1. My husband is going away this weekend, and you know what that means: I’m going to be on Chicken Duty. This is always stressful enough, as I worry endlessly about something happening to them on my watch, but now we have this smaller chickens to deal with as well. There are electric fences to get over (I get shocked EVERY SINGLE TIME I SWEAR TO YOU) feed to distribute, eggs to collect. Not to mention keeping an eye out for roving, loose dogs. Oh, and I also have to take care of my kid. And my husband has already ordered MORE chicks to come next week, and he is still talking about getting a goat. I am no Half Pint, people. I can only take so much of this! Anyway, wish me luck…
2. This week, I was introduced to a relatively new phenomenon (to me, anyway): the spray tan. I think I’ve written here about how I have already had to have one skin cancer removed, and although I LOVE the beach, I always wear a hat AND SPF 100 or so, reapplying constantly. (My dad has also had a lot of skin cancer: I learned early not to mess with the UVB rays.) I’ve done self tanner lotion, after checking with my dermatologist that it was okay, but the spray tan always made me a bit wary. I kept thinking of that episode of Friends where Ross got so dark he was scaring people. (Am I the only one who has a Friends reference for, like, EVERYTHING? I doubt it.) Anyway, the other day one of my sitters showed up having JUST gotten a spray tan. At first, she was barely brown. But as the hours passed, she got darker and darker, and by the time she left four hours later, she looked like she’d been in the sun—SAFELY—for a few days. I have to admit, I’m intrigued. Enough to do it…well, we’ll see. I mean, I can’t even be confident about my chickens. Not sure I can rock a look like Dancing with the Stars.
3. On the book front, I am about to finish seriously one of the best books I’ve read this year or ever: THE ART OF FIELDING by Chad Harbach. It’s sort of about baseball, but in the way that Friday Night Lights was about football, i.e. you don’t have to like the game to LOVE this story and the characters. I bought it less than a week ago at the beach and do not want it to end. SO GOOD. I love when I can really recommend something. On the audio book front, I listened to Ricki Lake’s NEVER SAY NEVER on the way down and back from the beach, which was loads of fun, especially the dishy stuff about her Hollywood experience and working with John Waters. Now I’m onto MOST TALKATIVE by Bravo’s Andy Cohen, which is seriously hilarious. He is so self deprecating and over the top and I LOVE him even more than I already did (which I wasn’t even sure was possible: I mean, have you SEEN him referee those Housewives reunions?) Impressive all around.
4. My daughter’s preschool had their end of year celebration last night and I’ll admit it: I got a little choked up. There’s just something about seeing your kid with her class, all of them squirming and distracted and ready to bolt as the teachers try to make end of year comments. Wasn’t she JUST a baby? It really feels like it. (And I know I say that a lot, sorry.) Because she has a late birthday for the kindergarten cutoff, we get one more year at this great school before she moves up to the big leagues. Then, I know I will a total sobbing mess. Maybe a spray tan will help.
5. Finally, Donna Summer died this week. Everyone remembers her as the “disco queen,” best known for “Last Dance” and other songs, but for me, a child of the 80′s and early MTV videos, she will always be about “She Works Hard for the Money.” I mean, remember that poor woman waitress who wanted only to be a dancer? Man. If you don’t recall, or were too young, feel free to time trip back with me via this link . It will probably give you a serious earworm for the rest of the day, but we’ll just call that paying our due respects. Be at peace, Donna.
Have a good weekend, everyone!
You are not the only one with a Friends reference for everything. I can make a relation to Friends at least three times a day. Let us know how that spray tan works out because I am sick of being winter pale!
Have a great weekend!
I agree with Devyn…you are NOT the only one that uses Friends for everything. You said spray tan, I thought Ross before I even got there in the post. My best friend has begun making her fiance watch it with her before bed so that he knows what she and I are talking about when we get together.
Geez, I’m almost nineteen and I use Friends references. I can’t imagine what’t it like for you that has, like, lived with it.
And about the tan, if it’s safe for you and your health, I say go for it! Being tan (healthy tanned) makes one look prettier in a different way. I didn’t know you had skin cancer, whoa Sarah, take care of your skin! It must be hard for someone who loves the beach SO much.
And yeah, kids grow really, really fast! It’s impressive. So just enjoy while you can!
Take good care of those chickens, you can do it!
I tried the spray tan last year before a beach trip, and I couldn’t stop thinking of Ross in the chamber. And I have to say, it was a little nerve wracking. I could totally see how you could just get one side repeatedly sprayed.
I hope you enjoyed the beach! Good luck with the chickens (and avoiding getting shocked). And no worries, I think everyone has a Friends reference for everything — whether they vocalize it or not.
So glad you’re back! I was having some major Dessen withdrawls.
One of my favorite Friends references is when Ross yells “fajitas!” When he’s uncomfortable with Joey and Rachael dating. I yell it out all the time. I miss Friends. New Girl is my new friends.
