Paperless Joy...

For the past many years, typically in early December, I have sent out Christmas Cards.  This year, I was lazy.  No cards.  No address lists.  To be honest, my card sending was always spurred by finding the perfect cards...always with "Joy" incorporated in some way.  That is one of the many perks of having the perfect first name!!  So, maybe it wasn't really laziness at all...it was just that I did not find any "Joy" cards this year.  Let's go with that explanation...

So, this year, I'm sending along some Paperless Joy for you to enjoy...an electronic wish from me to you (and yours) for an amazingly wonderful new year.  2013...look out...it is going to be FANTASTIC!!

In case you are curious, here is a list of some of the fun adventures I had in 2012...

List of 2012 Happenings...

Meeting Joel's Brother and Sister in Law - On New Year's Eve last year I had the pleasure to meet my Camper Joel's Brother and his wife...it was so perfect.  Chatting about Joel...sharing stories...good people are always fun to find.

Caps Game on my Birthday - A long weekend at the Mayflower in DC...and a Caps Game on my Birthday with my family...my Mom, Sister, Nicol, and Rob.

DC United -  So the love of soccer which was discovered in the Fall of 2011...carried over into 2012 with my first MLS (Major League Soccer) game at RFK stadium.  It was an instant love...so much so...that I am a DC United season ticket holder for the 2013 season.  It is serious...I mean...I have a magnet on my car and everything. We made it to the playoffs this season...and I even got to see my favorite player at UMD games a few times at Ludwig Field (you will read about UMD below).  Following soccer has transformed my life...it motivates me at the gym and gets me out and about in the world. And evidently...makes me much more fun to talk too.

St. Patrick's Day -  On the eve of the one year anniversary of my Grandma heading out and about in the universe...we spent a long weekend  in Baltimore making my Irish Grandma proud at James Joyce.  We saw Henry Rollins perform...which is always a pleasure and sets you on the path to be better in the world.  We also headed up to Philly to catch our first Philly Union (another MLS Team) game at PPL Park.  We had so much fun at PPL that we went back in the Fall to catch a game and then drove back to College Park to watch our Terps play...the same day.

GYM - My boyfriend Gym and I had an absolutely magical year together.  Cardio, strength training, the sauna...my stress relief is now found in clocking time at Lifetime Fitness instead of eating lots of nasty carbs. My trainer Stacy K creates the most amazing workouts for me...constantly challenging me to do more.  It has been (and will continue to be) an amazing transformation.

Kennedy Center -  I saw my first ballet and added two more operas to my list...story telling in any form always spurs the writer within me.

Spring Family Weekend and Reunion Weekend -  My camp season with Special Love started off with a bang...it brings me such joy to be able to know and spend time with such amazing people.  It keeps me motivated...constantly...to work harder at work.  I hate cancer and even if I am not a scientist, I feel like I do something to help...just using my uber organizational skills and drive to get stuff done.

Foster the People - Probably my favorite show of the year...I had such a great time.  I forgot how much their album was a part of my journey in 2011 to get healthy.  I was jumping and dancing...it was the perfect summer concert experience.  Plus, they had a section of the Ravens Marching Band join them for one of my favorite songs.  There is nothing better...seriously.  Such an awesome night.

July Power Outage - After a crazy thunderstorm...almost hurricane like...which we were oblivious too because we were in the movie theater when it was happening...we lost power for a few days.  On a whim, we decided to just stay in a hotel.  Off to the Mayflower for a week stay...it was fun to Metro and play DC city girl for a week.

Coldplay -  For my b-day gift for my Mommy (it was a big number this year)...we went to see Coldplay...right up front.  It was amazing.  We had a really good time.  It was a once in a lifetime experience for sure.

Camp Fantastic - It was my 11th year volunteering for Special Love this year...it is always hard to put into words what this one magical week means.  This year was a new challenge...after many, many years...I got to be a counselor again.  I had no idea how much I missed it.  I got to have that role and also had my regular role as the hostess with the mostest at the Hot Spot.  I had so much wonderful help...it made for yet another perfect week in the best place on earth.  Two years in a row...a camp dream has come true.  I am so lucky to be able to part of such an amazing group of people.

