Holly fricken cow! 24 people showed up to the two different Meet-Ups. I couldn't believe how many people came. I was sitting there the entire time thinking to myself "Anne, what on earth did you get yourself into?" Thankfully, 3 people have generously volunteered to (aka been roped in to) help me.
And i know of at least one more person who couldn't make it to the Meet-Up due to vacation, but is planning on attending the Write-Ins.
We're all sitting, squished in the small conference room at Panera. I'm not entirely sure that we'll all fit when everyone comes on next Tuesday.
I've been going over the logistics of Panera for several days, and hopefully, now have a plan.
I just hope it works.
I've taken to writing up all the issues i've run into and some possible solutions down for next year. Like the power issue. There's one outlet in the main dining area. Just one...for 24 computers. I'm hoping that we'll be able to make power strips work.
Also, it's hard to get the attention of 24 people, I need some kind of obvious but not overly loud noise maker.
Maybe by next year, I'll be able to have a better grip on this. One of the people who volunteered used to do what I'm doing now. He's basically told me "i couldn't do it...good luck to you".
Very comforting isn't it?
I'm a natural leader. I'm organized, practical, flexible, and most importantly, i have a loud voice which can get attention. I really hope all that works to my benefit.
Friday, October 30, 2009
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Sounding Boards
Several of my friends are now getting used to this new designation i have bestowed on them. They are my sounding boards. I need to get things out of my brain before I can even know they were there. Sometimes, simply having someone there and talking at them is enough to jog some shining tidbit out of my brain.
One thing i both like and disliked about last year was the lack of productivity at the Write-Ins. Sometimes, my brain just needed that break. Sometimes I needed sounding boards. But ultimately, i should have been spending some time writing.
When I decided to do NaNo this year, I also decided to take on most of the responsibility of what NaNo called "Municipal Liaisons". Short version is...they set up and show up for meetings.
Which is exactly what i'm doing. It's not hard so far. My main job, is keeping the conversation going.
I'm currently plotting for incentives to write during Write-Ins. Somehow though, my brain keeps ending back up in my story idea. go figure...
One thing i both like and disliked about last year was the lack of productivity at the Write-Ins. Sometimes, my brain just needed that break. Sometimes I needed sounding boards. But ultimately, i should have been spending some time writing.
When I decided to do NaNo this year, I also decided to take on most of the responsibility of what NaNo called "Municipal Liaisons". Short version is...they set up and show up for meetings.
Which is exactly what i'm doing. It's not hard so far. My main job, is keeping the conversation going.
I'm currently plotting for incentives to write during Write-Ins. Somehow though, my brain keeps ending back up in my story idea. go figure...
Friday, October 23, 2009
Down to the single digits
There are 9 days before NaNoWriMo kicks off. And I'm chomping at the bit. I'm ready to go, not in 9 days, but now. And the tension is driving me nuts.
Mostly because friends are asking me if I'm available some days in November. And when I reply with "nope, booked till December 1st", they look at me askance.
My family is trying to make family plans, preparation for Thanksgiving, as well as some home projects that they need help with. And I've had to be firm with my responses of "I have plans, I am not available. Period." Somehow, i think something has gone missing in translation.
Maybe I haven't laid this out clearly enough.
The site is set up kind of like a writer's guild. There's tools to help you write and develop your idea, people who have been doing this for all manner of years for advice, and a global friendly competition to keep you going at this breakneck speed. It's free, but the donations are aimed at A) keeping this going, and B) to develop writing curriculum in schools aimed towards creative writing.
There are no physical prizes for finishing. Just a "You Won!" notice on your profile. You don't get a trophy, no balloons and confetti, you don't get a check on cardboard which is bigger than you are.
What you do get is personal. It's internal satisfaction that no one can understand but you.
And that's worth it for me.
Mostly because friends are asking me if I'm available some days in November. And when I reply with "nope, booked till December 1st", they look at me askance.
My family is trying to make family plans, preparation for Thanksgiving, as well as some home projects that they need help with. And I've had to be firm with my responses of "I have plans, I am not available. Period." Somehow, i think something has gone missing in translation.