I definitely quote Friends all the time… “I’m an 8!!!!” oh, Ross
How fun that you have so many animals! Best of luck with the chickens (and goat)
I just love, love, LOVE this blog, so thanks again for another awesome Friday Five! I get the best book recommendations here, as well as inspirational quotes and funny stories. Thanks again!
Have a lovely weekend! Tomorrow is my birthday! I will be 23!
Good luck to your daughter!
This is unrelated to your entry but since you’re one of my favorite YA authors, I thought of you when I read this article. Would love to get your take on the question of racial diversity in YA. When I read your books, I always imagine the characters are white (as I am), and the cover art always depicts white people (if I’m remembering correctly). I never really thought about it until I read this article. It would be great to hear what you (and other prominent YA authors) think about this topic!
http://www.theatlanticwire.com/entertainment/2012/04/ongoing-problem-race-y/51574/
Oh, boy. I remember when I was younger, some of my family had chickens, too. Lots of work, haha (: Good luck with Chicken Duty! Oh, and don’t worry, Friends references never EVER get old
I’d totally have a something to say from Friends all of the time except for two things: when I was younger my parents didn’t like me watching Friends. And second, my dad doesn’t like Ross, and when he doesn’t like something, you kind of have to work around it or he’ll whine and make fun of the charactor for hours on end! lol, so proud that you did the whole chicken thing by yourself! Knew you could do it.
Oh, and I’m trying to catch up on friends, so I should be able to quote them soon.
totally random but I’m re-reading along for the ride for the 6th time! ….
If you want a really good book to read then read Anna and the French Kiss. I couldn’t stop reading it and that it exactly what happens when I read Sarah Dessen books. So yes, Anna andthe French Kiss is amazing and awesome!!!!!
yep.its amazing ..i hv read it before
You are not alone. I, too, have a Friends reference for everything. PIVOT!!!
Poor Ross! If it wasn’t the tan, it was the way too white teeth that would glow in the dark, or those pair of leather pants that stuck on.
When it comes to Spray Tanning (which I think is amazing), just be sure to put the hair net right at the top at the hairline. One time I left it down too far down on my forehead and my whole face was tan except for a chunk on top! Definitely a Ross moment…
I loved The Art of Fielding. None of my family will read it because they persist in thinking it’s a baseball book. Such a fun read.
Hope u have a good weekend. I love animals so of course i love the idea of having a chickens and goats around. Don’t people say goat’s milk is better for you? Well I am actually gonna be a junior in high school in august and my parents definitely think I am growing up fast. So enjoy the fun memories while you can. I read what Ariel wrote and I am thinking about it now. I for one am Black and actually i don’t mind what the cover really is as long the book is good. OK i take that back, the cover in my opinion has to look fun and catch my attention also so I guess the cover of a book is essential for me to read the book. Though the cover for your books catch my attention because they show images of teenagers, cute clothing, have fun colors and look cute. Plus they look like girly book so of course I’d have to pick it up. It’s funny because the reason I picked up the book “The Truth about Forever” caught my attention with the flower on the cover. I love flowers and pink so I automatically took a glance at it. Next thing you know I was checking the book out of my public library!
P.s There should really be more of your books in our public libraries.
I am a little terrified of the spray tan but I think I will go for it and report back! After spotting the streaks on me now – it has to be better!
On books – you are the best. I have read all of them – some twice – and I always can’t wait to read the next one. Keep writing! And thanks for the recommendation on The Art of Fielding. It will be next on my list.
This is completely unrelated to your post, but I want to tell you how much of an inspiration you are to me! I’m studying creative writing at Savannah College of Art and Design and I hope to one day be as successful of a writer as you. Thank you for producing such amazing work!
Hi Sarah,
We are two 6th graders from Amherst, Massachusetts. We are reading your books as part of a project. They are very good and we are enjoying them a lot. We noticed that various places appear in multiple books, and we were just wondering if they are real places, or just made up. We would greatly appreciate it if you replied.
Thanks!!
Sincerely,
Aviva and Aleeza
My friend, Sarah, (coincidence much?) absolutely LOVES Friends. And everyday she makes a referance at least once!
Would love to have a cup of coffee and catch up; haven’t seen you since you were in my classroom more than 25 years ago.
Mainly, I would love to steer a writer to you for advice: http://marmalade-meg.blogspot.com/
And we love our chickens too.
bruce alexander (Dr. Purdy’s student teacher….)
First of all let me say how big of a fan I am of your books, they are awesome & I re-read them all the time! Also you are totally not the only one with a friend’s reference for everything. I do it all the time too, and my friends are constantly like….what? LOL
I own all ten seasons on DVD and watch them all the time.
“I’m an 8!!!” hahaha i feel like we all make friends references every day. ur not alone my friend.