What the Junk?!

Starting the month off right!

How you ask?  Well, I went to mail off my letters.  My mailbox was full but not one of the things in there was a pen pal letter. D'oh!  I left the post office and went to Starbucks. I thought starting the month off with a cascara latte would be a good thing since the syrup is going to be gone soon. I'm going to miss my cascara syrup. I'm glad I was able to get one more. I hope to get over there before they are totally out.  The Barista told me that the last bottle they have runs out on the 7th, so I hope to get one more.  I know they won't run out of the syrup because I'm the only one that orders it. lol

NaNoWriMo is at an end!

It's hard to believe that today is the last day of November and it's also the end of NaNoWriMo!  I am happy to have another NaNo win!  It was a good month of writing.

Today, I sat down and finished my letters.  I started them at Starbucks but I hadn't taken the actual letters with me so I finally got those done today.  The past few days I've had bad migraines and I was not in the mood to finish any of them.  I got those done today and plan to mail them out tomorrow.  I would have mailed them out today, but my friend wanted to go eat so I went with him and it was too late when I got home to run to the post office so I will go tomorrow.

I got my Yule tree up tonight.  I almost didn't put it up this year.  I will share pictures of it below along with my stack of pen pal letters.  I am planning to make myself go to Starbucks once a week again and get my letters done there.  If I have a dedicated day each week, I'll get them written in a timely manner AND I'll get to get Starbucks every week. It works for me! :P

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Here is the pretty stack of letters ready to go tomorrow:

Starbucks Whoo Hoo!

Guess where I am?  Did the subject line give it away? :p  Yes, I'm at Starbucks.  Believe it or not I was able to get a table!  At first, I was thinking I was out of luck.  I looked in and it didn't look like any seats were available at all.  The comfy seats at the front were the only ones empty and those are not the best for writing on a laptop. At the old location, yes, but not here.  I was happy to find a seat though and sat!  I hadn't been here 10 minutes when someone left one of the little tables.  I jumped up and claimed it before they got out the door. lol   I am in it now.  I've done today's NaNo writing and I've written pen pal letters!!!!! Yay! I've actually written my pen pal letters.  Whoo Hoo!  My hands are tired now, so you should be glad I'm even writing a blog post. LOL

 

It's been busy and slow in here tonight. After I moved to this table, most of the other ones cleared out except for my favorite one in the corner of course! LOL  It stayed pretty empty for a while and now they are rolling along pretty well again.  I am not sure how much longer I plan to stay. If I were at my favorite table, I'd probably stay longer, but I'm not, so there is that.  The guy that was sitting here left a while ago, but I didn't even turn around to see if I could grab the table.  I am pretty comfy here and this is my second favorite table. LOL    The little tables are all along one wall, there is a long table to the right of them when you are sitting at one.  If you sit at my favorite table, you have no one behind you or beside you.  If you sit at this one, you have people behind you but no one beside you.  The other two little tables have the long table next to them.

 

I just peeked, someone has claimed the other table.  Oh well! :P  I was able to get my hands on a bunch of Starbucks cards while I was here. I'm hoping I got the entire collection.  Well, except for the multipacks. You can't get those without loading them.  I got a bunch, so I'm hoping I have them all. If not, I can go and check on the site I use and see which ones I need so I'll be able to look for those.  Hopefully, I have them all!  That would be cool, cool, cool! :P

 

I'll take a picture of what I have when I get home and share it.  For now, I'm going to sit here and enjoy being here for a bit longer before I pack up and head out.  If it clears out some, I might stay a while longer and I might just head home.  I have almost finished my drink and I am not planning on getting another one tonight. :P

 

