2013 Rewind (January/May/September): Writing Inspirations...

So there are lots of things I have been meaning to write about...but I haven't.  I have been keeping a list...since late winter.  My training took a huge amount of time and brain power...so now that I'm getting back to my new normal...I have a lot of blogging to catch up on.  This is the first installment of my "2013 Rewind" entries.  It seemed fitting...since it is December...and it is the perfect time to think back upon the past year.

Back in January, one of my very first writing friends had her first book published.  It was the first in a three book series.  Her next book comes out later this month!!  I remember the first time I read Ellen Oh's words in a writing workshop (which was how we met).  I knew she was going to be published someday and have a book or books on upon a shelf.  I will never forget walking around the Barnes and Noble looking for her book.  Seeing it on display was one of the most amazing things I have ever experienced.  Going to her book reading and signing was more than I could fathom...I may have got a little wispy eyed (but don't tell Ellen...although I don't think she would not be surprised).  We had not seen each other in a few years...and agreed that we needed to get together sometime soon to catch up.

Schedules are crazy...but we finally got together in May to write together (like we used to) and then chat over lunch.  It was nice to talk about writing and life in general.  Before we finished our meal, she relayed that there was something she wanted to tell me, but she was not sure how I would take it.  I told her to go for it...I'm all for being direct and learning.  She asked if I had ever thought about writing Young Adult Fiction...because she thought my writing voice was most suited for that genre.  It was welcomed.  I had been thinking/wondering that myself.  I had not read much Young Adult fiction...so I was floored when we went back to the Barnes and Nobel looking through the shelves.  She told me about two novels...Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell and The Fault in Our Stars by John Green.  I devoured Eleanor and Park and enjoyed every moment of it.  I got through my teenage/young adult years with music...it was my everything...well that and writing.  I loved how music was incorporated throughout the novel between Eleanor and Park.  Mixtapes...is there anything better?  I'm slowly reading The Fault in Our Stars because it is so perfectly done I can only take it in small doses.  It is brilliant.  I don't want it to end.

Me and Rainbow Rowell

When I saw that Rainbow Rowell was doing a reading and signing at Poltics and Prose in September, I knew I wanted to be there.  Before I even took my seat, I knew that I was in the right place at the write time.  I randomly ran into Susan Coll (a local fiction author whose books I adore). Susan taught the class that I Ellen and I met in.  It  I was not sure what the audience would be.  Was I going to be the only adult?  I was surprised that the majority of participants were adults.  Not only fans but fans who were also writers.  The questions were fascinating and not far off from questions that I wanted to ask but was to shy to even raise my hand.  Rainbow was so sincere and endearing...it was so refreshing to hear her talk about her writing and the types of writing she adores to read and music...yes the music.  It was inspiring, I love hearing writers talk about writing.  It reminds that deep beneath all the layers of what I do, I am a writer.

After the 26.2 - Slow and Steady Wins the Race...

It has been many weeks since I crossed the finished line, but I am just now (finally) starting to feel back at my usual strength.  I did not think it would take this long.  There have been a few false indications of said "usual strength" returning along the way.  This feels different.  I have been worried that maybe I was just lazy and reverting back to my old ways.  I was starting to think that I was never going to feel like a gym rat bad-ass every again.  The good news is...I think I am finally back...not quite at full strength...but I am getting closer each day.

I have been getting Physical Therapy for my right knee and hip for about six weeks now (two days a week)...and the results have been remarkable.  I'm actually glad I got this horrible cold/cough thing (which still lingers), because I think it actually helped me to really rest and focus on the PT with no distractions from my boy gym.  I have been feeling guilty for my lack of time with gym, but as it turns out, it was the best thing I could have done.  I had a re-evaluation last night at PT...and I have improved drastically in terms of balance and range of motion (20 whole degrees!!!).  We are going to start the "weening off PT" process next week.  I am so excited!!  

Truth be told, my therapist just yesterday said I could start to ease back into my regular gym routine. (Whoops...I was already starting to do that!!) I did my first strength training workout in a long time this AM with my trainer/friend Stacy K...it felt awesome...so I know I am on the mend (and not just because I got some cool presents).  I am also allowed to try a short walk/run too.  I am so excited to get outside and get a mile or two or three.  I have not walked or ran in such a long time.  I can't explain how much I have missed it.  My goal is to get back to the point where I can do 10 miles on a Saturday.  I know I will get there...as always...one mile at a time.

