Hello friends, welcome to another weekly roundup. This week, I had a bad chronic pain flareup, due to WHATEVER the weather is doing. Seriously, can we pick a barometric pressure and stick to it, please? My poor joints and head can’t handle much more.
Amidst all of that meteorological nonsense, here’s what I was up to this week.
What I’m reading:
As I mentioned earlier in the week, I’m in the middle of teaching a few courses and planning a few others. One is a University First Year writing seminar, so I’m doing some continuing education of my own to make sure I’m up to speed on rhetorical forms of writing. Scintillating stuff.
What I’m writing:
I’m doing more work on my novel, in 30 minute bursts. For whatever reason it feels less intimidating to edit this way. I hate to confirm that yes, the more you write, the more creativity flows through. The Muse does indeed show up when you sit down and write consistently.
What I’m listening to:
Under Heaven Over Hell, an anthology Florence + The Machine album. Mainly the song ‘Free,’ which starts with the lyrics: ‘Sometimes I wonder if I should be medicated/If I would feel better slightly sedated.’ Don’t we all.
I went to see Florence + The Machine back in June, in Ireland. This is apropos of nothing other than to brag that I saw Florence + The Machine in June at a castle in Ireland.
Mug Moment of the Week:
This mug has a long and storied history. It’s also one of my favorites. I know, I know, I’m not supposed to have favorites but, I do. I had version 1 of this exact same mug (same color, just without the shiny glaze) after I bought it at The Tea Space in Ogunquit, Maine. Because the pandemic melded our brains and time is a circle, I either bought it in 2019 or 2021, but truly can’t remember. It met its demise on December 13th, 2021, which was my first day of work at the job I got laid off from. Sometimes the foreshadowing is a bit on the nose.
It’s a favorite mug because it’s by a local Maine artisan, Amy Clark of Ocean Fire Pottery. There’s a little swirly indent on the handle which is the perfect place to rest your thumb. After Version 1 of this mug met my elbow and clattered to the floor, to shatter into a thousand pieces, I messaged The Tea Space, who kindly pointed me in Amy’s direction. I then bought TWO NEW mugs to replace my fallen comrade. The other one will no doubt make an appearance here one day.
Why are they my favorites? Well I’m so glad you asked. They are big. They are tall. They have a very good handle which makes it perfect for casual sipping. They are my routine morning mugs for my first cup of tea of the day. They are nice and handmade and in colors I like. May we all have such hot beverage receptacles to greet us when we awaken from our nightly slumbers.
That’s it for this week - I’m off to snuggle some dogs. I hope you’re staying warm and toasty wherever you are.1
This footnote is for no other reason than to include a footnote in this post since I somehow managed to write an entire newsletter without including one. Wild.