Pressed Between Pages

52K done and many miles to go before I sleep..

2010-11-25T20:32:00.004-05:00

So I have officially won the 2010 NaNoWriMo challenge. A lot of people have asked me what that means exactly. The answer to that is simple. Nothing and everything all rolled into one.

What does THAT mean? Well the only requirement that NaNoWriMo puts out there is that you write 50,000 words in one month's time. It doesn't mean you have to have a finished manuscript. That's the kicker for me. I have 52,000+ words as of this very moment, but I am still not finished with my novel. So I won (YAY!), but I didn't win yet (BOO!).

That leaves me 5 more days to finish "Pressed Between Pages". I wrote another 2,000 words tonight, and I have a few big scenes left to do, so it shouldn't be that much of a problem to finish. I can see the ending as clear as day in my head, and when I finally cross MY finish line it will all be worth it.

This month's journey has taken me to places I never thought I'd go, and some I never wanted to revisit. While PBP is not an autobiographical piece by any means, a lot of events in my life have shaped what it has become. It was a real eye opener for me, and I am better for having had the experience.

Back in January on this very blog, I said I wanted to have PBP finished and published by January 1st, and I am well within reach of attaining that goal. The entire month of December will be spent editing and rewriting, which should be a lot easier than getting the first draft down on paper.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone out there pulling for me to get this novel finished. PBP has been a labor of love, and I am so happy to be able to get it as far as I have. Thank you sincerely for all the kind words and the encouragement you have given me throughout this process. It has meant so much to me.

There is one person however that I could not have done this without, and that is my wife Jenn. She has been right by my side throughout this entire journey, and I truly couldn't have done it without her. She is definitely my real life "Emma" and I love her with all my heart.

So in closing, I'd like to wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving. Take time this holiday season to forget about everything bad going on in the world, and take time to appreciate the good. Good friends, and family, and great times and memories.

Be Well- RJN

Going back to Indian Lake

2010-11-23T09:04:00.003-05:00

When I sat down to start writing "Pressed Between Pages", I wanted to create a town like the one I grew up in, Hopatcong. While I wasn't born there, most of the formidable years of my life were spent there. It wasn't always rainbows and butterflies, as most things aren't, but I do have to say that I really loved the town. Indian Lake became a tribute to a town that really shaped who I am today.

The best thing about writing is that you get to go back and change what you didn't necessarily like in life. With Indian Lake, I really didn't have to do much tinkering. As you read the novel, take not of places like Ma's Pizza which was a tribute to Mario's Pizza. The 3-in-1 deli also makes a cameo appearance, as does Quick Check, and the annual end of summer carnival (though I'm not sure if they even have that anymore.) Barrow's which is where Chris plays in his band when he is younger, and where Grace is playing when Chris returns to Indian Lake, is based loosely on Feuersteins over on Riverstyx Road.

Now some of you who end up reading this novel are not from the same town I grew up in. I understand that. While "Pressed Between Pages" is sort of a love letter to a town that was important to my life, I hope you feel right at home there as well. For those in my circle of friends that shared good times and bad in Hopatcong, I hope "P-B-P" brings you back to a simpler time in our lives, when the world seemed to be a little easier to deal with. That's my hope anyway. Who knows, for some of you, that grew up with me, you may see a little part of yourselves in the characters that make up the novel.

As I go through the editing process, starting next month, I will share little insights, and recollections about the little town I grew up in, and the people that were part of the process. It should be a lot of fun for everyone. I will also be asking for some input on certain things from everyone out there that's reading this. So stay tuned for that as well.

So for now, take take, be well, and we'll talk again real soon!

RJN

NaNoWriMo...The Final Countdown!

2010-11-22T20:18:00.000-05:00

For all of those who would like to (and there probably aren't too many), please cue cheesy 80's music. For the rest of you, please keep reading without sound!

So here we are in the home stretch of the NaNoWriMo experience. I have to say it is everything I thought it would be, and nothing like it at the same time. How is that possible you ask? Well let me explain...

I always knew that I wanted to write this novel, "Pressed Between Pages.". The NaNoWriMo project gave me the framework. 30 days, 1667 words a day, 50,000 words in a month. Not a problem. I could do that in my sleep. Well, let me just tell you, it has been a lot harder than I thought it would be, but in a good way.

