- My post ideas are out of control. I’ve been trying to use a blog planner to keep them all organized and plan them all out but trying to stick to that plan is virtually impossible. I think I need to have a writing day, get them all out in draft form, and then go back and hit publish on various days. Especially when the inevitable writer’s block sets in.
- I needed a subset for this one. I keep going back and forth between completely self-centered posts and posts that others might find helpful and/or useful. I don’t know which ones to publish. So, quick reader poll: What do you guys prefer to read? One or the other? A mix of both? Let me know!
- The stack of books on my nightstand and on my Kindle app is ridiculous. And more books are coming in every day. I need, in addition to a writing day, a reading retreat where I sit and just read books for a week. Preferably at a quiet beach house, with only my dogs keeping me company.
- My daughter’s Halloween costume still isn’t done. She wants to go as Laura Ingalls and while it seemed like a good idea, putting this costume together is way more difficult than I thought it would be. This costume is why I wish I could sew more than a button or a seam.
- If anyone has motivation to exercise, can you please hurl some extra my way? It’s been a week since my last workout and the “I don’t give a shits” have set it. My fat ass will not keep losing weight if I can’t find my will to sweat anymore.
- I have finally started liking podcasts! I have two that I listen to with regularity and they’re actually interesting. Well done, on topics I enjoy, and not too long. The last time I listened to a regular podcast was when LOST was on TV. I’m glad I finally found something!
- Buzzfeed might be known for it’s annoying list posts, stupid life quizzes (did you know that anyone can make one now? I’m debating whether or not to do it), and random collections of pictures but lately, I’ve found a few longform essays that are killing it. I’ll share a couple of them in tomorrow’s Friday Favorites.
- I don’t know what to binge watch next. I’ve finished The Wire, I’m caught up on The Following and The Blacklist, I’m watching Deadwood but I can’t handle more than a couple of episodes at a time. I’m looking for a show I can sit and watch for hours when I’m avoiding doing anything worthwhile. Candidates are Drop Dead Diva, Shameless, and Parenthood. Thoughts?
- Confession: I have been sucking ass at the choose your own adventure challenge this month. I’ve definitely had less diet soda than I usually do but I have had some. More than I should, which is zero. Remember how I said I chose that one because it wouldn’t be setting myself up to fail? So much for that.
- I’m starting a new feature, and I’d like to start it next month: Meet The Reader. If you read, and want to do a short, fun interview with me that will be published on the blog, please email me. This is for bloggers and nonbloggers so don’t feel like you can’t participate if you don’t blog.
- I’ve been in a mood lately and sometimes, the only thing that makes me feel better are pictures of cute animals. Like this one:
Coming up tomorrow: Friday Favorites with revised categories. Hope you’re as excited as I am!
Linking up for Stuff and Things
Friday Eve! Yes! You will notice I have zero post today because I need to get my shit together and plan some out for days I don’t have time or creative thought in the morning. I have a list a mile long of things to do, things to read, things to watch, things to cook…hmmmm I need to get with it and stop adding to the list!
I have seen one episode of Shameless so far. I liked it but I don’t think Chris did. I might need to pick it up on my own when he is sleeping or something haha!
You could interview me. You know, if you want 😉
I can send you some exercise motivation if you can send me some stop eating too much juju. Deal?
Nadine recently posted…Confessions – Is It Just Me?
I’ll definitely interview you! I’ll email you the questions over the weekend.
I had watched a few episodes of Shameless when we had Showtime but now we’re too cheap to pay for it but it seems like there are SO many episodes, and that’s a huge commitment. But it was a great show so I don’t know.
I will take that deal!
I like a mix of both. I like to mostly see what’s going on in a blogger’s life/head, how they think, what they think about – so to you it’s self-centered, but to readers it’s not…and if they’ve learned something or are good at something or like something, I’d like to learn about that too.
SMD @ Life According to Steph recently posted…Thursday Thoughts
That’s two votes for a mix. Definitely something to think about. I enjoy reading about a blogger’s life, too, but I feel like I’ve been doing that a lot and maybe it’s getting boring. Maybe not, though.
I think you should do a combination of personal stuff (I love hearing what is going on in your life) and posts that might be helpful to other people because you like being helpful and have great advice.
I have realized I can’t binge watch anymore. Back in 2006/2007, we binge watched the Blade tv show, and I ended up having vampire nightmares. Just a few weeks ago, right before I started my new job, we binge watched Walking Dead and Good Wife (one could be on when the kid was home, the other couldn’t), and while the dreams didn’t become nightmares, they were freaky weird.
I don’t know what you have and haven’t watched. Justified is great TV. C isn’t allowed to watch Sons of Anarchy when I’m around because I don’t like it, but it’s so well done, I can’t not watch it. (I blame Katy Segal.) Supernatural is one of my all time favorites, though I’ve missed most of the last few seasons. Sleepy Hollow looks like it might be worth something. At some point, I will have to watch Dr. Who. And I’m looking forward to two or so years from now when I can start forcing Buffy on Pop Tart.
shanendoah recently posted…What is Your Time Worth? Picking a Commuting Option
Sons of Anarchy is one of my all-time favorite shows. I love it so much!!! And I’m all caught up with Justified, too. I’m not a sci-fi/horror fan so I’ll pass on most of what you mentioned (you probably knew this though). I’m mostly stuck between the shows I mentioned. Gilmore Girls is all the rage but it does nothing for me.
