Wickedly Weird Weather...

I was writing this post in my head a few minutes ago as I was helping Scott install a new microwave (to replace the one that got destroyed a couple weeks ago). And it occurred to me that I have all these exciting things to tell you, but I'm about to write about weather.

But it was interesting weather!

I hopped in the car about 4:10 this afternoon to pick up Emma from a playdate. It was just barely starting to rain and as I got in, I noticed on the dashboard thermometer it was 54 degree. I drove out of the subdivision and looked up at the western sky. It did not look pretty. In fact, it kinda scared me.

I kept watching it as I drove (yes, I was watching the road, too!) and it was all kinds of freakish colors -- dark, dark gray, orange, tints of pinks, possibly even some green, although I kept telling myself I was wrong about that one.

I mean, people were out doing their every day things--walking their dogs, pushing strollers, running--and here I am worried about funky clouds. I thought maybe I was just overreacting. (Wouldn't be the first time! LOL)

So five minutes after I left my house, I pulled up in front of Emma's friends' house. It was raining harder now and the clouds were definitely scaring me. The three girls were outside playing under an umbrella. Emma got in the car right away and the other two were content to just continue playing outside. I told them to go inside *right away*.

Good thing they actually did 'cause the sky opened up. Hail the size of cannelini beans fell in waves! I've never seen anything like it! It was so loud Emma and I couldn't hear each other and the road was completely covered and then some within seconds. The temp had also dropped 12 degrees in the time I was in the car!!

It had gotten so incredibly dark out, too. It was only 4:15 and it looked like late dusk. I would not have been the least bit surprised had a tornado appeared with its notorious freight-train thunder. Thank the good Lord that none did appear!

We made it home safely, back to Hayley, who had waited here. While she had noticed the hail, it hadn't been enough to take her attention away from the computer game she was playing. Sheesh. I guess it was good she wasn't scared, though.

See, I told you it was wickedly weird and actually interesting weather!

Just a quick update...

I've been focusing on my novel as much as possible over the past few days, thus explaining my lack of blog posts. Sorry!

I have lots to post about, though. Good news, not-so-good news, events, birthdays, etc. I've even remembered to take photos along the way!

I promise to write more very, very soon (hopefully tomorrow), but until then... Hi to all my Delicious Readers! I hope you're having a great week!

Sometimes my dedication to things is a real pain in the...

farfegnugen.

Here I am, Day 5 in NaNoWriMo, and I can't get myself to stop doing my day job. Oh, I want to. Trust me, I'd rather be working on my masterpiece.

But our world of software basically imploded this week due to an overworked, underpaid and slightly overwrought server. (Hhmm... maybe that description is more apropos for me.)

Customers are frustrated and are slinging virtual bushel of tomatoes at us. Let me tell you, those virtual tomatoes don't hurt any less because they're not real!

I've had to tell multiple people to stop all-capping at us. These people think the world is ending because a service they pay a measly $15 a month does not read their minds.

Puh-lease!!!

Do they really think we haven't fixed their issue yet because we think it's fun to make them suffer? Ok, it might be fun to watch them suffer, but we can't see them so really, there's no joy in it.

Yet here I am, trying my darnest to answer 85 support emails. My annoying sense of dedication to my job won't let me concentrate on anything else.

You, Delicious Reader, need to sit me down and give me a firm talking to. Here's what you're going to say:

"Stop answering those damn emails! {If you're a kid, please substitute "darn".} They're still going to be there in the morning, but these hours that you're using up will not! Don't you dare feel guilty! Your book is more important than anything else right now. You have got to focus! We'll all know you're not real fond of goal-setting, but you have set a goal for yourself this time and you are going to reach that goal! Now get off this damn (but amazing) blog and write your book!!!"

Ok, ok... don't get so excited already. I'm closing out of support right now. (Yes, I really did!) I'm opening Word and Chapter 2. And now I'm even closing out of--

Why on earth was I writing non-fiction?

Fiction is my home! I adore writing fiction!

I'm excited. I'm satisfied. My characters are becoming real and I'm still in the first chapter!

And there are already twists that I didn't see coming. It is just the most amazing thing to be typing away when all of a sudden, you pause, realizing that your characters have taken you to a place you hadn't created for them. These fictional, imaginary characters somehow dictate what happens!

I just read what I've written so far to Scott. He was astounded! (No, I'm not bragging. Only being honest.) He was engrossed in the story, loved the character development, could easily imagine the setting and most of all, can't wait to hear more!

I've never felt comfortable reading my writing aloud. I imagine it to be something like a baby beauty contest. Putting your most prized possession on display, asking for judgment. Ouch! I cringe just thinking about it.

But read my story, I did. And I actually didn't feel too much pain. Just a bit of self-induced anxiety that I pushed away by turning off the lights and making Scott close his eyes.

I'm taking that as another sign that writing fiction is my true calling. And you want to know an even bigger sign?

I smile when I write.

Scott tells me that when I concentrate, whether it's at work or when I'm writing my non-fiction book, I tend to scowl. It's just that I'm mired so deeply in concentration that there's no emotion to show. Getting the job done is intense.

But I've noticed that when I'm writing this novel, I smile. I giggle. I've even caught myself bouncing.

How entirely cool is that????

Happy National Novel Writers Month!

Or, because saying that feels like a chewing a mouthful of peanuts, you can call it NaNoWriMo. At least that only feels like a small mouthful of peanuts!

The object, should a writer choose to accept it, is to write a 50,000 word novel in one month. Yup. One. Month.

Honestly, that shouldn't be too hard since I am obsessed with words.

And I have a really good idea.

And I am super-excited!

Now, be aware there aren't prizes (like actually getting the book published) at the end of this mad writing session. No, it's all about writing for the joy of it. You may be writing crap. You may not be making any sense. You may mess up your staging and viewpoints and tenses.

But it doesn't matter because you're actually writing!!!!

I can hardly wait to get home from church (and cook and eat lunch, clean up the kitchen, do some laundry, separate fighting children, etc. etc.) so my first novel can begin its momentous life!