White--Snow

Whisper-soft flakes fall in slow circles, moving in and out of the dervish of wind like dancers, now caught in a stately waltz, now spinning in wild revelry. 


One small, white hand traces the glass, following the snow with a long finger. "Perfect," she sighs against him.


White eyelashes curtain pale eyes looking down at the crown of her head; an unfamiliarly soft smile pulls at unpracticed lips. He's caught in awe he didn't know he could feel, simply at the feeling of how perfectly her head fits in the hollow of his throat, how easy it is to wrap his arms around her small shoulders.


It's calm and quiet and white around them.


"Perfect," he agrees.


***

It's snowing outside.  Marvelous, driving, ethereal flakes peppering my vision every time I look out a window. I love snow more than autumn; I love snow more than lightening; I love snow more than anything else that has ever graced God's wonderful creation.

There are few things better in this life than opening your eyes to see white enveloping a brown tile roof and simultaneously receiving a text from your boss that the office is closed for the day. I'm going to read by a window with tea and slippers, and play outside with the Hobbits, and sit with my family while it snows outside.

My heart is so full right now. Praise the Lord.

To Be Harrassed Over Cellulars is but a Little Thing when Good Friends Surround--To My Bodyguards

Classes are almost done. Oh how I can't wait to be done school for an entire month. I have a portfolio to assemble, a presentation to write, two papers to pound out, and two finals to take, but by Thursday next week I'll officially be a free woman.

Went to school. Hung out in the library between classes because it was too cold to walk all the way back to the student union building. Admired Martin Luther more than any of my classmates in History. Did a bit dreadful on a Spanish quiz. Ate dinosaur chicken nuggets for the 97% I got back yesterday. Arm-wrestled little brother for the right to my last stegosaurus (and won, poor chap).

Oh I have pudding in the fridge!

Wasted lots of time. Watched Christmas episode of The Office and Bones (excellent episode I must say, especially for a show that tends to be so empirical about religion). Wished for Psych to be back--January 27! Wasted lots of time on Facebook.

And then I was interrupted by a text. A text from Elizabeth "Lix" Leach. A text asking what was I planning to do tonight? Well, I was going to do some studying, I answered, but nothing so urgent, why?

Oh well, would you like to see The Princess and the Frog with me then?

So I said, Yes that's fine.

And we did. Accompanied by Cathleen "Bodyguard" Gemmell and John "Sweetums" Leach. And it was marvelous. A simply astoundingly wonderful film. Ah, the old days of Disney still live somewhere within the hearts of a few animators, directors, and screenwriters.

I do not recommend: I command that you go see this movie this instant. Go. Now. Stop reading this, it's over. Leave. Buy your ticket now and watch it and hitchhike to New Orleans. Godspeed.

Oh Saturday--Oh Saturday

Harumph. Yes. So. It's Saturday. Furthermore it's snowing outside.

Therefore, logically, it's time for some shameless pluggage!

For all who love wonderfully delightful Christmas things:

You must peruse the Etsy shop of my dearest friend and non-biological sister, Elizabeth Leach. She makes the most beautiful paper snowflakes I've ever seen, of varying shapes and unimaginable designs. Each one is different, and made with love and cheer that only Liz can muster. The skill with which these snowflakes are cut have a great tendency to blow my mind. She can make a snowflake that has nutcrackers in it, she can make a snowflake that looks evil, she can make a snowflake that spells out "mom." (You doubt? I have a picture) And those are just the fun ones.

Hang them from the ceiling, tape them to the window (it's what I do, and then the sun shines through and makes snowflake shadows on the floor), use them as coasters. Your house and/or place of residence will be the better for it.

