DAY 14.2: HIGH OFF THE LIFE

So the countdown begins. It feels like New Year's all over again. The Good District is celebrating two weeks in the blogosphere in just a few hours.

We have officially recovered from the performance anxiety that I suffered last week after adding the town of Clayton (reminder: pop. 6973), to our small but growing group of readers. In fact, we/me are starting to love the idea of cultivating a readership. Although, my confidence in a strong cult following coming out of North Carolina is starting to wane.

So with our two week birthday only hours away, and a new website in our sights, what is there left to write about? This feels like the mountain top to me. Except there are still 351 days left in this project, and that darn book to write.

And what happened to the book? Well, I am afraid all I have is some solid hemming and hawing as my answer to that question.

Anne Lamott addresses the problem well in Bird by Bird, so I will leave it to her to explain:

"We all ended up just the tiniest bit resentful when we found the one fly in the ointment: that at some point we had to actually sit down and write."

Couldn't have said it better myself. So with the shield of web design soon to be removed from my excuses list, I will have to get back to.... THE BOOK.

But I will not let my writing dampen the spirit of celebration tonight. Mazel Tov to The Good District! Happy Two Week Birthday! May the best be yet to come!

14 Days Down, 351 to go.

Warmly yours, Milagros

DAY 14

After spending all day yesterday, and most of this morning, attempting to cut and paste digital images, I learned that all I needed was a pre-teen to teach me the ropes. I happened to find a You Tube video, taught by an 8 year old, who was picking his nose while teaching photoshop basics (kid you not), and successfully explained it all in 10 minutes! 10 minutes! Kids these days know everything. I bet he could have whipped up a book proposal while picking his nose too.

So, suffice it to say, that thanks to booger boy, we are now in the final stages of styling the new website. I have to admit, that after all this build up, it is still pretty simple. But we will reveal the new Good District for our two week anniversary (tomorrow).

So back to work for me, but more later...

I remain truly yours, Milagros

DAY 13.2: BIRD BY BIRD

Bird by Bird arrived today. For those of you who are new to this writing thing (OK, so am I), it is a book by Anne Lamott, fully titled Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life. My first inclination upon opening the Amazon.com box, was to panic. I felt that I had already broken a cardinal rule of authorship - be original. If Anne Lamott had already written of both life and writing, what is there left to say on the subject? Fortunately, I quickly realized I don't really know who this Anne Lamott lady is, and the possibility does exist that we could have different things to say. Whew.

I came about ordering the book on the recommendation of a friend, who I hope will one day help secure a book contract for me (isn't that wonderfully presumptuous and exciting at the same time??). So dutifully following my assignment, I plan to dive into Anne's work tonight, and share my feedback in coming posts.

Other than that, I should let it be know that I intended to finish the new website by this evening, but I have a funny feeling that some where a web designer is laughing at my grand ambitions. Hopefully the reveal of the new "Good District" will be happening soon, so I can get back to the heart of the matter. Writing. Writing. Writing.

OK, here is my closer: I watched part of the movie Serendipity (2001, w/ John Cusack, very cute) this morning while eating my cereal, and just have to leave you with the following quote:

"If you want to improve, be content to be thought foolish and stupid." Risks I take everyday.

With that I remain truly yours, Milagros

13 Days Down, 352 to go.

DAY 13: MAKE OVER

The Good District is getting a make over! With our two week anniversary just around the corner, it is time for us to get dolled up. Admittedly, I have not mastered HTML code yet, but hopefully I have learned enough to bring us to new blogging heights. Or at least take a blogging baby step.

And let's face it. I am an American. I like new things. No need to exclude my blog from my cultural compulsions. It is time for an update. More to come soon!

DAY 12.2: WHO AM I? AND OTHER NOTES ON THE SUBJECT

While not much got done in terms of coming up with answers to those pressing questions from earlier, I am now more resolved than ever to upgrade the blog itself. Would you believe if I told you that the same questions I need to answer for the book proposal, I also need to resolve to increase interest and activity on the blog? It is true. I found all of this information on the Internet. Incredible that most of life's mysteries can be resolved by sitting down and answering the the question of the ages: "Who am I?"

