NaNoWriMo Time

I have decided to participate in NaNoWriMo this year. I've only done this once before, which I apparently didn't blog about if Blogspot's search feature is to be trusted. (All I can find is a post about visiting a new writing group in Austin and hearing a funny NaNoWriMo anecdote.)

NaNoWriMo is shorthand for National Novel Writing Month, which takes place every November. People around the globe come together and attempt to write a 50,000 word novel in a single month. It's an amazing challenge and quite a feat that many people actually do complete! I love what it represents - community, creativity, people who don't even know each other deciding to do "the impossible" outside of their day-to-day "real jobs."

I tried it a few years back but did not make the claim that I would write a brand new novel. I also didn't strive for 50k words. I had a novel in progress with very little progress and decided I would use the month to do the best I could to develop it. I wound up with close to 11k new words that month, which is good to have, but I did learn that setting a challenging goal would have pushed me farther. At 11k words I was kind of like, "Well, this is a lot more than I had, I can be lazy and stop now." You know, when it gets hard.

My novel in progress (for years now - ugh!) stands at about 24k words and I have decided, once again, to NaNoWriMo my way through it, only this time I AM aiming for 50k brand new words. I may hit the target and I may not, but I'm sure as hell going to try and so happy for the opportunity to bring writing back into my life.

I've been living in NYC, married, working at a great-albeit-demanding job now for over a year. A lot of things have happened in this year, both good and bad. One of the bad things is that I stopped writing. Completely. Not a thing. In one year.

When I lived in Texas I wrote and published articles out the wazoo. I blogged and wrote poetry and read my work publicly at events and networked with other writers. In NY - nothing. Nada. Zip.

The reason? There are a few. First is the pace and stress and pressure of the city, the pace and stress and pressure of my job. The second is that I kind of lost my motivation and got writer's block. Even when I did set aside time to write, nothing would come. It's like working out every day for a long time and then stopping for a year. When you do go back to the gym, don't expect to just resume like the year of absence didn't take place. It did.

So when a Facebook friend (a member of my Austin writer's group) announced she would be NaNo'ing, it was just the kick in the pants I needed. I completely stopped self-identifying as a writer this past year, when that was practically all I identified myself as previously. How sad! How wrong! Not going to let it happen.

Wish me luck...

I Am Back

"It's Britney, bitch. And I am back, in the form of a new company. The Michael Scott Paper Company."

Update

I apologize for the lack of blogging - the last month has been a whirlwind, and this coming month promises to be more of the same.

I gave notice, I quit, I left my job and the beautiful state of Texas and came back up to the big city. I started a new job almost immediately. My wedding is in less than a month, and Fiance is coming up in a couple of days so we can look for an apartment together.

Needless to say, I caught a killer cold (in August) that I can't shake. I am fairly certain it is from the stress of all the change. But it is all good stuff. I am happy.

Things That Make Me Happy: 2 Weeks Notice

A New Look

I had forgotten how much fun it was to change things up on the blog, and there are a ton of newer templates since the last time I did it. Woohoo!

Just got back from a week-long trip back home where I interviewed for 4 different jobs. I've made the decision to move back regardless in another month. I'm young, I have no dependents, and I have my old bedroom cleared out for me...it's time to take some risks while I still can.

And how, may I ask, are all of you? :)

Yes, it has been a while. I was talking to Fiance this morning about turning in my Blogger account and calling it quits after 5 years. He made an immense sad face. So here I am :)

I have been busy - what else is new - because I am working on a nonfiction book proposal that I am super serious about. No, I can't divulge my topic or my ambitions, but suffice it to say that I have been waking up at 5am each day to write before going to the abyss.. I mean, office.

There's also trying to get out of my current work situation, including the strong desire to move back east in the fall. That's a lot of work. Getting a job is hard enough without being halfway across the country and trying to convince people that you actually are serious about relocating.

