It’s not been a great week, because of this. I am worried and feeling helpless, because mostly I am, and I’m having trouble concentrating. But as Dumbledore says, happiness can be found even in the darkest of times, if only we remember to turn on the light…

So here are some good things:

A Good Bookish Thing

After having it on my shelf for nearly a year, I finally read A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness. It was every bit as wonderful as it’s been hyped up to be, and I can’t wait to see the film. This also now means that I have read all of Patrick Ness’s work (including this and this), so very much hoping he’s working on something else.

A Good Entertainment-ish Thing

I have searched and failed to find a podcast as good as Overdue Pod but I did find another highly enjoyable and related one called Appointment Television which is like a TV book club, if that makes sense. Podcasts: making cleaning my house infinitely more enjoyable since 2016.

A Good Writerly Thing

I am struggling with finishing my work in progress, The Play Story. Maybe it’s that actually writing the scene I’ve been building up to feels like it’s too much pressure. But in the meantime I think I’ve finally found a way to fix my first ever manuscript (The Chateau Story, a YA mystery) and for the first time in a long time I’m looking forward to diving back into that one.

A Good Seasonal Thing

Turning off the AC at night and opening the windows. I don’t love air conditioning and feel it’s grossly overused in this country especially, but I do turn it on in summer as needed because otherwise our top floor bedroom would feel like a furnace. It’s so wonderful to be able to turn it back off and go to sleep to the late summer breeze.

A Good Habit-Shifting Thing

Water is good for me. I need to drink more of it. Must purchase more lemons to make it more appealing.

A Good Delicious Thing

HEIRLOOM TOMATOES. So good alone, but also sliced up on toast with fresh ricotta and sea salt 🙂

A Good Random Thing

This made me laugh really hard.

A Good Thing to Look Forward To

A picnic this weekend in Brooklyn with friends we haven’t seen in a few months and their endlessly adorable and interesting child.

One Last Thing:

I hate asking people for money. Hate hate hate hate it. The word “fundraising” makes me want to run as fast as I can in the opposite direction. I have no idea how people do it for a living. But for a good cause, I’ll do it. My cousin Brian is still not doing well, and needs help with his medical expenses. If you’re able, please consider donating a small amount. If you’re not able, please send (or continue to send) prayers and good thoughts in his direction. Thank you.

Photo by Gary Yost on Unsplash