Saipan is a small place, but I'm sure each of us has a much richer, deeper life that others may not know about. So please introduce yourself--with a short ordinary bit, and then add something unusual that we're not likely to know.
I'm Saipanwriter, your ML. I'll be celebrating 25 years on Saipan during this year's NaNoWrimo. Most of my adult life has been in the legal profession. And I have a drama queen daughter. Lesser known facts--I grew up on a small farm in Ohio, nearly cut off my foot when I was 3 by tripping over a scythe ( still have the scar), and went white-water rafting on the Cheat River as a young adult. :-)
Your turn!
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Saipanwriter
http://saipanwriter.blogspot.com
37,305 / 50,000
Oct 8, 2009 - 04 46
I'll be celebrating 4 months on Saipan during nanowrimo, so still a relative newbie! I live here with my husband (currently on a month long trip to the States - boo) and 3 year old daughter/mermaid/princess/crocodile, depending on today's Halloween costume choice. I teach upper elementary and have managed to rope my students into joining me in nanaowrimo. I think they're just glad they don't have to write 50,000 words!
The unusual... I used to play the clarinet, the tenor saxaphone and the piano. I like sardines on toast, but can longer eat normal toast (wheat sensitivity). I have a strange longing for lavendar scented drawer liners (all my clothes smell weird) and my day is not complete without at least two cups of tea.
46,259 / 50,000
Oct 8, 2009 - 19 37
...
Welcome to Saipan and to ELSEWHERE::MICRONESIA.
I encourage you to head over to the Young Writers Program and sign up as a teacher there. You'll get a great supply kit that includes a classroom progress chart and some stickers to hand out to your students. (I also have stickers to share.) Your kids can sign up there, also. It's for kids up through age 17; kids must be 13 or older to sign up on the regular NaNoWriMo site.
I think we'll be having a group of 4th graders at Kagman novelling also. Perhaps classroom word wars would be good!
Saipanwriter
----------http://saipanwriter.blogspot.com
Saipanwriter
http://saipanwriter.blogspot.com
43,734 / 50,000
Oct 8, 2009 - 23 42
I've been living on Guam for about a year and a half now, and last year was the first time I'd heard of NaNoWriMo - I didn't complete it last year, though I did participate. I'm hoping to actually make the timeline completion this year!
A little background info - I served 8 years active duty in the Air Force, but have been a civilian for close to 3 years now. My husband is still active (which is why we're lucky enough to be living on Guam at the moment). I love to read and write fiction - but my downfall is a short attention span and the tendency to procrastinate. The end result is I have about 7 stories started and paused (and who knows how many others completely abandoned), and with November creeping up, it'll be another one added to that count :-) - though hopefully I make it to a finish this time!
46,259 / 50,000
Oct 11, 2009 - 00 27
Sea Phoenix, I'm glad you're here in the forums. Keeping in touch will help you stay focused. I'm busy too, and if it weren't for NaNoWriMo, I'd get very little writing done. But I know about those unfinished writing projects. I've got some, too. Hope you can make it to Saipan for an in-person write-in. Not sure I'll get to Guam--but if you have a writing buddy there and want to have an "official" write-in, let me know. I'll post it on the calendar and send you some "swag" (which is stickers).
----------Saipanwriter
http://saipanwriter.blogspot.com
43,734 / 50,000
Oct 12, 2009 - 13 32
I wish I could make it over to Saipan for the write-in - but, it's highly unlikely. So far I only know of one other person in Guam who's participating this year - so not sure if a two person group would count as a write-in?
46,259 / 50,000
Oct 12, 2009 - 14 54
Yes, it would. You can even have a 1 person write-in if it's open to others who might want to come.
----------Saipanwriter
http://saipanwriter.blogspot.com
43,734 / 50,000
Oct 12, 2009 - 17 46
How awesome! I'll have to get with the other guy and see about finding a good location to designate for a write-in :-)
67,044 / 50,000
Oct 13, 2009 - 08 07
Just thought I'd comment on how good it is to see these regions post again. I thought everything was dead in the NaNo World until visiting the forums some time ago, where I caught an occasional post by Saipan Writer.
Here you're sharing something of yourselves. I thought I'd include the fact that I'm a guy, who wrote a romance last year, but feel as awkward as a wrestler dancing ballet doing it.
For a clue on how to describe my leading female character for last year's novel, I went with my wife to Rose, who owns her own hairstyling business. Working there are ladies far too young for someone like me (were I single) but who all have such fantastic hair.
