The Obligatory Introductions Thread

Name: Josh
Age: 26
Occupation: graduate student at ND
Location: Mishawaka, IN
Favorite restaurant/cafe in the area: I really love Giannetto's and the Cambodian Eggroll. Granite City has a good brew or two. I'm cafeless at the moment, though - my favorite one was ripped away from me early this year. Sigh.
Hobbies: Board games. Video games. Writing when I can. Catching up on all the movies I've never seen but have always wanted to (yay Netflix).
What brought you to NaNoWriMo: I first heard about it through a LiveJournal friend back in 2006. Then heard about it on a different website. Then heard about it somewhere else. I decided it wasn't a coincidence.
Anything else you want to say: I'm really psyched for my fourth NaNoWriMo. I'm really excited to meet new novelers and veteran Wrimos. I hope to get to see you at a meet-up sometime this November!

Hello!

Name: Carrie J. Smith
Age: 34
Occupation: Freelance Writer/KOA escort. :-P
Location: Edwardsburg, Michigan
Favorite restaurant/cafe in the area: Hacienda. Especially when there are $10 pitchers of margaritas. I really like Mazatlan too. Yum. As for cafes...eh. Anywhere there is wifi. So I can distract myself from what I *should* be doing.
Hobbies: singing, dancing, writing, sinning, playing, hanging out with friends, drinking, gardening, hiking, camping
What brought you to nanowrimo: Amanda. Isn't she awesome?
Anything else you want to say:
This is my third year of nano, and I love my nano friends. I am really looking forward to hanging out again. My best friends have come from nano.

Can I still post in here even though I'm no longer really part of this region? Eh, whatever, no one's posted in my region yet and I miss you guys, so here you go.

Name: Aubrey
Age: 28
Occupation: Web developer
Location: I used to live in South Bend, but now I live on the coast of New Hampshire.
Favorite restaurant/cafe in the area: Cambodian Thai in downtown South Bend, the South Bend Chocolate Cafe, Mandarin House, Wings Etc... and, of course, Granite City, if only because Mishawaka Brewing closed down last December. Man, I miss those places...
Hobbies: Let's see. I knit, spin my own yarn, write (obviously), fold paper, work on my website, drink lots of beer, and hang out with the friends I'm making out here. Oh, and mess around on the internet, because I'm just that cool.
What brought you to NaNoWriMo: Let's see... I first attempted Nano in 2002 after a few people I knew were giving it a try, and I failed miserably. But, in 2003 I met a group of local writers in the city I lived in at the time, and from then on, I've tried every year. I've only won in 2003, 2006 (my first year in the South Bend region) and 2008, but I'm hoping to win again this year!
Anything else you want to say: Obviously, I miss you guys! And I'm still undecided as if I'm going to keep this region as my default this year or see if I should just make it NH. There is only one Nano region for this entire state, even though the state's bigger than you may think!

Aubrey
http://star-shaped.org

I am overcome with joy to see our clean, new forum pages...

Name: Barb

Age: 28?

Occupation: Mother. Wife. South Bend Tribune, copy editor. Although this spring I will once again lose my mind and go back to school for a second degree.

Location: It's a shameful secret. Somewhere in Mishawaka. But I know this heated garage that might be available if someone wants to sit somewhere isolated and lodge-like to get some non-distracted writing hours in.

Favorite restaurant/cafe: Cambodian Thai. OGs. Hacienda (yay margaritas). The Taj. There are probably others, but I don't get much of a chance to go out anymore.

Hobbies: I used to have some, but not so much anymore. Now I chase a toddler around and clean and clean and clean and clean and clean and...you get the idea. I do still read after the baby goes to bed. And I play Castle Age and other apps on Facebook. I haven't written much in almost a year and I'm starting to lose my mind...

What brought me to Nano: I don't remember. I think I was looking up writing contests and stuff on some search engine and stumbled across NaNo. That was in 2007, and even though it was already a week into November, I signed up and got started.

Anything else?: Yeah, my dad, husband and one of my best friends should all be participating this year. Sure, they told me that last year, too, but I intend to flog some folks if they don't follow through this year. Bring on the stickers and over-sugary caffeine!

"The system gives you just enough to make you think that you see change. Then it sings you right to sleep and screws you just the same." - Ani DiFranco

Hey Aubrey.

I say, if you can't find a write-in there, you should come back for a visit and keep us as your default. But you should drop in on the discussions from time to time either way!

"The system gives you just enough to make you think that you see change. Then it sings you right to sleep and screws you just the same." - Ani DiFranco

Name: Sarah

Age: 19, but will be 20 the day that NaNoWriMo starts.

