NaNoWriMo 2008

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am starting to get really excited! Nation Novel Writing Month is coming up again this year and I am really gearing up!!!!!!!! I am really hoping to make the goal of 50,000 words this year! I know I can do it if I just stick with it. No quitting out of despair this year! lol.

I looked back at some of my novel info from last year and was shocked to find that I had made 30,000 words. It kinda gave me a kick in the pants, enabling me to realize that I can really make the word goal this time around. I have a couple of plans that will help me make the word count every day.

Oddly enough, I'm not sure I want to write the story that I have been outlining in prep for this year! I chose not to do this particular story for NaNo last year because I felt I wanted to really do it justice instead of banging out 50,000 words in the frantic and less skillful way that it necessary when trying to make your goal. And I had not yet figured out enough of the story by November 1st last year to really write about it.

This year I have been outliging, have a lot of great ideas, but am still unsure for a number of reasons. Maybe I will write something else that will come more easily to me? Something that I do not have to create an entire, rich universe from scratch? Something that I have less invested in, that I can butcher for word count and writing experience only???

Eh, we'll see. Regardless, I am psyched! Hopefully no one will get sick this year and Thanksgiving will be a casual affair! Wish me luck!!!!!

Buuuut, Birthday!

Mostly for myself, since I have a terrible memory, I want to write down the details of our birthday celebrations!

Bowen and I went to the nearby park after dropping Brandon off for work. But for one strange incident with a possible homeless/crazy guy trying to talk to Bowen and me, we had a fun and safe time there. We had a pretty typical day consisting of our routine, eating, playing, napping.

Initially I was worried that Brandon and I would not get to spend much time together on my birthday because he had to work extra hours on Friday (all due to the aforementioned sickness earlier in the week which he took off for). However, he got to leave work an hour early because his usual staff meeting was canceled. Bowen and I went to pick him up and then we had a really good evening.

We stopped to rent some movies. I know it sounds funny, but I am a really eclectic movie lover, and I was wanting to have a Lethal Weapon movie marathon! I had only recently seen the first one all the way through and wanted to see the rest! Brandon looked at me during dinner - which we had picked up from out local favourite steak house - and said "Do you know how awesome it is to have a wife who wants to have a Lethal Weapon marathon on her BIRTHDAY?!"


LOL.

Like I said, we got some really yummy food and ate it at home while watching our movies. Then, we hung out all night and finished our movie marathon with some popcorn and drinks after Bowen went to bed. It was such a nice, fun, relaxing day. Thanks Brandon, you made it wonderful!!!

And Brandon is still going to take me to Macaroni Grill for my birthday because we wanted to go on a weekday. We were going to go today, but all got sick. So, as soon as we all feel better, we are going to have a big blowout for Bowen and me. Mmmm, tiramisu!!!

Get Up, Get Up, Get Down with the Sickness

Everyone in my adorable immediate family is sick with some kind of nasty stomach virus. At least, that's what we think it is. And all of this after some different, unrelated sickness for each us earlier in the week.

I was the first one to get sick on Saturday night, so we figured it might have just been food poisoning from stinkin' Taco Bell. OMG, I have decided to NEVER eat at fast food restaurants again. We had gone to the mall for a sort of extended birthday celebration/relaxation time for me. Unlike many a stereotypical woman, I get no joy from shopping. But I do love to visit the Barnes and Noble in the mall, grab a coffee and something I have never read before, and sit down in relative silence without having to tend a totally restless toddler. Brandon will go off with Bowen for awhile and let me browse B&N. And usually we eat at the mall when we make these occasional trips because it is easier. Boy, was that a bad idea.

So later that night I start feeling bad which leads to a horrific morning of violent illness. All Saturday I felt like I could barely move, got dizzy when I stood up, became best friends with my toilet, and consumed copious amounts of Gatorade and Jell-O. Poor Brandon was forced to watch Bowen while trying to complete homework that was due today.

