MAKING IT HAPPEN

I’m pretty sure that this is the coolest typewriter I’ve ever, ever, ever seen.

Last week I finished up the revisions I started *gulp* a year ago on my book.  Revisions I embarked on after receiving a very nicely worded rejection from an agent.

A very nicely worded rejection that totally knocked my feet out from under me.  

A very nicely worded rejection that had me re-writing the whole thing in first person.

And then re-writing the whole thing in third-person.  Again.

I was so deeply shaken by that stupid rejection.

But now I’m here on the other end of it.  On the cusp of planning a release date for my book.  Something I can do with more confidence than I would have ever imagined because I’ve revised, revised, revised.  Some of it was necessary, some of it wasn’t, and all of it served to teach me a whole hell of a lot.  So, thank you, agent lady.  If it weren’t for you, I would have never done that.  Because of you,  I know this thing inside and out.  I’ve taken it apart and put it back together so many times that I could now do it in my sleep.

I really am so grateful.

I was at the library when I finished it.  Well, not really at the library – libraries scare the shiza out of me.  I was sitting outside the library, working at a patio table.  The eerie quiet that permeates the inside of the library oozes outside, too – but at least it’s tempered with the noise chirping birds and cars driving by.  Just quiet enough to work; not so quiet that it feels like a graveyard.

Nobody was there at the moment of completion.  Just me and my trusty MacBook.  We stared at each other awhile.  I finally risked a whisper:

Did we do it? 

My MacBook is the strong, silent type.  He just stared back at me, his fan humming quietly, like a cat’s purr…

You’re going to start hearing more and more about this project I’ve been calling SHRILUGH.  I’m so excited to be nearing the point where I can actually share it with you.  Three years in the making so far.  Other than marriage and parenting, it’s been the best education I’ve had, this journey called writing a novel.

More on SHRILUGH and where I’m going with it next week.

Love,

Myn

p.s. To see a little of what inspires me, visit my SHRILUGH board (and others – there’s a whole slew of ‘em!) on Pinterest.

GUEST POST: Thomas Shafer (aka, the Hubster)

My Hubster is one all-around-very-cool-super-handsome-awfully-sweet-terribly-smart guy.  When I told him I was lining up guest posts to help me cover the blog during the first few months of Little Miss Took’s life, he quickly piped up, saying,

“I can help you with that!”

And so, my partner in crime has become my partner in blogging.

The Hubster works in a unique field – he specializes in (among other techie things) high-end two-channel audio.  Really cool stuff that will literally change the way you listen.  I feel like I’ve re-discovered my ears because of what he chose to do with his life.

Because of his profession, he’s had a front row seat to much of what happened when the musical world went digital, and he’s got some interesting insight to the change the literary world is undergoing – the digitalization of books.

Read on for his thoughts and opinions!

oOo

I’ve seen music media go through a certain kind of life cycle.  Back in the ’60s and ’70s, the only choice was gramophone records.  Then, round about the late ’80s, CDs came along and most everyone dove head first into the wonderful world of digital playback.  

What is amazing to me is that nowadays, it seems people want both!  

Digital music is still the medium of choice for most people, BUT a lot of folks are remembering the value of good ‘ol records.  I hear folks say..

‘I love the convenience of my iPod, but really enjoy the feel of a record in my hand’.

If you are one of us that agrees that Music Matters, I bet you would probably agree with that statement…I know I sure do.

So here is the observation.

It seems that books are about to go through the same cycle.  Just as little as a couple of years ago, if you wanted a book, your only option was to get it on paper.  But now, e-readers are literally on the verge of changing this to where you might not ever read your favorite new book on paper.

Do you think we can cut to the chase here?  Is it possible that book publishers could learn from music media’s life cycle and avoid the 10-30 year experiment it went thru to discover that people want both analog and digital?  I can just hear it now…

‘I love the convenience of my e-reader, but really enjoy the feel of a book in my hand’.  

Here is what I suggest.

Book publishers, with every new book being published, put it out there in BOTH ANALOG AND DIGITAL.  Put a hard-bound book on the shelf with a digital copy of it inside the front cover!

Music labels…with every new album you are going to produce, put it out there in BOTH ANALOG AND DIGITAL.  Put a vinyl record on the shelf with a digital copy of it inside the cover!

