Are We There Yet?

It’s dark. Mum and Dad have created little nests in the car for my sister and me, with lots of room in the middle of the back seat in a preemptive strike against the “her foot’s toughing me” sure to happen otherwise. We’ve been bathed and dressed in our jammies. We snuggle into our nests, too excited to actually sleep as planned. We pull out of the driveway, make the turn out of the cul-de-sac, stop at the STOP sign a block from our street, and…

“Are we there yet,” my little sister asks.

I’ve been feeling a lot like that this Round.

Yes, there’s been a lot on my plate with looking for work, interviewing for positions, landing a position, and learning a boat — no, ship of QE2 proportions — load of stuff for that newly landed job. I’m loving it, don’t get me wrong. The people are amazing. The work is challenging without being overwhelming.

However, there’s also the fact this is the first truly full-time position I’ve held since having the wee beasties. That’s been a huge adjustment for all of us.

I’ve been waiting for that golden moment. The moment when everything falls into place. I know it’s there, just out of reach…

Sigh.

On with the ROW80 part of the program.

Writing/Editing:

• Morning Pages for a minimum of 250 words or half hour, whichever comes first, every day. Sadly, not a word.
• Fiction, either 250 new words (new or existing WIP) or 1 hour of editing each week. Not a word, yet I stubbornly refuse to take this goal down. It’s become my elephant in the room though.
• Post three times a week here on the blog. Yep. We had Sunday’s Mother’s Day, Tuesdays were put on Hiatus, and the first of the Court Cards when we met the Child (Page) of Water on Thursday.

Reading:

• A minimum of 8 books to stay on track for 100 books this year. Cornerstone (Souls Of The Stones) by Kelly Walker, Delicate Freakn’ Flower (Freakn’ Shifters (MFM)) by Eve Langlais, and Warrior’s Bride (Stone of Destiny Series) by Garri Russell. Wheee — that makes this COMPLETE + 1, with 9 books read this Round.
• Update Goodreads at least every other week. Yep. I even updated the Reading Challenge widget.
  

Support/Social Media:

• Visit and comment on 5 blogs, at least three times per week, for a total of 15 blogs each week. A whomping 6
  
• One non-blog related post per week on Facebook and Twitter. Nope.
• One share, re-tweet, whatnot per week on Facebook and Twitter. Nope.
  

Non-Writery Stuff:

• Exercise three times per week. I got out with Beastie Girl FOUR times.
  
• Complete The 30-day Diabetes Cure in April. COMPLETE.
• Family day, no working and time with family, one day per week. Yep.

How was your week?

You can find and support other ROWers HERE.

Tuesday Book Talk

Open Thread for Readers:

• Got a book you want to talk about?
• Frustrated with a book or series?
• In love with a new one?
• Found a buried treasure?
• An issue that keeps popping up in the books you are reading?
• Just want to chat about stuff in general?
• Post away…

Plugging Along

Writing/Editing:

• Morning Pages for a minimum of 250 words or half hour, whichever comes first, every day. Ha! I got in 910 words over two days. Yay, writing.
  
• Fiction, either 250 new words (new or existing WIP) or 1 hour of editing each week. Not yet.
• Post three times a week here on the blog. Yep. We had a pretty basic ROW80 Update on Sunday, a Bucket List Party on Tuesday, and the final numbered Minor Arcana card Ten of Air (Swords) on Thursday.

Reading:

• A minimum of 8 books to stay on track for 100 books this year. I wrapped up Two Days of a Dream by Kathryn Gilmore. I’m still plugging away at Susan Kay’s Phantom. I have a paperback edition and am finding it easier to read on eReaders at work thus little progress here yet.
• Update Goodreads at least every other week. Yep.

Support/Social Media:

• Visit and comment on 5 blogs, at least three times per week, for a total of 15 blogs each week. Sadly, only got around to 4 this week.
• One non-blog related post per week on Facebook and Twitter. Ha! I actually did tweet last night. I commented on a couple Facebook posts but didn’t actually post anything myself.
• One share, re-tweet, whatnot per week on Facebook and Twitter. Facebook, yes. Twitter, no.

Non-Writery Stuff:

• Exercise three times per week. The knee is much better…wheee. I got out with Beastie Girl twice and got in two mini-yoga sessions.
• Complete The 30-day Diabetes Cure in April. COMPLETE. Some points:
  • Cutting the sugar out was easier than I expected it to be. Perhaps due to already cutting it back substantially.
  • Adding in the specific yoga moves/positions was quite easy on the days I actually DID yoga. (And I realized I haven’t reported my yoga days very accurately here thus far. I will aim to do better with reporting. I think it’s because I don’t look at yoga as exercise, LOL)
  • Eliminating the ‘fast carbs’ (breads, pasta, etc.) was impossible for me. I was able to reduce but not eliminate.
  • Eliminating HFCS (high fructose corn syrup). It is in EVERYTHING. I’d say I managed to cut out 80-85% from our diet though.
  • Hardest thing — not getting to have birthday cake on my birthday!

