The Friday list (nice things you did for yourself this week)
I talked too much yesterday. Big long post, big long comments (from me as well).
So to balance that out, I’ll keep it short today. What nice thing did I do for myself this week? One word: Yoga, yoga, yoga. Every other day. Bliss. After all the time I spend with my arms crooked at this keyboard, my body really appreciates when I take it somewhere to get stretched out. It likes massages, too. It generally likes it when I keep it well-oiled, since these arms and wrists and shoulders and neck are part of my writing equipment as much as my computer and printer are. Doesn’t matter what technology I have if my hands have stiffened into claws. Ya know?
So that’s me. Tell me all y’all: What kind, wonderful, pampering, sweet things did you do for your deserving selves this week?
Technorati Tags: The Friday List, Self-Care, Pampering, Sweetness, Kindness, Love, Happiness, Success, Yoga for Writers
June 1st, 2007 at 6:47 am
I’m on a crazily busy business trip this week, squeezing in seeing people for meals when I can, and not stopping to breathe much. But Wednesday night I went out of my way to go, by myself, to a particular Italian restaurant, one that I had last eaten at several years ago. And as I was eating my roasted garlic appetizer, and taking my first sip of red wine, I did a little toast (in my head) to you, Robin, thinking “OK, here’s my nice thing for the week.”
And then I went back to my hotel and walked on the treadmill, which was also good, because I’m not very good at finding time to exercise when I travel.
Have a great weekend!
June 1st, 2007 at 7:46 am
Jen, I raise my coffee cup and toast you back. I love it when you treat yourself well–especially on the road. Bravo!
June 1st, 2007 at 7:48 am
Well, I had sushi for dinner last night and it was glorious!
Also, I started going back to the gym, which is always good. My girlfriend and I want to train for a 5k, and then a 10k, and finally a half marathon. We shall see…
June 1st, 2007 at 7:58 am
Wow, Christen, I really admire you and your friend for wanting to train for that! That’s awesome! From pole dancing lessons to the half marathon. Your life is so much fun to watch.
June 1st, 2007 at 9:57 am
I got a pedicure and a manicure. Now my toes glow in yoga class (I am SO with you on the yoga, Robin) and my nails look nice as they tap against the computer keys.
Plus, I treated myself to a Lebanese mazza plate. I pointed to six things in the restaurant’s deli window and they were all delicious. There must be no bad food in Lebanon.
June 1st, 2007 at 10:25 am
Sara, you’re such a girly girl with your mani-pedi. I need to do that more often.
As for Lebanese food, I’m not sure I’ve ever had it. Or if I did maybe I thought it was something else. One of the things I am trying to do is be more adventurous with my food choices. Peanut butter and jelly is the best, but sometimes you gotta bust out a little (see yesterday’s item about Ethiopian food). So maybe I’ll search out some Lebanese. Thanks for the idea!
June 1st, 2007 at 11:18 am
Hi Robin. Thanks by the way for doing this weekly list. It’s so much fun to check in here and see what folks are doing.
Nice things I did this week:
1. Ate chocolate silk pie AND fondue in the same meal.
2. Took a day off from visits, dates, and people in general and watched several episodes of House. Thanks be for TIVO.
3. Gambled in Atlantic City, and didn’t lose!
4. Took a walk on the boardwalk in Ocean City, and snuck onto the beach without a permit so I could stick my toes in the water. Glorious.
Have a great week everyone! Be good (to yourself)!
June 1st, 2007 at 11:21 am
Nancy, that first item? And you weren’t hospitalized afterward? Woo-hoo!
June 1st, 2007 at 12:15 pm
Watch that “girly-girl” talk, sister, or I’ll challenge you to a pushup contest!
One thing I like about Lebanese food is that it all seems to be good for you, too. Olive oil, chickpeas, parsley, lemon, pureed garlic, couscous, yogurt sauce.
