With the end of bliss staring me in the face, (tick tock) I began to wonder why I even brought my sketch pad. I haven't done any drawing or felt very creative on this trip. But, just now, I remembered a book I started reading: Is Life Like This? A Guide to Writing Your First Novel in Six Months by John Dufresne.
I may not be sketching, but I am getting my "creative on" through writing. I've been exploring the exercises from the book mentioned above. One of my favorites for Week 1 is to write "Top 10" lists. The author mentioned another book to get list ideas, called The Pillow Book of Sei Shonagon translated by Ivan Morris. It got great reviews on Amazon, so I'm looking forward to checking this out when I get home.
Top 10 Things I Enjoyed on this Vacation
1.) Watching the movie, Thor, in Imax 3D with my SO.
2.) Visiting with a high school friend. One I haven't seen since the last reunion 13 years ago.
3.) Eating ice cream cones with my daughters and Oma at Star Burger, affectionately still known as Frosty Freeze.
4.) Eating shish kabobs and drinking wine with Oma and Opa's long time neighbors/close family friends.
5.) Watching the movie, Bridesmaids, with SO and B-I-L.
6.) Shopping at second hand stores for kids toys.
7.) Reading the book, Graceling by Kristin Cashore, by the (kiddie) pool side.
8.) Playing with my daughters outside by making mud pies, swimming in the kiddie pool and watering Oma's garden with spritzing bottles.
9.) Visiting the town's library, especially the childrens book section.
10.) Writing "Top 10" lists!
Top 10 Books I've Checked Out From the Library and Read While on this Vacation
1.) Graceling by Kristin Cashore (Excerpts from this novel were read at one of the SCBWI conference sessions)
2.) Falling for Rapunzel by Leah Wilcox (I wanna buy this book! Funny with great verse)
3.) Waking Beauty by Leah Wilcox (I wanna buy this book too! Funny with great verse)
4.) My Sister Ate One Hare by Bill Grossman (This book was read at one of the SCBWI conference sessions)
5.) Fire by Kristin Cashore (Second "companion" book to Graceling)
6.) Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! by Mo Willems (Was read at Library toddler time and quoted by my girls there after)
7.) Busy Little Mouse by Eugenie Fernandes (Loved the illustrations)
8.) My Truck is Stuck by Kevin Lewis (Have read multiple times in the past but always worth re-reading)
9.) Is Life Like This? A Guide to Writing Your First Novel in Six Months by John Dufresne (Lessons for week 1 and 2 got my creative juices flowing)
10.) Down by the Sea with Mr. Magee by Chris Van Dusen (Fun verse and spectacular illustrations)
Top 10 Things I Probably Won't Do Again
1.) Take the Nevada Southern Railway excursion. Twice is enough.
2.) Have a margarita at Sunset Station. A margarita in a plastic cup is uncivilized.
3.) Order a Kyuuri cocktail while having sushi. It was good, but sake would have been better.
4.) Sit in the section where our waitress serves in Green Valley Station. She was a dolt.
5.) Go to the Mirage's Secret Garden with dolphins and white tigers. Once was enough. The dolphins were cool but caged cats just doesn't do it for me.
6.) Make stepping stones. I'm done with this project! I made 4 for my mom, 4 for myself, and 4 here for my M-I-L.
7.) Leave my incontinent cat home alone to over eat.
8.) Order a falafel burger again. Dense.
9.) Who thought the movie, Black Dynamite, was a good idea...George!
10.) Read Hippo Goes Bananas by Marjorie Dennis Murray. My summary for this book...with friends like these, who needs enemies?
and a bonus!
11.) Not stay up until 1:00 am writing "Top 10" lists!
Goodnight.
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