Take advantage. I know jack about graphic design but it’s easy to use. E.g. I made this with it. It’s basic but it’s just a flyer. Let’s not get too fussy professional people with your fancy Photoshop pro designerbighead 57 plus.

I never noticed, as I sobbed watching this as a kid, the HUGE METAPHOR presenting itself in this scene.

I’m in a swamp. A swamp of thoughts and paper and lists and gmail accounts but thankfully, not in THE SWAMP OF SADNESS.

We are artists/consultants/bloggers/musicians/hilarious tweeters/knitters/photographers/hair experts/fashion consultants/start-up owners…

Ain’t that right:

Zooey Deschanel

I am an actress/

I sing in a folkster band/

The tambourine is my friend, the tambourine is my friend...

Tweet/

Manage a hipster website

Dianna Agron

I am an actress/

Get a Tumblr site, loser

Curate ‘cool’ stuff/

Tweet/

Manage a hipster website

Jessica Alba

I am an actress/

MOM/

Tweet/

I've got the hair for business

Owner of hipster mommy cleaning-products website

Let’s side-step Gwyneth and Angelina for now.

The message is, do stuff that you love and forget the LABELS. I’m off now to practise my Bodhran and write some short stories. YEAH!

My first bodhrán lesson is tomorrow. I’ve always wanted to give it a go and I like the idea of doing something just for the craic. If you ask me why, well, all I can say is, why not?

Besides, sure don’t bodhrán-players always look happier than anyone else? Look closely at The Corrs in this video and see how miserable everyone is… everyone except Caroline. Yes, Caroline is the one playing the bodhrán.

Woo hoo! C’mon, ya boy ya!

Thank goodness for Emma Jane. She says “go check this out,” so I go.

Then I say to others, “Oh really? You’ve never heard of Instagram? Deary me.”

Bob Dylan

INXS also gave it a go.

My friend Alice is about to go travelling for four months. These are books I’m recommending for her Kindle. What am I missing?

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer

Middlesex or The Marriage Plot by Jeffrey Eugenides

A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan

Bossypants by Tina Fey

The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay by Michael Chabon

I cried with this one too. I often cry when it’s a really good book not just because of the plot but because really good books don’t come around often. The tears are the grief of a good book dying in my arms.

Of course, travelling allows time to read old classics you may have missed because people keep lending you books like ‘Room’ and ‘We Need to Talk about Kevin.’ Eugh. 

Matilda by Roald Dahl

Yes, it’s a kids book but it is uplifting and soulful and wise. I learn something new every time I read it. Really helpful if you want tips for how to mess with your parents which we never grow out of wanting to do… right?

The End of the Affair by Graham Greene

I had the time to cover most of Graham Greene while travelling. This one is a heart-breaking classic and there’s always a suitable amount of Catholic guilt (essential ingredient for any tragic story) involved in his work.

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Maybe we think we’ve read this but then we realise we haven’t. It’s one of the greatest books ever written and not as long as ‘War and Peace.’ It makes your heart go fast. Also once you’ve read it, you can say you’ve written everything by Harper Lee which is always impressive to say about a famous author.

The Easter Parade by Richard Yates

I’m still baffled as to why I studied contemporary American fiction and never once heard of Richard Yates. Years later a smart writing teacher recommended him. All his stuff is excellent, though read too many of his books at once and you’ll start believing there is no hope in the world…when there definitely is.

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Ha ha ha ha! Old books are funny too. Who knew? Old Jane is a right funny writer, even after 200 years.

What else? I don’t have a lot of ‘beach book’ experience. Maybe we need more of those…

Your Recommendations (updates): 

Summer Sisters by Judy Blume

This one is for the beach. Haven’t read but now adding to my own need-to-read list because Cassie says so (thank you Cassie) and it’s JUDY BLUME, ”Ahhh Jonathan Safron Foer – I love him. As well as so many others on your list. We seem to have the same book taste. You should recommend Summer Sisters by Judy Blume for a beach read – it’s wonderful and smells like salty air. : )”

*(in the comments below the vid.)

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