I just know it was great being able to do NaNoWriMo from Starbucks again!  I totally missed out last year and I didn't want that to happen again. :) . Now, I just have to decide what to fix for dinner when I get home and put away the clothes I washed yesterday. D'oh!  Actually, not a D'oh, I knew when I washed them yesterday that it was so late that I'd put them away today.  I was able to get some detergent yesterday after using the last drips and drops on my bed linen. I needed more detergent and I only had a dollar. I was tempted to go to the laundry and get one of those individual ones they sell.  Then, I thought about the dollar stores.  Dollar Tree would have a bottle for $1 but I was hoping I didn't have to drive over there. (at that point, I had planned to come here to write) . I went to Dollar General and found a regular size bottle of one of the few brands I use for $1.  Score!  I thought it had to be a mistake, but I checked before buying it and it was $1.  I am totally broke so I was happy to find it so cheap!  I love my dollar stores! 

 

Ahh!  I am home now.  The internet and my MBP were not playing nicely together at Starbucks for some reason.  Luckily I copied and pasted this huge post into Evernote just in case.  Good thing I did because I had to restart everything and would have lost my post.  Ahh!  I am going to post this before anything else goes wrong. ;p

 

Starbucks and a rainy day.

It has been absolutely gross outside today.  Rainy, cold, and just nasty.  I haven't wanted to do anything but lie around.  I hadn't gotten anything done for NaNo today and thought that getting some Starbucks would help.  It was so nasty out, I really didn't want to drive over there.  I tried to talk my friend into it, but that was a no go!  I went over there and went through the drive-thru.  It wasn't too busy and they still have cascara syrup.  I got my beloved cascara latte.  It was delicious!  I came home and got some good writing done.  

I am now very close to 45,000 words!  I might have made it to 45,000 today, but I have more days to go in the month and I would really like to write every day.  I also want to attend the last write-in on Monday!  Maybe even from Starbucks if I can get a seat this time.  I'll see how it goes! I certainly enjoyed my drink today. 

Starbucks, yes!

I got my Starbucks today!  My friend called and wanted me to go with her to Target.  I did not want to do this because when she shops, it is almost impossible to get her out of a store.  Today was no different! lol, I did get a few of the holiday Starbucks cards at the Starbucks in Target though!  After we left Target, we went to Starbucks. :D  I finally got my cascara latte.  It was delicious as always.  I am going to enjoy them until I can't get them anymore.

I went back to their house and stayed awhile.  I ran book ideas over with my friend's husband and son.  I headed home and got the MacBook Pro out and ready to write.  I wrote a lot more than 67 words today!  I wrote 2500 words. Whoo-hoo!  I am now over 30,000 words written.  I am on the down stretch now so that I great.  I have to decide where to go from here.  I think I'm going to add more to the beginning and then go back to the point I'm at.  With Scrivener, it will be extremely easy to do!  Have I mentioned that love, Scrivener? :p

By the way, here are the Starbucks cards I picked up.  I took this picture of them so I'd know which ones I have.

Starbucks denied!

I had to run to Dollar Tree to pick up a few things I needed and decided while I was out, I would get some Starbucks and bring it home with me.  I hadn't written for NaNo yet today and I thought it would be good writing fuel.  I go over, get in line, and am the only one.  Yay!  I ask if they still have cascara because they are about to be out of it.  They DO have it. Yippee!  I order my usual.  A cascara latte.  Then, the dreaded words come.  We can't make hot drinks, the machine is not working correctly. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

It can be made over ice! The helpful barista suggests to me. I do not like iced coffee so I had to turn her down. lol . I was nice about it and she was nice, so it was all good, but I didn't get my latte. :(   Oh well!  I came home after that.  I opened up Scrivener to start my NaNo but so far I only wrote 67 words. LOL!  I might write some more in a little bit.  I'm a good deal ahead, so I very small word count day is not going to hurt much.

