Writing Schedules, Chewy Gingersnaps, The Gruffalo, and our Personalized Action Figures

Mary Karr Makes Me Feel Bad About Myself

First of all, she’s an amazing writer. And second of all, she seems like one hell of a nice person, too. (Is it possible to tell if someone is nice simply by reading their memoirs? Somehow I think so. And when I read Karr’s books, I think—Oh, I bet if were were growing up together, we’d be friends! But that’s why she’s a best-selling writer. She makes everyone think that they want to be her friend, or that they kinda sorta already ARE her friend.)

Anyway, she and I are at least Facebook friends. And some time back she posted her daily writing schedule. Check it out:

This schedule fills me with shame and envy, because I recognize in it the ideal day, even as I recognize that it’s a day I can’t have—as in, where does she budget in the 70 minutes spent driving her child to his bass guitar lesson and killing time in the lobby? Ah but Mary’s son is grown, so she’s good there. Well, where does she budget the 2 hours to grade papers? Or the time taking her mother with Alzheimers to the neurologist? I look at her day and despair. Sometimes the only thing our days have in common is “10:30-10:45: yogurt and walnuts.” But it’s good to be reminded of the ways we budget our time, the choices we make (or don’t make) to prioritize writing. Mary Karr, ersatz bestie whom I’ve never met IRL, thanks for the reminder.

But Can Mary Karr Bake Cookies?

There are many things I can’t do, including write like Mary Karr. But I can bake the hell out of a cookie. In fact, I brag on how good my cookies are in the title piece of Heating & Cooling I end this reverie with with, "Sweet Jesus, my gingersnaps." You’d think that I’d satisfied with that bragging, but I recently heard from a food blogger named Sarah (her blog is Bake It Write) who asked for my recipe. Here is, cookie monsters. Note that these cookies pair well with Guinness. Chewy Gingersnaps If you make them, your mouth will thank you. Send me a photo.

Hummingbirds Don’t Eat Cookies

but they do sup sugar water, and they’re angling for your yard.

You might know that I’m obsessed with hummingbirds . . . the below map tells you when to get your feeders up for the migrating ruby throats! I’m in the green band which means March 15-31 is when they’ll start returning to my area. I haven’t seen any yet, but my feeders are up. If you’re in the blue band, get yours ready by April 1! One part sugar to one part water—no need for red food coloring—boil and cool and set out your hummingbird buffet.

How The Gruffalo Got Us Through the Tornado

Sure, it’s partially nostalgia for when my kids were small, but lately I’ve been reflecting a bit on the role children's books have played in my children's lives, and therefore my own.  And on March 24, when a terrible tornado came through Mississippi, that reflection was underscored in the most beautiful way. 

When the storm began and my husband and I got the Tornado Watch, we were nervous.  Our oldest is at college, but our boys (12 and 17) were home with us, and the 12-year-old was having a new friend spend the night.  When the Watch was upgraded to a Warning, we gathered the boys into our hall bathroom (the only room that doesn't have windows).  

Earlier that day, I'd done some deep cleaning, as we're replacing some old furniture.  I'd opened our storage ottoman/coffee table and found stacks of the kids' picture books that we hadn't read in years but I couldn't bear to give away.  After 20 minutes of us nervously chatting in the bathroom, pausing when the lightning boomed outside and the lights flickered, I knew we needed a distraction.  I darted out to gather the books, which were stacked by the door, and brought them back in.  And we read through our old favorites by Julia Donaldson, like Zog and The Gruffalo. The familiar stories and the comforting rhythms—we all could chant along--were exactly what we needed to remind us how a beautifully told, skillfully illustrated tale can transport a reader to a happier place.  

When the Watch was over, we exited the bathroom, glad the storm seemed to be lessening, glad our house and neighbors' houses seemed to have no damage.  We resumed our separate activities, but maybe a little bit more united in spirit, due to hanging out with our favorite old friends found in books.  

Teenagers are Obsessed with their Phones

But it’s kind of fun when they’re using those phones to answer your haiku text with a haiku text. Here’s Thomas, when he and his father were gone for a few days last summer:

The Best Thing about Giving Tommy Action Figures of Our Family For Christmas

is posing them. Here I am as black widow, riding Tommy who is Professor Hulk in his time travel suit. You’re welcome.

Coming Up: The Moth Emerges from the Cocoon April 12

Eeek! Two weeks until Tommy and I travel to NYC so I can stand up in front of an auditorium that holds 800 people and TALK FOR 12 MINUTES WITH NO BOOK IN MY HAND. And even if you can’t join me in the audience, it will be on the podcast later and I’ll let y’all know. Or you can watch a luna moth emerge from from a cocoon in this video. Kinda awesome.

Come Hang out in Maine

Writers! Teachers! Countrypeople! Come play in Rockport Maine July 17-21 for an all-levels, interactive nonfiction workshop that focuses on short form CNF. Mornings are devoted to craft lectures, mid-day to writing, afternoons to workshopping, evenings to, well, lobster. Check it out here. Share with your writing group and pals!

We will put Mary Karr to shame. She can keep her yogurt and walnuts.