Wow, I haven’t posted since Monday? So much for renewed efforts to blog more often…
I’ve been busy. Really. And about to get busier. So this is just a quick update:
The fall months are really full for us. Besides the normal holidays, we also celebrate the birthdays of all three of my kids.
This year, for reasons unknown to me but I believe known to God, we’ve added two other big events to the mix.
1
Next week, Charlie and I travel to New York City for a few days. We’re tagging along for John Maxwell’s Exchange: a leadership training tailored to leaders of large organizations. Small, intimate, NICE. We’re staying in nice hotels, doing cool stuff, taking in a couple shows, all for “work.”So of course, I’m really grateful for the opportunity to go along.
HOWEVER, it’s been a bit of an emotional crisis for me. You see, I haven’t been in the working world since 1999. A decade of sweatpants and cleaning up vomit have taken their toll, and I don’t really FEEL “professional” in any way. (Also? Styles and my SIZE have changed just a little.)
HEY! I HAVE A GREAT IDEA! What better way to jump back into the land of work than to TRAVEL TO NEW YORK CITY AND HANG OUT WITH HIGH-POWERED CEO’S IN RITZY SETTINGS IN DOWNTOWN MANHATTAN?!
Let’s just say I’m taking a REALLY big leap.
After prepping for one week and purchasing one entire work wardrobe, I’m feeling fairly well-prepared. But I’m still nervous.
2
Now, since I’m already WAY out of my comfort zone, I have another GREAT IDEA.
I’LL WRITE A NOVEL.
In 30 days.
Yes, I signed up for NaNoWriMo. That’s National Novel Writing Month for the unitiated. It’s this insane overly-hyped writing event where a bunch of lunatics from all over the country commit to (attempt to) write 50,000 words in 30 days.
It starts November 1.
As in NEXT WEEK. While I’m in New York City.
Then of course it continues for the weeks after I’m back home.
God has a TREMENDOUS sense of humor.
But I know I’m doing these things because he told me to, so they’re HIS PROBLEM.
And He loves me.
He has plans for me.
He wants the best for me.
He says I can do all things through him.
So this is me:
Or perhaps THIS is me:
At any rate, I REALLY want to blog my trip to New York. So I’m gonna try. But between being busy all day and trying to write at least 2,000 words a night, I can make no promises. Maybe I can at least upload pictures.
And now? I gotta go have lunch with a first-grader, shop for groceries, meet with my sitter to go over plans for taking care of kids and dogs next week, pick up kids from school, spend a few hours home with them and a full to-do list, then go to the middle school’s Halloween event.
Pray for me.
14 responses so far ↓
1 Helen // Oct 30, 2009 at 9:40 am
Steph, they will love you. They will practically be worshipping at your feet. And if they aren’t, just tell them you have at least two Hungarian friends. They’ll know what that means. After all, Pataky was their governor for a while….
2 Tina Dee // Oct 30, 2009 at 10:00 am
Oh my gosh, girl! You are crazy! …My kind of people, LOL. Praying for a wonderful week in Manhattan, and making your daily word counts. You CAN do it, yes you CAN. Especially since He has called your heart to do so.
Lord bless your week, your family, your meetings, your travels, and your writing!
3 Bridget Chumbley // Oct 30, 2009 at 10:26 am
Just reading all you have to do made me tired! You’ll knock their socks off, no worries…
I’ll be praying all goes well on the trip, and with the NaNoWriMo!
4 Billy Coffey // Oct 30, 2009 at 10:35 am
Dang Steph, I got tired just from reading that.
I’ve found that when hanging out with important people, the main thing is to memorize brief comments that make me sound smarter than I really am. Like, “I prefer Mozart.” That one seems to work. You can borrow that if you want.
But I really don’t think you’ll need to.
And good luck with NaNoWriMo!
5 Tina Dee // Oct 30, 2009 at 10:41 am
LOL–Okay, Steph & Billy, going to have to steal Billy’s idea for a book character moment–that could be so hilarious.
Steph, my advice: if you take Billy’s advice, memorize a few (like he suggests), since ‘I prefer Mozart’ will only work once, maybe twice if you’re smoooooth. LOL
Billy, I so could use that in a scene, so could…
6 Pam // Oct 30, 2009 at 10:50 am
You are my kind of girl!! ROCK ON!!
7 Wendy // Oct 30, 2009 at 12:48 pm
Have you considered hiring a body double to sit in for you on all the businessy stuff and have her nod at the appropriate times so you can be out playing? Seems like a good idea to me, anyway.
8 katdish // Oct 30, 2009 at 1:05 pm
Also, don’t forget you have some reading to do…
You’re welcome.
9 *~Michelle~* // Oct 30, 2009 at 1:51 pm
I felt like I needed to come up for air reading all that……praying that you have a wonderful trip and you knock all those “important” high powered people’s designer socks off.
10 @ngie // Oct 30, 2009 at 3:05 pm
Yeah! Another NaNoWriMo buddy! I am so pumped for Sunday to come for the very reason of getting going with my novel.
Your trip sounds wonderful. I hope you have so much fun.
11 Annie K // Oct 30, 2009 at 3:07 pm
I’m more exhausted than ever just reading about it.
Kick butt in NY Georgia style and I’m sure you’ll be a writingnazi in no time!
12 joyce // Oct 30, 2009 at 3:09 pm
Well, first things first…have yourself a great time in NYC! It’s fabulous…I love it! What shows are you seeing? Definitely at least post pictures.
Secondly…NYC is a lot of things but laid back is not one of them so frankly I think you’re in the perfect frame of mind to fit right in.
Thirdly…there will be plenty of fodder for your novel (I’ve never actually used that word so am feeling pleased with myself right now)
If you need a break email me…I would love to meet you in person and you can always escape to the country (that would be NJ which is sorta considered another country by true New Yorkers)
You’ll be great, you’ll have fun, you’ll accomplish a lot…enjoy!
13 faemom // Nov 1, 2009 at 1:58 pm
You can do it!
Of course, who was crazy enough to big Novemeber for writing a novel. You know what with Thanksgiving and Christmas around the corner. Why not March? Nothing happens in March.
14 lane // Nov 1, 2009 at 10:12 pm
oh B. and I LOVE NYC! That’s where we got engaged!:) you will be great:)….NYC in the Fall is amazing! Hope you have a great time!
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