Friday 5 – All about my irrational fears and more.

1. I’m flying to Colorado next week with my daughter to visit my parents’ old stomping grounds. And I’m slightly terrified. The plane ride will be long and I get airsick. #sonotfun In Colorado, which I hear is a humongous state, I might be driving on hairpin roads and I get carsick. #myvalidexcusetodrive Or we might have to drive hours to get anywhere. Will I be in a rental car, clinging to my barf bag the whole trip? #hopenot

2. With the two hour time difference I’m really not quite sure if my layover is close to two hours or more like ten minutes.

3. I’m kind of excited to use the word tennis shoe instead of sneakers. Is that what they call sneakers out there? And I’m hoping it truly is bright and sunny all the time, which Twitter has led me to believe. #twitterbetterberight

4. I’ll be happy to have my Kindle, which will be loaded with Imaginary Girls. I downloaded several samples of new releases and the opening of this story really drew me in.  #openingsaremoreimportantthanever  I also have Tremble, the second book of a terrific Indy series by Addison Moore. Ethereal was the first book. #lovedtheplottwists #youwilltoo I’ll have the paper back of Lemonade Mouth by Mark Peter Hughes, which my daughter loved! #thatsaysalot #she’saliterarysnob

5. I’ve read two books lately that I just absolutely loved. Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly. Loved everything about it. Loved. Loved. Loved. And Okay For Now by Gary D. Schmidt, a more literary MG but incredibly written and full of emotion. (Okay, the title and cover aren’t that great but don’t let that fool you.)

On that note, dear friends, I must take leave of you for a couple weeks. I’ll be in Colorado. I wish you sunny weather, writing that flows like the rainwater down my street right now, and many sticky watermelon memories. I’ll catch up with everyone when I get back! Ciao (which for the longest time I thought was pronounced see-ow and now my friends make fun of me all the time.)

What are your plans for the summer? Read any good books lately?

41 Responses to Friday 5 – All about my irrational fears and more.

  1. Nicole Ducleroir June 24, 2011 at 10:21 am #

    I’ve always wanted to go to Colorado. Hear it’s gorgeous there. Have a great trip! And go armed with something against motion sickness, you’ll feel better just knowing you have it with you. I bought a 2-wk supply of ‘the patch’ because we’re going on a boat (okay, it’s a yacht…and yes, I’m extremely spoiled. #ThanksSis #ThanksSis’sVeryRichBoyfriend) in Italy (yep, very spoiled) and we all get seasick. I’m not bringing any books, but my journal will never leave my side!

    Have a wonderful trip!!

  2. Sarah June 24, 2011 at 10:22 am #

    Twitter is always right. Or, I hope so in your case! I love Colorado and hope you have a great time. This summer, we have NO plans for vacation … and I’m totally ok with that, in part because it makes me wonder if my husband will let me take a week off to stay at home and write! Have a safe and wonderful trip.

  3. Matthew MacNish June 24, 2011 at 11:19 am #

    This is hashtag mania! Ahhh.

    Just kidding. I’m sure you’ll have a wonderful time. Personally, I love the mountains even more than the ocean, so Colorado is like heaven to me. And yes, I’ve been, but it’s been years.

    Have a great time!

  4. Jennifer Shirk June 24, 2011 at 11:23 am #

    You’re going to CO and I’m going to NY. LOL
    Have a great time! And enjoy your books!
    I just read two Inspirational Fiction books that were really great: Broken Wings and Save the Date. I inhaled them both in less than a week. 🙂

  5. Anna Staniszewski June 24, 2011 at 11:48 am #

    I get really motion sick, too, and I’ve found that ginger pills (which you can buy in the supplements aisle) help immensely and don’t have any side effects. Have a great trip! No need to stress. 🙂

    • Laura June 24, 2011 at 12:09 pm #

      I sincerely hope my fears of being stuck in a car/sick the whole time are in my head! And considering it has been raining here for 3 straight days? I’ll take the sun.

  6. Heather Sunseri June 24, 2011 at 12:17 pm #

    I get sea sick, and I don’t like dremamine b/c it makes me drowsy. Dive shops sell something called Triptone, which is a nondrowsy motion sickness medicine you take about an hour before you’ll be on whatever craft that makes you sick. It works for me on a 3-4 hour dive experience. I looked for it at Wal Mart the other day and couldn’t find it, so I’m going to my dive shop next week before I head to Haiti for 11 days.

    I’m reading Imaginary Girls right now.

