Sunday, December 20, 2009
Jensen Family Feast
Karlo and Rowie joined us for the 2009 Jensen Family Feast this year. It was nice to bring them along so that they could see where I grew up and find out how nice my family really is. Besides, I had a feeling that Santa would be there, and I wanted Row to see him and sit on his lap since I didn’t know if they would have an opportunity to do that with all of the driving and moving back to Louisiana.
So, we all hopped into Karlo’s mini-van (yuck – no offense, but my people just don’t drive those…) and headed south. Karlo was already trapped in the van when he found out that the drive would be 2+ hours long. I think that he regretted it right then and there. Then, he had to listen to me and Bub argue about the weather the entire time. In the end, we made it safely and everyone was happy to see us. Like always, they treated Karlo and Rowie like family.
This year’s food was soup for the first time that I can remember. We brought a seafood chowder and Tuscan tomato soup. There were other chowders, soups, and chilis there. It was a nice change. Of course, there were desserts, but not as many as usual (I don’t know if that’s good or bad).
Karlo caused a bit of a ruckus when he knocked down three folding chairs trying to get to Rowie before he bit one of the boys. (Biting became an issue as the time drew closer for them to go to Louisiana.) Anyway, he made it to the boys just as Rowie was chomping down, so the clatter was worth it.
The boys had a good time running around and being crazy. There were plenty of kids and, minus the biting, everyone seemed to have a good time. My cousin’s grandson is almost a year older then the boys, and my niece’s daughter is a year younger. There were little people toddling everywhere!
The biggest surprise was that my niece had a second little girl with her. I didn’t even know that she had gotten pregnant again. It was at about that moment that I felt like a schmuck. They live 45 minutes (if even) from us, and I hadn’t seen her in a year. That is just shameful. So, I’m determined again this year to do many more monthly get togethers.
I let Kesli know that I couldn’t commit to the Ogden marathon because I was awaiting word on my admission to Westminster’s program. She just finished up her Master’s in Accounting last year, so she understands the time commitment. I did promise to run the last ten miles of the marathon with her, though. That’s the time that she’s going to need the most support and encouragement anyway.
Another cousin and his kids were there along with the elephant in the room – you know, the thing that everyone can see and feel but doesn’t talk about…. His wife’s absence was surely felt, and I think that everyone truly hurt for him and with him. She was such a good person and so devoted to those kids and to him. She was quiet but cheerful and always nice to us. She’ll be missed for years and years to come. He and the kids seem to be adjusting fine – at least that’s how it all appeared for those few short hours.
We had to head out a bit earlier than I would have liked, though, because it started to snow again. Anyone with a drive ahead of them cleaned up and hit the road fast. The burden to really get everything done always seems to fall on the locals…. This year, I vow to do more to help before and after because it’s not an easy job.
Our thanks to Aunt Carolyn, Kesli, and Juanita for doing the bulk of the work. Without them, this party would have ceased a few years ago. Another thank you to Uncle Ray for spending his free time polishing rocks that he turned into gifts for every person there. Brooches, pins, and bolo ties with beautiful, shiny gemstones – very thoughtful.
So, we all hopped into Karlo’s mini-van (yuck – no offense, but my people just don’t drive those…) and headed south. Karlo was already trapped in the van when he found out that the drive would be 2+ hours long. I think that he regretted it right then and there. Then, he had to listen to me and Bub argue about the weather the entire time. In the end, we made it safely and everyone was happy to see us. Like always, they treated Karlo and Rowie like family.
This year’s food was soup for the first time that I can remember. We brought a seafood chowder and Tuscan tomato soup. There were other chowders, soups, and chilis there. It was a nice change. Of course, there were desserts, but not as many as usual (I don’t know if that’s good or bad).
Karlo caused a bit of a ruckus when he knocked down three folding chairs trying to get to Rowie before he bit one of the boys. (Biting became an issue as the time drew closer for them to go to Louisiana.) Anyway, he made it to the boys just as Rowie was chomping down, so the clatter was worth it.
The boys had a good time running around and being crazy. There were plenty of kids and, minus the biting, everyone seemed to have a good time. My cousin’s grandson is almost a year older then the boys, and my niece’s daughter is a year younger. There were little people toddling everywhere!