Occupation: Sophomore at Saint Mary's/Cashier + Service Clerk at Martin's Supermarket

Location: South Bend, IN

Favorite restaurant/cafe in the area: My favorite cafe is sadly no longer open. It was Roseland Cafe. Otherwise I love Trios, Nicks Patio, McDonald's, Hacienda, and the South Bend Chocolate Company.

Hobbies: I knit, sew, crochet, do cross stitch, compose music on the piano, play drums/piano/baritone/trombone, and write.

What brought you to NaNoWriMo: I belong to an rp site that supports NaNoWriMo, so they pretty much got me interested.

Anything else you want to say: I am obsessed with music, which led to me getting a tattoo of a bass clef and treble clef forming a heart on my left arm and I am a major band geek if you could not tell. >w>

I am in ur bafroom, stilling ur charmins. o:

Hi!!

Name: Quinn
Age: 17
Occupation: homeschooled high school student
Location: South Bend
Favorite restaurant/cafe in the area: the Chocolate Cafe :D
Hobbies: writing (of course), reading, chess, traveling, playing the piano rather badly, knitting, cooking, taekwondo
What brought you to NaNoWriMo: Finding No Plot? No Problem! at the bookstore while looking at writing books
Anything else you want to say: Don't know if I'll be able to come to any write-ins but I'm sooo excited that other people in the area are doing NaNo! :)

"When writing a novel, that's pretty much entirely what life turns into: 'House burned down. Car stolen. Cat exploded. Did 1500 easy words, so all in all it was a pretty good day.'"
-- Neil Gaiman

I'm super excited to see that other people compulsively stalk the forum so early. Nice to meet you.
Name: Laura
Age: 23
Occupation: Grad student at ND
Favorite restaurant/cafe: I moved here about a month ago and am in desperate need of restaurant recommendations. Haven't had much luck so far.
Hobbies: cooking, painting, mad science
What brought you to Nanowrimo: I honestly don't remember. I think I may've seen an article somewhere.
Anything else you want to say: I've done Nano for six years but this is the first time there's been anyone in my region. I'm pumped for the write-ins (and willing to help, if you need anything)!

Name: Lexa

Age: 17 (18 in 21 days)

Occupation: Homeschool high school student (WHOO! There's another one!)

Location: Mishawaka, IN XD

Favorite restaurant/cafe in the area: Um... I use to love Don Poblos... but it closed now. Seems all my favorite restaurants closed! *grumbles* Anyway at the moment I really like... That other mexican restaurant we have. That we only have two of ;)

Hobbies: WRITING! Video games, just got back into reading a lot, trying to get inspiration for my novel this year to make it EPIC!

What brought you to NaNoWriMo: Was reading the boards two years ago on Neopets (sad huh?) and it was about two weeks into it, and I only wrote 2,000 words... I kept restarting. So last year I made a deal with my dad that I got school off if I wrote a novel in November. I'm working on the same deal this year too ^^

Anything else you want to say: AWESOME! Local writers are so cool! I can't wait, hopefully I can come to the thing on the 25th at B&N with my other two writing friends :) LONG LIVE NANO!!

2007: Lonely Nomad (2k) Fail
2008: Wolf Princess (56k) Win!
2009: The Doorway (?) ?

Name: Jessica
Age: 31
Occupation: Mommy
Location: Granger, IN
Favorite restaurant/cafe in the area: New to the area, so I'm still exploring. Can't go wrong with the Chocolate Cafe though! Chocolate and coffee...
Hobbies: Of course, writing. And reading, although that seems a given. Cooking. Board games with the kids. Traveling.
What brought you to NaNoWriMo: I was between projects and having trouble getting started on a new WIP. A friend told me about NaNo and encouraged me (read: double-dog-dared me) to give it a try. This will be my third and I only get more excited each year!
Anything else you want to say: Although it doesn't say so up in the header yet, I'm the other ML for the area. I've just moved from Edinburgh, Scotland, where I was a ML last year. I'm really excited to meet other writers around here!

Name: Helen
Age: I won't specify, but I am young enough to have an account on the YWP program
Occupation: Student in Penn-Harris-Madison
Location: Granger, IN
Favorite restaurant/cafe in the area: Culver's
Hobbies: Marching Band, Drawing, Art...
What brought you to NaNoWriMo: A need for competition.
Anything else you want to say: Beware: I am a band geek:)

Hi, I'm Briana. I'm a senior at Notre Dame. This is my fourth year actually writing, though my first year was in 2004. I'm 21, and a Spanish major, but I think I might study primates in grad school? I don't get out of the Notre Dame bubble enough to have a favorite restaurant or cafe, but I enjoy Panera. My hobbies consist of writing, singing, watching movies, and reading. I first discovered NaNo through a friend. I found out about it on day 2, so was already behind, which became a problem, but it was so much fun.
I can't wait to start writing!

