Woo hoo! I received my first 'hate comment' today! It was from an anonymous user and everything! 

I have to tell you all something. I feel like I've finally arrived as a blogger. I'm legit now. I have creepy little trollers! (Err... troller. Singular.) I'm kind of stoked!

To that anonymous little muffin who said this:

I'm scared to try. 

Multiple failures in different areas of my life have made me afraid.

I'm afraid to go to college because I might fail.

I'm afraid to get close to someone because they might go away.

I'm afraid to reach for the stars because I might come up short.

I believe that I can do it. 

I know that I'm talented and blessed with so many wonderful gifts.

I know that I have so much to offer.

But I'm scared to try. 

I have so much that I need to do. 

I looked at the countdown clock on the NaNoWriMo website. Less than 3 days left until November.

Am I ready?

No.

Could I probably BS it enough to write 50,000 words? 

Yeah, probably. 

The problem?

I'm a born procrastinator.

I've so much to do. I better stop blogging and get to it.

Then just pull tight and repeat the third step until your ribbon is covered with strips of tulle!




Now you're done!

With only just over a week until November, I've started panicking about what I'm going to do with my blog while I'm obsessively writing my NaNoWriMo novel. 

I've come to the conclusion that I have to be very organized. I've scheduled out my posts, and will do a fair amount of pre-writing. 

I plan on answering any questions you have about me. So if you have questions, please ask them!

Time Travel Tuesdays:

Stories, pictures and videos from my past. Embarrassing, heartfelt, laughable moments.

It will start at the beginning of the month, and you'll have a chance to enter again each week. On Thanksgiving Thursday, I will present the winner!

I'll let someone take control of a post for a day, therefore helping to lighten my load!

Where I'll update you all on my NaNoWriMo progess and leave you with an excerpt of my writing from that week. 

So there you have it. My blog schedule for the month of November! It's going to be a crazy one! Wish me luck!

The cornier the better. It reminds you what it's like to laugh, and that things aren't always so serious.

(Optional: Add a fuzzy blanket. Nothing is better than having toasty toes while giggling at teenage girls and swooning over boys playing adolescent jail bait.)

2. Get out of the house!

Even if you only go to the grocery store, it's good to stop hiding away in your room.

I suggest looking halfway decent first. I looked like a slob and was genuinely terrified that Stacy and Clinton were going to apprehend me at any moment.


(Optional: While you're out, go through the drive through and get yourself something sweet. Nothing too big. Don't want to break the diet. But just remind yourself that you deserve a treat. You're a good person. Good people deserve sugar.)

3. Do something with your hands!

Write a blog, clean your room, make your Halloween costume. (I decided to combine all three.)


Doing something with your hands effectively distracts your mind from depressing thoughts. All of your attention is focused on tying that piece of tulle to the ribbon.

When you are finished, you have done something productive with your time, and maybe you'll have made something to be proud of!

(Optional: If you make a costume, another way to brighten your spirits it to play dress up. It is guaranteed to produce a giggle or two.)

4. Remember how blessed you are!

I think so many of us (myself included) are so inclined to focus on the bad in our lives. The things we wish we had. The things we don't have and aren't doing.

It's such a spirit booster when you sit down and think about the blessings you have in your life.

(Optional: Write a list. Like Pringles: "Once you pop, the fun won't stop!" The blessings you have in your life will just keep pouring out onto that list!)

What do you all do when you need a lift?

P.S. Thank you to all of the beautiful people who commented on my blog! You all made me smile. 

I'm feeling down.

Down like a bird that can't fly.

Down like a fallen dish, shattered on the floor.

Down like... something that's not up. (I'm out of metaphors.)

There are a few reasons why this is...

1. I think it's finally sinking in that my Grandma is gone and that she's really not going to be there the next time I go to her house. Anytime I think about Thanksgiving, or Christmas Eve, it really hurts. She was the center of both of those holidays and traditions, and change scares me. I miss my grandma.

2. I'm unemployed again. When I started my job, I knew that it might only be temporary. I was taking the place of a 70 year old woman who had broken her arm and had a myriad of other health problems. But they wanted her back when she was better if her doctor gave her the okay. She wasn't supposed to be back until November. When I showed up for work on Wednesday, she was there. Two weeks early. She and my coworker were shocked that no one had called me. I went down to my bosses office trying not to cry. 

3. I had to take down my green screen out of the spare bedroom. And I have no idea where I can put it now when I make my next book review. But that's kind of minor. I'm just a little bummed.

4. National Novel Writing Month starts in 9 days. While I think I've got a pretty good idea of what I'm doing, I'm a little bit terrified.

5. I just want someone to hold me.

Enough of me whining. Here are some happy things too.

1. It's raining and smells wonderful. The sun is shining through the clouds and the wet, colorful leaves look beautiful.

2. I'm about to play (and maybe finish) Zelda: Ocarina of Time. That's awesome!

3. I've started making my Halloween costume! It's poofy!

Things aren't so bad. I've got a good life and things to keep me busy.

To my friends:

I just want to say thanks for being there for me during this time in my life. It meant so much to me.

Bloggers!

Thanks for being patient with me. I know I haven't been blogging much. Also, thank you for all of your kind words. You're all so sweet!

Hey Bedroom!

I just cleaned you! Why are you so messy already! Do something about that, will you?!

Work:

I'm not so thrilled that you're back again tomorrow. You're like a zit. I can't seem to leave you alone. I'm sure if I did, you'd go away. Bah.

Dearest Guitar,

Why don't I play you more often? You're fun. I should do so. Please don't hurt my fingers!

