So I did NaBloPoMo for the first time in November 2009, the first year I was blogging, when it was connected to BlogHer. Once BlogHer wasn't really a thing anymore I kept doing it, because it seemed like a good way to exercise the blogging muscles that had a lamentable tendency to be getting downright noodly by the end of October.
I was starting to feel like I was blogging in a relative vacuum (not that big a deal, I was fine doing it for myself and a couple of friends), and then a couple of years ago I stumbled into a nice old-fashioned blogging community all over again, and apparently NaBloPoMo is still an organized thing with them.
In a way, yay! A team. In another way, yikes! I suck at team sports. What if I'm laughably bad at it in comparison? What if they're not into just posting a drunken picture of their feet halfway through the month when topics are thin on the ground? What if this is another cool kid thing I'm not cool enough for?
I think I'm too old to still freak out over stuff like that. I think. Or old enough to pretend about it better.
So, my third night out last week was our annual Halloween party at our friends Janet and Dave's house. I was exhausted and completely bereft of costume ideas. On the years I don't plan and make one (I usually can't bring myself to buy one, and then frequently regret this) I am usually pretty good at pulling something together at the last minute. I couldn't see that happening this year - I was having trouble even visualizing putting on regular clothes and leaving the house.
It was finally sunny after days and days of rain, so I forced myself out for a walk. I always feel dumb taking leaf pictures because there are always so many leaf pictures and I am not a gifted photographer so my photos are generally quite disappointing. But I took a couple anyway.
I found a little path behind some houses that was quite short but still gave me that "walking in the forest" feeling for a little bit.
I got home and sent a message to our group WhatsApp telling everyone I was tired and fragile and would probably be costumeless and not up for the requisite mocking, and everyone was very gracious. I went outside to tell Matt, and admired the garage he was cleaning out so I could park in it when it snows.
This is what a really good husband looks like:
Then I turned around to go back in the house and found a pamphlet in the mailbox. I whipped it out and showed it to Matt and we laughed a little. And then I looked at it, and thought "hey, I can work with this."
(no shade to religious people, just obnoxious proselytizers)
The party was fun. Some eating, some drinking, some laughing, some haranguing people about their musical tastes:
One family passes the same hot dog costume around from year to year, which I respect.
Eve texted me goodnight after her Halloween party at two a.m. I texted her goodnight at 2:30 a.m. after mine. This makes me feel like she's doing university right and I'm... maybe doing adulthood wrong?
Okay. Now I just have to do this twenty-nine more times. It's like pushups, it gets easier as you go, right? Oh shit, wait...
15 comments:
Paragraph 3. Yes. That. (And I feel paragraph 4, too.)
I do not tire of leaf pictures, or of taking them, and yours are especially lovely. That golden leafy path is right out of storybooks, truly.
YOUR COSTUMES. Genius. I do not have the type of brain that can come up with costumes. I need someone to make it for me and then put it right in front of my face on instagram or whatever and then I will buy it. My kid is in prime Creative Costume stage right now, though, and she at the last minute decided to be a vampire. She honestly looked more like an Olsen twin, but that's a reference from the 1900s so it went right over her fangs.
Hahahaha... you'll be fine. I like humor and leaf pictures, so we'll get along well! love your costumes and love the fact that you were out partying till 2:30 am. I'll just live vicariously through your blog! I start to get extremely cranky after 10 pm.
Those fall colors are mesmerizing!! (Hello from a fellow NaBloPoMo'er!)
GENIUS. Love it so much— #tradwife IS trending right now…
Don't be silly - you always nail it. I only slept a few hours last night but I wanted to spend a minute reading your post. You are definitely one of the cool kids. You make it look easy. I laughed at THIS IS WHAT A GOOD HUSBAND LOOKS LIKE. I might've laughed harder if my guy didn't just tick me off when I was trying to cook 6 lbs of meat plus 8 peppers and 6 onions for chili meat for when his sister is coming in town on Saturday when I really just wanted to go to bed. Grrr.
Also, Eve doing college right and you adulting wrong - so funny. Great start to the month.
That costume......!!!
First of all, Allison.
I sense a tendency in this first blog post that you like to sell yourself short. Don't do that. I can already tell, you're cool enough!
And since you know part of our community already, you know we're open and laid-back people. So, no worries here.
I am looking forward to getting to know you. I have seen your blog name pop up here and there and just never clicked through... but now I am here and I am intending to stay, for a minimum of 29 more blog posts and possibly more!
P.S. Genius costume. And your leaf photos are gorgeous@
HiAllison, I'm Daria from New Jersey. That costume is amazing! Looking forward to reading your posts :)
I think those pictures are stunning! Fall is my favourite season and fallen leaves are my favourite sidewalk accessory and these pictures capture both. A+
Those leaf photos are fantastic! Never stop the leaf photos. Also, great costume! Sounds like a lot of fun.
Wow! Those leaves looks wonderful! So beautiful. I'm excited you're doing NaBloPoMo - so much exciting reading to come in November!
I love finding little paths like that on my walks around town (or out of town if we're traveling). Clever costume.
The leaf photos are beautiful! I don't regret moving to Florida and being away from New England winters, but I do miss October's leafy views.
I can't tell you how many times I have wanted to blog but been at a loss for a topic, so I looked at recent photos and picked one to write about. Just do whatever you want. I'm here for it!
Your costumes are so clever! What a perfectly timed pamphlet that was. I'm glad you had fun at the party. I do wonder about the family passing the hot dog costume around. Do they fight to do it, or not to do it?
Hello Allison. Those fall photos are really beautiful. The colors. I am looking forward learning and reading more about you this coming month.
Oh, you can never have enough leaf pictures in my book. So beautiful! It sounds like you are doing adulting just right. Love the costumes.
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