I’m dying to try Ethiopian. By coincidence, there was a review of a new Ethiopian restaurant in the paper today. But they raved about the RAW MEAT dishes and said all the veggies were awful, so I’m gonna have to wait for another choice. (Not that I’m vegetarian, but I love ethnic veggies and raw beef is beyond me.)
June 1st, 2007 at 12:28 pm
I’m not sure if this is really “nice”, but I have not been watching my Weight Watchers points this week.
My kids got out of school this week, and we have indulged in ice cream cones and homemade cookies.
June 1st, 2007 at 1:36 pm
Heather, sounds pretty nice to me. Just so happens I decided to give myself the whole summer off from the Food Police, so I’m with you on this one.
Sara, I know you can kick my a**. Don’t worry. And as for the Ethiopian menu, uh, ixnay on the awray eatmay thing. Gross. (Not to offend any of you raw meat eaters, but still, gross.) I always have a sampler plate of spinach, spicy lentils, and spicy mixed vegetables. It comes with this delicious injera bread that you use to scoop everything up–it’s both food and utensil. Be bold! Try it!
June 1st, 2007 at 1:57 pm
I *heart* Lebanese (and Ethiopian). Good choice, Sara!
I caught up with some girlfriends for lunch this week. The food in our town is not so great (no Lebanese here!), but it was fun to see people nonetheless. I have a tendency to be a hermit if I don’t push myself.
Now it’s summer time! Kids are home, no more early mornings, lots of outside time.
June 1st, 2007 at 2:25 pm
Here’s what is maybe an odd response for What I Did Nice For Myself This Week:
I got on the phone with our internet service provider and I raised my own version of hell and got them to come out here (though, ultimately, to no avail) to try to fix things. This was nice-to-me why? Because if I hadn’t I would have popped an artery; I was that mad.
What happened to good customer service? More than one service provider has sucked this week.
Anyway, truly, that’s being nice to myself.
Other than that, I’ve read good books and conversed with an author whose book I adored and played with my beautiful daughters.
June 1st, 2007 at 2:52 pm
Jules, it’s a sad fact of our enslavement to the internet that when it doesn’t work, life just completely shuts down. And it’s a further sad fact that these things don’t just take care of themselves. So what an excellent move on your own behalf to actually make someone come work on your problem. I’m sorry it didn’t fix things. Grrrr. My sympathies.
Kelly, I know what you mean about the hermitage. I, too, broke with tradition today and went out to lunch with friends. You kind of forget what it’s like to be around people sometimes, huh? Sorry the food wasn’t great, but I’m glad you got some adult play time.
June 1st, 2007 at 3:24 pm
I was out of town all week and made the most of hotel living. I got a mani and pedi at the salon, had extra gravy with the mashed potatoes at every room service meal, and laid in bed with the sea air blowing over me while watching back to back episodes every night of Inside America’s Prisons. I also got 8 hours of sleep 3 nights in a row which I don’t think I have done since infancy.
June 1st, 2007 at 3:34 pm
Deborah, you are so FABULOUS!! That sounds like the best hotel stay I can imagine, and you’re the one who made it happen. Perfection!
June 1st, 2007 at 3:54 pm
I visited loved ones.
I played on the piano and composed a new piece. (I was unable to transport my piano when I moved a few years ago, and I miss it every day.)
I walked on the beach.
June 1st, 2007 at 4:17 pm
YAY, Little Willow! What huge progress in your self-kindness program!
June 1st, 2007 at 5:04 pm
Sarah… I am sooo jealous! I love a good pedicure! (Yay for open toed shoe season!)
Robin, I am trying to lead the most exciting life possible! It is a dream to one day Heely my way through the finish line of a marathon where there will be a pole waiting for me. And then I can impress the crowd with my inverted pole skills! =) Of course, while having pink hair!!
June 1st, 2007 at 7:00 pm
Christen, someone should write a book about you.
June 1st, 2007 at 7:21 pm
Robin, I totally agree!
I have my fingers crossed that one day Suzanne Brockmann will make me the heroine of one of her books. Yum!
