NaNo Prep (or getting it together before the Big Event)

Call me crazy, but I’m actually enjoying NaNo Prep this year.  Having one NaNo win under my belt, I’m feeling kinda cocky, I know.  But this year, in addition to doing some household planning and work schedule planning, I’ve done some exciting novel planning, as well as special events planning.  What’s that?  Special events planning?  How does one squeeze in special events during NaNoWriMo where all spare moments are focused on the mammoth task of pounding out 1667 words per day for 30 days?

For one thing, Thanksgiving, the major special event of November, comes at the end of the month and I’ve already determined I’d be done with my 50,000 words by then.  So that means I’m essentially doing NaNo based upon a 27 day month which tallies up to 1852 words per day.  If I get in at least 2000 words a day, I get two days free and clear for a sick day and a special event.

Knowing all of this ahead of time helps me.  And here’s where we get to something that’s been nagging at me since working on this website blog over the summer: I’ve let my inner geek out and she’s begun to take over my mindset!

Notice the emphasis on ‘doing the math’ in my NaNo Prep? Relegating a single day for illness or an unforeseen circumstance and another for a special event?  I know better and yet, my inner geek insists that’s the way to NaNo Prep Peace.  And, get this, for added security my inner geek got herself html text to put that sidebar widget you now see on my Blog Page.

This ‘live’ word count gizmo is directly connected to the NaNoWriMo site.  Not only is it cool looking, but it is a type of motivator for me to show off my word count each time it is entered on the NaNo site.  We Wrimos keep track of each other’s daily word counts, but out here in the infinite space of the internet on my website blog that has so many visitors (picture a wry grin on my face) well, it makes me vulnerable and more committed to producing impressive daily word counts!

Oh yes, and what exactly is that special event day going to be used for during the month of NaNo?

A horse show.  Not just any horse show, though. It’s The First Annual Bethlehem Therapeutic Riding Student Riders Horse Show.  It will be featuring our first and only (at the moment) Wounded Warrior along with a whole slew of special needs kids.  All displaying their new found skills and confidence atop a horse in front of an adoring audience.

Since my horse rescue days in NM, I’ve wanted to build upon the skills I learned there and continue to work in horse therapy of some sort.  I already knew about the various types of horse therapy programs available while in Colorado, but learned of the newer Wounded Warriors Horse Therapy Programs through my ‘nephew’ Jeremy, himself a Wounded Warrior.

Bethlehem Therapeutic Riding, in conjunction with Tally Ho Equestrian Center here in South Carolina, has been functioning in the more traditional realm of working with kids with disabilities and is in the process of becoming PATH certified with the Wounded Warriors program.  While that certification is still a work in progress, I feel privileged to be a part of BTR’s program expansion as an active volunteer.

Since this past spring, my initial focus has been on all aspects related to horse handling.  Capturing, conditioning, grooming, tacking up, leading, and yes, even mucking out stalls; I love working with horses.  I have especially enjoyed enabling them to be their very best for our therapy students. But after consistent interactions with these kiddos, my heart reminds me: I love kids, too!  I am happy to work with our Wounded Warriors as our enrollment grows, but there’s nothing like the wide-mouthed smile on the face of a child in pure ecstasy while on the back of one of our accommodating equines.

My special event day will be well-spent.  The extra word count push to make it so will be worth every effort.  I only hope I’ll be able to buckle down afterwards and get back on the page!

NaNo Prep?  My inner geek hasn’t a clue!