This is what the consumer wants!

oOo

I think he makes a great point.   It’s one of my very favorite things, to open up a fresh vinyl album – esp. when a digital copy came along with it.  After all, a turntable in my car just isn’t practical.  :)  For me, it’s the same with books.  Personally, I would LOVE to be able to buy my books with a digital copy tucked inside.  I love the convenience of an e-reader, but nothing really compares to snuggling up on the couch with the weight of a book in my hands, and the smell of paper and ink in my nose.  People are analog beings, and we’re always going to be drawn to analog things, no matter how convenient digital might be.

What are your thoughts, opinions?  Let ‘em fly!

GUEST POST: Patricia Sands

Today I’m tickled pink to introduce you to a sweet writerly friend of mine, Patricia Sands.  Patricia is the author of THE BRIDGE CLUB, a finalist for ForeWord Review’s Book of the Year.  How cool is that?

Anybody who knows writers, knows we spend a good deal of time in our heads daydreaming, ahem, working.  Sometimes our daydreams take us to lovely places across the pond, like France…and other times they drive us to the delicious cheese shop around the corner…

And sometimes, both.

oOo

I’ve been in France all week … well, okay, in my mind … and I know that’s not the same as actually being there in person. But almost … really … I’ve been working on my next novel for several hours every day and my characters are in France so of course I’m right with them.

We’ve been driving the winding backroads of the Luberon region in Provence,

hiking the hills, inhaling the aromatic fragrances of lavender, rosemary,thyme,

exploring the enticing warrens of ancient laneways in picturesque villages,

drinking perfectly chilled rosé

and, of course, enjoying the most amazingly delicious gastronomic interludes (i.e. eating – but that word just doesn’t cut it in France).

My DH kept encouraging me to take a break but I simply didn’t want to leave France. When I finally did surface to acknowledge I have another life and do some grocery shopping this afternoon, I had only one thing on my mind. BRIE!

There happens to be, what my friend Natalie Hartford would describe as an AHHHsomely, überlicious, epicurean emporium in our neighbourhood called The Cheese Boutique. Don’t let the name fool you, this place is magic (and will be the subject of a later post). If you ever want to feel like you have stepped into a shop in France, it’s right here. After immersing myself in all things Français this week, I couldn’t stop thinking about having a perfect slice – or two – of Brie.

I was rewarded. The rosé is chilling and as soon as I finish this post, I’m actually going to have a conversation with my DH and we will eat Brie. I’ve been kind of *absent* this week.

Here are a few facts you might find interesting:

Legend has it that in the eighth century, French Emperor Charlemagne first tasted this cheese at a monastery in Reuil-en-Brie and fell instantly in love with its creamy, rich flavor. The favorites of kings eventually become favorites of the people. Louis XVI’s last and dying wish was supposedly to have a final taste of Brie. Hmm – well it makes for a good story.

This soft cow’s cheese was originally referred to as the “King’s Cheese” but after the French Revolution any reference to “the king” was a major non-non so Brie was called the “King of Cheeses”.

Legitimate Brie must be made in the Seine-et-Marne area south of Paris, but many countries now commercially manufacture a similar cheese which is sold as Brie. For the best taste, look for the French label.

Of the 400+ kinds of cheese made in France, Brie is considered the most popular. In fact, the fromagier extraordinaire we got to know in Antibes told us it was obigatory to serve Brie after a meal if you have French guests. Obligatoire!

Make sure you always serve Brie at least at room temperature. Here’s a website with more recipes for making appetizers with Brie than I ever imagined possible. Bon appetit!

oOo

LUCKY ME! LUCKY YOU! IT’S THE LUCKY 7 MEME!

Okay, so I was kind-of thinking this was the neatest thing evah. The Lucky 7 Meme gets passed around the writerly community, tagging folks and tasking them with posting pretty little excerpts from their WIP’s (‘work-in-progress’ for you non-writerly types). The first time I saw it I became giddy reading little tidbits of what my buddies were working on, and really hoped I’d get tagged. I wanted to play, too!

Then I got tagged. (Thanks, Jennifer L. Oliver! and Jessica O’Neal!)And promptly got stage fright.

Here are the rules. When I was reading them on other folk’s blogs, they seemed like no biggie to me.

1. Go to page 77 of your current MS/WIP
2. Go to line 7
3. Copy down the next 7 lines, sentences, or paragraphs, and post them as they’re written.
4. Tag 7 authors, and let them know.

