In Case You're Wondering

The novel I'm writing this month remains a mystery for 99.9 % of the people who know I'm doing it. I have been reading it to Lon and I dropped a hint about it on a website where I frequently hang out.

I don't have an actual plot at this point, but I can tell you that my writing is in part based on my own early childhood. I've tweaked the truth for the most part yet certain details line up with actual "important historical" facts pertaining to my birth, my place of birth, my family and other "relative" statistics.

The main character in my novel is me, Shaddy. She resembles a newborn when she's asleep, otherwise, Shaddy is phenomenally "off the charts" regarding intellectual development norms for her age group. When confronted, she attributes her advanced abilities to her innate inclination to make efficient use of all the endless time she had on her hands during her incubation period.

So far, my novel is a, hopefully humorous, account of the first few weeks of Shaddy's life. I'm encouraged by the reactions I've gotten from Lon. He has laughed frequently, has said "wow" once or twice and after each of my readings, always tells me that he's amazed with my story ideas and how I put them into a written form that flows nicely. Remember, we've been married for forty years. He knows the value of positive strokes!

A novel (as I've been taught) is supposed to include a main character (protagonist) who is faced with a challenge (provided by one or more antagonists) which he or she struggles with and overcomes, thus becomes a stronger and/or wiser individual. There's much more to the inner workings of a good novel, but that's it in a nutshell.

I haven't a clear cut challenge for Shaddy to struggle with other than understanding and accepting her differences and learning to be patient with those who aren't at her level. In what I've written so far, Shaddy is often frustrated and impatient with herself and her peers.

Time will tell how my novel will come together as I keep writing toward my 50,000 word goal. I'm taking my writing one day at a time and minute by minute. Normally, I don't know how a scene will play out until I'm in the middle of writing it and ideas spring up. Having a deadline definitely pushes the decision making process forward. I can't spend an hour trying to figure out what Shaddy will do next. I have to make a choice and go with it.

When I finish writing at the end of this month, I'll have a rough draft. If I want to try to get it published, my work will have just begun. I doubt I'll want to go through the grief necessary to accomplish that. I'll be happy knowing that I'm a novelist. That's enough for me.

A Workout at NorthPointe

My friend, Lynn, who lives near Boston was here in Beloit in September, visiting her father and brother. A day or two before she returned to the Boston area, she called me and asked if she could come over because she had something for me. Of course, I became excited and told her to come as fast as she could. "I'll be waiting in the street in front of my house!!!" I added. Goody, goody, another treat from Lynn.

When she came to the door (I didn't really go out in the street, although I wanted to), I whisked Lynn and her beaming smile inside.

"I know you're fixing dinner and I'm not going to stay but here's a gift for you," she said and she handed me a deep red tote bag with NorthPointe printed on the front. "I loved NorthPointe so much when I was there with Dad and Dwight. I want you to see and experience it for yourself so here's a bag for your exercise gear and a one-month membership pass."

I was speechless for a few seconds, but after I settled down I hugged Lynn and thanked her once again for her generosity. Lynn has showered me with her friendship and kindness on numerous occasions and beyond measure. A few days ago, during her visit, I finally had an opportunity to in a very small way reciprocate by taking her to lunch at Houlihan's in Lake Geneva. We took a walk on the path that goes along the shoreline after lunch and then went back to Houlihan's for dessert. Why not!! We earned it.

I 'd heard a lot from friends and acquaintances about NorthPointe, but have stubbornly maintained my membership at the more convenient Beloit YMCA. I didn't even want to see the facility for fear I'd be hooked by its grandeur. Last week, I drove to the "health and wellness campus" to check out the wellness facility and to use the first of seven visits available to me with my "holiday pass."

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NorthPointe is a great facility as I knew it would be. I had a glimpse of it when I had a mammogram there a few months ago. On my first visit, I was taken for a tour of the pools, the locker room, the workout areas and the running track.

I'll take my camera with me next time and give you a first-hand look at it.

The Buddy Holly Show

Friday evening, Lon and I parked in the Beloit Ironworks Building parking lot and entered the fairly recently remodeled Beloit Corporation building. Lon had been in the building previously so I followed his lead to the elevator.

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We were surprised to see half a dozen fellows who appeared to be in their twenties standing beside the elevator door. I had expected to be amongst an older crowd that evening. We rode up the elevator with them, listening to their small talk and laughter. We would later see them again, not as members of the audience but playing the parts of Buddy Holly, his drummer and bass player-the Crickets, the Big Bopper, and Ritchie Valens.

