Getting Better All the Time 3.18

NaNoWriMo with Twins

first off I would like to say thanks to my family for letting me attempt to write a novel this past month. Just a crazy idea, but they were supportive.

Now that the crazy month of November is over...
I will do more chores around the house,
I will play with you more,
I will snuggle with you more.
I will blog more often.

I couldn't have done it without your support.
(And looks like Mr. Grunty is getting sick, poor boy has a stuffy nose.)

once again I'll say...
Thirty days I wrote every day for 30 days. As for the story, well, it started out poorly, the middle was bad, and the less we say about the end the better. But besides that, it was terrible.[thanks BlackAdder]

I'll have more thoughts later

the kind folks at NaNoWriMo say
"You Won!

From here on out, the sky's the limit."

giggling babies

tonight

Miss Squeaky was laughing at the "What kind of diaper does Miss S have on her bottom?" song.

Mr. Grunty found me and his mommy doing a congo-line, singing "let's go change your diaper" funny.

I love their angelic little laughs.

Also, babies are a great conversation topic with strangers. I volunteered to walk a visitor back to his hotel. He's like a scientist and stuff, and way smarter than me. Didn't know what to say.

He asked, "Is it always rain here, or is that just rumor?"
I answered, "not always, I took October off for paternity leave and the weather was just beautiful."
Then he was talking about his son, and they have a daughter on the way.

Babies, a nice ice-breaker.

Also, I have more of an inclination to go to holiday parties this year, because I get to show off my two cuties.

NaNoWriMo two years ago

well, two years ago I was at 40 thousand words.

Today I am at 44 thousand words. I only have to write six thousand more words within the next 51 hours.

woo-hoo, doing better than last time.

No, the story isn't even close to finished.

a year ago

A year ago, we went to the ultrasound and found out we would be having twins.

We continue to thank God.
Please continue to keep us in your thoughts and prayers.

:-)

I like looking back a year ago.

Also, today I replied to a SnarkyKat email where she was talking about starting to study for the CPA exam. She just recently passed!

NaNoWriMo 2007 day 26

I am at 40,042 words.
I am 3,300 words behind pace.
I only need to write 2500 words a day for next four days.

weekend's over

From Friday
Well, I’m no Stephen King. I hear that Mr. King puts in 4 hours of writing a day, only taking off Christmas, Thanksgiving and his B-day. Well, it was the end of yesterday, I hadn’t NaNoWriMo’ed yet, and being very sleepy, I considered not writing. But I just couldn’t take the day off. Although I only did 110 words. Yep, back to being two days behind.

Right now, I am watching Mr. Grunty & Miss Squeaky on their play mats. No, the don’t have a specific one, on most things they share…pacifiers, bottles, toys, I’ve even been known to put them in the “wrong” crib, just to play with MyBetterHalf’s mind. It is funny that now, Mr. G is giving his hand-me-down clothes to his older sister. So, she’s wearing a lot more blue these days. It confused me for a moment when she first wore one of his sleepers.

At first, I was adamant about trying to break the “girls wear pink” rule…but I’m not very smart about the sorting of the clothes, that it was very easy to see pink, and know it was for Miss S. I don’t think we’ve put Mr. G in anything pink. Why is that? Why has society deemed pink a feminine color? Is it that way in other cultures? I used to have a super bright neon pink hat. It was very useful like when moving, anyone wanting to know where I was, they just looked for the glow. I miss that hat. That reminds me, I also had this black hat I stole from a room mate that had a pink flower on it. I miss that hat too. I think my realization of pink being an OK color was from a bicycle magazine in the 80s, there was this beautiful paint job, dark green with pink high-lights. Then after that, maybe Georgia O’Keefe.

I was prepping food on T-day, and I heard a thump and MyBetterHalf squeal/shriek. Oh no, I was scared to look. But…Miss S learned how to roll over on Thanksgiving! Yay! Like eight times!
Mr. G rolled over this morning.

