January 16 2023

Failing to Win

I started playing Wordle on a Thursday because my friend Ruth was able to explain it so I understood it. I began sharing my results the next day, on Friday 2/18/2022. My husband had previously tried to get me to join in with him and the kids and play daily but it didn’t make sense when he explained it, so I didn’t try.

Let me attempt to explain the game. You have six chances to guess the correct 5-letter word each day. You can only play once a day. If a letter is the right letter in the right spot, it turns green, if it is a right letter in the wrong spot it turns yellow. It just makes sense to use what you learn in each guess to help you choose your next guess. You can play at https://www.nytimes.com/games/wordle/index.html

When I first learned to play, I didn’t worry about how many guesses it took me to get the word, I just didn’t want to fail. I was excited by the fact that I could get the word right in 6 guesses or less. My immediate family has a group text titled Wordle where we post our results each day. . On the group text we often comment on the cool patterns created by our unique guesses that day. I also share my daily results with Ruth. I try to remember to play daily.

I have discovered many of my friends and acquaintances also play Wordle. We have even had discussions about whether it is better to start with the same word every day or pick from a variety of words with 5 of the most common letters. One of my favorite words to start with is STORM, another is FRUIT,  but I also use LEARN sometimes. Sometimes as I think of which word to start with, a word pops into my brain and anything else I think of using just doesn’t seem as perfect as the one that popped into my head, so I go with it. Sometimes it works out, sometimes not so much, but I have learn to trust the words that push themselves into my brain. I have trouble guessing words with two of the same letter, or with an X or Z, these just seem so unlikely that sometimes it causes me to fail. A few times the word of the day made me say, “Really?!?, with 14,000 plus 5-letter words to pick from they chose THAT?”

Today a comment by my friend Ruth inspired me to write this post. Her inspiring post is shown here. “Wrong guess between two possibilities. RATS. Have to start a new streak.” My response to her was, “It’s not about streaking. It’s about challenging your brain to think every day. It thinks longer on the days you fail than it does on the days you get to the right word in 4 or fewer guesses. So as long as you were thinking and not trying to fail, every fail is actually just you exercising your brain longer, and when muscles get exercised longer, they get stronger. So you win.”

It has been almost a year since I began playing Wordle, and I want to share my stats  here. I will take that 98% win rate and ignore that it also means I have failed a few times.

Sounds almost like a life lesson, I thought. Maybe worth sharing. Could turn it into a blog post. That seems like a good idea. So here I am writing my first blog post in almost three years, and it’s all Ruth’s fault!

The longer we stay away from something, like posting to a blog regularly, the harder it is to come back. I was in the habit of posting once a week every Thursday without fail. I posted March 5, then March 12, 2020. Then on March 17th the company I work for sent almost every employee home to work and only a handful of us, considered essential, continued to show up in person. My creative impulse was stifled. I tried again, on March 26th, after missing just the one weekly post. Then I posted again after skipping three weeks and a day, on Friday April 18, 2020. I wanted to share the cheerful Shaun the Sheep statue photos I had taken in September 2015 on our last trip to London. I took so many photos because they were all so colorful and cheerful. That seemed like something everyone could use after living more that six weeks in a pandemic world. After that, I stopped doing anything creative and haven’t started up again.

All my writing groups and crochet groups had gone dark, not meeting for the foreseeable future. I saw almost nobody I knew or recognized except the handful of people at work. It has taken a long time to make sense of the new normal in life. I didn’t intend to stay away so long, but making a come back is hard. I got yarn from my daughter for Christmas and at first I felt bad that she had spent her money on something I would never use. Then I figured I should give crocheting a try again, and that perhaps the yarn cakes she gave me that were so colorful a pretty should be my inspiration. So on Christmas Day, I found myself searching for crochet patterns that would take just the one cake she had provided and I wouldn’t have a bunch left over. I wanted to use it all up, but not need to buy more to finish the project. That was tougher than I thought it would be. So I am back to crocheting having done almost none since March 2020. I am using the less colorful of the two cakes she got me (Baby Cake Pool Party) to make a baby afghan. No for anyone I know, just because. We shall see how well it turns out before deciding what to do with the slightly larger and much more brightly colored Big Cake Rainbow Jellys.

