Thirteen Things I Do For Comfort
Mar
8
2007
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Thirteen Things I Do For Comfort

When I’m down or anxious there are several things I turn to to make myself feel better.

1. Sex. My husband is always glad to help on this one. The endorphins, the physical activity, closeness with my partner – it all helps.

2. The Matrix – I love this movie. Every time I watch it I feel recharged from all the eye candy, brilliant filmmaking and script. It’s one of the things that never fails to get me out of a writing slump.

3. Bladerunner – Another movie I love. It’s one of the best movies ever made – creative, innovative, great mystery, fab sexual tension, stark sets. I fall into the world Ridley Scott and Phillip Dick created and it always feels like I’m in a museum or in church or something. I’m in awe of that talent.

4. Steel Magnolias – sometimes you need to laugh and cry and then laugh again when you’ve got the blues. Every freaking time Sally Fields is at the funeral and she’s beating her chest saying talking about how it wasn’t right her child should die first, I weep and weep. And then I laugh when Clairee pushes Ouisa forward and tells M’lynn to hit her. It’s such a beautiful play and book about women and the relationships they have. Makes me weep buckets.

5. Retail Therapy. What? You don’t think I can’t be a shallow chick who feels better after buying a new purse or pair of shoes? Or eight books at once?

6. Mashed potatoes – Oh god, so good.

7. Cupcakes. Okay the thing is, I haven’t yet met a problem buttercream and a good cupcake couldn’t make at least a tiny bit better. Cupcakes are like, a tiny bit of heaven. Not so much you feel guilty, but enough you know you’ve treated yourself.

8. Reading The Outlander. I love this book and I love the way it straddles several genres. Jamie and Claire are a wonderful couple. Lots of emotion and action.

9. Reading Dune. Holy moly. I was in my early twenties before my husband finally convinced me to read this book (this is my problem you know, all of my favorite books are ones I pick up and put down a dozen times and end up reading because I have nothing in my TBR pile – I should be less judgmental about blurbs). Anyway, Herbert’s sweeping epic about religion, politics, empire building, addiction, sex, power with a healthy dose of magic thrown in is without a doubt my favorite science fiction novel of all time. It reminds me that there is truly amazing writing out there and to keep working, keep trying to make myself better.

10. A mug of decaf chai in my retro Minnie Mouse mug. A few years back we did a family vacation to Disneyland and my husband saw me looking at these cups that had this great sort of forties era diner design on them. When I was unpacking when we got home I saw he’d bought them and hid them for me to find later. Have I mentioned lately what an amazing husband I have? Anyway, every time I drink out of the mug it makes me happy. I had a Bellagio mug that was similar but my daughter broke it, sigh.

11. Read Welcome To Temptation because it always makes me laugh. It’s one of the most perfect romance novels I can think of, it’s just a great combination of humor and sex, chemistry and plot. It’s totally unexpected and odd, I love it.

12. Snuggling with my kids in my bed. On the weekend mornings when no one is rushed, having those small people who mean everything to me hugging me and excitedly telling me about their Saturday plans just warms me. I love it that my daughter just repeats every third sentence one of my sons says. I love it that my husband will look at me and his face tells me how much he loves what we’ve created together. It’s a great reminder of what is truly worth fretting over.

13. Time alone with my husband. I miss not having more of this. Last night I’d hit this wall as I was writing a series synopsis, I was a bit agitated and he hung out with me and plotted and let me bounce ideas off him and gave me some of his own for well over an hour. As it happens, I was able to totally plot out the second book and finish up the first one because of that. I love him and i love our connection.

Thursday Thirteeners – add your comments and I’ll link ya!
1. Rhian
2. Ciar
3. Anni
4. Riley Merrick
5. Spyscribbler

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

9 comments to “Thirteen Things I Do For Comfort”

  1. Ciar Cullen
    March 8th, 2007 at 10:15 am · Link

    I’m going to pick up my copy of Dune again. Matrix and sex–I’m with you. Hmnn, now if I could combine those two!
    My 13 is up at http://ciarcullen.blogspot.com



  2. rhian
    March 8th, 2007 at 9:24 am · Link

    Very cool. Especially Mashed Potatoes. Who’d have thunk it. For me – the typical icecream – only it has to be chocochip mint. The real stuff.



  3. Charlene
    March 8th, 2007 at 10:27 am · Link

    Mmm, mashed potatoes. Cupcakes. :mrgreen:

    I just re-read Welcome to Temptation and laughed and laughed.



  4. rhian
    March 8th, 2007 at 11:28 am · Link

    hey Ciar – if you check back here – tried to comment on your post but it would nae open. Sorry!



  5. Anni
    March 8th, 2007 at 11:48 am · Link

    Thanks for the smiles, Lauren. This is a great feel good list!



  6. riley_merrick
    March 8th, 2007 at 1:02 pm · Link

    Here’s my link: http://riley-merrick.livejournal.com/32788.html

    I’m so with you on WTT and shopping. I worked crew on a production of Steel Magnolias in college — I had the most fun on that play than any other I’d done. Awesome show.



  7. spyscribbler
    March 8th, 2007 at 1:53 pm · Link

    Personally, I prefer melted butter with a little bit of mashed potatoes on top. *grins*

    After hearing you say that, I definitely need to watch The Matrix!

    Happy TT!



  8. Seeley Deborn
    March 8th, 2007 at 7:10 pm · Link

    I could do with a little bit of comfort right now. Sex too. (two weeks staying with The Man’s relatives. eek)



  9. Anya Bast
    March 10th, 2007 at 9:51 am · Link

    How timely. 🙂

    For me it’s water, sex, and wine. Maybe some rock ‘n roll.