Soooo….it’s been crickets around here lately. I’ve been pretty bad about updating my blog. I’ve been in a funk and haven’t really been doing much besides working and studying for school, so I haven’t had a lot to write about. I did reach one of my 2013 goals when I became a licensed Zumba instructor a couple weeks ago (check out my friend Kate’s blog post about the day here), and I’m proud of that and excited at the prospect of teaching a class and sharing an experience that has changed my life. Besides that, I haven’t been doing much and I’ve been in a less-than-sunny mood. Winter, I blame you.
This weekend, I decided I was tired of being such a grouch and was ready to snap myself out of it. I began the weekend by participating with some friends in the Valentine’s Day Dash, a 5k race around Green Lake in Seattle. We got up early and got a great parking space in a lot across the street from the start line, and didn’t have to wait in line at all to pick up our race packets. Because it was a Valentine’s race, when we registered we designated whether we were Single or Taken, and our relationship status was printed on our race number. Here’s mine:

 
It was a cold, cloudy morning, but no rain was falling. We walked around for awhile, looking at the different booths that had been set up and the costumes of the fellow racers. People get really into these holiday-themed races and there were lots of racers that were dressed up. I saw tons of girls in frilly tutus, and a man dressed like a Hershey kiss (I have no clue how he was able to run in that outfit). One woman had glued Conversation Hearts to the back of her shirt to spell out I Luv U, and even had some of the candies stuck into her hair.
The race began at 9:30. I tried to stay with my friends, but since there was such a crowd of people we got separated and I was left to run on my own. I didn’t mind though, I had music on my iPhone and I trotted along, enjoying the view of the lake as I ran. I’m not a runner by nature, and for the most part when I do run it’s on the treadmill. Running around Green Lake was a nice change of scenery for me. Even though it was cold out, I warmed up quickly once I got moving, and the air was clear and crisp. My music was upbeat, and as I passed the Mile 2 marker I realized that I was setting a decent (well, for me anyway) pace and that I didn’t feel at all like dying.
My official race time was 33:31. That wasn’t all that fast, considering the fastest girl came in at 16:59…I don’t think I could ever run a 5k that fast. But  I’m pleased with my time and I think it was pretty awesome, coming from a girl who couldn’t even run the first lap of the mile in high school without walking.
It’s amazing how much getting out and going for a run cheered me up and made me feel better about life. After the race I went home and took a shower, then treated myself to a pedicure and some shopping. I truly feel rejuvenated. I’m hoping that my winter blahs are now gone for good.

 

If you’re like me, you spend 40+ hours a week sitting in a cubicle while you’re at work. If you don’t, then please just know that I am very jealous of you.

 
In order to make my little work space feel more like home, I have attempted to add some personal touches that I think reflect my personality and make me happy.
I think it’s really important to have photos in your work area. Photos of family and friends make you happy and put a smile on your face, plus they remind you of why you’re at your job in the first place. Although I love what I do, sometimes I have a stressful day and I need a reminder of why I’m working so hard. I have several framed photos throughout my cubicle, as well as my photo wall.

The photo wall is one of my favorite parts of my work station. I have created a collage of photos of family, friends, and of course my sweet kitties. Looking at the photos brings a smile to my face and helps me remember good times and keeps me motivated.
I also have fun things around my cubicle that have been given to me by friends and family.

 
In addition to photos, I have a variety of things that have been gifted to me. As shown in the photo above, I have my Crazy Cat Lady action figure (this was given to me by my coworker Bob for Christmas one year, so fitting!), and the Cat sign was a birthday present from a family friend. I also have various shot glasses that friends have brought me back from their vacations (they’re filled with pins, not alcohol), old Verizon collectibles, and one GTE mug that I drink my morning coffee from at the beginning of every work day.

 
Sometimes, the cure for a stressful day is to visualize yourself in a tranquil, happy place. My brother Steve helped me out with that by making me these four beautiful landscapes as a Christmas present one year, and I can look into them and feel myself being transported out of my cubicle and into the scene of choice. For my Verizon buddies, you might also recognize good ol’ Clyde Vibe hanging out too.

 
Ever the cat lady, I have these two caricatures hanging in my cubicle so that I can catch sight of them and smile throughout my day. On the left is a Frank Coble print that I got at Pike Place Market in Seattle. It just seemed so fitting for my big kitty Oliver. On the right is a caricature that was drawn of me years ago when I worked in Victorville. The artist came out and sketched drawings for anyone that wanted one as part of a promotion day. I’ve kept it all these years because I absolutely love it! Please note the martini glass, and of course, the cat.

