Cups, Novels and tastebuds.

It's only 3 days till National Novel Writing Month! Yay!
By this time most of us participants have a pretty good idea of what our novel will look like. Actually, by now we have generally started planning out what we are going to eat during the month. This is a survival tactic [you must eat to live,] and also a brain food strategy. I have a special block of chocolate set aside especially for November.
On the Nanowrimo website there is a forum about what nanowrimo tasted like last year. To me it tasted like luke-warm herbal tea, custard and Mum's cooking. Other distinct tastes were accomplishment, dread, cold hands, Good Charlotte and writers block. But predominantly it was just the bland feeling of being unconscious of my surroundings because I was so engrossed in listening to the voice telling me 'write, write, write...' And I did. I wrote and knew not where I was. Ah, it was a grand feeling.

This year I hope it will have a different taste. I'm hoping for a cold chicken sandwich with mayonnaise, though will probably have to do without and switch the chicken with Tuna and Lettuce [yummmmm]. I'm predicting tastes such as Georgie Pie, fruit juice, the time space continuum, guilt, music and chocolate.


Oh, and mugs. Coffee mugs to be precise. Have you noticed how hot drinks don't taste quite right when you have them in a bad cup? Over the past weekend I had a few milos and coffees in those grey/brown arcaroc cups [above]. Then in the past two days I have had the same drinks in proper mugs and the difference, I tell you, was amazing. So, to add to the above list: I plan to have nanowrimo taste like the correct cup for the beverage. None of this ugly arcaroc stuff.
Don't believe me? Try it for yourself. Prepare to be amazed.

Today was the day of my full drivers license test. This morning I got up earlier than usual, helped myself to some awesome mashed potato and half a meat pattie on toast [mmmm, it was good] and had a coffee in a big clear mug.
After I got home from the library, my little sister reminded me of our plan to concoct some 'mean juice'. We picked some parsley and stuff that looked like lettuce but is said to be spinach [?], cut up apples, lemons and carrots before plonking them all into the juicer. I tell you, the juice which came out was very, very ugly. But surely it must be healthy? It looked healthy anyway, as gross things usually do. We grinned before having a taste. Then grimaced. Eww! Trust me; lemon, apple, carrot and green stuff don't go together! We gulped down our glasses full of healthiness before eating some carbs for lunch. Ah, lunch how I love you.


Even though the proceedings of the morning were interesting, I was continually haunted by that nervous niggling feeling in my tummy. It was easy to tell that I wasn't looking forward to the test. But I had to go on with it and forced myself to be calm. Seriously, how hard could it be?

After finding a comfy seat in the waiting room I pulled out my trusty Jane Austen. I brought along Mansfield Park in an attempt to somehow have a soothing affect on my nerves. It didn't work because I was distracted by the TV. The testing guy came out, he was rather old and I noticed that his first two initials were B.S. He didn't talk much which was good, just 'left please,' and 'right up ahead' etc. On the whole the test was very bland. Apart from almost running off the road in my U-turn [oops!] I found it rather dull. When I arrived back at the testing station I suddenly realised that it was over, surely I couldn't have failed after a dull test? Well, I didn't. So yay, celebration all around because I got my full.
Huzzah! No more driving tests until I'm 80!

Guess what! I'm going for my full drivers licence test tomorrow. Yay!

I hop this doesn't happen:

Actually, I just hope I get my license. Then I will be able to take my little sisters out shopping, on a road trip to my Nanas and to parks for awesome picnics!
You know how before my restricted test a year ago, I ranted on and on about how I was expecting 'freedom' and 'liberation?' I'm expecting it again. This time I expect to be able to drive my siblings and friends around if need be. I do not expect to be a taxi to anybody [I will refuse - sorry, get your licence or ask Dad to drive you]. Oh, and I will be able to drive around at ungodly hours. Yay! like I even want to drive at 4am, however 11pm sounds reasonable.
Oh, and even if you don't want to know, I will fill you in with all the details afterwards just like I did after my restricted.

A Labour supporter.

Ha! Got ya there didn't I? No, never fear, I have not decided to support Labour. However I am sharing a room with someone who is rather staunch, in her support of Labour and Helen Clark that is. [Especially after the demise of Winston Peters, who I believe she did vote for in one election. Wow.]

Because I am in a position to vote this election, I am keeping all of my options open. Although in my mind I have already discounted voting for some people, at least I am not verbally saying that I will not vote for so-and-so [yet].
I'm sure you know by now, that historically I am not a Labour supporter. That simple fact makes any political discussions around said 'Labour supporter' very difficult. Especially because the person happens to be my Nana.

Trust me, you cannot mention political stuff around her because we either have such differing views, or she thinks we do, even though we may infact totally agree. Oh, the ensuing fist waggling, eyes widening and slightly raised voices! In some ways it is entertaining. However generally it is rather upsetting and annoying. There is no reasoning with that labour supporter. At least I cannot do it because I am just a lowly grandchild who apparently knows nothing. Especially because Nana holds the trump card: the word 'war.'

Lest we forget 2006 when she stayed with us over the election. There was no laughing at politicians ridiculous speeches, stupid election bribes or even logical discussing the pros and cons of whoever. We learnt to keep our mouths shut or rue the consequences.

