Writing Is Hard
Ugh. 
Writing does not come easily for me. I spent the morning struggling with chapter 1 of my book. The writing juices just weren’t flowing for me. Writing a book is nothing like writing a blog!
Mid-morning, my frustration finally got the best of me and downed 3 of these babies:
The cookies didn’t really make me feel any better, but eventually, I sort of got into a writing grove. I got some ideas down, so hopefully, it’ll come together soon.
While I worked, Murphy played with his new lobster toy. He’s already chewed-off one of its eyeballs and swallowed it. (I cut the other eyeball off just in case!) I wonder if it’ll come out the other end?
Around 1:00 this afternoon, I called it quits and made lunch.
Lunch
I made myself a Mexican-inspired salad with lots of veggies, balsamic vinegar, and fresh salsa on top. It was de-lish!
In the mix:
- Iceberg lettuce
- Grape tomatoes
- Red onion
- Cucumber
- Green bell pepper
- Carrots
- Salsa
- Balsamic vinegar
I concluded lunch with a sweet treat: a big square of Scharffen Berger dark chocolate and some dates. Eaten together, these two are an amazingly delicious combo! 
Workout
After lunch, I went to the gym to run-off my stress and frustration. I needed to sweat it out!
My hip was nice to me today and let me run 6 miles– the most I’ve run since my half marathon back in May. It was awesome! And I felt GREAT! 
My hip gets stronger and stronger every day. Maybe I’ll be running the Run to Remember again in May 2010? We’ll see. One day at a time!
—
It’s date night tonight! Wahoo! I was asked to review an Italian restaurant in return for a free dinner for two, so Mal and I are making a night out of it.
Off to pretty myself!
Lizzy — December 5, 2009 @ 5:23 pm
have fun tonight!!!!!
I bet tomorrow will be a better writing day! your going to be fantastic!
lk @ Healthy Delicious — December 5, 2009 @ 5:23 pm
Our dogs LOVE those lobster toys – and they always eat the eyes right off too. So weird!
Leah @ L4L — December 5, 2009 @ 5:24 pm
I think the reason you are having a hard time is because you aren’t following Caitlin’s advice. WINE needs to flowing for the words to flow!!!
Food Makes Fun Fuel — December 5, 2009 @ 5:27 pm
Your dessert looks delicious. have fun on date night! Haha, that goes perfect after your date and chocolate dish
Karla — December 5, 2009 @ 5:29 pm
Murphy is just so cute I can’t take it!
Have fun on date night! I had one last night, delicious food! I also took pictures for the first time at a restaurant and it was really fun! (I felt like a real food blogger!)
Can’t wait to read the recap!
Jess (Fit Chick in the City) — December 5, 2009 @ 5:42 pm
Have a great time at dinner! I can only imagine, what you must feel like with trying to write. I hope find your writing groove soon!
Lauren @ eater not a runner — December 5, 2009 @ 5:47 pm
He is too cute with his lobster toy! Have fun at dinner!
Cait (Cait's Plate) — December 5, 2009 @ 6:02 pm
YAAAAAY for 6 miles! There’s nothing better than coming back from an injury!
Good luck with the writing, I don’t know if I could ever write a book! Just keep thinking about how accomplished you’ll feel when you’re done!
diana(mymarblerye) — December 5, 2009 @ 6:08 pm
the words will come eventually. Awesome job on your run! BTW I think murphy needs a blog of his own.
VeggieGirl — December 5, 2009 @ 6:13 pm
Hang in there! I’m dealing with the same thing right now, trying to work on 3 papers
VeggieGirl — December 5, 2009 @ 6:13 pm
Wait! I meant to make a ”
” – it’s not a happy situation, obviously, haha.
Deirdre — December 5, 2009 @ 6:30 pm
I hope you have a fun date night! And don’t worry about writers block. It will come to you!
Jenn — December 5, 2009 @ 6:37 pm
What are in your “Cookie-Friday” cookies? Does the site give nutritional info?
Erin — December 5, 2009 @ 6:38 pm
Enjoy your date. Maybe it will get the inspiration flowing.
Carolyn — December 5, 2009 @ 6:44 pm
Can’t beat free food!! Hope it’s good.
Ameena — December 5, 2009 @ 6:48 pm
How great you get an Italian dinner for free! Have a good time…
Catherine (FOOD SNOB) — December 5, 2009 @ 6:48 pm
I’ve always broken writers’ block by jotting random thoughts on scraps of notebook paper (or post-its) first, organizing those ideas into an outline, and then beginning to write. I’m kind of a visual learner, so if I can “see” my thoughts all laid out, the words come faster.
Enjoy the restaurant! We are seriously lacking good Italian restaurants in MN, so color me jealous!