I went to Goodwill this afternoon and found two pair of jeans that I liked.  They both fit and I had to figure out which pair I wanted.  I got one and told my friend that takes me out to eat about them.  I had mentioned before that I desperately needed some pants for winter but I hadn't had a chance to go look for any.  He offered to buy me the other pair. Yay!  He came and got me and we went over there and I was able to go right to the pair I'd tried and grabbed them.  I also found a cute little stuff RCA dog Nipper.  :)

Oh, earlier when I went, I saw a nice padded laptop sleeve for $2 so I bought it. When I got home, I realized that it was brand new. Score!  It's bigger than my MBP but it will still work for it.  I can also use it for some of my Linux laptops if I want to carry them anywhere.  I found a little set of cute stationery for .59 while in there too.  

On my second trip to Goodwill with my friend, I only got the second pair of jeans and the little Nipper plush.  Afterward, we went to a local place we'd heard about but never tried.  We tried it and it was great!  The cheeseburger and fries were cooked to order and they were both delicious!  A definite spot to add to our list of places to eat. :)

Snow?

Yes, snow! It snowed here today.  There wasn't a lot and it didn't last very long, but it snowed.  Considering it was in the 60's yesterday and almost up to 70, that was nuts!  It's 36˚ right now with a 'feels like' 27˚!  I had thought about going to Starbucks today but then I saw the temperature outside and changed my mind. LOL!  I've only left the house two times today.  Once to get in the little weekly free paper that sometimes has coupons in it and once to get the mail.  Other than that, I've been in the house staying warm! The sky has cleared off and it's a beautiful shade of pink.  I can see it through my window where I'm sitting typing this up.  Last night when I was sitting here, I kept seeing a light and looked and realized it was the moon peeping in at me!  It was full and pretty.

I got my NaNoWriMo writing done not long before I sat down to type this up. I got another 2000 words today. I am only 703 words from 25,000! I am almost halfway there and it's only the 12th!  My MC has been on the road trying to get home for most of it.  It's been pretty easy on her even with the threat of zoms.  I'm about to shake it up and give her some problems.  I shouldn't say it's been easy on her.  She has had a hard time, but she has been safe all along.  I'm working on throwing a wrench in that and making her travels more difficult.  I just need to get to that point.  I got so much done today and thought about doing the extra words to get to 25,000 but then decided I'd done enough for today and I could pick up tomorrow.  Plus, I haven't fully formed what is going to befall her.  I have a few ideas, but I need to figure out which will work the best.  Hopefully, I can get an idea and be ready to go with it tomorrow!

NaNoWriMo and Starbucks

Unfortunately not at the same time!I had an interesting afternoon.   I had to run an errand and I needed to mail something while out.  I went to the post office that is near Starbucks and my gas light came on.  I went to the gas station that is near Starbucks and pulled up to a pump. I get out and try to run my card and nothing is happening.  I then see that the pump is temporarily out of order.  I leave there and go to another place.  I knew they were closing soon for renovations, but they were open yesterday.  They weren't today! They had a fence all the way around the lot. I then went to another gas station that was near Starbucks in the other direction but they were packed.  Every pump was in use and there was a line. Phooey on that!  I remembered a little station that was just up the road a little and went to it.  There was construction on the road going up there, but the station was open.  I was able to get gas. Yay!

By that time, I was irritated and frustrated.  I almost skipped Starbucks. I thought they might still have some of the cups from yesterday leftover. I didn't really think they would, but I figured it wouldn't hurt to ask.  They didn't, they ran out yesterday, but at least I got a delicious cascara latte.  Sadly, the barista said that they are almost out of cascara syrup and they aren't going to get any more.  Boo!  I brought my latte home and sat down at my computer.

I got my NaNoWriMo done today before leaving the house on this wild odyssey.  I got a good portion done today and I'm now over 15,000 words! Yay! By the way, I got my first holiday cup of the season!

My package finally arrived!