 
I’m also a big fan of office decorations. If there were a career I could pursue as an office decorator, I’d be all over that. I like to get in the spirit of birthdays and Christmas by decorating coworkers’ cubicles (or for Christmas, our entire work area). In the picture above, my desk drawers are trimmed with pink argyle. To create this effect, I used patterned DuckTape brand duct tape. I applied the tape to the top edges of all my drawers, and the customized look was so appealing that a few of my coworkers are now sporting custom DuckTape desk drawers too!

 
 
When you look at my cubicle as a whole, it may not appear to be all that terribly special. In fact, it may seem cluttered. But when you break it down and really examine each individual item (yes, there are a lot of work-related things in there too, they just aren’t any fun to take pictures of and blog about!), you’ll see that each thing makes me happier at work and makes life in a cubicle so much better.

It’s January and this morning dawned a not-so-balmy 25 degrees. I got up, bundled myself in warm clothes, and set off to brave the ice on my way to Starbucks and then work. I simply could not face an icy Friday morning without a skinny vanilla latte.
Winter can be hard on us, physically and mentally. It’s cold, the days are short and dark, and weather conditions are often unfriendly. Luckily, I’ve found some things that make the January days much nicer. Here are some of my favorites:
 

 Clarisonic Mia 2
I bought my Clarisonic back in November, at the urging of my friend Kate. I love it! The Clarisonic Mia 2 is a small handheld facial cleanser. Since cold winter air can wreak havoc on my skin, I’m extra diligent about using my Clarisonic daily to keep my skin clean and vibrant. The Mia 2 is a little pricey (it retails for $119) but it was worth every penny. To keep my skin hydrated, I use the Mia 2 and follow up with applying moisturizer.
 

      Olay Quench Body Lotion
Cold, windy winter weather can cause some seriously dry skin. While my Clarisonic is taking care of my face, the rest of my skin gets a re-hydrating treat with Olay Quench lotion. I’ve been using this brand since my first trip to Seattle in 2008, when Paul was headed to the drugstore and I just needed lotion so I told him to pick one. He came back with a bottle of Olay Quench, and I’ve been hooked ever since. It’s not heavily scented, so it doesn’t clash with my perfume (I exclusively wear Dior J’Adore, in case you were wondering), and within a few weeks of using it, my skin was noticeably softer. And, added bonus, most drugstores and even grocery stores carry Olay Quench, with a reasonable price of under ten dollars.
 
 

Fuzzy Jammies
In my house, we turn down the thermostat at night so the heat’s not running needlessly. This is a great way to save money on our heating bill, but it also means that the inside temperature drops in the house and it can get pretty chilly. I like to stay snuggly in warm fleece jammies (my favorites are Simply Vera Vera Wang Dreamy Fleece, $50 at Kohl’s). These pajamas are fantastic!
Side note: Not sure how long it will last, but when I looked at the website today the pajamas are on sale for $20! Get yours fast!
 
 

 A nice, warm scarf
I love a cozy scarf with my winter outfit. Not only are scarves cute, but they really do keep me warmer. This year I received three scarves for Christmas, and all were handmade by friends. If you didn’t receive any creative gifts this year, you can pick up a variety of cute scarves for reasonable prices at Target.
**I should also mention that the scarf in the photo was actually a loan from Kate. Go here to get one of your very own!
 
 

 
Comfy Boots
Living in the Northwest, we get a lot of rain. I hate getting my feet or the bottoms of my pants wet, so I’ve learned that a great solution is to wear boots in the winter to keep my legs dry. Recently I found these great Dana Buchman Tall Boots on sale at Kohl’s for $38 (regular price $99) and I just had to have them. Since I bought them, I’ve worn them several times and they are my go-to shoe with jeans now. They’re super comfy, and the flat sole doesn’t hurt my feet after walking around a mall.
Hopefully this list will help make your January more enjoyable! What are your favorite winter items?

It’s a new year, a fresh start, a chance to do everything better. People are resolving to hit the gym, finish that major project, or pursue that lifelong unrequited dream. While all those things are great, they may be difficult to achieve over the next twelve months. And so, I have a suggestion for an easy-to-keep resolution that everyone can partake in: resolve not to make any of the following your Facebook status in 2013.
**Disclaimer: This is meant to be funny. 
 