Maybe I haven't laid this out clearly enough.
- NaNoWriMo is an online challenge to write 50,000 (FIFTY THOUSAND) words in the form of a novel.
- Now compress it down into 30 days.
- This breaks down to approximately 1,667 (One Thousand, Six Hundred and Sixty-Seven) words a day.
- That's approximately 3 pages, single spaced, 12 pt font, standard margins, in MS Word.
- The total is about 90-95 pages with the above specifications.
- The total is about equivalent to a 200 page book.
- All THAT....in just 30 DAYS!
- And to answer your question...yes, all of us are just a little bit nuts!
The site is set up kind of like a writer's guild. There's tools to help you write and develop your idea, people who have been doing this for all manner of years for advice, and a global friendly competition to keep you going at this breakneck speed. It's free, but the donations are aimed at A) keeping this going, and B) to develop writing curriculum in schools aimed towards creative writing.
There are no physical prizes for finishing. Just a "You Won!" notice on your profile. You don't get a trophy, no balloons and confetti, you don't get a check on cardboard which is bigger than you are.
What you do get is personal. It's internal satisfaction that no one can understand but you.
And that's worth it for me.
Monday, October 19, 2009
Candy Coating
As Halloween creeps up, so comes the masses of candy. It's everywhere and retailers are all but throwing it at you. So comes the visits to the costume shops and decoration stores.
I love Halloween, I really do. Dressing up as soemthing else, mystery and for a change, being allowed to scare the bejeebies out of your friends.
What i don't love...is the price tags. 59.99 for a draped sheet turned into a toga. 39.99 for a zombie outfit of ripped clothes. I mean really? And seeing the same boring costumes every single year. People need to get creative!
My sister and i were discussing cheap and easy costumes. mullet wig+leather jacket+boots = 80's biker chick. Green visor, fuzzy car dice, deck of cards = poker dealer. All black outfit, white gloves hat and facepaint=mime!
I won't tell mine, but I hope to at least be comfortable. not wearing skirts that barely cover the essentails during october weather.
And on a side note:
Why is it, that when you disagree with someone, no matter how nice you are about it...they still get ticked off at you and punish you for not agreeing with them?
I'm blunt. I don't do sugar coating, and I don't beat around the bush about things. Yet what really gets me, is the hypocrisy involved with an argument. So long as you agree with them, even if an opinion is unsolicited....it's OK. As a matter of fact, it's appreciated.
Yet, if you have the audacity to contradict or voice a negative point, even prefacing them with "no offense" or "I'm not trying to hurt your feelings with this...but i dissagree" suddenly you're the bad guy. In a conversation...there is no such thing as constructive criticism. It's just plain criticism.
It can be as simple as a disagreement on necessity, or food, or quality or any number of trivial things and suddenly it's this huge issue. And all it started as was an opinion. A different opinion.
I love Halloween, I really do. Dressing up as soemthing else, mystery and for a change, being allowed to scare the bejeebies out of your friends.
What i don't love...is the price tags. 59.99 for a draped sheet turned into a toga. 39.99 for a zombie outfit of ripped clothes. I mean really? And seeing the same boring costumes every single year. People need to get creative!
My sister and i were discussing cheap and easy costumes. mullet wig+leather jacket+boots = 80's biker chick. Green visor, fuzzy car dice, deck of cards = poker dealer. All black outfit, white gloves hat and facepaint=mime!
I won't tell mine, but I hope to at least be comfortable. not wearing skirts that barely cover the essentails during october weather.
And on a side note:
Why is it, that when you disagree with someone, no matter how nice you are about it...they still get ticked off at you and punish you for not agreeing with them?
I'm blunt. I don't do sugar coating, and I don't beat around the bush about things. Yet what really gets me, is the hypocrisy involved with an argument. So long as you agree with them, even if an opinion is unsolicited....it's OK. As a matter of fact, it's appreciated.
