NaNoWriMo

Well, we are two days into NaNoWriMo.

My wife is home from the hospital after a successful surgery.

My product is in open beta after a successful release.

There is zero chance that I will be writing 50,000 words in November. I should have over 3,000 already.

I have 295. Here they are:

“Rock stars aren’t supposed to be awake at 6:30 in the morning, unless they haven‘t gone to bed yet.”

It’s a misty morning in Nashville in late August of the year 2000, and Mitchy’s sounding bitchy. But really, if they’d just let her sleep in until eleven or so, she’d be looking forward to the tour. When Dave gets back from the Starbucks run, things will pick right up.

This is a Paradigm Stickshift 20 years past their prime as measured by what matters in the music biz -- 20 years after their biggest hit, and long past the days of playing stadiums. They are the original members, and they are not tired of the music, each other, or the road. They haven’t stopped writing songs, making albums or touring. Not a lot of people are aware of that. But there are enough to sustain them. Financially and emotionally.

Paradigm Stickshift is Darcy Lane Schultz - guitars, backing vocals, and rainbow vests; Dave Schultz - bass, roadie, emotional stability and driver of the Dodge Caravan; Bob Nordskog - drums, roadie, webmaster and babysitter; Ted Sanders - sound engineer, driver of the Winnebago and rememberer of the good old days; and Michelle “Mitchy” Marks Nordskog - keyboards, lead vocals, writer of the songs, keeper of the flame, and in dire need of a latté.

Oh, and Paradigm stick shift is also April and Dylan Schultz and Mickey and Donny Nordskog, ten, seven, seven and three years respectively. Homeschooled and in the way and along for the ride on a tour of the Midwest college towns that provide the most loyal of Stickshift’s fans. Four angelic faces fast asleep in the Winnebago; oblivious to the commotion going on around them as instruments and equipment are loaded in.