Laura Waldrop, Us Highway 40 (2026)

09/05/2024

Just viewing some spring soccer 😳

04/02/2024

There is a shelf below the top of our living room coffee table that broke under the weight of all the books. So, this afternoon, I went through them all - those that fell to the floor, those on the shelf next to our TV, those on the table next to the rocker in our front room, those on the shelves in our bedroom, those on my office desk - and built two tall stacks to give away.

Then I went to the library and replaced them.

17/01/2024

Yes - I absolutely track my writing progress in a spreadsheet.

I was telling my husband, recently, how many words I’d written that day, and he said, “But it’s really about quality, not quantity, right?”

And I paused.

Yes - ultimately, absolutely it’s about quality. But one of the things I’ve learned, while writing my first book, is that you have to write A LOT of words in order to find the good ones. In order to figure out what you’re even writing about, what you’re trying to say, where you’re headed and how to get there, what’s important and what isn’t necessary.

I have no idea how many words I’ve already cut on my way to a 1st draft. If I had to guess, I’d say about 20,000? 🤷‍♀️ 20,000 words I absolutely had to write.

So I told him, “It’s both. Quality and quantity.”

My goal is to finish my 1st draft before the end of the school year. My spreadsheet tells me I’m on track.

17/01/2024

One of the beautiful things about getting older is my collection of dear friends just keeps growing. I meet new people in new spaces and through new experiences. I don’t connect with everyone, but everywhere I go, I find a few gems to treasure.

The truth is I have mixed feelings about going through yoga therapy training. But one thing is for sure. I am so grateful for the beautiful people I met who continue to love and inspire me.

Thank you for thinking of me and surprising me with this just because gift. Thank you for showing up and moving through the world authentically, vulnerably and with such fierce compassion and tender courage. I’m honored to call you friend. 🙏❤️

05/01/2024

I cleaned off my piano today, put away the Christmas music and books I wasn’t playing. And then noticed what was left on the stand. 🤦‍♀️😂

02/01/2024

At the start of 2023, I resolved to do a number of things related mostly to diet and exercise. And then, predictably, gave them all up by March 1st. 🙃😂

It’s fine. Truly.

I made zero resolutions about writing because I was just going to do that. 🤦‍♀️ So I did that. The writing. 😂🤣😂🤣

And even though I consider 2023 a sedentary year, the truth is I did, finally, after years watching my girls become competitive swimmers, learn how to swim (not well, but) well *enough* to complete my very first world’s shortest triathlon. I swam 200 yards in a pool and actually caught up to the man in front of me! 💪🏊‍♀️💪 He was about 75 years old, which is an unimportant detail in the story, and I don’t know why you’re bringing it up… 😒

I did also complete a 50 mile bike race with my man at a pretty respectable average pace of 15.7 mph, after about 3 training rides. So… not bad. 🤷‍♀️

But mostly I sat on the couch and read and watched TV and dicked around on my phone. I haven’t hiked or ran or swam or biked in months. And I do actually miss it.

So I’m resolving again for 2024. Except for, let’s call it trying ideas. There are things I’d like to do this year. I’m going to try. I’m going to throw the spaghetti up against the wall and see what sticks.

🏃‍♀️ Get back to running and hiking.
🏊‍♀️ Swim 1 mile without stopping.
🚴‍♀️ Complete a century ride.
🏊‍♀️🚴‍♀️🏃‍♀️ Do another triathlon. Maybe a sprint distance.
🥦 Eat less crap and more foods that allegedly yield a longer life.
📝 Finish the 1st draft of my book. This one I’m serious about and intend to make happen.

Are you trying any ideas? Picked a word? Opting out? I support you. ❤️

01/01/2024

These are the books I rated 5/5 stars on this year, which means they are among the best books I’ve read in my entire life.

