That's What I'm Talking About...Dec 2013

Back in August 2012, I created a Wordle based on the content of my blog. Here it is:

The Buzz.

I'll say it again, didn't know I written so much about German! At the end of 2013, I wanted to create a new Wordle and see what my brain had obsessed over during the past year or so. And here it is:

I'm happy to see that the words novel, running, and love have appeared frequently. I'm also not surprised that organize is a main word. Kids is about medium size. Maybe it's a good thing it's not the largest word. There's a lot more going in my life than just kids. 

This exercise got me thinking: what words do I want to have appear that don't? I can't see the word 'friends' anywhere. It's certainly not as obvious as 'Inbox.' 'Family' could be larger. It doesn't mean those things are missing from my life, though, but that I don't use this blog to discuss them. Maybe that means I'm saving up all the good stories about family and friends for my fiction writing. Watch out, people. 

Writing About Running

One of my favorite things to write about is running. And one of my favorite races to run is the Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run. So imagine how I excited I am to be one of the blog editors for the first ever Cherry Blossom Race Blog!

Look at that second little pink button and you can see my name! Woo!

Even though I'm still limited in my running, I'm at least back out on the roads. The weather in Pittsburgh has been a bit balmy for November, hanging out the upper 50's in fact - the exact same temperature that we had at the start of last year's race. It feels perfect.

Writers are often told to write what they know, so I do write a lot about running. I have a fun little novella in progress about a young woman runner who gets fed up with bad luck and takes a running vacation in Ireland to look for some good luck. I wrote a cheesy little runner-scary story that you can read here. And you know this blog is full of posts about running.

Running helps me think things through and write better. I remember way back writing papers for grad school often meant going on a long run to really think my main argument through. And way, way back in undergrad I'd tell stories during long runs to entertain my college teammates...stories about giant spiders waiting down a dark trail and demonic school buses hunting us down on the roads.

I am really looking forward to building relationships with the other runners who love to write and other writers who love to run during the months leading up to this race. Make sure you stop by and read the blog...and then go for a run!

Organize My Life (or Lateral Productivity)

When I don't feel like dealing with tough tasks, I often embark on a campaign to Organize My Life!

Organize My Life days make me feel like I'm being productive and solving problems when really I'm just avoiding them. 

Some of you may know that November is National Novel Writing Month. People who participate in NaNo try to write a 50,000 word (minimum) novel in 30 days. I attempted this in 2011 and lost, tried again in 2012 and succeeded. This year I wanted to succeed again so I'd be 2-1 in my NaNo world. 

I am typically a pantster when it comes to writing, meaning I write by the seat of my pants. But I found I cannot sustain 50K words that way. So I decided to Organize My (Writing) Life this month and laid out the scenes of my novel prior to the beginning of the project! Amazing. Yet I was still stressed. And when I felt stressed about my novel I would procrastinate be laterally productive.

Here are some recent Organize My Life projects:

I organized the sub-folders in my Writing folder in Mail. This made me feel better because I like to have my Inbox under 50 messages. Prior to this organization I was keeping query ideas in my Inbox until I finished them and newsletters in my Inbox until I had read them. Now when I have time to focus on those messages, I pop over to my handy folders.

This didn't really help my novel very much but some notes are now in the email folder associated with my novel. 

I can't take credit for this organization idea but I love it. It's also sort of in the category of a life hack. My wonderful husband has little interest in organizing, despite the fact that he is a Virgo like myself. But he came up with this new system of putting our utensils into the dishwasher tray. It is so easy now to unload the utensil tray. I love this Organize My Life solution. 

(He called it some kind of algorithm thing but I can't remember the name.)

This didn't help my novel either, but now when I do chores intend of writing, the chores take less time. So I can get back to writing. 

This file is called "Every Story I Have Ever Written." It will help me (I think) keep track of all the fiction works I've produced so I can work on them and prepare them for critique groups, writing contests, literary agents, or nosey friends. 

I also added a sheet for Essays, Articles (non-fiction) and Ideas. When an Idea is fully fleshed out and written it gets moved to the appropriate sheet. Soon I might add a column with word counts. I probably won't add a submission/rejection column though because that would be too complex. I keep that info in a small purple notebook. 

My current novel is right at the top of this file. Because it's so important for me to work on the novel that I stopped writing it to create this file. 

But then things got really tough with my novel. It just started to feel bad. So I tackled a huge project. 

 Our old front hall closet really needed some Organize My Life attention. Yes, right now, during NaNo.

Hats, gloves, headbands, running supplies, shoes, scarves, etc. were all being lost in shallow boxes. In order to find anything, my boys would just dump box contents all over the floor.

I ordered a bunch of new organizing supplies and tried them out.

This project truly has nothing at all to do with my novel. But I pass the hall closet as I go into my office to write. And it irks me. Maybe I'd write better if I wasn't irked!

This hanging shoe rack has been a great solution for kids' hats and gloves. Now they can find what they want without dumping everything else on the floor. 

But there's no room for my hats and gloves or my husband's. 

