1. It’s October, there’s a chill in the air, and…I’m going to the beach. Yes, I know, I’m a BIT late for bathing suits and sunscreen, but hey, it’s been a busy summer. You do what you love when you can, and regular readers know how much I love the NC Coast. If you’ve never taken a beach trip in the fall, there are actually all these amazing things about it: quiet restaurants and stores, empty bowling alley and mini-golf places, and lots of sand and surf to yourself. I am hopeful my favorite shrimpburger place (The Big Oak, in Salter Path) will still be open regular hours and that the water will be warm enough to still swim, as it was the last time I was lucky enough to go in October. After this, I will reconcile myself to jeans and Uggs and my puffy coat. But not quite yet.
2. I never feel as un-traveled as when new editions of my books arrive and…I don’t even recognize the language they have been translated into. Man. It happened again this week, when this popped up on my doorstep:
A bit of Googling (yes, I’ll admit, I needed Google) informed me that this was a Lithuanian edition. A very helpful person on Twitter, seeing this pic, told me that the title translates to “The Night Wanderers.” Also in the mail recently: Portugese and Dutch editions, all featuring bicycles and feet in the cover images. Some things, clearly, are universal.
3. Okay, I’m probably going to regret saying this, but I’m going to anyway: I’m having trouble loving Glee this season. I know! I said I didn’t want to say it. I’m not sure if it’s the show or me, but I just feel…I don’t know, not as engaged, or something. I can’t put my finger on what it is, exactly. I loved Britney’s Beyonce cover this week but otherwise it fell sort of flat for me. I can only imagine how hard it is to keep a show fresh and amazing, week after week, year after year. Believe me, I am the LAST to throw stones. Which is why I am shutting up, right now.
4. OOOOOH! In other TV news, did you hear that Connie Britton (i.e. the fabulous Tami Taylor) says that a Friday Night Lights movie is getting SUPER close to a reality? She did, I swear! You can see proof here. I love this idea, of course, although I wonder if they could really do the show more justice than the final season and show did. I felt the same way about Sex and the City when that film was announced, though: the show finale I believed, and still believe, was just about perfect. But I really liked the movie, too, so I am hopeful. (I never saw the second SATC movie: I’d just heard such bad stuff, I couldn’t bring myself to.) The thought of two hours of FNL, without commercials, WITH movie theatre popcorn….be still my heart. I cannot WAIT.
5. Lately, I have found myself obsessing about my desktop wallpaper. (What, you thought I was going to say something, you know, actually obsession-worth? Come on!) I have done the standard Mac patterns and stuff from iPhoto but just wanted more. So today, I splurged on Cuptakes, an app I already use on my iPhone which has totally girly and cute designs that make my laptop look like a pretty candy box. Hooray! I have written here before about how I might have a BIT of an app addiction. Okay, fine, it’s full fledged. I’m not sure why but I LOVE adding them and then organizing them on my screens. (Nerd alert!) Someone asked me on Twitter for my favorites, and since I am always hoping other people will share THEIRS (leave a comment if you have a great one!) here’s my top ten: (some are free, some paid)
*Wunderlist—I have gotten so many list apps, because I always think that is all I need to actually feel in control of my life. I am wrong. But Wunderlist is the best out there. My friend Christina recommended it and I am eternally grateful.
*Twitter—enough said. Talk about an addiction.
*Evernote—did I mention I love list apps? This one is great because it’s set up for longer lists and can work across lots of devices, like Wunderlist.
*Dropbox–like having all your important documents with you at all times. I love a sense of backup almost as much as I do list apps.
*mSecure–the best way to manage all your online passwords and membership numbers, much better than, you know, a pile of post-its and scrap paper (my previous method)
*Scrabble—okay, this one is pricey. But I personally have used it SO MUCH in waiting rooms, post office lines, and when my kid can’t sleep and therefore I can’t sleep. The computer beats me every time but I still come back for more.
