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 |   The Good Life. |
I am a professional musician  , worship leader , small business owner , songwriter , aspiring author and freelance nonfiction writer with a chemical engineering degree . But that's just my resume. My profile of qualifications is only one of the ways in which I am unique. Here I chronicle my personal and professional goals and my efforts to achieve them. Occasionally I fail. Mostly, I take daily baby steps toward all my long-term goals. Much like the stories I pen, the songs I compose, and the businesses I run, I am always a work in progress. ![Merit Badge in Music
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To a dear friend whose talent for writing music is sensational. May you have a fabulous New Year, (((Brandi)))!!! *^*Kiss*^*
Big hugs,
Sherri *^*Heart*^*](https://images.Writing.Com/imgs/writing.com/writers/badges/genre-Music-1050.gif) ![Merit Badge in Organization
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I don't know how you do it, but I assume there's magic involved *^*Bigsmile*^* I have really enjoyed this month of planning and preparation for NaNoWriMo and I love how organized it all is. Thank you for hosting a great challenge and for your dedication to helping so many of us prepare with confidence and trepidation for National Novel Writing Month (known to sane folks as 'November' *^*Laugh*^*) at your [Link To Item #1474311]](https://images.Writing.Com/imgs/writing.com/writers/badges/general-Organization-1150.gif) ![Merit Badge in Leadership
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For your hard work, commitment, talent and innovation in running the October NaNoWriMo Preparation each year, which helps many of us get our scattered thoughts together for November's novel-writing. And also because this badge has ducks on it.](https://images.Writing.Com/imgs/writing.com/writers/badges/general-Leadership.gif) |
I have returned from my Outer Banks vacation.  Learn one new cover band song per week. Fail. I didn't look at any of these last week. Not once. Launch one new Potbelly song per week. No activity. I was working on "Dust in the Wind" last week, with Keith on bass.  Jamming is fun! Now maybe I can prep it for PB use.Write one new original song per month.  Goal met: "Longing" [13+]Launch one new Praise Band song per month. This goal starts back up in September (that's TOMORROW!  )Work on music instruction books for fifteen minutes per day. Fail. Post at WordPress at least once per week. Fail. Write one Textbroker article per week. Pending, so long as my DirectOrder client isn't tired of waiting on me. I completed one article for him last week, which he accepted after one revision. Submit one short story/article per month. Pending. Heh. Yes, it's the last day of the month... Work for fifteen minutes on "Poor Witch" [E] every day.Fail. Complete and edit "Poor Witch" [E] by 6/30/09.Fail. Read a book in print for fifteen minutes every day. Fail. Resign from Abbott by 12/1/09. In progress. Maintain 150.0 lbs. Weight: 151.0 - Gotta love vacation.  Meals: 7:00am Coffee (1) 8:30am Cherry PopTart (4) 10:00am Coffee (1) 10:30am The other PopTart (4) 1:45pm Skinny roast beef sandwich (7) 2:00pm Four mint Oreos (6) and a Peppermint Patty (3) 6:30pm Pretzels (2), a Skinny Cow ice cream (2), and Chili Cheese Fritos (3) 12:00am Two pieces pizza (6) Lots of "Pending" and "Fail" entries, but on the bright side, I have a killer tan. Also, I knitted a blankie for Keith's daughter, and I'm about to start one for his son. |
