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.
First off, I wish all you mothers — whether your babies have two legs, or more — a very, very happy Mother’s Day surrounded by the ones you love.
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 yet.
Post three times a week here on the blog. Yep. We had some progress on Sunday with Plugging Along, a Readers Open Thread on Tuesday, and a wee research ramble with Holding Court in Tarot on Thursday. I actually need to get on the ball here because the queue is empty! Yikes.
Reading:
A minimum of 8 books to stay on track for 100 books this year. I’ve been reading a bit during my lunch hour but didn’t wrap up anything this week.
Update Goodreads at least every other week. Not this week.
Support/Social Media:
Visit and comment on 5 blogs, at least three times per week, for a total of 15 blogs each week. I made it to 10 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. I did retweet a post yesterday.Facebook, nope.
Non-Writery Stuff:
Exercise three times per week. I got out with Beastie Girl FOUR times, wow, and got in one mini-yoga session.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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…
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
I’ve been a slug. Not writing. Not visiting blogs. Not being very active on the whole.
Oh sure, I can say I’ve been slammed at work. True. That my work schedule is all over the place thus hard to develop a routine. Also true. I can even say that the ol’ home life is crazy. But when isn’t it? A husband, Seven scouring mice, Six crazy schedules, Five gold rings (I’m sure I could find if I tried really hard), Four boys making their lists, Three large rodents (two guinea pigs and a rabbit), two turtles, and a Beastie Girl…it almost sounds like the 12 Days of Christmas, LOL
I woke up Wednesday with “this has to change” running through my mind. Then I saw this: Fake It Until You Make It. Yep. Needed that kick in the pants. Even my own post on Thursday, Seven of Water, talked about saying ‘no’ to the good, in order to say ‘yes’ to the great. Yep. Needed that kick in the pants, too.
Time to get back to basics.
Wednesday, I forced myself to do my Flylady routines, something I’d let slide when I took the job and realized just how crazy my schedule would be. I even had a short Twitter conversation…shocking, I know. I even did some decking of the halls. It’s still not up to the usual level of decorating but at least we’re looking a bit more like Christmas around here.
Thursday, I did my Flylady routines, made sure I drank some water, and I OPENED a file. Got sidetracked working on said file but at least I opened it!
Friday, I did my Flylady routines, drank more water without it being a struggle, and did some baking.
Saturday, I was a slug again though I did do my Flylady routines and some reading.
And it feels great to actually do something. Baby steps. I need to be accountable again.
My goals this week:
Continue with the Flylady routines, adding jobs each day
Spend an hour each day working on writing, I have to open a file and do something even if it’s just re-reading what I have
If I get the daily writing done, spend an hour visiting blogs and/or social media
I made it for D&E Morning Pages three of the last seven. No new writing or, more importantly at this point, revisions and re-writes. With the new job, and scheduled hours all over the map, there isn’t a guarantee of Dark & Early writing time. Just as there isn’t a guarantee of Late & Dark writing time. So fitting writing time, as least consistent writing time, is a challenge I have yet to master.
And there were days I didn’t even turn on the computer to check emails! I’m afraid to open Google Reader and Triberr, LOL. There just hasn’t been the time to read, much less respond, to blogs. I feel bad about that, even as I know y’all understand the crazy that is life. I’ve driven by Facebook and Twitter a couple times
Thus, I’m still on the fence about ROW80. On one hand, I’m positive it would help me get back in the swing of things. On the other hand, I don’t feel I have the energy.
My goal for this coming week is simply to write for 30 minutes every single day.
On the up side, I think Beastie Girl will be a princess (though I’m not sure about that hat!) for Halloween Work is having a contest for best pet costume. I’ll have to come up with something for myself…can’t remember the last time I dressed up for Halloween, LOL.
Do you dress up for Halloween? What will you be wearing this year?
There’s this place in me where your fingerprints still rest, your kisses still linger, and your whispers softly echo. It’s the place where a part of you will forever be a part of me.
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.
in April. COMPLETE.
— a very, very happy Mother’s Day surrounded by the ones you love.
by Kathryn Gilmore. I’m still plugging away at Susan Kay’s 
. I have a paperback edition and am finding it easier to read on eReaders at work thus little progress here yet.
by Helen Harper and 
by Annie Jones in this week. Hey, I’ve got a lunch hour…
by Roxy Boroughs, 
by Diana Castle, and 
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.
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.)