So with a page full of questions, and a second wind of motivation to learn web design, I am back at tackling those 2010 resolutions. Today's scores: Blog = 2 pts. (2 entries today!), Unexpected soul search from book proposal prompt questions = 1 pt., Book = 1/2 pt.

12 Days Down, 353 to go.

Truly yours, Milagros

DAY 12: SUCCESS IS 10% INSPIRATION AND 90% PERSPIRATION

Today has already gotten off to a better start. Now that I have concluded that my home has everything I am looking for in an office: Food, Free, and Quiet, my first working day of the New Year is off to a banner beginning.

Today we are tackling the writing of a book proposal. While I mentioned that in some ways I am dreading this task, I am also hoping it will help organize my thoughts around what I am actually doing.

The guiding tips and questions seemed so universally helpful, that I had to share them with you... Whoever you are:

(1) Sell yourself as well as the Book (Book could be substituted for idea)

(2) Focus on the qualities about you and your ideas that spell success. (I mean, you don't get more Tony Robbins that that.)

(3) Why this book?

(4) Is it unique and original?

(5) What will make this book popular?

(6) Why will it be successful?

These are all really great questions that I am dying to know the answers to myself. But me aside, I hope you draw a little motivation from looking at your own qualities that spell success.

More to come later --

Truly yours, Milagros

DAY 11: THE SEARCH

On today's episode of Molly and Her Book, our heroine roved the streets of D.C., looking for the perfect place to write her yet to be completed Great American Novel.

After a great holiday break, I, like most Americans, was ready to get back to work. Except, unlike most Americans, my only current job is writing my book. Which, given the fact I am not on salary, is more like a volunteer gig, or an interesting way to look at self-employment. Blame it on the Recession?

So, with my renewed commitment to my book, I thought it time to find an "office," so I could really get cracking. Today, I began the hunt.

Last night, before going to bed it occurred to me that a library might be the perfect spot. Surrounded by books for motivation, and quiet for concentration, it was a stroke of genius I was happy to give myself credit for. In order to face the day with a plan, I then googled "nicest library in D.C." and what popped up but THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. Of course! How full circle. I could write about my political exploits near the halls of power that I once labored in. Not to mention, I watch movies, I know brilliant things happen in the Library of Congress' Reading Room. I was building the closing scene in the movie about my life. It was perfect, and contentedly I went to sleep.

Scene: This morning. Wake up. Freezing outside, but that doesn't slow our heroine down. I got ready, got in the car, and drove towards my destiny. How was I to know that the Library of Congress isn't actually a library. Perhaps the name is a little misleading. Perhaps I didn't do all my research. Perhaps I should investigate other life assumptions I have made based on Hollywood movies. Who knows, but none of that matters now. What matters is that you can not actually hang out at the Library of Congress with a laptop and notes on your memoirs. You can however look down into the main Reading Room through a protective glass pane on the second floor. Down below sit researchers who have been authorized to pull selected works from the archives and sit under the watchful eye of highly trained staff for a limited period of time. And they call this a library!

Frustrated, but undeterred, I remained resolved to find my perfect writing spot, and left the Library of Congress, head still held high. Down one block to the Folger Shakespeare Library. Turns out, also not a library. A museum, yes. A theatre, yes. A library, no. Dejected, my laptop and I headed to the trendy local coffee shop where all the hipsters and artists spend their time reading, writing, and generally looking "in the now." Unfortunately, halfway through my hot cocoa, the woman next to me began an animated conversation about her dog's need for a psychologist and a homeopathic form of Zoloft to help with the dog's anxiety. I knew I was out of my league. No writing could be done while trying to be this trendy.

So after a day on the streets, our heroine headed home. Where I wrote. And wrote. I am starting to think this is the home for my book. Isn't that like life? You search and search, when what you are looking for was right under your nose the entire time.