| After much driving and a lovely visit with my parents, we made it to Southern Shores, NC. I pigged out in the car for two days, but now I feel bloated and blechy, so I'll go back to recording my food. Maybe. Learn one new cover band song per week. Goal met. Technically, I have "Cannonball" down and memorized on bass. Although, I suppose I should learn how to sing it, too!Launch one new Potbelly song per week. Goal met with "Smells Like Teen Spirit" (which I'm not sure went over well) and ""Back to Black" by Amy Winehouse (which, although it's a piano song, kicks ass on acoustic guitar.)Write one new original song per month. Goal met: "Longing" [13+]Work on music instruction books for fifteen minutes per day. Fail. Post at WordPress at least once per week. Fail. Write one Textbroker article per week. Goal met. I haven't started on my direct orders yet because they require *gasp* research. I have plans to start that sometime today.Submit one short story/article per month. Pending. Work for fifteen minutes on "Poor Witch" [E] every day.Fail. Complete and edit "Poor Witch" [E] by 6/30/09.Fail. Read a book in print for fifteen minutes every day. Fail. Resign from Abbott by 12/1/09. In progress. Reach 145.0 lbs by 8/21/2009. Weight: Fortunately, this beach house has no scale. Meals: 8:00am Monkey bread (3) and coffee (1) 11:00am Fruit (plum, a couple bites of a peach, and raspberries) (1), three cream cheese and chive crackers (2), eighteen chips (3) 11:30am Ice cream bar (2) 12:30pm Brownie (3) 1:00pm Pepperjack cheese (2) and chips (3) 2:30pm Peach (1), six chips (1), three crackers (2) 2:45pm Half an ice cream bar (1) ...and I stopped recording when I cleared 40 points.  Eh. It's vacation.Keith and I have the kids, so I'm playing the week by ear. The kids packed up the Wii, and of course they forgot a piece. We have overcast skies and scattered showers today, courtesy of Hurricane Bill. We may walk to the beach, go shopping for a new blankie (since we left Abby's behind! ), jam together (we brought an acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bass, microphone, two amplifiers, and a keyboard), hang out in the private pool or hot tub, play games, read, or I may work on some of my goals while the kids play. Whatever I decide to do, stress is not permitted!PS: Our couch is upholstered with flip-flop fabric. |
| I'm in the OBX, eating like a pig, and slacking on pretty much all of my goals. |
| Learn one new cover band song per week. No activity. I've been working on my house and packing. Launch one new Potbelly song per week. Goal met.Write one new original song per month. Goal met: "Longing" [13+]Work on music instruction books for fifteen minutes per day. Fail. Post at WordPress at least once per week. Pending. Write one Textbroker article per week. Goal met.Submit one short story/article per month. Pending. Work for fifteen minutes on "Poor Witch" [E] every day.Fail. Complete and edit "Poor Witch" [E] by 6/30/09.Fail. Read a book in print for fifteen minutes every day. Fail. Resign from Abbott by 12/1/09. In progress. Reach 145.0 lbs by 8/21/2009. Weight: 145.6, and that's close enough for me! Meals: 7:30am Half brownie (3) and coffee (1) 9:00am Coffee (1) |
| Learn one new cover band song per week. In progress. I'll have plenty of time next week, while I'm on vacation. Launch one new Potbelly song per week. Yep. I launched "Back to Black" by Amy Winehouse and "Smells Like Teen Spirit" by Nirvana.Write one new original song per month. Goal met.Work on music instruction books for fifteen minutes per day. Fail. I'll do this next week. Post at WordPress at least once per week. Pending. This might end up being a Fail. Write one Textbroker article per week. Goal met.Submit one short story/article per month. Pending. Work for fifteen minutes on "Poor Witch" [E] every day. Fail. Next week. Complete and edit "Poor Witch" [E] by 6/30/09. Fail. YES, I plan to revise this goal. I'll do that next week. Read a book in print for fifteen minutes every day. Fail. There will be PLENTY of reading next week, as well as tomorrow and Saturday, in the car. Resign from Abbott by 12/1/09. In progress. Reach 145.0 lbs by 8/21/2009. Weight: 147.0. Back to the "good" scale. Meals: 7:00am Coffee (1) 8:00am Coffee (1) 8:30am One egg beater (1), three strips bacon (2), one turkey sausage link (2) 1:45pm Skinny roast beef sandwich (7) 4:15pm Tea (1) 7:00pm Boston Market: 1/4 chicken w/some skin (6), green beans (1), steamed veggies (1), cornbread (4), half brownie (3) |
