Downsizing?

English: Author: Bill Wight (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I can’t get it out of my mind.  I’m constantly researching tiny homes and RV living.  I’m in the mood to get rid of most of my “stuff” and live a simpler life.  Of course, I still absolutely must have internet access…TV?  Don’t really care about that (well, if I can manage to find a way to watch my Indiana Hoosiers play online).

I’ve been looking at some of those teeny tiny homes that can even be built on wheels so you can just get up and go whenever you feel like it (even saw one with a kitty cage so your cats can enjoy the outdoors…no, no…not when you’re driving down the highway!  What?!  You would dare to compare me to the Romney family?)  They’re built with a lot of compact storage space, using every inch.  And they have the look of home…nice wood, you can decorate however you like.   But…and you had to know there would be a but, didn’t you?  But, they’re awfully expensive for such a tiny abode…seriously, I could buy an old, small home in my former hometown for the cost of some of these little houses.

So then I start looking at tiny motorhomes.  Granted, they look like motorhomes…and they’re not insulated all that well.  Of course, if I went south for the winter and north for the summer, how much would that really matter?  I’ve seen some on pinterest that have been done up mighty cute…I can imagine myself making little curtains for the little windows and matching cushions for the seating.  Just think about being able to mosey on down the road, taking your home with you, seeing the sights, visiting friends all over the place.  I could spend my mornings writing, then travel if I felt like it.   Or I could stay put for a while if that happened to appeal to me.

Of course, I still have a few more years to work…but it’s never too early to start thinking about the next exciting phase of your life, right?  What’s that?  I hear the soft swooshing of tires along a back country road calling my name…I’m coming…I’m coming!

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Technically the last day of NaNo, 2012

…I mean it’s the official final day, hours, minutes, seconds of frenzied writing for a lot of people.  I’m glad I finished a couple days early.  As tired as I am tonight (worked 12 hours today and still didn’t come close to getting everything done) I think I would have been struggling to finish.  Woohoo!!  Maybe I’m finally learning some life lessons…like, oh I don’t know, don’t procrastinate?  I think part of the allure of procrastination is the big adrenaline rush you get when you’re faced with an emminent deadline…okay, okay…that’s not really why I’ve procrastinated in the past…yes, I’ll admit it…it was laziness.  There, are you happy?  It’s taken me a while, but I’ve learned to start on projects early (or at least on time), so I’m not so stressed out when faced with a deadline.

Oh, and Spook reminded me, in a very soft, reasonable voice, that I’d neglected to let everyone know that she’s also an IU fan…

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Ahh…NaNo completed!! I’m a winner~

Yep, I finally managed to complete my 50,000+ words for the month of November.  I had meant to sit down for 3 sessions today, but ended up not getting any writing done at all.  Then I sat down at around 6 pm and knocked out around 5000 words.  And it was actually a really good stopping place.  There are several more scenes I want to add.  I kind of left out about two years of that little boy’s life.  My plan is to have that novel be about the first five years of his life, then write the next one encompassing his growing up years.  Hey, it’s good to have a plan, right?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I feel a sense of accomplishment and, yes I’ll admit it, relief that I finished.  A big sigh of relief.  Now maybe I can clean my house.  Because when you’re working so many hours six days a week, then writing almost every night, something has to give.  For me, that was housework.  So I have some catching up to do.  Too bad I didn’t do a better job training those crazy cats to clean house.  They may not be much on housework, but they do like their basketball…Scout joined me watching the big game last night.  And yes, for any of you out of touch with college basketball…the Indiana Hoosiers won once again!  Oh yeah!

Hoosier kitty

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NaNo, Day 27…so close, so very close…

Bits of Me… Stacked (Photo credit: smittenkittenorig)

Ahh…yes, less than 5,000 words to go!  This has been a challenge, more so because of the time of year the challenge has taken place than the actual writing itself.  Not that I’m saying the writing has always been easy, but sitting down to write after working 12 hours adds another layer of difficulty to it.  But I’m just about there.  So close…Tomorrow is going to be the day, I can feel it in my bones…or maybe that’s just exhaustion I’m feeling in my bones, my muscles, my brain…nope, nope…it’s the approach to the finish line I’m experiencing!

And for anyone who was curious, concerned, or just plain interested…the zone vice president didn’t stop by our store for a visit after all.  And the thing is, we were looking really good…and at this time of year, that doesn’t last long.  One day is all it takes to sell out an entire side counter and then have to figure out what to fill it with…So yeah, I was maybe a little disappointed and a little relieved…but there’s always the next time~~

Now, who’s ready for some Hoosiers basketball???