So, I went to page 77. I counted down to line 7. I read through the next 7 paragraphs.

I frowned, gulped, and immediately wanted to cheat.

The rest of the evening was spent combing through the manuscript with my snarky little Writer Troll peering over my shoulder saying, “That’s total crap. You have a prologue – don’t count that page, and check page 78 instead.”

I did. Writer Troll smacked loudly on her cinnamon-flavored gum. “That’s total crap. Maybe just check page 76 and see what you find there.”

I did. Writer Troll chimed in, picking at her chipped manicure. “That’s total crap.”

So I decided to check Chapter 7. It’s the Lucky 7 Meme after all, right? Chapter 7 could sort of count. Writer Troll, trying on my favorite heels without asking: “Total crap.  Can I have these?  They look better on me anyway…”

Page 7? Writer Troll, yawning: “Crap.”

Chapter 42? Don’t have one, but Writer Troll had an opinion on that, too. “If you did have one, it’d be total crap on a shiny silver platter.”

So I turned off the computer and went to bed. “Guess what?” Writer Troll whispered softly as she pulled the blankets up under my chin. “It’ll still be total crap in the morning.”

I woke up to a lovely rainy morning. Writer Troll was snoring loudly in my favorite chair. Drool had crusted in the corner of her mouth and my dog was growling at her from the corner. Somehow the diffused morning light made everything so much clearer. Someone in the room was full of crap. But it wasn’t me, and it wasn’t my manuscript.

It’s Writer Troll. She’s full of crap.

After a hearty breakfast and a cold glass of milk I kicked her mouthy @$$ to the curb.

She’ll be back, of course, but for the moment I’m free of her.

So, here it is. An except from my WIP, SHRILUGH. Page 77, seven lines in, seven paragraphs for your reading pleasure. Enjoy!

…Something about Bristol’s appearance caught Rein off guard. He’d not noticed his eye color before now – it had been too dark in the barn on the Fulbert property. But here it was easy to see they were blue. Disturbingly blue.

Rein swallowed hard, turning his eyes away. The variety of eye color in the human world was strange to him, and he found looking at humans, especially those with blue eyes, unnerving. It was…unnatural.

Rein glanced back up at the boy, who happened to look down right at that moment. Seeing that he was awake, and watching them, Bristol nudged Isaac and nodded in Rein’s direction. Rein wondered if Isaac had told the humans he dwelled with the truth about who and what he was.

“It’s just…a gut feeling,” Isaac finally answered the boy, eyeing Rein cautiously as he said it. His response answered Rein’s curiosity; the humans didn’t know, or else he’d have explained what he suspected Rein’s presence meant.

Bristol walked nearer to Rein, crouching over him, eyeing his bruised and bloodied face, oblivious to the fact that the man he examined had to force himself to meet his gaze.

“Isaac, you did this to him?” He looked up over his shoulder at Isaac with a shocked expression on his face.

“I was trying to get him to talk.”

Voila! There it is!

And now I task the following seven writers (ach, if I had my druthers, the list would be MUCH longer than seven…and if you’ve already been tagged – oops, sorry!) to kick their trolls in the arse and post tidbits of their own manuscripts on their blogs! Roll call!

Ginger Calem

Sherry Isaac

Kara Flathouse

Tameri Etherton

Natalie Hartford

Kecia Adams

Jess Witkins

ROW80 Check-In

Hi y’all!  Just a quick note/update about my ROW80 progress.  We’re getting super close to Little Miss Took’s arrival, and I think it’s time I bowed out of the ROW for a while.  I’ll probably pick back up the round after next in the autumn – or if I’m feeling it, jump in during the middle of the next round, but right now I think it’s time to let myself slide into a slower gear for the rest of the spring.

I’m so grateful for all the support and encouragement, as well as to so many of you who offered to guest-post on my blog to take some of the pressure off when Baby Girl arrives.  You all rock.  Big time.

Lots of love,

Myn

 

Nervous

Dorothy Parker once said,

“If you have any young friends who aspire to become writers, the second greatest favor you can do them is to present them with copies of The Elements of Style. The first greatest, of course, is to shoot them now, while they’re happy.”

This statement cracks me up.  I think it would crack any writer up.  Most of us are cracked anyway, so it’s no big deal.

