Thursday 13 - Novel Writing Here I Come!!!

I am in need of an escape and there is no escape better than writing. It is perfect timing that November is right around the corner...and that means...National Novel Writing Month (NanoWrimo) will be in full swing. I can't wait to feel the excitement as I open up my laptop to a blank word document on Sunday at 12AM and see where things go. For today's Thursday 13, I thought I would write about the 13 things I am excited about as the NanoWrimo 2009 journey begins.

1) Adding the word count gadget to my blog.

2) Seeing how much more fun it will be to report my word counts not only on my blog but in Facebook Status Updates too.

3) Getting together with my writing friends on a Friday for some writing and chatting and maybe some food and then more writing.

4) Keeping my work friends entertained with my word count increases and worries about whether or not I will finish. Each year they just roll their eyes... ;)

5) Knowing what it feels like to win five years in a row.

6) Seeing if I can do more than the required 50,000 words and if I can do more than the 80,000 words I did last november. Is 100,000 words in a month too much to shoot for?

7) Write-Ins!!!! Getting some good quality time with MPB and Vix and others...as we do sprints and things...and eat Panera goodies....ummm....and coffee too!!!

8) Hopefully reaching 50,000 with NanoWrimo Buddies at Panera like last year. It was such an amazing feeling...and did I mention that it happened on November 15? Only half way through the month? See #6 above.

9) Seeing how my story will take unexpected turns because my characters will take over and I will no longer be in control. (That is the true writer's high by the way)

10) Late nights at my writing desk...with a lovely cocktail by my side and my writing totem near by.

11) My writing totem...My Precious!!! My cute pink twilly Hermes scarf!!!

12) Wearing NanoWrimo Tee-Shirts for the first time ever...I got two this year.

13) Printing and Bindering my completed 2009 NanoWrimo Novel and putting it into a Vera Bradley binder. I am behind...I haven't printed or bindered my 2008 novel yet.

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Thursday 13 - Why I am Stalling

My Thursday 13 this week is a listing of the reasons why I am stalling on a pesky writing chore I need to do for work. I have been doing so since last Wednesday. I decided to do this list because I am in fact stalling right now.

1. I had a really bad cold and needed to get some sleep…even needed to take a day off work. I never do that…I was that sick!!

2. I needed to go shopping with my Vera Friends on Sunday.

3. I ended up working on another work related thing this past weekend (Saturday and Sunday).

4. I was admiring the fact that the leaves are changing and the view from my office is breathtaking. Seriously…

5. I had to review 22 reports this week that were due by cob Wednesday…I got them at 5:30pm on Tuesday.

6. I needed to organize a bunch of papers to prepare briefings for the bosses “book”…they were needed for Thursday…so I had to do them on Tuesday evening. That way they are ready the night before for review before Thursday.

7. It was more fun to think about what to wear for the AFI/Paramore show I am going to on Friday night. I’m thinking my black and pink chucks are a most.

8. There are some really funny shows on Wednesday Night…The Middle is like my new favorite (…favorite…). Brick is my hero!!! It was more important to watch TV and fall asleep.

9. Since November 1 is fast approaching, it is important that I begin to think about the names of my hero girl (I am thinking Ruby) and my hero boy (I am thinking Oliver). Names are so crucial…

10. My watch stopped working and I am trying to pick a new one from one of my favorite websites. They have all kinds of cool things to accessorize your medical alert medallions. I so wish they had these when I was a younger diavista.

11. The latest I can get this writing task done is over the weekend…so technically…I could stretch this out some more.

12. My sister got me a copy of Where the Wild Things Are…and I had to read it. I am so going to have to see the movie. I had totally forgotten that one of my other childhood favorites Pierre was also written by Maurice Sendak.

13. I am just not feeling it yet…and I can’t write until I feel it.

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Thursday 13 - Home Sick List

So I am home sick today...and really need to be getting back to sleep. As I closed out of my work email...I realized something. It is Thursday!!! And I haven't done a list in a few weeks...so why not crank out one before I retreat to my comfy bed and bury myself beneath the covers. Score!!!

Here is a list of things to do when you are home from work because you are sick - -

1) Hit the snooze alarm a few times because it makes you feel better.