Matching what I had in mind was a large photo of a woman with dark eyes and great dark hair. Rose gave me the description of her hair in hairstylers' language. So the first time my male character sees his future love, (she has a doctorate in archaeology and is interested in him for reasons he can't imagine) he notices her "dark shoulder-length hair was a long-layered cut with swept-over bangs." I cound never come up with that on my own. I'm a guy.
After November I will drop in on your sites to see what people wrote about.
NaNoPerk
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Oct 13, 2009 - 14 49
Thanks for dropping by from Maryland, Nanoperk. Just fyi--we're having blisteringly hot weather--the heat index is at 95degrees F for the past few days. No autumnal season here!
----------Saipanwriter
http://saipanwriter.blogspot.com
337 / 50,000
Oct 24, 2009 - 04 42
Hello all! I am really excited to have found a group from our region! I am T_Tell. I am 17. Reside on Guam, born and raised, with the exception of two years on Tinian. Currently attending Senior Year at Father Duenas Memorial High School. This is my first time on NaNoWriMo, and surprisingly came to join because of a friend I speak with frequently in Missouri. I hope I can overcome my habit of procrastinating.
Something you don't know...hmm... I aspire to become a computer programmer and around this time last year I attended a conference in D.C. called National Youth Leadership Forum, where high school students learn about government, more specifically with National Security and how strategies are made. I focused my entire experience around the Intelligence aspect of National Security and I am aiming for the C.I.A. student program for college; or the NSA because I have experience in their line of work. However, that is all the information I can divulge for the time being, I don't want any of you being red flagged by the federal government. LOL.
Less than a week until the fun begins!
T_Tell
0 / 50,000
Oct 24, 2009 - 21 58
Welcome everyone! I know how hard this is going to be, keeping motivated and all, but it can be done! I wrote more last year than I have ever written in my life. My goal is to write even more this year!
I was born and raised in Indiana. Came to Saipan 8 years ago with my son. Been teaching here every since. Last year my fourth graders got involved in NaNoWriMo. Some of them actually loved it so much that they talked their new teacher into doing it with their new homeroom this year! This years class is a little ahead of last years class in the prep work, and some seem to be enjoying it.
Something you may not know is I used to play a string bass in the school orchestra. I even made it to All-State Orchestra, third chair, one year.
Good Luck and Happy Writing Everyone!
43,734 / 50,000
Oct 25, 2009 - 07 39
Yay! Someone else from Guam!! Counting you and myself, and my buddy who has yet to log in this year, that I know of - that brings Guam's count up to 3! Wooo!
Sounds like some awesome future career planning... I knew an airmen in my old career field (back in my earlier Air Force days 2001-2002ish time frame) who got picked up for NSA work... pure genius with the computers - had the rest of us computer folk looking like idiots lol... on a personal level, he was a complete jerk - but a genius, all the same. :-) That's definitely some important work to get in to, though. Good luck with your goal planning - with the right focus, dedication, and training, I'm sure you'll get to where you want to go! :-)
Something you don't know...hmm... I aspire to become a computer programmer and around this time last year I attended a conference in D.C. called National Youth Leadership Forum, where high school students learn about government, more specifically with National Security and how strategies are made. I focused my entire experience around the Intelligence aspect of National Security and I am aiming for the C.I.A. student program for college; or the NSA because I have experience in their line of work. However, that is all the information I can divulge for the time being, I don't want any of you being red flagged by the federal government. LOL.
Less than a week until the fun begins!
T_Tell
46,259 / 50,000
Oct 25, 2009 - 16 58
Welcome T_Tell and Wheatfielda (Angie). So glad to see you both here.
SeaPhoenix--Guam seems to be coming alive!! So I'd like to deputize you to help me. Send me a nanomail with your mailing address, and I'll send some "swag" to share over there.
Liss and Angie-don't forget the Kick-off Party on 10/30-starting 6-ish at Oleai Beach Bar & Grill.
----------Saipanwriter
http://saipanwriter.blogspot.com
1,762 / 50,000
Oct 30, 2009 - 21 56
Hey everyone! Nice to see so many faces (well...usernames XD) on here!
I'm Wheaty, and I'm wheatfielda's 17 (soon to be 18 ^w^) year-old son. I've been on Saipan for 8 years, and I've been rushing through school and everything else. I'm big on acting, and I love technology (since I just got this new laptop-YAY!). I grew up in Indiana, and I moved here when I was only 9 years old (and I hated the flights XD).
