Heat Miser 1, Great Pumpkin 0

I gotta tell you, I'm feeling gypped. Trudging through swampy, 95 degree heat in Mexico, I kept saying to Matt that it was okay because when we got home it would be fall, with October merely days away, and with October comes great weather, and with great October weather comes boots and sweaters and jackets and cookouts and pumpkins and Halloween and HOORAY FALL!

Yeah. So thanks for nothing, October.

At least the weekend was nice, and not just the weather. It was the first one in recent memory that I got to stay home with no errands to run, no plans to go over, no craft projects to work on... generally not having to be a stressed out bride. Just getting to hang out and do chores and watch TV and DVDs with my husband. Is this why they call it marital bliss? Because it is. Bliss.

So I'm blissed out and energized and I'm not going to let a little thing like global warming sap my strength or my motivation. As you no doubt know, the new year is still three months away; but as I'm starting a new life here, it only feels right to make some resolutions. Or goals, as the case may be, seeing as how I never make resolutions. Or, y'know, "things I put off dealing with until after the wedding." But "New Life Resolutions" sounds so much more romantic and motivate-y.

Resolution the first is to get/stay healthy(-er). Not that I wasn't already working on this, but now that the wedding's behind me I should have more time for things like doctor visits and regular workouts. Finally having good health insurance is also coming in pretty handy. Next up on my "get healthy" checklist: see a doctor about getting back on my thyroid medication. Also: less coffee, more green tea.

Resolution the second: Move. I've already mentioned how the idea to have Matt move in with me into my attic apartment in my mother's house has turned out to be less than brilliant. We'll be remedying that just as soon as we can save up enough to cover first month's rent plus deposit. It shouldn't take us long. I figure once the holidays are done we'll be ready to start looking for a new place. I can't even tell you how much I can't wait (she said before sneaking a peak at Craigslist's local housing listings for the umpty-billionth time).

Resolution the third: remember that I'm a writer, dammit, and write. Dammit.

I'm already all over this last one. Of course, the day that I chose to "crack down and get serious again" about my writing is a day that the office became extremely needy. Ain't that always just the way? But I didn't let this de-rail me. I managed to get enough downtime yesterday afternoon to write a synopsis for one of my partial manuscripts. I've been away from all of them long enough to recognize their inherent flaws, so I picked the one that I feel has the most promise and am totally starting over on it, re-plotting and re-writing from scratch. This morning I started a new outline, and already the story is more cohesive. If things remain quiet around here this afternoon I'll be able to start the actual rewrites. Can I get a woo hoo?

Once I get it going I'm considering joining a critique group to help keep me on track. I'm also thinking about signing up for NaNoWriMo, which I've never done before. So is there anybody who's experienced with NaNoWriMo who can tell me how it worked for you? Did it help you advance your project, or did it just set you up to burn out? Are you planning to do it again? Thank you.

And now I'm going to allow myself a tiny squee over tonight's Veronica Mars season premiere and make a fourth resolution, that I will not allow my protagonist to slowly morph into Logan Eckles. And then I'm going to knock out some ho-hum tasks relating to my "real" job before I get back to the business of writing.