There’s a certain justice that the tour for LIFE SENTENCES doesn’t have a definitive end. One could argue that the book, too, has a rather open feel, although to say more would be a spoiler.
This week alone, I did two events, and I haven’t blogged about either. In short: White Oak Library in Silver Spring, MD, magnificent, 100-plus people, thank you very much, Andy Gordon; and Westchester Public Library System, lovely to speak to you at your 14th annual luncheon, sorry I had to run, but the train schedule was rather unforgiving.
I have three more events in April, four it one counts the live chat I’m doing April 21st for the Florida Sun Sentinel. And now it look as if some California things will be added just before I leave for Australia. There’s an event in June. And a quasi-event in July, when I’ll introduce one of my favorite writers, Mary Kay Andrews, at one of my favorite stores, A Likely Story in Sykesville, MD. Then I go to Harrogate. There are, in fact, exactly three months of 2009 with book-related events — August, September and December.
And isn’t that how you would want it, another writer asked me yesterday. Hmmmmm. Yes and no. I am glad there is interest. I am gratified that people want to hear from me, will sometimes even pay for me to speak. But when the end of the year comes, I want to be able to have more to show for it than the new land speed record for removing my shoes and placing my laptop in a bin. I want more:
Burgers at the Abbey Bistro with my SO (although no more than one a month, although I guess I could always have the veggie burger.)
Books like OLIVE KITTERIDGE and WHEN WILL THERE BE GOOD NEWS.
Long walks.
Basement cleaning. Seriously.
Cannonball Cabernet Sauvignon.
Time with friends and family.
Time to watch all the stupid programs I have on my DVR.
Cardio!
What would like more of in your life? Lists in the comments section, please.
Recommendations for reading that I would enjoy as much as your fiction AND recommendations for viewing on a par with The Wire!
I’ll have more of what Marjorie ordered, too! And more interesting book talks and lectures to attend (next week Sandra Day O’Conner is coming to Fort Wayne, and we have tickets! Huzzah!). ‘Course, more LL books to read, although I’m still on a voyage of discovery in the existing library of LL books (next up is What the Dead Know, which I will begin after finishing Jon Meacham’s engrossing Andrew Jackson book “American Lion”). And, more time with the family this summer; haven’t picked a vacation spot yet, but we know we only have a few summers left before the young folks begin striking out on their own….and I’m selfish! And, I can ALWAYS do with more schadenfreude, at the expense of the feckless (of late) “loyal” opposition to the new president and his agenda….sweeter than sweet tea, that is!
Brenda-if you find “viewing on a par with The Wire” please let me know! I don’t think that there is such a thing. (Although I’m reading Jonathan Kellerman’s True Detectives right now and there is a bit of a plug for Homicide in it. That’s a ‘old’ series that I have never seen but I am starting to think about trying find it somewhere.)
Laura, don’t you also want to have another new book to show for this year? Or does that go without saying? I do not know how you can get anything coherent written while you’re traveling so much.
Stay out of the basement. It’s a time sink. And it’s very likely to have spiders.
I yearn to have more time for one thing: photography. There’s so much I don’t know, I’m such an amateur, and I don’t have any long stretches to concentrate on it. I want to become really good at it, but I’ll never achieve that in random spurts.
I would like more time to spend with my niece and nephew and more time to spend with my crime fiction friend’s that I have made over the years! I don’t see enough of them.
I would like to find my passion.
On a par with The Wire? Well, there’s Generation Kill, a six-part miniseries that is, by design, very hard to get into, but once you get in, you’ll be hooked. Trust me.
And, totally counter-intuitive — try SLINGS AND ARROWS, a Canadian show that ran for just three seasons, with only (I think) six episodes per season. It’s about a repertory company and each season follows a production of Shakespeare which is wonderfully/neatly mirrored by what’s going on behind-the-scenes. I adored it.
Also, FREAKS AND GEEKS.
A series that’s an oldie but a goodie:
House of Cards – I LOVE that miniseries!
And the follow-on, Playing the King.
The actor is the old Grey Poupon guy (“Pardon me, but would you have any Grey Poupon?”), who I think is no longer among the living
Breaking TMP format, I googled and was reminded that the fellow is Ian Richardson – who is superb!
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/archive/122/122e.html
You’re allowed to Google after the fact, Brian!
Heck, I haven’t even had time to watch the smart programs on my DVR, and I haven’t gone anywhere in the last month.
Well, I spent a lot of time down in Louisville for the Humana Festival of New Plays, but that doesn’t count. Louisville is our excuse for civilization down here, so the 40 minute drive is nothing. (It’s good for clearing the brain for writing.)
More work DURING WORKING HOURS.
“I want more:”
Oh, it’s simple enough, except that I never get it and it makes life fairly unbearable at times:
Human Touch
I would like more vacations and/or more time to read/watch movies/hang out with my dog/sleep.
Today, I am settling for more Chipotle.
Ah, yes, Slings and Arrows is sublime. It’s like catnip to most of the theatre folk I know; I’ve been Patient Zero in spreading it around my immediate circle.
And Generation Kill was most excellent. More and more, I want programs that force me to pay attention, mainly because they pay off the viewers’ effort. Stunning work.
Thanks for all the suggestions. When I discovered LL I stayed up around the clock reading all the books, barely stopping to sleep. Since I arrived late to LL, it was quite a feast. Same thing for the Wire. I did not watch the show when it was on HBO, but when finally I caught on I was a total glutten. All the series in one too short week. Maybe what I NEED more of is self-discipline!
More chocolate–without weight gain.
More book, especially mystery, and movie (on dvd) recommendations.
More time to have dinner–without weight gain–with friends.
More time to chat with friends.
Better television programs, since my favorites are off the air, such as Boston Legal.
A nice spring that doesn’t turn into summer dog days.
My apartment to be instantly clean and dustfree, without me having to move off the couch with my books.
Well, the question was asked and answered.
Kathy D.