The biggest surprise was that my niece had a second little girl with her. I didn’t even know that she had gotten pregnant again. It was at about that moment that I felt like a schmuck. They live 45 minutes (if even) from us, and I hadn’t seen her in a year. That is just shameful. So, I’m determined again this year to do many more monthly get togethers.
I let Kesli know that I couldn’t commit to the Ogden marathon because I was awaiting word on my admission to Westminster’s program. She just finished up her Master’s in Accounting last year, so she understands the time commitment. I did promise to run the last ten miles of the marathon with her, though. That’s the time that she’s going to need the most support and encouragement anyway.
Another cousin and his kids were there along with the elephant in the room – you know, the thing that everyone can see and feel but doesn’t talk about…. His wife’s absence was surely felt, and I think that everyone truly hurt for him and with him. She was such a good person and so devoted to those kids and to him. She was quiet but cheerful and always nice to us. She’ll be missed for years and years to come. He and the kids seem to be adjusting fine – at least that’s how it all appeared for those few short hours.
We had to head out a bit earlier than I would have liked, though, because it started to snow again. Anyone with a drive ahead of them cleaned up and hit the road fast. The burden to really get everything done always seems to fall on the locals…. This year, I vow to do more to help before and after because it’s not an easy job.
Our thanks to Aunt Carolyn, Kesli, and Juanita for doing the bulk of the work. Without them, this party would have ceased a few years ago. Another thank you to Uncle Ray for spending his free time polishing rocks that he turned into gifts for every person there. Brooches, pins, and bolo ties with beautiful, shiny gemstones – very thoughtful.
More boy pictures
Waiting for Santa to arrive in the annual Santa Parade. It was COLD!!!
Undeterred by the FAH-REEZING temperatures!
What a cutie!
Adorable!
Monday, December 14, 2009
Aspiring Novelist
Last November while reading a now defunct blog (Pussy Scratch), I read for the first time about NaNoWriMo. The blog’s author was participating in NaNoWriMo but that was about all that was said. Curious to know exactly what NaNoWriMo was, I checked out their website.
National Novel Writing Month kicks off at midnight on November 1 and wraps up at midnight on November 30. Each participant is trying to write a short fictional novel of 50,000 words in those 30 days. The aspiring novelist can have a storyline fulminating in the brain as well as some character outlines, but the actual writing cannot begin until the stroke of midnight on November 1. I thought that it would be fun, but since I didn’t find out about it until the month and the contest were well underway, I decided to wait for the 2009 competition. I thought about my novel all year long.
I was so excited to begin that I stayed up until midnight to get a good start on the entire thing. I knew that it would be hard since I don’t really have time to get anything done until after 9pm, but I was determined to make this work. Besides, I did the math, and knew that I would need to write 1667 words per day to meet the 50K goal by the end of the month. That’s only 835 words per hour for two hours per night. No big deal since I can type 80 words per minute meaning I could technically reach my daily word count in about 30 minutes.
As usual, I failed to account for all of the scenarios that go along with writing since I haven’t really done any except for training materials, process documentation, and newsletter updates for years. I don’t remember the last time I wrote something of fiction (high school?), so I thought that getting a story to flow out of my regimented and orderly brain, but that part actually came easier than I had ever imagined. I AM a creative person after all.
I can say now that the whole thing sounds easier than it really is. I wrote at night. I wrote on my lunch break. I wrote on the bus. I wrote every chance I could get. I decided early on to write about something that I was familiar with or that someone I knew could eventually help me with. I did absolutely no fact checking because that’s what I’m going to use my experts for. I made up names of towns and streets and places knowing that I could edit it later.
They don’t know it yet, but so far my experts will be Holly (for facts about Kansas), Jake (for facts about Iraq and the USMC), and Massoud (for facts about Iraq).
So, I finished the 50K words with just 30 minutes to spare on November 30 – just enough time to log into the NaNoWriMo site and input my novel into the word counter. On about day 20, I worried that I wouldn’t have enough of a story to meet the word count goal, but at the end, I didn’t have enough time to finish my story! My two main characters are just now getting to THE MOMENT where their plan kicks into action. Then, I have to guide them through the execution of the plan and the happily-ever-after. If I continue in the same manner as I have been going, I will need another 30-50K words to really make the story complete.
