LadyGypsy.net – the blog of Kimberly Dowd of New Jersey

More from Reverb 10, which is great at helping me think inwardly and respond outwardly.

Today’s prompt: Community. Where have you discovered community, online or otherwise, in 2010? What community would you like to join, create or more deeply connect with in 2011?

In 2010 we joined a church! I don’t write about religion often here because it makes people uncomfortable and that makes me uncomfortable and I don’t want that. And most religious views on the Internet fall into 2 categories:

>> 1) The image of Jesus on my tire treads told me to hate you
>> 2) You Christians have the intellectual potential of an amoeba and that’s why I’m better than you. FSM ftw!

But I was baptised Catholic and remained a Christian once I parted ways with Vatican City. And while I’m not following the proper Christian lifestyle at the moment (shifty eyes) that’s where my soul calls home. Faith doesn’t have to make sense. That’s why it’s faith.

We went on a Church Search last year and stumbled into an Episcopalian church with a giant “No Perfect People Allowed” sign staked into the lawn. But that’s a bit of a fib, because the people there are perfect for me. (I’d say “us” but I don’t like speaking for WM on my own blog. But he goes every week too.)

In 2011, I’d like to join the community of multi-million dollar lottery winners.

Whoa! I time traveled a bit, it seems, to catch up on the Reverb 10 project. Happy birthday, John! Hope you enjoy your spaghetti, 4 cheese ravioli, peppercorn steak and roasted chicken at dinner tonight!

One Word. Encapsulate the year 2010 in one word. Explain why you’re choosing that word. Now, imagine it’s one year from today, what would you like the word to be that captures 2011 for you? (Author: Gwen Bell)

Disappointment.

>> And I know it sounds maudlin, but really, 2010 was disapppointing for many reasons, such as:
>> Despite a forest’s worth of resumes and cover letters sent out, WM has yet to find a full time job. He’s subbing, which sucks.
>> I thought the paper was doing better, but was disappointed to find that not only were we not doing better, but there was another round of furloughs.
>> The unresolved thyroid crap. I’ve taken myself off of the medicine entirely and feel fine. No more sleepy, no more freezing, etc. But I’m disappointed that I felt like crap for the entire spring and summer. I’m going to make an endocrinologist appointment in January.

>> I was disppointed by some people this year, too. Just, stuff.

(WHOOOSH!)

Whoa! It’s 2011! Neat! This is a cute hairstyle!

2011 was triumphant! How could it not be?

>> WM has a great classroom of kids this year.
>> My job is troublesome still, but I’m supplementing my income with a fledgling jewelry business.
>> We’re paying off all of our debts and are finding extra money everywhere!
>> Did I mention that we could also afford a vacation again. What a blast!
>> And I finally did that thing that I was afraid to do. You know that thing? From earlier in the year? Done. And it was great.

Too bad the world’s ending in 2012.

Which is of course Thanksgiving weekend, which means there are plenty of non-writing things for me to do.

Yesterday we had a lovely dinner at Kristen’s parents’ home. More food than you could feasibly eat in one meal, and I was stuffed silly. Today is Black Friday, and while Mom & I didn’t go out at 5am like in years past (Stores were opening here at 3! I’m not going out at 3am. And if we went out at 5am, we’d already be 2 hours behind the rest, so may as well sleep in, head out at 10 and call it good.) it cut into the writing time.

So here I am, formerly ahead, now trying to catch up.

On our travels today, I bought this little guy from Starbucks. His real name is Huxley and he’s a writer mouse.

Squeeky squeeky! Here's some candy if you write!

But we’ve renamed him Nano and you may think he’s sweet for offering me a Hershey’s kiss if I make 2000 words tonight. But Nano is an intimidating force to be reckoned with. This is what he does when you’re not looking.

I will paint my face with your blood!

So, uh, I’ll get back to writing now. (shiver) I have 42,103 words written. Tuesday is the last day.