Friends, Romans, Countrymen, Lend Me Your Words

I knew this would happen eventually. I knew the day would come that I would sit down in front of Blogger and think and think and think. And out of my spry fingers would come sheer brilliance absolutely nothing.

It's possible that this writer's block is happening because I ate way too much over the holiday weekend (oh my gosh did I eat and eat and eat. I don't think that the grizzlies up in my mountains ate that much in preparation for hibernation.) or it's possible that I'm feeling uninspired because of the NBA lockout--but whatever the cause, my mind is full of nothingness. And sadly, it's not just the blog that's suffering. NaNoWriMo isn't going so hot for me as well. Don't look at my wordcount. I am ashamed. Really, don't look at it, please. Stop! I said don't look! 

Since the month is over in just one day and I have a lot of words left to write, I really really need your help. How can you help? Give me words! I love made-up words. Words like   Ginormous    Ridonkulous   Fantabulous  

I also love made-up words that might be closely related to bad words, but since they're made up, they're not technically a swearword. (That's my story and I'm sticking with it.) Words like Craptacular (thank you Simpsons) or the most brilliant word of all: Dumbiot, as created by my 8 year old. Since we don't want to call someone dumb or an idiot, (because that's not nice!) it is therefore okay to call someone a dumbiot since it's not a real word. 

So I'm on the look-out for some fun new words. Can you help? Share your favorite words with me. If you don't have one on the tip of your tongue, make some up! (Word verification words are great for this!) And leave me the definition if it's not obvious so we can all make sure we are using the word correctly. 

But guess what? Even more than just winning the weekly prize, you could win something even cooler. Like you might just see your word in print, via Purgatory. And I will even acknowledge the origin of the word on my acknowledgement page. Total Awesomesauce!

A Grateful Winner

You guys are awesome! Your comments were thoughtful and inspiring (and not a bit selfish, unlike someone we all know). Each and every comment made me warm and tingly (even more so than a cup of Starbucks hot chocolate). I am so thankful for YOU my friends! Thanks for hanging out with me here on the internet and for being so supportive and encouraging. I have the best blog-friends in all of blog-land!

This week's prize is a cozy little pillow that will remind you to count your blessings every fall. AND! You also get a super-good smelling candle because you give me light and make me feel warm. (Do you like how I can relate any gift to any post? It's a rare talent, I know.)

The winner as picked by Random.org is #6 ... Bakerfam! You haven't won since way back when this blog was brand new! Congrats! It will be in the mail after the holiday.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

In Gratitude

I've been enjoying so many blogs and FB posts about gratitude this month and I'm seriously in awe of all of you who can list something you are thankful for EVERY day. That's a LOT of things to be thankful for. I've known all month that I need to do a gratitude post, but honestly, I've kinda been dreading it. Then I finally realized I have a problem: it's called ingratitude. (I know you find this shocking, especially when I admitted last week that I am selfish.)

I can see things I'm thankful for and acknowledge them, but then at the same time, I'm always wanting more. For example, when I did a gratitude journal a few years ago, I would list five things I was grateful for that day, and then at the bottom, I would write, "Next year, I would like to be grateful for ...." You see how sneaky I am? (You sneaky mom!) I use gratitude as a way to encourage myself to do more. I hope that I'm just ambitious and not a heathen.

As I was trying to think of what I'm most thankful for, without any goals attached, something I said in last week's post came back to me. I said that my hubby is the shopper of the family. What I should have said is that he's the everything of the family. Like when it's Thanksgiving and we ask what we can bring to the big dinner, it's his delightful pies that are requested. He's the cook of the family (and a seriously awesome cook, I might add.)

He's also the bread-winner of the family. (This might shock you since I'm an author. You'd expect I'd be as rich as Stephanie Meyer, wouldn't you? Weird (and sad) that most authors make less than McDonald's employees.) Hey I just did a parenthesis within a parenthesis. And I'm wondering why I'm not making millions as an author. Hmm. Peculiar.  So anyway, he not only brings home the bacon, but he also fries it up in a pan. (In a pan that he probably shopped for. And paid for.)

He's the deep-cleaner of our family. That scunge that tends to gather in corners and the dust that gathers on your light fixtures? He's the guy that notices that stuff and gives our house a spit-shine. He also never leaves dirty socks on the floor. Pretty darn amazing.

He's also the fix-it guy. I can count on one finger the number of times we've called in a repair man. If he says he can't fix something, I know that we just need to go out and get a new one. He's also the builder-guy; it's so awesome to live in a house that he built from the ground-up.