2) Smear on some Vick's because you don't need to put any make-up on.

3) Keep the news on so that you can hear how yucky the weather is and feel better just knowing that you do not have to deal with it.

4) Drink two cups of coffee while looking over the newspaper...because you never have time to do that on other mornings.

5) Think of NanoWrimo 2009 ideas...I think this is the year for my "I knew my prom date would someday be president" idea.

6) Try not to feel guilty for not being at work...even though you are sick and should be at home resting.

7) Work on a Thursday 13 List...especially since you have not done one since the beginning of September. For shame...

8) Fix your newly designed blog so that you can get back "Home" in an easy way. It has been driving me crazy...and I finally took some time this AM to fix it. ;)

9) Watch Soap Operas...if you happen to be awake in the afternoon...

10) Avoid the urge to write out a "to do" list of everything you need to do at work tomorrow since you are not there today.

11) Crank the volume on your ipod and play all the songs that make you feel warm and cozy.

12) Try to avoid checking your blackberry every five minutes in case you are missing something.

13) Sleep...all day long...sleep...glorious...sleep!!!

Well...maybe this is just my list!!

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Thursday 13 - Surprising Factoids

While at a wedding this weekend, some of my friends who know me mostly from work were shocked to see me out on the dance floor. They couldn't believe a "suit" like me could groove. I have a thing about dancing actually, you should do it as often as you can. Even if you look ridiculous...you still should...because you can. It is my little tribute to my camper friends who have gone on to better places. My little way of giving cancer the finger. Take that you horrid foe...I'm dancing!!

So, given my friends surprised reaction, I thought I would chronicle a few factoids about myself that some people might find surprising...hope that you enjoy them.

1) I love to shake my groove thing...especially at shows. Best groovin' ever was when I saw The Wailers a few years ago.

2) I have an ear for music...even when I was little I could pick up a song or instrumental and hum along. Evidently I was pretty good at anticipating the next set of notes too...

3) I love cars about the same amount that I love purses...it is just that purses are less expensive so I can have more of them. I'm not afraid to admit that I am a true blue Chevy Girl too. I am also really good at detailing them and actually find it fun.

4) I love Giraffes...my favorite stuffed animal when I was little was a cute giraffe that I called "woo woo". I had a few of them actually...and have been collecting giraffe related things ever since then.

5) I have two big crushes...one may or may not be a congressman and the other is Henry Rollins. I saw Henry years ago on Dennis Miller...he read one of his poems...and I fell in love. He is one of the coolest people around...and has a work ethic that I can totally get behind.

6) My favorite XM station is BPM (Beats Per Minute)...I live in a rave on my way to and from work.

7) I am a chronic radio station changer...I am always afraid I am missing something...so I always switch around. My poor sister...I'm totally manic about it. The fact that you can do this now from your steering wheel is just about the greatest thing ever.

8) I HATE thermos', plastic cups, and water bottles (meant for reuse). Not sure why...maybe it is laziness because I hate to clean them. Something about them just grosses me out. I was so happy when juice boxes were invented when I was little.

9) I can't eat soy. Joy can have no soy. No soy for joy. Boy...joy can't eat soy.

10) I can fill a blank sheet of paper with a story...on command.

11) I am an excellent nap taker...and I really wish I could do that more.

12) I am an expert water hose winder...I can work out any kinks.

13) I love, love, love to color. I have crayons and coloring books...don't judge.


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Thursday 13 - Favorite Movies

Wow...I missed the deadline. I have thirteen things...but it is no longer Thursday. Oh well...in the spirit of fun and a three day weekend...my Friday Thirteen is a lovely listing of 13 of my favorite movies. To kick it up a notch...I added in some of my favorite quotes.

Favorite Movies

1. WallStreet - this was the first rated R movie a saw...is there any wonder I would grow up and get an MBA?? And that was when I fell in love with Charlie Sheen. Everyone else was lusting after Tom Cruise...but not me. "Greed is Good..."

2. Overboard - wonderful in every sense of wonderful. I could watch this movie over and over again. I love the song in the ending credits...but can't for life of me find it anywhere. "Katerina!!"

