Finished!!!

OK, here we are the end of another round. And this is how I came out at the very end.

I. READING

A. Goals for the Round

1. Have finished reading five books.  YES.  

II. WRITING

A. Goals for the Round.  

1. Have finished the first draft of “The Early Life of Jesus in 40 Days”. YES. Yes, can you believe it? Yesterday I powered through the last five days of the 40 days. Yes!

2. Have written half of my novel.  Yes,finished chapter 20 the other day.

III. REACHING

A.  Goals for the Round

1. Have submitted three pieces somewhere. No, only submitted two things.

2. Have booked three speaking engagements or book signings. No, I only had that one radio interview.   

IV. PERSONAL

A. Exercise - Continue exercising four times a week, including running on the treadmill.  On average, I would say Yes.

B. Nonprofit - Continue working on Tumaini Volunteers, Inc., applying for tax exempt status by the end of the Round.  Yes.  

C. Sewing - Finish two projects this Round. Yes.

Don't know what the new round will bring, but I got a week or two to figure it out.

Things will be different next time

As I mentioned in my last post, this was the week that my daughter and I had the fundraiser for our nonprofit, Tumaini Volunteers. It took up way more time than even I had expected. I spent two whole nights and days in the clutches of my psychopathic 23-year-old daughter. Yes, she is just like her mother! But somehow, over all from the start of this Round (when did it start anyway?) until now, I seem to have fared fairly well.

I. READING

A. Weekly goal

1. Read five other blog posts a week.  Yes.       

2. Read ten hours a week in one of the books I am reading.  Yes. The one good thing that came from spending two nights at my daughter’s was that I started reading one of her roommate’s bathroom books. When I left Friday morning, I asked if I could borrow it. Like I need to be reading another book right now. I know.  

B. Goals for the Round                           

1. Have finished reading five books.  Yes, I have read five books. Wish I could tell you what they are, but you just have to trust me.

II. WRITING

A. Weekly goal

1. Work on something five times a week.     

a. Work on “The Early Life of Jesus in 40 Days”, the second book in the Bible Stories in 40 Days series. No.   

b. Write on my novel. Yes, I have finished writing chapter 19. I have really fallen behind.   

c. Write my blog posts. No. Overall, I think that four or five of the weeks, I missed one post, but oh well.

B. Goals for the Round.  

1. Have finished the first draft of “The Early Life of Jesus in 40 Days”. No.

2. Have written half of my novel.  Yes, even though I changed my mind the first of March and had big plans to finish my novel, I can comfortably say I am half-way done with it.

III. REACHING

A.      Weekly goal.

1. Promote either one of my books on one other site or in person. No, I don’t remember.  

2. Comment on two other blog posts.  Yes.

3. Research markets for an hour. No, not really.

4. Keep up on social media, responding to all messages.  Yes.

5. Contact one organization about a speaking engagement. No.

B. Goals for the Round

1. Have submitted three pieces somewhere. No, but I did submit something yesterday, so, oh, boy, I got two-thirds of this one.  

2. Have booked three speaking engagements or book signings. No, I really stunk at this one. I only had that one radio interview that I am plugging in here.   

IV. PERSONAL

A. Exercise - Continue exercising four times a week, including running on the treadmill.  No, I decided that when I had that few minutes each morning or each evening, it was better to sleep.

B. Nonprofit - Continue working on Tumaini Volunteers, Inc., applying for tax exempt status by the end of the Round.  Yes, and this is what took up ALL of my time this week. I was gone from Wednesday evening until Friday morning working on our fundraiser. We did ok, unless you look at all of the time we put into this thing, and then our numbers really suck. (I never use that word, but sometimes a person just needs that much emphasis.) My daughter wants to take a break, but I just think we need to keep plowing ahead or we will never get ahead of this thing.

C. Sewing - Finish two projects this Round. Yes, I sewed a pair of curtains and a scrub top for work.

So here’s the deal. Next round – one goal and one goal only. Think I can stick to that? 

