There's this pretty myth that ordinary life stops for NaNoWriMo. The reality is that every Wrimo still has to work a job, keep house, or go to school (or all three, if the gods have it in for you), prepare and eat meals, and maintain a certain level of personal hygiene, all while writing a novel.
The good news is that most of us still manage to write a novel while juggling ordinary life. The bad news is that some people have to participate in NaNoWriMo while dealing with *extra*ordinary life. I know of one local Wrimo, for example, who's chaperoning a group of fifth-graders on a week-long camping trip this month.
So what conflicts do you have that would make a saner person decide not to write this month? Anyone moving across the country, having major surgery or a baby, or conducting Wagner's Ring Cycle during November?
My conflicts are a bunch of small things that add up. My younger daughter is a Lost Boy in the SCAPA production of "Peter Pan", which involves getting her to the Opera House at various awkward times, not an easy feat when you don't have a car. And of course we have to attend the play, as well, which is the same weekend that my older girl has her 13th birthday. She wants a hafla, a middle eastern feast, for her party, so I have to help my True Love cook, paint henna on six pairs of little hands (and my own), make harem garb for a vintage doll and camel tack for a Webkinz camel that will be the centerpiece on the table, and learn to play the doumbek, while getting previously-mentioned youngest to the cast party and home again. Then the older girl has an orchestra concert two days later.
But some of you have horror stories wayyy better than mine, so tell us!
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OK, Freddi! Full speed ahead!
39,008 / 50,000
Nov 5, 2009 - 08 03
Hey, all! I'm the Wrimo chaperoning 5th graders. And while I've cut the trip from a week to three days, part of me still thinks I'm nuts. My daughter also turns 13 this month, and for her birthday her grandma, aunt and I are taking her to Cincinnati to see the art museum, staying in a down town hotel, and going to IKEA the next day. I also decided to host the family Thanksgiving dinner this year. I'll be feeding at least 15 people. I love the cooking part of Thanksgiving, it's the cleaning part I have trouble with. That more than almost anything else if freaking me out about this month.
Other than that (barring any more ER trips) life should be fairly normal this November.
What's a doumbek?
----------50,191 / 50,000
Nov 5, 2009 - 09 07
It's a kind of hand-drum.
Stet, I can teach you the basic bellady (okay, probaby just slaughtered the spelling on that) rythem on that.
----------"I'd love to tell myself I was being unselfish, but I know deep down in my primal sweet spot, I was being unselfish for selfish reasons." --Ned from Pushing Daisies
43,394 / 50,000
Nov 5, 2009 - 09 34
Stet, I can teach you the basic bellady (okay, probaby just slaughtered the spelling on that) rythem on that.
I grok most of the very basic rhythms. It's how to hold the damn thing that's stumping me.
OK, Freddi! Full speed ahead!
----------OK, Freddi! Full speed ahead!
50,191 / 50,000
Nov 5, 2009 - 09 42
I sit in a chair and hold it between my legs. I've seen some folks tuck it under one arm in such a way that the hand of the arm holding it can still tap the outer edge, but I find that rather awkward.
----------"I'd love to tell myself I was being unselfish, but I know deep down in my primal sweet spot, I was being unselfish for selfish reasons." --Ned from Pushing Daisies
50,690 / 50,000
Nov 5, 2009 - 10 15
im writing a novel and still trying to get my life on track after a month long hospitalization earlier this year. its not as bad as it sounds ive done the whole hospital thing before i think whats worse is that everyone in my life knowing that ive done it before feels like i have this whole reentering the world thing under control. even though i got out of the hosptial nearly two months ago now but everything still feels discombobulated ( now would be a good time to clarify that i was in UK and cardnial hill for a month just so there is no confusion) I think my challenge of having to get Grad School back on track and reconnect with all the friends who hate hospitals and thus havent managed to talk to me in months cause they never came to see me and now dont know what to say. and dealing with getting my confiendce back up which my need to do that probalby makes no sense to anyone but me. i think this is really a lot like getting out of jail. anyway I think this is why i choose nano this year. I needed a reason to force myself into a world that made some sense to me a la my novel. anyway thanks Stet for the post which has given me a clenseing chance to ramble. and btw your a much better mother than most. that is going to be one kick ass party.
----------i dont really have time for this but to write is to breathe so F*ck it
45,113 / 50,000
Nov 5, 2009 - 18 25
i don't have a hell story . My situation is more like working 50 hours in four days. My shift is Friday through Monday. and while that seems that it would be cool because i have three days off there is all the stuff that i neglect over the weekend to catch up on. But i work out in the elements most of the time and sometimes in situations that are not very safe. And bless him, but the man i live with, we shall call him Big Foot. or the Kentucky Yeti, will sit across the room from me and constantly interrupt me with more crap about the Stock Market, planes, and the current political situations and strife.
like i care this month ( or well any month LOL)
I will be on call Thanksgiving the Yeti will be with his family and Kitty Jo Bob and i will share a Turkey T.V. Dinner while we watch the parades... well unless i am out there fixing ATMs.
I am already suffering from mild sleep deprivation.
So i really don't have the trials as others do.
tonight i am hitting my goal of 15k and going to crawl into bed and read Harry Potter till i fall asleep.
----------Imagination is more important than
knowledge. - Albert Einstein