The prize of the “contest” is simply satisfaction in completing the challenge. There is no winner of best story or blue ribbon for most original storyline (which mine would totally win, I’m sure…). It’s just a sense of pride that will allow the participant to hold his or her head high. Therefore, I am a winner! However, if the author determines that story is really good, s/he can try to get it published. I think that my story is pretty darn good even though it isn’t completed yet. When I say that I need 30-50K more to finish the story, I mean I would need that amount to finish it in its rough format. If I seriously considered submitting it to a publisher, I would need to really flesh out several parts of it because they are very lean as is. Then, I would need to have it edited.
Something that I want to do? Maybe. It’s worth a shot. I wouldn’t be out anything except for the time and energy that I’ve spent. It does make me realize why writers take so long to get things done. There is just a lot to do in order to create a story that is worth the reader’s time. I definitely have a new appreciation for the author of every fictional book that I’ve ever read! I say that the storyline was easier for me than I expected, but that is NOT to say that the whole thing was easy.
So, will I continue my story and see where it takes me? Perhaps. But, there may be something more practical on the horizon for the next 18 months. I’ll hopefully know more about that by the end of this week. In the mean time, I’m writing holiday cards, baking banana bread, re-building my closet, singing Christmas carols with our adorable little boys, trying to find the time to upload pictures to my computer, potty training, and trying to stay afloat in this ridiculous economy. At least, that’s what I’m doing THIS week!
National Novel Writing Month kicks off at midnight on November 1 and wraps up at midnight on November 30. Each participant is trying to write a short fictional novel of 50,000 words in those 30 days. The aspiring novelist can have a storyline fulminating in the brain as well as some character outlines, but the actual writing cannot begin until the stroke of midnight on November 1. I thought that it would be fun, but since I didn’t find out about it until the month and the contest were well underway, I decided to wait for the 2009 competition. I thought about my novel all year long.
I was so excited to begin that I stayed up until midnight to get a good start on the entire thing. I knew that it would be hard since I don’t really have time to get anything done until after 9pm, but I was determined to make this work. Besides, I did the math, and knew that I would need to write 1667 words per day to meet the 50K goal by the end of the month. That’s only 835 words per hour for two hours per night. No big deal since I can type 80 words per minute meaning I could technically reach my daily word count in about 30 minutes.
As usual, I failed to account for all of the scenarios that go along with writing since I haven’t really done any except for training materials, process documentation, and newsletter updates for years. I don’t remember the last time I wrote something of fiction (high school?), so I thought that getting a story to flow out of my regimented and orderly brain, but that part actually came easier than I had ever imagined. I AM a creative person after all.
I can say now that the whole thing sounds easier than it really is. I wrote at night. I wrote on my lunch break. I wrote on the bus. I wrote every chance I could get. I decided early on to write about something that I was familiar with or that someone I knew could eventually help me with. I did absolutely no fact checking because that’s what I’m going to use my experts for. I made up names of towns and streets and places knowing that I could edit it later.
They don’t know it yet, but so far my experts will be Holly (for facts about Kansas), Jake (for facts about Iraq and the USMC), and Massoud (for facts about Iraq).
So, I finished the 50K words with just 30 minutes to spare on November 30 – just enough time to log into the NaNoWriMo site and input my novel into the word counter. On about day 20, I worried that I wouldn’t have enough of a story to meet the word count goal, but at the end, I didn’t have enough time to finish my story! My two main characters are just now getting to THE MOMENT where their plan kicks into action. Then, I have to guide them through the execution of the plan and the happily-ever-after. If I continue in the same manner as I have been going, I will need another 30-50K words to really make the story complete.
The prize of the “contest” is simply satisfaction in completing the challenge. There is no winner of best story or blue ribbon for most original storyline (which mine would totally win, I’m sure…). It’s just a sense of pride that will allow the participant to hold his or her head high. Therefore, I am a winner! However, if the author determines that story is really good, s/he can try to get it published. I think that my story is pretty darn good even though it isn’t completed yet. When I say that I need 30-50K more to finish the story, I mean I would need that amount to finish it in its rough format. If I seriously considered submitting it to a publisher, I would need to really flesh out several parts of it because they are very lean as is. Then, I would need to have it edited.