Yet, if you have the audacity to contradict or voice a negative point, even prefacing them with "no offense" or "I'm not trying to hurt your feelings with this...but i dissagree" suddenly you're the bad guy. In a conversation...there is no such thing as constructive criticism. It's just plain criticism.
It can be as simple as a disagreement on necessity, or food, or quality or any number of trivial things and suddenly it's this huge issue. And all it started as was an opinion. A different opinion.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Ever have those moments....
Where a thought like "WHAT??? Are you kidding me?" and you want to smack your forehead into your palm.
Whether it is a person, an animal, or a "brilliant" idea/object thought up by someone long before you ever encountered it; i'm sure we've ALL had those moments. Usually on a daily basis.
Many of these moments are derived from our childhood. Someone who was taught how to clear a clogged drain may be confused as to how someone could not know what a pea trap was let alone channel lock pliers. Or someone brought up in a house full of fashionable females, may not understand that everyone doesn't know the difference between cardigan and a sweater.
My home, growing up, was full of life lessons, centered on engineering, common sense, do-it-yourself projects. I also learned very valuable lessons like "see if you can reason it out" and "if you can't figure it out, try a book" followed by the fail safe of "call dad". So my experiences usually led to a feeling of ease when handling problems. That feeling...led to dismay, confusion, and all out dumbfoundedness when I learned the hard way...not everyone is like me.
Moments like (and feel free to face-palm...i know i did):
This brings me to another pet peeve. How can you not know how to use jumper cables? Never mind that some people just plain don't have them in their cars (another "brilliant" idea)...but if you had them, wouldn't you make sure you knew how to use them? Red to red, black to black. Positive to positive, negative to negative. This shouldn't be a brain buster!
My applause goes out to those who can use common sense on a regular basis and avoids those moments where others facepalm over an action or decision or sentence. And for those who have moments of idiotic nature please stand by while I do the obligatory facepalm before i can help you.
Bill Engvall had it right...."here's your sign."
Whether it is a person, an animal, or a "brilliant" idea/object thought up by someone long before you ever encountered it; i'm sure we've ALL had those moments. Usually on a daily basis.
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Many of these moments are derived from our childhood. Someone who was taught how to clear a clogged drain may be confused as to how someone could not know what a pea trap was let alone channel lock pliers. Or someone brought up in a house full of fashionable females, may not understand that everyone doesn't know the difference between cardigan and a sweater.
My home, growing up, was full of life lessons, centered on engineering, common sense, do-it-yourself projects. I also learned very valuable lessons like "see if you can reason it out" and "if you can't figure it out, try a book" followed by the fail safe of "call dad". So my experiences usually led to a feeling of ease when handling problems. That feeling...led to dismay, confusion, and all out dumbfoundedness when I learned the hard way...not everyone is like me.
Moments like (and feel free to face-palm...i know i did):
- "I don't know how to paint a table" when the table in question currently has no paint or varnish on it.
- "A screw fell out of the frame, so I'm just going to get rid of the whole thing before any more fall out" rather than find where the screw came from.
- "what's a phillips screw driver....is it a brand name?" no...it's the one that looks like a star
- "How do you right click?" just........fail.
- "the bulb keeps burning out....must be the lamp" or..that you have the wrong wattage.
- "The printer won't work" (looks but doesn't touch and then reads off "load paper"
- "these directions make no sense" ....helps if read the words too, not just look at the pictures
This brings me to another pet peeve. How can you not know how to use jumper cables? Never mind that some people just plain don't have them in their cars (another "brilliant" idea)...but if you had them, wouldn't you make sure you knew how to use them? Red to red, black to black. Positive to positive, negative to negative. This shouldn't be a brain buster!
My applause goes out to those who can use common sense on a regular basis and avoids those moments where others facepalm over an action or decision or sentence. And for those who have moments of idiotic nature please stand by while I do the obligatory facepalm before i can help you.
Bill Engvall had it right...."here's your sign."
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| From Blogger Pictures |
Friday, October 9, 2009
Two dozen roses or a flash drive?