If you have a brain, you will buy some: Liz's Etsy Shop of Christmas Wonder

Narration From the Other Side--Of Course Everything Looks Worse in Retrospect

So, as you've probably all guessed due to the lack of triumphant, awed post, I didn't make it to the finish line. Not even close. Events in November such as school, and (the biggest of all) the wedding of my wonderful sister Michelle, now Moraga, made the month hectic and busy. But, Nanowrimo was by no means a vain enterprise. While it's true that at this point I still blush in shame at all the perceived cliche aspects of my novel (of which there are many), berate myself for not simply turning my back on life in general and writing 'til my fingers bled as any truly dedicated writer would, and fight the urge to pretend that I didn't even enter instead of admitting to my paltry five thousand some words, no amount of self-deprecation will squelch in me the warm fuzzy pride I feel in the fact that I tried. I can now say, "Here, see, this is mine." Those five thousand odd words make up the first piece of original, full, non-academic writing I've done in probably two-and-a-half years. It. felt. Good. God gave me a passion for writing, and the gift for it (such as it is), and it feels lovely to be using it regularly again.

So I'll be continuing my novel as much as possible. And in nursing the sorrow of not being able to finish I remind myself that there's next year I can look forward to. And hopefully no one in the family will be getting married next November. Although with the way this family just adores patterns when it comes to major life events...

Anyway, now I've got a whole year to plan for next Nanowrimo. Muhaha.

SNOW.

From the Pit--Nano Correspondence I

National Novel Writing Month is kicking my [apples]. Five thousand and ninety words. That's about half of what I'm supposed to have. I must remind myself:

• Good writing = bad for me
• Decent writing = bad for me
• "That Perfect Word" will remain elusive and I will satisfy myself with "suspiciously."
• Quality = bad for me
• QUANTITY IS KING.

Anyone have any strategies to suggest as far as beefing up my word count goes? Word-eaters, such as extremely detailed physical descriptions, lengthy expositions, etc.?

Also, Chase Bradford Lowell's superpower is officially time management. But none of us in the Compass community are surprised.

[On a less related-to-the-header note, Constantine is officially fixed. His harddrive at itself, but we got him a new one, and now he has a spankin' new appendicitis story to impress the ladies and regale small children with. Furthermore he has Windows 7 which means: Mahjong Titans. Oh happy day.]

The Verdict--Doomed

So I'm in.

Now...to figure out what to write.

National Novel Writing Month--THIS AUTHOR WANTS YOUR INPUT

So, here's the deal, the 411, the conundrum, the poop, as they say:

November is National Novel Writing Month. Hypothetically speaking, I could sign up, which would hypothetically mean that I would need to write a hypothetical novel of at least 50,000 hypothetical words, hypothetically completely original (meaning not part of any story I have worked on before), all by my hypothetical lonesome. The deadline is November 30.

I admit, I really like this idea. I'm all a-tremble with hypothetical excitement. I don't get any hypothetical prizes save for a hypothetical fuzzy feeling of deep accomplishment in the hypothetical cockles of my heart.

THE CONS:

• I have no ideas. The last time I undertook writing an actual novel was when I was fifteen. Some of you have read the results--it's not pretty. I'm not really good at it. Finishing things is an issue.
• Melissa's wedding, Mich's wedding (more important), and Thanksgiving all happen in November. That might just get in the way a tad. 
• I really should probably focus on schoolwork. This is little because it's not really an issue I care about.
• I'll probably eat way more than I should during this process.

THE PROS:

• IT WILL MAKE ME WRITE. Hopefully. Or it could go in the opposite direction and become a con...
• The aforementioned warm fuzzy feeling of accomplishment.
• Tea. Lots and lots of tea.

Of course there are most likely many more pros and cons. At the moment my mind is a jumble.

Also Master Lowell has already challenged me to do it.

THIS IS THE PART WHERE AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION COMES IN. And you can't complain about it because you haven't done anything for me to write this blog that you read, therefore it's just a fair that you do something for me as I do something for you (assuming one counts writing a blog as "something"...."good").

What do you think? Do you think I should do it? If so, give your reasons. If not, give your reasons. In short, convince me.

(You'll have to work hard, because I can argue against either quite adamently)

If you're interested: It's a Scrivener's Ball!