Early morning presents at the gym...it really did happen!!!

 

Gone Writing.... (Word Count = 50,276)

 Each year is different...there were 11 days that I wrote no words this year.  My highest day was 8K words.  I had two 5K days.  I had two 4K days.  I had two 3K days.  The novel is far from over, I'm not sure if I will go back and finish it.  It is only 50,276 words. To be honest, all while I was writing I was thinking about how much I can't wait to get back to my NanoWrimo 2009 novel.  My goal is to get it in good enough shape to be read by a few of my friends before the end of the year.  After all of these years of writing, I want to know the feeling of actually finishing something.  I know that I can do it.  I'm going to give myself the rest of the day off.  Tomorrow...the reading/editing begins again.  It is good to have a deadline, I'm good with those.  A definitive endpoint to accomplish a certain set of work almost guarantees that I will accomplish said work.  I mean, if I can get 26 miles, there are really no excuses for not doing anything I set my mind too.

It was fun to get my 50K words surrounded by several of my NanoWrimo friends.  We wrote late into the night on Friday and then started up again in the morning.  After four hours of sleep, I am really looking forward to heading home for a nap.  November is always a fun month.  It is 30 days of writing crazy and enjoying spending lots of time with my writing friends.  I rarely see them throughout the year...but in November...they are constant support.  I readjust my schedule flipping my dates with Gym to the morning so that I can write in the evening.  I eat horrible (too many cookies to count at this point).  I find time each year to write my heart out and get at least 50K words.  No matter what is happening, I always find the time.  This was my 8th year...and it still feels just as good crossing that finishing line.

All my Bags...NanoWrimo All Night Write-In...

Everywhere we follow....

I have written many times before about how following the game of soccer has transformed my life...in many different ways.  I'm healthier.  I'm more outgoing.  I'm more interesting to talk to.  I'm more balanced.  It all started with one soccer game at the Soccerplex when I saw the season opening game for the University of Maryland in 2011.  In those first moments, the minute the game started, I knew.  This was going to be something good.  I know this is why they will always be my first favorite soccer team.

When you commit to following a team, you follow them wherever they go.  You literally travel to places you that were never on your radar.  I was in Hoover, Alabama last December to watch Maryland play in the Semi-Finals for the NCAA Championship.  I think that game was the hardest I had ever worked as a fan.  We were down in the second half, but we fought back to tie things up.  The Maryland fans...the crew, parents, and a few others were on our feet.  Chanting.  Giving good vibes.  Transfering energy.  You could feel it.  It was amazing.  We fought through two overtimes only to lose in PKs.  My family and I actually stood with the Crew (Maryland's amazing Student Fans) behind the goal.  It was brilliant...all of chanting...hugging...and then then consoling.  We even stood by the bus to cheer on the team as they left.  It was heartbreaking.

Despite our loss, I stayed in town and really enjoyed Birmingham, Alabama - you can feed giraffes at their zoo!!  I also enjoyed watching the University of Indiana beat Georgetown two days later.  It was an amazing atmosphere to sit among the Hoosiers.  We were chanting with them.  The sheer number that were there was overwhelming.  It was my first time seeing a Big 10 team play.  They had a group of alumni who assembled a marching band to play during their tailgate.  It was inspiring.  It was top-notch fandom.  I wished that for Maryland...to be able to have that many people there to show support. It helps, I know that it helps.

2013 is the last ACC Season for Maryland, next year we will be in the Big 10.  I don't know if it will initially help to bring a bigger draw of alumni and fans out to soccer games.  I do know that my soccer fandom will take me to new places, places that would have never otherwise been on my radar.  I love what following the sport has done for me...I get on planes and buses.  I have crazy sport fan rituals.  When we are losing, my hair goes up in a ponytail.  I always wear my lucky shamrock earrings to games.  I have a pre-game ritual for every home game too.  It works, so I keep all these things going.  It helps, I know that it helps.

The ACC Championship (almost poetic in a way) was held at the Soccerplex in Maryland both in 2012 and 2013.  As a fan, watching them win the ACC Championship two years in a row on the first pitch I ever saw them play, motivates me even more.  They work so hard for every win.  It makes me want to work harder too. I trained for my marathon winding around the trails surrounding the Soccerplex, it was not an accident.  As 2013 starts to wind down, I can only imagine what my soccer fandom will inspire me to do in 2014.  I know that getting miles will be still be a theme...