My father is quite the charmer when he feels like it. He can come up with the most romantic ideas and plans for them sometimes years in advance. My mother, is rather known for all but ruining them.
Take their 25th wedding anniversary.
My father saved all of his pocket change for 4 years, finally cashed it in and bought her a beautiful ring to go with her wedding band. He meticulously picked out all 5 diamonds for exceptional sparkle and personally chose the setting. He then whisked her away for a trip to Maui. He had his long time friend from the army and his wife join them. While they distracted her there, he did extensive recon to find a restaurant with a sunset view, and made the reservations. Just as the sun was going down, my father reached into the camera pouch to pull out the ring box. When he looked back up, my mother was already halfway out the door with the camera to take pictures of the sunset. His buddy and wife were too stunned to say anything. THe waiters who were in on it were shocked too. By the time my mother returned, everyone was trying not to chuckle as my dad finally handed her the ring box. She was immensely pleased...both with the ring and the pictures she took.
But nothing compares to the time he came home for no reason with two dozen red roses and a brand new flash drive back when those things were brand spankin' new. My mom promptly pounces on the proffered flash drive and takes it out of the package while my dad is still there holding the roses. The family got a good laugh out of that one.
I called my parents last night to let them know my brand new laptop had arrived a week early. My mother was excited and asked me all sorts of technical questions as i was only too delighted to answer them. My father in the background asked what was up. When she told him, there was silence. I think Dad has come to realize that given the presence of new technology, like mother like daughter...we tend to get a little over obsessively enthusiastic. And it's not really something he understands. I bet he was chuckling to himself remembering as I did the day when I got my first flashdrive and flowers on my birthday. I too...seized the flashdrive first.
So yes, my new laptop has arrived. My last one has served me faithfully for over 5 years through both high school and college. But lately i have realized that I'm growing out of it. I need more room, more capabilities, and most importantly, the ability to leave a wall for more than 10 minutes. I realize i could simply buy a new battery and call it good, but I made the investment anyway. It's time. I can only hope to have as good an experience with this one as my previous laptop.
Take their 25th wedding anniversary.
My father saved all of his pocket change for 4 years, finally cashed it in and bought her a beautiful ring to go with her wedding band. He meticulously picked out all 5 diamonds for exceptional sparkle and personally chose the setting. He then whisked her away for a trip to Maui. He had his long time friend from the army and his wife join them. While they distracted her there, he did extensive recon to find a restaurant with a sunset view, and made the reservations. Just as the sun was going down, my father reached into the camera pouch to pull out the ring box. When he looked back up, my mother was already halfway out the door with the camera to take pictures of the sunset. His buddy and wife were too stunned to say anything. THe waiters who were in on it were shocked too. By the time my mother returned, everyone was trying not to chuckle as my dad finally handed her the ring box. She was immensely pleased...both with the ring and the pictures she took.
But nothing compares to the time he came home for no reason with two dozen red roses and a brand new flash drive back when those things were brand spankin' new. My mom promptly pounces on the proffered flash drive and takes it out of the package while my dad is still there holding the roses. The family got a good laugh out of that one.
I called my parents last night to let them know my brand new laptop had arrived a week early. My mother was excited and asked me all sorts of technical questions as i was only too delighted to answer them. My father in the background asked what was up. When she told him, there was silence. I think Dad has come to realize that given the presence of new technology, like mother like daughter...we tend to get a little over obsessively enthusiastic. And it's not really something he understands. I bet he was chuckling to himself remembering as I did the day when I got my first flashdrive and flowers on my birthday. I too...seized the flashdrive first.
So yes, my new laptop has arrived. My last one has served me faithfully for over 5 years through both high school and college. But lately i have realized that I'm growing out of it. I need more room, more capabilities, and most importantly, the ability to leave a wall for more than 10 minutes. I realize i could simply buy a new battery and call it good, but I made the investment anyway. It's time. I can only hope to have as good an experience with this one as my previous laptop.
Monday, October 5, 2009
The October Turnover
October. The turning point of the year.