He's also THE dad. I now know why we have 4 boys: because all boys need a great dad, and our boys have THE best. (As does our little girl.) He's the dad who is so involved in the kid's schooling that he's a member of the school board. He's that dad who goes on all the scout camp-outs (he LIVES for the summer 50 mile hike) and helps with all their scout activities. He's the dad who takes kids on field trips (even a week-long field trip) even though he has work piled up the wazoo.

He's also my biggest cheerleader. He's always encouraging me in my writing endeavors, even thought there's probably times when he thinks I'm crazy; and there's probably other times that he'd rather have a clean house than 4000 words on the laptop.

So there it is. The thing I am most thankful for is this guy:

(I also happen to think he's totally foxy)

So how about you? What are you the most thankful for???

(Comment will close at 7pm Weds. Winner will be announced by 8pm Weds.)

A Steaming, Hot Cup of Winner

I will have you know that I went to town today and I bought nothing for myself. Are you so proud? However, there is a coat at Costco that is really, really cute ... I might just have to go back.

BTW, speaking of Costco: I went there because I was out of almonds (and a few other things, but mostly I needed almonds). But guess what I forgot to get??? ALMONDS! Hello!     I cannot write without almonds. My wordcount will not change until I can get back into Costco.

This week's prize is something that will keep you warm inside if you decide to brave the crowds and shop next Friday. And it's something that we talked about last week that smells oh-so-good. It's 10 bucks to spend at Starbucks! Remember that they make delicious hot chocolate too if coffee isn't your cup of tea.

Thanks for all the comments this week: I was very entertained! And the winner is #7 PaulaShawn. It's been a while since you've won ... and I do know that you've got a thing for hot chocolate, even if you won't eat potato chips. Congrats! It'll be in the mail.

Now next week will be just a smidge different because of Thanksgiving. I'll post sometime Monday afternoon, and then the comments will close Weds. at 7ish. I'll post the winner shortly thereafter, then you won't have to be checking your computer on Thursday. Sound good? Kay. See you then!

It's All About Me!

You've probably realized that I'm not ashamed to show my weaknesses to you guys. I've talked about my geeky side, my hidden desires, and I've shown you what I do with my spare time. (Go ahead and ogle over that last link. I know you want to.) So now I'm going to reveal to you yet another of my flaws. I'm selfish. Really, truly: I am a selfish person. Who do I think about more than anyone else? ME! Who do I talk to more than anyone else? ME! And who do I spend more money on than anyone else? ME AGAIN! (OK, I'm stretching the truth a little on that last one, but just run with it for this blog post.)

With Black Friday just around the corner, I'm sure most of you are thinking about all the great deals you can get for your loved ones for that Great Day of Giving. Not I. I seem to get a bad case of "I-Wantitis when I look through all those sale brochures. (Do you think retailers do that on purpose? Do they advertise things that make women lose their self control, and then throw in a few good prices on toys for the kids so the women don't feel so guilty about their shopping spree? I think it's a conspiracy.)

So next Friday, my hubby will be dragging my butt out of bed and taking me to all the sales. (He's the shopper in our family.) And I'm sure I'll get a few things for gifts, but mostly, I'll be keeping Numero Uno in mind. What's on the top of my want list this year?

1. A nice camera

2. A tablet

3. Botox (kidding. I just wanted to see if you're paying attention.)

4. A heated seat to use on my office chair

5. A Jeep

I think I'll only get one of those things, and I think it might be the one at the bottom of the list. (Kidding again. More like #4.)

How about you guys? Do you get suckered into the Black Friday deals to spoil yourself, or are you the CEO of your family's charitable organization?

Tell me what tops your Want List this year (especially those things that are unaffordable. We can all repent of being covetous later!)

And the prize for the winning comment is super amazing this week: whatever is at the top of your want list, I will buy for you! No price ceiling! Wow! Do you think I'm being serious??? No! Of course not. But it's something that will make you all warm and tingly.

It Smells Like A Winner

OK, JazznJenna started something with her skunk story. Judi and LivingstonslifeinMt: I think you gals need to get your sniffers checked out. Or maybe you just need to give your nose a good, hearty blow.

Bigskyboys: I'm so with you on the coffee one. Want to meet at the Cafe tomorrow and just sit and smell?

My house smelled like ham yesterday and it always smells like pine trees outside: is that enough to entice you to visit PaulaShawn?

I know what you mean about workplace smells, Jessops. I worked at Little Caesar's and I still can't stand the smell.

So the prize this week is something smell related. It's a copy of "Smells Like Teen Spirit" by Nirvana. Yay! Are you excited?

