Once again, life has ruined my chances to win NANOWRIMO (National Novel Writers Month) in the goal of writing 50,000 words by November 30, 2019. I do have my project over halfway done, but between the holidays and preparations, family obligations, and my own human frailties (arthritis and a sinus infection), I've not progressed much this year. I am still working on my story, but I won't be able to win my goal, at least not before Sunday.
We've had several funerals in the past few weeks, some were close friends. And we are leaving Friday to attend a birthday party out of state over the weekend, after celebrating Thanksgiving with some extended family.
My mother is in the hospital at this time with pneumonia, and she won't be coming home until possibly Friday. We will be on the road to Colorado then, so my brother will be in charge of bringing her home. That has taken up a lot of my time this week. But she has been my first priority. The writing will just have to wait.
Also being put on the shelf, has been my Bible reading. I have a tiny New Testament somewhere around this house. I have had it for many years. I usually read in my study Bible, but it is cumbersome to travel with, so I will make an effort to find my New Testament to take with me, maybe I can catch up a little while traveling through the flatlands of Kansas and Colorado. (Don't worry, I'm not driving.)
Today, I am baking and cooking for tomorrow's Thanksgiving feast. Tomorrow evening I'll be visiting my mom at the hospital after we leave the dinner, then packing so we can leave Friday morning for Colorado. No time for writing after this afternoon at all.
I'm hoping to take my laptop with me, just in case I get some downtime in the hotel. Maybe I can write a few lines then.
I wish everyone a happy Thanksgiving and please stay safe, warm and dry. The Midwest has been going through a roller coaster with the weather.
Signing off for today.
Wednesday, November 27, 2019
Saturday, November 23, 2019
Another friend gone
This afternoon we attended the graveside service for Lisa Conrad, a good friend of ours for almost 50 years. Lisa and I were good friends. We loved playing cards all night long with our menfolk.
Lisa loved beer and partying, so when we quit drinking back in the mid 80s, we drifted apart to an extent, but we were always friends and if Lisa wanted anything or needed our help, all she had to do was ask. We will miss her so much.
Lisa is just one of several people we have lost in our community recently. Last weekend, we laid to rest Joe Sorell, 50 years old, who died unexpectedly. There have been others, too, that we were not all that close to in life, but Joe and Lisa were the ones that affected us personally.
I've noticed that holiday season deaths are often harder to bear than those at another time of year. When Dennis lost his brother, Mike, it was the first part of December. That one was really rough. His dad was in February, His mom was in September. We lost our Teresa in late February, and my dad in October. There have been others as well.
What helps to dull the pain is the fact that we know they are with God, reuniting husband and wife, and other family members together for the last time. And that some day, we will join them in that happy reunion in the sky.
For now, we try to live our lives the way God has commanded, and believe in the Resurrection. And pray that we don't lose any more friends or family for a while.
God be with all who are travelling this holiday season. Stay safe, warm and dry, and thank God for all your blessings.
Lisa loved beer and partying, so when we quit drinking back in the mid 80s, we drifted apart to an extent, but we were always friends and if Lisa wanted anything or needed our help, all she had to do was ask. We will miss her so much.
Lisa is just one of several people we have lost in our community recently. Last weekend, we laid to rest Joe Sorell, 50 years old, who died unexpectedly. There have been others, too, that we were not all that close to in life, but Joe and Lisa were the ones that affected us personally.
I've noticed that holiday season deaths are often harder to bear than those at another time of year. When Dennis lost his brother, Mike, it was the first part of December. That one was really rough. His dad was in February, His mom was in September. We lost our Teresa in late February, and my dad in October. There have been others as well.
What helps to dull the pain is the fact that we know they are with God, reuniting husband and wife, and other family members together for the last time. And that some day, we will join them in that happy reunion in the sky.
For now, we try to live our lives the way God has commanded, and believe in the Resurrection. And pray that we don't lose any more friends or family for a while.
God be with all who are travelling this holiday season. Stay safe, warm and dry, and thank God for all your blessings.
Monday, November 18, 2019
Writing My Life Away
Hi again!
F2K is done for another year, unless they add a second session later on in the spring. I doubt that will happen, as participation has dwindled dramatically. We enjoyed what we did have, though, and hope it will continue through the years, even if it is just WVU members doing it all.
What is F2K? It's a 6 week fiction writing course that takes the new or experienced writer through the mechanics of fiction writing, from the beginning. Members learn about creating characters, deciding on point of view, and tense continuity, how to introduce conflict and dialogue, and finally, how to build a story arc, with the ultimate goal being to have completed a short story that is ready to be published. It's a barrel of fun, with lots of interaction between the writers, who tend to have a great sense of humor. The writers learn how to critique and accept critiques from other members, which can be a hard thing to do for beginners. Some of the stories are complete as short stories, but some will take their stories on to a higher level and write novels from the subject matter in this class.
I am halfway through the NANOWRIMO month as well, and have over 25,000 words written on my Young Adult novel, A Door In Time, which I have been working on for what seems like forever. I am now working on the last few chapters, as well as doing some early editing on older chapters. I'm getting more excited about finishing the book, and I'm already looking at either a sequel or a series of some kind. Motivation is key.
My Facebook friends have already noticed that my attendance there has dropped. I tend to check my Facebook profile/timeline first thing in the morning, to see if I have any messages, then I check email for the same purpose. Then I try to get some writing done. I'm also still trying to complete my vow to read the entire Bible in one year. At this time, I'm still reading in Acts. I am amazed that I've been able to stick with this project this long, but it really doesn't take much more than 30 to 45 minutes of reading at the end of the day to fill my word quota. I'm keepin' on keepin' on.