As for today, well, it's Saturday and I slept in until 9. Didn't do any writing or job hunting or wedding planning. I slept late and then I got up and made pancakes from scratch. Mmmm.

It's going to be a good day!

I've been busy, I know. Sorry! Fiance and I returned to central Texas on New Years Day and have spent the last 2+ weeks getting ourselves situated and reoriented. I've gone back to work and we've had to find a place to live. Lots of work and lots of things going on! Time for highlights:

• My birthday came hard on the heels of our arrival so we got to have a sort of birthday party-slash-reunion with friends. It was awesome! CL Friend, her husband and their new baby (whom I had never met before) came and it was all I could do to give CL Baby back after holding her all night. There was also Friends From Work #1 & #3 and their significant others, as well as a friend I know through FFW #1's wife (confused yet?). We had huckleberry margaritas and appetizers and it was great.

• After subletting the apartment of a total wackjob for 2 weeks, we found and moved into our dream apartment. It is a luxury apartment that comes with access to a pool and a gym. We have a balcony with a view of a lake with actual ducks swimming around (which is where I'm sitting right now, enjoying my coffee and the morning breeze). It is way more expensive than our last place but we got a deal because someone needed out of her lease, so we got it for essentially the same price. Woohoo!

• I tried on wedding dresses with CL Friend last weekend. It was super intimidating but there were a few that looked really nice on me and that has kind of gotten me over my fear. Of course, the saleswoman kept trying to get me in very high heeled shoes and lacy veils and it was all I could do not to run out of there screaming.

• Childhood Friend is coming to visit us for the very first time. So excited.

This is going to be a good year.

Fantastic News, and Other Bits That Are Less Fantastic

Yesterday Boyfriend and I got officially engaged at one of the wonders of the world. He gave me a diamond ring, we took photos with his family and we had dinner at a fancy hotel. Our lovely engagement dinner gave us... if not food poisoning, then its close cousin, and we were up all night throwing up until we needed to have an emergency doctor visit in our hotel room at 3 am.

You can't script this stuff, I swear.

Boyfriend and I have just made the decision to spend several months abroad. We are leaving quite soon, and this big change made me reconsider my blog here. After all, I want to start a new blog that is not anonymous to allow my friends and family in the U.S. to keep up with my travels. I have been so open here that I cringe at the thought of it becoming linked with my real self, considering that the internet betrays us all and your boss, for example, can find out much more about you than you want to share after a few clicks. After much thought, I figured that if I couldn't write about my life here, there was really no point in continuing it. I was ready to retire.

I am hesitant, though. I feel that I would lose all of my readers, and that if I wanted to restart when I return at the beginning of next year, the momentum would be gone. No one would stop by anymore.

I am now thinking that I can keep the blog without discussing my travels or even where I am. (Mysterious, huh?) There are many other things I can share - my thoughts on life and spirituality, my wedding planning, etc.

Anyone want to vote? Will you still read or not interested?

I am throwing a baby shower for CL Friend, who is having a little girl. (We just found out early this week.) I only have a couple of weeks to plan this shindig and I have never thrown one before. I've attended a couple - both my mother's - but no games were played, no activities. I have been researching via the internet and people I know who have been to baby showers and apparently games and activities are important. The problem is, all of the common baby shower games that I have come across SUCK ASS.

• Everyone cuts a piece of yarn at the length they think will fit around the mother-to-be's belly. The person who is closest wins a prize.
  
  
• People have to guess what flavor baby food is by the color of it, without the jar around. Winner, again, gets a prize.
  
  
• There is a really disgusting game involving melting different chocolate bars in diapers and people have to guess what kind of chocolate bar it was before melted.
  

I can't have this kind of thing at her shower. Any suggestions?

I don't know how much I've mentioned marriage at this blog, but the time is drawing near. While the beau and I cannot become officially engaged until this fall, after some major events in his family are over and done, we are planning our wedding for next summer/fall, which is only one year away.

