1. One nice thing about finishing a first draft of a new book is that I can FINALLY come up for air and look around. Of course, when I look, what I see is…well, the result of pretty much letting everything else all by the wayside for the last month or two. Such as, bills to pay and file, pantries full of food that needs to be tossed, friends I haven’t seen in forever and need to catch up with, and laundry that needs to be done. And that’s just the beginning. Today, though, I tackled something I’d been slacking on FOREVER: my website. A kind reader pointed out that I hadn’t updated it since sometime in early 2009 or something (whoops!) so I added some stuff about Along for the Ride, updated my news page, and basically tried to make it seem more current. I also updated my MySpace page blog for the first time since November. WHOOPS! The thing is, being a writer was once about, well, writing. Now there are websites to keep current, and statuses to post on Facebook, and Tweets to be Tweeted. There are emails to answer and information to get out and things to be promoted. And honestly, I love all that stuff. I am a total geek in my heart: I am right now SO PROUD of myself for editing and uploading a new PDF of my presskit that you’d think I’d found jeans on sale at Nordstrom. I try to keep this blog regular, and Tweet when I can, but on a normal day I’m lucky if I even remember to brush my hair, much less get everything else done. I guess, like so much else, it’s about finding a balance. Which, in my case, is putting the writing first, and letting the rest follow when it can. Now, I just have laundry and drawers to clean out and calls to return and and and….
2. Okay, so seriously. How great was Glee this week? Now, I’ve written here before that I just don’t really GET Lady Gaga. I think I am too old or something. She confuses me. So I went into Tuesday’s episode that was all Gaga with a bit of trepidation. Which was completely unnecessary, as it was one of the best ones yet this season. How much do I LOVE Mike O’Malley as Kurt’s Dad? He was amazing this week, so great, and I just love that relationship. It’s another thing that makes Glee so great. They do stuff that other shows just don’t even think about considering. And yes, I might have choked up a bit during his big speech defending his son to Finn. Don’t judge me!
3. Also this week was the finale of Idol, something I once would have been way invested in and possibly even blogged about. This time, I didn’t even watch. How sad is that? What happened to me and Idol? I’m not sure. It wasn’t Paula leaving, or Kara coming, or anything like that. I think it goes back to when they really started flogging those awful auditions, showing so many people singing so badly and the judges raking them over the coals. It was just…mean, and there’s enough of that in the world without me seeking it out when I’m sitting on the couch at night. So I pulled back, and found I didn’t really miss it. Still don’t. Although I am sad Simon is moving on. Maybe his new show will be worth watching. We’ll see, I guess.
4. One sign of summer officially being here: the bugs are back. Ticks, mosquitoes, weird jumping spiders…you name it, we’ve seen it. Plus, my daughter is so fair-skinned that even the tiniest bite becomes a raised, crazy welt. It’s nuts, but the alternative is dousing her with bug repellent, which makes me nervous as well. People have suggested Skin-so-Soft, and I’ve tried the totally natural stuff, but it doesn’t work that well. For now, I have invested in calamine lotion and am telling myself that pink spots are better than red bites. Which is probably not true. It’ll be a polka dot summer, either way.
5. Finally, this is Memorial Day weekend, the official beginning of summer. I wish I was going to the beach, like everyone else, but that will come soon enough. Instead, I’ll be here, making my first batch of deviled eggs for the year (hooray!) and dipping my feet in the baby pool on our back deck. Our tomatoes are coming in and there are zinnias to plant (while slapping at bugs, no doubt). Today it is almost 90 here, which means a hot summer is on the way, I think. But bugs, heat and all, it is still my favorite time of year. I hope that you all have safe, fun weekends with friends and family and fireflies and no bugbites. Happy Summer!
Have a great weekend, everyone!
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Okay, I don’t know what the wee-child equivalent is (there has to be one), but for grown-ups, garlic capsules work wonders. It’s a little gel pill with, well, garlic-sauce or something in it, you take it every day, and the bugs think you smell gross and don’t eat you. The best part is, at least in my experience, other people don’t smell it, just bugs. So, that’s worth looking into.
I have to admit, I’m not much of a Lady Gaga fan either but this was probably my favorite episode of Glee to date (which is saying a lot, considering I love pretty much every one!). Mike O’Malley is seriously fantastic as Kurt’s dad! And don’t worry, I teared up during the performance “Poker Face”.
