Sarah McCoy! Fun Thing Day 70
February 1st, 2012 § 2 Comments
Fun Thing: Sarah McCoy’s Nightstand (What is this fun thing I speak of? Read the back story on this project here.)
You really want to know Sarah McCoy. She has written two absolutely beautiful novels: The Time It Snowed In Puerto Rico, which came out in 2009, and The Baker’s Daughter, which JUST came out last week. Naturally, Sarah’s already busy writing her third book, but she graciously agreed to take a little break and chat about her bedside table and her nightly routine.
1. Forget your nightstand! We gotta talk about your sweet, sweet pup! What’s his name?
His name is Gilbert, but my husband dubbed him Gil-bear. I call him Gilly for short. He sleeps in his bed beside my bed every night, but we don’t invite him in. I’m a bit of a stickler that people beds are for people and puppy beds are for pups. My husband isn’t a fan of doggy “bits” on his pillow, either.
2. What’s in the box on the floor behind Gilly?
One of those Happy Company back massagers, extra lip balm, a black scarf my grandma knit me, a mini flashlight, and a couple more books.
If there’s ever an emergency, you’re all set!
3. I’m surprised by the black gloves… not exactly a typical nightstand find.
Those are moisturizer gloves. It’s brutally dry in the desert. The arid weather is murder on my hands. In the winter months, my knuckles will crack if I don’t hydrate, so I apply lotion and wear the gloves every night. Gilly loves my moisturizer gloves. I think he prefers their petting to my bare hands.
4. It looks like you have three books underneath those gloves. What are they?
Vanessa Diffenbaugh’s The Language of Flowers, Julie Klam’s Love At First Bark, and an inspirational Christmas book by painter Thomas Kinkade. I like to keep a novel, a nonfiction book, and an inspirational book on my nightstand. I read the inspirational book as soon as I wake up followed by one of the other two, depending on my mood.
I LOVE the idea of reading something that inspires you as soon as you wake up every morning. That’s great.
5. Do you read a lot in bed?
I do! I find it’s the perfect place — free of distractions and terribly comfortable. Plus, it gives me an excuse to snuggle in my covers under the guise of reading productivity.
6. Tell me about the chapstick and lotion I see.
Like I said, the desert is crazy dry. Before going to sleep, I use Burt’s Bee Replenishing with Pomegranate Oil on my lips and Gold Bond Ultimate Healing with Aloe on my hands. I actually have a BIG bottle of the Gold Bond but it’s squeezed to an odd shape, which didn’t look so appealing in the photo. So this is my travel tube. It’s cuter.
Word. Travel size is always cuter.
7. Is that a jewelry box? I love that you keep your jewels so close!
Ha! Oh, if only I were more glamorous. I actually don’t wear much jewelry except my wedding rings. Watches and bracelets clank up against my laptop keyboard; necklaces get twisted in my sleep; earrings make my earlobes throb; and I don’t fancy any other rings enough to wear them on a daily basis. I received the jewelry box as a wedding gift from my husband. The glass top is monogrammed with my cursive married initial. As a container, I think it’s beautiful, and I have some whimsical notion that keeping a treasure box by my bed is romantic.
8. What’s that black thing to the left of your jewelry box?
A sleep mask from REI. It also comes with earplugs. My husband is a tragic snorer. Beside the mask is my alarm clock, which is also a sound machine. I can’t sleep a wink without my “waterfall.” I have a travel sound machine, too. I use it everywhere — at hotels, my family home, friend’s houses. This is a critical part of my sleep routine.
9. And what about those two remotes? Are they also a critical part of your sleep routine?
That’s my iPhone and my house alarm key fob. I’m kind of a neurotic security gal. I like knowing I can set the house horns blaring and summon the police with one button push. Yeah, I know, I’m that person. I blame my military upbringing. My dad is an Army Ranger. He taught me to “secure the perimeter” and tie my shoes at the same age.
Yeah, it sounds like you can definitely blame your dad for that one.
10. What’s the very last thing you do before you go to bed?
Kiss my husband and pull my feather comforter up to my chin. My husband finds it very odd, but I like to sleep in a kind of blanket cocoon with only my face showing. He calls me the floating head.
11. What’s the very first thing you do when you wake up?
I lock eyes with Gilly and wonder how long he’s been watching me sleep. Then I say, “Good morning, Gilly-bear,” and give him a good head nuzzle with my gloved hand. He goes bananas. Being greeted with that kind of unabashed joy always starts my day right.
That’s one of the best arguments I’ve ever heard for having a dog! I like it.
Thanks, Sarah! For more Sarah, check out her blog AND her new novel, The Baker’s Daughter.
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I loved getting to know Sarah a bit better. Fun post!