September still remembers the heat and sunshine, and everyone is so busy rushing around trying to get ready for the start of school that they even notice a fallen leaf.
But it's not until October that the world slows down; darkness comes noticeably earlier, the trees turn to the colors of flames; and we start to notice for the first time, the ice formed on our windshields when we go to work in the morning.
Early October is when all the summer clothes go into hiding, and warm coats are retrieved from vacuum bags, closets, and under the bed storage. Sweaters and heaters are needed all of a sudden as the cold penetrates no matter how tightly shut up your home is. Down comforters become a warm sanctuary emphasized by electric blankets and soft fuzzy socks.
Speaking of which. I'm not sure how i ever survived without the items in the last sentence. I have discovered that it is truly foolish to change out your blankets for a down comforter and an electric blanket on a Sunday in time for going to work on Monday. The foolishness lies in this because come morning...you are NOT going to want to leave. I sat there thinking to myself this morning..." Do I really need a shower? will anyone notice if I don't wear clothes in today?"
Of course the answer to these is why I did manage to pry myself from the folds of my comforter and proceed to do so. My workaholic nature aside, i seriously considered calling in sick.
NaNo 2009 is slowly but surely gearing up. Now is the time when I start working out tiny details which could have a big influence on my story. And with my role this year, I'm planning, and weighing odds for meetings. How many people can show up every thursday?, but then we run into thanksgiving. Would it be better to do it on wednesday, or the weekend. So many things to think about. And even though on the 6th, it seems like there is plenty of time; I'm certain there isn't.
In other news: My OCD took over one day and i spent 4 hours refinishing a headboard my dad got for really cheap. I sanded out all the scuff marks, and re-stained part of it, painted the other and now it looks like it came straight from a showroom. I also changed over the colors in my room from the blues and whites to the reds and browns for winter. Soon i hope to have my room actually...clean and organized. I hate living like this, but I haven't had a solution before.
And the greatest news of all, i have purchased a new laptop. It is georgeous, powerful, and will do everything i want Laglessly. I'm already drooling.
September still remembers the heat and sunshine, and everyone is so busy rushing around trying to get ready for the start of school that they even notice a fallen leaf.
But it's not until October that the world slows down; darkness comes noticeably earlier, the trees turn to the colors of flames; and we start to notice for the first time, the ice formed on our windshields when we go to work in the morning.
Early October is when all the summer clothes go into hiding, and warm coats are retrieved from vacuum bags, closets, and under the bed storage. Sweaters and heaters are needed all of a sudden as the cold penetrates no matter how tightly shut up your home is. Down comforters become a warm sanctuary emphasized by electric blankets and soft fuzzy socks.
Speaking of which. I'm not sure how i ever survived without the items in the last sentence. I have discovered that it is truly foolish to change out your blankets for a down comforter and an electric blanket on a Sunday in time for going to work on Monday. The foolishness lies in this because come morning...you are NOT going to want to leave. I sat there thinking to myself this morning..." Do I really need a shower? will anyone notice if I don't wear clothes in today?"
Of course the answer to these is why I did manage to pry myself from the folds of my comforter and proceed to do so. My workaholic nature aside, i seriously considered calling in sick.
NaNo 2009 is slowly but surely gearing up. Now is the time when I start working out tiny details which could have a big influence on my story. And with my role this year, I'm planning, and weighing odds for meetings. How many people can show up every thursday?, but then we run into thanksgiving. Would it be better to do it on wednesday, or the weekend. So many things to think about. And even though on the 6th, it seems like there is plenty of time; I'm certain there isn't.
In other news: My OCD took over one day and i spent 4 hours refinishing a headboard my dad got for really cheap. I sanded out all the scuff marks, and re-stained part of it, painted the other and now it looks like it came straight from a showroom. I also changed over the colors in my room from the blues and whites to the reds and browns for winter. Soon i hope to have my room actually...clean and organized. I hate living like this, but I haven't had a solution before.
And the greatest news of all, i have purchased a new laptop. It is georgeous, powerful, and will do everything i want Laglessly. I'm already drooling.
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