Congrats on a first draft done! And hooray for Memorial Day weekend
It could not be coming at a better time for me, anyway — a break will be so nice!
Seriously, how great was Glee though?! Brittany always makes me giggle, Puck is an adorable blend of badass/sweet, and Kurt’s dad always manages to make me emotional. I’ve just started blogging recently, and I’ve been doing recaps of the episodes so I won’t forget the best quotes (I have a terrible quote-memory).
This is this week’s: http://jaclynclaire.com/2010/05/26/recap-glee-gets-theatrical/
hello
major fan here!
i know i see all the trees blossoming and the sun is shining its like omg summer is finally here and about time to! lol i haven’t watched idol in such a long time, hope you have fun to and a lovely weekend, keep up all the awesome work!
Happy Memorial Day Sarah! love you!
Off topic…
I was wondering why on Amazon.com they have Keeping the moon with a different title and cover. Random which Is totally me, but anyways I love your books and your my inspiration to be become a writer. One day I hope to Accomplish what you have with writing.
Re: Off topic…
Keeping the Moon is also listed with a different cover under the title Last Chance because that’s the UK edition.
Re: Off topic…
Oh…Yeah that makes sense. IT never dawns on me that there are UK versions when Im looking for new books to read.
Thanks!
Re: Off topic…
That one’s especially confusing because her other UK edition books have such a cover theme going, and that one is so different. It’s also the only one they changed the title of, so I can totally see how you’d be confused.
I tune into Idol once they have the top 12 or so. Until then, it’s just a little too painful.
I wish you would have watched last night – Bret Michaels performed!!!! Maybe it’s up on youtube, not sure. I was SO happy to see him, I almost cried. And a bonus hearing him sing.
idol
bret michaels was on the idol finally and he looked good(:
go for the skin so soft. i still use it.
Keeping the bugs away
This is going to sound so weird… If you dab a little bit of Preperation H into the creases of her elbows and knees the bugs will stay away. It weird and kinda icky but it works.
all natural bug repelant
There is this stuff call natrapel, I might have spelled it wrong, but it really works. I’m super allergic to bug spray (as in I quit breathing) so I started Using this stuff since I like to hike in the swamp here in South Carolina. I’ve managed to stay bug bite free without the nasty stuff. Hope that helps!
for the bug bites
I totally recommend Benadryl gel or spray (both topical) for bug bites. I think it works better than Calamine lotion, and there are no ugly pink spots. I cannot go anywhere in the wilderness without it!
For the bug spray stuff: have you tried lemon eucalyptus? It is AMAZING. When I went to Africa, I had to invest in a really good bug repellent (I’m allergic to DEET, the chemical stuff) and lemon eucalyptus worked like a total charm.
bug control
OFF makes a clip on now. so the might help your daughter. you just clip it on your waste.
I know this may sound weird but it’s super cheap and works 110% of the time to ward off mosquitoes and other unwanted bugs…dryer sheets!!! Any scented dryer sheet. I usually stick in the belt loop of my jeans or in a pocket with some of it hanging out and the bugs stay away! Try it!
It’s this time of the year I’m so glad I live in the North West. We have bugs, but they seem to like the outdoors.
Lots of people have already given suggestions about the bugs (which as I’m moving to NC this summer myself, I am totally going to try!) but just to chime in – I’ve always heard lavender oil is good. I used it a couple of years ago when I had some nasty reactions (as in, legs swelled up so much I could hardly walk), and you can put it in the bath or a couple of drops on bed sheets etc.
bug bites
if you can’t avoid the bug bites I suggest you invest in an aloe plant or some Solarcaine (which is a bottled aloe with some extra stuff like menthol) its advertised as sun burn relief but its also used for bug bites and small burns or cuts its is the most AMAZING stuff in the world. it will get rid of the bite’s swell and cool the itch for a long time plus it keeps it clean. I use it all the time and it’s great. in general aloe is one of the best all natural cures for almost everything, its great for lip sores too because it doesn’t taste bad and it works quick, I don’t know why I threw that in but its true and knowledge is power
Actually, summer officially begins on June 21. May is still springtime.
1. I’m so excited that you’re writing a new book! I never read the blurb on the back of your books because I like figuring out what the story is about while I’m reading…I would really like to thank you for Dreamland. I read that one in the beginning of an abusive relationship and it helped me see the signs and get out. Thank you for that, so much. I can never express enough how much I appreciated it.
