Self-imposed Deadlines

Happy Monday everyone!

I've only got a few more weeks at home and a bunch of projects to wrap up before I go (and a few starting) I'm not where I thought I'd be at the end of the summer productivity-wise, but honestly I think it's okay. I've done a lot of things, am making some great YA-lit friends, and friends in other ways, so I'm pretty happy with it all. And going through my to-do list I did make most of my self-imposed deadlines.

And it's not like anyone else will be hurt by the things I didn't get done. Still, I feel a bit guilty. Self-imposed deadlines are big for me.


What about you? Are you hard on yourself for not finishing stuff on your imposed deadline?

Friday Five!

1. As part of the Picture Scanning Project I am having to rescan some photos that came out too dark for my mother's picture scanner (it's not very strong). Can I just say 1993 was a bad year for her camera? Anyway, I have a very well-documented childhood, and I make weird faces/do weird things in a lot of them. Hence, I'm planning a series of Baby Chelsey macros for the future. stay tuned.

2. I have been increasing my nerd-cred exponentially this summer. Not only have I watched all seven seasons of Buffy, I have read the season eight comics. Then, the other night while I stayed up all night for Pottermore (and got in at noon) I watched a bunch of old Sarah Michelle Gellar interviews and the 2008 cast reunion panel on Youtube. It was a wormhole I tell you.

3. Usually by now I've discovered at least one concert or show I want to see in the Fall. Now none of my fans seem to be touring. Economy, I guess, but it's been bad the past three years as well, so I don't know what's up. And off-year I suppose, but hopefully I will get a chance to see a few live shows. My anti-House of Blues attitude will probably not help with this.

4. I'm behind in Torchwood. I don't know why I'm not as into this season, except that I'm not as into the stakes as I was with Children of Earth. It felt more personal then with Gwen preggers and Jack having Steven. Hopefully it'll get better, I am a week behind.

5. In honor of my journey down the Youtube rabbit hole, the commercial that got four-year old Sarah Michelle Gellar sued. (It was the first time a company used the name of another company in their commercial. McDonald's sued Burger King and SMG)

RTW: Senses

This week's Road Trip Wednesday Topic is:


The Five Senses. How you use them in your writing, how you are inspired by them, pictorial essays, that character with smelly socks, books that have used them well, the ones that are currently missing from your work, etc.



Which gives me the perfect opportunity to talk about the book I just finished (again)

I know I talk about this book all the time, but it's probably the most perfect book I've ever read and its use of senses is gorgeous. Every time I read it, I can see the countryside she's describing, taste the lush foods they're eating, smell the nature around them--and all this in contrast with the vibrant London shops of the 1930s.

This book is the most under appreciated book of our times, I think, and i recommend it to everyone.


Enter here to win another of my favorite books, My Most Excellent Year

Rereading

As a kid I reread books all the time. These days, I can't seem to keep up reading for the first time. Still, every year since I was eighteen I've reread I Capture the Castle in the summer. It's honestly one of the most beautiful books i've ever read, and I love getting lost in the English country side with the narrator Cassandra.


Do you have books you reread? When? Why?

Friday Five!

1. Catching up after three weeks essentially away from the internet is no easy task. But I think I'm mostly up to speed. Luckily, nothing big seems to have happened. There's so much going on in the summers that I wish I could have been part of, though. LeakyCon, SCBWI-LA... one day. One day I'll have a real job. Or something.

2. My Buffy marathoning is going well. I only have four episodes left, and then it'll be on to catch up with Glee before the movie comes out. It just got put in Instant Watch, thank goodness. I really do foresee a day soon when DVDs are basically obsolete. All Instant Watch needs is the special features and I'd be there.

3. This morning Jacob and I had an important discussion.
Me: What's up?
Jacob: Great!
Me: no, what's up?
Jacob: Great!
Me: What's up means what's going on.
Jacob: Oh. Noni wanted to know if you were awake.
Me: There you go. Now if I say how are you, you can say?
Jacob: Great!

Chelsey Blair, imparting valuable language lessons since 2011.

4. GalleyCat posted this the other day. The New York Public Library is giving kids a chance to "read down" their fines. I think this is genius, but I have to wonder if patronage is worth losing the possible income in a time when libraries are in so much danger.

5. Speaking of the NYPL, and therefore lions, I installed OS X Lion on both my computers this week, and mostly I like it. The swipe to go back and tap to zoom on Safari are REALLY useful. I just wish MS Office would get with the program. I want Versions on there, stat.

Contests!

First of all, Chanelle is running a pitch contest with Victoria Marini!!

Second of all, and I realize it's late, but it's time for my July contest! For the newcomers to the blog, my monthly contests are an effort to get more exposure for my "asterisked books" (the ones involving disability in some way) I'll be giving away one of these a week to a random commenter (you must follow the blog to be eligible). This month, for bonus points, link to a blog post or tweet about the contest for an extra entry!

This month's prize will be....

My Most Excellent Year by Steve Kluger

My review here

Goodreads Summary:

Dear Anthony:
I appreciate your recent interest, but I’m not accepting applications at this time. Your letter will be kept in our files and someone will get back to you if there is an opening. Thank you for thinking of me.
Respectfully,

Alejandra Perez
P.S. It’s not “Allie.” It’s “Ale.”

Meet T.C., who is valiantly attempting to get Alejandra to fall in love with him; Alejandra, who is playing hard to get and is busy trying to sashay out from under the responsibilities of being a diplomat’s daughter; and T.C.’s brother Augie, who is gay and in love and everyone knows it but him.

RTW: Favorite Book of July

Today YA Highway asks what was the best book you read in July? Between surgery and camp, I haven't tead a lot in July, but I did read Room by Emma Donaghue, and it was as fabulous as everyone has been saying. The voice of Jack, the five-year-old protagonist, was spot on, though I have to say it is a bit undecided about what it wants to be--suspense or not--and some of Jack's phrasings are decidedly English for an American boy. Over all though, I liked it a lot.

What books have you enjoyed this month?