*Yelp—this has come to my rescue SO much this past summer, when I was traveling and needed to eat and had no idea where I was, much less what was good around me. My most common search, regardless of where I am: pizza. Sad but true.
*Pandora—you can create your own music stations and listen for free. I have found SO MUCH great new music through this app. I just wish I could somehow have it in my car. Maybe someday…
*IMDB (Internet Movie Database)—You know when you’re watching a show or movie and you see an actor and can’t remember their name or what you’ve seen them in? Know how that drives you crazy until you figure it out? Okay, might just be me. But in case it isn’t, this is the app with all the answers. Great for settling arguments as well.
*WUNC Radio—All right, so maybe you wouldn’t have an interest in live streaming MY local NPR station. But when I was traveling so much this summer, up early in hotel rooms to catch flights or do events, I loved being able to listen to the weather and news from my hometown, along with the standard NPR stories. It made me feel like I wasn’t so far away, even when I really was.
Okay, so that’s my ten. I could go on and on, but…I have to pack. Wonder if there is an app for that?
Have a good weekend, everyone!
Have a great time at the beach! We love Atlantic Beach and go every year.
Have fun at the beach! I’ve been to the NC Coast once during the summer, and you are right, it is beautiful!
Wow, that is so cool that it is in an entirely different language! It’s only right, though, since your books are SO amazing, people should be able to read them no matter what country they’re in.
I agree with you, Glee is going downhill. It’s not even about what’s happening, there is just something not quite as good. And I used to be such a Gleek.
Thanks for posting your favorite apps list! I’m going to check them out right now! Have a great weekend.
This was great to read! I recognized the book title because 3 of my grandparents speak Lithuanian! Great to see! <33
Have fun at the beach! I also love getting new apps for my iPhone…and organizing them into categories. I like my phone to be neat and tidy!
you could have pandora in ur car lol just get one of those radios that u can plug a usb into and plug ur phone in or one that u can plug head phones in u can do it that way too we do it all the time totally worth it lol
I love IMDB!! I HAVE to know who the actor/actress is, otherwise it will drive me crazy! Have fun at the beach! I wish I were there instead of studying for a mid-term.
I’m not loving Glee this season either! I know that they’re trying to go back to their roots, but I just can’t get all fan-like over this one.
I go crazy about finding out who that actor or actress is and what I’ve seen him or her in, so I happily downloaded the droid imdb app.
Have fun at the beach!
A friend of mine just bought a new Prius (generation 3) and the thing her husband and kids are most excited about is that you can stream Pandora. . .
I watch Glee, and I too havent been that interested this season…
Funny enough, when I was watching Glee I could not figure out who Emma’s parents were even though I KNEW I knew them. IMDB up – Eve from Northern Exposure and Ralph from Happy Days. Yay!
A great way to listen to pandora in the car is through your iphone. My friend Allan just plugs in the aux cable or the jack from his tape deck…. just a thought. Have a great weekend and thanks for the list of your top ten best apps.
Have fun at the beach! I’m so jealous as I will be spending all my weekend reading books for grad school.
I also agree with Glee, although I didn’t much care for Season 2 as a whole. There were some great songs and eps, but it was uneven. This season I feel like it is just a caricature of itself. Definitely not as good as it used to be.
yummmm, big oak. why is it that fried food taste better when served out of a run down trailer?
Congrats on the translations of your books!! You also have to try iHeart radio!!
I have words with friends… (free) instead of scrabble. And I Prefer it more than scrabble. My favorite is ping chat… It’s like a mixture of Facebook… And texting. Oh!!!! And I LOVE restaurant story.
soooo fun!!!
Without the Ross/Rachel With They Won’t They tension between Finn and Rachel or Mr. Schu and Emma, there is no immediacy. I care about the characters to a point, but the lack of continuity, consistent character development, and interesting story arcs, PLUS the lack of aforementioned Tension… well, just a bit boring.