Name: Ashley (spelled Ashli)

Age: 17

Occupation: Highschool Seinor

Location: Berrien Springs

Favorite restaurant/cafe in the area: Ihop, Starbucks, Bob Evans, wherever works.

Hobbies: Writing, Singing, Acting, Drawing, Hanging out with freinds, trying to get through these last few months without a complete breakdown.

What brought you to NaNoWriMo: The fact that I love to write

Anything else you want to say: Well I was apart of this last year, and I won, though I didn't finish one book I had many strung togehter. I love the fact that I can come in here and not have a plot line set up and just go wherever my mind takes me. I don't have to stick with the story line. Most of my work has been rather depressing lately. My boyfreind whom I love very much joined the army after we had only been dating for three months. In fact it will be one year that we are together on November 13. He left for boot camp in June, right after school got out, and I wont be able to see him again until December for Christmas. So my writing has been on the depressive morbid side of reality. Just as a heads up.

I need a hero

Since we are technically two, we'll each post separately. Yes, we know that you're supposed to be one person for NaNo: technically Xae does all the writing and Heidi does dictation/editing whenever Xae needs it, so it's more a matter of giving credit where it is due.

Name: Xae/Heidi
Age: 27/???
Occupation: Renaissance woman/teacher
Location: Xae's house
Favorite restaurant ore cafe: Sweet Moon Tea House/Main Street Cafe
Hobbies: sewing, video games/knitting, reading, needlepoint, latch hook
What brought you to NaNo: Amandalicious/Xae
Anything else you want to say: Well, you can't really hear what we SAY, can you? Just type. Sucks for you.

Name: Bek
Age: 31

Occupation: Full time, I work for a state environmental agency that shall remain nameless. Part time, I too am a copy editor at the Trib (hi, Barb!).

Location: South Bend, Indiana

Favorite restaurant/cafe in the area: Mindy's (downtown South Bend, on LaSalle across from Burger King, great food at ridiculously low prices); Mandarin House; Siam Thai (downtown South Bend); Chipotle; Chocolate Cafe (specifically for their hot chocolate)

Hobbies: Reading, playing on Facebook, writing, playing with my dogs (seriously, people, I pretty much spend all my time working)

What brought you to NaNoWriMo: I think a friend was doing it back in 2005, so I jumped on the bandwagon. Won in 2005. Tried to participate in 2006 but failed because a) I was in the process of separating from The Ex and didn't really have a stable home/stable computer to do any writing and b) I got really sick the third week of November and sleep took priority. Didn't bother participating in 2007 because the divorce wasn't final, so I still didn't have the necessary stable home/stable computer combo. Tried to participate in 2008, but realized that while I had achieved a stable home, my 8-year-old computer was capable of dying at any point in time, and I spent the majority of November dealing with viruses. I now have a new computer and a stable home, so there's no fucking reason for me to not participate and kick ass this year.

Anything else you want to say: I'm kinda anti-social in real life, so forgive me if I lurk in the forums but don't come to any events. I really do love you all, honest.

Name: Amanda (The Awesome and the Licious, apparently)
Age: 29
Occupation: Freelance writer for Flagship publications. I also work in the financial department of a psychiatric hospital to pay the bills. Ideas abound, there.
Location: Elkhart
Favorite restaurant/cafe in the area: Restaurants; BWW, Kings Garden Buffet, uhh..... taco bell? Cafes; Bear Creek, the now-dead Bella Vita, Indulgence
Hobbies: The usual hanging with friends, spending time with family, blah, blah, snore. Writing, of course. Reading, watching awesome shows on t.v. (the awesome ones, not the stupid ones!), working the metaphysical mojo and dancing!
What brought you to NaNoWriMo: Miranda! Who's in Evansville and not on this forum
Anything else you want to say: I talk enough as it is; you'll all see that in person later!

Hi Bek!

So you're totally addicted to Facebook too, huh? My dragon-slaying skills are going to suffer next month, I fear.

"The system gives you just enough to make you think that you see change. Then it sings you right to sleep and screws you just the same." - Ani DiFranco

Name: Meredith
Age: 30
Occupation: Radiographer/mommy
Location: South Bend
Favorite restaurant/cafe in the area: Hacienda
Hobbies: Reading, writing, playing with the kids, Facebook, DDO
What brought you to NaNoWriMo: I need a kick in the rear to start writing again and to finally write the novel that I keep talking about writing. My best friend has been doing this since 2002, so I decided to try it this year. (Yes I'm a first year).
Anything else you want to say: I've got three kids and work a lot, so I doubt that I'll be at any of the events (time will tell what I'm available for). Good luck to everyone!