Since I have jumped back into one of my former creative activities, it only seems logical to give writing a go again too.

I can’t promise I will get back to posting weekly, but now that I have created one post, maybe the next one will be easier. I can tell you that I have made the commitment to keep this domain name for 5 more years and paid for hosting for the next 3 years. So it would seem silly not to use it. Stay tuned…

Category: Blogging, Come Back, Crochet, Writing | Comments Off on Failing to Win
December 5 2019

My 7th NaNoWriMo – Did I Win?

Every November for the last six years, I would tell myself I CAN win NaNoWriMo this year, I know I can because I have done it before. What always takes me by surprise is how different each of my seven, consecutive NaNoWriMo wins has been. This year was a real struggle. I was working at the same company as last year, but this year, the job I have is almost completely in front of a computer screen for eight to ten hours a day with only a few walks down the hall to the ladies room as a break from the screens and to stretch the kinks out from sitting so long. I work through lunch. The last thing I want to do after working all day staring at a computer screen, or in this case three screens, is go home or anywhere really and do more of the same. So this year was difficult in a different way than it ever has been before. I did not end up writing at work at all.

This year was different in another way, because, as I mentioned in my update post a month ago, I was sharing my current word count every day that I was at work in a very public way. It helped to motivate me to try to stay on par with my word count, just knowing others would be checking in on my progress. A few are still asking me if I really wrote 50,000 words last month. Yes, I did, how could I not? Today, Danny asked if I wrote 50,000 unique words, and I admitted that there are some words that show up more than once in the entirety of what I wrote, like a and the for instance. I think it amazes him, and I understand completely. It still amazes me too.

So in case you are wondering, the top graph shows how far above or below par or goal I was each day and the bottom chart shows how much or how little I wrote on each day. I finished the challenge on November 29th, and did not write at all on the 30th. There was no point since they took away the badge for writing all 30 days this year. I was over it and so ready to be done writing by then.

If, like me, you are a chart nerd and want to see the stats from my previous years, you can see my 2017 results and my 2013 to 2016 comparisons. There is even an entire category devoted to NaNoWriMo because it has made such a huge difference in my life. The thing that impressed me the most after seeing the newly revised NaNoWriMo.org website was the total number of words I have written for the various events I have participated in since November 1, 2013. (See below, 422,170 words!)

That words written total doesn’t count all the blog posts I have written and shared, including the guest blog post from August 21, 2017 on the NaNoWriMo Blog, I was especially excited to be asked to guest write for them. I had no idea back then that I would someday see that I had accomplished so much writing in just seven years. I still tell myself when I am faced with doing seemingly impossible things, that I can do impossible things and I continue to do impossible things. I am a writer. I push myself to do what most would consider crazy and impossible every November, I write at least 50,000 words. Someday, I might convince myself to actually edit them and get them out in the world, but not this year. That is future Karen’s project.

I learned that I can still do it, that I am a winner, that it isn’t always fun, but I am always glad I have done it and pushed myself to get the words in my head down in the computer file. Will I always write in November for NaNoWriMo? Always is a huge commitment. Right now I must say that continue the streak that is now seven years long is hugely motivating. This year I learned that I can still get my words down mostly at home and that ten to fifteen minute word sprints can be very productive. I am so happy to have gotten so many of my childhood memories down to edit later. Will YOU be writing with me next November? Don’t you just love the theme this year? It is gorgeous! Happy 20th year of NaNoWriMo, may it continue indefinitely!

Category: Goals, NaNoWriMo, Writing | 1 Comment on My 7th NaNoWriMo – Did I Win?
November 7 2019

NaNoWriMo – One Week In

I wasn’t sure how this attempt at NaNoWriMo would go because this is the first year when I have spent all day every day at work in front of the computer screen. The job I was doing this time last year, while at the same company was slightly more active and included things to get me out of my seat like scanning applications and logging them into spreadsheets. I have noticed I tend to spend less time in front of my computer now that I have in the last few years. I tend to spend more of my computer screen time at home watching NetFlix than doing things like writing.
So, how have things gone for my this first week of NaNo?

