Small Town, Big Changes

Life is all about finding the balance in chaos. Accepting the things you cannot change and having the courage to change the things that you can. And, more importantly, being in the moment and appreciating it for what it is.

I'm finally settling in to where I'm living now. As mentioned in the last post, I moved (quite suddenly) last month to a small town on the Olympic Peninsula. It's gorgeous out here, but it's a bit of a culture shock to where I was living before. It's not like Auburn is a bustling hub-bub, but it is a city, surrounded by other cities. Out here, I'm truly in the middle of nowhere. There's pockets of civilization surrounded by forest. Now, mind you, I did grow up in the boonies, but it has been a long time since I've lived in that environment. People are in no hurry to get to where their going and everything shuts down pretty early. I was on the bus the other day and people were chatting with the bus driver as if it was an everyday conversation. People smile and wave at me as I'm walking down the street. It's...an adjustment. A good adjustment, but one, nonetheless.

And, now for the big news part. I've been keeping this under my hat because it's been stuff in development and I didn't want to spill the beans until things were official. I, as of yesterday, am gainfully employed once again. It's part time (only 18 hours), but it's something. And it's Barnes and Noble, so I'll be surrounded by books once again. And, speaking of employment, I'm also currently in talks with a tech company in Seattle. I won't disclose that one unless things become official, but that one would be full time, with a solid base pay plus commission. If I get hired on with them, I'll have to let B&N know that I got a better offer. Which wouldn't be hard because I don't even have a start date with them. So there's a (very slim) chance that I will get the offer from said tech company before I even begin B&N. But, also, if things fall through with the tech company, I'm still employed. Which is a massive sigh of relief.

The other bit of big news is that I'm finally going to be getting serious with my writing. I helped a friend move last week and one of her new roommates is someone who blogs professionally. Recently had a post published by the Huffington Post. She gave me a couple websites that get bloggers paid and published. I've signed up for both and will be posting from them soon. I will, of course, keep this one up and updated as regular as possible. But there's a strong chance you'll see my name in print soon. Fingers crossed anyway.

The other thing is that, as of this writing, NaNoWriMo is 25 days away. This year, by hook or by crook, I'm doing it. No more excuses, and, more importantly, no more crazy work schedule to prevent me from writing. That has been the main hurdle in the past and that is one that is finally out of my way. I also have a phenomenal idea that has been bouncing around my skull for the past few days that I'm going to go with. The story actually takes place in two different time periods: the "present" (actually 2011) day, with an old man turning 90, and 70 years prior, when that same man enters World War II just after turning 20. The old man is someone who is very unassuming and is spending the winter of his life in a nursing home. No one takes him seriously and he's considered frail. Wasting away. He's also missing his right leg. The parallel story is how he goes to war and even serves under General Patton in North Africa, where he loses his leg and is sent home. And how he watches his close friends go to Normandy and never return.

It's bittersweet, don't get me wrong. The idea came to me as I was wandering around a grocery store and saw an old man wearing an old army coat. There were some kids who walked right by him and didn't even glance at him. The disinterested kid I'm going to have in the story is going to be his own great-grandson, who really does not want to go to the birthday celebration of his great-grandfather. When he gets there, the two of them spend some time alone together and the kid finally works up the courage to ask about the leg. By the end of the novel, the kid will have some massive respect for the great-grandfather. I'm not sure yet if the old man will live to the end (closing chapter being a funeral). I don't have all the details, but I'm going to flesh it out now so come November 1st, I can just write.

So, yeah, that's the latest. I'm still alive. I'm still kicking. I'm not in a glass half full or empty state of mind. There's liquid in it and that's all that matters at this point.