  Overall, I highly recommend doing this!

• Family day, no working and time with family, one day per week. Yep.

How was your week?

You can find and support other ROWers HERE.

Sunday Summary & #ROW80

Not a lot to report this week. It’s been one of adjusting to me leaving before, and getting home after, the wee beasties. It’s been one of coordinating progress meetings for 2 of the 4 boys as we near the end of school. It’s been one where Beastie Girl is rather put out with me for taking her to that nasty place for her Bordetella boaster. She’s weighing in at 71 pounds! The little pig. Yet she’s far from being overweight. And it’s been one of me catching up on my DVR recordings

On to the ROW80 part of this program.

Writing/Editing:

• Morning Pages for a minimum of 250 words or half hour, whichever comes first, every day. Yeah, not a word.
• Fiction, either 250 new words (new or existing WIP) or 1 hour of editing each week. Not yet.
• Post three times a week here on the blog. Yep. We had Whew…What a Week on Sunday, our mouths drooled a bit on Tuesday with Staging For the Day Job, and we meet the Ten of Earth (Pentacles) on Thursday.
• Finish Margie Lawson’s Deep EDITS lesson packets. Not yet. In fact, I’m going to remove this for the balance of the Round. I just don’t see it happening with all my brain power focused elsewhere.

Reading:

• A minimum of 8 books to stay on track for 100 books this year. I actually got Bloodfire (Blood Destiny 1) by Helen Harper and Irish Eyes by Annie Jones in this week. Hey, I’ve got a lunch hour…
• Update Goodreads at least every other week. Yep.

Support/Social Media:

• Visit and comment on 5 blogs, at least three times per week, for a total of 15 blogs each week. 12 this week.
• One non-blog related post per week on Facebook and Twitter. Nope.
• One share, re-tweet, whatnot per week on Facebook and Twitter. Nope.

Non-Writery Stuff:

• Exercise three times per week. Nope. I over extended or irritated an old knee injury last weekend and spent most of the week hoping my knee wouldn’t give out from under me.
• Complete The 30-day Diabetes Cure in April. I’m feeling really good about my progress with this. I’m calling it a win for the month even though I’ll be wrapping it up next week.
• Family day, no working and time with family, one day per week. Yep.

How was your week?

You can find and support other ROWers HERE.

Whew…What a Week

A tired Bugs Bunny after his first hop using his new harness and leash.

I promise NOT to bore you to tears with my whole job situation but I have to share this…

I arrived Monday for my first day

to

FLOWERS and a welcome aboard card.

Coolness, or what?!

I can relate to Bugs this week.

For obvious reasons, the ROW80 part of this post is rather red. I’ve been learning new programs, new terminology, new processes. The mind is fairly spinning with information.

On to the ROW80 part of this program.

Writing/Editing:

• Morning Pages for a minimum of 250 words or half hour, whichever comes first, every day. Yeah, not a word.
  
• Fiction, either 250 new words (new or existing WIP) or 1 hour of editing each week. Not yet.
• Post three times a week here on the blog. Yep. There was What a Difference a Week Can Make on Sunday, Hiking with Beastie Girl — the ham — on Tuesday, and Ten of Water (Cups) on Thursday.
• Finish Margie Lawson’s Deep EDITS lesson packets. Not yet.

Reading:

• A minimum of 8 books to stay on track for 100 books this year. Not this week.
• Update Goodreads at least every other week. Not this week, but I did say every other week.
  

Support/Social Media:

• Visit and comment on 5 blogs, at least three times per week, for a total of 15 blogs each week. 14 this week.
• One non-blog related post per week on Facebook and Twitter. Nope.
• One share, re-tweet, whatnot per week on Facebook and Twitter. Nope.

Non-Writery Stuff:

• Exercise three times per week. Yep, I got out with Beastie Girl three times.
• Complete The 30-day Diabetes Cure in April. I’m up to day 15, still a little behind, but am feeling really good about it.
  
• Family day, no working and time with family, one day per week. Yep.

How was your week?

You can find and support other ROWers HERE.

What a Difference a Week Can Make

Not wanting to lose the interview momentum of last week, I sent out a new round of resumes Monday. It netted an application packet being sent to me for one position and an interview on Tuesday for another position.

I never got around to returning the application packet.

Because.

The company that called me in for a second interview last week, called me in for testing (writing :snicker: and personality). I was informed they’d would be calling my references.