The Board of Directors for Tumaini Volunteers, Inc.

Only Blog Post this Week and Why

Doesn't look like I will get much writing done this week and certainly no blogging. Why? Date Night.

This is our first major fund-raiser for our non-profit organization, and it seems to have taken over my life right now. But that is ok. After tomorrow night, I can take a break and get back to other things. For now, however, with Kenya blazing in my brain, here is a link to a blog telling you about how this happened in the first place: Kenya was Calling Me.  

Or if you rather listen to music  and listen to pictures, this youtube video tells the story too. 

Goals in a row.

On a personal level, this week was even worse than last. Somehow or other I did ok on goals. I think it is the lack of sleep. I can only lay wide awake in bed so long before I get up and piddle around on the computer.

I. READING

A. Weekly goal

1. Read five other blog posts a week.  Yes.       

2. Read ten hours a week in one of the books I am reading.  Yes.

B. Goals for the Round                           

1. Have finished reading five books.  Yes, I have read five books. Whoo-hoo for me. Good thing I am on Goodreads so someone keeps track of me.  

II. WRITING

A. Weekly goal

1. Work on something five times a week.     

a. Work on “The Early Life of Jesus in 40 Days”, the second book in the Bible Stories in 40 Days series. No.   

b. Write on my novel. Yes, I have finished writing chapter 14. My goal is a chapter a day, so I am pretty close to the mark.  

c. Write my blog posts. No. I will use that continuing stomach flu as my excuse.

B. Goals for the Round.  

1. Have finished the first draft of “The Early Life of Jesus in 40 Days”. No. I did hear from my publisher and he wants this when I am done with it, but he is not putting any pressure on me. Maybe he should.

2. Have written half of my novel.  No, but even though I changed this in my head to finishing the whole thing, I actually am pretty close to half way there right now.

III. REACHING

A.      Weekly goal.

1. Promote either one of my books on one other site or in person. No, not technically, but I read an excerpt of “A Time for Every Purpose” at writers group on Wednesday. I never know what I can count here or not.    

2. Comment on two other blog posts.  Yes.

3. Research markets for an hour. Yes, I think I found some prospects for some articles and one short story I have lying around.

4. Keep up on social media, responding to all messages.  Yes.

5. Contact one organization about a speaking engagement.  Yes.  One of the women at the writers group helps to set up speakers for a women’s group she is part of, so I told her I would be available for that. She was going to check into it.

B. Goals for the Round

1. Have submitted three pieces somewhere. No.

2. Have booked three speaking engagements or book signings. No.  

IV. PERSONAL

A. Exercise - Continue exercising four times a week, including running on the treadmill.  No, that intestinal infection sapped me. I could barely walk, much less run, without running to the bathroom.

B. Nonprofit - Continue working on Tumaini Volunteers, Inc., applying for tax exempt status by the end of the Round.  Yes, we have applied for tax exempt status. I also posted something to our Facebook page nearly every day this week about our fundraiser this Thursday.

C. Sewing - Finish two projects this Round. Yes, I sewed a pair of curtains and a scrub top for work.

It is nearly the end of the round. I think I am doing ok, but I know some of these goals won’t be met. Others? I think I have a good shot. I just have to keep my ducks in a row (or in a ROW80).

More green than I thought

I had a horrible week at work, I’m not even going to go there. I did at least get some work done on my novel. As I believe I mentioned already, most of it is actually already written, it is just a matter of rearranging stuff. When I first started writing it, it was from two different people’s perspectives, then I added another person, and another and it got completely out of control when I realized I was telling the story of eight different people! So I just have to weed out the three or so people who are going to tell their story this time, and hopefully write a sequel where a few more can talk.

