Weekend Coffee Share 12/31 #sol23

If we were having coffee, we would definitely talk about the weather because it’s snowing AGAIN. I like the snow, so I’m not complaining (though I am ready for spring), and we’ve had some bright sunny days in between the clouds. Right now, everything is snow-colored outside: the air, the sky, the roofs of the houses I can see from my window.

If we were having coffee, I’d tell you about my spontaneous independent bookstore hop yesterday. I visited three bookstores, and of course I had to buy something–or several somethings–at each store to do my part to support indies. There were bookstore cats–my favorite!–at two of the stores. I’d show you the cat photos on my camera roll and agree that they’d make a fine topic for a slice later this week.

If we were having coffee, I’d ask how your writing is going. I can’t seem to get into a good rhythm and routine with slicing this month, but I’m still showing up each day. I’d ask which blogs you’re most enjoying this month and add a few sites to my daily rounds.

If we were having coffee, I’d tell you I finally finished the books I’ve been slowly reading through my reading slump (Kate Zambreno’s Drifts; Jhumpa Lahiri’s Whereabouts; Elaine Castillo’s How to Read Now; Ann Patchett’s These Precious Days). They were all good–just somehow not exactly what I wanted to be reading. I’d tell you how I spotted the second volume of a series I suddenly felt like rereading at the bookstore yesterday and would have bought the first volume if they’d had it–even though I have two copies of the first volume somewhere in my house that I just can’t locate (E.F. Benson’s Queen Lucia). I’d ask if you ever lose books in your own house and if that’s a sign I should really stop buying more books.

If we were having coffee, I’d share my big news from the week: acceptance to a writing workshop taught by Aimee Nezhukumatathil this summer. She’s one of my favorite poets and essayists, and I can’t believe I get to take a class with her. The summer road trip and writing retreat shaping up in my mind will give me something to look forward to over these last long months of the school year. I even think a few of my slicing friends live along the route, so maybe we can have that coffee in person together!

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Weekend Coffee Share is a format I learned from Tammy, who has so many wonderful ideas for slices.


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17 responses to “Weekend Coffee Share 12/31 #sol23”

  1. mbhmaine Avatar

    Oh, this is a great format! Congratulations on your workshop acceptance. That sounds fabulous and is definitely something to look forward to!

  2. Beth Scanlon Avatar

    I love the repeating lines here.

  3. Natasha Avatar

    Congratulations on your acceptance! That sounds so exciting! If your road trip takes you to Maine, I’d love to get coffee in person! I love this line: ” I’d show you the cat photos on my camera roll and agree that they’d make a fine topic for a slice later this week.” I will look forward to reading it!

  4. TLC Avatar
    TLC

    I like this writing idea, and am storing it for one day, probably soon! Congratulations. What an amazing experience for you that will be!

  5. WOWilkinson Avatar
    WOWilkinson

    Congrats on your acceptance to the workshop. I start each school year with her poem, “On Listening to Your Teacher Take Attendance,” and my students love it!

    By the way, I’m struggling to find my slicing rhythm this season too. Keep it up.

  6. Teachingnest87 Avatar

    I love this format and have used it in the past. Your bookstore wanderings sound wonderful. Congratulations on the writing workshop.

  7. Terje Avatar
    Terje

    I am thankful that you invited me to coffee and you shared what you have been up to. I am happy for your summer writing course opportunity.

  8. Amanda Regan Avatar

    I love this format; I’ll need to keep it in mind for a future slice. It was wonderful having coffee with you, Elisabeth!

  9. humbleswede Avatar

    This is a great format. The conversational tone, the little shares that would inevitably lead to bigger conversations (that we just have to imagine), and the names of books and authors that I don’t know. So much to digest here. If we were having coffee, I’d have to mention my idea for a library-eatery I wanted to open. I’d call it Readers Digest. I guess we could allow cats, but not in the kitchen.

  10. amyilene Avatar
    amyilene

    Well, I WAS having coffee as I read your lovely slice (and envied both your bookstore hopping and the upcoming workshop!). Thank you for giving the idea for this great format….I will try my hand at it, I’m sure!

  11. Suzanne Avatar

    If we were having coffee… Your post is beautiful. I miss the things I would have discussed with my husband so much! Thank you for reminding me how lovely this quiet time with him was.

  12. mschiubookawrites Avatar

    Really enjoyed this coffee chat. Congrats on the getting into the writing workshop. Having something to look forward to will hopefully help you get through these long months.

  13. Leigh Anne Eck Avatar
    Leigh Anne Eck

    We have to “do our part” to help those bookstores, don’t we? Congratulations on the writing workshop. That sounds great! (I think) I am unfamiliar with this writer, so I will have to check her out.

  14. arjeha Avatar

    Up to today my writing was going pretty well. But now… I still haven’t a post for today. Congratulations on being accepted for the workshop.

  15. Susan Kennedy Avatar

    I love this format so much it feels like we are having a conversation. Congratulations on the writing workshop. That will be wonderful. I’m ready for winter be over and I’ve finally found my appetite for books returning. I have been reading a little series of books about animals, West with Giraffes, Remarkably Bright Creatures, Horse, and Mad Honey. Well, that last one isn’t really about the bees, but they figure prominently as a metaphor.

  16. Ramona Avatar

    Bookstore cats. I’ve only seen that once, in Paris!
    The writing workshop, the anticipation, the ability to give you something to look forward to!
    I love this format and may use it soon. Always collecting possibilities.

  17. Trina Avatar

    I would love to have coffee with you. I love when shops have resident cats! That’s so exciting about your writing workshop. I really admire that you are doing this for yourself. I seriously want to join you sometime!

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