FRIDAY STIR FRY - Holiday Parties

https://www.morguefile.com

So, it's that time of year when holiday parties abound. Pot lucks and gift exchanges. Yeah, not my thing. Both my writer groups have these. One this week, the other next week. 

I don't like cooking or shopping for food and if I go, I'm obligated to bring something edible. With my disability, it is difficult to get around let alone lug food and a gift into the meeting. And, I don't want a gift. I'm at the stage in my life I'm trying to get rid of stuff, not bring more crap into my life. And let's face it, these gift exchanges are usually crap you wouldn't buy for yourself.

Of course my wonderful writer friends are telling me to come anyway. One even said she would cook something for me and bring a gift. Sweet, but no. Again, just not my thing. Also, I'm not much into small talk and oohing and awing over a present or asking for somebodies recipe.

I have to go to the one next week because I'm chairman of our JANO writing challenge - which is open to everyone and kind of like NaNo. Find info here: 

 http://sleuthsink.blogspot.com/p/about-jano-during-january-2010-sleuths_13.html

I need to update everyone and conduct a prize drawing for last year's JANO. So, I kinda have to be there. Although I have thought of just giving the info to somebody else and skipping. There's still time for that option.

I know I sound like a mean old bitch. And maybe I am. But if I don't enjoy these things, why should I go? I would rather sleep in, watch a movie, and write.  

Comment and let me know what a bad person I am. 

FRIDAY STIR FRY - Jano Time

http://morguefile.com

A local writing group I belong to does a thing called Jano. It's based on National Novel Writing Month, but we do it in January. Get it? Anyway, the idea came to pass because one of our members thought November was just too busy. And January has 31 days. It's small peas compared to Nano, but it is a very supportive and motivated bunch. It's not too late to join. Check it out here.
http://sleuthsink.blogspot.com/2014/12/almost-time-for-jano2015.html

I'm attempting AGAIN to finish Coming Home, my second book. I don't know why I keep trying to finish it. Well, never mind, I do know why. It's about a woman who comes back home to bury her mother after she dies in a nursing home. I had to place my mother in a nursing home. It was the most agonizing decision of my life. And for the two years she lived there, I hated myself. I questioned if I could have done more for her. Every time she would ask me to take her home. And every time, I left with tears in my eyes because I couldn't. I felt like that boat - adrift and lonely.

My mother died eight years ago and I still feel the pain of my decision. If I don't finish this story, I may never find peace. Here is an excerpt drawn directly from my experience. Maybe you will see why I have to finish this.

 

As they made their way down the hallway, the woman tried drawing Jennifer into small talk.  It fell mainly on deaf ears as Jennifer took in the all too familiar surroundings. She realized this would be the last time she would see the picture of Jesus with the art light illuminating him from above as if he just descended from his heavenly throne. Or, the fish tank with all the colorful inhabitants immune to the sickness and distress around them, the filter bubbling fresh air into their environment. A "Footsteps in The Sand” poem in a gilded frame hung above the fake mahogany table with a silk flower arrangement, the wheelchairs barely missing it as they paraded down the hall three times a day on their way to the dining room.

 Then there were the sounds, the crying and the moaning. The calls for help that the staff learned to tune out but Jennifer never did. The flushing of toilets and the loud radio and television sets all tuned to different stations creating a kaleidoscope of noise. The smell of defeat permeated the air creeping into every fiber of her body.                                                                

 

 

EPIC FAIL

Time to admit defeat. I didn't finish NaNo. I only made it through the first week and 10,000 words. My writer friends will tell me that's 10,000 more words than I had before November and while that is true, it's not much consolation. I wanted to win again. I wanted a 2011 winner's certificate. I wanted bragging rights!

Where did I lose my way? Hmmm, my excuses are as follows: I didn't like my story and decided to change it halfway through week one. But, the change didn't motivate me either.  I was attacked by a mean cold. I had a hard time just spitting out words I knew I would have to edit out later. But, let's be honest. I was just plain lazy. I didn't want to get up early in the morning and write. I didn't want to take my laptop to work and write during lunch. I didn't want to go home right after work and write. I just didn't want to do it. I took a wrong turn at Lazyville and couldn't find my way back.

I plan on participating in my local writer's group, Sleuth's Ink, Jano project. It's like NaNo, but obviously in January. And there are prizes and write-ins with people I like. Plus , I can finish a story I was working on before NaNo. So all is not lost. I'll get back on track soon. But, this time I might take a map with me.