Annapolis - Immediately after my return from camp, my sister whisked us away to Annapolis.  Always fun to be near the water.  It was by no means our first trip.  Our favorite place to watch EPL (English Premier League) soccer is at the Fado's in Annapolis.  We even watched some DC United away games there too.  Always fun.

University of Maryland Men's Soccer -  It is on my list to try to and write a few words about what following this team has done for my Mom, Sister and I.  I never would have imagined that watching a sport would spur the healing after our many years of care giving were suddenly over.  Our first game in August 2011...after my sister's instance that we go...brought us back to life.  We did not miss one home game at Ludwig Field in College Park this year.  We watched them win the ACC Championship at the Germantown Soccer Plex (which is where we first saw them play).  There were games in the pouring rain, rainbows, and even more driving rain.  And yes...it gets pretty damn cold when they play into December.  I leave work early to catch games...yep...you read that right!!

Trip to San Antonio, Texas (October) -  My good friends moved to Texas in August...so of course I hopped on a plane to visit them in October.  It was a true break from work...I really ignored things...and enjoyed some good quality time with my friends...who are the true definition of Ohana...they are family.  Shopping (of course...but no Vera Bradley!!).  Hockey Watching (Go Rampage!!)  Eating (Hello Chuy's!!).  Chilling (Couch Sitting, Drinking, Chatting, TV watching).  It was perfect.

NanoWrimo - National Novel Writing Month brought my 8th win...I clocked most of my words at Panera surrounded by nanowrimo writing buddies.  It was probably my most epic finish ever...there were some moments there on the last day where I was writing 1K words in 20 minute sprints.  Crazy Fun!!  Still nothing finished or ready for anyone to read...but then...that is not my goal at the moment.  I just love to write. ;)

Trip to Hoover, Alabama (December) - The Terps made it to the College Cup...so we traveled to Alabama to watch them play for the NCAA Championship.  We played Georgetown in an epic match.  We came from behind at the half (they had 3 goals, we had 1 goal)...we tied it up to 4 - 4.  I was on the jumbotron with my sister...we were on the broadcast of the game on ESPN U too...cheering like soccer hooligans...because we are.  We went to penalty kicks...my Mom, Sister, and I ran with the members of "The Crew" (the amazing group of student/alumni fans who chant, jump, and taunt the opposing goal keeper throughout the entire game) to be behind the goal post to offer our support and cheering and good energy.  It wasn't enough...we lost.  We stood by the bus to still cheer.  We hugged some players.  We shook the hand of the coach.  True Fans...always...win or lose.

Trips to Virginia Beach (November and December) -  I had not been to the beach in a long, long time.  It was always on the list...but I never made the time.  Virginia Beach is always special...it was where my Grandparents would always escape too when we were little.  They would hop in the car and take a long weekend.  I was able to go in November and December.  In November I got to spend time with my camper Becca and some of her family (her Mom Gina and her brother Drew).  I got to spend the night and everything...I felt like an honorary member family.  Actually...I felt like I was the first time I met all of them 10 years ago...at their first camp event.  I got to be Becca's counselor at camp too...I had always wanted to be and .my camp dream finally came true.  The visit again to Virginia Beach in December was bittersweet.  I brought my Mom and Sister with me.  I stared at the Atlantic.  I walked along the beach.  I randomly ran into one of my friends at a pancake/waffle house...and got a perfectly timed hug.  I...with my campers and other camp family...celebrated Becca with stories, tears, hugs, pink, and lots of laughter.  As always, when camp family gets together...there is nothing better...it is the best medicine.  We are never alone...

An assortment of Joy Cards...

That Thing I Do… (Word Count = 50,116)

I’m a few days late…but I am happy to report that I did win National Novel Writing Month this year…with a few hours to spare.  I finished at Panera with many of my writing friends watching.  I tweeted and facebooked my final dash to the finish line.  I had cheers in person and virtually…it felt really, really good.  It was a very different experience this year.  It was the first year where I had to balance my quality time with Gym and manage to consistently write.  It was the first year where I had to be a dedicated sports fan and still manage to write.  It was the first year where I had to balance more than just work.  I think these are all excellent signs that my world really is transforming. 