And with that, I remain truly yours, Milagros

11 Days Down, 354 to go.

DAY 10: 2009

In that this blog has become as much about life, as it is about writing, I didn't want to totally dive into 2010 without one last look back at last year.

Sure, 2009 had it's ups and downs: a tough economy, the loss of Michael Jackson, NASA finding water on the moon, and the failing of our icons (oh Tiger Woods...). But, despite the fact I live in a city as consumed with the health care debate as they are with the White House party crashers, my life got wonderfully back to basics.

So, in a spirit of optimism about the coming year, I am coming through on my promise to whip up a top ten list for 2009.

ONE

Barack Obama was sworn in as POTUS. My perk from working on the Obama campaign is that I got to be there. Despite my cynicism about politics at the tender age of 30, even I can admit that being a part of inauguration was amazing.

TWO

The passing of my aunt and step-dad. Tough blow for one year, but I have a feeling they are reading this from their Heavenly Macbooks, making edits to my writing, and cheering me along.

THREE

Quitting my day job. Best. Move. Ever. Working with the real Carcetti (reference "The Wire") was gangsta Baltimore politics. More on this subject in 2010. It will be in the book.

FOUR

Return to the motherland. My first trip back to the Dominican Republic since I was a baby was incredible in a good way.

I cried on our flight in, and on our flight out. (Make note - I did resolve to do less of the crying thing this year.)

(dune buggy riding on the beach)

FIVE

MAY WEDDING!! (Not mine - my friend's)

What is there not to love about a wedding?

Music, flowers, food, dancing.

SIX AND SEVEN

Turning 30 and Celebrating with friends as we all got a little closer to understanding the show "Thirtysomething." While I may miss eating cookie dough with no consequences to my waistline, turning 30 feels good.

EIGHT

While some love Paris in the Springtime, I love Paris in the Fall. First trip to the City of Light with my mom in October. Resolution for 2010 = Go back.

NINE

First and last big snowstorm in D.C. 16 inches of powder. Great excuse to watch t.v. and eat cookies all day. Staying away from the yellow snow = success.

TEN

Starting "The Good District" on Christmas Day 2009. Still feeling great about that decision.

Thank you 2009 for all the memories. I learned a lot, and get to share 2010 with all of you (current readers: mom + me + boyfriend + mom friend)

Happy New Year!

10 Days Down, 355 to go.

DAY 9

If I had my way, I would probably only communicate with people via handwritten letters, an occasional text message, and of course this blog. Imagine how great it would be if you were freed up from having to say anything out loud. You could just express yourself in a well crafted note, or quirky colloquialism, showing your mastery of language as well as ability to be clever at the same time. Of course some things should be said, like "I love you," or "I'm sorry," but truth be told I have read some great greeting cards that seem to do a pretty job writing out these emotions.

And why do I love writing so much? Because, to be frank, I am just not that quick on my feet. Some people are gifted to have the right response for everything, but I usually think of the best one liners at least 5 minutes after the fact. Is it too much to want a level playing field? Where we can just write each other, and I have a fighting chance to win a "Yo Momma" competition?

Writing is just logical to me. My brain has a chance to chew things up, roll words around, and draw some pretty big conclusions and insights on life when given a few minutes with a pen and paper. Which is more than I can say for most of my conversations, with the exception of the heart to hearts that everyone has experienced after a few too many glasses of wine.

So that brings us to the book. When it is finally finished, it will be like the friend who waited long and patiently enough to hear what I had to say. I have to admit, I didn't write today, but I know the blank pages will be waiting for me tomorrow. Ready whenever I am to breathe a little life into my words.

With that I remain truly yours, Milagros

9 Days Down, 356 to go.

DAY 8: HAPPY ONE WEEK ANNIVERSARY, SUCKA

Today will not be funny. OK, kind of funny. Try as I might to be a tragic writer, doomed by my own talent, this whole experience is not quite shaping up as planned.

For starters, one week in, and I am already asking myself, "What did you get me into?" A book huh? You really thought the spilling of guts was a good idea? Really? Seriously?