No? OK, that's not really the prize. It's one of these:

(Please don't drink it. It's not good for you.)

And you get to put it in one of these:

Yes, I'm a Bath and Body Works junkie. And these are by far my favorite product. (Chances are I've given you one of these as a gift already.)  I do a serious stock up every time they go on sale.

So lets spin that Random.org widget and see who wins:

It's #3. MISSY! You da winner! Yippy Skippy. Email me your address please. folksinmt(at)gmail(dot)com

 And BTW everyone: did you see my wordcount over there in the sidebar? Holy smokes my keyboard is on fire. (It's actually not. But my dishwasher was. Seriously. It went up in smoke. Guess what I'm getting for Christmas?)

See you on Tuesday!

I smell a smelly smell

Since I made you stop and ponder last week and since we all need to use our time wisely so we can accomplish DoSoYoLoDoMo, this is going to be the easiest post ever.

What smells do you love?

I love:

1. Anything pumpkin related (pumpkin bread, pumpkin cookies, pumpkin bars, you get the idea)

2. Anything lemony (except for Snicket)

3. Cinnamon, especially when baked with apples (sounds kind of like apple pie, doesn't it?)

Also of note, I love the smell of burning weeds. That one might be slightly strange? Do you guys like any strange smells? My hubby loves the smell of lumber mills (yes, he's very popular with the tree huggers.)

So ready set go ... tell me what smell you like to smell!

A Challenging Winner

It's been two days since our challenge--are you still motivated? I am, but a little begrudgingly. I'm having a hard time putting words together into those sentence thingies. It's such a good thing I put that progress bar up, or I might just decide to wait another week or two to get to work. I did finally make a connection this morning though: Halloween candy = ADHD. I have sworn the stuff off, at least for a few hours. I want to make it to 5000 words today! Yay!

This week's prize is something that will help you get your projects done. It's a $10 Papa John's gift card. How does that help? That means you don't have to cook dinner one night: you better use your extra hour or so wisely!

And the winner as selected by Random.org is #3 ... JazznJenna. Another new BlogAwayster! Wowza. I don't know what's up with that, but all the rest of you guys might want to change your screen name next week so you can win. Kidding. JazznJenna, email me  at folksinmt(at)gmail(dot)com.

Have a great week everyone!

National Something or Other

It's November.

Stop and think about that for a second. Do you have any feelings about that statement?

No? Nothing? Me either.

I've decided that November is a nothing month. No offense November, but you don't have much to offer. The once-beautiful fall leaves now litter the brown, dying earth. It's cold, but there's no snow to play in. And we're already thinking way past November anyhow, thanks to the over-commercialization of Christmas. I know November's not completely wasted ... there is that lovely day we currently call Thanksgiving, but I'm sure the name will eventually get changed to The Day to Gorge and Store Up Energy for Black Friday. Besides, it's hard to get excited for a day that makes your pants too tight.

So someone out there in the writing world decided that since November is the great month of nothingness, all writers should make good use of that extra time and write a novel. Hence, November was declared National Novel Writing Month. And then it was hence decided that name was too long, so therefore it became NaNoWriMo.

The challenge is to write a 50,000 word novel in 30 days. For those of you who don't count the words on every page of a book you are reading, that's a short novel: less than 200 pages in a pocket-book format. I tend to write loooonger books. Catalyst is roughly 150,000 words. So, while I am participating in NaNoWriMo (for the first time!) I'm not doing it to complete a novel. I'm doing it to get a great start on Purgatory. There's a little progress bar over in the sidebar for you to see if I make my 50,000 word goal. Also directly related, (but not available in the sidebar) do you think I'll eat 50,000 pounds of nuts to match the word count? It's a definite possibility.

I'm a little stressed about the time factor, as my calendar seems to be filling up quickly (especially since I just found I have jury duty! Oi!) but I'm ready for the challenge. I'm stocked up on macaroni and cheese and ramen for dinners for the next month, so the children won't starve. And I'll buy extra underwear so I can avoid doing laundry until Dec. 1st. I'm all set!

Since you guys probably won't want to participate in NaNoWriMo with me, let's just declare November the Do Something You Love to Do Month (or DoSoYoLoDoMo for short). But here's the requirements:

1. It should be something challenging, yet rewarding
2. It should be something you've been wanting to do for awhile, but haven't had time.
3. It shouldn't be expensive.
4. It shouldn't be illegal.

Do you accept the challenge? What are you going to do this month? Make a quilt? Cook a gourmet meal? Learn how to scuba-dive? Run a marathon? Clean out the fridge? Set a goal and then tell us about it. Please! Let's accomplish something together!