Move Over, November

Can it really be that November is over? It seemed like only yesterday I was planning for NaNoWriMo and other fall events. Now it’s December 1 – which means it’s time to take stock of things.

NaNoWriMo

I’m certain you’re wondering how NaNoWriMo went. Well, I didn’t quite make the winner’s circle this year; I only wrote about 28,000 words – give or take. But I did make progress, which is more than I’ve done in previous attempts. I also gained a clearer vision for the work, and I feel that I can tell you this:

The book is comprised of four main parts.

One part is “done” for a given definition of done, and it’s not the first part.

One part is “mostly done” – but that’s quite ambiguous.

The other two parts are more “in progress” than “mostly done”

I have a title, but I’m not going to share it; a cursory search through most major booksellers, publishers, and the Library of Congress turned up nothing – it may be that I actually have a title no-one has used before. It’s only a matter of time, though.

Internet Semi-Famous (kinda-sorta-not-really)

I guest-co-hosted a podcast! People don’t normally like to hear recordings of their own voice, and I’m no different. However, it was quite the experience. First time using Skype, first time recording something that more than my immediate family will see/listen to, first time in many years I’ve been asked to speak “authoritatively” outside my normal classroom. Is your interest piqued? You can catch the episode here:

Christian Feminist Podcast Thanksgiving Special

Teaser Tuesday

I’ve made progress on my TBR; in fact, I’m working on the last book of my Goodreads challenge. Here’s what I’ve finished since the last Teaser Tuesday:

The Visitor by J.L. Pattison – 4 stars

King John: Treachery and Tyranny in Medieval England: The Road to Magna Carta by Marc Morris – 4 stars

The Rival Queens: Catherine de’ Medici, Her Daughter Marguerite de Valois, and the Betrayal that Ignited a Kingdom by Nancy Goldstone – 4 stars

The Long Utopia (The Long Earth, #4) by Terry Pratchett and Stephen Baxter – 4 stars

Watersheds of World History by John L. Taylor – 4 stars

Drawings by Kurt Vonnegut – 5 stars

V for Vendetta by Alan Moore – 5 stars

You know what? Maybe if I’d held off on reading for a bit I’d have hit that NaNoWriMo goal. Oh well. I regret nothing on that front. So what am I reading now?

The Buried Giant by Kazuo Ishiguro

Thanksgiving and Black Friday

Following the afternoon family get-together, Krystal and I once again braved the Black Friday mayhem. Beginning at 4:00 PM, we conquered twelve hours of caffeine-fueled driving and shopping and emerged unscathed and with most of our Christmas shopping done; huzzah for us! Then we got a few hours rest and went back out again. We also celebrated French Toast Day by eating at IHOP.

Back to Work

I returned to work on Monday, where I realized that my JV boys’ first basketball game is Tuesday (today). They’ve been preparing for the last two months, and they’ve come a long way since day one, but there’s still quite a few things to work on. They surprised meĀ  with a bow tie in school colors to wear at games!

November Snapshots

In no particular order, here’s some pictures of what I did this month:

 

What did you do this November?

Darkness in the City of Light

San Francisco City Hall French Flag

San Francisco City Hall

Image by Stephan Lam / Reuters via Buzzfeed


There is darkness today in the City of Light,
so the rest of the world turned their lights on
to show our fellow men they are not alone. 
Lafayette, we are here. 
Lafayette, I am here. 
Now, what can I do?

Sydney Opera House French Flag

Sydney Opera House

Image by Cameron Spencer / Getty Images via Buzzfeed

 

7 January 2015 Charlie Hebdo

Veterans’ Day and NaNoWriMo

Why is it NaNoWriMo schedules never work as planned? My ideas for scheduled posts never made it off the page, I’ve only written 300 words of NaNoWriMo, and – to top it off – I’m feeling under the weather.

 

National Cemetery

 

But today is Veterans’ Day. Last week, the school put on its biannual Veterans’ Day Program – this particular one held special significance for two reasons: I wrote the program and the school chose to honor Mr. Tom, a 97-year old WWII veteran who just so happens to be my grandfather (who isn’t really my grandfather – you know how those family friends work). This was the first time in years he felt well enough to get out of the house for an extended period of time – he still lives at home in the house he built with his own hands back in the 40s and 50s – and stayed for the entire program. You can watch the program here:

 

 

As usual, I’ve also selected a poem for Veterans’ Day:


                       Grass
                 by Carl Sandburg

Pile the bodies high at Austerlitz and Waterloo.
Shovel them under and let me workā€”
     I am the grass; I cover all.

And pile them high at Gettysburg
And pile them high at Ypres and Verdun.
Shovel them under and let me work.
Two years, ten years, and passengers 
  ask the conductor:
     What place is this?
     Where are we now?

     I am the grass.
     Let me work.

 

And now, since school is out today, it’s time to play catch up on NaNoWriMo. Will I be able to write 16,500 words in one day? Probably not, but I’m sure going to try.

Monday Morning Grievance: Time Change

It’s Monday and I haven’t had my coffee.

Monday Morning Grievances Logo 1

I’ve said it before: I dislike time changes.

Now I get to drive to work in the dark . . . and drive back in the dark, too.

Hello, Seasonal Affective Disorder! I missed you . . . not.

I wish I could write more [and I could] but NaNoWriMo beckons and I must obey.

What annoys you?

Have a suggestion for a poem, photograph, or future post?

Drop a note in the prompt box!

Don’t forget to follow me on:

Facebook – where I share news stories, articles from other blogs, and various and sundry miscellany that happens to catch my eye. It’s stuff you won’t see here! Well, mostly.

Instagram – where I show you my Life in Motion and share quotes and such. The widget only shows my last three photographs – don’t you want to see them all?

Twitter – where you can see my thoughts in 140 characters or less. Also, funny retweets.

Introducing: NerdeekTV

Nerdeek PanoramaSome weeks ago I told you about a project I’ve been working on with my cousins: a webshow we’re calling NerdeekTV.

Today, we are pleased to announce our worldwide premier!

Yes, it’s roughly six hours late, but better late than never, right?

check out the official NerdeekTV website

visit the NerdeekTV Facebook page

October has Ended and NaNoWriMo has Begun

Iron and MossWhere did October go? My favorite month has passed; we will not see it again for many months. Taken so soon by conferences, conventions, and programs – I barely knew ye, October 2015. I resolve to do better by you in 2016, including the tweeting of all Martin Luther’s 95 Theses.

November has begun, bringing with it the accursed time change and a host of other activities. Activities like NaNoWriMo – the National Novel Writing Month. Thirty days @ 1500 words per day = 45000 words minimum. Last year I faltered right out of the gate; this year I have a plan.

Part of that plan includes scheduling posts, so while you may not see me much for the next thirty days, my presence will still be felt.

What are you doing in November?

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