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7.14.2014

TEN DATES // 08 WEEKEND UPSTATE

Yours truly, near Woodstock in Bethel, New York

Over the weekend the Holbrooks stole away upstate because they frikkin needed a break. 

No no no, it wasn't that dire. (But it was getting there.)

I've been really lucky this year to work with the most amazing sponsor, HowAboutWe. It's been such a pleasure. We had three dates remaining in our Ten Dates for Ten Years project, but when a date popped up on our date menu for a weekend in the Catskills at a converted schoolhouse, we knew we had to combine our final three dates into one massive date--a weekend date!--because the package looked so amazing. And then we invited Huck to come along because we're generally pretty nice parents like that. Technically I'm not contracted to write about this weekend; my contracted posts have all been fulfilled and the project is all wrapped up, but I want to write about this weekend because, 1. Duh, 2. It was really amazing, and everyone should make a Catskills trip this summer, and 3. I just really love HowAboutWe. I love you, HowAboutWe! We'll be lifelong users so long as we live where services are available. I hope they're available where you are. Also I made a weaving friend out of the deal, and look nerds, fiber friends are hard to find. We're maybe the weirdest hobby ever.

The timing couldn't have been more perfect. Last week the final manuscript of my book was due. I'm telling you, the level of stress those deadlines cause me is straight comical. I was such a mess those last days (which sort of explains all of last year, in retrospect), imagining illnesses and whole body diseases and general doom for everyone I loved... I handed it in early (Gold star!) (Hermione moment!) and then I was ready to celebrate. Dare I say it? I'm really proud of this thing. Really proud. All along I kept my expectations low and just felt grateful to have the experience (it's so cool to see how the publishing industry works from the inside, so cool), but I'm finally starting to believe my editors, who've loved it from the get-go and have told me time and time again how great it will be and that, no, the stuff I'm submitting is not crap, and yes, we are happy with it, geez, relax! Now that I've seen the whole thing together and read it all in one shot... you guys. I'm so excited for you to read it. (March! 2015! Should I come to your town on a book tour!? :)

This weekend was such a blessing. It was so good it was near close to perfect. We came back completely refreshed and ready to face whatever the city can throw at us. 

I so can't wait to go up there again. 

A few photos...


A few more to come! Hope your weekend was lovely and relaxing as well. Has this summer not been the greatest ever!? :)

32 comments:

  1. So you got your tattoo....

    Come on book tour to Australia!

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  2. Moscow, ID .... on that book tour. Might possibly be the best thing I'll do in our 3 years of of law schooling in the Palouse.

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  3. Your tattoo. I looooove. Is it real?

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  4. The Catskills! Love. And for reals, your husband takes some lovely pictures of you and Huck. And...yes, please come to my town. For book tours, that usually means Seattle. But even better would be a stop in my sweet milltown port city of Everett, Wa. We're quirky and cultured but not cultured and we have some mean playgrounds for Huck. Congrats on completing your book!

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  5. I don't think you've ever put up pictures of non Bermuda shorts, but they look really good on you. These photos are great.

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  6. Book tour to San Francisco please!!!!

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  7. Always hoping to magically run into you when I'm in NYC, but if you come to the Phoenix area for a book tour...that'd be okay, too.

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  8. Toronto? We'd love to have you in the great white north!

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  9. Lovely photos. Come to Tulsa!

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  10. We have to wait til March?! Bah! Cannot wait to read it.

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  11. Yes, Please come to Portland on a book tour. We promise to be green, and mossy and drizzly for you, in the way that only PDX can.

    Can't wait to read your masterpiece!

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  12. gorgeous photos!!

    http://www.amoderngypsy.blogspot.com

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  13. gorgeous little town. and I love that blush skirt you're sporting!

    love, arielle
    a simple elegance

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  14. I can't wait to read your book!
    www.happygirlprettygirl.blogspot.com

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  15. Um yes, definitely come to Seattle on book tour (duh!). Also, congrats on being done, that is an awesome accomplishment. I can't wait to read it!

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  16. Book tour! Book tour! Come to Tucson! :)

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  17. this summer has been so great so far! hope u are feeling refreshed!

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  18. AnonymousJuly 15, 2014

    I was drooling over all the pics of the schoolhouse (and those GINORMO couches!) you were posting on Instagram. Incredible! Jealous!

    Also - you must come to Vroman's Bookstore in Pasadena next spring. Pretty please?

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  19. You'll at least have to do a book reading in NYC at the very least :)

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  20. Wow it looks like such a relaxing weekend that really calms you down. Congrats on handing in your draft early! Love that you called it an Hermione moment :D

    http://love-your-ego.blogspot.de

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  21. Can't wait to read it! And come to Vancouver, Canada pleeeeeeease!?

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  22. these photos are awesome! and seriosuly come to orlando! disney? getting to meet you? that would be awesome! :)

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  23. Come to Phoenix!!!!!!!

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  24. very nice! a weekend long date is so worth it.

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  25. such adorable photos! looks to have been a wonderful weekend date!

    www.jcphelps.com

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  26. Breathtaking photos, and looking forward to your book. Hope all is well, and that you continue to always find peace in your life no matter what! Take care of that Huck boy!

    xo

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  27. Love the tats! :) Can't wait to buy your book. You should definitely come to Des Moines for a book tour!!! :)

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  28. Howaboutwe.com says it's an online dating site????

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  29. I was here recently for a charity event and was amazed how fantastic this function room was. Too often these events are held in drab ballrooms, so I was excited to see how lovely this place was.
    Seattle Wedding venues

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  30. I love love love upstate New York!!! If we still lived in Boston I'd be totally over HowAboutWe but we're 6 months out of the city in a tiny town out west hoping to get a flemish giant rabbit, some chickens and a Bernese mountain dog to accompany our corgi so I can't say I regret it too much! It's been fun reading about all your dates so far though!! I'm kind of sad to see them end!

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