I switched my workouts to the early morning so that I could write at night.  I spent many a day/night at Panera.  I did pound a few words out while tailgating.  I plotted in the car rides to games, while driving to Virginia Beach, and while walk/running on said beach.  I wrote words while staying with one of my campers and her family…at night after she and her Mom had gone to sleep.  I wrote from the writing cove at the home of two of my NanoWrimo buddies (8K in one sitting).  I wrote from Starbucks while waiting for one of my childhood friends to join me for an always inspirational chat.  To be honest, I don’t know that I wrote much of anything at home.  Instead of clocking thousands of words during a weekend, I would clock thousands of words in a single day (10K, 8K…crazy!!).  It was fun.  Writing is my marathon.  It felt so good to get my fingers moving.  It felt even better to be truly living while writing…that was a first.

In the last hours, I had a personal best.  I wrote 5K words in 2 ½ hours.  At times, I was writing 1K in 20 minutes.  My goal is to write 1K words in 15 minutes…I’m getting closer.  It is good to have something to aim for next year.

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...

On the Eve of November..

This time tomorrow...I will be noveling!!  I can't wait!!  There are three bags that are going to get me through it...you didn't think I wasn't going to accessorize for the occasion did you?  I have my gym bag, my writing bag, and my purse.  These will be carried with me each and every day because I am going to use each of them every single day for the month of November.  That's right...the balanced me.  Time for writing.  Time for work.  Time for gym.  I am so on it...can't you tell??

For the month of November...I will have a few things on my list of to do's...and I am excited about each and every one of them.

My November 2012 To Do's

1)  Writing a crappy first draft of a novel with atleast 65,000 words.  Notice that the word count is higher than the 50,000 words required for National Novel Writing Month (NanoWrimo).

2)  Watching the University of Maryland Men's Soccer Team and supporting them as they continue to do work in the ACC and National Championships (and always for that matter).

3)  Watching DC United and supporting them in the MLS Playoffs (and always for that matter).

4)  Visiting my Camper Becca in Virginia Beach.

5)  Attempting CrossFit with my friend Bianca in Virginia Beach.

6)  Doing all the dishes at Thanksgiving...and by doing...I mean cleaning...I am culinary challenged remember.

7)  Clocking time with Gym...each day...or pretty close to each day.

8)   Eating in smart ways that are centered around healthy veg/fruit carbs and protein and healthy fat.

Two Days...

It is just two days and counting until National Novel Writing Month begins...the 2012 version.  I'm ready and excited to get my noveling on this year.  Last year, I was worried that my quest to be healthier would be sidelined if I tried to write a novel too.  So I skipped last November...although I did write a shitty first draft of a novel in July 2011...so I figured that counted as my one for the year.  I know it was the right decision.  When you completely transform your life you have to prioritize.  This year, I have reworked things to make it completely possible.  Now that I am hitting the gym in the mornings, I can easily write in the evenings.  I have an idea for a quirky main character and the boy hero (or will there be two?) is starting to form into view.  I haven't planned much, just made a few notes about some of the main ideas I have.  I don't even know what my characters names will be.  It is such a fun time of year.  The moments before a novel is born.  I am really, really excited.  I can do this!!

The Bug Returns...

As fall returns, the bug returns.  The writing bug.  The novel idea I had back in July has been percolating and maybe this November I will figure out how to work in time for writing along with work, time with gym, and fun.  I think I can do it.  The past few weeks have been really tough, especially with work.  But this past week was all about getting out of my comfort zone and taking some ownership of creating the life I want.  A balanced one.  And so...I'm starting to feel in control again.  I have flipped around my schedule to go to see Gym in the morning, trying to leave work no later than 6pm (the boss's orders), and checking my blood sugar throughout the day.  I seem to have grown a bit of confidence in the process.  My blood sugars are already improving as a result and right now that is my first priority.  I'm making my health the most important thing...first time ever.  Everything else will balance around that...