The Greatest Time of Year

Well, the site has been made over for Christmas! I have time to do that now, since my novel is officially complete! That's right! 50,000 words in only 29 days this time! But I've got to move on to other goals before I get a sunburn basking in this triumph.

Lately, I've been volunteering at Rescue Ranch, a rehabilitation/adoption center for abused horses, in tune with goals #5 and #11. That means dodging the hooves of angry stallions and mucking out empty stalls while I jam out to the country station. Seems like a lot of work for only one volunteer hour a week. But I'll get my 125 hours one way or another.

I've also finally gotten a job, although I don't think it really counts for goal #2. I landed a gig babysitting for two grammar school cheerleaders and their six-year-old little sister. I can't really tell you if that's better or worse than volunteering at the horse shelter, but I do know that it at least pays. Goal #3, here we come...

And with Christmas cheer in the air, I'm getting ready to tackle several goals during the holiday season. I plan on volunteering at the retirement home over Christmas break (#4) and baking some holiday treats for my family and friends (#10 & 15). It's also the time of year for hot chocolate at the barn (#16) and stocking stuffers for my equine friends (#17). And as the presents and Christmas cards go out, I should be able to manage Goal #59 and at least some of Goal #18. Plus, all those presents need bows! (#76) It's also the time of year for spontaneous kindness, and I figure over the two week break that I get from school, I can fit in some Random Acts of Kindness (#83) and inspirational post-it notes (#88) and maybe even some more free rice (#95).

Now, I doubt I'll get to all of these in the 20 days left in the Christmas season or even the week or so that I have off following it, but if I at least get to half of them, I'm in pretty good shape for the New Year. And from there, who knows?

NaNoWriMo Ate My Soul

It's official. I now automatically check my word count on anything I'm writing every fifteen minutes. Like clockwork. Even on school essays.

I don't think I can last much longer. My novel, The Duct Tape Conspiracy, has no plot, and I have ten days to write 25,000 more words. FML. But at least my novel is amusing...

"This waiting game, she didn't like it. What was she supposed to do? Twiddle her thumbs and pretend that nothing had happened? But she had just pulled off the greatest heist in duct tape history! Someone, somewhere out to be talking out it.

Caden let out a frustrated huff. 'I need muffins.'"

"I'm so glad that you're singing softly to yourself. It really makes my ears bleed."

"I dressed up as Mayor Ray Nagin and gave a speech promoting the reinstitution of slavery."

"They're called the TIE DYE Police. ...They're way scarier than they sound, I swear."

"I'm not inviting y'all over anymore if Mr. Glitter keeps ending up in the freezer."