One.

NaNoWriMo 2013 is off to a great start! By Day 3, I had written over 8,500 words and was way ahead of schedule. My plan for this year is to write 1,500 words Monday – Thursday and then around 2,500 – 3,000 words Friday – Sunday. Thankfully, since I get off work early on Fridays, it is basically another day of weekend so it gives me plenty of time to catch up if need be. I know I’ll be losing out on writing days next weekend (I’ll be on a cruise!) and possibly during the Thanksgiving holiday (since we’re hosting family + it’s my birthday + it’s Thanksgiving) so I’m trying to account for days I won’t be able to write. Thankfully, November seems like a longer month (somehow?) so I’m really not worrying about finishing. I know I can do it!

The writing process is going well, though. I have had moments where I want to change my story and write something different, but I just keep writing and pressing forward. I am feeling a bit overwhelmed, thinking about the revision process and all that will entail, but I’m trying to focus on getting the story out of my head and onto paper – no matter how sloppy or messy or shitty it sounds. First drafts are supposed to be that way! And that’s what I love so much about NaNoWriMo – it’s about writing, plain and simple. Not editing, not revising, not even writing well. Just writing. Getting it down. Getting it done.

Two.

I don’t mean to add to the whining, but honestly, Daylight Saving Time is the worst. I am not a fan. I don’t like the fact that the sun is setting as I leave work (though the views are spectacular) and I don’t like the fact that it’s pitch black outside literally 10 minutes after I get home. It’s just so depressing. In general, I am not a fan of the nighttime, so the fact that I only get around 10-11 hours of daylight just makes me sad. I like the sun! And bright skies! And being able to see where I’m going!

I will stop whining since there’s nothing I can do about it. And this is still my favorite time of year. Eventually, I’ll get used to it, right?

Three.

Terra wrote a post this week about this website, called Secret Language, and I have been obsessed with it ever since. It draws from a 40-year empirical study of more than 20,000 people and is a distillation of personality traits, according to when you were born. Typically, I don’t buy into this kind of stuff because it always makes me very skeptical but this stuff is pretty interesting. You type in when you were born, which, for me, was November 28, 1987 and then you are given your Secret Language Name and personality and health traits associated with being born on this day. Additionally, you get an extensive personality profile and advice for living with this personality.

My “name” is Passionate Lone Wolf, which I felt was a pretty accurate description for me! Some of the traits used to describe me were emotionally sensitive, profound, and contradictory. (Yes, yes, and yes.) And while I didn’t agree with all of the traits notated in the personality profile, it was vastly correct. Take a peek:

Their ideology is extremely important to them, but it can change in a bewildering fashion, its twists and turns leading through a maze of irony and high seriousness.

November 28 people enjoy pointed humor, and will use wit and irony as powerful weapons against their opponents and also as a means to clarify and give shape to their own views. Most often, however, they make an impression of forthright seriousness.

Perhaps the greatest problem for November 28 people is coming to understand themselves, and being able to straighten out their complex, difficult personalities. Usually it is seething emotions which keep them from viewing themselves in a more objective light.

You can delve further into your personality profile according to the week you were born (and even further from there). I was born during the Week of Independence (I don’t typically think of myself as very independent, but I guess maybe I am.) and there was more goodness to be found here:

They try to project an air of self-assurance and confidence, but behind this facade there often lurks a sensitive and even insecure individual. This becomes quickly evident when they are put under stress, either through negative criticism or through some challenge to their character. In such situations they can easily and instantaneously fly off the handle, drowning those around them with their anger. Those alert enough to see the storm clouds gathering will try to avoid unleashing their emotional thunderbolts.

At times they can be unreasonable, but they are usually open to discussion. Actually, these quick, witty individuals thoroughly enjoy verbal repartee and debate. This can become a problem if they reach a subject that sticks in their craw, when they can easily become contentious and argumentative.

It was just fascinating to me! Some of it was so eye-opening, a way at looking at my personality in a completely different way. Obviously, not all of it was accurate for me but nothing is 100%, right?