Look over to the right hand side of this page, and you'll see the NaNoWrimo Calendar...go ahead, I'll wait. You'll see my progress each day described by three different colors. Red signifies a day on which I did either no writing at all or a LOT less than my target goal of 1,667 words. Yellow signifies a day when I came "close but no cigar", and green signifies days when I met or exceeded my goals. Thankfully there is only one red day and a few yellow days. So far this month, I have been able to find the time to write to my heart's content. That one red day hanging out in the beginning of the month was the day when I lost my plot-line and ended up not writing as much as I thought I would.

My wife, Jenn, has been so instrumental in helping me get "Pressed Between Pages" through it's final stages. It's always nice when your best friend in the world is part of a process that is so important to you. She will be hard at work soon, designing the novel's cover, and I can't wait to see what she comes up with. Should be a real winner!

I have learned a lot about myself during this month, and one of the things that I found most interesting, is that when I actually start writing, I am able to release anything inside me that is begging to get out. I have realized over the past month that this is what I want to do forever. Sure, it may not pay the bills, and I'll have to keep working as a "phone guy" to do that, but I am going to keep on writing...

Because I am a writer,
Therefore I Must Write!

Nanowrimo (NAtional NOvel WRIting MOnth)

2010-10-29T18:48:00.005-04:00

So here we go again....Monday is November 1st, and for me this is another attempt at finishing my novel. I am determined not to quit this time, and no matter what I have at the end of the month, I know it will be my own. I have realized that by not writing, I feel like less of a person. I am a husband, a father, a brother, a son, a telephone repairman, the Junior Governor of a Moose Lodge, but I am also a writer. I tend to find myself making time for all the wrong things in my life instead of making time for the right things, and the "write" things!

The last time I posted to this blog was almost a year ago, and I really thought I would have this novel finished by now. Life intervened, or maybe it was procrastination, or a lack of belief in myself. No matter what is was, it needs to change. If I don't get this story out of my head, I feel like I will explode. Is that an overstatement? Sure it is, but I don't know of any other way to describe it. Like the title of my blog says, I am a writer. Therefore, I must write.

I really think the biggest stumbling block I have encountered, is laziness, combined with a lack of self confidence...which incidentally has always been one of my weak points. What if no one cares that I wrote a novel? What if it never gets published? What if, What if, What if?

I DON'T CARE ANYMORE!!!

This is about me! I am being selfish here. I need to tell this story. I need to see it to it's completion.

And....

I am the ONLY one that can make sure that happens!

Stay tuned folks....November is shaping up to be a DOOSIE!

Days 21-31...Life intervenes AGAIN!

2010-01-31T21:07:00.004-05:00

Well these last 10 days have pretty much been CRAP! It started out with me overreacting about something that happened at work, which led to a nasty e-mail (by me about another employee) sent out to the entire workgroup, and even though I didn't name him in particular, the damage was done....I gotta think a little more before I act. I don't regret the decision to call this person out, but I regret the way I handled myself.

The next day was no better, as we had a group meeting about another situation not involving the incident from he day before, and once again I lost my cool. Totally out of character for me at work. I walked out of the meeting, and I am glad I did, because the way I felt at that point told me that nothing good would come out of whatever happened next.

So that basically destroyed whatever hope I had of having a good weekend and it spilled out into the next week as well. I drilled a hole in a water heater at a customer's house, and caused $700.00 worth of damage. That was the icing on the cake. The funny part is, I had my most productive week at work in a long while. Maybe it was good to get some of those things off my chest, but once again, I hated the way I did it.

The past few days have been all about getting back in the mood to getting my outline done for "Growing Up Jersey". Getting the right songs to listen to, watching some old television shows, or YouTube clips to get my creative juices flowing. One sentence I keep coming back to about "Growing Up Jersey" comes from the ABC show "The Wonder Years". The final line in the series is the narrator saying:

"Growing up happens in a heartbeat. One day you're in diapers, the next day you're gone. But the memories of childhood stay with you for the long haul. I remember a place, a town, a house like a lot of other houses, a yard like a lot of other yards, on a street like a lot of other streets. And the thing is, after all these years, I still look back, with wonder."

Sometimes I am asked that cliche question, about going back and doing it all over again. You know....what would you change? The simple answer to that is.....NOTHING!

Every experience I had helped me to become the man I am today, good and bad as it were. If I changed even one thing, I might not have met the woman I am in love with today, my wife Jennifer. I also might not have had my wonderful (most of the time..tee hee) children. I couldn't imagine a single day without them, nor would I want to.

You see, that's what "Growing Up Jersey" comes back to. It let's me go back and change what I want to, edit out the rest and make the story what I want it to be. Coming of age at it's finest. What happens when you realize that everything you always wanted was right there in front of you for the taking....the whole time?