1. I have the best boyfriend/girlfriend/husband/hamster in the world!
While I’m super happy for you that you have this special person (or hamster) in your life, these generalizations are annoying and don’t make for great Facebook statuses. Instead, why not give a little Cliffnotes version of WHY that person (hamster) is the best in the world? For instance: “My wonderful boyfriend brought me flowers and breakfast in bed, how sweet!” If you mention a specific action instead of just informing all your Facebook friends that your sweetie is the bestest ever, people are a lot more prone to liking the post instead of just rolling their eyes and moving on. Also, if that special someone hasn’t actually done something all that wonderful and you’re just in the mood to gush…please, skip the post.
2. Men are such assholes!
I’ve seen this on my feed before and I really can’t stand it. First of all, you don’t see men updating their Facebook statuses to say “Women are such bitches!” And the reason for that is that women would get seriously offended by such a post. There would potentially be an angry mob storming the house of any man foolish enough to say something like that. Secondly, c’mon, all men are not assholes. I know plenty of nice guys out there for whom this absolutely does not apply. The reality is that if you’re writing this as your status, it’s probably because you keep surrounding yourself with people who are assholes and then being surprised and upset when they act as such. Spend less time blaming the entire opposite sex for the crimes of a few and get some better friends.
3. I’m so done! 
This (and any variation thereof) is beyond irritating. The obvious next question that you’re waiting to be asked is, “Done with what?” You’re fishing for attention here and you’re not going to get it from me, as I purposely ignore these types of posts. If you feel the need to vent via social media, just suck it up and give us a condensed version of what the hell your problem is. If it’s not something you want to share with all your Facebook buddies, then why post anything at all? Vent to a friend by phone, text, or private message. Don’t sob in public only to reply to the concerned questions of what’s wrong with a vague, “Things are just not going well today”, or other such nonsense. Spare me the drama.
4. Any post that involves changing your relationship status to ‘Single’ just because you’re fighting with your significant other. 
Couples fight. Every couple in every relationship has a tiff every now and then. But if I get into an argument with Paul, I don’t run straight to Facebook to unfriend him and change my relationship status. Unfortunately, I know people that do take such dramatic action, only to re-friend and re-update their relationship status in a couple hours once the fight’s blown over. If you really do go through a breakup, that’s sad and I’m sorry for you. But don’t broadcast your split on social media until you’re sure that the relationship really is over…if for no other reason than you’re not going to like it when your boyfriend’s hot childhood best (female) friend comments on the status and says she always hated you anyway, and that comment gets 100 likes.
5. Any posts that rant about how stupid people are in which you misspell a word or use poor grammar.
Let me be the first to tell you: misspelling a word or using the wrong form of ‘your’ when venting about what idiots people can be makes YOU look like the idiot. When I’m scrolling through a feed and come across “People are so dumb today! They do’nt know there left from they’re write!”, I’m going to mentally bitch-slap you. Don’t misunderstand me, I am all about a good anger-infused rant and I urge you to keep them coming, because they’re usually a blast to read. Just don’t call people out for being stupid and then make a mistake that proves you’re stupid too.
 

Today is New Year’s Eve, which means that in less than 24 hours, we’ll be bidding a fond (or not so fond, depending on your experiences) farewell to 2012. For me, it was a pretty good year. I lost some weight, had some great vacations in California, Moab UT, and Hawaii, and enjoyed showing my parents around the Northwest when they visited over the summer. I ran my first 5K and got my first tattoo. My biggest regret is a not-so-fabulous haircut I got this fall, but all in all, I have no harsh things to say about 2012.
I’ve always been the sort of person who loves the beginning of the new year, because I love a chance at a fresh start. I like the opportunity to make new goals for myself and give myself something to work toward. So as always, I’m making some resolutions for the new year:
1. Win the lottery. I made a valiant effort in 2012, but alas, the prize aluded me. Let’s hope 2013 yields better results.
2. Continue to exercise and eat healthy and maintain the weight loss I’ve achieved. I’m at my goal weight and I feel amazing. I want to continue on this path of healthy living and not lapse back into my old ways.
3. Become a certified Zumba instructor. Zumba has changed my body, my soul, and my life. I was beyond fed up with normal gym workouts and distressed that I wasn’t seeing results. Plus, I dreaded my time at the gym and was miserable throughout the workout. Zumba, by contrast, is addicting. I have so much fun and have met the most incredible people at class. I want to pay it forward and share the experience with others.
4. Stress less, smile more. Too often I find myself in a foul mood over circumstances that are simply beyond my control. Whether it’s a business decision at work that customers are unhappy about, traffic on the freeway, or unplanned inconveniences like car trouble, I am hoping to learn to put a smile on my face and not let it wreck my mood or my day. Things are going to happen that I can’t alter, and I just have to accept the situation with grace.
5. Get organized. I like things neat and orderly, but I also get lazy and my socks end up tossed haphazardly in a drawer, I have clutter in closets that could be thrown away or donated. I’m going to tackle the mess, get everything neat, and keep it that way.
Well, that should be enough resolutions to keep me busy in the next twelve months. What are your new year’s resolutions?