Thanks for the feedback on the posts!
Rome. Rome is a show worth binge watching. There were some moments toward the end of the penultimate season that kind of caused us to wonder- why are we watching this show? So we took a break, and then went, no, we have to finish, and the final season made us go- oh, that’s right, THAT’S why we love this show.
Newsroom (Aaron Sorkin) is good. Though if you haven’t watched all of West Wing, you should totally binge watch that first.
The new BBC Sherlock is one of the best things ever on television, though not enough of them to really qualify for binge watching.
We enjoyed the first season of The Americans, though I pay so little attention to TV that I have no idea if there was a second season or not.
And, NCIS or go back and watch Quantum Leap (it has a sci-fi premise, but nothing about the show is sci-fi. Plus, Scott Bakula and Dean Stockwell.)
I also have friends who love Boardwalk Empire.
And, I totally forgot to mention on writing- try to set yourself a writing time. Mine is every other Sunday morning from about 8-9am (right before my critique group meets). That is when I sit and just write. Sometimes it’s short fiction, sometimes it’s long fiction, sometimes it’s blog posts, but as long as I’m writing, I don’t care.
Now, I know you’re posting a lot, so time every other week may not seem like the solution, but if this is just to get all these extra posts out of your head, that might work. Your dedicated writing time is not for “this week’s” posts, but for random other thoughts that are in your head.
shanendoah recently posted…What is Your Time Worth? Picking a Commuting Option
I admit it — I like the brain dump/personal posts just as well as the practical ones. And they’re a lot easier to write, right? I say go for Parenthood for your next show. I just love that crazy codependent family! And I will definitely participate in your Meet the Reader series if you’d like me to! For some reason my computer is not letting me click the link to email you, but here you go.
Sarah @ Beauty School Dropout recently posted…Choose Your Own Adventure Enchiladas
I’ve got you on the interview list!!
I think I’m going to try Parenthood next. That will be my November show. Kerry suggested it also and I trust you guys and since the guy who created FNL (one of my all-time favorites) did this one, too, I think I’ll like it. If I can just not cry.
if you find some motivation will you throw it my way? i lost mine. oh i like all sorts of posts! definitely a mix of self centered and helpful, lol. i think mine are all self centered because i don’t really know anything that would help others out.
Kristen recently posted…House Tour; Spare Rooms + Hall Bath Before & During
If I find some, I’ll definitely share 🙂
I like your posts because they always give me ideas, and I think your reading challenge posts definitely help people focus their reading.
I like the mixture of both. I would love a reading retreat to get caught up, once I do I seem to keep adding more. Ugh. I say got with Parenthood. So good.
Kerry recently posted…Throw Back Thursday – Halloween Edition
Parenthood was my first instinct because it’s done by the same guy who did FNL so how bad could it be? I just don’t know if I could handle all the crying that would probably come from it.
I’m definitely going to plan a reading retreat. I just need to run the plans by my husband.
I’m a fairly new reader but am so glad I’ve become a regular because I really enjoy your posts – a mix of personal and practical. I really like to know about a blogger personally because that’s why I read in the first place.
And I had to google Laura Ingall. What a sophisticated choice for your daughter. I’m impressed! My son wanted to be a purple octopus, so I’m making him one from a hoodie. What I didn’t anticipate is me wanting to make 3 more octopus costumes so we could be a family and how long that is taking.
Pass me along some motivation to exercise when you get some, m’kay?
What podcasts you listen too? I like comedians Jo Koy and Two Black Women (by James Ponce, Beau Bowker and Jeffrey Jay). I also like NPR Ted Radio hour, though I wish they’d update more often.
There is no way I could do an octopus costume. I tried to make her a skunk one year and she looked like a cat instead so no more sewing for me. She loves the Little House books so we thought this would be a fun costume to try.
I’ve been listening to Michael Hyatt’s podcast and Book Riot’s as well.
My to read pile stays out of control, and I just keep adding more books to it.
You can never have to many books.
Kelli recently posted…Conversations With My Brain
I totally agree. There is no such thing as too many books! I vowed yesterday that I would take a break from putting books on hold and then I broke it an hour ago. #bookproblems
Ok, a reading retreat sounds like the best idea ever. You should definitely do that.
I have zero workout motivation, so unfortunately I don’t have any to send you or I would! I’ve got to get it together!
OMG, I love Drop Dead Diva!! Is it on Netflix?
Ooo, Meet the Reader sounds awesome, I would love to do an interview! 🙂
Julia recently posted…Friday Faves
It is on Netflix! I definitely want to check it out. Maybe it’ll be my reward once NaNo is over. Seems a bit more lighthearted than the other two shows on my list.
I would love to have you for an interview! And I’m going to work on planning a reading retreat. Maybe it’ll turn into a post idea, too!
get on Banshee; not only is it filled with awesome, but Lucas Hood. WOOF. you’re welcome for this!
finally got your feed to work on my Feedly 🙂
kathy@vodka and soda recently posted…fitness gripes