Name: Leslie
Age: high school age
Occupation: student
Resturant in the area: Stake 'n Shake (anywhere)
Hobbies: writing, reading, acting, singing
What brought me here: Well I need a good kick in the tush. I hardly ever finnish what I start. With your support I bet I can do it.

Name: John II / WraithShade
Age: 29
Occupation: C#/ASP.NET Developer (Web and Windows Applications), PowerSchool Modifcations, and lots of other geeky sounding stuff.
Location: Elkhart, IN
Favorite restaurant/cafe in the area: Don't really have one yet. Wherever my friends are, really.
Hobbies: Gaming, Reading, Programming
What brought you to NaNoWriMo: Combination of Amanda (Wife) and Xae (Best Friend), plus the awesomeness of the group from the last couple of years (Josh, Aubrey, Nicole, Chantel/Tomas, etc).
Anything else you want to say: Here's to hoping that this is the year that I finally get to write down the story that's been running through my head.

Hi!

I'm Tomas, and I miss y'all. Let's hope the people in my new region are half as cool as the ND/SB/Mish/Elkhart crowd!

2005 - Under the Roses
2006 - The Freshman Fifteen
2007 - Pinwheel

2009 - Little: An Interstellar Operetta

Barb, I fail at Facebook, because I can't find you. :)

My name is Gabe. Graduating law school and joining the Navy took me away from this awesome region and the incredible people in it. Aubrey and I are getting together to form the New England chapter of Mishawaka Novelists in Exile. I'm excited for another month of noveling but sad that I won't be doing it with you folks.

Best of luck and take care!

Oh, I forgot to mention: I am going to be passing through town in the dead of night this coming Sunday. If anyone wants to get together briefly, keep in touch on Facebook and we can maybe make something happen.

Don't feel bad, so do I. My link: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000257598887

"The system gives you just enough to make you think that you see change. Then it sings you right to sleep and screws you just the same." - Ani DiFranco

Hi Gabe!

That's so sad you've left...that's almost everyone I knew from BrewCo last year.

"The system gives you just enough to make you think that you see change. Then it sings you right to sleep and screws you just the same." - Ani DiFranco

Name: On the forums, Jade
Age: LEGAL WOOT WOOT
Occupation: student. Hopefully of the permanent variety.
Location: ND
Favorite restaurant/cafe in the area: uuuuuuh I am going to go for the cliche and say Fiddler's Hearth
Hobbies: NaNo? Watching wistfully as my last year slowly drains away?
What brought you to NaNoWriMo: People reminding me that it was going on.
Anything else you want to say: I'M BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACK and will probably not be hitting 80,000 this year.

going through everyone else...
TOMAS AND AUBREY AND GABE I MISS Y'ALL.

NaNo 2006 winner
NaNo 2007 failure, due to the flu
NaNo 2008 winner, due to lack of internet

Aubrey - Of course you can still post here! You will always be a member of this region! NaNo wouldn't be the same without you :)

Gabe - Wow! I didn't know you joined the Navy. I am way out of the loop. Congrats :)

Tomas - It is SERIOUSLY hard being the same person with you when you are not living in the area. However, this means I should be able to make it to more meetings!

I miss you guys!

Nano '07 Milk and Mayhem
Nano '06 Them

Name: Chantel

Age: OLD / a.k.a. 38

Occupation: I poke people in the eyes all day long. It's fun.

Location: Osceola, IN

Favorite restaurant/cafe in the area: Yesterday's, Granite City, Indulgence. (No more BellaVita. Life is sad.)

Hobbies: it seems lately I'm too busy for hobbies but when I can I write (of course), read, swim, knit, kick butt in board games (ok, so my opponents are children), lose at video games (to the same children), watch movies, and hang out with friends.

What brought you to NaNoWriMo: My friend Nikaya (a superb writer who leaves me in the dust) mentioned it several years ago. My first reaction was "in November? No way!" And then the next year, there I was shirking all of my responsibilities while frantically typing away.

Anything else you want to say: Because of scheduling I did not participate last year and I missed it! I missed the writing but most of all I missed getting together with everyone. This year I really don't care if the house falls down around my ears. I need NaNo!

Nano '07 Milk and Mayhem
Nano '06 Them

And NaNo needs you! Yay!