Last election as you may recall, Don Brash was the leader of the opposition. Sadly he secured his political demise by stating that if war broke out he would let the USA's nuclear powered ships come near our shores and if it came to it, he would even send our troops into war. Or something like that, anyway it made my Nana freak out. She lived through the second world war in Holland so knows lots about the horrors war can do to a country. The last thing she wants to see is her grandsons [probably grandaughters now] being conscripted into the army, going overseas and dying. Plus she isn't a fan of the United States even though they happened to rescue the world by 'turning up late' to the second world war.

Ever since that fateful day when poor Don made that statement, in my Nana's eyes the National party is the party of war and cutting down on the pension for old people. In other words they are similar to the anti-christ and woe to those who suggest she support them.

I love my Nana, but thankfully she isn't going to be here on November 8th. Yay! Freedom of political speech in our house!

Here is a list of some things that I think are awesome :

1] Nanowrimo:
I was thinking about it last night. What plot should I use? Would any of my ideas work for the whole 50,000 words? After pondering it for awhile, I realised that it didn't matter. As a novelist I have the power, my novel is a little world that I create and can do anything, [anything!] I want with my story and characters. I could kill one off if it gets boring, aliens could invade, there could be a zombie uprising, my characters might suddenly find themselves inside a Jane Austen book, one of them might bump into Richard Kahui and get free tickets to an All Black game and also go to the after party where they find out the true identity of forwards coach Steve Hansen [it's Nathan from the future come back in time to complete his dreams of rugby glory!]. The beauty of a November novel is that it does not have to stand up to the professional author's work. It can be utterly ridiculous with pointless [rather George Eliot] parts to it. Another element it the comradeship. This year I look forward to having writing buddies, namely my little sisters, big brother and possibly others. Care to join me? Note: if you are doing nanowrimo, make sure you tell me so we can be buddies on the nanowrimo site. Challenge!

2] Musicals, Opera and Operetta.
Ah, I love them. Today I was watching my favourite clips from 'singing in the rain'. Oh, Gene Kelly, you are awesome! Why do I love that cheesy tap dancing in the rain? I don't know, it appeals to my sense of the ridiculous I suppose. I am slightly jealous that I don't have the guts to jump in puddles in real life. Recently I bought 'the phantom of the opera'. Again, I'm a big fan of Andrew Lloyd Webber. He has written such beautiful music! It gives me that lovely jumpy feeling in my tummy.

3] Engagements, weddings and the ensuing parties.
Yay, a big brother is engaged! Apart from the happiness for them both and their new life together, there is the excitement of his room being spare and my dreams of a sunny room at last within my grasp. Oh, and shopping. Like Cinderella, we all need something pretty to wear. Yay! Food, parties and extended family around!

4] Internet.
Recently we got 20 extra gigs [or something like that, man, I'm ignorant.] Downloads! Need I say more?

5] Piano and Chopin.
Even though our piano has never been tuned whilst in our care [shocking!] and sounds pretty terrible when I play a certain Chopin Nocturne, I'm a fan. I am however, holding out for another one, whenever that may be. Whether I pay for it [which will be more like 5 years away! sigh] or someone else [Dad - hint], I want something quality. Ok, I'm picky, but what's the point of getting rid of one and getting another only slightly better? I need something that my absolute favourite Chopin songs will actually sound good on. Something my little sisters and I can learn better music on, and play with ease. A Steinway or Yamaha would do the trick, provided it doesn't sound like it has a blocked nose. [by the way, the pic on the right is the Yamaha mini grand that I want. Dad said I have to marry someone rich... dud.]
When it comes to composers, I have recently discovered that I have a talent for Chopin's music. I love listening to Rachmaninoff, but my hands are way too small. Plus Chopin, as I am told, is actually harder for the pianist as far as emotion and dynamics goes. But trust me, it is hard as on an old practise style piano. I still really enjoy it though.




What are some of your favourite things at the moment?

Yay! I'm excited! National Novel Writing Month is coming up!

Next month to be precise.

Here is what the website says: "National Novel Writing Month is a fun, seat-of-your-pants approach to novel writing. Participants begin writing November 1. The goal is to write a 175-page (50,000-word) novel by midnight, November 30.

Valuing enthusiasm and perseverance over painstaking craft, NaNoWriMo is a novel-writing program for everyone who has thought fleetingly about writing a novel but has been scared away by the time and effort involved.

Because of the limited writing window, the ONLY thing that matters in NaNoWriMo is output. It's all about quantity, not quality. The kamikaze approach forces you to lower your expectations, take risks, and write on the fly.

Make no mistake: You will be writing a lot of crap. And that's a good thing. By forcing yourself to write so intensely, you are giving yourself permission to make mistakes. To forgo the endless tweaking and editing and just create. To build without tearing down.

As you spend November writing, you can draw comfort from the fact that, all around the world, other National Novel Writing Month participants are going through the same joys and sorrows of producing the Great Frantic Novel. Wrimos meet throughout the month to offer encouragement, commiseration, and—when the thing is done—the kind of raucous celebrations that tend to frighten animals and small children."

Well, I did it last year and had so much fun that I'm doing it again this year. Crazy? Yes, I am.
Some people get a bit confused about the 'winning' bit. Let me clear things up: it is not a competition, you win when you complete your novel, whether anyone sees it or not. Everyone who completes the 50,000 words wins.

Ahh! I am excited, so prepare yourself for more posts on this subject.
Anyone care to join me in this crazy writing venture? It's not as hard as it sounds, seriously!