Mr. G has finally caught up with the hand-eye coordination, it makes me happy to see him grabbing stuff. (He still doesn’t taste everything like his sister does.)

from Today
Well…I dunno about NaNoWriMo…I’m currently 6,169 words behind.

Let’s see…my parents were supposed to visit for Thanksgiving, but that morning I got a call, “we won’t be able to make it” from my little sister. Next day my mom calls. She temporarily lost the ability to walk. That can’t be good. She visits a neurologist on Monday. Reminds me of back a couple summers ago when she had a big seizure, and we’ll we still don’t know what’s going on. If things were different, if she was healthy, it would be great to see if she wanted to watch Mr. G & Miss S.

Thanksgiving food…here’s the thing. I don’t like turkey. Well, I do heart the baked on salty, fatty goodness of baked turkey skin. Almost as tasty as bacon. But the rest of the bird. Eh. Maybe it’s from me probably prepping and cooking and serving at least a thousand turkeys in my career.

I do like stock though. And I made up a tasty stock, so we could have yummy dressing. Well, half way through the process it was tasty. But I got greedy, and by dipping bread in the boiling stock I burned my tongue. Still don’t have my taste buds back.

Today sucked. I had to install new car seats for the childrens. The diagram directions do not match the reality. GRRRRRR!!!! And every other page says, “if you don’t do this proper, your child may die.” I hope it did it right. I do not want my babies to die.

OK, to end on a happy note. My babies talking style.

Mr. G has gotten to be the talkative one. He’ll tell a story, I think the name of it is “Mr. Grunty and the 104 bears” (he has four bears, his mommy has a hundred bears). His stories have plenty of vowels, and lots of run on “sentences”. He’ll be rubbing his hands together while talking and sometimes will pump them up and down because of the excitement in the story.

Miss S still gargles when talking. And her words are slower, more deliberate, with more consonants.

While changing diapers, I started doing grunting noises when pulling off clothes, the babies are amused. Then I started grunting the vowels like Shrek. They are still amused. My throat is sore. And sometimes Mr. G grunts a few vowels back.

Remind me to write about me crying at work last week…

Turkey Day Cowboys vs Jets

Good job Dallas. That was a much better half-time show.

First, Texas native, Miss Kelly Clarkson played upbeat songs.

Second, there was some weird giant ribbon things that the cheerleaders twirled and spun which turned into a giant “Give to this charity” banner that one forth of the field. (Detroit only brought out a banner.

Third, audience participation held up placards in the stands to make a blue Cowboy star.

Finally, instead of interpretative dancers, there were scantily clad Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders doing their routines to the songs.

...uh...and I know it's futile...but, go Jets.

Turkey day Packers @ Lions

Dear Detroit sports fans

I am sorry you had to sit through that horrendous half-time show. Personally, when I think “Detroit football” I do NOT think of the Goo-Goo Dolls accompanied by interpretive dance. Worst. Halftime Show. Ever. I’m sure it made you mad enough to go riot (1943, 1967, 1984) or whatever y’all do for fun in the Motorcity.

Seriously, the NFL thought…what will get the crowds all excited, and came up with the Goo-Goo Dolls? Yes, the town that recently gave us the White Stripes, Kid Rock, and Eminem had to sit through mellow sounds of John Rzeznik’s crooning.

Just for reference, on the show “America’s Next Band” I agree with Mr Rzeznik most of the time. And “Iris” is one of the most beautiful songs written.

But the point of my rant is “pick something appropriate for an accompaniment.” You wouldn’t serve Crème Brule at a tailgate party. You wouldn’t serve Cheez Whiz at a wine tasting.

And in closing…go Packers!

day 21 - nAnOwrImO - with gnomes!!!

NaNoWriMo has been a bit tough. Last time I successfully finish, way back in the 2005, I made a big push of like 20k words in the last week. Well, don’t think I have that luxury this year. Fortunately, I have already hit 31,000 and there is still 9 days left. So, better off than I was last time.

