9.11.2013

What's Up Wednesday (13)


What's Up Wednesday is a weekly meme geared toward readers and writers, so we can check in with each other. To join, just check out Jaime Morrow or Erin Funk's blogs for the link widget and sign up!


Not gonna lie, it seems a little weird to me to be doing a What's Up Wednesday without the Ready.Set.Write! attached. I think others felt that way too because Jaime wrote a RELAUNCH post today, complete with adorable new badges! I love them all (but settled on the kite...for now). So definitely check out her blog this week!

WHAT I'M READING

Lots of crazy things going on with my reading. I finished CONTROL, didn't finish SECOND CHANCE SUMMER (though I plan to return to it soon), started THE BOOK THIEF, started QUINTANA OF CHARYN. My crazy book hopping has nothing to do with the quality of the books or my attention span. It actually has a lot to do with due dates, hah. Those library books...

I'm currently focusing on QUINTANA OF CHARYN, not only because I ADORE the Lumatere Chronicles and have been eager to read this last book in the trilogy but also because it is due soon and I am out of renewals!


WHAT I'M WRITING

Nothing at all at the moment. Taking a little break. I've been pondering some things and I got feedback on one of my poems that I'm also mulling over. So when the break's over, I hope to write story things and also work on that poem.


WHAT INSPIRES ME RIGHT NOW

Two things. Firstly, we've been having a late summer heat wave in SoCal, which is not uncommon. But as a result, we have been getting some GORGEOUS sunsets and general cloud art.

(First pic by the Sister; second pic by me)

Secondly, I didn't make it that far through THE BOOK THIEF (yes, it's my first time reading this), but the language is just beautiful - unexpected and evocative. So the writing itself is inspiring, as are its themes. The Sister and I were lucky enough to make it to a special Q&A and signing with Markus Zusak on Sunday at the LA Museum of Tolerance. It was so amazing to hear him talk about the book and the subject matter.

BONUS, since the event was presented by 20th Century FOX, we were also treated to sneak peeks at 2 scenes from the BOOK THIEF movie!



WHAT ELSE I'VE BEEN UP TO

As you saw in last Friday's Loki Jacket post, Alz and the Sister made a jacket just for Loki. My contribution was just hand-writing the name for them to embroider over.



We also took him for a walk at a nearby park where there's a lake. He wanted to chase the geese and nearly dragged me straight INTO the lake in his attempt to get them.



It was also the Sister's birthday! To celebrate, we went to what was basically a kids museum to see dinosaurs over the weekend, and Monday night, a friend made a bunch of funnel cakes and ice cream.



But perhaps the most interesting/fun thing that I've been up to is I SAW THE BACKSTREET BOYS last Wednesday with my besties and the Sister. IT WAS AWESOME, and so, so fun. Like ridiculously, fabulously fun.


I can't believe they're celebrating their 20th anniversary! And it seemed fitting that this concert was at the Gibson Amphitheater, which will be gone after this concert season (to make way for the building of Hogwarts!). This venue was probably where I saw my first concerts ever!

Holding up our phone lights for the slow song! (Photo/ Gennia)
The Backstreet Boys put on a great show. They sang, they danced, they played instruments! Their stage was a crazy light show. They mostly sang their old hits (which was great for us because we don't know their new songs), and on top of that they used all the classic choreography. They did the HAT ROUTINE during All I Have to Give, and though they didn't do the chair routine from As Long As You Love Me, they did do the mic routine from that song.



My friend recorded "Everybody."


I got some of their acoustic set of the oldie but goodie "10,000 Promises." This was a song off their 2nd European album before their US debut. Basically, I never would have expected to hear them perform this, so it was a surprise and treat and was absolutely lovely. (I'll have to upload the full video some other time...)



Excuse the appearance of my inner fangirl for a moment here, but it was kind of AMAZING AWESOME to see BSB again after all these years. They were such an integral part of my and my friends tween-teenage years - and even younger years for my sister. At the concert, she realized the last time she'd seen them, she was like 10 or 11! Now, we're all old enough to drink at a Backstreet Boys concert, haha. We were obsessed with these guys, and honestly, this mutual love strengthened our friendship. In some cases, we became friends through our BSB fangirling.

Just noticed we kinda match - rocking red shoes & galaxy bottoms!

So, it was kind of a big deal to see BSB together with these wonderful ladies (who still knew all the words to the songs, heck yeah!). #KTBSPA

Q4U: What's up with you? OR What experiences/bands/etc. act as the glue between you and your friends?

12 comments:

Unknown said...

Pondering is always good--and I love the Loki jacket! Your dog is such a cutie :)

Colin Smith said...

Mutual passions have a way of bringing people together. I've met and talked to people I wouldn't ever have otherwise because we're Doctor Who fans. And how many blog friends have we all made from all over the world, with different backgrounds and perspectives, over our love of books? So cool! :)

I'm glad you enjoyed the BSB concert, Krispy. I was already married 20 years ago, so thanks for making me feel old! ;) Have a great week!

Katy Upperman said...

The concert photos -- love! I'm also loving those beautiful photos of the sky, and of course Loki and his adorable jacket. Your dog is the cutest!

I hope you enjoy QUINTANA. I thought it wrapped up the trilogy perfectly, and it endeared me to Froi and Isaboe (and all of the other characters!) even more. Let me know what you think once you've finished. :-)

Alison Miller said...

Oh wow! You always have so many neat things going on! LOVE the concert pics! I just saw Maroon 5 and well, they were AMAZING. And love the Loki jacket! Also, so cool about THE BOOK THIEF. I REALLY need to read that. SOON

Julie Dao said...

BSB is celebrating 20 effing years?! Damn, I'm old! That is so awesome that you got to see them. And I love Loki's dog jacket! I tried reading THE BOOK THIEF a while back but just could not get into it. I'm having a lot of problems like that lately where everyone raves about a book and I just can't seem to get into it (i.e. Rae Carson's series, Divergent). I'm in a weird reading mood.

Jaime Morrow said...

I really enjoyed FINNIKIN OF THE ROCK and purchased FROI, but I still haven't read it yet. I'll probably be in a fantasy mood sometime in the near future and that will be one of my first picks. Love Loki's new cape/coat thingy! Very cool. :-)

I was never into in the BSB, but I totally remember a handful of their songs. Glad you ladies had so much fun!

Valerie Cole said...

Those sunset pics are SUPER nice. Thanks for sharing.

Have an awesome week!

Miss Cole said...

Those sunset photos are amazing! How beautiful! And the rest of your photos look like you've been having a lot of fun.

Hah, wow, the Backstreet Boys. Talk about childhood flashback! XD

prerna pickett said...

Quintana! Such an excellent book, I adore the Lumetere series as well. Looks like you had a blast at the BSB concert. I am more of an NSYNC girl myself, but can appreciate how awesome it is that the group got together for a tour.

Stephanie Allen said...

My best friend and I saw the Backstreet Boys a couple summers ago when they toured with New Kids on the Block, and I so wish I could've seen them again this time around! My inner 10-year-old definitely loved it (as did my inner adult ;) ).

Haha, totally understand about the library due dates thing. I do that dance a lot :)

Erin L. Funk said...

I'm so envious you got to go to a Q& A with Markus Zusak and see scenes from THE BOOK THIEF movie! I'll be reading it to my son soon, and I can't wait to share the story with him.

And Loki's jacket is adorable! :)

amy said...

I want to read The Book Thief before the movie comes out this fall. Have a great weekend!