Christmas is less than a week away. Yesterday my coworkers and I had a holiday party at work to exchange gifts and celebrate with one another, so to add to the festivities I made Christmas fudge.
This recipe is a tradition in my family. Growing up, my siblings and I would watch as my dad prepared the fudge every Christmastime (we helped by licking the bowls…I’m sure he was glad to have such good taste testers). Now I live in a different state than my family so unfortunately I don’t get to spend the holidays with them, but I decided to keep the tradition alive and make the Christmas fudge for my work family. This is one of my very favorite holiday treats.
For this recipe, you’ll need:
3 cups sugar
3/4 cup butter
1 small can (5 ounces) evaporated milk (about 2/3 cup) NOTE: do NOT use sweetened condensed milk
12 ounces Baker’s Semi Sweet chocolate, chopped (you can also use 12 ounces of milk  chocolate chocolate chips)
1 jar Jet-Puffed Marshmallow Creme (I use Kraft)
1 tsp. vanilla
*You can also add 1 cup chopped walnuts if you want…I didn’t
(You can view the original recipe here.)

 
Line a 9-inch pan with foil, with ends of foil extending over the sides. (You don’t necessarily have to do this, I just do it so I can lift the fudge out of the pan and onto a cutting board for slicing, but you can definitely cut it up still in the pan).
Bring sugar, butter, and evaporated milk to a full rolling boil in a 3-quart saucepan over medium heat, stirring constantly. Cook 4 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat.

 
Add chocolate and marshmallow creme; stir until melted. Add vanilla (and walnuts if you choose), mix well.
Pour into prepared pan; spread to cover bottom of pan. Cool completely (I stuck it in the fridge overnight and cut it into squares the next morning).

 
Once the fudge is fully cooled, cut into squares and serve. A service of this treat is 2 squares.
 

 
Enjoy!

Paul and I just returned from a trip to Maui! We decided to escape the gloomy, rainy Northwest winter weather for a week, and headed off to Hawaii for some sunshine and fun.
We flew first-class on Alaska Airlines, which is seriously the only way to fly. The morning we flew out, we enjoyed breakfast in Alaska’s Executive Boardroom, where we were treated to free drinks and food (among other things, they had a pancake machine that produced organic, 97% fat free pancakes…only 160 calories for 2!). Once we boarded our flight, we were given another round of drinks, followed by a delicious breakfast once we were airborne. The first class seating was roomy and comfortable, and by the time we landed on Maui I definitely felt like I was on vacation.
We checked into our condo (we are owners through Worldmark), which was located in the town of Kihei. Once we checked in, we drove north for dinner and some shopping in Lahaina, which has a great downtown atmosphere as well as a giant banyan tree that covers a full acre.
Sunday morning, we got up early to catch a boat and do some whale watching with the Pacific Whale Foundation. PWF is a nonprofit organization that was founded in 1980 to save whales from extinction. I definitely recommend them for whale watching tours because they give you tons of great information about the whales, as well as being great at finding them!
 

On Monday we loaded up for a different type of adventure…we drove up to the summit of Haleakala to watch the sunrise. It was cold up there, not what you’d think when you think of Hawaii…but the view was breathtaking. If you’re going to head up for sunrise, I recommend taking a flashlight (being able to see where you’re going is always fun), wearing warm clothes (think layers…you’ll definitely need a jacket!), and a nice big thermos of hot coffee. Being a little cold is totally worth it for the view you’ll get at 10,000 feet!

Paul and I at sunrise…do we look cold?
 