I was a bit wary about it.  I figured something else would happen.  I was sitting at my desk with the window open(blinds not the window) while doing my writing for NaNo today.  I saw the mail person drive up the street and stop across from me and deliver their mail.  She then went on up the street.  She pulled down the street and pulled up in front of my house.  I went to look and sure enough, I got my package. She laid it at the edge of the porch in full site of anyone going by. ~_~; I'm glad I was here to get it.  I don't understand why anyone would do that.  At least come up on the porch.  I have places where you can hide a package.  I guess I should be happy to get it!  It was a 'TN starter kit" . I needed a new plastic zipper pocket for my new TN because the pocket I had was broken.  The zipper part didn't stay closed anymore.  I looked for one on Amazon and found this one in a set.  It was the clear zipper pocket, a nice kraft pocket, a pen loop, two extra connector bands, and a nice binder clip.  It's a nice set and it was a good deal.  It was only a few dollars more than the clear pocket by itself.  I can use the kraft pocket too and already have! It's in my TN.  Very nice deal.  

I got my writing done this afternoon and it was pretty good.  I am now a bit over 13,000 words.  Last night, I treated myself to my pizza!  It wasn't the one I usually get, but it was pretty good.  I looked for deals and saw that Dominos had a large pizza for $7.99.  I ordered that and went and picked it up.  I really shouldn't have as I'm so low on funds, but it's been a tradition and I didn't want to stop!  I have three slices left for tonight.  It was really thin.  It wasn't as good as the ones I usually get, but it was tasty, so that is okay.

Today, my friend texted me and said we'd go eat.  I said, whoo hoo! lol. He came and picked me up and I had no idea where we were going. I just knew it would be hilarious if we went and got pizza.  We didn't.  We went to Ham's.  I haven't been in a long time, so that was nice.  The only bad thing is they don't have my favorite sandwich anymore! BOOOO!  They had this sandwich called the "Big Island chicken sandwich."  It was delicious.  They don't have it on the menu anymore.  PHOOEY!  I got a bacon cheeseburger in its place.  It was a good burger, but I really wanted the other sandwich.  Oh well!

After that, he had a few errands to run so I rode with him.  He stopped and got himself a milkshake and then carried me to McDonald's and bought me a frappe.  Yum!  He offered to take me to Starbucks, but I didn't want to get out and go in.  It was raining and messy.  Plus, I'm sure they were busy as all the holiday stuff hit today and they had that promo for a free cup with purchase.  Last year they sold out very quickly and it turned into a big mess. I didn't even try last year, so I didn't bother this year either!

 

Vintage puzzle time!

I forgot to mention yesterday that my friend and I went to the Goodwill in Farmville VA after we went to the trail and bridge.  I found three puzzles.  I found a lot more, but these were the only ones I bought.  Well, my friend got them for me, but there you go. :p  Two were used and one was brand new still sealed.  Of the two that are open, one is an 1000 piece puzzle, and one was a 300 piece puzzle.  I did that one today.  It is only missing one piece and I fixed it so that you can hardly tell it's missing.  You'll see in the picture below.  If you look near the top, you might think that is where the missing piece goes.  It isn't.  There is one piece in there that looks like someone's dog got a hold of it. It's a bit ragged, but it fit and I used it.  The piece that is missing is on the left side and it's an outline piece.  See if you can spot it!

Hard to spot, yes?  I did a pretty good job. The puzzle itself is in good shape to be such an old one.  It's of a Windmill in Williamsburg, VA.  It's another Whitman brand puzzle.  They are good quality puzzles.  Thick pieces and good interlocking properties!

In other news today, I got my NaNoWriMo session done.  Wow, it was good!  I really got into it today.  I have gotten to some interesting stuff and it's going great.  I actually left it at a good point today where I can go and pick it up tomorrow with no issues.  

I got my bed linen washed today.  I just need to put it back on the bed.  I also got my hair washed, paid my bills and went grocery shopping!  It was nice to get some good stuff to eat in the house.  I got an extra bag of coffee and extra creamer.  With it getting cooler, I tend to drink a lot more coffee.  I drink coffee everyday, even in summer, but I do drink more when it's cool.  It's always cold in my house from Fall to Spring! :P