Not to mention my exponentially growing audience (by now you know the drill: me + boyfriend + mom + aunt + mom friend). Family and friends. People who matter. To me. I thought publish or perish was bad, but the possibility of friends thinking you shouldn't have quit your day job merits a least one vodka cocktail.

Needless to say, there is more to this artist thing than I anticipated, but we have survived one week, and now officially one day into the New Year.

Today I learned about web design, and that I don't want to do it. I read about pitching a book idea to a publisher, and in all honesty I don't want to do that either. It reminds me of the years and years I was in school, minus the parties. Not fun. But most importantly I learned that pursuing a goal can be scary, but once those feelings pass, you are one step closer to the finish line. So it turns out this one week anniversary is something to celebrate after all.

8 Days Down, 357 to go.

Truly Yours, Milagros

ON THE SEVENTH DAY

I finally told my mom about the blog. Readership seems a little down (economy maybe?), so I figure, why not recruit the town of Clayton, North Carolina, pop. 6973 (According to the 2000 Census). That seems as good a place as any to develop a cult following. Where Clayton goes, so goes the rest of the country. Or so they say. So, with that, Welcome Clayton!

Outside of gaining the addition of my mom as a devoted follower (that makes me + boyfriend + mom), it is also a big night for lots of folks around the world. New Year's Eve. We are right on the edge of a whole new year. All fresh and clean. Since we haven't had a chance to get our little hands on it, 2010 still remains full of possibility. So 'mazal tov' to all of you, how ever you celebrate the coming year. May 2010 be just as rosy in reality as it looks through those colored glasses. May you learn and grow, make mistakes, and be resilient.

May you believe that the best is yet to come, and experience the best of right now. In short - Happy New Year!

Now for a few resolutions. From me, for me, but you can feel free to steal these:

1. Laugh more often. Cliche but true.

2. Cry less. Just cause I am a girl doesn't mean I couldn't stand to turn the waterworks down a few notches.

3. Wear more jewelry. No explanation needed.

4. Publish a book = The point of this blog.

5. Go back to Paris. A must. It is magical.

I promised a top ten list, but in the spirit of 2009, I am going to have to renege on that promise. Now in 2010, there will be a top ten list. You can count on it.

7 Days Down, 358 to go.

I remain truly yours, Milagros

DAY 6: WRITER'S BLOCK

The "Breakthrough." That moment when "the big idea" overcomes you and it is all your fingers can do to try and type fast enough to keep pace with your thoughts. Yes, I am sure everyone has experienced it, the magic moment when you are excited about your own genius. Well... That didn't happen for me today.

Usually, after some period of mumbling and fumbling, an idea will strike, and I just go with it. But today went something like this. I woke up. Ate breakfast. Watched T.V. Watched more T.V. And then commitment. I made a 1 year life plan. And then a 5 year life plan. And finally, I started batting topics around for today. I was thinking of going with "when you fail to plan, you plan to fail," and writing an extended monologue on the importance of outlines. But nada, tick tock went the clock. No breakthrough.

So to focus on the positive, I did manage to make a life plan today, complete with personal and professional goals. Amazing to have come 30 years without a real plan. Kudos to self for making it this long! Surely, with life plan in tow, a book outline should be an easy lift. Surely. But with that in mind, I have to just go ahead and acknowledge that today's final score looks something like this-- Blog: 1/2 point, Life Plan: 1 Point, Book: 0. With a New Year around the corner, my book is going to have to play some serious offense to stay on track with those 1 year goals.

Hold onto your seats for tomorrow. Rhetorical question: What would a New Year's Eve posting be without resolutions, conclusions, top ten lists, and pics? Answer: It wouldn't be a New Year's Eve posting of course! So get ready!

6 Days Down, 359 to go.

I remain truly yours, Milagros

DAY 5: CONFESSION

I need to come clean. This blog is set to Pacific time, and I have used the extra three hours at the end of the day to meet my daily deadline more than once. That is right, I am confessing to cheating, but the pressure of publish or perish was getting to me.