| Learn one new cover band song per week. In progress: "Cannonball" (The Breeders), "Semi-Charmed Life" (Third-Eye Blind), "Good" (Better Than Ezra), "Got You Where I Want You" (The Flys) and "Simple Man" (Skynyrd). Launch one new Potbelly song per week. Nah, and I probably won't, since I'm only playing four days this week and not at all next week. Write one new original song per month. Goal met.Work on music instruction books for fifteen minutes per day. Fail. Post at WordPress at least once per week. Pending. I should record and highlight my LeAnn Rimes medley. Write one Textbroker article per week. Goal met, but I have three outstanding orders that I need to get hopping on. I've been honkin' busy at Abbott, and working strange hours, because we're interviewing candidates for an open chemist position.Submit one short story/article per month. Pending. Work for fifteen minutes on "Poor Witch" [E] every day. Fail. Complete and edit "Poor Witch" [E] by 6/30/09. Fail. Read a book in print for fifteen minutes every day. Fail. Resign from Abbott by 12/1/09. In progress. Reach 145.0 lbs by 8/21/2009. Weight: 149.0. Damn scale bias. Meals: 6:30am Apple ZonePerfect bar (3) and coffee (2) 9:30am Tea with creamer (1) 1:45pm Skinny roast beef sandwich (7) 6:30pm Longhorn: 2.5 pieces of bread with butter, caesar salad, asparagus, filet 7:15pm Two truffles (4) 8:15pm Two cookies! (6) WTF??? Stupid church meeting. |
| Learn one new cover band song per week. Played "Cannonball" on bass again, and I started messing with the guitar. Since this is technically week two, I need to work on another, but I'll have plenty of catch-up time at the beach. Apparently, there's a hurricane coming. Launch one new Potbelly song per week. Goal met.Write one new original song per month. Goal met: "Longing" [13+]Work on music instruction books for fifteen minutes per day. Fail. Post at WordPress at least once per week. Pending. Write one Textbroker article per week. Goal met. I wrote two yesterday. However, I just received two Direct Orders, and I have five days to complete them. Combined, they'll earn me over $100 for two articles. Groovy!Submit one short story/article per month. Pending. Work for fifteen minutes on "Poor Witch" [E] every day.Fail. Complete and edit "Poor Witch" [E] by 6/30/09.Fail. Read a book in print for fifteen minutes every day. Fail. Resign from Abbott by 12/1/09. In progress. Reach 140.0 lbs by 8/21/2009. This is officially an unreasonable goal. I can't lose five pounds in four days. So I'll settle for getting back under 145 before Thursday. Weight: ? Meals: 8:00am Leftover rice (3) and tomato/mozz salad (1) 9:00am Coffee (1) 11:00am Apple ZonePerfect bar (3) 1:45pm Skinny roast beef sandwich (7) 4:00pm Chai (1) 6:00pm Greasy fried fish, scallops, shrimp, hush puppies, and fries (1,000,000) 7:00pm One scoop ice cream (4) |
| Sorry for the dud entry (which has been deleted.) I take multitasking to a whole new level. Learn one new cover band song per week. Goal met. I learned (and memorized ) the bass line to "Cannonball." Flippin' awesome bass line.Launch one new Potbelly song per week. Goal met. Well, not technically, but I pulled out some songs I "launched" before, but only played once or twice ever. I was feeling bored today.Write one new original song per month. Goal met: "Longing" [13+]Work on music instruction books for fifteen minutes per day. Fail. Post at WordPress at least once per week. Pending. Write one Textbroker article per week. Pending, and I am about to get my first official "Direct Order" after a week of negotiation with a client. Submit one short story/article per month. Pending. Work for fifteen minutes on "Poor Witch" [E] every day. Fail. Complete and edit "Poor Witch" [E] by 6/30/09. Fail. Read a book in print for fifteen minutes every day. Fail. Resign from Abbott by 12/1/09. In progress. Reach 140.0 lbs by 8/21/2009. Weight: 148.0, and I still swear there's a bias between my and Keith's scales. Meals: 7:00am Coffee (1) 9:00am Apple ZonePerfect bar (3) 1:45pm Skinny roast beef sandwich (7) 3:30pm Chai (1) 6:00pm Chai (1) and NutriGrain bar (2.5) |