And it isn't quite hung on the wall. It's a little crooked and handing sideways off the wire shelf above it. I put it up temporarily to see if I liked it and since I do like it, now I want to repaint the inside closet wall before I hang this organizer. 

Now that I think about it more, this Organize My Life project is just like writing a novel during NaNo. Don't worry about fine-tuning things, just move forward and see how it goes. 

But my novel-in-progress is unsatisfactory and I'm disappointing myself with my own writing. And I can't stop thinking about how awful the plot line of my story hall closet really is. 

So before I repaint the walls and hang that organizer, I need to handle shoes and coats. 

We have these shoe cubbies but nobody actually puts their shoes in the little cubby that I've assigned each person. And now since I've stacked the cubbies to make room on the left hand wall for the hanging organizer, the hooks for coats are blocked. 

Just like my novel. Change one essential feature and the whole story unravels. 

Maybe the cubbies suck! Scrap that whole character! Shoes go on the ground!

I hated the thought of shoes jumbled on the ground.

So I hunted up these unused baskets. But my husband's shoes won't fit in the baskets. And my oldest's shoes barely fit. And the hanging coats cover up the baskets anyway. I don't have five matching baskets. 

This is truly a problem with no good solution. Perhaps I should write about a woman who focuses on her front hall closet instead of addressing the larger issues in her life and the world?  

Kids Argue

Do your kids argue? Don't lie. I know your kids argue. My son starting singing this song the other day and I had to stop and record a video. I don't know if he's copying something he heard at school and I don't care. I love it. AND my kids argued this morning and I asked if they wanted to hear the 'calm down' video. They said no...but they calmed down! Miraculous. So here's a video you can show your kids when they argue and need to calm down.

Try It: Resale Shopping and My Self Image

My friend Alex knows how to shop and she knows style. She has a great blog called duffydossier and I am often entertained and excited by the amazing finds she makes while shopping retail. I also love the styles she shares on her Instagram feed. Did I say entertained? I mean envious.

I'm envious of all those talented women who manage to put together delightful ensembles with accessories that make the outfit pop, innovative combinations of belts and purses, cute jackets...and the most elusive of all fashion choices: vintage.

I don't know how to wear vintage. When I shop vintage all I can think of is "Is this cool? Or just old?" and "When I wear this, I'll look like I'm in costume."

I'm not an especially stylish person. Since my freelance business has really solidified, this is how I often dress for work:

My PJs PowerSuit

I'm just kidding. I get dressed for work. Most days. But to be honest, when I do get dressed it's in clothes like these:

My 'uniform'

Every once in awhile I get into a "I should dress better kick." I rush into a store and start looking for fashionable, fancy clothes. But I hate spending a lot of money on clothes because I will my kids will just spill something on them.  I picked up this jacket at a department store recently and it was under $20. That was pretty cool! 

But Alex's posts really inspired me to explore consignment and resale shopping and try something new.  So we set a date and met at WearWoof, a consignment shop that shares proceeds with local non-profits supporting animals in the region. When we arrived, I asked Alex for advice on how she shops. "I check seams, check for stains, and check for wear," she said. "Otherwise, I try on anything I like."

I tried to follow her advice and dragged a few items into the dressing room. I loved an orange sweater that fit perfectly, so I bought it. And I didn't love a long-sleeve sweater that was way too tight. I did love a black dress and bought it, and found a belt for it.

And two new pairs of tights. And a really, really cute blue beanie slouchy hat thingie. But none of it was what you'd call vintage.

And after a long talk with Alex afterward, I decided: I don't care! I like comfortable clothes. I don't like dressing up a lot. I usually say "I have no time for accessories" but really I don't have an interest in them. If I have a lot of necklaces or pieces to assemble for an outfit I get nervous and unhappy. Too many choices freak me out! I have a somewhat scattered mind and reducing my clothing options is totally in-line with other creative types like Mark Zuckerberg and Barack Obama who have minimized non-vital decisions. 

So next time I see, do not be insulted if it looks like I've barely paid any attention to my appearance before meeting up. It's not a sign that I don't value our time together. It most likely means I've been giving a lot of thought to your project, your needs, your life and very little thought to what shirt or pants go with whatever socks I put on that day.

Is running a hobby?

Is running a hobby? Are triathlons a hobby? They may be for you, but I have to say they are more than that for me. Of course how you define 'hobby' is important. 

I think hobbies are something that give you enjoyment and reduce stress. 

Here's one example of why I don't think this is a hobby: My husband has recently started cycling and he loves it. Loves it. He's zipping around the northern suburbs of Pittsburgh at high speeds and coming home charged with excitement and motivation. I don't feel that way about biking. It's scary, uncomfortable, stressful and hard. There are moments of calm satisfaction where I notice I didn't crash, stop or wimp out. Ok, maybe sometimes I wimp out. But I get my bike workouts in. Why? Because I love triathlons. And if you don't work on your biking, you're not going to have a good race. If you keep doing something you need to do but don't really love it, is it a hobby? 

On the trainer, on the roads, it's tough. 

Look up hobby and you'll read that it's 'a pursuit outside one's regular occupation engaged in especially for relaxation.'