I also need to confess that the Great American Novel only advanced by a paragraph today. But I did come up with the following for this blog entry, so today in Blog vs. Book - Blog wins.

As I enter this new online community, I have been thinking about my opinion on opinions. I have noticed that a large number of my blogging peers (with the exception of those who write the dreadfully depressing poetry, to you I recommend a diary) have very strong opinions. In some sense, even the celebrity blogs are expanded editorial pages with a no holds barred mentality. It is the Wild West in Opinion Corral. Call me Captain Obvious, but like I said, I am new to all of this.

Before I dig this hole any deeper, let me say I do not have a thing against opinions. In fact I am sure that is why Al Gore invented the internet in the first place (Promise: Will limit future Al Gore jokes), but I wanted to give you a heads up that The Good District will put forth good effort to remain relatively opinion free, outside of things that apply directly to me and my writing. For years I was a voice box of liberal intellectualism (read: I could recite my DNC Daily Talking points on command). I even carried 'The Lexus and the Olive Tree' with me when I first started interviewing on the Hill, and managed to read at least the introduction before landing a job. But I think it is now time for me to retire my opinion hat. I fought the good fight, and realized the playing field wasn't what it appeared to be, which I suppose is sort of my opinion on the matter. More on the politics in the book, of which I plan to share at least a short excerpt soon.

With that, I remain truly yours, Milagros

5 Days Down, 360 days to go.

DAY 4: THANK YOU

A Thank You Note to My Blog:

This is a presumptuous move, but I am ready to say Thank You to all my loyal readers (me+my boyfriend who read it last night); and I am ready to thank God for all the unexpected success, positive praise, and noteworthy reviews. Really. Sincerely. Thank You.

As the only current and active member of my own fan club, I feel it is my duty to get the ball rolling. Please feel at liberty to jump on 'The Good District' bandwagon early. We are like the indie group nobody has heard of, or the designer that will win the CFDA Awards next year, we are, in two words: on fire.

OK, I will stop now. Even I can't carry this much further. The real point of all of this was to thank my blog for making me excited about 'the living' again. This kind of easy writing has breathed new life into my creative thinking, and as a result has put some pep in my step. I am now proud to be a blogger. To be published was on my bucket list, and who knew that the cyberspace that Al Gore created would make it so easy? And I call myself a Democrat.

As an aside, initially I was going to call today's entry the "death of a short story," but that is pretty self explanatory. I attempted a short story. Fail. Invigorated with new energy for Great American Novel. Wrote paragraph. Success.

So until tomorrow, I am truly yours, Milagros

4 Days Down, 361 to go.

DAY 3

I know this has nothing to do with writing, but 3 days in and my eyes have been opened to this thing you all call the blogosphere. Amazing. There are so many open and honest voices. I guess that is why bloggers list the "blogs they follow," because it is impossible to not become a fan of the work other people are doing. It is all making sense now. You will have to forgive me for being a newbie to this whole thing.

In case you were wondering, the typewriter is for visual interest. You know, typewriter = my goal is to be a writer. Call it positive reinforcement.

So now that the witty banter has ensued, onto the heart of the matter for today: Titles.

A long time ago, meaning 2006, I started writing out a list of potential titles for my work. Since my name (Milagros) means "miracle" in Spanish, I thought there might be some real potential there. Self titled novel = Great American Novel?? Seems a little presumptuous so early in a career.

Then, I moved onto the Great American Past time, falling in love. We love LOVE, so I thought I should write a clever little story about love, and bingo, everyone is a winner. But the best I could come up with was Love Letters, or Love Story. And I am pretty sure these names are taken. And honestly, yawn. As much as I too love LOVE, not exactly my speed for a book.

Naturally my career was up to bat next. That is it, I will suck it to everyone I used to work for. A juicy tell-all about my non-tell-all experiences in politics. Gold. For a moment I really hit my creative stride. Democratic Diaries, The Donkey Chronicles: Tall Tales from Working Inside Democratic Politics, and other versions over-using the word "diary." I really thought I had something, until I realized I had never slept with an elected official, and never got propositioned in a bathroom. To name a whole book after the blue states seemed to go a little overboard.