All along the inner walls of the Ironworks building, abstract wall hangings created with all shapes and sizes of paper machine patterns decorated the walls. My father had been a pattern maker in this very location. I was fascinated with the artwork and with being in this place. Everything about the location was classy, from the flooring to the expanse of glass that separated the space into the businesses housed within.

Lon and I sat at a table for two for dinner and the show. The buffet dinner, catered by Best Events, exceeded our expectations as did the performance. The show is described on the Wisconsin Theatreworks show card as follows: On February 3rd, 1959, the man who changed the face of popular music tragically died in a plane crash at the age of 22. Now, Buddy The Buddy Holly Story tells the story of the three years in which he became the world's top recording artist with a show that features over 20 of Buddy Holly's greatest hits.

The show took place on a small yet perfectly designed stage and stage setting while the audience were seated on chairs at tables in a fairly good sized room yet intimate in mood. The familiar songs sung and accompanied by the voices and instruments of the performers on stage reminded me of times long ago. The music, the upbeat tempo, the joy of those times for Buddy and indeed for all of his world wide fans provided an enjoyable experience I'd venture to say for all who were present. Inevitably, the death of Buddy Holly, the Big Bopper and Ritchie Valens in that small plane that crashed in Iowa was remembered and we once again felt the horror of the terribly unfortunate accident and the deaths of three larger than life young men.

We left the building with the rock 'n roll music again playing in our ears and the bittersweet memories of the world's losses mingling with the unforgettable songs.

I thank radio station WGEZ, The True Oldies Channel, 1490 on your radio dial here in Beloit, Wisconsin. I won the tickets by answering a question regarding Buddy Holly posed by Robert Anthony, the early morning show disc jockey.

What! Me Worry?

*************I'm in day six of my month long attempt to write a 50,000 word novel. For me, getting started was the hardest part so far. Along about the third day, I sensed the beginnings of an actual story were gradually working their way from the depths of my muddled mind to the conscious level.

I made my first notes on Wednesday morning on a pad of paper in the bathroom in between applying deodorant, putting on mascara and brushing my teeth. I'm on a roll and even came up with some possible titles for my novel. (Did you notice I didn't put quotes around the world novel? That's a good sign, don't you think?).

I even went so far as to promise the instructor of my very first online creative writing class that I'd dedicate the book to her. She's the facilitator of a writer's website that I have fun hanging out at. Needless to say, I'm feeling good about my past six days worth of novel-writing accomplishments.

I entered into this challenge thinking I'd be free-writing my way from page to page. For unknown reasons, that's not the case so far. I'm doing quite a bit of thinking as I write and I don't know if that's good or not. I'm ahead of my word-count quota so my gut tells me not to worry.

My only real concern is that I'm not having as much fun as I thought I would. I'm hoping that I'll loosen up one of these days or get tired of picking and choosing my words. I'm looking forward to spending a big chunk of days writing without forethought and thus drawing from the side of my psyche that tends to hold back.

As far as pages go, I'm on page twenty-four. I've been reading my story to Lon, my husband, day by day. He's chuckled at nearly every page and tells me I'm doing a good job. (After forty years of slightly tarnished wedded bliss, he's no dummy!)

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I'm looking forward to dinner and the Buddy Holly Show this evening. I trust the diversion will be a good thing.

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(I can honestly say that I haven't harmed a single "furlet" on Chris's head. Chris is my inanimate yet indisposal writing companion. That's him way up yonder, posing with my All-Star badge. In lieu of tearing my own hair out, I'm keeping him close by should I need something to yank. It's alright, really. Remember, he's not a real live critter. We had a couple of dogs in the past but...)

Have a great weekend, y'all!

Memories of New England in 2008

Last year in late September and early October, my friend-Lynn, treated me to ten days in New England.

I've decorated my home with framed photos and collages of the sights Lynn shared with me. Here they are.

Lynn and I grew up next door to each other from birth throughout our growing up years.

************Lynn, her husband-Ram, and I went on a twilight dinner cruise in Boston harbor on the Odyssey.

We dined at the popular east coast restaurant, Legal Seafood.

Lynn took me from Massachusetts all the way up to northern New Hampshire, into Maine, back to Massachusetts, into Rhode Island and finally to Boston.
***************The fall foliage was at its peak while we were amidst its beauty.

**************These sights were plentiful throughout New Hampshire.

We spent three days and three nights at the Grand Balsam's Resort in northern New Hampshire. It was indeed "grand."