  7. Sheri Larsen June 24, 2011 at 12:39 pm #

    How exciting! Enjoy yourself. Your parents old stomping ground sounds wonderful, an oasis for any writer to relax. 🙂

  8. Creepy Query Girl June 24, 2011 at 12:42 pm #

    Enjoy your vacation! Hope your motion sickness doesn’t act up too bad! My plans for this summer: finishing my MS, reading LOTS of books, revising MS and start querying before summer’s end, plan lots of outings with my kids, and get in shape!

  9. Monica Mansfield June 24, 2011 at 1:14 pm #

    I just came back from Denver on Wednesday. It is gorgeous! You will definitely need sunglasses every day. A few days it was rainy, but the dark skies were short lived and then the sun came out again!

    Hope you have fun.

  10. Donna K. Weaver June 24, 2011 at 1:38 pm #

    Oooo, I lived in Colorado for 18 months many years go. Beautiful state. We lived in Colorado Springs, and there’s a lot to see around there. If you’re in the area at all you should check out the Garden of the Gods. Amazing.

    Have fun.

  11. Laura Marcella June 24, 2011 at 1:47 pm #

    Have a wonderful time in Colorado, Laura!

    I just started A is for Alibi, the first in Sue Grafton’s alphabet mysteries. It’s great so far!

  12. Karen Strong June 24, 2011 at 1:55 pm #

    Colorado is so beautiful. You’ll love it there!

    I hate flying long distances too. Ugh.

    I have IMAGINARY GIRLS on my list too. Can’t wait to read it. 🙂

    Right now, I have a lot red blood going on my reading. Currently reading BLOOD RED ROAD, BLOOD MAGIC, and RED GLOVE.

    Have a fantastic trip.

  13. MG Higgins June 24, 2011 at 2:13 pm #

    Have a great time! I don’t live in CO, but I think saying “sneakers” will be fine. 🙂 Thanks for the book tips. I’ve been looking for a new MG and Okay for Now may be the one. (I loved Revolution, too. A great read.)

  14. Lydia K June 24, 2011 at 2:16 pm #

    I’m in the middle of reading the Graveyard Book. So far so good but I keep getting distracted…

    I think it’s funny that in the UK they call sneakers “trainers.” Isn’t that cute?

  15. Jill Kemerer June 24, 2011 at 2:24 pm #

    Oh, good luck! I’m sorry about the plane sickness and car sickness. Hopefully, you won’t experience either! Have a wonderful trip!

  16. Alex J Cavanaugh June 24, 2011 at 3:38 pm #

    Enjoy your trip! I hate flying as well.

  17. shelley moore thomas June 24, 2011 at 3:38 pm #

    Have fun! You won’t get carsick.

    You will be missed.

    Shelley

  18. Margo Berendsen June 24, 2011 at 3:42 pm #

    I live in Wyoming, but our closest big city is in Colorado, so I spend a lot of time there – I hope you love it!!! Not all the roads are hairpins and yes it really is bright and sunny most of the time. THat’s funny, I hadn’t noticed, but they do call them tennis shoes out here – I of course still call them sneakers (from NY orginally) and earn odd stares as a result.

    I just read A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly and LOVED IT and am impatiently waiting for the person ahead of me at the library to return Revolution so I can read it. Sounds like one I might just break down and buy though.

    My recent great read? A Curse As Dark as Gold by Elizabeth Bunce. An intricate and delicious mystery/ghost story/fairy-tale revisioning. Highly recommend!

  19. Lisa Green June 24, 2011 at 4:00 pm #

    You’re giving me abandonment issues you know. I hope you have a wonderful trip, and enjoy your reading. Isn’t the Kindle great for trips? Then when you finish the book you brought you can get another and no more space taken up in your suitcase! Magic. 😀

  20. Leslie Rose June 24, 2011 at 5:00 pm #

    Colorada is so gorgeous. Great place to mentally refuel. Have you ever tried ginger snap cookies to settle your stomach? I just finished POSSESSION by Elana Johnson – LOVED IT. I’m now reading DIVERGENT by Veronica Roth – I’m totally invested. Safe skies to you.

  21. Meagan Spooner June 24, 2011 at 5:04 pm #

    Augh, motion sickness is the WORST. I get carsick really easily, so I can sympathize. Especially because the tendency came on really suddenly in my teens–before that I never got sick and could read for hours in the back seat with no ill effects! GRR!

    Anyway, Colorado is absolutely BEAUTIFUL. I hope you have a great time!