3. The Saint - this movie is soooo my kind of movie. "You don't believe in all this cold fusion mumbo jumbo..."

4. The Sound of Music - pefection. "...ever since you sat on that silly pine cone."

5. True Romance - alabama and clarence were destined from the start. This movie is brilliant. "Amid the chaos of that day, when all I could hear was the thunder of gunshots, and all I could smell was the violence in the air, I look back and am amazed that my thoughts were so clear and true, that three words went through my mind endlessly, repeating themselves like a broken record: you're so cool, you're so cool, you're so cool."

6. Holiday - ummm Cary Grant...need I say more?? "...and oh how I will believe in those peanuts."

7. Chasing Amy - anything Kevin Smith does it for me. "I am forever changed..."

8. Working Girl - this movie strikes a cord with anyone who has been an assistant. "I am afterall...me."

9. The Talented Mr. Ripley - Jude Law. Jude Law. Umm...Jude Law. "Dick? Dickie? I know you can hear me. What am I doing, chasing you around...? I was going to say I would count to three and if you didn't open the door, but I won't count any more. On you. I won't count on you any more. Whatever it is, whatever you've done or haven't done, you've broken my heart. That's one thing I know you're guilty of, and I don't know why, I don't know why, I just don't know why..."

10. The Wind and the Lion - what every epic should aspire to be. "It is the wind that passes but the sea remains."

11. True Colors - politics...and John Cusack. "My father used to say that friendship is like the morning dew.......... it settles on rose petals... and it settles on some dogshit."

12. The Philadelphia Story - such a sucker for a great love story and a snarky younger sister. "My, she was yar... "

13. Sabrina - any Audrey Hepburn movie really. This one is my favorite...how could you go wrong with a guy named Linus...i mean really?? "No, father. The moon is reaching for me."

Perhaps one of the above is one of your favorites too...

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Thursday 13 - Status Updates...Camp Style

My Thursday 13 this week is dedicated to some of the status updates I have been creating my head over the past week. Typically during this week of August I would be at Camp Fantastic...but life and work have kept me away this year. That doesn't mean that I have not been thinking about it 24/7 and imagining all of the entertaining facebook status updates I would be creating. Here is my list...hope you enjoy!!!

Facebook Status Updates (if I were at Camp)

1) Joy is happy to see one of her homesick campers from last year back and having a blast. And...I should note...without a wheelchair!!

2) Joy is making coffee for med staff and counselors.

3) Joy has vowed not to be afraid of the popcorn machine and swears not to accidentally drop the F Bomb...because that is not "How How" Language. (Note - "How How" is a camp term that equals all the amazing things about camp, good things, happy things, like a pat on the back or a standing ovation)

4) Joy is sitting on Molden Porch watching the sunrise...before campers start rolling in with their room numbers.

5) Joy thinks Dr. Steve holds up the start of medline and not the med staff.

6) Joy is still in love (after a whole year) with the fabulous duct tape purse that Ann made her.

7) Joy really would love to be a human sundae again...it makes for a perfect ending to Bonkers Day.

8) Joy is so proud that one of her former campers is now a counselor...world turning...it's a beautiful thing.

9) Joy is proudly wearing her friendship bracelet from 2005 because it reminds her of Chass and all that is really important in life.

10) Joy is sitting back and enjoying all of the creativity happening in her creative expressions class.

11) Joy is so happy that there is no cellphone/blackberry reception.

12) Joy is yelling out room numbers and loving every second at it. She never yells...and this is totally prohibited.

13) Joy measures her success by how messy campers can make the "Hot Spot" each time they pass through. The messier the better. She loves to clean it all up...so they can mess it up again!!!


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Thursday 13 - Pieces of Me

Another Thursday and I'm a bit late with my 13...but I'm taking a few days off work to recharge...so it doesn't really matter when I get my list done...as long as I get it done. It is one if not the only writing highlight of my week!! :) After blogging a bit about the need to get some balance in my life, I decided to dedicate this weeks Thursday 13 to the pieces of me. The facets that make up who I am. Hope you enjoy...