I. READING

A. Weekly goal

1. Read five other blog posts a week.  Yes.       

2. Read ten hours a week in one of the books I am reading.  Yes.

B. Goals for the Round                           

1. Have finished reading five books.  Still at four.

II. WRITING

A. Weekly goal

1. Work on something five times a week.     

a. Work on “The Early Life of Jesus in 40 Days”, the second book in the Bible Stories in 40 Days series. No.   

b. Write on my novel. Yes, as I mentioned last week, I made the foolish decision to finish my entire novel in the month of March. I just finished chapter 7 and feel as if I am way off the mark, but we will see.

c. Write my blog posts. Yes, I actually posted here once and on my other blog three time.  

B. Goals for the Round.  

1. Have finished the first draft of “The Early Life of Jesus in 40 Days”. No.

2. Have written half of my novel.  No, not yet, but I will surely get this much done now that I am fired up.

III. REACHING

A.      Weekly goal.

1. Promote either one of my books on one other site or in person. No, umm, I don’t think so.   

2. Comment on two other blog posts.  Yes.

3. Research markets for an hour. No.

4. Keep up on social media, responding to all messages.  Yes.

5. Contact one organization about a speaking engagement. No, like I have time for anything else right now? Is it too late in the round to totally rewrite my goals?

B. Goals for the Round

1. Have submitted three pieces somewhere. I am still at one.

2. Have booked three speaking engagements or book signings. Still at one.  

IV. PERSONAL

A. Exercise - Continue exercising four times a week, including running on the treadmill.  Yes.

B. Nonprofit - Continue working on Tumaini Volunteers, Inc., applying for tax exempt status by the end of the Round.  Yes, we have applied for tax exempt status. We met last Sunday and are meeting again to work on our fundraiser which is the 20^th. Everything else is on hard until we get through that.

C. Sewing - Finish two projects this Round. Yes, I sewed a pair of curtains and a scrub top for work, as pictured below. 

Coz I need more on my to-do list.

Well, I got inspired to finish my novel. I signed up for the Speedbo2014 challenge. It is sponsored by Seekerville, a blog I’ve been following for years, and I think I may have intended to do this challenge previously, but I don’t remember how it turned out. Check it out, it’s not too late to join.

I. READING

A. Weekly goal

1. Read five other blog posts a week.  Yes.       

2. Read ten hours a week in one of the books I am reading.  Yes.

B. Goals for the Round                           

1. Have finished reading five books. Up to four. I read “The Swaddling Clothes” this week. It was ok. I downloaded it on my Kindle when it was free – one of those things, you know?

II. WRITING

A. Weekly goal

1. Work on something five times a week.     

a. Work on “The Early Life of Jesus in 40 Days”, the second book in the Bible Stories in 40 Days series. No, and I am going to put this on hold until I finish the novel. That is just how it goes.  

b. Write on my novel. Yes, I jumped in on Saturday. It’s hard to say how much I accomplished because the book is three-quarters written. I have rethought my whole process of the thing, so even though I have lots to add, the bigger goal is rearranging it all.

c. Write my blog posts. No, I once again only blogged twice in The Dino Chronicles and once here.

B. Goals for the Round.  

1. Have finished the first draft of “The Early Life of Jesus in 40 Days”. No.

2. Have written half of my novel.  No, not yet, but I will surely get this much done now that I am fired up.

III. REACHING

A.      Weekly goal.

1. Promote either one of my books on one other site or in person. No, umm, I don’t think so.   

2. Comment on two other blog posts.  Yes.

3. Research markets for an hour. No, not really.

4. Keep up on social media, responding to all messages.  Yes.

5. Contact one organization about a speaking engagement. Yes, I sent letters to two more area churches.

B. Goals for the Round

1. Have submitted three pieces somewhere. I am still at one.

2. Have booked three speaking engagements or book signings. Still at one.  

IV. PERSONAL

A. Exercise - Continue exercising four times a week, including running on the treadmill.  Yes.

B. Nonprofit - Continue working on Tumaini Volunteers, Inc., applying for tax exempt status by the end of the Round.  Yes with the applying part, no, on anything else. But we have our meeting today to plan the fundraiser on March 20.  

C. Sewing - Finish two projects this Round. Getting close, besides the curtains I sewed last week, I started a uniform top for work. I only have left to hem it.