Had a bit of drama when I found out my main reference was no longer with the company I’d worked for. Some scrambling ensued. But I found a second, then a third contact at the company.

No longer am I sans job.

Yes, much squealing and Snoopy dancing commenced.

On to the ROW80 part of this program.

Writing/Editing:

• Morning Pages for a minimum of 250 words or half hour, whichever comes first, every day. 1915 words and all but Saturday (at least at the time of scheduling this post.)
• Fiction, either 250 new words (new or existing WIP) or 1 hour of editing each week. Not yet.
• Post three times a week here on the blog. Yep. There was Holy Interviews Batman on Sunday, Tuesday Book Talk on Tuesday, and Ten of Fire (Wands) on Thursday.
• Finish Margie Lawson’s Deep EDITS lesson packets. Not yet.

Reading:

• A minimum of 8 books to stay on track for 100 books this year. Yep. Crazy for Cowboy by Roxy Boroughs, Her Immortal Love by Diana Castle, and Tangled Threads (Elemental Assassin, Book 4) by Jennifer Estep (I know, a bit of a contradiction to my Tuesday post but I had to read this baby as soon as it arrived in the mail) read this week.
• Update Goodreads at least every other week. Yep, did this yesterday, even fixed the widget here on the blog.

Support/Social Media:

• Visit and comment on 5 blogs, at least three times per week, for a total of 15 blogs each week. Only 10 this week but I’m giving it the green because it’s more than half.
• One non-blog related post per week on Facebook and Twitter. Yep, on both Facebook and Twitter this week.
• One share, re-tweet, whatnot per week on Facebook and Twitter. Yep, on Facebook. No, on Twitter.

Non-Writery Stuff:

• Exercise three times per week. Yep, I got out with Beastie Girl twice and did yoga once.
• Complete The 30-day Diabetes Cure in April. I’m up to day 10, a little behind, but am feeling really good about it, except for those darn fast carbs.
  
• Family day, no working and time with family, one day per week. Yep.

Pets the GREEN.

How was your week?

You can find and support other ROWers HERE.

Tuesday Book Talk

Let’s talk books!

Just Read

Dead Reckoning by Charlaine Harris

Why I picked it up: That Man brought this home for me. I have the rest of the series, have read and loved the majority of the series, but hadn’t been in a rush to pick this one up.

What I liked: The quirkiness of Sookie is always fun. There’s the expected danger and love and paranormal drama. Once I sat down with it, I flew through the pages.

What I disliked: It’s feeling tired. Perhaps Ms. Harris should have ended the series a few books ago. The thing that got me were the inconsistencies, continuity issues. However, someone just coming to the series, or reading this as a stand alone, wouldn’t pick up on them.

Reading

The Enchanter by Christina Hamlett

Why I picked it up: Someone, quite awhile ago now, raved about this book. It’s out of print now, so I’ve been searching for it off and on since hearing about it. I managed to land a retired library copy a few months ago.

What I like: We’ve got Merlin in “present” day (book was published in 1990) as the illusionist Kyle Falconer. We have Catherine, a reporter, who’s strangely drawn to Falconer. And wrapped around their story is the Arthurian myth. I’m enjoying Catherine. I’m not far enough into the story to see if we have Falconer’s POV.

What I dislike: There’s a bit of an omnipresence to the narration and it occasionally pulls me from the story.

Will Read

Phantom by Susan Kay

Why I picked this up: Um…I’m involved in a love affair with the Phantom of the Opera. And I have no intentions of giving it up!

What I expect to like: “None of us can choose where we will love.” ~ Erik. The Phantom’s POV! It appears the entire story is told in first person. The book is broken down into parts and we open with Erik’s mother’s POV.

What I expect to dislike: I’m not sure. I’ve never read anything by Ms. Kay before so don’t know what to expect.

What are you reading and loving at the moment?

Holy Interviews Batman

One always hopes the sending out of resumes will generate interest which will, in turn, generate interviews and that dream job offer.

As always seems to happen, I spent months — months I tell you! — sending out resumes, tweaking cover letters, and sending out even more resumes with nary a response.

What was in the water last week? Not that I’m complaining…

Seriously, though. Got a call Thursday morning for an interview that afternoon which I had to turn down as I was walking out the door with the wee beasties for some Spring Break fun. And a dam broke.

Two interviews scheduled for Monday, one for Tuesday, and two (well, kinda three) for Wednesday. On top of that goodness, one email requesting further information, a phone interview, a SECOND interview, still another I need to call to schedule, and yet another scheduled for tomorrow.

Exhausted? I am.

Then there’s all that interview etiquette to follow up with. You know, the thank yous. A great chance to sale yourself but I’m so not the tipping of my own hat kinda person and these are hard for me to pen.