I just posted for  yesterday, as well, and it shows more activity the twenty-four hours prior than this post shows. I accomplished a lot yesterday, but not so much with regard to my established goals. I have vacation coming up in a week, so I've been teaching make-up lessons in advance, cleaning the house, meeting with a real estate agent (oops, threw that one in there, didn't I!), getting the car detailed, that sort of thing. Busy, busy, busy Saturday.NEW GOAL: Learn one new cover band song per week. Pending, and no activity yesterday. Launch one new Potbelly song per week. Goal met.Write one new original song per month. Goal met: "Longing" [13+]Work on music instruction books for fifteen minutes per day. Fail. Post at WordPress at least once per week. Goal met.Write one Textbroker article per week. Goal met. I left my private client hanging all day yesterday... but I wrote this morning with three suggested titles, so we'll see what he says.I actually have books on order at the public library for this guy! I won't need them for the first three articles, but it may help me suggest more titles and keep writing! Submit one short story/article per month. Pending. Work for fifteen minutes on "Poor Witch" [E] every day.Fail. Complete and edit "Poor Witch" [E] by 6/30/09.Fail. Read a book in print for fifteen minutes every day. GOal met..Resign from Abbott by 12/1/09. In progress. Reach 140.0 lbs by 8/21/2009. Weight: 146.4 Meals: 9:00am Coffee (2)  needed an extra creamer boost today.11:00am Fruity Pebbles (3) with milk (2) 11:30am Coffee (1) 1:30pm ZonePerfect cookies and cream bar (4) 6:30pm Grilled chicken (3), rice (3), tomato and mozz salad (4) 9:00pm Coldstone Like It! size (4?) in a chocoate waffle bowl(4?) |
| I'm a bit delayed in posting for Saturday. NEW GOAL: Learn one new cover band song per week. Pending. I need to focus on one song and learn it... "Cannonball" is Luis's top pick. I won't be rehearsing with them again until September, so I have some time to build up the list. Launch one new Potbelly song per week. Goal met with "Luka" by Suzanne Vega.Write one new original song per month. Goal met: "Longing" [13+]Work on music instruction books for fifteen minutes per day. Goal met.Post at WordPress at least once per week. Goal met.Write one Textbroker article per week. Goal met. I wrote two short (350 words, $5 apiece) articles yesteray, in addition to committing to a 1500-word article ($21), and accepting a job writing four articles for a private client.Submit one short story/article per month. Pending. I thought about submitting a Helium Marketplace article worth $40 titled, "How Renters (missed apostrophe courtesy of the client) Insurance Can Provide Peace of Mind." I thought that sounds like an easy title, and I may still write it. On the other hand, I could write two $20 articles at Textbroker and have practically guaranteed acceptance (the client receives only my article and decides "yes" or "no"), versus Helium, where I'm competing with other writers, and the client chooses from the submissions. Screw that. Work for fifteen minutes on "Poor Witch" [E] every day.Fail. I think I'll allocate time over my vacation to read through the comments from H.C.Paye - All I Need  . I'd also like to get through at least one major edit and ask Abigail (eight years old) to read it. Since we'll be together and have plenty of time, vacation is the perfect opportunity.Complete and edit "Poor Witch" [E] by 6/30/09.Fail. Read a book in print for fifteen minutes every day. Goal met.Resign from Abbott by 12/1/09. In progress. Reach 140.0 lbs by 8/21/2009. Weight: 146.4 Meals: 8:30am Bob Evans: One egg beater (1), two strips bacon (2), two turkey sausage links (3), one biscuit w honey (5?), coffee (2) 2:15pm Skinny roast beef sandwich (7) 5:30pm Myoplex Lite shake (2.5) 8:30pm Baked potato with butter and sour cream (?), leftover grilled veggies (1) 9:00pm Three dark chocolate Reese's peanut butter cups (3) |
