All Souls Day

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nablopomo

Folks don’t realize that “Day of the Dead” is actually a three day long series of observances. It evolved from a fusion of Mexican traditional rituals with Catholic Church practices. It’s a vigil on October 31, the recognition and remembrance of saints on November 1, and remembrance of all souls on November 2.

Last year on November 1 I marked the day with a picture of a little ofrenda to remember Georgia and CancerCat. This year it was a LOT more crowded. This was a brutal year. Some loss was foreseen, much of it wasn’t. If I dig, I can point to all the learning and personal growth that the year since last November 2 has brought me. It’s all learning that sucks.

We fear death, and after the last year I can see why people feel that way. The rollercoaster of emotions isn’t fun. For people who thrive on control, I imagine it’s even worse. I end the night with a prayer to those who’ve passed on, and those who still walk with us. Here is hoping that the next 365 days are a little gentler on all of us.

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NaBloPoMo kickoff

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nablopomo, photography

  
Working on embracing the artist this month. So I’m aiming for posts and photos on a daily basis. Even if it’s just a few words, those words add up. So do the images. 

Storm drain output, shot with Fuji x100s

Evening musings, lost words.

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nablopomo, nanowrimo

The goal remains some type of engaged writing daily. I’ve plunked out two sentences on my Nano project in two days. The goal is to not get in the mindset of putting it off. Even that tiny effort means that creative efforts continue.

There was a minor data setback. I saved over new text with an older version on the backup. I can either go back and spend hours hunting the text down, or say screw it and just generate new words. I think the latter will save me time and frustration in the long run.

Too often we spend time trying to fix something, when the quicker and less stressful resolution is to just keep going forward.

Wordless Wednesday- Rain, Oregon

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nablopomo, oregon, photography

Days where you struggle for words

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nablopomo, nanowrimo

Today just started out on an off note. I woke up feeling like I’d been hit by the 208 bus, and it hasn’t really picked up since then. So much of the day is just running through the basic motions. Small tasks are a huge struggle today. Thinking even hurts. Oddly, I can’t pick a reason why that might be. Nothing yesterday was particularly odd. Today is just off.

Worst of all, the words don’t want to come and play. All day it’s been an exercise in writing a sentence, then walking away. Over and over again, a single sentence struggle to make it’s way into the world. Then thought shuts down, and I have to walk around to find a new one.

In a perfect world, I’d have all the words now. But the world is not perfect, and perfect writing doesn’t exist. Not in a first draft at any rate.

Write, write, then write more.

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nablopomo, nanowrimo

The key to writing is to keep writing, even when you produce nothing but garbage. That’s one reason I’ve been doing Nanowrimo this year. I’ve got to get into the groove where there’s enough volume to get something flowing. Which means generating crap. Which is not something I do well as a rule. Yet in he first 2 days, I’ve put out nearly 4000 words of crap. Which is great. It’s getting me moving last the initial struggle stage, and giving me a sense of achievement at the end of a writing session. Rather than wandering off and muttering rudely, I’m wandering off and feeling better about the overall output.

It’s not easy, but I didn’t expect it would be. I’m almost glad it isn’t.

Kicking off NaBloPoMo

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creative recovery, nablopomo, nanowrimo

November is a time for writing. Around the world, tens of thousands of budding novelists are kicking off their attempt at writing a novel. Nanowrimo is an orgy of writing, with the focus squarely on getting people to produce volume. The goal is writing 50000 words in a month, which is roughly 1600 words dally. At the end, you have a good start on a novel, and at least a novella.

Nablopomo, aims to encourage daily blogging, again with the focus on improving your writing through daily structure. After months of a creative slump, I’m using both as tools to help me get writing with regularity. Creative recovery is tough, and no writer enjoys the process. Without a forced effort, you just can’t make it back to anything remotely resembling your previous levels. So this month I’m committing to work on both better blogging, and to relearn to just write, even when it’s crap. I’ve got a pen and notebook for when I have the urge to story whilst out, and the iPad is loaded up.

Ahoy month of writing, and here’s to creative recovery.

Magic

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365, life, nablopomo, photography, travel

Sometimes the camera catches things your eye misses. Can you find the unexpected baking assistant?

Cookie friends

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365, nablopomo, Quotes

iPhone photo Friday- Christmas is coming, Basel

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365, life, nablopomo, photography, travel

I love Christmas. I love the bling. Multi colored, clashing tones, the more the better. I tend to seek out the Christmas stores when I travel. This window display in Basel caught my eye. Mom just shook her head when I made a beeline for it. I was sick and cranky with a sinus infection, but this window made me smile.

It’s early for Christmas crap to go up. I don’t start decorating until after Thanksgiving. But tonight while hunting for post ideas, this shot made me smile.

On a Friday I can’t ask for more.