Saturday, October 17, 2015

C'est la life, c'est la Hackney, c'est la leaving the house


OMGYOUGUYS. Because my monthly cleaner has occupied our home and nothing makes me more uncomfortable than sitting on the couch while she hoovers around me, even if I AM working, I've currently camped out in my neighborhood organic cafe (because Hackney) right next to a record player (because Hackney) sipping a bottomless cup of coffee (because 'they've always wanted American coffee service'). It's absolutely lovely and I can't believe I haven't been here yet. 

My workstation:

See the stack of paper my laptop is sitting on? 
That's about one QUARTER of the manuscript I'm proofreading right now.


Then, as I was taking the above photo (feeling a bit basic because come ON, if one more person instagrams a cafe with distressed wooden counters and quinoa salad and a blackboard menu, then surely the world will combust. Also don't check my instagram), the woman sitting at the table across from me asked if I would like to be IN the photo. I mean, obviously not, no, never, don't make me slap you, but then also HOW NICE WAS THAT and WHAT KIND OF NEIGHBORHOOD IS THIS so of course yes, I would love that, thank you so much! *hands over phone, sits back down slowly, suspiciously*

Not even black and white makes it look like I'm really working in this photo. 
Also, the curve of the 'Specials' going over my head makes it look like I'M special. That woman surely had the last laugh. 

Speaking of this crazy place we now live in, we had an excellent time with the neighbors at our social hour last week. They didn't try to dismember us ONCE. We gathered in their kitchen, where the husband cultured his rye sourdough starter every half hour and told the Wolf about his new smoker and I chatted with the wife about the grossness of attachment parenting and how good her nanny was. It was delightful. And get this! In a couple of weeks the neighbors on the OTHER side are having a little meet-and-greet for all the cute couples at our end of the road! I think it's safe to say we've found quite the little community here. I'm going to pack ALL my best behavior. *curls hair, digs out pearls* Why yes, Louise, I too feel the same about Benedict as Hamlet, ha-ha, ha-ha! Do pass the wine, won't you? Ha-ha! Aren't we wild!

Okay, I should get back to tackling that mound of paper. All my love to you and I hope you're having an excellent weekend!

Big hugs and lots of love,
Essss

Tuesday, October 6, 2015

The rain is trying to bring it but I've got socks on

'Life is never made unbearable by circumstances, but only by lack of meaning and purpose.' - Viktor E. Frankl

OMGYOUGUYS. NationalBlogWritingMonth* is coming up fast so I've got to get back in the swing of things. In that spirit, and high on the domestic bliss that comes with doing the dishes, laundry, and groceries all in the same hour, I'm attempting a post today. And one next week, and the week after, and so on and so forth until November hits and I'm spewing daily nonsense once again like the devil's on my heels.

NaBloWriMo comes at the ideal time, really, if you think about it. November is such a wonderfully gloomy month, perhaps second only to January or February in the calendrical 'why go on's'. The October autumnal romance is gone, you're a bit down but cosy with the knowledge that things will be looking up soon with Christmas, and in an effort to stay warm and dry and not short of hope, what better cure or past-time than writing? I know I take small comfort in it, and I'm not even a writer. I may even throw down a poem or two if things get desperate next month. I am BRILLIANT at abab rhyme scheme, so get excited for that.

Lately I've been playing this really fun game in the mornings that I think of as What Do You Remember or perhaps You Reliant Fool and the gist of it is seeing how many things on my to do list I can do before having to consult my evernote. For example, today it was the aforementioned laundry, dishes, groceries, and blog. (I'm pretending not to remember emails, expense reports, media, and invoicing.) Then I get the never-ending satisfaction of opening my checklist and ticking off stuff before the day's even begun. Doesn't that sound like terrific sport?

Speaking of wild living, the neighbors have invited us round for drinks. THE NEIGHBORS. Like, a SOCIAL call. Like, we're going to SOCIALISE. With the NEIGHBORS. Youguys. It's crazy. I am looking forward to it in the same part of me that wears an eyeglasses chain and wants to own calling cards and has a purse full of wadded tissue and dusty mints. (That is to say, the biggest part of me.) The Wolf is a bit groany about it but I am secretly excited. I'll bet they're wicked fiends, which is why they asked us to come over after their babas have gone to bed.

I will leave you now with this picture of an Argentinian cactus. This cactus is like me: watching the lush, healthy people around me thriving and growing and connecting, while hanging out on the edge, barbed and wishing I had tequila.

I also like how there's clearly something happening in the distance and he's craning to see it. Never confuse antisocial for incurious.

Big hugs and lots of love,
Essss

*This is not actually a real thing** but rather a misappropriation of National Novel Writing Month. I like to think the heart of NaBloWriMo is the same while the practice is wildly lazier.

**OMG just googled it and it turns out someone's created a National Blog Posting Month (NaBloPoMo) but since clearly NaBloWriMo is way different I'm going with it. I don't need no stinkin' community! CACTUS OUT. *mic drop*