Nor'easter means Snow Day!
Weekly Roundup #15
Hello hi and welcome everyone! We made it to another Friday. That’s definitely a reason to celebrate. Even more so,
passed 100 subscribers this week! 🥳 I’m so grateful you’re here, reading my words. You have lots of choices in what to read, so I appreciate more than you know that you’ve chosen to spend your time with me. It makes my little writer heart swell.In other important news, it snowed this week and I got a snow day. Both schools where I teach canceled classes. I’d rank it a 7/10: we didn’t get the 12 inches promised, but we did get 6-8 inches, I got to look at some pretty snow while drinking hot chocolate, and my building cleaned my car off for me. As promised, I did no grading.1 Ahead, pretty snow pictures and what got me through the week.
What I’m reading:
One of the BookTubers I follow (Audrey at Le Souffle des Mots) does a challenge every February called Petit Mois, Petit Livre.2 The idea being that since February is the shortest month of the year, you should only read short books. For her, a short book is less than 200 pages, 250 at the absolute max. I half-heartedly did the challenge last year, and have REALLY committed this year.
How so? Well, in the past week I finished two books in two days. I’ve already read my ‘quota’ for the month, and there’s no stopping me now. I’m sure there’s something to be said about all of the other living I’m ignoring to do this *cough cough* GRADING, but I’m enjoying my streak and won’t stop until this blasted month is over.
Anyways, onto the actual book: The Book of Delights by Ross Gay. Gay is a Black American poet and essayist. If you’re not familiar, February is Black History Month in the States, and I haven’t read any books by Black authors yet this month. So it’s high time I changed that.
The Book of Delights is composed of just over 100 vignettes - short essays on what brought Gay joy in his life. They’re sweet and funny, and bringing me lots of joy. It’s made me think of what delights me, and how I should focus on that instead of all of the other stressors in my life. Who knows, maybe there will be a delightful moment in these roundups going forwards.
Great for: reading short books, celebrating Black History Month, remembering joy
Bad for: once again, the folks who can’t speak French
What I’m writing:
Chester the Cat. That’s not really the name of the short story I’m writing, but that’s what I’m affectionately calling it for now. It does involve a cat named Chester, though. And a vampire, and a witch, and a library.
I mentioned last week that I was planning on writing myself a contract to finish this short story over the next few weeks. And I have done so! And I am keeping to it! Every time I sit down to write (this particular thing), I’m writing 1,000 words. As proof, here is the Project History from its Scrivener document.
My plan is to have this done by the end of the month so I can edit it, give it to my writing group to review, and then submit it to a contest that closes in March. At which point I will return to my novel. And not a moment too soon, she huffs, arms crossed over in the corner.
Great for: my determination, finishing things
Bad for: do I even need to say it? My novel.
What I’m listening to:
As you’re well aware by now, I am teaching. What you may not be aware of is how much driving that has now introduced into my life. I went from ~2 hours of driving per week to ~10. I now need something to fill that time other than endless music and audiobooks. Enter: podcasts.
But Marissa, you protest. I thought you said you were a poor audio processor! Why are you listening to podcasts? Great question. And you’re right: I am a poor audio processor. But if something is made for auditory consumption (podcasts, radio, music), then I’m ok. I don’t listen to podcasts because I just cannot add another thing to my life.
So I listen to limited series. Like everything on trend, I’m behind on this one. ‘Strike Force Five’ consists of the US late night hosts (Jimmy’s Fallon and Kimmel, John Oliver, Seth Meyers and Stephen Colbert) doing a podcast last year during the SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes. The goal was to raise money for their staff members, which I support. Yes, it is 5 white men talking, but they’re all pretty funny and I have been crying of laughter in my car. Highlights have featured: that time Jimmy Kimmel almost got killed by Batman, why Stephen Colbert has Nicaraguan dictator Anastasio Somoza’s pants, and how Jimmy Fallon apparently can’t ask questions. There’s only 12 episodes, and there’s no plan here, just complete chaos.
Great for: if you need a laugh, friends being unable to stay on topic
Bad for: people who need structure to their podcasts, if you in any way dislike any of these late night hosts
No New Books™️ Challenge:
We are on day 47 of the No New Books Challenge! For new friends, I made a promise at the beginning of 2024 that I wouldn’t buy any new books. Libraries are allowed. Gifts are allowed. But me, purposefully buying books? Not allowed. Am I going to fail? Absolutely - but the fun is seeing how long I last.
And I have been doing well! But alas my friends, the time is nigh. I can feel it coming. I must break my ban soon. I need to buy a present for someone, and it will be books. I don’t want to give away too many details until I deliver said present (because the recipient reads this newsletter) but it will happen. The failure is upon me, it weighs heavily on my soul. But I promised transparency in my quest, if nothing else, and transparent I shall be.
Great for: the person who will get my bookish gifts
Bad for: the streak I currently have
Mug Moment of the Week:
I am of the (entirely correct) opinion that hot chocolate must be enjoyed in goblet like mugs. No ordinary mug will do - it has to be an overly large one. The hot chocolate *also* has to be made with milk, since we’re talking about objectively correct things that have to happen.
This mug was gifted to me by a yoga teacher and friend, Tina. Tina’s husband is Australian, and they went to visit Oz for a month last year. While they were there, I stayed with their little Dachshund Zoe, who as an elder dog really loved sitting and cuddling and burrowing and she 100% stole my heated blanket.
Anyways, upon their return, Tina gave me this lovely mug. She has a matching one, too. I love the design and how it’s clearly handmade. It’s shaped differently than your ‘standard’ mug, which I find very unique. It does mean I have to be careful when transporting said mug, otherwise I’ll dump everything all over the place. I wish I had more details for you on who made this and where, but alas, we’ll all just have to be content knowing it came from the land Down Under. TimTams were included with this gift, but those are long gone.
Great for: my worldwide mug collection
Bad for: me being a klutz
Thanks again for being here, and I hope your weekends are calm and pleasant wherever they may be.
And don’t be shy! If you have any comments, questions, concerns, stray observations, chaotic plans, let me know! I love hearing from you in the comments. Until next time!
If you’re one of my students and reading this, sorry.
Translation: Short Month, Short Book
Happy snow days! I'm very jealous. It snowed only a 1/4 inch here, which isn't enough to cancel school, sadly.