I don’t think I really mentioned to anyone at work that I was doing NaNo last year, if I made any reference to it, it was most likely a reference to writing because it was November, and not having anyone inquire further. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to share that part of my life or not, but THIS year I made a word count tracking sheet that I could slip into a sheet protector and affix via magnets to my workspace for all to see since I am in a fairly well traveled area of the office. I still hadn’t decided if I would actually use the sign, but wanted to be ready just in case. About a week after I made the sign, a friend came to work with us and on her first day introducing herself, she just put it out there that she was looking forward to NaNoWriMo. Wow! Since I was next with my intro, I threw caution to the wind and told the team, that I too would again be writing 50,000 words in the month of November as I had for the previous six years. So, decision made, and I must admit I am kind of happy about it. I will be sharing my progress during the work week for all to see and if they get close enough, the sign tells them what my goal word count SHOULD be so they can hold me accountable.

I have been doing well this last week keeping up with my word counts though almost never getting the actual goal of 1,667 words written. I started out the week with a few hundred words buffer and as of yesterday had used up most of those. I have been updating my word count tracker each day at work and a couple of people have actually commented that they noticed it had changed. It seems to be generally well received but nobody has decided to jump in feet first and actually join in the writing fun.

Before the month started, I was trying to brainstorm some ways I could squeeze in my word counts without losing too much sleep. Here are the three ideas I came up with:

  • Get to work early to pound out some words?
  • Take an hour and type during “lunch”?
  • Outline what I am doing…

As it turns out I have yet to take my old Surface Pro 2 (which is smaller and much less cumbersome to carry back and forth on a daily basis) to work to write first thing in the morning until about eight when I am supposed to start working. I thought that might be a great idea, but it likely will not actually happen.

I actually work straight through the day at my desk and just eat bits of my “lunch” throughout the day without actually taking a lunch break, so this did not happen this year either, though I did use this trick a few times last year with decent success.

I did not exactly outline, but I did make a list of scene ideas to help me, should I get stuck with no idea what to write as the month progresses.

So, I guess one could say things are going well so far after only seven days. I’m not taking anything for granted yet, there is plenty of month left for things to go south, but I am still confident that I can do it again after six consecutive wins.

How is your NaNo going? Do you have any secrets to success that you can share with us? How are you enjoying the newly designed NaNoWriMo.org website?

If you would like a copy of the letter-sized, printable version of the sign I created to track my word count at work, like the little version shown above, just email me and ask (it would also be appreciated if you would sign up for my mailing list by subscribing for updates above).

Category: NaNoWriMo, Writing | 1 Comment on NaNoWriMo – One Week In
April 9 2019

Offer (Five Minute Friday)

What do I have to offer? I have the wisdom that comes with fifty plus years of experience. I have a few tried and true recipes. I have raised two terrific kids who are both past the quarter-century mark now, and NO, that doesn’t make me feel old. I have my opinions. I have the ability to learn new things, and relatively quickly, too, I might add. I have the ability to write about the things I have learned and share them with the younger generation right here on this blog. Not that I really think they will bother to read what I have written, but if nothing else, anything posted on the internet begins to live a life of its own. Perhaps through that life that my words live on the internet, perhaps I can make a difference in this world, if not today, then someday. Perhaps someday when I have gone on to my heavenly reward, and my kids find themselves missing me and wondering what Mom would do or say, they will also remember that I was always posting on that little blog of mine, and search for the link I sent them in an email once. That link that they always meant to follow and read if for no other reason than to see what I might have written about them and whether they should be mortified or not.

In reality, my words might well disappear after I am no longer around to renew the domain registration and pay for the hosting. But for now, I offer the words I write to the world at large in hopes that they can make a difference in at least one person’s life with each post I write, for that alone would make life worth living and writing worth writing now wouldn’t it? The little experiment I started on a whim one weekend when Hubby was out of town and nobody was around to tell me I shouldn’t or couldn’t or dare me by saying I wouldn’t. I guess I’ve written enough by now to have proven them wrong anyway. Who knew I had so much to say?