June 1st, 2007 at 7:22 pm
YES, Robin! It was disturbing to find out how much I rely on the ‘Net for simple errands.
Little Willow, I LOVE your list. I long to learn to play the piano, and I long to see the ocean some time soon.
June 1st, 2007 at 8:27 pm
I finally cleaned up my livingroom and feel like an honest to goodness adult rather than a romper room attendant.
Since I have a thing about people touching my feet, I gave myself a pedicure and painted my toenails bright red.
Have a nice weekend!
June 1st, 2007 at 8:31 pm
Um, Vivian, you think you can just leave us with “since I have a thing about people touching my feet” and no explanation? Nice try.
June 1st, 2007 at 10:18 pm
Robin–
You’ve never had Lebanese food? Impossible, I say! For starters, there’s baba ganouj, hummus, labne (yogurt cheese), stuffed grape leaves, lahambajin (meat pies), little spinach pies, mujudarah (lentils, rice and caramelized onions) and… oh, who am I kidding, I could go on and on. I’m not Lebanese, but one of my best friends (and maid of honor) is, so that’s close enough. (I’m of Syrian descent, but she doesn’t hold that against me). When we lived in the same house in NYC, her mother would sometimes visit from Lebanon and make food that would have us swooning. Oddly enough, my friend was introduced to peanut butter and jelly for the first time living in our group house, and became an addict.
You come over to my house right now and I’ll fix you up with some proper Middle-Eastern food.
June 1st, 2007 at 10:19 pm
P.S. We have a lot of Ethiopian restaurants in our neighborhood, and I’ve never had raw meat at any of them. I guess there’s a raw meat dish available somewhere, but I’ve not seen it on the menu yet.
June 2nd, 2007 at 6:57 am
Alkelda, now that you’ve listed some of the foods, I realize I have had baba ganouj (that’s how you spell that?) and of course I’ve had hummus. Thank you for showing me I’m more international than I knew.
But I’ll still take you up on your offer to feed me. Next Sunday okay?
June 2nd, 2007 at 7:14 am
The nice thing I did this week was to attend BEA yesterday,which was fun and interesting,if not hot and crowded at times(they never hold these things in winter or spring-late May into June doesn’t count). I got to meet a few people,some of whom I’ve only spoken to via e-mail. I also went to a great panel about the growing influence of blogs,that has me wanting to check out some that I haven’t been to before.
I also picked up a ton of upcoming books(sorry,Barry,but I didn’t see yours at the Houghton booth but I did spy a poster of the cover there)and some cool giveaway items such as a giant Golden Compass movie promo flipbook:) I’ll be blogging all about it on Monday,since I need some time to get my thoughts in focus,plus I have a family christening to go to tomorrow.
I did grab a couple of YA titles,Robin-one is called Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac by Gabrielle Zevin and the other is The Luxe by Anna Godbersen,which is described as “Gossip Girl meets the Gilded Age”. The Luxe was being handed out by a girl wearing a fancy pink ball gown very much like the one worn by the model on the cover,plus there’s an Edith Wharton qoute slipped in before the title page,so how I could resist?
June 2nd, 2007 at 8:35 am
The nice thing I did early in the week was downscale my booktalking program. I always want to share every great book I can with the kids at the elementary schools, so I prepare more booktalks than I really need. So many books could be for 1st grade or 2nd, but I’ll prepare three for each grade - which is exhausting. The nice thing I did was allow for much more overlap and much more repeating.
Also related, on Thursday I took my kids (and me) to the pool AND to a science show at the school instead of keeping us home worrying about my booktalks the next day. Ironically, I got tons of work done at the science show by making a few notes while my kids were having fun. Much better feeling than keeping us all home grumpy while I tried to clear my head.
Oh, and the booktalks at the school went great - as they always do. It’s my favorite job thing to do, and I know that it shows to the kids.
June 2nd, 2007 at 10:47 am
Alkelda: I’m so jealous of your “in” with Lebanese food! I had a friend who used to make it for me, too, but I moved.