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NaNo, Day 25…the end is in sight

IMG_0859 (Photo credit: OkayCityNate)

After working another long day today, I came home, did a few things around the house, then sat down to watch my Indiana Hoosiers play a little bball  (yes, they did win…not even close).  I had already started writing before the game came on, did a little more during halftime, then finished it up after the game ended.  Finished the day with over 2000 words.  I’m starting to think I’ll be able to finish on Wednesday, my one day off work.  (Hmm…unless we get a visit from one of the bigwigs, then I may not get a day off work…oh well, I’ll deal with that if and when it happens…no need to obsess about something that may not even happen, right?)

The writing was pretty easy again today, maybe because this is a scene I’ve played over and over in my mind.  Anyhow, I’m definitely going to hit that magical 50,000 word count mark in the next few days.  Ahh…and then I think I’ll sleep for a day or two!

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NaNoing despite it all…

English: Indiana Hoosiers logo (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Another twelve-hour work day…and still didn’t get everything done that I wanted to do…but then, when do any of us ever manage that, right?  I’m scheduled off tomorrow, but I’ve been debating whether or not I should go in for a few hours…If I do, I won’t have another day off until the middle of next week.  I need to work on the schedule, but I can do that from home.  And I sure would like to sleep in…no alarm clock, no leaving the house in the dark and coming home in the dark.  I’ve almost convinced myself to take the day off.  I’m going in at 5 am Wednesday, working with my downstocking team, going home to take a nap, then coming back in around sixish to make sure the ad gets set completely and correctly.  So…a day off tomorrow?  I sure would like it!  What to do?  What to do?

I’ve been so tired after working, that I’ve skipped a few days of writing here and there…still ahead of schedule on my NaNo novel…not by a lot, but still…I sat down to write tonight, planning to get in about 1000 words.  I feel pretty good that I managed to write almost 1700 words, despite being tired, despite being stressed, despite being a little nervous about work.  Writing somehow makes just about everything run a little smoother.

And now that my Indiana Hoosiers have won their game tonight, I’m giving some serious thought to heading upstairs to bed.  ‘Night, all!

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NaNo, day 1, the fun begins

nanowrimo (Photo credit: evilnick)

Whew…long day at work today…eleven and a half hours of non-stop action and fun (ahem).  I even forced myself to stop at PetSmart after work…figured I wouldn’t want to do it tomorrow any more than I did tonight, and the crazy little felines were out of treats (am I the only person who gives their cats treats daily?  I don’t think so…).

Did the usual after I got home, threw a load of laundry in, fixed a little dinner, checked in on Facebook, then remembered that IU had an exhibition game, had to watch that.  At half-time, I decided I’d start my writing for NaNoWriMo.  I ended up writing 1788 words and still made it back to see the last half of the second half (not a particularly exciting game, IU way up so I knew I wasn’t missing much).

I’m trying to quiet that inner critic who is telling me that my start isn’t all that good…you know, should I make it more like this, should I change the voice, should I have started somewhere else?  But, I started where I started and now I’m going to see where it leads me.  Seems like there are times when your characters kind of take over the telling of your story and take it where they want it to go…let’s see if that happens here.

Tomorrow’s going to be another early, long day…so I’m thinking I’m going to have to hit the sack and try to settle my thoughts so I can get some rest…you know, so I can do it all again!!

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The long and winding road to fitness, day 149

Image via Wikipedia

Right now all I want to do is go soak in a hot tub and go to bed.  What a crazy, hectic, stressful, exhausting day this was.  Ahh…tis the season!!  A funny thing happened today though.  I was in the stockroom sorting repacks (freezing, by the way…wouldn’t you think they’d spring for some heat in that stock room?)  when some guy stepped through the door (the door that clearly has a sign that says “employees only”, and asked me if I worked here.  I felt like smacking my head and saying, “duh”…but I didn’t…I simply told him that I do indeed work at the store.  He then asked me if I knew how much “that is” and points up toward the ceiling.  Well, I had no idea what he was talking about, so walked out of the stockroom to try to figure out what he needed.  He wanted to know how much a floor plant was but then quickly told me he wasn’t going to buy it…oookay…so I moved a bunch of stuff around so I could get a ladder in there to tell him how much a plant that he wasn’t going to buy would cost…hmm…if you’re not going to buy it I guess it won’t cost you anything, will it?

My day was so crazy that I didn’t eat the lunch I brought to work…I didn’t eat lunch at all…so I ended up with only two fruits and a veggie for the day.  Darn it!!  I even left my lunch bag in the fridge, so I guess I can eat that yummy salad tomorrow.

I did do about 10 minutes of strength training before I left the house this morning.  Of course a lot of walking and lifting and throwing things and screaming (oh wait, make that silent screaming…no one heard me screaming, it was all in my head…no, no, not voices in my head, just that silent screaming to relieve some of that stress). 

I have to admit I was more than thrilled to get out of there today.  My body hurts and I’m tired…what’s that?  I think my bed is calling my name even though it is only about 6:30.

Oh, and I must mention this…go Hoosiers!!  The boys are coming together, looking vastly improved, the basketball world will be in proper alignment once again!

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