This little blog didn’t take off quite like I hoped it would, but then perhaps I could have put a lot more effort into publicizing it. Sometimes, the only way I have the nerve to post a particular piece is by telling myself that almost nobody reads the posts anyway and the few that do won’t likely get to the end of my lengthy posts and they won’t make the effort to post if they do, so I write what moves me and post it hoping it will reach the one person who really needed to read what that particular post had to offer to the world.

If you read my posts, please do me the great favor of letting me know. You needn’t leave a comment, just shoot me an email or use the contact form and it will just get seen by little old me and brighten my day. If I have reached you with just the right message on this particular day, I am pleased. Thanks for reading and have a blessed day.

This post is part of the weekly Five Minute Friday link-up!
The prompt this week is: Offer
The assignment: Write for five minutes on the word of the week. This is meant to be a free write, which means: no editing, no over-thinking, no worrying about perfect grammar or punctuation. Just write.

Category: Blogging, Five Minute Friday, Writing | Comments Off on Offer (Five Minute Friday)
February 22 2019

Just (Five Minute Friday)

This week the prompt word is just. I know it is just Friday, but I can do this. I don’t have to put it off and think about it and wait for a better idea to pop into my head, I can just do it now. Just this once I won’t wait until the last minute to write my Five Minute Friday post. I really enjoy the challenge of not knowing what the word will be and seeing what my writer-brain pulls out of me when I sit down and put fingers to keys.

To be honest, I didn’t intend to write this tonight. I really sat down to grab some photos out of my Google archive and copy them into a blank sheet so I could print the recipe I found this week while flipping through a magazine just killing time in the waiting room before my appointment. It wasn’t a magazine I would usually grab, it was just the least objectionable of the stack on the table next to me and I didn’t really have much time to read anything anyway, so I grabbed a magazine and began flipping the pages. Hold on. Those look like brownies. Just turn the page, oh look! There are more goodies pictured on the next page. Oh, it is a feature on sweet treats in bar form. Oh, here is a recipe for Spiced Pecan Pie Bars, Hubby would love those and I wouldn’t be tempted by them in the least. Should I ask the ladies behind the desk if they can make me a copy? No, I don’t want to bother them. I could just tear the pages out there is nobody here to notice if I did it really quiet, but that wouldn’t be right either. I could just take the magazine back with me then ask when I check out. No, too much fuss. Hey, I know! I will just take a quick picture of the recipe with my phone and text it to Hubby. So that’s what I did. Then tonight he wanted me to print the recipe for him, so I told him I would dig it out of the archive and print it for him.

I know, get to the point already. Well anyway, I was looking through all the photos and saw the one pictured below and it kept tugging at me. I just couldn’t pass it up, something about it made me want to use it in a post then I remembered I needed to write this post and I could just use it for that.

This is just a sample of a couple of the crazy pics you’d find if you scrolled through the gallery on my phone. It was taken at an MCL restaurant near me and it struck my fancy so I had to stop and capture it to use later. The thing is, I remember that the tiles that look like quilt blocks didn’t use to be there. I think it was like a raised wooden threshold where the two sections of tile going different directions meet. I imagine maybe they had people tripping over it or something and needed a way to fix it. Now I can also imagine them saying anything we do it going to stand out like a sore thumb, so just put anything down, doesn’t matter what it looks like because it will never match. So they sent a lady to find something and she decided to make it pretty. She saw this at the hardware store and it reminded her of her sweet little granny who used to make the prettiest quilts out of the still good parts of old cast-off clothing that “wasn’t fit to wear to a dog fight”. Now, can’t you just imagine it? So that is my made-up story about how that odd looking tile ended up in that MCL on the floor near the cash register. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it!

What do you think the story behind the mismatched tile is? Let me known in the comments below.

This is what it looks like up close.

This is what it looks like a little further away, so whatcha think? I like it! It made me smile and now it is forever remembered here.

This post is part of the weekly Five Minute Friday link-up!
The prompt this week is: Just
The assignment: Write for five minutes on the word of the week. This is meant to be a free write, which means: no editing, no over-thinking, no worrying about perfect grammar or punctuation. Just write.

Category: Five Minute Friday, Writing | 1 Comment on Just (Five Minute Friday)