First of the month blah blah blah

NaNoWriMo

Yes, children, once again it's National Novel Writing Month. I'll participate, kinda, but I will make absolutely no attempt to hack out 55,000 words or whatever it is by the end of the month.

'Had she been beautiful' is moving along surprisingly well. The trip to the Hudson Valley gave me tons of detail and material to work with. And maybe I can somehow write off some of this on my taxes? But anyway, NaNoWriMo-ers, I'm with you.

I quit last year not long out of the gate because I had a truly creepy experience, which I'm sure was just mere coincidence. The book I was writing then (and still want to finish) involved murder with a pair of dressmaker's shears. When I posted to the NaNo site, the excerpt was put into their format and the title page had hearts - and two pairs of scissors.

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Why, It Must Be Mania!

I got paid yesterday and went a little off my nut. Here's what I bought, madcap girl that I am:

- A new pair of shoes from Land's End ($36.50)
- A pet fountain ($70). Yes, there's a reason for this. One of the cats is sick and needs to be coaxed to drink more water. The old fountain was leaking so badly, it was decommissioned.
- A ticket to the Bruce Hornsby/Ricky Skaggs concert next April ($60). I think of it as a form of life insurance.

What I want now, what I really, really want now, is a laptop. Yes, I love writing in longhand, but I never get around to transcribing it.

Note: Technical Support, please advise. Macs aren't even in the running, btw.

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No Halloween. Period.

I came home from work, closed the curtains and all the blinds and dared anyone to ring the doorbell. Actually, here all the little kids with the cute costumes have already been by, by the time I get home from work. All that come around by the time I get home are 14 year olds wearing a hoodie and carrying a pillowcase. To them I want to say, you are too old. And you aren't even making an effort. Go away.

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The Time of the Troubles

Well, here we are in holiday season again. Gah. For Thanksgiving, if the weather is good, I'm going to NYC. If the weather is bad, I'm staying home and making the Orphan's Thanksgiving for myself.

Christmas is more problematic. Since we all know I will not be visiting Emma again, possibly ever, and I have no money, I will not be leaving the Great Garden State for the holiday.

I have to start preparing myself for Christmas. I try to tell myself it's only one day. And it is. It's just a really hard day.