So early in the wee hours of the morning Bowen wakes up.... well, exhibiting the same signs of illness as I had. Poor little guy didn't sleep well and we had to get up many times all night. Brandon announced he was feeling the same way and buried himself under the covers in misery. Luckily, I was feeling just better enough to weather the many waking of my little guy all night.

This morning I am still making progress while my two guys are feeling terrible. And it is Bowen's birthday today.

I figure we will just postpone the celebrations until a couple days hence when we all feel better and can actually enjoy some cake. For now, it's liquids and lots of movie watching on the couch.


Enjoy this, my favourite version of the song, first heard on one of my all-time favourite zombie movies: Dawn of the Dead!!! Warning: NSFW!

No Worky

Is it just me or is my background not working anymore? Can anyone see it??

Dream Tinged

I hate how some of my really intense dreams seems to color my entire day.

I had a truly frustrating dream last night that picked up right where I left off when I took a nap with Bowen today! Lol, it sounds dumb, but this is what it was about:

I was pretty young again, young enough for my sister to still be alive.
I was in love with Brandon and had not yet caught his interest. Ha.
My sister and I were competing for him!
I was running all around trying to get ready, I had taken a shower and couldn't find a shirt.
Katie was already ready (so not true to real life, she used to take hours),
so she went to see Brandon who was visiting.
Brandon was a younger version of himself than I have ever known.
I was bitterly jealous, knowing in the back of my mind
that Brandon and I were obviously better together,
lol, and that I would make him happiest.
Yet, Brandon avoided me almost the entire time he was around.
Luckily, he didn't seem to hit it off with Katie, either, and she faded
out of the dream as is typical in dreamworld.
And here ended my dream from last night.
The second bit of frustration was during nap time. This consisted of
me trying to get to know Brandon, talking to him and showing
my obvious interest. Because, let's face it, I am a forward and honest girl!
But he eluded me and wouldn't talk, seeming awkward and almost shy.
After a lot of pathetic, puppy-dog-like following on my part,
Brandon had to leave.
He was about to get away and I knew I wouldn't see him again.
I made up my mind.
I ran through this house with a lot of people,
looking for him,
hoping he hadn't gone.
Because I knew I wouldn't be able to find him outside the house in dreamland.
I caught him at the last minute and decided to be straightforward.
I told him I knew I had been obvious without being offensive.
I said I KNEW that he was aware that I liked him,
and that there were glimmers of him liking me.
So WHY was he leaving without telling me he liked me?
He looked embarrassed, admitting that he had acted badly.
He hurriedly gave me his phone number and promised to TEXT me as soon as he left.
And he did.
Then followed his declaration of love over multiple text messages.
There was a slight bit of confusion as to where my phone was, so I could respond in kind,
but all was worked out in the end!
Ahh, young love.

Silly, but it was so frustrating in my dream. Gah, I hate it when that happens!!!

I'm too tired to blog. The last couple days have been a lot of work. Maybe I'll have energy soon. Meh.

Bowen's First Haircut

I cut Bowen's hair for the first time today. I have only ever trimmed the hair above his eyes when it got too long and bothered him.

But I cut it all over today. And it made me kinda sad. I am actually mourning the loss of his long hair. I think Brandon is, too.

Bowen had this beautiful, long toddler hair that curled up on the bottom in "wings". It was freakin' adorable. And, as is typical for me, I did not care that his hair was long and he was a little boy (often mistaken at the park for a girl because of it) because his hair was just too beautiful to chop yet. And toddlers look great with long hair. They still have that uber soft baby hair that is a joy to look at and touch.

But, I realized as the weather has gotten warmer that Bowen's hair was making him hot and sweaty. And it's only going to get hotter. So I resolved to cut it. After much struggle, lots of convincing, only a little crying, and mommy following toddler all around the living room with a pair of scissors, I managed to complete our first haircut endeavor. Bowen now has a very boyishly short haircut. It makes him look older and I am not used to it at all. But it is certainly growing on me and I always enjoy an opportunity to see my son in a new light and appreciate him anew. Possible pictures later on his blog.