Carol Moncado

So my friend, Jason [he used to be a paramedic – imagine that], has a birthday today. He’s /mumble/mutter/gasp/ years older than I am which makes him /mumble/mutter/gasp/ years old. I’ve known him since high school when we went to church together and his little sister was my BFF.

For several years now, Jason has been my go-to guy for all things paramedic-y. Whether it’s drugging a 5yo or car vs. deer or broken arm two days after it broke and having been carried out of the forest, Jason patiently [very patiently] answered my questions and never once [to my Facebook face anyway] made fun of me for attempting this whole writing thing ;).

The first time he answered questions for me, I gave a bit part [like 3 lines] to a guy named “Jason the Paramedic” who happened to have a shaved head, be from Alaska, and have a goatee. The one scene/three lines turned into two scenes/ten lines but the second scene being extremely pivotal. And in that moment, I knew Jason would be the next hero.

Except we don’t talk about that manuscript anymore. Romantic Suspense. /shudder/

For two more series, a guy named Jason the Paramedic would pop in and out, always planning to give him “book 2” and then never writing it.

He’s still “book 2” in the series I’ve just sent off, but I have much higher hopes for this one than any before it.

Some day, Jason the Paramedic – and Jason my friend – will get their Happily Ever Afters. Jason my friend has an incredible, if sometimes sad, story – ultimately one of hope in the One who created Jason my friend – and I really do hope I get to bring bits and pieces of it to the page one of these days.  Currently, he’s at the Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry in Redding, CA. I’m not sure which program he’s in, but it’s two years. He’s also been selected to go to England on a missions trip, but needs some support to help him get there. He’s been in and out of work for a long time [due to circumstances beyond his control – like so many others] and is raising money so he can go. If any one of my eight readers feels the urge to help, you can do so by clicking here. I believe the donations are tax deductible, but don’t hold me to that.

So why all this about Jason? Because on my birthday a couple weeks ago, I got this on my timeline:

HBD CM!!

So I replied with:

Try to be a bit more succinct next time, would ya? I’ll remember this in a few days when someone else’s birthday rolls around.

Instead of a big long thing on his Facebook wall, I went with a blog post ;).

And super happy birthday to one of my very favorite contemp authors, Becky Wade! She rocks! If you haven’t preordered her next book, you totally need to. And you can – right here :). Don’t you just love that cover?!

Right.

NaNoWriMo. I had a sick 12yo home yesterday [and again today]. I did get some words in though :).

NaNoWriMo today: 2498
NaNoWriMo total: 14665NaNoWriMo deficit: 17008
NaNoWriMo WPD to finish on time: 2945
NaNoWriMo current anticipated finish date: 1/4/2014 [that’s 10 days better than yesterday :D]

So hubs is a Kansas City Chiefs fan. He went to a good friend’s house to watch the game And have bacon wrapped sirloin for dinner.

I’m not jealous.

Sigh.

But the Chiefs lost.

All were bummed.

I was home with the kids – then writing after they went to bed. I’m finally making progress, even if that progress is carptastic at the moment.

NaNoWriMo today: 2147
NaNoWriMo total: 12167
NaNoWriMo deficit:17839
NaNoWriMo WPD to finish on time: 2911
NaNoWriMo current anticipated finish date: 1/14/14 – getting better…

Yep.

That’s right.

Only a week [or so] late, but I passed 10K on this new manuscript.

Join me in Snoopy dancing, won’t you?!?!?!

Today was my local ACFW meeting. We had a board meeting beforehand and started planning out next year officially. [Are you a writer or speaker traveling through the Springfield area the third Saturday of a month and want to meet some cool peeps? You let me know!]

We had a write in, but only a couple of us could come/stay. I got over a K in while we were there but not like I’d hoped. My sister had decided to play with the kids anyway so even though I was home [hubs’ poker night and all], I locked myself in my room [literally] with my laptop and plugged away.

A few minutes ago, I passed 10K.

Word number 10,000?

Husband.

Yep. Because they just got married.

Man, I love that!

Tomorrow we have nursery duty but hopefully I’ll get some more done later. A 5K day would rock it. Monday, I know I can’t sub, but Wednesday and Friday are still possibilities. With work Tuesday and Thursday, a great weekend/Monday would be wonderful.

NaNoWriMo today: 3290
NaNoWriMo total: 10020
NaNoWriMo deficit: 16652
NaNoWriMo WPD to finish on time: 2856
NaNoWriMo current anticipated finish date: 1/24/2014

Hey. At least I’m out of February… 😀

Sigh.

Did you note the sarcasm?

The second half of the title oozes it. Just FYI.

I was a “building aide” today at one of the school’s in our district. It wasn’t a hard day, though I was on my feet a lot more than I usually am and they hurt :/. By the time I made an uber-fast and necessary stop at Wal-Mart, I made it home about 30 seconds AFTER the school bus. More sighing. The 10yo’s birthday shindig was tonight [here for cake/presents then dinner/mini-golf with 2 of her friends]. One of the moms called while I was leaving a voice mail for the dentist [yeah – voice mail saying they have the wrong ins. info]. She asked if she could drop her kiddo off about an hour early.

Not a problem. Honest. Just didn’t get other stuff done that I’d planned. Let the kids play outside for a while. Then the other kiddo showed up. Cake. Presents. 12yo to a friend’s house for a sleepover. Meet hubs at the restaurant to drop off the 10yo/friends – because his work-day-trip to STL went long and he got back over an hour later than anticipated. Wal-Mart to get dinner for the other kiddos and a movie store to get a DVD.

