...and the living is easy?

Thought I should probably update this because it's not January anymore.

I finished a short story before the end of the semester!
It's not great, and I haven't decided whether or not to post it. It needs work. Eh. I'll think about it.
I'm not currently working on anything, which is way lame. I've been thinking about writing a lot...just haven't actually done any since...like...mid-May. Sigh. Not so much as a lousy love-hate poem.

On a side note, I wish I was Russian. Then maybe I would be able to appreciate cold weather. And good vodka.

Just...thought I'd put that out there. It really has nothing to do with anything whatsoever.

Hopefully sometime soon I'll remember that I don't want to live in a box and do something with my life.

It's the dead of January here in Siberia...
By Siberia, I clearly mean South West Ohio.
Actually, it hasn't been as bad this week as it was last week when wind chill factors put us down to -20 on the coldest day. Being from the swamp that is our nation's capital, I'm not quite used to it being THAT cold. I mean, it gets pretty cold in the DC Metro area, but not quite sub-zero.
Anyways, I have written a few things that I'd like to post, I just haven't gotten around to it yet. I'm lazy. And busy. But I'll get around to it.

Event of note recently is, of course, the inauguration of the 44th president. One of the piece's I've written is actually about it, though it was an assignment for my ENG 226 (Intro to Creative Writing) class. Which I am actually enjoying. It's the first time I've had a class where the entire point is to write. The prof is pretty cool too.... He's English and (I am not lying or even stretching the truth here) wears a kilt to class every day.

It's shaping up to be an interesting semester. I'm just keeping my fingers crossed that that pesky groundhog doesn't see his shadow come February and we get an early spring. I'm not sure if I can tolerate the Midwestern Winter for six extra weeks....

PS - I definitely failed at NaNoWriMo this year...November turned out to be incredibly stressful without the added stress of rebellious characters doing things I didn't want them to do. I may try again next year though... Although I'd like to know who picked November?? What a dumb month to try and write a novel!
...Okay, maybe I'm just bitter about not winning...maybe just a little...

So today I officially registered for NaNoWriMo....
National Novel Writing Month, that is! I found out about it last year on about the 15th of November, so it was a no go for then, but I decided that I'm going to give it a try this year.

I won't lie, I'm pretty much scared to death at the idea of writing 50,000 words by the end of November. 50,000! That's CRAZY. That's more words than I can even begin to think about. In a month! I have 30 days to churn out a rough draft of a novel. And you all know that I never finish anything...it's really daunting, but I really want to do it. And I think I can make myself. For the month of November, I will be the "little author that could"

...I think I can, I think I can...

Will it be posted here?? Uhh, well at 50k words, I hardly think so. But maybe in small parts.
I guess that means I should say what exactly it is that I'm going to be writing! I decided to do the Paris story. I figured out recently how to begin it, and a friend of mine here at Miami really wants to know how it's going to turn out.

Ah! I think I'm crazy. Do you think I'm crazy? No, there's no question. I'm crazy. But it will be SO COOL if I "win" NaNoWriMo (aka, write the dreaded 50,000 words by the end of November). We shall see....

Wish me luck!

I've just gotten back from the Bahamas and am happy to say that it was a very productive trip, creative wise. I'm working on a story that combines my recent mermaid obsession with real events from the trip. Look for it soon. (Hopefully...)
PLUS I did some photography. Now, I really know nothing about photography or cameras, but my dad's sort of an amateur photographer and he has a nice Nikon D40 that I got some lucky shots with.


Also, I got TAN or at least as tan as I usually get.
And, since I spent pretty much the whole week on a boat or in the water, I am still rocking. My poor inner ear is so confused.

Play List for the Week
One Love/People Get Ready
Jamming
Get Up, Stand Up
No Woman, No Cry
Buffalo Soldier
Three Little Birds
...
all by Bob Marley. Every day of the trip. I think I'm reggae'd out for the next little while

one love...one heart...let's get together and feel alright

I don't know how,
but i know something's starting right now
watch and you'll see
someday i'll be
part of that world

...

i am completely obsessed with Disney's The Little Mermaid on Broadway. I've been listening to the soundtrack all day.
If you are in NYC in the near future. SEE IT. it is visually gorgeous, and the music is, of course, fab-u-lous.

if i am ever on broadway, i will be Ariel.

sigh.

"why yes, i am a Disney princess, thanks for asking!"