Something that I want to do? Maybe. It’s worth a shot. I wouldn’t be out anything except for the time and energy that I’ve spent. It does make me realize why writers take so long to get things done. There is just a lot to do in order to create a story that is worth the reader’s time. I definitely have a new appreciation for the author of every fictional book that I’ve ever read! I say that the storyline was easier for me than I expected, but that is NOT to say that the whole thing was easy.
So, will I continue my story and see where it takes me? Perhaps. But, there may be something more practical on the horizon for the next 18 months. I’ll hopefully know more about that by the end of this week. In the mean time, I’m writing holiday cards, baking banana bread, re-building my closet, singing Christmas carols with our adorable little boys, trying to find the time to upload pictures to my computer, potty training, and trying to stay afloat in this ridiculous economy. At least, that’s what I’m doing THIS week!
Self Directed Time Out
So, lately upon being placed in time out, both of our brilliant little people have realized what time out means and what happens at the beginning, middle, and end.
In a few attempts at a pre-emptive strike, Meatball has decided to put himself into time out when he does something that he knows is naughty. “I go naughty corner,” really means “If I say when I go, I can also say how long I sit there, which won’t be more than 30 seconds.” Nice try….
At the end of time out, the offender must say he is sorry to the victim and give hugs. Peanut is also trying to work the system by saying, after mere moments, “Mommy, I sorry. I wuv you. I get up now.” Uh, no, no, no, no, little man….
A recent favorite is when I say to either of them “Go to the naughty corner,” they reply “No, YOU go naughty corner!” Listen, little demons, you’re not scoring any points with that, but I must say that I love how cute and funny it is!
In a few attempts at a pre-emptive strike, Meatball has decided to put himself into time out when he does something that he knows is naughty. “I go naughty corner,” really means “If I say when I go, I can also say how long I sit there, which won’t be more than 30 seconds.” Nice try….
At the end of time out, the offender must say he is sorry to the victim and give hugs. Peanut is also trying to work the system by saying, after mere moments, “Mommy, I sorry. I wuv you. I get up now.” Uh, no, no, no, no, little man….
A recent favorite is when I say to either of them “Go to the naughty corner,” they reply “No, YOU go naughty corner!” Listen, little demons, you’re not scoring any points with that, but I must say that I love how cute and funny it is!
Pretty Marble Eggs
So, we have ten differently colored marble eggs. They are actual size, and we really liked taking them out of their bowl and counting them and naming the colors. It became a fun activity as soon as I walked in the door at the end of the work day. “Mommy, Mommy! Count the eggs?” So, we would sit on the floor and count and point to the colors and line them up in an egg train and put them in and out of the bowl. It was fun. The eggs were at a level where the boys could reach them play with them at will. They started taking the eggs and placing them in different places in the front room like in the bowl of one of our African figures, behind the legs of the stereo console, on the keys of the piano.
One Saturday, I was doing dishes, and Bubba was running errands. The boys were playing with the eggs. After a while, I heard Thunk! Thunk! Thunk! sounds. Thinking that they were dropping the eggs on the floor or the coffee table, I went in prepared to give them a good talking to. Imagine my dismay when I saw that they had pulled the cover off and were dropping the eggs down the heating duct!!!
I was able to just pull most of them out. However, I had to get a big spoon out with a long handle and jam my arm down the duct as far as it would go, and I could still barely get to the last egg. Luckily, the duct ran parallel to the floor instead of dropping off immediately!
One Saturday, I was doing dishes, and Bubba was running errands. The boys were playing with the eggs. After a while, I heard Thunk! Thunk! Thunk! sounds. Thinking that they were dropping the eggs on the floor or the coffee table, I went in prepared to give them a good talking to. Imagine my dismay when I saw that they had pulled the cover off and were dropping the eggs down the heating duct!!!
I was able to just pull most of them out. However, I had to get a big spoon out with a long handle and jam my arm down the duct as far as it would go, and I could still barely get to the last egg. Luckily, the duct ran parallel to the floor instead of dropping off immediately!
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