On Tuesday, we went to Makena Landing for an early-morning kayak and snorkeling tour. While we waited on the beach (we arrived a little early), we saw some dolphins playing and jumping, as well as a sea turtle. I was already excited at the marine life we were seeing. Then we got to head out in kayaks, which Paul and I love doing. We paddled out a ways, then we put on our snorkel gear and dove off the boats to do a little swimming and snorkeling. We got to see more turtles, lots of brightly colored fish, and even an octopus! Paul liked snorkeling so much that he rented gear for the rest of the week and spent some time nearly every day out snorkeling, seeing turtles and fish.
Wednesday, we embarked on the epic drive on the Road to Hana. The drive is just as beautiful as those who have done it before us described, and I would say that it is best done in a convertible (we had a convertible Mustang). We saw some fantastic waterfalls and, once we made it into Hana, a great black sand beach. My tip to anyone doing the drive to Hana is to get yourself a room in Hana for the night, rather than trying to drive there and back in a day. If you don’t break up the drive, I think you’ll miss some great sights and feel a little too stressed out. Paul and I opted to stay at the Travaasa Resort. To say that this place was the lap of luxury is understating it big time. The staff treats you like you’re Hawaiian royalty, the grounds are beautiful, and the amenities are never-ending. I could definitely get used to resort living (pocketbook allowing, of course). We had planned on getting up early Thursday morning and heading out to catch sunrise before making our way to the Seven Sacred Pools, but we woke up to driving rain. So we changed our plans, slept in, then sat out on our covered patio with coffee and the loaf of fresh banana bread that the resort had provided us. Once the rain eased up, we checked out and resumed our drive, stopping here and there to look at some beautiful waterfalls.

 
We stopped for a hike when we reached the Seven Sacred Pools, also known as the O’heo Gulch Pools. Spoiler alert, there are not seven pools and they are not sacred. The Gulch was renamed in this fashion to attract tourists. That said, the waterfalls cascading into pools are breathtakingly beautiful and definitely worth a visit.
When you read about the Road to Hana, you’ll find story upon story about how you can’t continue the whole way around the island, how it’s treacherous and you’ll get stuck, how you’ll have to sign something in your rental car agreement saying you aren’t covered if you go that way, blah blah blah. Truth is, the road is not all that bumpy (if you’ve ever driven on gravel, you can handle this), and even the gravel portions are maintained. There was nothing in our rental car contract saying we couldn’t drive on that road, and we had no problem getting the Mustang around the island that way. People who turn around and go back the way they came are missing out, because contrary to the rumors the backside of the island is very scenic and lovely.
 

Don’t worry, there’s nothing to be scared of.
Friday was our last full day in Maui, so we spent the morning on the beach (me alternating between sunbathing and swimming, Paul snorkeling), before heading into town for one last lunch at one of our favorite places to eat, 808 Deli in Kihei. Go there for the best sandwich you’ve ever had in your life (my personal favorite was the Porkie, which was pulled pork with mango salsa and pepperjack cheese). Then we went back to our condo to get cleaned up and ready for our sunset cruise, which we charted through Alii Nui Maui (we booked it at Maui Dive Shop when Paul rented snorkels). There weren’t any clouds so the sunset itself wasn’t the most spectacular one we’d seen, but the atmosphere on the catamaran was relaxing and romantic. We had drinks and a nice dinner, and one guy named Tom took control of the microphone at one point to propose to his girlfriend Valerie. He’d even hired a photographer and snuck him on the boat. This particular proposal is not my style at all, as I would not want that many strangers around me congratulating me, but hey, good for Tom and Valerie. I was just happy to drink too many Mai Tais and have some delicious food and white chocolate macadamia nut cookies for dessert!
We had a fantastic vacation and we are already talking about going back to Hawaii. There was so much to see and do that we couldn’t squeeze everything into a week!
 
 