Vera — December 5, 2009 @ 7:04 pm
Just stumbled across your blog. Congratulations to your book deal & everything you have achieved so far! I’ll definitely carry on exploring your blog! And all the best with your chapter 1, it will work out! I’m currently writing my PhD Thesis and the best writing inspirations usually happen when I least expect them
Anna @ Newlywed, Newly Veg — December 5, 2009 @ 7:07 pm
Writing can be really tough…the very beginning is definitely the hardest. Once you get the ball rolling, it gets much easier. You’ll be great!
Lindsay Perrone (goodiesgalore) — December 5, 2009 @ 7:07 pm
How cool is that? Eat for free to do something you love. Glad your hard work pays off!
Jenna — December 5, 2009 @ 7:07 pm
have a great date night! you deserve it!
jenna
elizabeth — December 5, 2009 @ 7:26 pm
You can do it girl! Just keep pluggin’ away at that book. I get a sort of performance anxiety when it comes to writing myself… I bought a book called “The Artist’s Way” and it helped SO much. If you don’t have time to read it, I’ll give you the shortened version: Once a week, take yourself out on an artist’s date. This could be going by yourself to a museum or a movie, or even sitting down and coloring in a coloring book. The key is that it has to be quality time with yourself — no one else is invited. The second tip is, first thing in the morning, commit to writing “morning pages.” These are three pages written out longhand, stream of conscious thought style. You never show them to anyone (I usually destroy them so I’m not tempted to re-read them and judge myself, but then I realized that I was destroying some good ideas for stories). It’s amazing, but it really unlocks the creative process; I suspect it’s because you get rid of all your fears and mental qualms on those morning pages so when it’s time to create you don’t have mental junk in the way. I used this method the first semester I took a graduate English class and was amazed at how easily the first draft of my research paper came to me. I hope it helps!
Melissa (Melissa Likes To Eat) — December 5, 2009 @ 7:37 pm
Ohhhh…I’d love to review restaurants for free meals! How fun! Have a good time…..relax…..your words will come to you…you can’t force it.
Alicia — December 5, 2009 @ 7:47 pm
my golden ate a make up sponge when he was a puppy during the winter time. The next spring, we found the make up sponge when cleaning up the yard after all the snow melted!
Sarah — December 5, 2009 @ 8:11 pm
Sorry about your frustrating morning. Murphy is seriously the cutest pug I’ve ever seen (ha ha poor lobster). Hope you and Mal have a fabulous dinner! It’s date night for me too, only I’m staying home to watch the Texas game with my hubby
Elina — December 5, 2009 @ 8:36 pm
Good luck with writing! It’s the hardest part about my job; I get so frustrated sometimes!! Have fun on date night. Adam and I are going out to a fancy shmancy dinner in this blizzard. Smart, huh?
Meg C. — December 5, 2009 @ 8:37 pm
I’m running the run to remember as my first half! i’ve already registered even tho its not for MONTHS haha
Allyson — December 5, 2009 @ 8:54 pm
I’m writing a book, too, and got no where writing chapter by chapter. For me once I got a detailed outline written out and I knew where I was going it was much easier to actually get going! Maybe something to try? Good luck!
Kara — December 5, 2009 @ 9:15 pm
Free Italian! Nothing better than that! Have fun!
Ashley — December 5, 2009 @ 9:42 pm
Six miles on the treadmill?! Wow. I’m stuck on the treadmill a lot out of necessity these days, but I don’t know that I could go that far. It sucks living in the frigid Northeast, doesn’t it?
I love Murphy’s li’l face … he’s so cute!
Jessica @ How Sweet It Is — December 5, 2009 @ 10:01 pm
Murphy’s face is priceless!
Cynthia (It All Changes) — December 5, 2009 @ 10:15 pm
Date night is tomorrow for us. I think we are staying in and just enjoying some takeout and a movie. But it works for us
Lynn (The Actors Diet) — December 5, 2009 @ 10:40 pm
can’t remember if i suggested this book to you before but have you read anne lamott’s “bird by bird?” it’s a great writing book; a quick read and very helpful!
maria — December 5, 2009 @ 10:48 pm
Good luck with getting your writing mo-jo moving! It surely can be tough sometimes. And look at your handsome little man!
Katy @ These Beautiful Feet — December 6, 2009 @ 12:43 am
Awesome job running six miles today! I hope your hip gets better and that you are able to continue gaining miles back!
Good luck with writing!! Sorry it’s been tough. :-\
Morgan @ Life After Bagels — December 6, 2009 @ 1:44 am
I get writer’s block on my blog, I couldn’t imagine a book . . . but I know you’ll do it! . . . I heart your doggie pics sooooooo much
Marina — December 6, 2009 @ 6:01 am
Just relax, words will come soon
Dates and chocolate…gotta try that
Katie — December 6, 2009 @ 2:11 pm
6 miles! AWESOME!
I need to try all these awesome places you eat as I live in MA too!
Music/Workouts/Food/Fitness – http://katiechangesforkatie.blogspot.com/
Happy Sunday,
Katie