  22. Patti Nielson June 24, 2011 at 5:26 pm #

    Have a great trip and I hope you don’t feel sick. I took half a gravel and it really helped me.

  23. Susan Kaye Quinn June 24, 2011 at 5:59 pm #

    I lived in CO for years. #yesitsalwaysSunnyandGorgeous
    #watchoutforalitudesickness
    #drinklotsofwater

    See-ow! 🙂

  24. Ansha Kotyk June 24, 2011 at 7:20 pm #

    Just downloaded Ethereal. I love plot twists!
    Have fun in CO. I think you’ll enjoy the big open sky. 🙂 Miss you already! Bring back pictures!

  25. Elle Strauss June 24, 2011 at 8:00 pm #

    We call them running shoes where I come from. I also think that Jennifer Connelly is a terrific writer. That’s the second book of hers I’ve read, one of those writers that make you think you suck and should just step away from the computer forever….:)

    Have a great time away!!

  26. Cinette June 24, 2011 at 9:40 pm #

    Enjoy your holiday! We’ll all be here when you get back:-D

  27. Jenny June 24, 2011 at 10:04 pm #

    I’ve heard Colorado is beautiful, especially this time of year. I hope to go there someday. You may want to check out Paranormalcy by Kiersten White. I loved, loved, loved it!

    Hope you have a great trip. Try not to get too sick. We’ll be here waiting for you! 🙂

    Jen

  28. Julie Musil June 26, 2011 at 1:07 am #

    Laura, I wish you a fun, safe journey! And I LOVE that your daughter is a literary snob. #raisingkidsright

    See you when you get back!

  29. LynNerd June 27, 2011 at 12:41 am #

    Colorado is beautiful. We went to Colorado Springs for our honeymoon (sheesh, almost 40 years ago). I’m afraid to fly. Don’t travel much, so I don’t have to worry, but I hope all goes well for you on the plane and in the car and that you and your daughter have a wonderful trip. We call them tennis shoes in California, or skater shoes for skateboarders, or walking shoes. I like “sneakers” better. Kindles are great! Have a blast.

  30. Lynda R Young June 27, 2011 at 8:09 am #

    I hope you have a fantastic time in Colorado. Sounds like you’ll get a lot of reading done too. Yay! And with the kindle you won’t have to cart around all those books.

  31. Marisa June 27, 2011 at 5:05 pm #

    Have fun!!! Colorado is gorgeous! I hope your flight is nice and smooth! 🙂

  32. Barbara Watson June 28, 2011 at 2:22 pm #

    Urgh. I get motion sickness of all types too. It is so bad. People who don’t suffer from it don’t fully understand. I’ll be thinking of you in that regard and hoping all is well.

    I can’t speak for CO but in MN we use the words tennis shoes rather than sneakers. Most here also use the word pop when talking about soda (you know, like Coke, Mt Dew, etc), but pop drives me nuts so I’ve switched to soda. =)

    Enjoy your trip and all nature’s beauty. Safe travels to you.

  33. Talli Roland June 28, 2011 at 5:37 pm #

    Have a great trip – and enjoy all your Kindle reads! 🙂

  34. Ghenet Myrthil June 28, 2011 at 6:34 pm #

    Happy travels! I’m not a big fan of planes either or windy roads either. Hope it went quickly and you’re having a great time in Colorado.

  35. Paul Greci June 28, 2011 at 6:50 pm #

    Safe travels, Laura!! 🙂

  36. Cynthia C Willis June 29, 2011 at 1:35 pm #

    Have a wonderful time in Colorado! And happy reading! Summer vacations are such perfect opportunities do dive in to great books. Enjoy!

  37. Theresa Milstein July 1, 2011 at 2:43 pm #

    I hope you don’t get sick. That must be awful!

    The cover of Okay for Now isn’t great. Good to know you liked it.

    Have a great trip!

  38. Kris Asselin July 1, 2011 at 4:34 pm #

    Miss you already! Hold onto that barf bag tightly!

  39. Amie Kaufman July 3, 2011 at 9:50 am #

    Have a fantastic time! Hope you don’t turn any shades of green at all. Isn’t the Kindle great for checking out the starts of novels? I’ve been sucked into a purchase so many times!

  40. Misha July 5, 2011 at 8:34 pm #

    Enjoy your vacation!

    Saying that motion sickness sucks is a major understatement, so I hope you’re missing the worst of it.

    See you when you’re back!

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