Plus, after watching The Glee Project, I kind of think Ryan Murphy is an ass. Really, the ONLY thing keeping me tuned in is the fact that the Glee Project winners will show up at some point.
Sarah!
I feel the same way about Glee this season! I am hanging in there for night now but it has not been the same!!
For pandora in your car-
If you have something that connects your Ipod or Iphone to the car (I have the cassette with the cord, there are tons of things) you can pull up Pandora on your Iphone or other smart phone that has a head phone jack and voila- it comes through your speakers!
you can have Pandora in your car. It just depends on what car you have, Google it.
FNL the movie! <3 <3 <3 Best. Show. Ever.
OMG sarah i looked up the beach you were talking about SO BEAUTIUFL….
i’m on my 140th page in my novel and i’m only 12and a half i might just take the scenery of the beautiful beach in fall and put in as a setting in my novel… thanks so much:)
Don’t feel bad about Glee…I kind of started to fall out of love with it half way through last season. It’s just…always the same. I kind of like this season a little more, but I don’t know. I’m kind of looking forward to cast changes as the kids graduate.
i feel the same with Glee i hope it picks up! as for apps my all time favorite for android is TV.com it has full tv shows on it mostly only cbs shows but i love it.
That is really interesting how your “Along for the Ride” book is called “The Night Wanderers” in Lithuanian! That is really cool.
Could you understand reading it?
You are my FAVORITE author,(: I love the way you write, you can relate to modern people and I love that about you. I chose to do my author report on you, you write with a true passion that pulls me in from the beginning of your books. I am currently reading ”along for the ride” and let me just say high five on Auden’s personality I love how you made her seem PERFECT in the beginning and then proved us wrong by making her have little mess ups. My favorite part was when Belissa wanted to whoop Auden’s butt,:D I laughed so hard when I kept reading, Auden’s innocence persona made it hilarious, she was my ultimate favorite character. Your books make me go crazy,! When I read in the beginning that Auden ”hooked up” with Jake I was stunned, I didn’t really understand the meaning of your use for that, but it became clear as I kept reading. It would be an AMAZING experience if I actually got to meet you, maybe & hopefully your book tours will lead you here in Texas near Pasadena and my School Pasadena High School will get to meet you. I know my Librarians would LOVE that, we have all your books,:D and i’m making it a goal to make sure more students read your books. I know they will love reading them the way I did and still do, <3
CONGRATS SARAH!!!! <3 love your books!!!
Hey I'm doing a book project and need some info on you (Sarah Dessen) and I was wondering where to or if you could send me some info! if so just reply to this comment! Please help!!
very excited to have discovered this blog. i have read almost all of your books, and i am a fan. i just finished lock and key, and i have to say…i think it’s my favorite! that or the truth about forever. i can’t decide. anyway. love your books! thanks for writing them
Rihtaš mal? Rihtaš?
Sj razumeš kaj je polž? Si hodla v osnovno šolo?
Sarah, I am 13 and i just recently finished this book-not in this laungage of course-and it, along with every other i have read has inspired and helped me in many ways. Like Auden I have recently became, i guess you can say, nocturnal. My great grandma always sang me to sleep and in 2007 she died and i relied on the radio to put me to sleep. Well, i was placed in a foster home after she died and in 2010 i was adopted by the same family who i am not very fond of. I got in trouble and had to give up my radio because they were worried i was listening to trashy music but i always litsen to klove (a christian music station here in virginia). so now im up all night untill my bus driver buts on music so i found a diner down the road to walk to that is always open so i sit and read your amazing books! thank you soooo much!!!!!
hi sarah dessne
i love you books so much
heres why
i luv romance books, love big thik books, they all keep me wanting to read more, always about teens or children…mostly…just like me(: and way more…i just finished reading just listen….wonderfull(: and now im reading along for the ride…i also read your books lock and key just listen someone like you and that summer….i lovve ALL of them…keep writing please!!!!!