A couple of weeks ago, a longtime friend of mine posted a picture of her new ring on Facebook, along with the post “I said yes!” to announce her engagement. I was psyched for her, especially since things have been a little rough for her this year, and was glad to see her finding happiness. I figured what would happen next would be the typical onslaught of posts about dresses, caterers, venues, color schemes, etc. This is what I usually see on Facebook after an engagement is announced.
What I did NOT expect was what happened: she and her now-husband went to the courthouse last weekend and tied the knot. She wore a white sweatshirt that said Bride on the back, they filled out their paperwork, and they had cute little cupcakes on the front steps of the courthouse. When I heard about the whole thing, I expected myself to think along the lines of, Wow, I would never do it that way. Instead, I was surprised to discover that I found her simple approach at her nuptials refreshing.
(Please note, to those of you that had elaborate weddings or even middle-of-the-road weddings, I am not criticizing you or saying you are wrong, so relax.)
Admittedly, there is a part of me that loves the idea of a romantic wedding, with a dress and a cake and a reception. My bank account, however, finds this idea far more hideous than romantic. I’ve watched wedding shows on TV and some of those brides drop more cash on a dress than I pay for an entire year of rent on my house. I could never justify dropping thousands of dollars on an outfit, especially one I will wear once. I admire my friend for bucking tradition, keeping her ceremony simple, and saving herself a lot of money. She clearly got married for the MARRIAGE, not the wedding, and I admire that. In an open note, she wrote: We decided to get married, and YES! I know to all you judgemental people out there who think going to a court and signing a piece of paper isn’t getting married…but it was just what we needed. I’m sure she’s right, that there are people out there who think her choice was crazy. But I think it’s far crazier to blow a year’s worth of rent money on a party that lasts for a few hours. And I’m really proud of her for following her heart and getting married in the way that works for her, not the way that society says she should.
Congrats, Ben and Jamie. I wish you all the best!
 
 
 

Since November 1st I’ve pretty much been devoting all my writing time to the novel I’m attempting to finish for NaNoWriMo, but something happened this week that has driven me from my novel-creating hidey hole and over to my blog. See, I have this friend Kate that writes a fashion blog, and she received an anonymous email a couple of days ago. The message said: arnt you too fat to write a fashion blog? 
I’m of two minds about how I would have reacted to an email like that. The most likely response would’ve been to blast the asshole in my blog for writing such a mean (and poorly spelled) comment. There’s no reason whatsoever to say something like that to someone who is putting herself out there and daring to share herself with the masses. Alternatively, I may have locked myself in a room with a year’s supply of chocolate and cried. To her credit, Kate’s a better person than I am, and she fired back here and responded back candidly to the person who’d sent her the comment, which took far more (metaphorical, of course) balls than sending some stupid anonymous message ever could have. The response to her post has been overwhelmingly positive, and I’m really proud of her for addressing the anonymous comment.
As a girl who has been everything from a size three to a size thirteen in the last ten years, I have been called both too fat and too thin and can tell you that neither one feels good. Like it or not, there’s a huge focus on body type in our society and I really dislike that there are people out there who feel they ought to put pen to paper, or fingers to keyboard, or whatever, and inform those that do not ask that they are too skinny, too fat, too tall, too short, too whatever.
Fuck you, Anonymous. I don’t care if you’re a man or a woman, a size one or a size one hundred. The thing about making yourself anonymous is that you think no one knows who you are. But we know, Anonymous, Kate and I and everyone else who read that nasty little comment you wrote. We know exactly who you are. You are a giant douche who needs to get a life. Oh, and a dictionary. You need a dictionary, Anonymous. Because it’s spelled AREN’T, not ARNT.

It’s November, and those of my friends who write might already know that NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) is upon us. The idea is simple enough: You get from November 1st to November 30th to write a novel of at least 50,000 words.
Yes, the idea of it sounds daunting. But if you break it down, 50,000 words in thirty days is really only 1,667 words per day. Actually, 1,667 words per day would be 50,010 words in thirty days, but whatever. The point is that even though the big overall number goal sounds scary, it can be broken down into a nicer, smaller, more manageable daily goal. So far I’m keeping up without a lot of difficulty, and I’ve written 5,006 words in the last two days.
My novel probably sucks, but that’s okay. You don’t pound out 50,000 words in 30 days and expect it to be the best thing you ever wrote. You do it so that you can finish a novel. The first time you write it, yes it’s going to have errors and go off on tangents and really it could be awful, but at least you wrote it. Hard part’s done. Once you have a first draft, then said first draft can be rewritten, edited, and made pretty. I’ve been writing this blog for quite awhile and while I really enjoy it, I’ve always had a dream of becoming a famous published author, someone who touches people’s lives the way my favorite authors have touched mine. When I was younger I spent hours locked away in my room, music blasting, writing away. I’d bring my writing to school and let my friends read it, and everyone gave me good feedback and seemed to enjoy my writing. As I’ve gotten older I’ve had a harder time thinking up stories to tell, and I’m hoping NaNoWriMo is just the nudge in the right direction that I needed to get me writing fiction again.
If you want to read excerpts of my sure-to-be-atrocious novel, let me know and I’ll send out updates every 10,000 words or so. In the meantime I’ll try not to neglect my blog too horribly. Happy November!