I think there are quite a few people who would love to "rewrite" the story of their life. My writing lets me do that. I often say that "In the sequel, I'm the guy who gets the girl."

Truer words might never have been spoken.

There came a point in my life where I broke out from the shy reclusive teenager, and became the happy-go-lucky guy. There are times that I forget about that person, sometimes too much. I guess everyday life is a pain in the ass sometimes. But when life throws you lemons, find someone with Vodka and THROW A PARTY!

I will keep everyone updated on the outline and it's progress, and we'll see what happens from here. I am going back to the BIAM plan (Book In A Month), and am going to follow it religiously. I should have a REAL rough draft as of the first week in March. Right in time for my BONUS CHECK from work! Might just be cause for a CELEBRATION! Wait...check that....it WILL BE A CAUSE FOR CELEBRATION...I'M GETTING IT DONE THIS MONTH!

So that's the update for now.....We'll see what we can get up here for character sketches tomorrow....plus a new "Photo Of The Day".....all coming at you tomorrow!

(PS....I know there are a couple of photos missing, but they are on my other phone, and as soon as I can, I'll get them up here)

Day 20- Nightime at work....again!

2010-01-20T21:58:00.002-05:00

Got what I thought was a great shot of the water fountain at night, but it ended up coming out a little bit blurry. Oh well...It WOULD have made a great photo.

Another late night at work tonight. Got stuck on a 3 line install late int he day and then another full install after that. Went to work int he dark and came home in the dark. Got about 5 minutes with my children before they had to go bed.

Maybe that is part of the reason I want to complete "Growing Up Jersey" both as a novel and then maybe an independent film. If it was successful, maybe that would give me the ability to take care of my family on MY terms, and be able to give them all the things they deserve.

Well being that I am exhausted and ready for some more sleep, I bid you all goodnight with a song I was singing to Jenn tonight, and I send this out to her and my children.....

I can only give you love that lasts forever,
And a promise to be near each time you call.
And the only heart I own
For you and you alone
That's all,
That's all...

I can only give you country walks in springtime
And a hand to hold when leaves begin to fall;
And a love whose burning light
Will warm the winter's night
That's all,
That's all.

There are those I am sure who have told you,
They would give you the world for a toy.
All I have are these arms to enfold you,
And a love time can never destroy.

If you're wondering what I'm asking in return, dear,
You'll be glad to know that my demands are small.
Say it's me that you'll adore,
For now and evermore
That's all,
That's all.

Good night.....

RJN

Day 19---Boomer in "Das Boot"

2010-01-19T22:22:00.001-05:00

IMAG0069, originally uploaded by growingupjersey.

Well I was going to so a synopsis of "Growing Up Jersey" tonight, but I am completely exhausted, so more to come on that later. For now, here is the latest Boomer pic!

Boomer likes my boots.......

Days 8-18....Life Intervenes....Sorry!

2010-01-19T11:17:00.022-05:00

Okay, so if I am guilty of one thing, it is losing focus, and that is what I have done with this blog. I got so involved with fixing my iTunes library, I forgot what I was supposed to be doing on here. So without further ado, and with apologies to my sister, who told me to "GET ON IT", here is my life for the past 9 days!

1. Florida SNOW!

2. Made a Snowman (Sleetman?), He could use some work though!

3. Julia got a little 24 hr bug, but has rebounded nicely!

4. Matthew makes a gun out of bamboo! His creativity never ceases to amaze me!

5. Midnight Kit-Kat attack. This may be the best quick midnight snack EVER!

6. Our Green-Cheeked Conure, Sno-Cone.....looking handsome (psst...he knows it too!)

7. Halloween II on our 60" DLP TV! Too bad Zombie has DESTROYED the franchise!

8. Now he has a NAME! "Telly" The Shady Road Snowman, in his new home in the Shad Road workgroup freezer!

9. Madden 10 on the 60" DLP. (Can you tell that I LOVE MY TV?!)

10. Paul O'Neill, the Yankee bear looks really pissed in this photo. Could it be becuase of the crappy moves that our beloved Bronx Bombers have made this offseason? Maybe he'll look happier during the season!

11. Finally, Sno-Cone, still looking good and knowing it!

Sooooooooooo, that has been a week + in the life of ME! Don't worry, I'll be back later with a little more on "Growing Up Jersey" I will have the synopsis up for all you wondering what the tale is all about!

Till Then!

RJN

Day 7-Randomness In Icy Florida...