1) A Vera Bradley enthusiast

2) A Workaholic

3) A Writer who never takes time to write

4) A Hater of Cancer (see #2 above)

5) A Sister who is a best friend

6) A Granddaughter who is patient

7) A Daughter who is a best friend, peer, and baby moose

8) An INFJ who is introverted, intuitive, feeling, and constantly needing closure

9 A Believer that pedicures are one of the best stress relievers

10) A Camp Fantastic Volunteer who will be there in spirit this year (see #4 above)

11) A Romantic who recognizes that he is taking an extra long time to get here...but it is totally worth the wait

12) A Driver who balances safety and fun

13) A Type 1 Diabetic who promises to be better

Well...there you have it...what makes up you??

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I am a Diavista...

So now that I am in Week 2, I felt that it was time to blog a bit about one other facet of my personality. As a reminder, here are few:

1) A Vera Bradley enthusiast
2) A Workaholic
3) A Sister (and best friend)
4) A Writer who never takes time to write
5) A Hater of Cancer (see #2 above)

I think that is the short list...but it totally gave me an idea for an upcoming Thursday 13!!

There is another piece of me that I don't pay enough attention to...some may say it is the most important piece. The piece that I should rank first on my list...but I don't. I don't...but I should...before something really bad happens. I am a Diavista (dia - vee - sta)...which is a little tag name I gave myself to give the T1 Diabetes part of my life some snarky, snazzy spice...or should I say give my sugar some snark and snazz? Anyway...back to the original point of this post...for those of you who know me you know that I am not a good diabetic. I guess. I intuit. I float along taking no real responsibility for things. I know right? Me lackadaisical about something??

Well it will be 22 years since I was diagnosed at 10 at the end of September...and given all that is going on at the moment...work especially...I need to be better balanced. I need to pay attention to what I need. I need to pay attention to me. I know, I can't believe I just wrote that...but I'm starting to believe that it is true. Actually I know it is true...so I am taking active steps to make this happen. Perhaps my Thursday 13 will be a list of those things...I was going to do it on my favorite movies...but maybe I should save that one for a rainy day.

Stay tuned...much like my musings about Vera...this could be quite an entertaining ride. :)

Thursday 13 - Guest Blogger

Thirteen Things....

today marks the 29th anniversary of when my sister and i first met in person. while i can't say i remember any of it (i wasn't 24 hours old yet!) i've heard many times of how our Grandpa held her up so she could look in the hospital nursery window at me. but i'm sure if i knew what i was going on i would have greated her with a resounding wazzzupppp!!! so, anyway, in honor of our 29 fabulous years as being sisters and best friends, Joy has graciously let me do a guest Thursday Thirteen in honor of this fabulous event.

so, on to the list. i can't thing of one cohesive theme for this, so the best i can do is write a random list of thirteen things about whatever.

1. running errands, especially going to target. there is so much fun to be had, from raiding the dollar bins and getting hot dogs to buying organizational items and cute sticky notes. there is like, no better way to spend some quality time.

2. going to shows. my favorite thing is the moment when you first get inside the place (after going through the gate thing where you get our ticket scanned) and hit the restroom, even if you don't need to, because that is the only time you know there's still paper towels.

3. taking morning walks when on vacation. she totally puts up with me stopping every two minutes to snap pictures of ducks and clouds, and when i get cranky and tired.

4. reading books together or in succession. it's so fun getting each other's perspective or guess on what's going to happen. i especially love it when she's reading a book after i have, because she always figures out what's going to happen.

5. i love when she stops by my office. it's always a nice surprise, even if i knew she was coming over. i love that we get to work down the hall from each other.

6. vera! it's so much better when you can share. and it's great, because we like fairly different pallates so between to two of us, a coordinating bag can be found to go with any kind of outfit.

7. i can't wait until we retire so we can travel and do whatever we want. we have so many wonderful plans!

8. throwing parties. she is so fabulous at planning menus and getting decorations and things. even if we're just having dinner out on the deck, it is so much fun making a fun evening for the family.

9. christmas shopping. we always go the last weekend before christmas and get all of our shopping done. its a great tradition.

10. getting oil changes. we get some einstein bagels and coffee and wonder around the grocery store. there's always something to do!

11. winnie the pooh. when the going gets tough and things are really bad, there is great comfort to be found in reading it aloud to each other.

12. movies and books about siblings. there's pretty much always one sibling each of us can identify with. and of course, it's so hard to take when one sibling is a total meanie and horrible. we're lucky that we find it so horrible and unlikely that a sibling could behave that way toward another.

