LiederWynd

This November was actually really busy! Not only did I go through all that life recovery : I flat out did National Novel Writing Month. And I somehow made it through! In conjunction with NaNoWriMo, I went to our region's special event, the "Evening of Writing Uncontrollably." We literally had to drive out to the middle of nowhere to find this gorgeous old library that looked like something out of a Victorian painting. (They hold a lot of Harry Potter fan events.) I got to tour around, get some writing in, hang out with friends, rock a penguin kigurumi, and listen to one of my friends give a great talk about NaNo. It was 120% what I needed to progress forward. Before I went to the EWU Mikkun and I went to the grand opening of the Round 1 near us. We got T-shirts AND a picture with Santa.  I threw a party for The Game, and it ended up being super chill and everyone just petting my cat. Love my cat. Did I mention I have a cat now? I finally, finally, FINALLY got back ...

One of the other Municipal Liaisons said that it was a good idea to recap your National Novel Writing Month at the end of every November. So forgive me for just a minute as I do so here, because: this year's NaNoWriMo began last year, as I dragged my incredibly mentally ill and disordered friend across the finish line, nearly at the expense of my own novel. Clearly I got some stuff to work through. For the uninitiated: National Novel Writing Month is exactly what it sounds like. Every November, people get together and write novels. It proves to you that you really can do anything if you put your mind to it, at least anything as simple as regular writing. This most current year was my 15th year doing it, and my third year being a non-profit leader in my home city. It's my volunteer job to inspire others to write their books, which I normally do fantastically with all of my extra energy (admit it, you know I got it). I already knew it was going to be crazy this year, because ...

With my triumphant return to...well, something, I've got my five things that I've done this past month. If I delay too much, then when I'm 40 I'll look back at these things I've done and I'll wonder, what was I up to the summer and fall of 2019? I kind of fell off the face of the earth a little bit. Did I do anything of merit? To which I say, hey 40 year old Emily, remember that mixtape? Yeah. (stupid grin) That was a good one. I brought my Anime Cantabile mix home to a recital in Columbus. It felt good to be playing on 'home turf,' and I really love the recital hall that I've been playing at. There wasn't a lot of turnout, but I'm working on that for my next recital. I played Beethoven's 5th in the SEOSO concert of the century. There was also banjo. It was awesome. My eyeglasses were seriously 12 years old, so I finally went and got some new ones. (I also got to have lunch with my grandma twice this month because of that. Twice!! ...

A quick disclaimer before we begin.  The following creative nonfiction deals a lot with my mental health, the issues I've always had with it, and some of my current successes with it. This entry is not to be taken as me confessing that I'm crazy, that I need to be carted away or see a shrink. I have been evaluated by health professionals and while I am of sound mind, growing up with lots of expectations means that you have to put the mental legwork in as an adult to be normal. Fortunately, this is something I have done. I am not sick, I am not dying, the world is not ending. While everything is not always rainbows and butterflies, as this entry explains, I am totally okay and doing well. Bottom line, fam: I am fine, I am not in any danger, and there is no reason for anybody to worry or freak out. If you think I'm looking at you, I'm looking at you. The following creative nonfiction also makes reference to, but does not DIRECTLY mention outright, a major issue in t...

I bet you're all wondering why I didn't post last month. (Spoiler alert: nobody's probably wondering why I didn't post last month.) To be honest, it started with one of the five things I had to do this month: I put in ADA paperwork for my job. #OkayEmily, you're probably wondering, you're not sick. You're totally healthy. Why do you need paperwork in order to actually perform your job? Well, it has to do with immense stress, the day to day operations of my job changing, and one too many automatic bathrooms. It's a post for another day, and now that I can semi-think straight again, I might actually be willing to write it. For a while there, I wasn't getting anything done. I was waking up, going to work, coming home, and sleeping. I might fit in some "me" time, but that was about it. Nothing as far as planning for my future or what not. And normally, I would just hide it all away so that people don't think I'm sick or damaged. B...

First off, I'm aware that things have been slow around here. In order to prepare for the future that I want, I've had to make some cuts along the way. d-VOR-ak is still being edited for simulpub (yes, there are copyedits that have to be made!) but I honestly can't remember the last time I sat in front of my computer to do so. My guess is we will start seeing those in the fall as production ramps up for Book 6. These next couple of months are also very busy as there are changes coming for my family. I will tell more about those as they happen -- no need to worry too hard. And now, for five things I have done during the month of May -- It took me an extra month, but I finally got to Kings Island. It felt GREAT to be back on the Beast, if you know what I mean :P I'm going to make an effort to go more often. I ran into some tough troubles mentally that I didn't think I would ever run into again. I don't need to fully explain what they are here, but this time w...

Well, I'm 31, and to be honest it doesn't feel much different than 30. The main difference is that I'm feeling an increased urgency to do something. Not because I've peaked, not because I'm getting older, but just this note of okay, no more games. I always say all the time that "nothing's gonna hold me back," that I'm going to make my way forward the best way I know how. This year, I want to strive to actually make that true, as derpy as it sounds. I don't really have a choice otherwise. To that effect: I started the long and tiring process of moving. At the moment I literally don't have enough work clothes at my house because they are all at Mikkun's. Perhaps I should have rethought that part. As we clean and make other adjustments, more of my belongings are being moved in. I shut the door to my room for the first time Sunday and it honestly felt like my space. That is something I've been working toward, and I'm glad I...