I’m going on a writing retreat! My best friends–a/k/a the Purples–and I are going away for three full days (plus two travel days) to a cottage nestled in the woods. There’s no Internet (but there is cable TV and our beloved, undefeated Syracuse Orange basketball team will be playing on Saturday), so no distractions, just three glorious days of writing. We do this twice a year: MLK weekend and a weekend in August.

We have this down to a science. We discuss movies to bring–and trying to find something all of us will like can be a challenge, because not everyone appreciates the genius of the Cohen Brothers. Galaxy Quest is on tap for this retreat. I’ll probably throw The American President in my suitcase, just in case. I bring the wine.

Meals are simple: you’re on your own for breakfast and are responsible for either one lunch or one dinner. You are completely in charge for the meal for which you’ve signed up, from buying the food, to prepping it, to cleaning up afterward. Then you’re done for the rest of the weekend. The final meal is always leftovers.

And we really do write between movies and eating and brainstorming–have I mentioned these women are the world’s greatest brain trust when it comes to brainstorming? I’m really looking forward to next weekend.