| NEW GOAL: Learn one new cover band song per week.Goal met. I downloaded more tab and listened to my YouTube playlist again. These guys are into more punk than raw rock, but it'll be fun. Maybe I'll convert them over time. Launch one new Potbelly song per week. I played through "Smells Like Teen Spirit" again, but haven't tried to sing it. I'm not 100% positive that I have the chord progression right in the "Hello..." part. But I did launch "Luka" by Suzanne Vega. Write one new original song per month. Goal met: "Longing" [13+]Work on music instruction books for fifteen minutes per day. Fail. I opened my outline yesterday, so maybe I'll actually work on it this morning. Post at WordPress at least once per week. Goal met. I was such a liar yesterday when I said, "I'm doing this now!" I didn't get to it until later last night. But it's done! http://michelletuesday.wordpress.comWrite one Textbroker article per week. Goal met. I wrote one new article yesterday and committed to completing one today. In addition, I've received a direct order from the client who contacted me.Submit one short story/article per month. Pending, but my short stories need editing first, and who has time? Meanwhile, nonfiction turns out to be somewhat lucrative. Work for fifteen minutes on "Poor Witch" [E] every day.Fail. Complete and edit "Poor Witch" [E] by 6/30/09.Fail. Read a book in print for fifteen minutes every day. Goal met! Although, at midnight last night, it was technically today?Resign from Abbott by 12/1/09. In progress. Reach 140.0 lbs by 8/21/2009. Weight: 145.4 I have one week to lose five pounds. Can it be done? Ooh! Ooh! ...and I need to buy a new swimsuit before hittin' the beach next weekend. Meals: 7:15am Cookies&cream dark chocolate ZonePerfect bar (4) Y'all gotta hit those! Delish AND healthy.  http://www.zoneperfect.com7:30am Coffee (1) 10:30pm Two tsp peanut butter and a tbsp jelly (1.5) and coffee (1) Savin' up for Chipotle. Got a date with my man tonight.  1:45pm Skinny roast beef sandwich (7) 6:30pm One beef soft taco with cheese, chips and guacamole, small cheese quesadilla 7:00pm One scoop UDF ice cream |
| NEW GOAL: Learn one new cover band song per week. I listened to my YouTube playlist. Launch one new Potbelly song per week. I didn't play yesterday, so this is still pending. Maybe "Smells Like Teen Spirit" today. My acoustic version will be a little calmer than Nirvana's driving electric version. Write one new original song per month. Goal met: "Longing" [13+]Work on music instruction books for fifteen minutes per day. Fail. Can I squeeze it in this morning? Post at WordPress at least once per week. Pending. Oh, good grief. Doing this now... Write one Textbroker article per week. Goal met. I wrote two new articles yesterday and got a message from a client who wants to send me direct (read:where-I-set-my-own-price) orders.Submit one short story/article per month. Pending, but my short stories need editing. Work for fifteen minutes on "Poor Witch" [E] every day.Fail. Complete and edit "Poor Witch" [E] by 6/30/09.Fail. Read a book in print for fifteen minutes every day. Fail. Resign from Abbott by 12/1/09. In progress. Reach 140.0 lbs by 8/21/2009. Weight: 145.4 Meals: 7:45am FiberOne granola bar (2) and coffee (1) 9:00am Coffee (1) 1:45pm Skinny roast beef sandwich (7) 3:45pm Green beans (0) 4:45pm Myoplex Lite shake (2.5) 6:15pm Twelve nuts (2) 6:30pm Tall, nonfat white mocha (6) |
| NEW GOAL: Learn one new cover band song per week. In progress, but I didn't even listen to my YouTube playlist yesterday! Listening now.Launch one new Potbelly song per week. Goal met. I didn't actually sing it yet, but I played through the tab and figured out chords for "Smells Like Teen Spirit." It's been in my folder forever, but the chords weren't there, so I had to figure them out. It's going to be pretty sweet as an acoustic cover.Write one new original song per month. Goal met: "Longing" [13+]Work on music instruction books for fifteen minutes per day. Fail. Post at WordPress at least once per week. Pending. I guess I should do this today. Working day shift and really tired...  