Sickness and Health (and a Preview)

I’m not sure exactly how this post will flow (ignore supposed transitions) since I’m going to double post it—both here on Joe Average Writer and on Fatty’s Blubber Blog. The rare few who frequent both sites don’t need to bother with reading it twice. But I guess those of you who are anal enough to do it…can…I guess. I’d just recommend another hobby…or therapy.

Back from the tangent now: yesterday I came back from being on the sick wagon. No, I didn’t stuff myself with too much turkey or stuffing or pie (mmm…pie) or any birthday treats. Believe me, or not, I’ve held my eating in check at the start of this birthday/holiday season. More on that in a moment.

Last Friday night, Sariah got sick in the bathtub. Gross, I know. Then around one in the freakin’ a.m. Zac wakes me up, and says, “Dad, I barfed. Could you help me clean it up?” Give him credit—he wasn’t covered in puke. He even made sure he made it to the bathroom. However, he didn’t quite make it to the porcelain. An explosion of not-so-well-chewed bean with bacon soup covered the entire bathroom floor. The backsplash made it halfway up the tub and cabinets, behind the toilet and up the far wall at least six inches. How he escaped the blast zone without any on him, I’ll never know. And he was too asleep to register anything.

Two nights later Amy and Brooklyn both tossed their cookies (on Amy’s b-day, even), and my stomach started having issues. I must point out here that I never bowed to the porcelain god, but I still offered tribute, if you know what I mean. Needless to say, I am tired of cleaning up chunks of chicken and pineapple and cheese (and bile). And I am tired of not getting much done.

So, to remedy that period of barfiness, and to celebrate my (relative) health, Amy and I have finished the initial version of our independent study course revision, I have turned in the last of my (also pukey) stats homework, and I have been able to do some planning for when my student teacher jumps ship next week. One thing I have not done is work on my NaNoWriMo novel. Yes, say it. I’m bad.

Now, back to Thanksgiving and birthdays and food and such. This year, for the month of December, I am going to post a picture and recipe of “Food That Makes Me Happy.” Yes, you smart-aleck, that could include most, if not all foods. Yes, the title also sounds a little childish, but do you know what? I don’t care. This time of year is one for reliving those cherished childhood memories of Christmas, those indelible moments that will never vanish no matter how hard we try to erase them…oh, I mean, those moments that will bring us joy throughout our whole lives. Now that I’ve cheesed it up enough for you (more, fresh Parmesan or cracked pepper, sir?), here’s a taste of what is to come, because Thanksgiving makes me happy. In fact, it’s my favorite holiday, I think, but I’ll write about that another time. For now, enjoy the picture. I’m not going to give a recipe today. That’s for December.  Just don't lick the screen.  That's gross.

This delectable plate, by the way, includes turkey of both the light and dark variety, real mashed potatoes, yams, sausage and apple stuffing, homemade bread, cranberry sauce, pond scum, gravy, carrots, sweet pickles, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, sweet bell peppers, and black olives. Pie was later.

P.S. I lost six pounds, too.

What's This Planning Ahead Stuff?

So, as I was scrolling through countless pages of people I hardly know posting about how thankful they are about their spouses, kids, jobs, freedoms, salvation, Twinkies--none of which are to be discounted--I remember that December is coming soon.  And for those few who have followed this blog for the past few years, you know that I do some kind of daily post during the months of December.  It started as a repentant purging of my blogging laxness two years ago.  And so I posted once a day about something that I was thankful for...non-traditional items in most cases.

last year, I posted a music video each day.  That was pretty cool, and I experienced my highest viewership up to that point.  Now I face a conundrum.  How do I top that?  Or, at least, what can I follow up with?  What do I go to this year for my daily December schtick?  I need a new gimmick.  I have a few ideas, but I'm not too sure they would work.  So I'm open to ideas.  What could I post about on a daily basis that fits me?

Please help me brainstorm as I am up to my eyeballs in bad student writing right now.  I feel my brain might just melt--not Wicked Witch of the West melt, mind you, but more like Nazi dudes at the end of Raiders of the Lost Ark melt.

Failure Update

So...as most of you would have predicted, the NaNoWriMo is not going well again this year.  On the four days that I've actually been able to work on the novel, though I have over 7000 words. That, in and of itself isn't too bad.  And, yes, I am going to make lame excuses.  You see, I am still writing, just not on the novel.  My stats class and my independent study course revision are kicking my butt.

If I totaled up all the writing I have been doing in other places, just like last year, I'm just about on track.  In fact, I have probably gone beyond my suggested pacing: 25,000 words (since we're half way through the month.

Cool fact: Last week when I came home from class, Amy was alone in the kitchen washing dishes.  Normally, the five-ring circus monkeys are hanging from the rafters, flinging poo, and howling and all that fun metaphorical nonsense.  It was bedtime, after all.  So I went to check on the surreal quietness.  The youngest and oldest were quietly reading on the couch in the living room.  The other three were in their beds (huh? at 7:30?) writing stories!  Makes a geeky English teacher proud!

Weird coincidence: Zac's story is about a protagonist named Ben who meets another character named Jack.  My protagonist's name is Ben, and his father (one of his antagonists) is named Jack.  Cue Twilight Zone theme music.

NaNoWriMo Repentence 2012

So I haven't actually started my novel attempt for this year.  Throw all the rotten tomatoes you want. I have a force field called cyberspace right now.  No, I'm still trying to cram this independent study course together while treading water in my stats class.  I might soon resort to the "dead man" float.  Yep, I did learn something in swimming lessons back in Arkansas so many years ago.

However, life seems to be a little more organized, and I am making progress.  I had an idea in the shower Sunday morning, and I've been laying out plot lines like strands of Christmas lights.  They're tangled, and I'm not sure if they work yet, but the ladder is out, the gloves are on, and it's time to start writing.

Anyone else out there brave enough to take the challenge?