"What are you up to?"

I had two parties over the weekend- one family, one friends. And I got asked this question by well meaning, well intentioned people. And that’s when I realized how much I hate this question. First of all, it puts alot of pressure on me to be up to something interesting. And I don’t know if I am. I am working on my seventh book - a collection of book reviews, essays and short stories- but I’m worried sharing this news will either make me look pretentious or like a one trick pony (Jesus, doesn’t this girl know how to do anything besides writing?); Of course I have other things I do which you know about- ASL (my awesome friend found me an ASL practice group), knitting, piano, reading. But I feel bad only talking about my self-indulgent hobbies. Of course if  they were someone else’s hobbies I would just be mildly interested. I guess I just suffer from the illusion that my life is more boring than anybody else’s. Maybe if I had some legitimate proof (like a promotion or a paycheck) I would be more proud of myself. But I must not let myself fall victim to outside validation. So here are ten maybe interesting/maybe not things that I am up to. The questions is which are true and which ones aren’t…….

1. This weekend Justin and I are going to Splashdown. It’s a water park by his house that has slides, a wave pool and a lazy river. 

2. The last water park I went to was formerly known as Action Park. It is now known as Mountain Creek Waterpark.

3. Back when it was Action Park the wave pool was known as the “grave pool” because so many drowned in it (the lifeguards were usually inept, some of them were drunk)

4. I’m getting an Eeyore tramp stamp as soon as I’m thirty per my friend Gloria’s suggestion. The tail will dangle into my butt crack.

5. Soon it will be the one year anniversary of the book club I formed. We are reading the Communist Manifesto

6. I’m buying myself a nintendo switch lite for my birthday. My parents and Justin are also getting me presents but I always like to buy presents for myself too with my own money.

7. The first game i’m getting myself on the switch lite is “Fashion Dreamer”

8. I have begun the difficult process of going through my stories and organizing them. I’m on my fourth 2 inch binder.

9. I’m kind of wondering where all my Michaels points are going because I have no received one coupon since that store opened. Today I need Distress Ink for a book club project.

10. I’m going to start knitting Katie a shawl as a wedding present.

Answer:

1. True

2. True

3. True

4. False (kind of obvious I would hope). Nick suggested I get a sleeve done of all the Winnie the Pooh characters and thats when Gloria suggested the Eeyore tramp stamp.

5. It is the one year  anniversary but we are reading Persepolis and Book of Delights.

6. True

7. True

8. I’m only on my second 2 inch binder. But there’s still lots to print out.

9. True

10. No way am I up to knitting a shawl yet. I’m getting her something else (but its a surprise).