Reinforcements, just in time!

Monday, Monday, can't trust that day.

But yesterday's Monday turned out OK. Mostly because I received two messages, reinforcements, right on time.

First, a mermaid.

Walking along to get lunch, under a cloudy sky, hands stuffed in my pockets because it's cold now, suddenly cold, mind crowded with dissatisfaction about the day so far -- the NaNoWriMo minimum daily word-count unmet, the wage-slavery, waah waah -- lo and behold, suddenly there's a mermaid at my feet. I pass her by, then turn around and snatch her up. [For a second I hesitate, thinking about the little girl who lost her. Then I remember the neighborhood I'm in. She'll get another one, nbd.]

Given how much I've been obsessing about The Little Mermaid lately, even though not this one, not the Disney Ariel, still, her appearance made sense.

Not to be goofy, but whatever, I'm goofy: seemed like a sign, a boon, a reminder.

For what your heart wants, what will you trade?

Then reaching home at the end of a long day, already dark out, knowing I need to still walk Mr. Burns and get dinner together, a cardboard package awaits me on the counter. And even though it's something I ordered myself, that I've been expecting, still the timing is perfect on this glum Monday.

The print ordered from the geniuses at Trendy Misfit in September now graces the wall of my office at home, a reminder I needed yesterday and need today and will need tomorrow.

Define your moments or they will define you.

It can get lonely, this devotion to writing a book in the slim margin of time that surrounds my 9-to-5, this burning desire to create something, to say something that's mine to say. It can sometimes feel a little silly, getting up at my Fuck Yeah Early-Early Wake-Up Time, to scribble and think and scribble.

It would be easy to stop, give up, give in, sleep in.

But I can't. I have to do this.

So it's so great to have the company of AJ Leon and The Pursuit of Everything and the whole misfit, inc. crew here on my wall with me now, reminding me, keeping me clear.

This November writing commitment is such a big deal. It's so much work, and yes, seriously, I still think it's harder than childbirth.

But damn, so worth it. And now, with reinforcements -- a mermaid in my pocket, misfits on my wall -- I am refreshed, ready to go.

Sword in hand. Bring me your dragons.

XX