13. no matter what is happening, we are always there for each other. there is nobody more important!

snaps for sisterhood!

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Thursday 13 - Favorite Summer Moments (So Far...)

I thought it might be fun to dedicate this weeks Thursday 13 to my 13 favorite summer moments so far. I'm chronicling them in hopes of spurring lots more before autumn comes to whisk them away.

1. Getting Grandma in the pool for some Saturday Fun in the Sun.

2. Seeing Coldplay at Nissian Pavillion

3. Being lost in DC with my Sister

4. Getting two rounds of applause at my big meeting week before last

5. Hanging Tree Flaire in my Wedding Tree (an owl)

6. Wearing my cute new aqua sun dress with my Vera Bradley Flip Flops and Clutch

7. Cooking chicken at Jen's Bachelorette Party...who would have thunk I could do it??

8. Declaring WTF moments at work with my budget buddies

9. Spending time at the Spa with my Mommy

10. Getting the lawn cut...which allows so much more time for fun. I hope I never take this luxury for granted!!!

11. Watching our Chipmunk, Tiny, from the kitchen window. He is seriously the cutest little thing ever.

12. Watching Poly do her thing

13. Having fun in Baltimore with a waiter who flirted with us for three days straight and a super cute bell hop who could solve any problem.


I hope that you have had some favorite moments this summer too!! Here's to hoping there are lots more to come!!

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Thursday 13 - Favorite Childhood Books

Since I am so busy...I am writing my Thursday 13 on Wednesday Night. It feels like cheating, but I couldn't miss another week. No list last week since I was gearing up for my big meeting. I have been stressed and when I am stressed I have a habit and I can't believe that I am going to reveal it. When I need to de-stress I watch cartoons. And when you watch cartoons it takes you back to when you were less stressed and carefree...I can't quite remember not being stressed...but I revert back despite it. As I was watching cartoons this weekend, I got to thinking about some of my favorite childhood books. Some of which I remember watching as cartoons...(cue Pierre and Alligators All Around)

My Thursday 13 this week is a quick list of some of my favorite childhood books or children's books...a few may have been written after I was considered a child. Don't Judge!!

1) Drummer Hoff

2) Make Way For Ducklings

3) Pierre

4) Little Bear

5) Big Sister and Little Sister

6) The Hungry Catepillar

7) Madeline

8) A Snowy Day

9) Miss Viola Swamp

10) The Strange Story of the Frog that Became a Prince

11) Alligators All Around

12) Tikki Tikki Tembo

13) The Little Engine That Could

Have I have listed one of your favorites?? Let me know...

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Thursday 13 - Legendary Duos

My sister is my very best friend and as such we have many inside jokes and are pretty sure we can communicate on several different wavelengths. Especially in terms of one of our favorite games...when watching TV, movies, or even the news we have a habit (even if we are not in the same location) of deciding who is who in a situation where you have two people. My sister is the (insert name of person) to my (insert name of other person). I'm sure there are zillions of things we have come up with over the years...but I am dedicating this weeks Thursday 13 to some of these duo combos. My sister actually helped me with this weeks list. Snaps to Sisterness!!! :)

1) My sister is the Jay to my Silent Bob.

2) My sister is the Amy Poehler to my Tina Fey.

3) My sister is the Joe Cole to my Henry Rollins.

4) My sister is the Art Garfunkel to my Paul Simon.

5) My sister is the Big Bird to my Snuffleupagus. (hmmm...is that the right spelling? Does anyone remember when only Big Bird could see him?)

6) My sister is the Adam Carolla to my Dr. Drew.

7) My sister is the Don Vito to my Phil.

8) My sister is the Matt Damon to my Ben Affleck. (She is the Will to my Chuckie and the Loki to my Bartleby too.)

9) My sister is the JD to my Turk.

10) My sister is the Stewie to my Brian.

11) My sister is the Eddie Murphy to my Arsenio Hall.

12) My sister is the Leonard to my Sheldon.

13) My sister is the Koda to Kenai.


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Thursday 13 - Nicknames

I thought it would be fun to list out some of my nicknames over the past 32 years...I tried to note them in order of when they were bestowed upon me...from birth until now. Hope you enjoy them!!!