2010-01-07T19:00:00.000-05:00

IMAG0022, originally uploaded by growingupjersey.

Another freezing day here in Ocala....record breaking cold for us! Found this little fella (A Cuban Tree Frog) at a job I was working on. That's not ice on him, it's sand, He went to jump off a terminal I opened up, but because of the cold, and what happens to amphibians and reptiles he was unable to really complete the jump, and he fell to the ground in a heap.

I picked him up and brought him over to my truck to try and warm him up, and he was kind enough to pose for a photo for me.

There was a little vegetable garden growing in front of where I had parked, so I placed him there. It seemed there were some hiding spots there so he should be safe. Hopefully he makes it through another night of this weird weather in Florida!

Day 6- Not Much Going On Today!

2010-01-06T19:00:00.001-05:00

IMAG0018, originally uploaded by growingupjersey.

Okay, so I got caught up in other things last night and by the time I went to blog it was past 12am, so I decided to wait until this morning.

But in the Project 365 scope of things, at least this photo was taken on the right day!

Doesn't Boomer look so cute with his little eyes finally open?

Anyway, I'll make sure I post a better blog today!

Till Then

RJN

Day 5- Working past sunset......

2010-01-05T19:38:00.002-05:00

IMAG0014, originally uploaded by growingupjersey.

Words are flying out like
endless rain into a paper cup
They slither while they pass
They slip away across the universe
Pools of sorrow waves of joy
are drifting thorough my open mind
Possessing and caressing me

More Beatles tonight....this one "Across The Universe". Awesome tune. I snapped this picture while waiting on the phone with our company's service provisioning people, and now that I am waiting to find out how to get into my timesheet to put in my time, I figured I would throw this pic up on the blog.

The customer, whose house I was at gets to see a sunset like this everyday if they choose. That's incredible. At least until they start building more houses across the street. Enjoy it while it lasts folks.

I want to be home so badly right now. It's cold, I'm tired, I miss Jenn, and I am craving Dinty Moore! Don't know why, but maybe it's because it's 30 degrees here in Florida! Colder than hell, but with sunsets like this, who cares!

And to Jenn, who is waiting for me at home......

As I write this letter,
Send my love to you,
Remember that I'll always,
Be in love with you.
Treasure these few words 'till we're together,
Keep all my love forever,
P.S., I love you.
You, you, you.
I'll be coming home again to you, love,
And 'till the day I do, love,
P.S., I love you.
You, you, you.

(Even more Beatles...)

Till tomorrow!

Just felt like writing.....

2010-01-04T18:53:00.003-05:00

The best thing about this blog is the fact that I get to update it with whatever I want, whenever I want. Sure, I'm going to be uploading a picture a day with the whole "Project 365", but this blog is also here to help spur my creativity, and therefore help me complete "Growing Up Jersey."

I have found over the years that when it comes to "talking", I am very good, however when it comes to "communicating" I fail by most accounts. Talking and communicating are two entirely different things, and most people don't realize they can do one without doing the other. LEt me give you an example. Sometimes, just by looking at my wife, I can communicate just how I am feeling at that particular moment, and I can do that without words. It is an unspoken communication. Yet I can talk to someone (sometimes even her), without communicating a single thing about how I am feeling. I have always been better at putting pen to paper to express myself.

Sure, I can have a 4 hour long conversation in a diner about religion and world politics, and yet not be able to tell someone important in my life that I am troubled, or that I am happy, or any type of emotion I am feeling at that time.

One of the biggest reasons I fell in love with my wife is that she "GETS IT". Or I should really say she "GETS ME". I usually don't have to say a single word and she can tell what's going on inside my brain. It took me years to find someone who could do that. Now I am married for 12+ years to someone who I consider my best friend, and my soulmate in EVERY sense of the word.

When I started coming up with the idea to write a great coming of age, love story, I knew I needed to build the right types of characters that would truly blend together. I think that by the time I am finished with the novel, they will probably look and act and feel a lot like Jenn and I. That's a really good thing, because I always have said that it is easiest to "WRITE WHAT YOU KNOW". I KNOW Jenn, and Jenn KNOWS me, and once these characters come to life in "Growing Up Jersey", you will know us too.

I watched "Doc Hollywood" the other night again, and fell in love with the town of Micanopy, FL (the filming location for Grady, SC...the fictional town in the movie). Simplistic, and charming are the two words that come to mind when I think of that town. Jenn wants to open a bed and breakfast when we retire, and she wants to do that in Vermont. If we can't make it that far north again, then maybe we can settle in Micanopy and convert one of the more majestic homes in town to a B&B. I can concentrate on my writing, and she'll have her dream as well. Used to be that I could never envision myself growing old and grey and sitting on a porch somewhere rocking away with that certain someone, but now I see it clearer and clearer with each passing day.

