for that head cold of yours! :)

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  8. As always, this post was a compilation of so many things I love, too! Nutella, Jem, Les Mis, Downton, and 2nd day hair (or 3rd...). Just perfection and I cannot wait to hear what you thought about Downton Abbey and any new book recommendations for 2013! :]

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