1) Buddha Belly

2) Moose

3) Tot Wheeler

4) Sweet Face

5) Mean Worm

6) Joyful

7) Sissy

8) FPOS (Fat Piece of 'fill in an s-word')

9) Joyous

10) Depression

11) Queen Joy

12) Blossom

13) Joy Joy


Do you have nicknames that you want to share?? Of all of the above, Moose and Blossom are used the most. ;)


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Thursday 13 - Upon the Shelf

I would like to dedicate this weeks Thursday 13 to all of the books that are currently mocking me. Some have been doing so for a few years. The following is an ode to 13 books that are sitting upon a shelf waiting for me to read them. Enjoy...and it is quite a varied list of literary goodness. Welcome to the glimpse into my scattered interests...

1. Better: A Surgeon's Notes on Performance - Atul Gawande

2. Water for Elephants - Sara Gruen

3. Agnes and the Hitman - Jennifer Cruise and Bob Mayer

4. One Bullet Away - Nathanial Fick

5. One Fifth Avenue - Candace Bushnell

6. Jude the Obscure - Thomas Hardy

7. A Widow's Walk - Marian Fontana

8. The Gatecrasher - Madeleine Wickham

9. Handle with Care - Jodi Picoult

10. Acceptance - Susan Coll

11. Something Borrowed - Emily Giffin

12. The First Five - Henry Rollins

13. Thirteen Moons - Charles Frazier

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Thursday 13 - Theme Tunes

Maybe it is just me but sometimes as I meander through my days I my very own personal movie soundtrack running through my head. The songs that propel me through the day. The songs that spur writing ideas. The songs that cause a swirl within my soul. You know that feeling...songs that make you feel like you are flying or at least what it might feel like to fly. So, my Thursday 13 this week is a list of a few of those songs that are part of my soundtrack.

Many of them date back to my very beginnings...so I have decided to list them in the order of when they were added to my mind's movie soundtrack. It starts from the earliest time I can remember being obsessed with a song(age 2 or 3?). Hope you enjoy it. Hope there are some on here that you enjoy!!

1. Windy - The Association

2. Spunky Spunky - Bob James

3. Faith - George Michael

4. Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring - Bach

5. St. Elmo's Fire (Man in Motion)- John Parr

6. Dyslexic Heart - Paul Westerberg

7. Appalachian Springs - Aaron Copeland

8. Buddy Holly - Weezer

9. State of Love and Trust - Pearl Jam

10. Tunnel of Love - Bruce Springsteen

11. Waiting Room - Fugazi

12. Kite - Ivy (although I think original version is by Nick Heyward...which is also good!!)

13. Change - John Waite

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Thursday 13 - Reasons Why I Work So Hard

I hated cancer long before I ever had a personal reason to. I know the exact moment when it happened. I was watching a documentary on PBS about a little girl being treated by doctor. At the time I was watching it, I did not know that I would someday meet that doctor in person my first day on the job. The fact that I serendipitously ended up working for the very place whose work was highlighted on that documentary just shows that it was meant to be. I was captivated then and now. I’m a workaholic and feel very lucky that I can use my business-brain to help those with scientific ones.

My Thursday 13 this week is dedicated to the 13 reasons why I work so hard. Hope they are as motivating for you as they are for me...

1. Grandpa - He taught me how to work hard early on and I hope I make him proud. I miss him each and every day.

2. Joel West Baillie - He taught me how to live life in a bus ride conversation I know will stay with me in my heart forever. CAKE Rules!!! And thanks to him…there are some songs that I just can’t listen too without bursting into tears.

3. Chassity Flint - She taught me to go after what I want because it is silly not too. Every butterfly, dragonfly, and ladybug reminds me of her strength, grace, and love. Oh yes…and she helped me to find my inner diva.

4. Camp Fantastic Campers - Each and every lovely face that smiles and giggles in the most perfect place in the world that exists for just one week in August. The amazing energy they bring that fills the hollow the moment they make their way down the winding roads in the buses with the teams of motorcyclists that lead them in. How their strength and bravery surpasses all that faces them. How every year you are forever changed because of each and every one of them.