THEN a chance to sit.

Finally.

I’ve written a smidge. That’s not much. At all. I need a HUGE day tomorrow. Like 5K or more. It’s theoretically possible…

Sigh.

NaNoWriMo today: 90
NaNoWriMo total: 6730
NaNoWriMo deficit: 18275
NaNoWriMo WPD to finish on time: 2705
NaNoWriMo current anticipated finish date: 2/20/2014

I’m so blessedly far from half done it’s pretty pathetic.

BUT that other project is done and out of my hands.

I’d say it’s in God’s hands now, but the reality is, it’s been there all along.

I have several times set up in the next few days when I should be able to rock the word count. Right now, according to NaNoWriMo’s handy dandy calculator, I should finish right around Valentine’s Day.

By the end of the weekend, I hope to have that down to sometime this year.

I’m subbing tomorrow as a building aide. I’ll take the AlphaSmart and see what I can get done during my lunch break, etc. I’ve not worked in this building before.

NaNoWriMo today: 529
NaNoWriMo total: 6640
NaNoWriMo behind: 16698

[This is being written late on Thursday night. But I’m wiped out. So I’ll save it and post it when I wake up in the morning…]

Done? Could it be?!

The “other manuscript” I’ve been trying to complete is just that. COMPLETE! The proposal is done and waiting on a critter to look over one revised paragraph and then it’s good to go as well.

YAY!

PARTY!

That means I can focus on NaNo! FINALLY! Didn’t get as much done as I’d hoped today but at least I’m ready to focus on it :). I have three lectures left to give this semester and a test two days before Thanksgiving. I’m subbing on Friday but taking my AlphaSmart with me and hopefully will get at least some words in then. We’ll see.

Regardless, having this SO CLOSE to done [and really, out of my hands at the moment anyway] is a HUGE weight off my shoulders.

NaNoWriMo today: 1105 [so far]
NaNoWriMo total: 6111

Busy day today – working/teaching. Going through the proposal [out with a critter now who wants to look it over again tomorrow]. Freezing my fingers off.

And WRITING!

I’m so stinkin’ far behind it’s not even funny. According to the handy dandy little calculator thing on the NaNo website, I should finish about the end of February. February 28 to be precises, if I continue at my current rate. And by finish we mean 50K not the manuscript.

And since I want to be done WAY before then, it’s time to pick up the pace. Starting tomorrow. I’m going to build a fire [it’s COLD] and go to town while waiting on the last [dear God, please, last!] crits to come in.

In the meantime, I did pass a milestone today…

NaNoWriMo today: 508
NaNoWriMo total: 5008

And while you’re here, pop on over for your chance to win on Julie Lessman’s page.

Because she rawks.

And so does A Light in the Window.

You can find all the deets over on her Journal Jots. Check it out! If you buy either version of the book, let me know so I can claim credit for getting someone else to ;). Watch the video too. And like it. And let me know you did so I can get points for that too :D.

Here’s hoping it’s after midnight so I can post this sucker and go to bed – and still have it count for tomorrow ;).

And the answer is… maybe.

Almost.

😉

I think the last additions are done and they’re off to a critter to make sure there’s no glaring errors. I’m working on polishing up the proposal.

So…

NaNoWriMo today: 46
NaNoWriMo total: 4500
Other manuscript today: 1438
Manuscript total: 92542

The NaNo totals are pretty pathetic. I admit it. But I’m planning to take Wednesday off, build a fire [cold front, you know] and write all day.

I can’t wait.

After I finish tweaking the proposal tomorrow, that is. 😉

Huge, giant shout out to all the members of our military – past and present.

Beyond my thanks, you have my undying gratitude.

Since my sister took the kids last night, we got to sleep in this morning. We overslept for church but had breakfast together. After that, I worked on reading through the other MS again. I finished that and went to get my hair done. I adore my hair gal but we haven’t really had a chance to chat in a while, so I stayed longer than necessary.

Over breakfast, hubs suggested I go to Panera this afternoon to try to get this sucker done. I got a chunk of it. I have about 98 pages to go [transferring notes to the computer, but most of them are things like Oxford commas and turning “the” into “then” like it should have been all along]. I did write about 200 words in one scene and a few several sentence sections here and there. I have one scene to write tomorrow, maybe 600-1000 words. I dashed off a few sentences just now, so I could say I worked on NaNo some today…

A sick kiddo means I’ll be home all day tomorrow, though I’d already told the substitute scheduler lady I wasn’t going to be able to work – I am, however, already scheduled for Friday. Tomorrow! Tomorrow, I will get this done!

NaNoWriMo today: 165
NaNoWriMo total: 4454

Other MS today: -135 [but I deleted a 490 word chunk, so added 355 back in]
Other MS total: 91104

 

[That was supposed to post at 12:30 this morning… now, with two kids home, I’m glad I double checked so I didn’t miss my “post every day” for NaBloPoMo… Somehow my Day 9 post disappeared – though it was in my mail box. Hoping it still counts on the NaBloPoMo page – think I “update post” when Chrome shut down and restarted rather than made a new one… I really have blogged every day though…]

Yep. Am out and about tonight. Sis took the kids. Hubs, BFF, and her hubs took me to Olive Garden for dinner then we watched the new Star Trek at their house.

We haven’t left yet, but I did write a bit while sitting in the car. Also read some pages today. Enough that I really think I can finish tomorrow. Then finish edits Monday. I hope.

NaNoWriMo today: 210 (still in the notes app)
NaNoWriMo total: 210 more than yesterday 😉