Seventh Pitch

Well, I have been busy during the month of November.  I wrote a novel with National Novel Writing Month sponsored by the Office of Letters and Light located in San Francisco.  National Novel Writing Month is a wonderful program that encourages people of all ages to write a 50,000 word novel in "30 days and nights of literary abandon" throughout the month of November.  (For those of you that are interested, they have a similar event in April called Script Frenzy to write a 100 page : Screenplay, stage play, TV show, short film, or graphic novel.)  For both events, you get to the goal, you win!  Simple.

Well, not to simple. I actually learned a lot from doing this.  I learned that a novel can write itself and become something far different from what was intended in the first place.  I have heard of writer's block but having actually experienced it, I can now sympathize.  (Had to kill off a minor character to make the words start flowing again.  That was advice from my dear husband - remember him? Mr. Pitcher.)

Anyway, I have had this idea for many years (Thanks Robin for giving me this D&D character and never letting me play her so I had to think about this character for 30 years) and I always wondered how it would turn out.  Now I know.  I actually have a prequel planned for next November that tells how some of the minor characters from this book met each other in their young adventuring days - but that is a year off and so I shall think about Lady Audrel, Brother Brennon and Jezriel (who will someday become The Jedron) until then and I am sure that what I think about now will have an entirely different ending when I actually write it next year.

Sixth Pitch

SO I entered a chili cook off for the first time in my life.  I entered as some acquaintances that own a shop were having a fund raiser and they were going to have to cancel it if they didn't have enough entries.  SO I paid to enter two different chili's (you could enter up to 6).

I did my weight watcher's chile recipe (one point per cup) and I decided to make a REALLY hot chili.

The hot one won!  First place for hottest and most flavorful. I haven't ever won a cook off before so that was really exciting.  In fact, when they said I had won, I really didn't believe it.

So for those that would like the recipe:

1lb hamburger, ground turkey or boca crumbles
1 onion

Chop the onion and brown with the hamburger.  Transfer to a pan after browning and add:

2 cans of tomatoes (I used "chili ready")
1 can of beans (pinto or black)
1/4 cup of jarred jalopeno's chopped and add juice to fill the 1/4 cup
5 Habenero chili's chopped
1 tsp of Tony Krutcher's cajun seasoning
1 tsp of asian chili
1 Tbsp of baking cocoa

Bring to a boil and reduce heat and simmer until the habenero chili's are done.  I would suggest decreasing the habenero's to 1 chili (or none!)

Fifth Pitch

Well, I made a Halloween costume for my grandbaby this year.  His mother decided she wanted him to be demon spawn, so here he is:

His mother said that she got a lot of compliments on the costume and that many were disappointed when she told him his grandmother had made the costume so therefore it wasn't available for their child.

Anyway -- had the munchkin this weekend.  He is really growing - being 1 year old now

He is starting to talk in sentences now.  Mr Pitcher (see 3rd pitch) asked him what he was doing and he replied quite plainly "I playing".  He is almost ready to take off walking by himself.  He is still walking around the furniture.  We had him at the park with his walker and he was frustrated maneuvering on the grass so he just picked it up and walked!  Why he can't do that on his own???  sheese.   I never imagined how fun it would be to be Grandma!

Fourth Pitch

Irish Blessing:

May those that love you, love you and those that don't may God turn their heart, and if he can't turn their heart, may he turn their ankle so you may know them by their limp. 

You have to love the Irish.

 

Third Pitch - Grandson.

This is my grandson, Andrew Jacob.  I love that name.  He was born October 15, 2009.  Even a few minutes old and he is smiling at his Ninja Grandma.  Why ninja grandma?  I have always loved the martial arts and always wanted to learn that, but in my youth, there weren't a lot of dojo's in rural Kansas and if there were, a girl opting to go would have been outrageous.  So, as an adult, I took martial arts classes.  I made it to green belt, but other things got in the way so currently I am not studying, but I hope to take that up again.

His first portrait.  He has on a halloween onsie, but of course it isn't visible.

Here is my favorite picture - he was getting ready to go home after a weekend with Ninja Grandma and Mr. Pitcher.

Why Mr. Pitcher?  Well, my husband has never had any children (never wanted any) and he was thrilled that my children were grown when we met.  (I think it's the only reason he kept dating me)  We didn't realize how grandchildren would figure into the mix and I really love this little varment and he spends the weekend about once a month.  Anyway, on the day he was born, I packed my husband's lunch for work and instead of putting his initials on his sodas, (employee fridge - I guess unmarked soda is fair game)  I wrote "grandpa".  He was FURIOUS!  and he said that he will be called "Grandma Cindi's husband".  Well, I didn't think that would work, so we settled on Mr. Pitcher.  Even the inlaws call him this now and they think it's quite cute.  Mr. Pitcher has taken a shine to the kid (though he will NEVER admit that) and he holds him, gives him a bottle, but diaper changing is grandma work!

Oh one more item -- a few weeks after Andrew's birth, Mr. Pitcher called me up to tell me how funny I was.  Had no idea what he was talking about.  He said - the magazine you had sent to me.  Still no idea.  Someone had sent "Parenting Magazine" in his name to our Mailbox Etc. address.  Since it came to our mailbox and not home, he was sure I had done this.  I assured him that had I thought of something so hilarious -- trust me I would have owned up to that one, but I told him to let me know who did it when he discovers the miscreant because I want to shake his hand for such an AWESOME prank.  He finally believed me.

Had to add the bath photo -- in my kitchen sink :)

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Second Pitch - Diabetes

          

                                                         

What's in YOUR wallet?

Ren Fairre 2008

Well, I went to the doctor today and found out that my GTT (glucose tolerance test) that I took a few weeks ago shows that I am indeed a diabetic now.  SUCKS!!! of all the diseases I could have, that was one I rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrreally did not want. OH well, finger pokes and blood drops OH MY!!

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Well, it's been 3 days, and already with the new medication (a pill - not shots) and my blood glucose becoming better controlled, it's amazing how much better I feel. I guess what is worse than a diagnosis of diabetes, is an undiagnosed diabetes.  I will get through this and my husband is very supportive and helpful.  He even poked my finger once for a blood test when I just couldn't face poking myself.  (I made him promise not to enjoy that TOO much).

First Pitch

I have never blogged before, so this is my first attempt.  I am not sure what I want to accomplish here, but I have enjoyed reading other peoples blogs so thought I would see if I could keep up with a blog of my own.