5. Camp Fantastic Volunteers - The energy, creativity, and unconditional love of a special group of people who gather for one week in August and make it happen. A team in every sense of the word. Willing hands to help. Smiling faces to cheer. And duct tape…lots and lots of duct tape.

6. Cancer Sucks - I don’t know that I need to give any specifics on this one. It touches everyone in one or another and that fact never leaves me.

7. Great Minds - I am so lucky to be able to interact with incredibly smart people who work tirelessly to kick cancer ass. If any little bit of what I do throughout the day helps them…then in some way I am kicking cancer ass too.

8. Caretakers - The strength, tenacity, and love of the folks who care is not always seen or out in the open…but it is there and it is strong.

9. The Horizon – There is something about my intuition that tells me that some of the ideas that I hear percolating now are going to bring good things in the future. When I sit in meetings sometimes I get goose bumps thinking about where things are going to go over the span of my career. Perspective is a very cool thing.

10. This Picture. (See #4 above)



11. Appreciation – Positive reinforcement goes along way so when people tell me that me I never “nag”, I “remind” it makes me feel good. Not everyone can keep things moving along in a “nice” way. ;) Maybe my first name helps…can you get mad at someone named Joy???

12. Writing – I may never finish any novels but my working writing helps to tell different kinds of stories and that is still satisfying.

13. Motivation – When I get tired or frustrated all I have to do is think of items # 1 – 10 and then I keep on going.


Do you have a reason for me to keep working hard? Drop me a comment and let me know...


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Thursday 13 - Anxious Much?

Another Thursday, another list of 13 things within my brain space. Since I have been a bit anxious about things this week and some big deadlines fast approaching that I need to shake some action on, I thought I would list out some of the things that I have been anxious about...over my 32 year life span. With a bit of commentary on how things turned out of course. ;) Hope you enjoy them!!

1. Getting a baby brother. (I am so glad that I didn't!!! My baby sister was perfect...and not once after she was born did I ever ask about a baby brother again.)

2. Going to the hospital for any reason at all as a patient. (When I did finally go in 1987 when I was diagnosed with T1 Diabetes...I just took it in stride.)

3. Setting a bad example for my sister and messing up her life. (Think this one is ongoing.)

4. Getting behind on work if I ever missed school...even in Kindergarten. (Can one really comment on that? Type A much? Is this why I'll come in for a meeting on a day off?)

5. Having to get a shot. (This is quite funny considering that over the past 21 years I have been given myself 4 - 7 every day. There were 3 years there where I went on an insulin pump...but trust me...the infusion sets were way scarier...for me at least.)

6. Learning how to drive so that I could get my license on my 16th Birthday. (Totally happened...with a fun story/lore for my first time behind the wheel. Every success needs a tough beginning.)

7. Finding a summer job. (Somehow...my application was pulled from a pile of thousands and I have been here ever since. It will be 15 years on June 12.)

8. Finishing college in Four Years. (Since I was working full time while I was in college I was obsessed with finishing in four years like other folks my age. I started in September 1995 and finished in December 1999. Did not allow much time for anything else.)

9. Escaping the 11th Floor so that I could work in IT. (I did and it set off a chain of great changes in my life. Exactly how your early and mid twenties should be.)

10. Getting a good score on my GMATs so that my provisional acceptance to JHU could become a true acceptance. (This was such a huge thing for me...since I am not a good test taker. There is a funny story about how the whole thing go started too...which I had forgotten all about. Hmm...I should write about it sometime. Oh yes...back to the outcome...I got the score I needed but my essays were off the charts!! I think I got a perfect score on one of them. Oh yes...and I graduated with an MBA too.)

11. Finding my way back to the 11th Floor. (In perfect timing and without it being planned I ended up back at home...doing something so perfect for me. That is kind of how my career goes...it just unfolds before me.)

12. Finishing any novel that I have started. (Okay...still obsessing on that point.)

13. Volunteering for Camp Fantastic. (Each and every year I worry about whether or not I will do a good job and if anyone will actually like me in the process. Each year that feeling quickly leaves as soon as the buses round their way through the hollow. I am going to miss that this year...but will instead worry about whether or not I will be invited back in 2010.)

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Purpose and Motivation...