Dreams;

Why are you so silly? My grandma isn't a robot with ninja moves on a mission to destroy me! I am not a frog!  There is no way that I can play basketball with the NBA! I would appreciate it if instead of being so random and silly you would give me ideas for the plot of my novel! 

My wonderful grandma,

I miss you so much. Thank you for so many wonderful memories. I love you.

Your loving grand daughter.

I am thankful for a wonderful family who love and supports me and each other. It's so great to be able to come together this weekend to celebrate my grandmother's wonderful life. I love you all SO much.

Good night everyone! 

What are you thankful for?

My grandma is one of the most amazing women I know. She is spiritual, and loving and has had such an amazing life. 

She passed away an hour ago. I was able to be there when she passed and it was such an amazing, peaceful experience. My mind is still comprehending it. 

I love you grandma. With all of my heart. Thank you for helping to start this wonderful family that I belong to. 

Thank you for being there for me whether I was sick and needed you, or whether I was in a play and just wanted you to see me on stage. 

Thank you for being the center of nearly every family tradition we have.

And most of all. Thank you for being my grandma. 

I love you!

My grandma and me on my blessing day.

My grandma and her 7 children. (This is one of my favorite pictures of all time.)

My grandma and me September 12, 2010

I feel so blessed to have such a wonderful grandmother. I will miss you so much!

Until we meet again.

Rae Rasmussen
April 23, 1922 - October 15, 2010

Nine years ago, I became an aunt. He was such a beautiful little boy. 

He is still a beautiful boy.

He is a picky eater. A whiz with video games and putting together Legos. So good at math.

I love you Jeff!

Seven years ago, I became an aunt. Again. She was the most adorable, personality filled little girl.

And she still is.

She is so creative. The best reader and writer. Swims like a fish.

I love you Megs!

Happy Birthday to both of you! I'm excited to watch you grow another year!

Why I hate cleaning my bedroom.

I thought about taking pictures of a before shot so I could display it side by side with the perfect after shot. But... I think I might have given some of those obsessive cleaners hives or something similar. So I saved someone from yucky itching. You're welcome.

I'm just taking a break. I should get back to it. Bah.

(Positive note: My cleaning playlist as 76 songs of pure awesome. It's been a fun few hours listening to great music while I suffer.)

NaNoWriMo,

I am so excited! I can't wait to rejoin the fun and games (and stress) that you create and sponsor! 

Will you plot yourself already? I've been wracking my brain about where to take the many characters that are now named in the world that is now mapped out. But all of that is useless. They'll all just sit happily in their little imaginary world with no adventure. That's boring. You will never get read. So hurry and create a reason for me to write you! 

Your adoring (frustrated) author.

To My Job:

I really like you. There is nothing better than getting paid to play, color and watch Disney movies. I approve.

(I would appreciate it if you would create an instant disinfectant sprayer for all of the children. I'm not a fan of being sick all weekend.)

Hey Cold!

You're ridiculous. My lungs rumble so much when I breathe you'd think it was 2012 in there. Go away. 

Also, I don't like your irony. "Get some rest and I'll leave you be." Yet your insistent need to tickle my throat and make me cough won't let me sleep! Jerk.

P.S. Making me cough so hard I throw up isn't acceptable. I officially hate you. Except you made me lose five pounds... I guess I'll forgive you...

-Dearest Halloween-

My feelings for you do not reflect the picture above. I love you. I love feeling like a little kid, getting all dressed up in silly outfits. You make me smile. Oh how I miss the days when I would map out my trick-or-treating route and fill two pillowcases with candy. More than I could ever eat of course. I would wait until Spring and walk door to door selling it all back to the people who gave it to me. *Sigh* Good times. 

I love you. 

Costume,

I'm really excited about my ideas. Please don't make me look fat! I would be sad. 

Thank you!

P.S. Voting for my costume is still open! Go vote!

I've always loved Halloween. But I am terrible at costumes. So terrible that I was a cat for two years in a row. 

It would help if I had more money, but I am so awful at costumes. But this year, I'm actually very excited for my cheap, but fun and cute ideas. (At least, I hope that they'll be cute.)

I must be very into insects because my two choices are:

A Ladybug:

Or

A Bumble Bee:

I can't decide between the two, so if you would all be so kind as to vote for which one you like better?

I get paid in about a week, so the voting will be open until then. I'll be sure to post pictures of the finished product. 

Last year, I wrote a novel. In one month. But I had a lot of help. I wouldn't have been able to do it without National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo.) 

Well, it's coming up on NaNoWriMo again! In one month! I'm excited!

October is just as important for NaNoWriMo as November, when you actually do the writing. This is the 'prep month.' You work on plot outlines, character names, and for me, covers and maps. 

Being the Photoshop obsessed girl I am, this is always my second priority in October. Seeing the images helps me visualize the adventure that will unfold in my novel. 

I finished my images to the best of my abilities at this early stage.

 Here is the current cover! I am very excited about how it turned out!

It will be a companion novel to the novel I wrote last year, Sacrifice.

So I expanded the area of map that wasn't explored in Sacrifice and will be using it as the map in my 2010 project. 

(Sacrifice Map)

(2010 Project Map)

The ideas are turning in my head and I'm so excited to explore this story and see where it takes me.

I also made a cover for my friend Alex (a fellow NaNo-er). 

If you are interested in NaNoWriMo, join HERE! It's free, and a lot of fun (and hard work). 

My username is Kate Weber! Add me as a writing buddy!

Happiest Moment: Getting the job! 

Saddest Moment: The few moments when I've realized that my grandmother wasn't going to be with us much longer. 

TV: 

Overall Impression: Lots of ups and downs. Just like most months. So many good things happened this month, and also a lot of sad things. I'm excited to move on to a new month of experiences.