Mustard and Other Things

1. At the writing conference that I attended a few weeks ago, there was a large arrangement of these small jars at the registration table. I thought that someone must be selling their homemade preserves, which is strange. But it turned out to be mustard, in eight different flavors, that was given out freely to all the conference attendees. One of the conference regulars (and screenplay writer) works/manages the famous Mt Horeb Mustard Museum, and he had the mustard made for us, just for fun. (There was also a contest at the conference to write a short screenplay based on the theme of mustard.)

I was given honey dill mustard (which would have been great on salmon), but traded someone for jalapeno mustard because she was wary of the spice and I couldn't bear to see good mustard go to waste.

I love mustard. I use it often to make vinaigrettes and other sauces. I should have plenty of ideas for the jalapeno mustard. But other than applying it to brats and burgers, my mind is currently blank. Any inspirations?

2. Mini NaNoWriMo is still on, goal of 25,000 words for April. I am very behind, but there is ample hope for catching up. I have gotten into the habit of daily writing. Every day I get a tiny bit better at it. At least, I do not get worse.

3. I was at work for a few hours later than expected last night due to a sick call. I was feeling deeply sorry for myself for a while, until after considering these three nice things that happened during those overtime hours:

a. I found a quarter on the stairs.
b. I used that quarter to partially fund a chocolate-almond ice cream bar, eaten at midnight. Ice cream is currently unavailable at my house.
c. Driving home at 2:30 a.m. I discovered Debbie Gibson songs on the radio, which I doubt are ever heard during normal business hours.

The Adoration of Jenna Fox

The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary Pearson had been on my To-Read list for so long that I forgot why it was on there. I guessed by the title that it must be an obsessive love story. In some ways, it sort of was, but not in the tiresome way that I thought it would be.

Jenna Fox awakens after a year spent in a coma, is unable to remember much, and begins to piece together what occurred during and after the accident. It is suspenseful, it is nearly science fiction (but no distracting flying cars, etc), and it is philosophical without becoming issue-y. I admired it for its sparse style of writing. No clutter. Every sentence was important.

I did not notice until about a quarter of the way through the book that it was written in present tense. That usually drives me crazy. This time, I liked it.

And the butterfly on the cover is cool.

Can't Stop Watching This

Slagsmålsklubben - Sponsored by destiny from Tomas Nilsson on Vimeo.

Mini NaNo is On

Today I wrote 867 words.

Today I also went to work and then dawdled around Trader Joe's so long that several employees asked me if I was looking for anything particular. Then I made a wingless buffalo chicken pizza (great!), ate, cleaned up, and listened to Fresh Air. I discussed my opening scene with Trixie at length. She wasn't too impressed because I didn't include peanut butter or bacon. Then I worked on Week Four, Day Two of the one hundred pushups challenge (my arms are huge!).

I am thrilled because:
1) I am on schedule with the writing, day 1/1.
2) I am excited about what I have written so far. I think that I am using my authentic voice this time. The inciting problem has occurred. I know what crisis the characters are going to be involved in to push Act II into Act III already.
3) My other leisure activities were not neglected.