Hopefully I'll get to meet you guys ('cept you two in Guam; hope your NaNoWriMo experience is filled with fun!) during the various write-ins that Saipanwriter will be holding, and I hope that everyone has a great NaNoWriMo!
----------~Wheaty The Thespian~
Student, actor, and an all-around randomly fun person
46,259 / 50,000
Oct 31, 2009 - 21 37
Welcome wheaty2008! Good to see you in the forums. Happy writing.
----------Saipanwriter
http://saipanwriter.blogspot.com
88,173 / 50,000
Nov 4, 2009 - 02 32
Hey everyone ... I'm coming late to the party. :)
My name is Leo, I live on Guam, in Hagatna. I'm married with six kids, and a blogger by profession (http://zenhabits.net and http://mnmlist.com for example).
This is my second Nano. I completed it successfully in 2006, though the novel was complete crap -- it was fun.
I'm off to a good start 14K in 4 days. I'd love to hit 100K if possible, and get the novel close to being done.
I just set my home region to Micronesia, so we'll see if that helps our wordcount and donation totals. I had selected the region earlier but didn't realize I had to set it to "home".
Anyway, nice to (virtually) meet everyone!
(Oh, btw, I have a niece who is participating, also here on Guam.)
46,259 / 50,000
Nov 4, 2009 - 03 11
Hi, Leo. Nice to have you on board, and for a "late start" you've really racking up word count!
I blog, too--under the original name of saipanwriter-I know, how boring. This is my 5th year doing nanowrimo and it is reallly fun.
Guam seems to be coming alive!
If you Guamanians would like to schedule a write-in, just let me know. I'll add it to the official calendar of events. And I'm willing to send "official swag" (which is just stickers, but cool), if you want. Just nanomail me an address.
----------Saipanwriter
http://saipanwriter.blogspot.com
43,734 / 50,000
Nov 4, 2009 - 12 37
Yay for more Guam folks!! Roott signed up too (he's the buddy I've mentioned before)... I started late - but have not done nearly so impressive a job as the poster above! Just started writing tonight (at the end of day 4/beginning of day 5, and have about 3400 words... But - If I keep this pace up for a bit, I should eventually be caught up (hopefully!).
If anyone on Guam knows of a good write-in location (preferably with caffeine I.V. drips) that would be awesome (I don't really go off base a lot apart from beach trips or hiking, or the geek out game nights with buds once a week lol)....
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Nov 4, 2009 - 23 11
having recently been rendered semi-unemployed, i decided on a whim last night to start... and also successfully roped in a stateside friend (100% unemployed) this morning.
i've been on guam for a little over a year now, and am hoping to put my underemployment to productive use. those decoupage projects just aren't gonna cut it.
B)
happily living with roosters and a very uncooperative feral cat in central guam, but perhaps sometime this month i might head down south to get some quiet(er) time.
the goal for this year is to get the thing done, but maybe next year my chamoru will be good enough to write at least 25% in my language... or at least incorporate a pidgin a la lois yamanaka.
as for my screen name, i realize now it was perhaps not the most prudent choice, but "writingwhiledrawingonyearsofcollectiveunderemploymentexperience" didn't fit the space. you can call me lmd.
46,259 / 50,000
Nov 4, 2009 - 23 52
Yeah. Saw your name and thought wt... !!! : - )
Glad you realize it's a bit imprudent. Especially here in the regional forum, which is an all-ages forum with some kids as young as 13 hanging around occasionally. But next year, fresh start, new name if you want...
Hope you enjoy the sound of roosters (I love mid-Guam, where you can go up really high and still here the roosters, along with the waves), and that your free time lets you write a great novel.
----------Saipanwriter
http://saipanwriter.blogspot.com
3,379 / 50,000
Nov 5, 2009 - 02 30
I am Roott, Sea Phoenix's friend. This is my first NaNoWriMo but i have wanted to do it for awhile. We do need to do a write in with everyone. I was thinking the bookstore at GPO. They have coffee and chairs. Email me if you are interested.
46,259 / 50,000
Nov 5, 2009 - 02 38
Just let me know when (name of book store, street name or village) and date and time, and I'll add it to the regional calendar. Yay--write ins in more than one place in Micronesia.
totally nano wonderful.