The tone of this blog post seems to have expressed a simple theme. LOVE. Some of the truest word ever written, spoken or sung were the following:

There's nothing you can do that can't be done.

Nothing you can sing that can't be sung.

Nothing you can say but you can learn how to play the game

It's easy.

There's nothing you can make that can't be made.

No one you can save that can't be saved.

Nothing you can do but you can learn how to be you

in time - It's easy.

All you need is love, all you need is love,

All you need is love, love, love is all you need.

John Lennon and Paul McCartney were genius. With a few simple words, put to a catchy melody, they summed up what people have been trying to figure out for centuries.

ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE!

And it makes everything else in your life EASY. Once you achieve TRUE LOVE, everything else can fall into place.

So I leave you with that thought for the evening, and hope it helps brighten your day when the chips get thrown to the table.

RJN

Day 4- Hard Freeze In Ocala!

2010-01-04T07:46:00.001-05:00

IMAG0013, originally uploaded by growingupjersey.

Thought I'd start the day with this photo of my Dodge Ram covered in FLORIDA ICE....otherwise known as frost to all my northern friends.

It is 27 degrees in Ocala this morning, with a hard freeze warning in effect, and oh yes a Fire Weather Watch as well.

Only in Florida can you get a Hard Freeze Warning and A Fire Weather Watch.

This is the earliest that it has been this cold as far back as I can remember, although that only goes back 5 years. Let's hope we're just getting rid of this weather early!

Spring will be here sooner or later! Then it's BASEBALL TIME!

Day 3- Boomer....ready for his close up!

2010-01-03T19:26:00.001-05:00

IMAG0011, originally uploaded by growingupjersey.

Boomer? Meet everyone. Everyone? Meet Boomer!

Boomer is a Miniature Schnauzer/Jack Russel Mix. Some people call them Shnacks, some call them Schnussels. Either way, they're damn cute.

Boomer (Named after former Yankees pitcher David "Boomer" Wells) is just shy of a week old, and hopefully just about ready to open his eyes and say hello to the world.

He has one other brother and 5 sisters in his litter, and we are trying to come up with Yankees names for them all!

I am sure that there will be many other pics of boomer as Project 365 rolls along!

Day 2- Part 2

2010-01-02T20:18:00.003-05:00

This is what I have been saying all along. If we were just unified in respect for everyone on this planet, think of the true happiness that we could achieve.

ONE WORLD>>>ONE UNITY>>>ONE PEOPLE>>>UNITED!

At least that's better than the other time I opened up a fortune cookie at the China Star here in Ocala.

THAT ONE DIDN'T HAVE A FORTUNE IN IT!

Has anyone actually had that happen before. Can you ask for another fortune cookie, or should you just leave the fates alone and pack it in at that point....

It's kinda like that ABC show FlashForward where certain people didn't have a vision during their blackout. I don't know what to make of it.

I'm still here, a few months later though, and I got a good fortune this time, so I guess it's all make believe anyway.

Till Tomorrow,
Robert

Day 2- Part One

2010-01-02T20:14:00.002-05:00

That really isn't a nice way to talk about Pat is it? I was at Publix tonight shopping for my London Broil, and I came across this doozey....

It amazes me that we constantly correct our children on proper grammar and then come out with products like this one here.

Only in OCALA!

Sooooo....Here we go again.

2010-01-01T19:54:00.005-05:00

Okay, here I sit again at the beginning of another year, with many hopes and dreams about my novel, and another ambitious plan. While I work on Project 365, which will let me take pictures of the world around me, thus stirring my creative drive, It will also force me to journal something new every day.

My goal is to have this novel completed in published by January 1, 2011. There I said it. So now the goal is on paper (ummm....computer screen) I am making a promise not to anyone else but myself. This MUST BE DONE! I have waited for far to long to get this going, and delay belongs to danger (So Grandma would say). I talk a lot in parenthesis so I guess you should get used to that (This will never change).

Other than that, my goals this year are to join a gym and quit smoking. Although I am not to sure about either one of those goals. I have come to expect that I will always be a smoker, and I need to change that though before I do anything else at all.

Well dinner is almost ready, and I don't want to kill the pork chops on my grill, so I will leave now, and see you back here tomorrow.

Robert