********The Grand Balsam's Resort.

We bought a still-warm homemade pie at a stand in a front yard in Maine. We took it to Lynn and Ram's and enjoyed it for dessert that evening and breakfast the next.

If you're interested in reading about all of our adventures, please go to my Sunday, March 29th post, titled "Autumn in New England."

(My current NaNoWriMo word count is posted above the bright red and orange badge up yonder on the left side of my blog. I got in three writing sessions during the afternoon and evening on Tuesday, with breaks for a walk and to fix and eat dinner).

Some Of My Favorite Things

A tiny bit of this L'Oreal Cream Cleanser goes a long way. The cost is about $7 unless you're lucky enough to find it on sale. I love it because with just a little dab, I get a face full of bubbles.

**************This handmade soap is made in Oregon, IL, not far from here. I ordered several bars from their website recently. I use it as a body wash and I'm finding my skin doesn't dry out as it normally does.

It's made in more scents than you can shake a stick at and they're all available on their website http://www.oregonsoapshoppe.com/.

When I don't feel like going to the tanspa and I'm looking pale, I put this on before I go to bed at night. It works fast and is safer than tanning beds.

*************I've been wearing Victoria Secret's London Jeans forever and ever and I love the stretch fabrics. I have more than enough pairs of their stretch denim, corduroy, and chino jeans.

*************The Christie Fit Victoria Secret's jeans are very comfortable and the rise isn't too low or too high. Again the stretch fabric in these chinos makes them oh so comfortable.

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By the way, I wash all of my clothes with Woolite and in cold water. I dry them for a very short time, shake out any wrinkles, hang them up in the laundry room in the basement and turn on the dehumidifier. Colors don't fade and all my clothes stay like new much longer.

Lon and I love flavored coffee beans. Our latest favorites are these two.

I'll need a few bottles of this wine to get me through National Novel Writing Month. I prefer writing and drinking, barefoot.

I drink a glass of plain light soymilk every day. Milk made from soy beans sounds pretty awful but I like it. It's available in vanilla and chocolate as well as plain.

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I choose plain because it has fewer calories.







Baileys Irish Cream is great for dessert, or whenever; I don't know and don't want to know the calories in a serving of dessert, do you?

Do you want some delicious mashed potatoes that only take a few minutes in the microwave and they're ready to eat?

I know it's hard to believe they're good but trust me, in my opinion (not my son's) they're better than those I make.

Try them just once and see if you don't agree. When you don't have time or don't feel like making your own, these are a real treat.

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(If you're interested in my NaNoWriMo word count, look to the left, above the red and gold badge. I update it after every writing session.)

50.000 Words Or Bust

**************Some youthful writers participating in National Novel Writing Month jump out of bed and start writing at exactly midnight, the official start time. On second thought, I bet most probably don't even go to bed until after they've written for an hour, or two, or three.

I slept through the initial "go ahead and write" moment and stayed under the covers until after 8:00 am. I felt sluggish and not very excited about writing. When I finally did get up, I peeked in at my laptop. I procrastinated by making toast and pouring myself grapefruit juice and a tall glass of water. I lit a candle next to my laptop and ate my breakfast in the room where I'll be composing my bestseller.

I delayed a bit longer by taking time to make my bed and tidy up around the rest of the house. I jotted a couple of items on the grocery list and then realized it was time to sit my fanny down and write something, anything at this point.

'Twas 9:00 when I brought my hands to my laptop keyboard; I savored the warmth rising to greet my fingertips. I took a deep breath, cleared my mind and then let creative thoughts take control.

I didn't feel as carefree as I thought and hoped to be and my fingers did a good share of pausing and waiting during my first writing session. I suspect that's because my brain was uncooperative at delivering thoughts in word form to my fingertips. Between 9:00 and 10:25, I reached a word count of 1,147. I decided that was enough for the time being.

I felt like doing something else so I wandered to the basement and threw a load of clothes in the washer. I figured that I've got all day to write another 500 words and I'll have my daily quota fulfilled. It'd be nice to go over my quota and have a cushion to lean on during the upcoming week, but if not I'll be okay.

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I find it amazing that here I am, writing a post for my blog, when I should be adding words to my "novel." Perhaps writing for my blog is more my speed than writing a novel. Well, that's what I hope to find out today and during the next 29 days.

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So that's the situation on this chilly first day of November. Enjoy your day, and remember to breathe, that's most essential no matter what you do. (Wait a minute...where'd that come from?)

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If you want to follow my progress, I'll keep my current word count total above my bright red and gold NaNoWriMo badge over there on the left side of my blog.