8,000 Words...

And suddenly...it is the last day of November.  Just 8,000 words stand before me and a win.  I think this may be the first time in my 8 years of doing National Novel Writing Month that I have been this far behind on the last day.  I have until just before midnight.  Just 8,000 words.  That finish line is getting closer...and I will push myself through and over the line.  I am after all...a writer...and I like to write stories.  So filling the page should not be a problem...and I love the pressure of a deadline.  It shall be a mad but fulfilling dash to the end.  Ready, Set, Go...well...in a few more hours anyway...

So close...but so tired.... (Word Count = 39,342)

I started the day at 30,000 words...I started writing around 3:30pm this afternoon...I wrote close to 10K words today!!  Pretty darn good.  I had really wanted to get to 40,000 words before my head hit the pillow...but I am zonked.  I did lots of writing...thanks to a write-in hosted by two of my nanowrimo buddies...I had really good luck with the words.  My story took an unexpected turn and that always helps with words.  I feel like I am grooving right along now.  The worry and stress of getting to 50K words seems to be less now.  I know, my goal for this year was actually to get to 65K...but I changed it.  At the end of the month, I will be glad to have partipated this year...and won.  I think this will be my eighth time wining.  Every year since 2005 except last year...but last year I did write 50K words in the month of July for CampNanoWrimo...so I still count that one. :)  Here is to the rest of the month filled with words and fun adventures...not necessarily in that order.

Oh Right...it is November (Word Count = 25,045)

Why yes...it is November!!  And yes...I am still noveling!!  I am a bit behind, but that is part of the fun.  The frantic writing in those last few days of November are my favorite part.  Most of my words have been born at Panera during Word Wars and while hanging out with my NanoWrimo buddies.  Perhaps I should explain, a word war is typically 15 minutes and we all try to write as many words as we can.  We flip an hour glass and then it is go time.  I usually clock about 600 - 800 words in a typically war.  My goal is to get 1,000...I'm still working on it.  That would make my whole November to reach that goal this month.  I never would have thought that I would be the type of person who would love to write around other people, but there you have it.  My new routine of going to the gym in the AM has made this month's noveling possible.  I'm glad that I figured out a way to balance both of my hobbies.  And...I'm not going to lie...I am loving the Panera sleeves for their coffee cups...bet you can guess why!!  In my continued quest to write from different places, I'm even thinking about taking my laptop with me to the next Maryland soccer game on Sunday..a 1,000 words in 15 minutes at Ludwig Field?  That would almost be as wonderful as if it snowed.  I'm thinking there would be all kinds of inspiration for really fantastic words.  

This November has not been without some writing complications...there have been many distractions and scary moments.  I have had an exhausting cold for over two weeks that has slowed my time with gym and my word count too.  There has been

lots of soccer...games in College Park, Germantown, Philly, and at RFK.  There has been work...which always seems to be crazy, busy.  There has been a fun weekend in Virginia Beach with one of my campers and her family.  I even managed time for a walk/run on the Beach!!  There has also been a data loss scare.  Yep...you read that right.  My Netbook crashed after a super productive writing day.  I had clocked 5,700 words...I stopped to take a nap...and when I cracked upon my Netbook to get in another 2K or so words...a blue screen appeared.  I was calm.  I tried to be zen.  I never back up my work (I know, I know).  If I lost 2 or 3 draft novels, it would be own fault.  Luckily the Geek Squad came to my aid and was able to save my data.  My Netbook was toast...so I bought a new laptop.  The hardest part was the fact that I loved all the NanoWrimo stickers I had artfully arranged on my Netbook.  Yep...that is me...I was mourning the sticker loss...

A familiar voice....

My Grandpa...

It is in the moments of your regular routine when divergent paths present themselves.  You are then faced with a decision to make…in split seconds…with limited information…and only your intuition to guide you.  Do you take a few extra seconds to veer of schedule?  I think it is called stopping to smell the roses.  I’m trying to be better about that.  Every morning I arrive in my office, take out my cellphone and blackberry; stow away my purse; log into my computer; and check to see if I have any unanswered calls logged and if the red light appears on my phone.  This morning as I checked my voice mail…I was reminded that an old message was about to expire.  It was a message that I have not ever listened too.  It was one that my sister forwarded to me…just in case I ever wanted to listen to it.  I have been saving it for the past five years.  It was a voice mail my Grandpa left my sister…towards the end of his days.

This morning, I was ready.  Instead of instantly saving it, I decided to listen.  Hearing my Grandpa’s voice was exactly what I needed.  His 92^nd Birthday would have been yesterday…the five year anniversary of his being out and about in the universe is next month.  It felt like it was time.  Did I cry?  Yes.  Did it feel like he was right on the other end of the phone? Yes.  Did it remind me how much I miss him?  Yes.  Did it give me strength?  Yes.  Did it remind me how much I am loved?  Yes.

I am firm believer that everything happens for a reason, I knew that I needed an extra energy boost as I head into the weekend.  I want to be all that I can be this weekend…I want to listen…I want to bring cheer…I want to be strong…I want to be fully present for each and every moment.  Actually, maybe that sums up how I want to be always...each and every day.