You can also put in the birthdays of you and your partner and see how you guys match up. While I didn’t have anyone to match up with, I did try my mom and dad, and then my mom and her boyfriend. For my mom and dad, Secret Language said they were ideal for friendship but problematic for marriage (YEP!). For my mom and her boyfriend, it said they were ideal for marriage but problematic for work. (Match made in heaven?)

Anyway, this is an extremely long point but I really encourage you to check out the site and see what you find out! It’s a pretty neat website.

Four.

Okay, I am going to talk sports for a quick minute (or two). If you follow sports, you have probably heard about this situation with the Miami Dolphins (my favorite team!) and two of the players, Richard Incognito and Jonathan Martin. I’ve stayed pretty mum on the subject, mostly because this makes me sad to be a Dolphins fan, quite frankly. The issue lies in the fact that Martin left the team last week and has since checked himself in and out of a hospital due to problems stemming from Incognito’s bullying. Dolphins coaches told Incognito to “toughen” Martin up so, apparently, that’s what he did, but as a bully. He also left threatening comments and racist slurs on his voicemail (Martin is biracial while Incognito is white).

What it stems down to is the hazing ritual of the NFL for young rookies and bullying. People are saying Martin is “soft” and needs to “man up,” and while I do agree that Martin should have stood up for himself, I also think this issue is more than that. The truth is, he should never have felt the need to defend himself with his teammates at his place of work. He should have never been scared to come to work. (And don’t even get me started on the fact that he’s 6’5 and 300+ lbs so obviously he can’t be bullied, right? Ugh.) And then, if this isn’t enough to make me disgusted, Dolphin players are coming forward to support Incognito. Not Martin. The bully. Supporting a bully. Way to go, Dolphins. Slow clap.

The problem is, this isn’t exclusive to the Dolphins. (Or even the NFL!) I know this happens in other locker rooms, but that doesn’t make it okay. Bullying is never okay. Victim shaming is never okay. Racist comments and jokes are not okay. I feel silly even typing about that! It’s like, come on. We’re talking about adults here. You don’t have to be the best player in the NFL by bullying younger players and being dirty. There needs to be change. There has to be change. This is not what football is about.

Five.

I have a fairly great weekend planned! Tomorrow, Dutch will be participating in his second “Running of the Weiners” race (Senior Sausage division!). Saturday evening, I’m going to a game night, and throughout the weekend, I, of course, plan on doing lots of writing for #NaNoWriMo. (I have a goal of writing 9,000 words this weekend. We shall see!)

How do you feel about Daylight Saving Time – indifferent, love, loathe? If you went on the Secret Language website, what name were you given? Any fun weekend plans?

One.

As I’ve mentioned before, the office environment at my new job was a lot to get used to. I mean, I only have two real experiences with job environments: a preschool and my previous office job. That company was small (11 people total) and we were a close-knit group. And the environment was pretty energetic. We all collaborated on many projects together, which meant lots of meetings, conference calls, and impromptu brainstorming sessions whenever we got a chance. The first time I stepped foot in my new office, it was dead silent. I felt as if I was setting off a bomb just by telling the receptionist I was there for an interview. Seeing how quiet it was, I told myself I could never work in an environment like that.

And my first month, it was hard to get used to this environment. (Plus, I was stuck in a corner by myself which didn’t help matters.) I felt as if I couldn’t even eat an apple without disrupting the quiet. But I noticed this week how much I really enjoy it. I’ve gotten used to it, and it’s absolutely necessary for a writing environment. We’re not collaborating on projects – we’re writing. And writing requires silence. (At least it does for me. A lot of people wear headphones and listen to music, which also works.) I really feel like I’m settling in more, finding my place, and I’m not as terrified as I was in the beginning. It helps that I was moved to another cubicle where I’m surrounded by people now (I’m in a part of the office where I’m surrounded by boys. Seven boys and little ole me. I, um, don’t hate it…), and actually have conversations throughout the day. And I think the more time passes, the more I’ll be able to open up and feel more of a part of the team.