----------Saipanwriter
http://saipanwriter.blogspot.com
43,734 / 50,000
Nov 5, 2009 - 08 04
I feel completely brain dead for having forgotten all about the GPO bookstore!
Hmmm... Must plot on this... do I scheme for a new laptop, or show up with pencil and paper.... decisions decisions...
43,062 / 50,000
Nov 6, 2009 - 00 31
Hi everyone--
I'm kind of late joining the region train-- I guess it totally slipped my mind. Anyway, I've dumped my meager portion of words into our total. I've just moved back to Guam after living in Japan for a while, and now that I am
unemployedafforded with the luxury of glorious free time, I decided give NaNoWriMo a shot this year. It's great to see this many people involved!When I'm not furiously typing away at my laptop, I like to make clothes, and I'm slowly amassing a giant collection of Copic markers. All of these activities are usually done while drinking Earl Grey Soy Lattes.
Good Luck to everyone!
46,259 / 50,000
Nov 6, 2009 - 02 04
Welcome. It's only day 6--not late at all. And 12,000 words is not meager by a long stretch. Glad to have you with us, even if you do drink soy lattes!
: - )
Now what are Copic markers?
----------Saipanwriter
http://saipanwriter.blogspot.com
43,734 / 50,000
Nov 6, 2009 - 02 59
You should try the lattes with almond milk - very tasty! :-) My husband likes his with rice milk (he's lactose intolerant) - but I find the almond milk is more flavorful and a little thicker/denser than the rice milk is :-)
3,842 / 50,000
Nov 6, 2009 - 03 56
Hola Amigos!
I'm Maddie and I'm living on Guam, so I'm happy to join in on the lone Guam writers! I've been on Guam since February this year and am loving it. I'm 100 percent a Colorado native, so I'm sure all of you can see how big of a difference it is for me to be living on an island. Last February I left in a blizzard, almost didn't think I would get out of DIA! Now you can find me teaching English and P.E. at a private school, and freelance designing and writing. :)
This is my first year actually writing for nanowrimo. I have volunteered for write ins during previous years as I worked as a writing tutor and at a coffee shop, both of which provided me the opportunities. 50,000 words seemed like a lot to me then, but now I feel like I will take a stab. I'm aiming smaller and to probably finish in December, but I'm making an effort (although I started three days late) and really enjoying the ride. It is great to see others loving this, too!
The story I am writing is going in a direction I never thought it would: Children's Literature. Must be the fact that I have been hanging out with a bunch of kiddos and am freelance writing for a children's book web site. Imagine C.S. Lewis filled with influences of Native American/Latino culture!
I probably won't make it up to Saipan; I spent a good amount of money to go down to Palau for Thanksgiving instead (woops!), but I look forward to keeping each other motivated online!
Happy writing, ya'all!
Maddie
43,062 / 50,000
Nov 6, 2009 - 04 05
SeaPhoenix: Hehe- I actually use almond milk for cereal. I usually just go for soy at a coffee shop because they usually don't have anything else that isn't dairy...
Saipanwriter: Copics (www.copicmarker.com) are gorgeous alcohol based markers that come in every color under the sun. They're a bit expensive, and they aren't archival, but they're great for any kind of drawing or sketching. Once you start getting them it gets kind of ridiculous because you want to collect all 300+ of them (~_~);;;; I'm at about 80, and probably going to buy more when I head to Japan next month for a visit.
43,734 / 50,000
Nov 6, 2009 - 05 46
Oooh! Colorado, huh? I'm from Florida - however my husband is from Colorado - the Aurora/Denver area :-) He's getting ready to go back there to visit this month (we figured he might as well since the Air Force is sending him stateside for classes anyway lol).
The markers sound awesome - If I were such a chicken with my art stuff I'd want to play with them... but, I'm still working with prismacolor water color pencils and whatnot :-)
48,594 / 50,000
Nov 6, 2009 - 06 19
Hi all! I guess I'm another Guam guy. It's great to see so many people from the region taking part in this. It's my first time and I'm really jazzed about it.
I'm sure I'm not the only one who's ever tried to write long form before without ever finishing. I'm getting a sense that these 30 days are going to have a more productive outcome. Of course, I'm a few days behind because, well, I forgot.
Still, I'm hoping to catch up this weekend. I have to catch up on the five days I missed, but I think sheer enthusiasm will at least get me to 13,300 words by Monday. Just have to keep moving that cursor to the right.
Happy writing, fellow islanders!