Now, with Dennis gone to a basketball game, I'm going to get some writing done on ADIT (A Door In Time). See y'all later! :)
F2K is done for another year, unless they add a second session later on in the spring. I doubt that will happen, as participation has dwindled dramatically. We enjoyed what we did have, though, and hope it will continue through the years, even if it is just WVU members doing it all.
What is F2K? It's a 6 week fiction writing course that takes the new or experienced writer through the mechanics of fiction writing, from the beginning. Members learn about creating characters, deciding on point of view, and tense continuity, how to introduce conflict and dialogue, and finally, how to build a story arc, with the ultimate goal being to have completed a short story that is ready to be published. It's a barrel of fun, with lots of interaction between the writers, who tend to have a great sense of humor. The writers learn how to critique and accept critiques from other members, which can be a hard thing to do for beginners. Some of the stories are complete as short stories, but some will take their stories on to a higher level and write novels from the subject matter in this class.
I am halfway through the NANOWRIMO month as well, and have over 25,000 words written on my Young Adult novel, A Door In Time, which I have been working on for what seems like forever. I am now working on the last few chapters, as well as doing some early editing on older chapters. I'm getting more excited about finishing the book, and I'm already looking at either a sequel or a series of some kind. Motivation is key.
My Facebook friends have already noticed that my attendance there has dropped. I tend to check my Facebook profile/timeline first thing in the morning, to see if I have any messages, then I check email for the same purpose. Then I try to get some writing done. I'm also still trying to complete my vow to read the entire Bible in one year. At this time, I'm still reading in Acts. I am amazed that I've been able to stick with this project this long, but it really doesn't take much more than 30 to 45 minutes of reading at the end of the day to fill my word quota. I'm keepin' on keepin' on.
Now, with Dennis gone to a basketball game, I'm going to get some writing done on ADIT (A Door In Time). See y'all later! :)
Wednesday, November 6, 2019
Busy, busy
I've neglected my blog so much. I'm sorry. No good excuse. Just haven't taken the time to write here in my blog.
I signed up for NANOWRIMO this November. Short for National Novel Writing Month, this is held every November, as well as some other sessions throughout the year. This is the main session, and is a challenge to write 50,000 words in a 30 day period. I'm using it as a motivation to finish that young adult novel I've been working on for years. I've submitted almost 15,000 words already this session, and hope to submit at least 1500 or more words every day before the end of the month. I know I may not work on it every day, with Thanksgiving and Veterans' Day coming up, plus we are planning a trip to Colorado Springs at Thanksgiving time. But I'm going to give it the old College try. Is that really a thing?
Our great granddaughter, Maliyah, is turning 5 years old on the 28th, so we want to go out there to see her. Grandpa Dennis and I, and Auntie Becky, and perhaps one other, will go out either by air or by car to visit with her. We'll stay in a nice motel and Becky has planned some fun activities to do with Maliyah. I'm looking forward to it. Hopefully, it won't take all our Christmas funds to do it.
I've been working on doing some sales at home, too. My Ruby Ribbon business never really took off like I'd hoped. I don't have the energy required to keep up with everything my upline wants me to do. I am finding it much easier to sell the Color Street Nails, which only cost between $11 and $14 per set, as compared to the Ruby Ribbon camis which can run anywhere from $45 to over $100 per piece. I don't plan to cancel the Ruby Ribbon, because I want to be able to buy new camis for my own use and possibly have a party or two or just individual purchases from my family and friends occasionally. The Ruby Ribbon products can be much bulkier to carry and set up. I can carry my Color Street supplies in one tote bag. So I will push it more. Anything to save my back.
I have a lot of laundry and dishes to get done, so I'll close for now. I hope to get control of my home sometime in the future, and it doesn't seem to do itself. Darn it!
I signed up for NANOWRIMO this November. Short for National Novel Writing Month, this is held every November, as well as some other sessions throughout the year. This is the main session, and is a challenge to write 50,000 words in a 30 day period. I'm using it as a motivation to finish that young adult novel I've been working on for years. I've submitted almost 15,000 words already this session, and hope to submit at least 1500 or more words every day before the end of the month. I know I may not work on it every day, with Thanksgiving and Veterans' Day coming up, plus we are planning a trip to Colorado Springs at Thanksgiving time. But I'm going to give it the old College try. Is that really a thing?
Our great granddaughter, Maliyah, is turning 5 years old on the 28th, so we want to go out there to see her. Grandpa Dennis and I, and Auntie Becky, and perhaps one other, will go out either by air or by car to visit with her. We'll stay in a nice motel and Becky has planned some fun activities to do with Maliyah. I'm looking forward to it. Hopefully, it won't take all our Christmas funds to do it.
I've been working on doing some sales at home, too. My Ruby Ribbon business never really took off like I'd hoped. I don't have the energy required to keep up with everything my upline wants me to do. I am finding it much easier to sell the Color Street Nails, which only cost between $11 and $14 per set, as compared to the Ruby Ribbon camis which can run anywhere from $45 to over $100 per piece. I don't plan to cancel the Ruby Ribbon, because I want to be able to buy new camis for my own use and possibly have a party or two or just individual purchases from my family and friends occasionally. The Ruby Ribbon products can be much bulkier to carry and set up. I can carry my Color Street supplies in one tote bag. So I will push it more. Anything to save my back.
I have a lot of laundry and dishes to get done, so I'll close for now. I hope to get control of my home sometime in the future, and it doesn't seem to do itself. Darn it!
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