I thought it was just the US that was getting scarier and scarier. Not so, apparently.
cooking
If You Cannot Be Unafraid
This week I learned:
If you cannot be unafraid, be afraid and happy.
Quote taken from this beautiful book.
It’s so simple, and goes along with what I want for my life, which is to worry less, be in the moment more, and yet it’s something I’ve never seen articulated so well until now.
I’m afraid all the time. Of disease, of growing old, of losing someone I love, of terrorism, of screwing up, of never becoming successful, of what other people think of me or say about me, of missing opportunities, of choosing the wrong thing, of choosing the right thing and then somehow squandering it. Of writing the wrong thing, of choosing the wrong life, of being the wrong person.
I worry too much. I know this. I try and stop. Sometimes I succeed. Sometimes I don’t.
But if I can’t not worry–and I can’t, not at all the time–I can worry and at the same time be happy about other things. Like a new blue chair in the corner of my living room, and the basil plant I just bought. How when watering it last night on my deck, I finally made friends with my neighbor, who is a delightfully sweet Russian girl who wants to become friends. How much I am really liking my work in progress at the moment. That there are bagels in the office today. Little things.
This week I am:
Reading This Is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer E. Smith. I’ve read her other two books, and they were both super sweet, well-written YA romances, and this is proving to be much of the same. The only complaint I would have is that these books aren’t really ones that stay with you; I end up forgetting the characters’ names and a lot of the plot the moment I finish the book.
Writing The Play Story. 55K words in and somewhere between the first and second turning points. It’s going to be too long, but then my first drafts always are.
Watching I am hooked on this ridiculous, implausible, unrealistic television show. It is the perfect thing to have on when you want to be distracted or entertained, which is all I’m really looking for from TV these days.
Listening to The Spotify top 100 Punk Songs playlist is top-notch.
Cooking We figured out how to use our communal grills in our apartment’s courtyard and have been grilling chicken (him) and polenta (me) with asparagus, onions, peppers, and tomatoes, and it is the perfect simple nutritious delicious summer dinner.
Have a great weekend and I hope you can be afraid and happy too.
Image found here
To the Salad Naysayers
Adding a little lifestyle content to my writing and wandering blog…
Someone told me the other day that they “don’t like salads.” My response to that is: that’s because you’re doing it wrong.
So, how to do it right?
Start with an interesting green as a base (arugula, kale, swiss chard) and not one of those mixed-bag grocery store mixes. Add something sweet (strawberries, peaches), something crunchy (nuts, sunflower seeds), something in the onion family (like shallots!), a cheese of some sort (I like goat or feta), some random veggies you have (red peppers, asparagus) and as a bonus, a grain (quinoa or faro). Adjust to your personal tastes.
Then the most important part: the dressing. Skip the store-bought bottles—I’ve yet to discover a good one—and make it yourself. My favorite dressing on earth is the one my French host mother used to make, which was just good mustard mixed with good olive oil with a little salt, pepper, and water to thin it out.
Oh, and add some French (or Italian) bread. Voilà, an amazing meal.
So that was my big PSA for the week. Here are a few more things:
Reading: Still on The Rest of Us Just Live Here and still really liking it. My shorter commute has made me a slow reader this year. Someone else I know please read this so we can discuss.
Writing: Sloooowly working on the Play Story. Life is getting in the way.
Listening to: The Band. Really great pre-summer music.
Watching: Hodor 😦
Cooking: The aforementioned amazing salads.
Photo by Brooke Lark on Unsplash
Things Making Me Think
Happy Friday!
This week was not great for me, but it’s over now (the work-week part, anyways). I have very little in the way of plans this weekend, which makes me quite happy.
Taking a slightly different approach to this post this week. Let’s see if people (including me) like it.
Something I’ve learned (about writing).
Something I’ve learned (about travel).
Something I’m thankful for: The smell in Jersey right before it’s about to rain is the same in the city as it is in the suburbs.
Something that made me laugh. Hard.
Something that was clearly written just for me. (Fun fact: I have that jewelry holder.)
Something I’ve learned: When you’re frustrated about something, don’t stew silently. Tell the person. (Politely.) For people who abhor confrontation, such as me, this can be daunting, but for the most part it’s a preemptive strike against an inevitably larger confrontation down the road.
And could this be my new favorite social media platform?!? If you sign up, be my friend! (I’m wanderlustywriter. Obviously.)
Reading: This is finally picking up! As I suspected it would, it’s sucked me in, and I’m on board for the rest of the series.
Writing: Play story forges on and my only problem at the moment is finding time to work on it.
Watching: Still on the same thing as last week and still can’t look away despite the insanity.
Listening to: This guy. He’s good.
Cooking: Messy but delicious.
How was your week? Better than mine, I hope!
Image found here
Friday Things
Friday Things
Friday Things
Friday Things
TGIF!! (How I wish that lineup of sitcoms was still on…)
Here are the things that made my week:
Friday Things
Happy Halloween! It’s been awhile since I’ve gone out on this sacred holiday, but tonight I’m dressing up, going out with friends, and partying like it’s 2008. I am predicting I will start out excited, and then as the night wears on I will start to feel old, come to face the inevitable truth that my glory days have come and gone, drink too much vodka to make myself feel better, and end up with a hangover tomorrow morning. But let’s see, shall we?
MK Pagano 