Funny story, I was looking up something for the story, I wanted to get the facts right. MyBetterHalf asked, “I thought you always said don’t let the truth get in the way of a good story.” I do say that, which is why I wanted to get my facts straight, because the story ain’t gonna be good.

Some things that have bothered me…am I writing Sword&Sorcery or Literary Fantasy? Does it even matter?? (no.)

Earlier this week I hit a block around 30,000 words. I didn’t know where to go next.

Then I decided to work backwards, trick #1. I know the last line of the story. (I’ve known the last line since like ten years ago. I’ve been mulling over various incantations of this story since then. I once started to write it, but I think I’ve lost it, and so, basically NaNoWriMo 2007 was starting over with only a basic idea.)

So, I started with the last line. And then worked back. Woo-hoo, it worked! I have a score of things that have to be done before the last line makes sense.

And, trick #2 to getting around writer’s block. Dreams…each of the five main characters will have a few. Also, for later I’m tossing in a “things that each character often says” which I suppose is kinda like writing down background notes, but heck, I’m using those words. You know what they say November, “no editing”.

Finally the best of all, trick #3…bring out the gnomes. In my story, gnomes are very inquisitive, and very verbose. I really like gnomes, their silly little pranks should lend to some hilarity, and should boost the old word count.

Tonight MyBetterHalf asked me if the story is based on true events. All stories are based on true events I answered. People I’ve met, something interesting they said, or a funny story I’ve heard will work its way in. But I don’t think any of my characters are based on a single person. Well, except for me, I suppose that all of them are based partially on me. Especially that super sexy hunky character on page 38! I hope that I haven’t directly ripped off a someone I know. For instance, I love the saying “THANXIES” but none of my characters will say it. For one, it is a little to blatant of a rip off. And, more importantly for NaNoWriMo, it is much better to write “Thank you very much, that was a very kind gesture that should be remembered forever.”

I heart gnomes.

sorry

So, like, I offended 2 people at work today, that I know of.

Sorry if I've done the same to you. You should pro'lly tell me about it, and i'll try to learn from my mistakes, but I am pretty clueless.

I look into the the future, and...sad. Right now my children's are so happy to see me, and smile all big, and are excited...but they may turn out like me, and maybe make contact with their father once a quarter during their 20s.

Not that I'm doing much better now-a-days in talking with my dad.

friday 16 November

This morning, I found myself reciting “Der Erlkonig”, Goethe’s poem I had to memorize back in the early 80s.

Wer reitet so spät durch Nacht und Wind?
Es ist der Vater mit seinem Kind;
Er hat den Knaben wohl in dem Arm,
Er faßt ihn sicher, er hält ihn warm

It begins beautifully, the story of a father hurrying on journey, and protecting his child from the elements. It ends sadly.

Which reminds me, I have always been very moved by Sleater-Kinney’s “Sympathy”. The following line always makes me cry.

And I'm so sorry
for those who didn't make it
and for the mommies who are left with their heart breaking

Hmmm…on a different note, I’m about four thousand words behind for NaNoWriMo.

Last night, Mr. Grunty slept through the night! Yay! A big accomplishment for him. However, Miss Squeaky, woke up, and kept screaming for her pacifier.

I really enjoy watching the different ways they wake up. Mr. G is like Queen Latifah in “Bringing Down the House”. Looking all around, confused, trying to make sense of who he is, where he is, how he got there, who I am. Miss E will look up with the biggest smile as if to say, “It’s true! I had a dream you were my papa, and my dream came true.”

PS Happy Birthday to my dear friend Jennifer.

NaNoWriMo 2007 day 13

Hey Sports Fans!
Ya miss me?

Y’all catch the Seahawk’s humiliation of the 49ers? Boy that was fun for Seattle.

NaNoWriMo – I did 1,951 words today on bus & on lunch break, first time I’ve gotten over pace before I got home. Yay! I just broke 18,000 words today. Yes, I’m still behind. But much better than where I was this time two years ago.