2. I cried, too. I felt so bad for Kurt. It’s not his fault he’s different and Finn needed to stop being like that.
3. This year’s Idol was terrible. It was just flat and boring. You missed nothing…well, except for Ryan being weird and telling Simon off on live tv…he’s so odd…
Thank you! Thank you! For doing what you’re doing! I am glad that you are able to enjoy life and remember the important things while being so busy. You are doing awesome!
I was just wondering…
Hi Sarah, I’m not exactly positive whether you read all of your comments or not, but if you do, I was just wondering if I’d be able to get your autograph?
That’d be fab.
-Kim
I have read all of your books and i loved them all. They are exactly the kind of books i love to read. I would go through the books in less than a week. I hope you keep writing them~ Also i think you should make your books into movies! i would really love to see them as movies..
You are a great writer!
i love your books!!
i LOVE YOUR BOOKS SOOO MUCh!!!!!!!!!!! i especially love someone like you. it was such a good book i read it in 1 night!!! i just finished this lullaby and i thought it was such a great story-line. please keep making more books i love them and i want to keep readin them forever!!!!
YOUR BIGGEST FAN!!!
someone like you
i loved tht book soo much i cried when they broke up i literally was balling please make more books and maybe a movie of someone like you!!! i would be the first person to see it!!! thank you for doing wt u r doing!!!
Re: someone like you
That’s exactly what i was thinking! Why not make these books into movies. i love them all!
I have to say that while your fans are very sweet and sincere their spelling is awful and inadvertently funny. Did you hang that dryer sheet on your daughter’s “waste.” And how about the girl who was “balling?”
Glee was good but I missed Sue.
I look forward to your new book
Happy Memorial Day!
New Book?
Hey! a new book is coming out? Do you know anything about it?
im so excited about your new book! i devoured all of your previous ones, and ive been dying for a new one!
p.s. love the blog post! all of it! (:
You’re writing a new book! AAAH! I love you…I’ve been waiting practically forever for this.
I hope to meet you one day Mrs. Dessen!
Yeah, about the bugs…
Speaking of ticks, I had my first tick-bite-experience in my whole 25 years of life just last night. I knew it would happen eventually, but having a phobia doesn’t help the situation. I laugh now, but at the time it didn’t seem so ridiculous to freak out. Hope you and your family have a tick-free summer!
Do not feel bad because I do not get what Lady Gaga is all about and I am 26. Personally I think she dresses wierd to get attention. I do not think that her voice is that great even though a few of her songs get stuck in my head.
New Book
Hey Sarah! I’m a new fan. I’ve been, like, obsessed with Nicholas Sparks’ book, but one of my really good friends suggested to me Along for the Ride. So, of course, like my normal self I read it and it was an AMAZING book (no joke!!). She told me your working on a new book and I just can’t wait to read it. By the way, What’s the name of it?
Anyway this might be a little long (using the fact that I’m writing paragraphs) but I also literally just read The Truth About Forever and it was pretty good.
You just have to come talk at the Barnes and Noble Bookstore in Alpharetta, Georgia again (if you have time, of course). I fell in love with your books AFTER you came. Please come and what is it seriously like to write a book?
Lady Gaga and more
Okay, you’re all so right about Lady Gaga. My whole school thinks she has amazing music, but personally I think her hair is just WACKO!! But the fact that you’re writing a new book is so cool! Can’t wait to read it! I wish I’ll meet you one day and I’ll see if you come to our book store!
Ew, jumping spiders! If we have those in Kansas City, I haven’t seen one. I’d probably have to move if I did…
And I can totally relate to this: “I guess, like so much else, it’s about finding a balance. Which, in my case, is putting the writing first, and letting the rest follow when it can.” Although for me, I find myself tending to flip these two. (Doing promo stuff, then squeezing in writing if I still have time.) I’m still working on that whole balance thing.
Thanks for the perspective!
Stephanie Morrill
Out here in Portland, Oregon we are still in the 60′s with much too much rain. I don’t want 90 degrees, but nice would be nice!
About Lady Gaga…
I have a few words to say about her:
Strange
disturbing
weird
strange again
yet talented in some ways
Sarah Dessen, I’d just like to say how refreshing your writing is. Your blog is my homepage but I’ve been so busy I haven’t gotten a chance to read it in forever! I’m happy to be back
I love your writing voice- it’s so familiar and friendly. I think that you are such an inspiration. Thanks for being you lol.