My working life provides most of my entertainment. I love to tell stories and I'm privileged that people will pay me to do this for a living. But what do I do in the few hours when I'm not writing? I read. A LOT. I read all different kinds of books for all different age levels, and for those of you out there who want to pursue a career in writing, I suggest you read a lot too. It's amazing how often I meet would-be writers who never read. Since this blog focuses on teen fiction, I'll mention two really great books I've read in recent months: Harmless, by Dana Reinhardt, and The Invention of Hugo Cabret, by Brian Selznick; the latter is for a younger readership but the illustrations are fabulous. Similarly, if you want to stretch to the adult shelves, you can't go wrong with Michelle Richmond's Year of Fog.
Moving away from the printed word as entertainment, either written or read, I like movies and TV, but a lot of what I get to see at the movies is dictated by my seven-year-old daughter's tastes. Thankfully, it's not only animated movies we see - not that there's anything wrong with animation! - and we've been to see "Road to Glory" (about the integration of basketball) and "Invincible" (about an older guy getting his big break in the NFL). I've found sports movies to be a big hit with my kid. Even though the language is stronger than in the G and PG movies, the theme of people pursuing their dreams comes across...and that's a favorite theme of mine. Still, I live for the day my girl is old enough for me to drag her to see more mature films where we can, oh, say, drool over Ioan Gruffudd together.
In terms of TV, we're DVD heads. We're up to season three of "Gilmore Girls" and we also are currently into "Bewitched" and "I Dream of Jeannie." Once the girl is in bed, we also like "Entourage," "Rescue Me," etc, and I'm a huge politics geek who watches all the political talk shows. (I'd probably be as excited to meet Chris Matthews as I would be to meet Ioan Griffudd.) Oh, and I put on "General Hospital" nearly every day while I'm working. And, of course, our whole family watches "American Idol" together. (Truth time: I'm starting to really like Phil.)
Finally, if I get to leave the house for my entertainment, I love to shoot pool. I don't get to do it often these days, but I still have four trophies from before my girl was born and I'm the only person I know of who received a pool cue for a wedding shower present (mine had been stolen one night). If we meet someday, I'd love to play you. Perhaps for money?
So that's me. I'm a reading, writing, movie- and TV-loving pool-hall girl. Oh, and did I mention Sudoku? I love all kinds of puzzles, proud geek that I am.
How about you? What's your favorite form(s) of entertainment?
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16 comments:
I'm a TV and movie girl. I have TV progs I watch regularly, and I record them if I miss them... there are so many of them I won't list them. Idol is one of my faves too.... I love Melinda and Jordan best (followed by Blake). And as for movies - it's not unknown for me to see a movie 8 times at the cinema and then buy the DVD when it comes out!
I also read lots - that's been my addiction since I was a very small child.
I love playing pool, too - but haven't played since being in NZ.
Gilmore Girls rules! Don't know what I'll do if it ends this season!
Bev
I am so a movie and TV girl. And I'm season 3 of Gilmore Girls, too, Lauren. Those girls are so addicting! haha.
It's amazing how having kids changes what we do for entertainment, isn't it? And age, too, I guess. But I guess at my core I'm still the same girl who loves to ride roller coasters and jump on the trampoline.
;)
Wow. Where do I start? Of course, when I'm not writing or reading, I can be found indulging in my fav TV shows: Prison Break, Lost, Gray's Anatomy, HGTV's Mission Organization (this is an OCD girl's wet dream show) and CSI Las Vegas (Grissom rocks!). If I manage to get out of the house, in the summer I love rollerskating (yes, with four stable wheels on each skate) and riding waverunners in the ocean (the bigger the waves the better!). I've recently become addicted to the Turbo Kickboxing classes at my local 24 hr Fitness. I enjoy walking on the beach with my hubby and listening to the misadventures of my 18 year-old son (while trying not to cringe or lecture too much). When I have time, I take classes of things I'm interested in. So far, I've taken: bellydancing, tai chi, digital imaging, Italian, American Sign Language, and picture framing. There are just far too many fun things to do that there is never enough time in the day...
Sara, we should shoot pool together...in NZ!
Bev, I'm still upset about the season 3 GG episide we watched the other night where L and R egged Jess's car.
Kelly, you should meet me and Sara in NZ to shoot pool, we'll drag Bev along, and we can all watch GG afterwards.
Wendy, I'm so not a roller-coaster girl, but I'm happy to watch!
(x-post) Man, Annette, you have a ton of energy!
Sounds like a plan to me.......
I adore Gilmore Girls, Will and Grace reruns and cannot miss an episode of General Hospital. :)
Ooh, Jessica, General Hospital! I want Jason and Elizabeth to get together!
When I'm not writing, I like to be reading- too many favorites to mention, watching TV- The Office, My name is Earl, Entourage, Rescue Me, The Riches, The Shield, Big Love, Deadliest Catch, Gilmore Girls, the list goes on-- traveling- I'll go just about anywhere, or hanging with friends--the beach, dinner parties, whatever, as long as we're laughing!
I'm a TV-holic, too, although we are a little behind all the shows over here. I haven't even started watching the current Gilmore Girls season, so NO ONE tell me what happens! Ditto with Lost. I also love House and have just started in on Gray's Anatomy.
We discovered about a year ago that we could watch American television with a sling box via the Internet. Better yet, we can Tivo the programs and watch them on Tokyo time. The problem is fitting it all in. So many shows, so little time.
We've also bought waaaay more DVDs since moving here than we ever did before. But the reality of it is that going out to a movie is more expensive than throwing away a few duds here and there.
And when I'm not plopped down in front of a screen somewhere (writing at the computer or watching TV or movies,) I love to travel. If I had the budget, I'd travel pretty much full time. You know, as long as I had an Internet connection so I could catch American Idol on the sling box...
Alyson, ooh, The Riches! Did you see it last night? I almost felt sorry for the ballplayer.
Gerb, do you come across many people in Tokyo who watch the same shows you? I have no idea what TV shows get exported or when. And ooh, travel! We did a lot of that before having a kid. :)
I admit it...I'm a sports buff. Now I'm not into each player, per se, but I love watching (live) football, baseball and soccer. I've never seen a live tennis match, have you?
My friend Ruth doesn't understand me, she doesn't understand why anyone would want to watch sports.
~Simone Elkeles
www.simoneelkeles.com
Even for those who don't love sports on TV, there is a certain huge appeal to sitting in the sunshine at the ballpark on a glorious day with a beer in one hand and, OK, a book in the other.
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