I’ll preorder at Poor Richard’s in Frankfort. Works best face to face. After the thaw.
Fun is good. We are still running on generator since the winter storm of Sunday and Monday. Today starts phase three, deep cold. We have ice on top of six or so inches of snow on top of ice. Weather guy calls it concrete.
Having fun is a very good resolution. It's been last on my list for a long while as I move through life being dutiful with all that entails. Fun is now on my list!
I second having fun. That is my plan as well. I turn 60 in April, and I'm going to New Orleans come hell or high water. I'm in Oregon, and I think I've convinced my friend to go with me. I'd take my husband but someone needs to stay with the dog.
Unsolicited advice (hypocritical of me, as I hate it): For a first trip to New Orleans, I'd go in late March this year. After Mardi Gras, after St. Patrick's Day. Or maybe early November. Book restaurants early!
Thank you! Spring break is the last week in March, and I will get going on restaurant reservations. I have had one prior trip, but it was only 3 days and it was post-chemo at an academic conference. I was delighted by my AirBnB host and the taxi driver she referred me to. And the gumbo, dammit.
Something I always love hearing post-divorce, and I hope you will to: I love seeing you look so happy. I support FUN. I spent a lot of my last year on resurrecting the balance of that and am now doing the opposite, reincorporating the grindstone elements (while keeping the other). The book looks delicious. I can't wait to be in a revising place! Happiest New Year.
Post-divorce is a good look on most women. (Maybe men, too.) I had dinner with a friend last night whose marriage ended about the same time as mine. Our lives could not look more different -- five years out from the initial separation, she is living with someone (terrific) and plans to marry next year, while I have committed to hermitude. (Apparently not a word.) I am happy for you, too, Gwenda, and hope our paths cross at some point.
Signature Theater in Virginia did a wonderful staging IMHO, with a woman playing Pseudolus and, in general, upending a lot of the a-HOO-gah tone, especially with the casting of those in the House of Marcus Lycus. The twins were played by men and there was just a general pansexual vibe that I quite enjoyed.
I so love The Moon by Night. I had such a bad-boy crush on Zachary Gray. For some reason, I pictured him looking like a very young Adam Ant. Hence, the crush, probably. LOL.
I hope Writers in Paradise is fantastic this year, Laura. I had a great time working with you last year and am jealous of those who get the privilege this year. Like you, I spent a lot of time in 2024 having fun with rewrites after WIP and, thanks in large part to your insights, landed an agent as a Christmas gift. Best wishes for the new year!
An agent! Mazel tov! I was thinking about you, Chris, because this year's class has several writers with he/him pronouns and I remember how often we looked at you last January whenever we generalized about male characters!
Now I know where to start my Sondheim education. I put the Schoch book on hold and will listen to the soundtracks as I work my way through it. Then view the productions that I can. Thank you for this newsletter. I look forward to it every month.
The Schoch book is good, but I wouldn't start with it. I would start with Sondheim & Co. I think it might have been updated at some point, but even if it wasn't, it's a really good introduction to Sondheim, and I think it does make sense to move through his work more or less chronologically. The tricky part is to decide which recordings to listen to!
We're close in age, and I walked 1922 miles in 2024 - you're ahead of me and I cheer your success. I like the WWWR model. Here's to good things ahead and joy in spite of all the facts, to paraphrase Wendell Berry.
New mantra: Revision is the party. Revision is the party. Revision is the party.
RIGHT? It so is!
I’ll preorder at Poor Richard’s in Frankfort. Works best face to face. After the thaw.
Fun is good. We are still running on generator since the winter storm of Sunday and Monday. Today starts phase three, deep cold. We have ice on top of six or so inches of snow on top of ice. Weather guy calls it concrete.
Having fun is a very good resolution. It's been last on my list for a long while as I move through life being dutiful with all that entails. Fun is now on my list!
I second having fun. That is my plan as well. I turn 60 in April, and I'm going to New Orleans come hell or high water. I'm in Oregon, and I think I've convinced my friend to go with me. I'd take my husband but someone needs to stay with the dog.
Unsolicited advice (hypocritical of me, as I hate it): For a first trip to New Orleans, I'd go in late March this year. After Mardi Gras, after St. Patrick's Day. Or maybe early November. Book restaurants early!
Thank you! Spring break is the last week in March, and I will get going on restaurant reservations. I have had one prior trip, but it was only 3 days and it was post-chemo at an academic conference. I was delighted by my AirBnB host and the taxi driver she referred me to. And the gumbo, dammit.
This was lovely to read.
Something I always love hearing post-divorce, and I hope you will to: I love seeing you look so happy. I support FUN. I spent a lot of my last year on resurrecting the balance of that and am now doing the opposite, reincorporating the grindstone elements (while keeping the other). The book looks delicious. I can't wait to be in a revising place! Happiest New Year.
Post-divorce is a good look on most women. (Maybe men, too.) I had dinner with a friend last night whose marriage ended about the same time as mine. Our lives could not look more different -- five years out from the initial separation, she is living with someone (terrific) and plans to marry next year, while I have committed to hermitude. (Apparently not a word.) I am happy for you, too, Gwenda, and hope our paths cross at some point.
Love love this!
Selfie queen!
I am a parade!!!!!! (Daughter and I saw a wonderful Forum on Sunday.)
You know what? I’m not entirely sure I’ve ever seen it live and up on its feet!
Signature Theater in Virginia did a wonderful staging IMHO, with a woman playing Pseudolus and, in general, upending a lot of the a-HOO-gah tone, especially with the casting of those in the House of Marcus Lycus. The twins were played by men and there was just a general pansexual vibe that I quite enjoyed.
That sounds like super fun!
Everyone get Laura's book in their library. They listen to requests. Especially when you're there so much they're a little afraid of you : )
Yes, yes, YES to having more fun! I just turned 70 and fun is at the top of my list for 2025.
Tokyo is extremely fun. Come! xo
Love the beret. Not many can pull that off.
I so love The Moon by Night. I had such a bad-boy crush on Zachary Gray. For some reason, I pictured him looking like a very young Adam Ant. Hence, the crush, probably. LOL.
I hope Writers in Paradise is fantastic this year, Laura. I had a great time working with you last year and am jealous of those who get the privilege this year. Like you, I spent a lot of time in 2024 having fun with rewrites after WIP and, thanks in large part to your insights, landed an agent as a Christmas gift. Best wishes for the new year!
An agent! Mazel tov! I was thinking about you, Chris, because this year's class has several writers with he/him pronouns and I remember how often we looked at you last January whenever we generalized about male characters!
I had a great time being the token He/Him last year lol. Hope you enjoy the new crew at WIP later this month
Now I know where to start my Sondheim education. I put the Schoch book on hold and will listen to the soundtracks as I work my way through it. Then view the productions that I can. Thank you for this newsletter. I look forward to it every month.
The Schoch book is good, but I wouldn't start with it. I would start with Sondheim & Co. I think it might have been updated at some point, but even if it wasn't, it's a really good introduction to Sondheim, and I think it does make sense to move through his work more or less chronologically. The tricky part is to decide which recordings to listen to!
Thank you! I will start with Sondheim & Co. ◔‿◔
We're close in age, and I walked 1922 miles in 2024 - you're ahead of me and I cheer your success. I like the WWWR model. Here's to good things ahead and joy in spite of all the facts, to paraphrase Wendell Berry.