Operating on your own is not always best...but I fall to that mode naturally because I am such an introvert. AFter meeting with the Fab Four today (my writing buddies Ellen, Lisa and Michone)and all of us agreeing to get ourselves back together on a regular basis I now have a purpose to get moving on my current work in progress. My plan is keep cranking it out to finish my very horrendous first draft and then rewrite/revise chapter by chapter as I submit said new chapters to them for review. In our heyday we would meet every other week and then with schedules (and my work obssessed nature) we couldn't keep up with the pace. It seems things are aligning so that we can get back together again...and I am so excited. I was thinking awhile back how all of us met at a writing workshop back in April 2005. I'm so glad we are still connected. I'm glad that they get me out of my introverted shell.

In other writing news, I have started a once a day writing exercise (thanks to one of my fellow Thursday 13 List Makers)where I am writing a novel day by day. It is called the Diatribing Diavista and will chronicle the life of a Type 1 Diabetic in Young Adulthood whose life passion is in cake making. Seemed like a cute kind of idea...and a bit of stretch for me. Not the diabetes part, but the cake part. I am kitchen challenged. As I have been watching my Mom and Sister in their new hobby, I thought how funny would it be if your passion was to make sugary goodies and you couldn't (or rather shouldn't) eat them. So, I decided to work on something different to guarantee that I write each and every day. See my side bar for my word count journal button/blurb...click over if you want to check it out. It is something different...

Oh yes...and if you are curious...the fabulous cake you are looking at is one of my mom and sister's creations. I know, right?? This was only the second or third cake they had ever made.

Thursday 13 - Life in Status Updates

For this weeks installment of the Thursday 13, I wanted to note some of the Facebook Status Updates that occurred to me as I meandered through the week. I should clarify that these were never actually posted. I have blogged before about how this is a new habit of mine...I think of my life in terms of status updates. Isn't that crazy? Hope you enjoy them!!

1) Joy is wondering why she did not hear her alarm go off...perhaps this is a sign that she needs to adjust her "wake-up" time to something that is more reasonable. Hitting the snooze alarm every 7 minutes for an hour can't be normal.

2) Joy loves the car ride home...especially when XM treats her to songs that she has not heard in a while. Like Midlife Crisis by Faith No More for instance...

3) Joy just realized she got her MBA five years ago...wtf??

4) Joy loves the new owl flair that she got for her tree. She feels a blog coming on.

5) Joy can't believe that there is even soy in bubble gum. As long as she can have Diet Coke or Diet Pepsi...things can proceed as usual.

6) Joy knows that no matter how much she frets about things they always work out as they should.

7) Joy is already plotting her next set of Vera Bradley purchases...July will be here soon and she got a sneak peak at some pixies of the new lines. OMG!!!

8) Joy realizes that half of the reason she always sees the dentist regularly is because of the following - 1) She always gets compliments on her teeth, 2) She gets to leave work early, and 3) She uses it is as a six-month measure for how her life is going.

9) Joy is so excited to see her writing friends on Sunday...the fab four reunites in Bethesda!!!

10) Joy is curious to know if she will figure out when to take a summer vacation.

11) Joy wishes that she was disciplined so that she could get back to writing her novel...her characters are wondering where she is.

12) Joy and Elyse and their Mommy are kind of worried but they trust the process. That is all you can do.

13) Joy thinks she may have found a new endocrinologist...and made an appointment for July. She hopes that this one is "the one". Take that useless pancreas!!!


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Thursday 13 - Coldplay Favorites

Since I am so freaking excited about seeing Coldplay tonight, my Thursday 13 list is dedicated to 13 of my favorite Coldplay Songs. Coldplay is one of those bands that totally spurs my writing. There is something about them that gets my brain off into never never land where all my noveldom swirls from. I think upon each of their album releases...a new book idea was borne. So let's end the rambling and share my list!!

1. In My Place
2. Clocks
3. Moses
4. Speed of Sound
5. Til Kingdom Come
6. Life in Technicolor
7. Life in Technicolor II (seems it should be it's own song, right??)
8. Glass of Water
9. Lovers in Japan/Reign of Love
10. One I Love
11. Don't Panic
12. Strawberry Swing
13. Rainy Day

I wish I could list one to grow on...but I won't. But if I could?? It would be Shiver.

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