Wednesday, July 16, 2014

What's Up Wednesday--The French Version





Bonjour!
What's Up Wednesday is a blog hop created by Jaime and, Erin Funk, to help writers connect. ***Please remember to link to their blogs and/or use one of the WUW buttons provided.***

WHAT I'M READING

I finished reading A Thousand Splendid Suns. It was really beautiful, and I think it fulfilled my adult-book quota for the next 6 months. I learned so much about Afghanistan, things I'd heard, but had never really understood before. When the Taliban took over, the rules for women changed overnight. Suddenly they weren't allowed to leave their homes unless they were in the company of a male family member, they weren't allowed to attend school, they had separate and very underfunded hospitals...and the most incredible thing was that this happened in the '90s. So it happened to women my age 

I started reading Mr. Lemoncello's Library, and I'd only gotten a few pages in before I realized that I wanted to read it out loud to my kids. I think, instead, that I will start Shadow and Bone, although its not quite what I'm in the mood for. We shall see...

WHAT I'M WRITING

I've been going through all the critiques and ideas for Pyromancy. I've had a few ideas of my own, and hope to really solidify them before next week.

WHAT INSPIRES ME RIGHT NOW

Either teenagers or alone time. I'm not sure which. It's been fun to have all these French teenagers woven into my life for the past couple of weeks. And it's been inspiring to watch my kids forging relationships with them. But there was also that moment on Monday afternoon when I walked down a hiking trail all by myself while they were all playing in the water, and there was about 30 seconds there when I was truly alone in the woods, and I think I'd like to do that again someday--be alone, I mean. That might be fun.

**After reading Kitty Murry's post this week, I am reminded that I was VERY inspired by this video:


WHAT ELSE I'VE BEEN UP TO

#1: Watching Axelle integrate into our family. We're going to miss her when she goes back to France on Saturday. She fits into our family so well. 

#2: I applied for a job! Ack!!! I haven't heard if I'm getting an interview or not yet, but I think I'll get at least that far. It's a half-time teaching position, so I would be earning a steady income for the first time in...a lot of years, but I would still have time to write while my kids are in school. Keep your fingers and toes crossed for me!


20 comments:

  1. I really enjoyed A THOUSAND SPLENDID SUNS too. So well written and with very engaging characters. Not always comfortable reading, but excellent nevertheless.

    All the best with the job application, and with your writing this week, Melanie!

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  2. Good luck on the job!

    I'm in the process of looking for a part-time job too. Tidying up my resume.

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    1. Good luck Connie! I hope you find what you are looking for!

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  3. I love those brief moments of alone time. But watching kids interact is always fascinating now that we get to look at it from the adult perspective. Best of luck getting that interview!

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  4. Good luck with the job!! That is exciting!

    My family hosted a number of exchange students when I was growing up and I think it was such a fun experience. I think being able to talk about the world with a person who lived in a different part of it, was life-changing for me.

    Hope you have an amazing week and get lost in the woods. :)

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    1. It's been a great thing, especially for my daughters. I'm so glad we did it, even though it has been a lot of work.

      Lost in the woods sounds so dreamy...Maybe I'll write a book about it. :)

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  5. A Thousand Splendid Suns has been on my TBR for a while now, I really need to get around to it!

    Good luck with your job application! Have a lovely week!

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  6. Oh, good luck with the job application! Half-time would kind of be ideal, wouldn't it? I've thought so at least when I was applying for teaching jobs. Hope that all works out for you! I watched that Colbie Caillat the other day and thought it had some really good messages in it. That said, if I looked like Colbie Caillat, I'd never wear even a speck of makeup lol. ;-) Hope you have a wonderful week and that you get some alone time again soon!

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    1. And she does wear a little makeup in the video, even when she's trying to look bare. Still, more famous people need to stand up and say "Stop making us look so good that no one can like themselves in comparison." It breaks my heart what the media is doing to women.

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  7. Good luck with your job hunt. It's nice to have a little bit of extra cash coming in. I miss money. Thanks for sharing!

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    1. I know right? Money used to be the best, and then it just went away. :(

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  8. I read A THOUSAND SPLENDID SUNS a few years ago, and loved it - I ended up writing about it in one of my English essays.

    I love walking in the woods. :)

    Best of luck with the job, and have a great week!

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  9. Good luck with the job application! I hope you get good news about it soon :D

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  10. A peaceful hike sounds wonderful! I'm glad you were able to find a little time for yourself in all the noise and busyness. I hope your ideas for Pyromancy start to mesh nicely and good luck with getting that teaching job! It's great that you'll still have time to write if you go back to working!

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  11. Good luck with the new job prospects. Exciting times ahead.

    Have a great week!

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  12. Fingers crossed for you to get that job. I recently rejoined the work force (part time) too.

    (But don't let it interfere with Pyromancy and whatever the next story in the series will be. :) )

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  13. A Thousand Splendid Suns sounds incredible, and I totally agree that it's kind of mind-blowing how recent the events it touches on are! I hope you like Shadow & Bone; I didn't love the first book, but I loved the rest of the trilogy. Very solid altogether!

    Best of luck with your job application! I've got all my extremities crossed for you. ;)

    Re: the World Cup - I'm glad Goetze won you over. The look on his face was amazing and I think perfectly summed up that moment. :)

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    1. Exactly. I'll be watching him in the future. My soccer-loving son was away at camp, and I'm dying to talk to him about it, and the vine on your blog post is the first thing I want to show him!

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  14. Thanks for the mention. :) I am crossing fingers and toes for you on the job! Sounds like it would be the perfect balance for you. And, oh, alone time! That does sound amazing. Have a wonderful week, Melanie!

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