Monday, November 05, 2007

Good luck to everyone who signed up for NaNoWriMo this year! Like a fool, I signed up, myself, fully intending to fall wayyyyy short of the 50,000 word mark. I'm already ridiculously behind. I just wanted to give myself some inspiration to move forward with my novel this month, even in the midst of total life chaos, plus I love the camaraderie of NaNo. Hopefully I'll spill a few words before December.

This Friday, I leave for Baltimore. If you happen to be in the area, I will be speaking at Cecil College on Nov. 13, talking about art and activism. You can find more info here. I'm so excited. My father's family landed in Baltimore after fleeing Russia, and stayed for many years, my great great grandfather funding college education for his 10 children through his ice cream store (which began as a shaved ice cart.) I've never been there myself and am eager to explore my roots and visit relatives who live in the area (as well as my sister who is flying in from Toronto). Speaking of family, please send good thoughts to my brother's liver. He just got a new one today.

6 comments:

winterizing said...

WOW, Gayle did this post clang into my world. I signed up for NoNoWriMo for the first time this year along with 2 local writing buddies. I coerced them in with a story about you beginning Self Storage as a WriMo. We are all fans of that book.

And I went on HIGH alert regarding the note about your brother's new liver. My neice died in a car accident in September and donated 7 organs. I'm sending reverent, grateful thoughts to that liver, your brother, and the donor.

Enjoy your Baltimore trip. It sounds like it's full of energetic happenings.
Patricia Harrelson

Anonymous said...

Eee gads, Gayle. How DO you manage to do it all? My thoughts are definitely with your brother and his new liver. May it serve him well!
Romalyn

Rachel said...

Gayle,

Best wishes to your brother regarding the liver situation. Transplants are never a 100% sure deal... :(

Masha just mentioned the NaNoWriMo to me, but I didn't sign up. Maybe next year, when I can work in more peace and solitude.

When in Baltimore, I hope you can make it over to DC and visit the CodePink house there. As I mentioned last week, I hope you will meet with Karen Bradley, who lives nearby and helps CodePink house a lot... The two of you have many mutual friends (CodePink and elsewhere) and I really want the two of you to meet. (Alternately, Karen teaches at U of MD, so she could visit your talk.)

Have a nice trip, and best wishes to your brother.

Rach

gayle said...

Thank you so much for all of your lovely thoughts, Patricia (so good to see your name after all this time!), Romalyn and Rachel. The surgery was a success--we're all very relieved (and yes, sending such reverent and grateful thoughts to the donor as well. I'm so sorry to hear about the loss of your niece, Patricia.)

Thank you again for all of your kind words.

xo
gayle

Anonymous said...

Hi Gayle! My name is Kylie and I'm a student at Cecil College. I was selected to have lunch with you and am very excited to meet you! I've been reading The Book of Dead Birds and have thoroughly enjoyed it thus far. Safe travels and see you Tuesday!

-Kylie Smith

gayle said...

Hi Kylie!

I look forward to meeting you too! I'm very happy to be here. :)

xo
gayle