I probably shouldn't admit this, but I am giddy with excitement. I know, it's too stereotypically girly, but it's my wedding, folks! If you're lucky, you only get one!

This weekend I am going to a bridal fair with CL Friend (who is already married) and her other friend, who is in the same boat as I am (haven't announced the engagement yet but planning a summer '10 wedding). I have heard there will be wedding cake for the tasting :) Does it get any better?

I have a lot of things on my mind to write about. Where to start?

My great uncle (my grandmother's brother) has cancer. He went into the hospital for pneumonia, had a heart attack while he was there, and now they found cancer. He doesn't know yet. They told his wife, and she confided in another great uncle (bad move) so the whole family knows, but he doesn't.

One of my other great uncles (another sibling in this particular branch of the family) just had a heart attack. My grandmother (with whom I have less of a relationship than I do with these uncles, oddly enough) has diabetes and shot kidneys and all kinds of problems, though she seems to have stabilized of late.

Since I started researching my genealogy I have really wanted to reconnect with the family, especially older generations, to let them know I care about them and to hear their stories. I have been meaning to call the first uncle I mentioned for ages. I apparently didn't have the time. Now who knows if I will even get to? I have been trying to call but their answering machine is full and he doesn't have a phone in the hospital.

How much time does he have left? I wonder. Am I going to get to ask him about his life? His childhood, his parents, the time the Mafia tried to recruit him (or so he claims)? Or is all of that history going to die with him? He doesn't have any children.

I am really bummed, man. You always think you have time. Right now, I'd just be happy with a phone call to let him know I care. If I could get through.

The Best News Ever

Sister and Kid Sisters #1 and #2 are coming to visit me for their spring break vacation. A whole week! Sister has been here before (a couple of years ago) but the children never have. I am so excited!

This is going to sound crazy but I feel more alive than I have in a while. My company is taking risks that are not all that smart or well thought-out, and making more demands of me than they compensate me for, and I am facing an uncertain job hunt in a down economy. And yet, I feel completely energized. I think this was what it took to shake me out of my damn complacency. I hope it continues to uplift me throughout the inevitably difficult process.

Things That Make Me Happy: Change

Today's the day, baby. Let's put this nightmare behind us!

Things That Make Me Happy: President-Elect Barack Obama

WE DID IT!!!!!!!!

I am happy to report that Cat is warming up to us! Today is one week since we got her, and last night she showed great promise. The entire week she has been laying in her new spot - a low section of our bookshelf, beneath the desk. She comes out and asks for food and whatnot, but that's where she stays. She lets us pet her, but doesn't come when we call or get too close.

Well, last night Boyfriend was out with friends from work and it was just Cat and me. She actually jumped up onto the couch and watched the presidential debate and "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" with me! Once she got used to lying on the top of the couch, she continued to do it, jumping on my head as a sort of boost. She even showed up on our bed last night when we were going to sleep, though she didn't stay for long. These are all super signs that she is feeling more comfortable, and I couldn't be happier.

Meow

I did it! I got myself a kitty! She is a 10 year old lilac point Siamese, i.e. a grumpy old lady. She is taking time getting used to us but lets us pet her now. I guess she realizes we control the food supply. When I first got her home yesterday, she hid behind the toilet for hours. Now she roams around, checking out the place and its inhabitants, before chilling in one of her spots. (Yes, she has been here approximately 24 hours and she has her own spots: beneath the living room desk, under the TV stand and in the closet on top of an old suitcase.)

I am anxious for her to fall in love with me but I guess it takes time...

Doesn't everything seem better on Fridays? I have a job interview Monday, and my pipe dream of getting a cat may actually come true.

Talks have resurfaced of spending some significant time in 2009 in Indonesia. This time we are in a better position to make it happen. And from Indonesia... can you say "Bali"?

You know that when we go I am hitting up some temples.


I am so excited I can hardly stand it.