But I'll get it.Write one Textbroker article per week. Goal met. I wrote another ten articles yesterday.Submit one short story/article per month. Pending, unless you count all my Textbroker articles. I received an awesome rejection on my "The Butterfly Stone" sub: Thanks very much for sending this to _Beneath Ceaseless Skies_. Unfortunately, it's not quite right for us. Although the prose in places felt a bit slow to me, as though it were describing more of the details of sequences of movements or actions than I wanted, I really liked the narrator's attitude that this assassination would be easy. But as the story moved through to the climax, I didn't feel that emotional arc deepen and reach a climax of its own, as I had been hoping it might. I wondered what the narrator felt about assassinating a noble of her choice just for fun. I wondered what she felt about having to kill the servant boy bringing the brandy. I wondered more about the relationship she had had with her mentor whom she had taken the stone from. I was hoping she might reach some deeper conclusion than only being tired of living. I also found the epilogue scene unnecessary because it was more about the Stone itself than about her. I appreciate your interest in our magazine. Please feel free to submit again. Work for fifteen minutes on "Poor Witch" [E] every day.Fail.. Complete and edit "Poor Witch" [E] by 6/30/09.Fail. Read a book in print for fifteen minutes every day. Fail. Resign from Abbott by 12/1/09. In progress. Reach 140.0 lbs by 8/21/2009. Weight: 147.0, thanks to my friend Tuggle's new pizza place. Well, I guess he's not responsible for the Graeter's.  Meals: 7:15am Cherry PopTart (4) 8:00am Coffee (1) 9:00am Granola bar (2) 11:00am Apple ZonePerfect bar(3) 12:30pm Tea with creamer (1) 1:00pm NutriGrain bar (2.5) 4:30pm Six nuts (1) 6:00pm Mozz stick (2?), two squares pizza (3?), garlic bread (2) 9:00pm Watermelon and peach sorbet from Graeter's (6?) |
| NEW GOAL: Learn one new cover band song per week. I added songs to my YouTube playlist and looked up lyrics, bass tab, and guitar tab (haven't settled on which instrument I'll play!) I think the first song I'll be working on is "Cannonball" by The Breeders. Launch one new Potbelly song per week. Not yet, although I was messing around with new chord progressions while looking at naked lyrics again, sort of singing potential melodies in my head. The cords were a bit raw after my scream session with Luis on Sunday, so I needed some instrumental time at Potbelly to keep my voice from giving out. Sometimes I just make stuff up on the fly. Sometimes a new song comes of it. Write one new original song per month. Goal met: "Longing" [13+]Work on music instruction books for fifteen minutes per day. Fail. Post at WordPress at least once per week. Pending... tomorrow. Write one Textbroker article per week. Goal met. I wrote nine articles yesterday.Submit one short story/article per month. Pending. The jury is still out on my "The Butterfly Stone" sub from last month. Work for fifteen minutes on "Poor Witch" [E] every day.Fail, despite receiving a full novel review. I swear, I'm interested in it; I'm just busy as hell. You know... writing Textbroker articles and working four jobs. Complete and edit "Poor Witch" [E] by 6/30/09.Fail. Read a book in print for fifteen minutes every day. Fail. Resign from Abbott by 12/1/09. In progress. Reach 140.0 lbs by 8/21/2009. Weight: 145.2 Meals: 7:00am Cherry PopTart (4) 7:15am Coffee (1) 11:00am Granola bar (2) 1:45pm Skinny roast beef sandwich (7) 7:00pm Twelve nuts (2) 8:30pm Pizza, garlic bread, four wings, half a mozz stick (?) 10:00pm Graeter's ice cream (?) |
| NEW GOAL: Learn one new cover band song per week. I walked away from my cover band jam session with homework. I have a list of songs to learn. I may end up with Potbelly songs out of the deal. Some of the titles are a bit heavy for acoustic solo, but it would be interesting to adapt them! Launch one new Potbelly song per week. Pending. Write one new original song per month. Goal met: "Longing" [13+]Work on music instruction books for fifteen minutes per day. Fail. Post at WordPress at least once per week. Pending. I have a new video ready to highlight, but I plan to wait until mid-week to post. Write one Textbroker article per week. Pending. Submit one short story/article per month. Pending. Work for fifteen minutes on "Poor Witch" [E] every day.Fail, but... I finally received my novel review from H.C.Paye - All I Need  , so I have something to work on.  