Bitterkat made some Brussels Sprouts for me to eat. Not bad. She got the fresh stalk, which look like lots of fun to play with. Baked ‘em in bacon grease, combined with bacon and sauted onions. Not bad.

This past week, MyBetterHalf was sick for a day or two, so I might have had an extra shift or two of get the baby at 3 AM. By the time the weekend was here, I was a sleepy boy. Naturally, I had occasion to throw a hissy-fit over something. I don’t really remember, or want to. I think MyBetterHalf still likes me. She sure likes the chocolate-chip-oatmeal cookies I made for her.

Tonight, since I am paranoid, I’ll be using the crock-pot to cook off a roast while we sleep. (Sorry, I just don’t like the concept of cooking utensils not being supervised. What was that Stephen King story where the machines went evil.)

Mr. Grunty finds shaking of the head “yes” very funny.
Miss Squeaky had a diaper rash…it’s mostly better.

My cousin who I haven’t seen in ~25 years visited. Last time we were together, she and I were picketing our parents in the backyard “Allowance Rate Doesn’t Match Inflation Rate”. She doesn’t remember it. I think it was my idea, I was kinda inspired by Lech Walesa’s Solidaritet Movement. It was cool. She hung out with me, my mom and the babies Monday. She seemed OK with that. When she figured out how un-tech savy I am, she said, “I’m surprised. You always seemed to be the kid that wanted to figure out how everything worked.” I think it is great that she looked up a relative she hasn’t seen for a long time. I wish I was brave enough to do that.

I’m having a tough time getting to work on time. Here’s the thing, I’m not really much of a morning person. And then I really am not in a hurry to get rid of the childrens.
They are still doing good at the daycare. This morning Miss S was being all friendly to one of the helpers, while Mr. G was trying to tell me a story.

MyBetterHalf, that the other day one of the workers (who I had previously thought of as cold) and Miss S were having a grand time and making each other laugh lots. That’s good. And when we get reports on how they behave, it is the same as how they behave with us. So they are being normal.

And finally, the Cure is awesome.

Happy 5 months babies!

Thanks for being mine!!

A Year Ago

A year ago we found out that we were pregnant.

:-)

NaNoWriMo 2007 day 5

It does seem that I’m more wordy during the work week. Sitting on the bus with a laptop helps with the writing. (Notice I said “more wordy” which is TWO words, as opposed to “wordier” which is only one. Yup, there you have it Sports Fans, the tricks of a veteran NaNoWriMo winner.)

Today I got up to
4,769 words

Today was the first day I spoke with a co-worker who recently had a miscarriage. I just asked how she’s doing. I felt a little guilty about being so happy, except when I miss my babies, when she asked how I was doing. I wish the best for her and her husband.

This morning I got to play guitar for the childrens. Mr. Grunty seems to like the key of e-minor.

Tonight, Miss Squeaky did this:
SNEEZE…followed by getting ready for another sneeze, but, instead, “…oh-aaahhhh”.

Tonight they came home cranky, pro’lly ‘cuz they didn’t get a late afternoon nap.

This just in, publish in the Journal of Biological Chemistry!!!
Researchers at Case Western University created a mouse, that can run faster, further, longer, eat more, live longer than a normal mouse. They’re dubbing it super-mouse. Watch the video and tell me what you think. What are the implications for human athletic endeavors? You tell me.

NaNoWriMo 2007 day 4

I am up to 2,988 words.

I think I am gonna be sore tomorrow. Yesterday, I finally attacked the few bits of grass and the local weed infestation with the weed-eater. This morning I went jogging around a track with SnarkyKat, MyBetterHalf was smart enuff to walk. At the track, Miss Squeaky would look up at SnarkyKat and give her a little grin. And this afternoon we went for a walk with AleckBCix to get some family fall folliage pictures. Mr. Grunty is getting heavy.

Tonight, I saw Mr. Grunty & his mommy taking turns saying “ummm” to each other.