So that brings me to now, I am starting to think the book will name itself. Sort of like I am hoping the book will write itself. Literally. I wish this book would earn its keep and put pen to paper and give me something to edit. Something to work with, is that too much to ask?

My hope is that the title will come, the same way a baby name just feels right, a name will just feel right. In the meantime I continue to labor -- no pun intended.

3 Days Down, 362 to go.

Truly yours, Milagros

NUMERO DOS

I wrote this entry last night, as I was so excited that I had actually followed through with my FIRST posting. But after a day of doing anything but writing (today), my enthusiasm level has now dropped and I am suffering from an acute case of writer's disease, otherwise known as procrastination followed by a few lovely waves of guilt. Left untreated, writer's disease can truly shut down positive creativity, and lead to more of those angst ridden ‘Dear Diary’ entries I mentioned yesterday. But in an attempt to not make this blog all about guilt and procrastination, I now pledge to my current reader of one: me; that going forward my discussion of this disease will be limited. So with that, I will return to my enthusiastic entry from last night:

Success! Second blog entry. Two more than two days ago. A few months back I started a similarly self-serving blog called District Goods. Clearly I have a fondness for this word combination. The blog had one entry that I wrote in the middle of the night when I couldn't sleep. The entry was kind of tragic and sad, and because the name of the blog implied I was selling something, I decided the best thing to do would be to put District Goods out of its misery and start again. So I am re-inventing myself, with a new name, and doubling the quantity of content with two entries. So far, so good.

I suppose before we go any further on this rapidly expanding adventure, we should get to each other. No worries, I will go first. I was born in New York, but am not a New Yorker. I grew up in the suburbs of Washington, D.C., and then moved to the suburbs of Orlando, Florida when I was in high school. My parents divorced when I was very little, and for the most part I think I am pretty grounded about that. If I am being honest, I take after both of them, some good and some bad traits. But beyond that brush stroke, it gets a little complicated. I went to a small school in North Carolina for undergrad and took a long time to graduate. A very long time. Not a decade, but not four years either. I have good friends, happy memories, and really no right to complain about life. I have love. My boyfriend is amazing, and probably doesn’t want any other mention on this blog, so I will leave it at that. But it is important that you know he is amazing. And that is my life. That is the stuff that really matters.

You should also know I worked in politics for a long time; it is the only career I have ever known, and I have spent the past year breaking up with it. Except it doesn’t really know that things are over. I left a note in its locker, but you get the picture.

So the book is kind of about all of this stuff. The good, the bad, all of it. But ultimately it is my hope to make the bad stuff funny. Because what is the point of writing sadness? So if you have any tips / advice on the basics of comedic writing, my book would surely appreciate it. And with that, I think I am checking out for today. Back to writing. Will be back tomorrow. 2 days down, 363 to go.

Warmly, Milagros

NUMERO UNO

If Julie Powell can turn a blog, into a book, into a movie, I can too. Unfortunately the Molly/Julie project did not have the same ring as connecting oneself with a Great American Icon, so this blog is named after things I generally like. I like things that are good, and I live in the District of Columbia. Thus "The Good District" is born. Just trying to work with the tools I have.

So here I go with my version of a 365 day project. Write everyday about ... writing. Brilliant. Inspired. Totally interesting to my current audience of one. Me. Definitely sounded better in my head.

For my entire adult life, rather sheepishly and in dark corners, I have been trying to write a book. A Great American Novel if you will. Unfortunately, what I have now are a lot of “Dear Diary” entries that sound like they belong to an angsty teenager. I, however, am thirty.

So to move the process in a more positive direction, I am going to journal, everyday, about life and book making. Or, in this case, not making.

Hopefully, in one year, 365 days, both blog and book will be thriving beautifully.

Warmly yours, Milagros