PS. The Ethiopian raw meat dish was called “gored gored” and it was described as: “a heaping portion of high-quality raw beef cut into large chunks and generously seasoned with berbere and a little spiced clarified butter.” Also, something called “Kitfo” which they said was served either cooked or raw.
June 2nd, 2007 at 1:17 pm
Oh Robin. Now I have to explain? Okay. I need to emphasize this was my experience. My friends all raved about this chic salon for manicures and pedicures. So I decided to treat myself. The manicurist did not wash her hands after handling someone else’s feet. And she was going to touch mine. So I was grossed out. Then I started wondering whether all the pedicure instruments were clean and how much toe jam and foot fungus were comingling everywhere.
There was no hope of having a relaxing moment there. And I had to leave.
And yes, I watch for these things.
June 2nd, 2007 at 2:17 pm
Even though I’m buried with a big video project that has to be presented to an audience on Tuesday, I took Friday off of work so that I could be a chaperon for my oldest daughter’s field trip to the Virginia Science Museum.
And even though that means that I’m stuck at the office today (and probably tomorrow), it was *so* worth it.
(Oh, and though it’s technically Saturday as I write this, I can also say I just finished a certain book I’d been looking forward to reading for a while now…)
June 2nd, 2007 at 2:30 pm
Vivan, EWWWW. Yeah, I totally understand. I would have felt the same way.
Bill, how nice to see you on the Friday List! And that’s a great one to report in with.
Mother Reader, yes and yes. Way to take it easy on yourself, and do better on your talk as a result. Glad to see both you and Bill (psst, they’re secretly married) deciding that hanging out with your kids and relaxing into the experience pays off for you, as well as them. Yay!
Lady T, I know you love having all those new books to dive into. I’ve been reading reports of how crowded and hectic BEA is, but I’m sure you were an oasis of book-gathering heaven.
Love these lists, people! And if it takes you until the weekend to get to them, fine by me.
P.S. Bill, hope you liked it!
June 2nd, 2007 at 8:39 pm
I have that hermit tendency, too, Robin and Kelly. Left to my own devices, I would hardly ever leave the house (except to go to the library or the bookstore, perhaps).
Regarding the Lebanese food, I am very fortunate to share my life with an Armenian (the food is very similar to Lebanese food). He doesn’t cook much, but when we visit his parents, we get our fill of all of that Middle Eastern food. We also shop at a little Middle Eastern grocery store in San Jose that provides us with excellent appetizers (mezza).
June 2nd, 2007 at 8:44 pm
Here’s my fantasy: Some time, somewhere, we all have a big potluck where we bring the dishes we talk about and that other people haven’t tried. I will bring Hello Dollies and 911 Cake, Alkelda and Jen will bring the Lebanese food, Sara will bring something from that bakery she keeps talking about, Heather will ignore her WW points and bring something so rich we’ll all be sick–in fact, I’m going to make this a separate post. We’ll have a signup sheet for our fantasy potluck. Stay tuned.
June 2nd, 2007 at 9:01 pm
I’ll bring some good coffee for an after-meal treat!
June 3rd, 2007 at 10:00 am
This weekend, I got a pedicure/manicure and it not only looked good but it felt so great. Now that the nice weather is here, got to keep those feet in shape! Women..go get one today! I also took my time at the gym. Sometimes I try to rush it and this time I even tried a new machine..and lastly, having a green ice tea from Starbucks…it’s such a treat.
June 3rd, 2007 at 5:20 pm
All right, Priscilla! Sounds like some full-on pampering. Thanks for joining us here and reporting in. Always love to hear what others are doing to treat themselves well.
Jules, you’re on.
June 4th, 2007 at 7:10 pm
Sara: Ah yes, now I remember the gored gored dish on the menu. I guess my eyes just glassed over the “raw meat” part. Raw fish is one thing, but after seeing my grandmother get really sick from eating too much kibbe (a raw lamb dish), I’ve steered clear of raw meat.