NaNoWriMo

So, I think I mentioned earlier that I am participating in Blogtober festivities mostly for the writing exercise.

Well, I think I'm going to expand that a little by taking part in NaNoWriMo. Stands for National Novel Writing Month and it runs from November 1 to November 30.

I gotta be honest. It may be a bigger bite than I can chew. 

I'm not one of those people who has always believed they have a great idea for a novel. I don't. I really don't. I read a fair bit, I enjoy a good novel, or blog, or news story . . .

Anyway, I'm still learning the finer points of NaNoWriMo participation, but the gist of it is that I must write daily and, by the end of the month, must produce a novel that is 50,000 words long, or longer. (That breaks down to about 1,666 words per day.) I have signed up on the web site and will begin writing on November 1. 

According to the web site, I need to tell everyone I know that I'm participating.

"This will pay big dividends in Week Two," the site tells me, "when the only thing keeping you from quitting is the fear of looking pathetic in front of all the people who’ve had to hear about your novel for the past month."

If nothing else, I like the attitude.

Anyhoo, today's Day 2 of an all-male household. We're out of cereal, out of bread and must go shopping later today. So, after a breakfast of dry frosted something-or-other, we'll just kinda sit around and anticipate an afternoon of football. Maybe we'll play some video games. Then, we'll watch football and eat chips. A post-game discussion will follow, supper of chicken wings (not too spicy, I know) and then maybe a movie.

Just kidding dear. As soon as the boys wake up, we'll go for a brisk and vigorous walk, followed by a nutritious fruit-filled breakfast. Church after that, swimming in the afternoon with a vegetable-laden supper to follow.

Have a great Sunday! Go Packers!

Keep going . . .

Blogtober, day 3.

And a happy Wednesday to you all . . . hump day . . . celebrate as you see fit.

So, how many of you take the time to brown, or sear, your pot roast before pot roasting it? And no, this isn't going anywhere, I was just wondering.

Well, today is playgroup day, so must pack up Sontoo and head on over. But before I go . . .

As I sit here, staring blankly at the keyboard, I am considering the fact that I promised to blog, daily, for the month of October. And I'm considering how many times I've promised to blog daily, or at least more often, and failed on both accounts.

So, is Blogtober a good exercise? Not sure yet.

I mean, it does make me examine my life in search of something fun, interesting, or annoying to write about . . . daily.

It forces me to take the mundane and attempt to make it interesting. 

And, if I remember correctly, at one of the newspaper conferences I attended years ago, that was the kind of exercise we were encouraged to do. 

"Write about an apple," we were told. 

Boring subject, make it interesting.

Write about my daily life . . . see above.

(Okay, here's an example of why this is a good exercise. I just mulled over the order of the words above. Should it be "Write daily about my life," or "Write about my daily life?") What do you think? Did I go with the right one?

Anyhoo, I have just decided this is an exercise worth doing. So I will attempt to catch up and complete the month on schedule. 

That is all. 

Just some Stuff

Happy Monday!

Getting a late start writing this morning, as I enjoyed my coffee with a new James Patterson novel just a little too much this morning.

Okay, the novel is not new, but it's new to me. It's Mary Mary, for you Patterson fans, and I picked it up at the Thompson Library last night, along with Cradle and All. I have them for three weeks, but it usually only takes me two or three days to get through one, depending on how active the boys are. When they are really quiet, I can finish one off in 24 hours, but it's rare.

It was my first successful trip to the library here. I've taken the kids one other time, on a Monday at 11 a.m., and it was closed (??). Last night was a solo trip, part of my half-hour of freedom after Neomom got home from work. But now I have a copy of the library's hours of operation and plan to make it a more regular thing, not only for me during "free time" but with the boys as well during the long winter days. I hear they have a Friday afternoon program for kids. Must check it out.

For those keeping track, it's -31 this morning with a windchill of -43. It's supposed to warm up to -24 later today. Sunrise in Thompson is now at 8:54 a.m. and sunset is at 3:58 p.m.

So yesterday, I actually went for a nice, brisk half-hour walk. Yes, it was on the treadmill, as I'm pretty sure the boys couldn't handle more than five minutes outside right now. And it's not worth the 10 minutes it would take them to dress for the occasion and the 10 minutes of undressing after.

The treadmill, which was purchased two or three years ago, has been used sporadically since its arrival. It's been virtually unused since we moved to Thompson.

But with the furniture and a television in the rec room now, I can plunk the boys down with some toys and a video and get a little exercise while they are otherwise occupied. It is good and it is something I really need to continue.

It's not only good for the overall, general health aspect, but it's great for helping to keep my blood sugar levels stable. I hope to walk and run five days a week, taking breaks on Wednesdays and Fridays, as it conflicts with playgroup.

Anyway, that's all I've got today. And, due to my reading this morning, I didn't even get a photo for the day. Sorry if you enjoy that part.

It is now 6:18 and I hear Sontoo squawking. My day begins.