It’s funny, too, because I was telling my mom a work story on Friday during lunch and she said how happy I seem now. Whenever I talked about work at my other job, it was always filled with complaints. And I’m not saying things are butterflies and roses here because I can see how mundane the writing can get, but I will take every mundane writing assignment over dealing with the horribleness I dealt with at my last job. So yes. I’m really, really happy.

Two.

This week, I have had dreams about a much-adored blogger dying, shattering my iPhone screen again, and seeing my dad and having a wonderful afternoon with him. I’ve been through the gauntlet this week! Sadness, despair, and happiness. The dream about the blogger is one I haven’t been able to get out of my head, and every time I see a post or tweet from her, I get super happy that all is well. And the dream about my dad? Well, just add that to the many dreams I have where things are wonderful and we’re getting to know one another again and I wake up in the happiest of moods. It’s always sobering to wake up and realize that is not my reality. And now I just miss him more than ever.

Three.

For my girls’ cruise (in three weeks!), my friend gave us the news that we were upgraded to two balcony rooms right next to each other. I’ve never been in a balcony room on a cruise! I am so excited, but now I don’t think I’ll ever want to leave the room to do anything. Except eat, since there’s no room service on this cruise. I’m slowly getting more and more excited about this cruise. I’ve been “yay” but not “YAY!” because it’s only two days and we don’t make any stops, but still, it’s a cruise, with four girls I totally adore, and will make for a great, great weekend.

Plus, we are reading Baby-Sitter’s On Board as our book for November. And that’s just the best thing ever.

Four.

I bought Lorde’s CD a few weeks ago and my obsession with her is ridiculous. The CD itself is amazing and I’m in love with just about every track. And basically, I just want to be Lorde when I grow up.

Five.

Some links to my favorite posts this week:

You Think The Stakes Are High Now? Please | The Middle Finger Project

“Are we really passing up life because IT’S A LITTLE MORE FUCKING HARD THAN LYING AROUND ALL DAY? Every single moment IS the opportunity of a lifetime.”

Ash Ambridge is my Internet crush and I loved this post. It was short, simple, and to the point. And that punch in the face I needed.

10 Habits to Help You Be More Present (Part I, Part II) | Jess Lively

“Distraction is a moving target. So our job, as presence-seeking beings, is not to find a “silver bullet” that dissolves our distractions forever, but to realize that we will need to remain aware of what interrupts our presence on a regular basis and make changes accordingly.”

Jess Lively’s blog might be my favorite find of this year. I loved this series she recently did because she offered many great ideas and tips for finding ways to find peace and presence in the busyness of everyday life. She stresses that it’s something we always have to be mindful of and I love her point that distraction is a moving target because it’s so true.

Ten Truths for the Teenage Girl | Living Proof Ministries Blog 

“If I’ve learned one thing, I’ve learned that if I can’t always believe what I think about myself, and I can’t always believe what people are saying about me or what the internet says about me,  I can believe what the Lord says about me. I can rest in the truth of His word and the promises He gives.”

Lindsee is my soul sister. She’s a girl I would tackle hug if I ever met her and not feel embarrassed because I know she would hug me just as tightly back – even if we’d never met one another before. This post, about a list of things she wanted to tell a 13-year-old girl as she steps into her teenage years, was beautiful. I think it’s applicable for all ages – truths I need to remember myself, at 25. Especially the sentence above. I need to remember that the only opinion that matters is Jesus, and He holds a very high and esteemed opinion of me. 🙂

Happy weekend! I don’t have too many plans. I want to work on my NaNoWriMo plot (it all kicks off one week from today – eek!) and hopefully, get it as finished as I possibly can. And my friend is having a birthday party to celebrate her 30th so I’ll be stopping by to hang out for a few hours. Should be an easy, low-key weekend! My favorite!