Last night, I was tossing a bottle cap at Oliver, who was on top of the kitty tower. He would bat it away, usually back at me. Mr. G found this hilarious. We even managed to get some of his laughing on video!

This morning, I swear everyone was ganging up on the parentals. Mr. G was super fussy, finally, around 3AM he was sleeping with me on the futon. Then a bit later we heard Sophie kitty barfing. When I got in bed for a nap after babies first feeding at 7am , then Oliver kitty decided he wanted lots of affection.

NaNoWriMo 2007 day 3

2497 words total
(yeah...that's like one hundred words today)

sleepy again now

NaNoWriMo 2007 day 2

Today I got up to 2,338 words today. We’re stuck in the middle of a fight scene, so, there’s the potential for lots of words. Wow, fight scenes are usually bad in fantasy novels, seriously, most of if a play by play reverts to “then I rolled a six and four”. Boring. But, it’s NaNo…quality doesn’t matter tonight.

Our good friend over at Blub’s says singing and playing with the childrens is good. Well, I just want to say, or remind folks back home if I already said, that the childrens do enjoy playing “Head Shoulders Knees & Toes”. They are still happy when I sing to them. I am so very inspired by them. I’ve come up with three little songs for them. I need to try and finish the songs, fill them out with more verses, or with musical accompanyment. Or maybe just record them as a capella pieces. I hope someday, the childrens will look back on the recordings and smile.

That is hopefully one benefit of this blog, is to remind myself 20 years from now, and also as a dialogue with my babies when they are older and are curious about what I was thinking about when they were born.

Today, second day of daycare. I didn’t cry, so I stuck around and talked to the woman. She was telling me about how they acted, and the babies acted in character yesterday, so that made me feel good. Miss Squeaky spits up a lot, and sometimes for no reason will scream for attention, and then be all smiles when she gets either held or talked to. And Mr. Grunty is just quiet, not crying at all.

The babies were looking around again, all curious when I dropped them off today.

Am I horrible for not crying after only one day? Am I that callous that I am already used to it?

Tonight, I held Mr. G so that he could give Miss S a “hug”. She thought that was hilarious.

I left my family to go play D&D tonight. D&D wasn’t as fun as last week.

Back to work

Mr Grunty woke up this morning at 3 AM. He didn’t want be snuggled on the couch, he did NOT want to lay back down in his bed. He was OK with me holding him and walking around. He was even OK laying on the futon while I checked email at 4 AM. I then thought, maybe he’s really asleep. No. More crying. Finally I stole his sister’s pacifier and he took that and went to sleep.

Today was their first day of day care. I was nervous.

Miss Squeaky knew I was about to put her in her car seat, so she pooped in her diaper. She had been saving up since Tuesday for such a special occasion. Then, as per usual while I was changing her she was very talkative.

Mr. G was sleepy when I was getting ready to go. Hmmm…my boy, I wonder why you were sleepy. Could it be because you were awake at three, hmmmm ?

We went to the day care. When I was getting out of the car I did something very foolish. I started translating what the babies were saying.
Miss S: “hey papa, are we going for a walk?”
Me “No sweetie, we’re not.”
“What are we doing then?”
“I’m taking you to day care so I can go to work.”
“Will you stay with us if I cry?”
“No sweetie, I’m sorry I won’t.”
Mr. G “hey papa, are we going for a walk?”
“Babies, stop that! You’re making your papa even more sad.”

Inside the day care, were four preschool girls that were VERY happy to see TWO babies!! The girls seemed full of energy, and happy, and told me their names.

As I was explaining the helpful hints to my babies to the day care person I started to tear up. I kissed my babies and had to leave before I broke down bawling in front of everybody. I felt horrible.

On the bus, I focused my energy on NaNoWriMo. I got up to 1036 words today.

Tonight, finally got home and my babies were smiles to see me and were both very talkative. We hung out, changed some diapers, changed some clothes, fed them dinner and put them to bed. Their smiles and conversation made me feel a little better.

Well, I best go clean some dishes now.