I had Thursday off, but did I do anything other than put my house back in order? Nope. Allow me to sit back and catch up on my DVR recordings, please. Thank you very much.

Have you ever had a whirlwind week of interviews?

Sadly, still sans job. I did have an offer but declined it. However, here’s hoping the momentum continues this coming week

On to the ROW80 part of this program.

Writing/Editing:

• Morning Pages for a minimum of 250 words or half hour, whichever comes first, every day. 1965 words and all days but Friday.
• Fiction, either 250 new words (new or existing WIP) or 1 hour of editing each week. Not at the time of scheduling this post.
• Post three times a week here on the blog. Yep. I had Stepping up to Another Round of ROW80 on Sunday, Dress for Success on Tuesday, and Happy Birthday Blog on Thursday.
• Finish Margie Lawson’s Deep EDITS lesson packets. Not yet.

Reading:

• A minimum of 8 books to stay on track for 100 books this year. Not yet.
• Update Goodreads at least every other week. Not yet

Support/Social Media:

• Visit and comment on 5 blogs, at least three times per week, for a total of 15 blogs each week. Only hit 8.
• One non-blog related post per week on Facebook and Twitter. Twitter, yes. Facebook, no.
• One share, re-tweet, whatnot per week on Facebook and Twitter. Twitter, yes. Facebook, no.

Non-Writery Stuff:

• Exercise three times per week. Only got out with the dog once this week and no other activities.
• Complete The 30-day Diabetes Cure in April. Doing well with the Day 1 assignment of cutting all sugars for 10 days. Finding the other daily assignments more of a challenge, perhaps I wasn’t prepared enough in the kitchen for the changes. However, I am sticking to the plan as best I can and next week will be better!
• Family day, no working and time with family, one day per week. Yep

You can find and support other ROWers HERE.

And how was your week?

Stepping Up to Another Round of #ROW80

And this one will be better!

After all, balance is my word for the year.

Writing/Editing:

• Morning Pages for a minimum of 250 words or half hour, whichever comes first, every day.
• Fiction, either 250 new words (new or existing WIP) or 1 hour of editing each week.
• Post three times a week here on the blog.
• Finish Margie Lawson’s Deep EDITS lesson packets.

Reading:

• A minimum of 8 books to stay on track for 100 books this year.
• Update Goodreads at least every other week.

Support/Social Media:

• Visit and comment on 5 blogs, at least three times per week, for a total of 15 blogs each week.
• One non-blog related post per week on Facebook and Twitter.
• One share, re-tweet, whatnot per week on Facebook and Twitter.

Non-Writery Stuff:

• Exercise three times per week.
• Complete The 30-day Diabetes Cure in April. (No, I’m not diabetic. My father is. He just completed this program and is off all meds! Between this and Wheat Belly: Lose the Wheat, Lose the Weight, and Find Your Path Back to Health my parents are healthier in their late 70′s than they’ve ever been and if that isn’t a testament, I don’t know what is.)
• Family day, no working and time with family, one day per week. (Thank you Julie Glover for this one!)

You can find and support other ROWers HERE.

What are you looking forward to this next quarter of 2013?

For those of you who celebrate it, I wish you and yours a wonderful Easter.

#ROW80 Round 1 Wrap-up

In the spirit of Kait Nolan’s Fix Your Focus post, I’m not going to beat myself up for a less than stellar Round.

I DID write on my Morning Pages most of the days of the Round (250 words or a half hour — whichever came first — going over word count more often than not).

I DID write over 6K on a dream idea that might become a story. I’ll have to get back to it and see what develops.

There was even a tiny bit of editing early in the Round.

I DID get about half way through the Deep EDITS lesson packets. I’ve found myself looking for and using the rhetorical devices I’ve learned so far.

I HAVE sent out resumes, more than I can count at this point, and continue to send out resumes. I’ve had a few interviews as well, and one job offer (which I turned down). And while the hunt is frustrating, I’m confident I’ll find something that is a good fit for my skill set and family.

We replaced the family truckster with a new-to-us van.

I DID chaperon #2′s field trip to Red Rock, help at #3′s Valentine’s party and #4′s Easter party, stay up until the wee hours of the morning helping #1 with a paper roller-coaster assignment, and see Craig Ferguson with That Man.

That Man and I received a compliment on the wee beasties while we were out to dinner the other night. Color us stunned. I admit, they were uncharacteristically well behaved. What an awesome thing for that woman to take a moment to say, “Well done.” Parenting is tough, rewarding but tough. It’s too easy to focus on the negative. I will definitely be paying this one forward!

I’m on pace toward my goal of reading 100 books this year.

How’d the first quarter of the year go for you?

You can find and support other ROWers here.