Yes, running and doing triathlons aren't my job. But they certainly help me with my job! They provide lots and lots of inspiration, help with creative strategizing, help me network, provide content. And I have gotten contracts and clients because of my experience running and competing in races. So...maybe in a way it is part of my occupation. 

Does running relax me? Do triathlons relax me? 

They make me a better person. They make me happy. But a massage also relaxes me. Wine relaxes me.  And I can't say they play the same role in my life as running and triathlons. Working to improve my swimming form - and making good progress - boosts my self-confidence and improves my fitness. Running makes me tired, sometimes exhausted. I get injured. But it frames my identity and gives me strength to tackle writing challenges, parenting challenges, and fashion challenges. 

Knitting is a hobby. Gardening is a hobby. If someone told me I could never do those activities again, I think I'd survive. But I would be devastated if someone told me I could never run, bike or swim again. Even biking. Yes, I'd miss it. (Now that I think of it, if someone told me I could no longer read I'd be devastated, and I think that activity is elevated beyond hobby level in my life, too.)

I change how I eat, sleep and schedule my day to accommodate these activities. Is that what people do for a hobby?

I don't win races. I have mostly finisher's medals. Sometimes I place in my age group. That's pretty cool.  I know I am not the fastest one out there. But I'm out there. I'm crossing the state of Pennsylvania with my husband and three kids, my bike and a wetsuit, to jump in a lake at 7am! 

So is it a hobby? It's not really a job. Is it a lifestyle? 

Fall Running in Pittsburgh

My boot is off and while I can't run yet, my first mile since August isn't too far off. It's been hard to resist the urge to lace up my New Balance Berringers and head out through the falling leaves and the crisp cool air. Autumn is one of my favorite seasons for running and conjures up comforting memories of long cross country runs with friends and morning races where we waited at the start line, puffing out cloudy breaths then launching ourselves over frosty grass toward the finish.

Fall running. I love it.

But I can't do it this year. I am still in recovery mode from an almost-fractured heel bone. But I'm healing and I'm allowed to do fall walking! 30 minutes at a time, for two days a week for two weeks. Then I can progress to four times a week for two weeks. I could be running by Thanksgiving.

So, fall walking. I like it.

But fall walking or running also means running in the dark. I'm not one to get in a morning workout before the sunrise, I'm more likely to squeeze in a few miles after dinner after the sun has set. Our Pittsburgh neighborhood has more than enough hills but has a serious deficiency when it comes to streetlights and sidewalks, so safely running in the dusk or even dark means running smart. I wear bright clothes like my bright orange CUCB jacket and this year I'm adding some lights from Nathan that Kevin from Elite Runners and Walkers recommended.

Test 1 in Maryland: pass!

Test 2 in Pittsburgh: pass! 

My husband and I both went on long runs earlier this year with the Nathan LightBender strapped to our arms.   I wore mine during an hour run in Maryland where it is hot and humid and the sweat was pouring off of me - and the LightBender was completely comfortable. I will admit I was worried I'd move my arm weird while wearing it, or it would slip down and irritate me, but none of that happened.  I couldn't feel it at all.  The Lightbender adjusts to the width of your arm with a simple velcro strap and as you can see, I wore mine on bare skin. I had no chafing, no irritation. 

My husband also wore it on a long run but his was in Pittsburgh. Didn't make a difference, he said he didn't notice it either. He is not a guy who goes running with a lot of tech but he said he would wear this happily on runs and rides. That's a huge endorsement!  

On my fall walk, I wore it over my jacket sleeve and it bothered me even less. I put the LightBender on my right arm because as all pedestrians know, you walk or run facing traffic, right? Of course all pedestrians don't know this and it irritates me so bad when I see people walking their dogs or running with headphones on the wrong side of the road, just waiting for a car they can't see or ear to come flying over a steep hill and not know they are there. 

While I was at Elite Runners and Walkers Kevin also recommended the Nathan Light Spur. On my fall walk, I popped it on my the back of my right shoe and soon forgot about it. 

Nathan Light Spur on my right

Cars coming up behind me would see the Light Spur, cars coming toward me would see the LightBender. Yes, I am a runner concerned with safety. You can read about my strong opinions on bike helmets here. 

The Light Spur is very bright, totally unnoticeable but the worst part is I always have to ask my 8 year old where it is! He loves wearing it while playing soccer in our backyard at night and loves wearing it as he rides his bike up and down our road even when it's middle of the day bright. He thinks it is the coolest thing he's ever seen. It does have a bit of a Tron look.  I feel pretty good about the fact that he loves wearing the Light Spur because I know no driver will fail to see him at any time of day. 

Nathan's Light Spur is visible even in late afternoon

Both products are around $20 and there are very few reliably useful running products that are that affordable. I recommended stopping by to pick yours up when Elite is having a big sale day and make sure you comb through the racks! I have scored some sweet Smartwool deals there! I know some runners feel invincible, but I've had some tough injuries this year so my motto is 'better safe than sorry.' If you run in the dark, grab one of these, grab both and tell Kevin I sent you!