I'll start looking at that tonight, and tomorrow should reflect this fifteen minutes accomplished. {e:sternlooktoself}Complete and edit "Poor Witch" [E] by 6/30/09.Fail. Read a book in print for fifteen minutes every day. Goal met. I read this morning.Resign from Abbott by 12/1/09. In progress. Reach 140.0 lbs by 8/21/2009. Weight: 145.4 Of course, that's according to Keith's scale...Meals: 7:30am FiberOne cereal (2) with milk (1) 8:00am Coffee (1) 11:00am Apple ZonePerfect bar (4) 2:15pm Skinny roast beef sandwich (7) 5:00pm Cherry Klondike bar (5) Yuh-uh-uh-ummy! 8:00pm Four peanut butter pretzels (1) and three caramel creams (1) 11:15pm Leftover grilled veggies (1) 11:30pm Three Ritz crackers (1) with cheese spread (1) ...and, apparently, it's my account birthday. Nice of the staff to remind me. I should celebrate with a couple of six-point glasses of wine. |
| Work on music instruction books for fifteen minutes per day. Fail. Launch one new Potbelly song per week. Goal met.Write one new original song per month. Goal met: "Longing" [13+]Post at WordPress at least once per week. Goal met.Write one Textbroker article per week. Goal met.Submit one short story/article per month. Pending. Work for fifteen minutes on "Poor Witch" [E] every day.Fail. Complete and edit "Poor Witch" [E] by 6/30/09.Fail. Read a book in print for fifteen minutes every day. Fail. Y'all know that my Saturdays are honkin' busy with the makin' of music and money. Resign from Abbott by 12/1/09. In progress. I jammed with a drummer this afternoon who wants to start a cover band and gig for money. He's pretty good, so I'm looking forward to working with him. The other guitar dude didn't show up, and we need a bass player. ...and I need that Gibson electric hollow body. Reach 140.0 lbs by 8/21/2009. Weight: 146.6. It's not hopeless yet! Meals: 8:30am Apple ZonePerfect bar (3) and coffee (1) 10:00am Cranberry bread (2) 2:00pm McDonald's cheeseburger (7), plain sundae (3), and small vanilla ice coffee (3) 7:00pm Small filet mignon (3?), grilled veggies (1), half a baked potato (3?) w/butter (2), sour cream (2), and cheese (1) 9:00pm Seven mini Nutter Butter cookies (2) |
| Work on music instruction books for fifteen minutes per day. Fail. Launch one new Potbelly song per week. Goal met.Write one new original song per month. Goal met: "Longing" [13+]Post at WordPress at least once per week. Goal met.Write one Textbroker article per week. Goal met... and check this out:Dear Author, We have just rated your text "Athens Distance Learning Schools" with "5" stars. Below you will find a written evaluation of your text (or possibly any further information). The remarks may pertain to just this article, or to a series of articles. Hello Michelle, due to the exemplary quality of your recent articles, we have decided to upgrade you to level 5. Thanks for your hard work and keep those excellent articles coming. Sincerely, your Team Textbroker. Sincerely, Your Textbroker Service Team Suh-WEET! I think this means I can accept direct orders, which I can set my own price for. I'm psyched. So psyched, in fact, that I wrote sixteen articles yesterday! Submit one short story/article per month. Pending. Work for fifteen minutes on "Poor Witch" [E] every day.Fail. Complete and edit "Poor Witch" [E] by 6/30/09.Fail. Read a book in print for fifteen minutes every day. Goal met.Resign from Abbott by 12/1/09. In progress. Reach 140.0 lbs by 8/21/2009. Weight: 146.4 Meals: 7:30am Coffee (1) 8:45am Waffle (5.5) with light syrup (2) and butter (2), sausage (2), and coffee (1) 2:00pm Skinny roast beef sandwich (7) 6:30pm Black bean roll-ups (8) 7:00pm Two cookies (5) 2:00am One cookie (3) |
| Work on music instruction books for fifteen minutes per day. Fail. Launch one new Potbelly song per week. Goal met.Write one new original song per month. Goal met: "Longing" [13+]Post at WordPress at least once per week. Goal met.Write one Textbroker article per week. Goal met.Submit one short story/article per month. Pending. Work for fifteen minutes on "Poor Witch" [E] every day.Fail. Complete and edit "Poor Witch" [E] by 6/30/09.Fail. Read a book in print for fifteen minutes every day. Fail. Resign from Abbott by 12/1/09. In progress. Reach 140.0 lbs by 8/21/2009. Weight: 146.4 Meals: 7:00am FiberOne cereal (2) with milk (1) 7:30am Coffee (1) 9:00am Coffee (1) 1:30pm Skinny roast beef sandwich (7) 3:30pm Chai (1) 6:00pm Light Klondike ice cream bar (2), four peanut butter pretzels (1), three caramel creams (1) 10:30pm Grilled chicken (3), two pieces Grapevine pizza (5?), six peanut butter cookies (2) |