Stranger Care by - This is the first book I’ve considered using as a comp for my memoir (for the structure, as opposed to the content). I absolutely love the alternating vignettes. The way she relates her own story to the theme of mothering what isn’t ours in nature is so clever and poignant. I absolutely adored this book. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The M**h Lunches - Holy WOW! I was so impressed, not just by this book, but by the way Kim lives her values. It reminded me of my mom, which is, of course, the highest compliment I can give. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A Little Life by - A writing teacher of mine once said, “Don’t kill the blind boy’s dog.” What she meant was don’t try and manufacture an emotional response from your reader by writing an over-the-top sad story. WELL… Hanya killed the blind boy’s dog and his parents and cut off his legs. 😒 I had to put this book down, at times, because I was sobbing so hard I no longer had the strength to lift the weight of a book. I can’t decide whether my writing teacher’s advice was s**t or whether Hanya needs to take her class. If you choose to read this, go in prepared. It’s terrible. And also, without a doubt, among the best books I have ever read. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

29/12/2023

I read 51 books in 2023, which was a big year for not a *real* reader like me. These are the ones I rated 4/5 on , which is a big deal (see below).

When Crack Was King by - The SUBJECT MATTER, obviously. It’s so important I found myself thinking how is this the first book I’ve read about this?? But also, I was VERY impressed by it as a writer. He weaves together information and story so expertly. You will find yourself emotionally invested in the characters and compelled to turn the page, all while LEARNING. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Tastes Like War by .m.cho - This was much more than an immigrant memoir. What stood out to me was the connection between trauma, socioeconomic status and schizophrenia. So fascinating. And, again, information conveyed through an emotionally driven story. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

To Name the Bigger Lie by - This one was so surprising and original. It’s political commentary without being overtly so and speaks to the complexity and nuance in humanity and experience. Brilliant. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Everyone in This Room Will Someday Be Dead by - I read this after a writing teacher told me an excerpt from my memoir-in-progress reminded her of it… Friends, this character is NEUROTIC… and reminds my teacher of the main character in my MEMOIR. 😳😂 But all that aside, it’s such a great book. I don’t read a ton of fiction because I often don’t find characters believable, and that was not the case here. She felt SO REAL in very specific and creative ways. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A note on how I rate books:

1️⃣ I never hand out 1s because I don’t rate books I don’t finish, and I put down ~75% of the books I start.

2️⃣ These are the books I really should’ve put down, but accidentally finished. They’re infrequent.

3️⃣ If I finish a book, I thought it was good. I rate the vast majority of books I read a 3. It’s almost like a 1 point scale.

4️⃣ These books are exceptional. I couldn’t put them down. I had an emotional reaction. I very highly recommend them. (Probably others would give them a 5.)

5️⃣ Among the best books I’ve read in my entire life. (Or I know the author personally and want them to have all the success.)

24/11/2023

This is a face of I didn’t wash off my makeup last night and then I rubbed my eyes, as one does. I don’t generally wear makeup because it’s such a pain in the ass to wash off. And put on. Who has that kind of time?

I brush my teeth only once a day, never floss and then lie about it to the dental hygienist. But I’m doing better than my dad who never brushed his teeth.

I shower way less frequently that society suggests. Every once in awhile, someone will say to me, “Your hair looks great! Did you dye it?” “No,” I say. “I washed it.”

I don’t wear fashionable clothes. I don’t put away clean clothes. I do wear clothes though, and that has to count for something, right?

I don’t do these things because they don’t matter. I’d rather write a book or climb a mountain.

14/11/2022

Here’s a group of women who never would’ve joined a sorority, but found themselves surrounded by BOYS at engineering school and decided to band together.

Here we are 20-ish years later, with a gaggle of children and a lot of life between us.

I’m grateful today for COMMUNITY, for friendships that adapt and endure and for a few more memories. 🙏❤️😘

09/11/2022

My theme for this year is SUPPORT. And there is no one who supports me more than this man right here. Grateful he was there for me today and all the many, many other days over years and years. 🙏❤️😘

Laura Waldrop

09/05/2024

04/02/2024

17/01/2024

17/01/2024

05/01/2024

02/01/2024

01/01/2024

29/12/2023

24/11/2023

14/11/2022

09/11/2022

Address

Website

Alerts

Shortcuts

Share