Writing the words "writing" and "Boy Scouts" next to one another made me realize I should somehow include Boy Scouts in my NaNoWriMo novel.

I'm wearing my beautiful new NaNoWriMo 2009 shirt. (Thanks, Dad!)

That's right. It's November 1, and it's a mark of how much I enjoy blogging that I'm writing here instead of in the little, five-page fledging word document (known now simply as "NaNo 09") that is my newest literary adventure. For those of you who missed the last time I talked about NaNoWriMo, here are the basics:

• Write 50,000 words in the month of November.
• It's quantity, not quality, that counts.
• You win if you write the required number of words: I've participated for the past four years and won the last two.
• This a worldwide event, with participants everywhere from Austria to China to Indianapolis.
• My NaNo novel is shaping up to be a series of vignettes using a connected cast of characters to tell a larger story about an intergalatic crisis involving migraines, gravity, and wasting time.
• I'm going to meet Cathryn in thirty minutes in Starbucks to write some more.
• I already have 2523 words! (You need 1667 a day.)

Oh, and the whole Boy Scouts thing? I was a Boy Scout for Halloween last night. I wore my Dad's neckerchief and neckerchief holder-thing and my grandfather's Boy Scout jacket. I even learned the Boy Scout salut, handshake, and sign. I carried a penknife. I had a backpack. It was pretty much awesome. My friends were characters was varied as a cowgirl, Little Red Riding Hood, Regina from Mean Girls, and an adorable babushka.

We went to one of the fraternity's haunted houses--it was really intense. I basically dragged everyone through (because I didn't really want to linger, not because I'm brave), pretending I wasn't freaked out so they wouldn't target me and, well, I wouldn't be freaked out. Lots of fun!

Then this morning I helped out with the Butler Catholic Community's Family Weekend mass.

Now it's back to my fledging pages of poorly written prose!

Go Laguna Lodge! (That's what's on my neckerchief.)

[View:http://go.butler.edu/cs/themes/hawaii/utility/:550:0]