| Work on music instruction books for fifteen minutes per day. Fail. Launch one new Potbelly song per week. Goal met, again. I launched "Longing" [13+] and uploaded to YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5uuoDAYsm0), which will conveniently be highlighted in next week's WordPress post.Write one new original song per month. Goal met. "Longing" [13+] to be recorded soon.Post at WordPress at least once per week. Goal met! I uploaded and highlighted "It's So Easy" [18+] at http://michelletuesday.wordpress.com/Write one Textbroker article per week. Goal met, again. I wrote another one yesterday, and then I received a notification that I have to submit an IRS-W9 to keep writing for them, because my earnings have exceeded $200. So I guess this is officially Job Number Five.Submit one short story/article per month. Pending. Work for fifteen minutes on "Poor Witch" [E] every day.Fail. Complete and edit "Poor Witch" [E] by 6/30/09.Fail. Read a book in print for fifteen minutes every day. Goal met. I went back to Elizabeth Peters.Resign from Abbott by 12/1/09. In progress. Reach 140.0 lbs by 8/21/2009. Weight: 147.8 Meals: 7:30am Half a hamburger (3) and coffee (1) 9:00am Granola bar (2) 1:30pm Skinny roast beef sandwich (7) 4:00pm Chai (1) 6:30pm Six nuts (1) 7:15pm Grilled chicken breast (4), grilled veggies (1) 7:45pm Dark chocolate Reese's cup (1) 8:00pm Eight ounces white wine (6) |
| Work on music instruction books for fifteen minutes per day.Goal met. I filled out my guitar instruction book outline. Launch one new Potbelly song per week. Goal met.Write one new original song per month. Goal met. "Longing" [13+] to be recorded soon.Post at WordPress at least once per week. Pending. Write one Textbroker article per week. Goal met.Submit one short story/article per month. Pending. Work for fifteen minutes on "Poor Witch" [E] every day.Fail. Complete and edit "Poor Witch" [E] by 6/30/09.Fail. Read a book in print for fifteen minutes every day. Goal met. I took a break from my current Elizabeth Peters novel, Silhouette in Scarlet, to read a book I was assigned for a technical writing class at work. The book is called, The Elements of Technical Writing by Gary Blake and Robert W. Bly. It's a lot of common sense, but still good to think about and focus on. Here is an excerpt:The primary goal of any technical communication is to transmit technical information accurately. In this regard, technical writing differs from popular nonfiction, in which the writing is meant to entertain, or from advertising copywriting, which is intended to sell...If (technical writers) have to, they will sacrifice style, grace, and technique for clarity, precision, and organization. Another excerpt: Many technical professionals, businesspeople, and scientists have been trained to think that long, jargon-filled reports are more substantial and important than simple, concise writing. They are wrong...The First Amendment to the United States Constitution contains 45 words, Newton's first law of motion contains 29, and E=mc^2 has only five (six in my rendering) characters. YES! This is so true. In business, I have heard and seen managers use words like "utilize" (i.e., "USE") and "incentivize" (i.e., "INCITE") in the same paragraph with a misused "it's." We're making baby formula, people. Get over yourselves. And learn your it's from your its! Honestly. Resign from Abbott by 12/1/09. In progress. On a related note, I finally paid bills, cleaned the house, mowed the lawn, and caught up on some general chores this past weekend. I've been slipping. Reach 140.0 lbs by 8/21/2009. Weight: 147.8 Meals: 7:30am FiberOne cereal (2) with milk (1) and coffee (1) 10:00am Banana (2) 1:45pm Skinny roast beef sandwich (7) 3:00pm 17-oz peppermint patty (1.5) 4:30pm Chai (1) 5:30pm NutriGrain bar (2.5) 9:15pm Chai (1) 10:45pm Half a hamburger (3) and peas (1) |
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