My regular readers know that I am completely mental. As in mad. The stark raving version.
But they put up with me because a) I have cute kids b) I’m unfailingly honest c) the aforementioned honesty causes me to sacrifice my dignity and make them feel better about themselves and d) did you see the pictures of the cute kids?
The most recent addition to the mounting pile of evidence? The degree to which my mental to do list is growing, and my mental capactiy is shrinking.
It should first be pointed out that I am over 6000 words short of where I should be on my NaNoWriMo endeavor. Tomorrow, I will be about 7700 short. Give or take. And? I have no idea what happens next. None.
I’m attending a church function tomorrow that starts at 10am and ends at some yet to be determined point in the afternoon/evening. I’m driving the carpool so I can’t ditch early. Neil is watching the kids. He was not asked. He was told.
I’m behind on the housework. Odds that it will magically be done while I’m gone tomorrow? Odds that my definition of mess will have to be revised to include whatever Neil and the girls do to the house in my absence? Yes. I can hear your imaginations whirring away.
Monday night I’m hosting a party. In the basement. A mere half hour after the girls go to bed. And I invited a dozen women I’d never met before to come. Yes, I gathered the courage at the last community playgroup and breathily introduced myself to the tight knit cliques, a stack of invites clutched in my only slightly shaking hands. I managed to stave off the encroaching panic attack, but it was a near thing.
My basement? Not ready for complete strangers to see it. Monday night? Coming up fast.
Oh, and I’m baking all sorts of goodies for the party to show off my culinary skills.
Apparently the kids are taking care of themselves on Monday. Because Sundays? Are all about keeping the sabbath day holy and not cooking and cleaning till I collapse from exhaustion. That’s the idea, anyway.
Tuesday there’s a birthday party to attend. Wednesday we have a playdate. Thursday is playgroup. And date night. Which I’m told will involve square dancing. Help me? Please?
And Friday? Last day to work on the 50,000 word novel I’ve only written 32,000 of. The novel I recently realized is rather crappy, yet am determined to finish by the deadline.
Chances of sleeping much next week? Zero to nil.
My poor, poor soon to be neglected family.
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22 Comments
oh wow. you have a lot going on there. if i were there to help, i would. maybe take your kids for the day or bring you dinner.
But somehow you’ll get it all done ; )
I think the gathering Monday night will be fun–good job with getting out of your comfort zone to invite strangers.
Um, did you steal a page out of my calendar? Yikes, girl! Keep your chin up and ditch what you can.
Oh, and PS?
You’ve written 32,000 words in a little over 3 weeks. That is ASTOUNDING, especially for someone new to this game. So do some back patting right quick, my friend!
Poor Kim. :(
If we lived close I would so watch your kids for you. That’s an awful lot packed into one week.
Don’t be afraid to cancel something if you need a rest. Take care of momma first or you can’t take care of anybody else.
Any cheap flights available?
Love to you and good luck that you will make it through the next week relatively unscathed!
We were just looking at our calendar for the next “till Christmas” and I was starting to feel a bit like you do.
I’m proud of you for stepping outside your comfort zone and inviting all those gals to your house.
Put on some Christmas music (I dunno, it’s helped me) and get busy. You will get it done and you will have fun and we will get the benefit of hearing all about it. It’s what they call a “win-win”
I wish I could help you?!?
I am always the party pooper on these posts … I say skip out on the things that aren’t truly necessary :) !! Your sanity is more important!
I think your novel is awesome, I just got caught up :D And don’t worry, I’m still at only 22,000 words, so you are waaaaay ahead of me lol. Hope all your stuff for the party and everything goes well.
I think we may need to stage an intervention, cut you some slack.
Feel free to let something go, silly. If you need/want to.
Now pass off some store bought bakery items. I won’t tell.
Mine were neglected last week. They survived, but it wasn’t pretty . . .
Can I throw a monkey wrench in the works and suggest that if you cancel some of this, the world will not come to an end? Hold your own NaNo later on. Or come join mine in January. Don’t stress yourself out over all this stuff that’s supposed to be fun!
READERS : SHE’S WRONG! HER NOVEL IS BRILLIANT!!!!
kim, you totally rock. yes, you’re mental. but you so rock.
this too shall pass :) we all will still love you at the end of this week. :)
I didn’t have half as much going on as you do – and I only got about 5,000 words into it before I gave up on NaNoWriMo this year. But the way I look at it like this … if I can manage 5,000 words a month I’ll have my novel done in only 9 more months – yeah, that’s not 50,000 in 30 days, but it’s better than nothing (and more realistic for me).
Your progress is amazing!! So, big fat hairy deal if you have to finish it in December ;)
And just for the record – Who’s genius idea was it to have NaNoWriMo in November anyway? It’s arguably the worst possible month to do such a thing with the holiday season and all. They should hold it in the depth of winter or something – like in January – no one’s busy in January, LOL :)
I do insane amounts of everything and your list makes me feel overwhelmed.
(((hugs)))
You’re amazing. Even if your novel is crap (which I’m sure it isn’t) you’re still amazing. I can’t believe you have come this far on it already. You’re not behind. You’re way, way ahead!
Okay… take a deep breath… now, exhale… hey, I said exhale! EXHALE!!!
I know you can do it! I’ve got faith in ya girl!! :)
You’ll do great! I guess I always want the thing I don’t have. Last week I was bemoaning the busy-ness of this upcoming week, but then I got conned into staying at my mom’s to take care of her this week while she has surgery. Now I’m desperately wishing I were home to do my insane amounts of calendar items.
Hey! go ahead and send the kids over here. It’s not like I’m getting my tree set up anyway!
Honey! Words fail me. Hmmm.
You totally need a time machine for Christmas. Barring that, um…good luck!
I can’t imagine.
For what it’s worth, I don’t think you’re novel is crappy. Just finish the darn thing, which may or may not happen this week. Is okay. Just do it!
Yes, you can!
(I just had a Bob the Builder flashback apparently.)
Keep us posted. When time allows, of course.
Get enough of it done to wow those moms, and shove the rest of it in the closet. It works every time!
Your novel… not crappy. I’m not even close to done reading, but it’s not crappy.
If it makes you feel any better, it took me 3 months to get 30,000 words for my novel. You are doing an outstanding job!
Kim . . . if I lived anywhere near you right now, I would come over with my vacuum and dust cloths.
I cannot believe how many times I have been where you are and how I feel like I’m drowning in circumstances of my own creation. I sometimes sing the song “give said the little stream. Only I change the last verse so I can scream out, “BUT I HAVE NO MORE TO GIVE!”
I don’t know why but it makes me feel better. The chaser of maniac laughter follows the screaming. It’s very therapeutic. I suggest you try it :)
You’re way too hard on yourself. Do try to cut back somewhere, woman! But I say keep going on NaNoWrMo–don’t get out of that groove. Instead, let something else (or two or three things) fly out the window.