When I first began writing, I had no idea what a soul-lashing, confidence-thrashing, oftentimes sadistic past-time it would become.  Then, somewhere along the way, it became more than a simple pastime.  It became an occupation.  Something I did with the regularity of a part-time job…without the obvious benefit of a part-time job (ka-ching).

Even so, I keep at it.  All of us writers do.  Because as much as a roller-coaster the process can be, and as bitchy as the muse can sometimes get, something about it gets under our skin.  It becomes impossible not to write.  When we stop writing, our interior wells become stagnant.  Eventually that stagnation eeks out of us in the form of grumpy, brooding, disagreeable behavior.

Most of us write because we genuinely love to write.  We spend ungodly amounts of time, butt planted in a chair, hammering out words (half the time telling ourselves that it’s all rubbish, utter crap).  We spend equal amounts of time reading other peoples words, reading about writing, re-writing what we’ve written based on what other people have written about writing.  We’re obsessively in love with what we do.  Sometimes the obsessive outweighs the love; sometimes it’s the other way around.

This makes us – or me, anyway – insanely overprotective of what we’ve written, sometimes seasoned with dashes of debilitating lack of confidence.

I’m nearing the place where I’m ready to have my WIP read by beta-readers.  My dear, sweet friend Emily – who is always one of my biggest cheerleaders – will be reading it, once again.  Bless her heart, she’s read so many versions of this story, she’s probably ready to change her name and head for the woods at the thought of doing it again.  :)  I love her for her willingness.  And I’m hoping to put a couple pairs of fresh eyes on it this time around, too.

But I’m nervous as all get-out.

Where are you at in the process of doing what you love?  I know many of you writerly types get what I’m saying!  And I can’t believe the concept is restricted to the writers in the crowd.  I want to hear about the thing you’re doing right now – the project you’re in the middle of, the dream you’ve been toying with…what’s your process like?  Relate with me, so I can feel better about feeling nervous.  :)

ROW80 Check-In 02-29-12

Howdy!

Here’s how my week looked:

WRITING:

Goal: Work on WIP in evening after kids go to bed.

Reality: This seems to be working well, although I haven’t managed it every night of the week.  Some nights I crash almost as soon as they do.  :)  But, I’m making good progress – the Hubster occupied the kids for a large portion of this weekend, allowing me to get 4-5 hours in – an unheard of chunk of time!  Thanks, T-Man!

BLOGGING/SOCIAL MEDIA:

Goal: Read and promote other’s blogs 1 hr/day in the morning.

Reality: So far I’ve managed to make this work, although I never am able to get to as many blogs as I’d like.

Goal: Write 4 posts/week to stockpile for baby’s arrival.

Reality: This actually hasn’t been a problem at all.  In fact, it’s eeking into my writing time in the evening.  Who knew nesting urges would bleed into blog writing?

Goal: Schedule blog posts for when baby arrives.

Reality: This is going well! I’m so grateful to you lovely volunteers. Those who have already sent me your posts, thanks! And those whose posts are on the way, I can’t wait to see what you send me!  It really means so much to me that you’re willing to help.  These WANA methods are the bomb!

Goal: Reduce blogging to three times a week.

Reality: Yep.  I did it.  And while it’s definitely easier on me, it’s not been easy to accept.  I’ll be interested to see how my traffic fares in March because of the reduced content.  I keep reminding myself that after Little Miss Took arrives and life smooths out again, I can always go back to posting more often.  Right now, though, I’ll stick to this goal.

HOMESCHOOL:

Goal: Ignore social media during homeschool time.

Reality:  This worked about 85% of the time.  There were some down times when I was able to do a little blog-reading on my phone, so I guess you could say I cheated a little.  But, committing to a work/school schedule has really smoothed out lots of bumps.  I think we’re falling into a rhythm here that we can easily maintain.

EXERCISE/EATING HEALTHY:

Goal: Put 5 minute test mile theory back into practice.

Reality: Nope.  Didn’t do it.  Not even a little.  This momma is tuckered out from chasing her offspring around while carrying a giant kicking watermelon in her abdomen.

Goal: Allow myself to nest.

Reality:  Giggle, snort.  I don’t think there would be any stopping me at this point.

Goal: Whole foods brekkie and lunches.

Reality:  Easy, peasy.  This one’s been no problem at all.

So, overall, I’m tickled with how the week went.  I can definitely feel myself slowing down, but the end is in sight, pregnancy-wise, and so it feels pretty short term.  Give me a couple months, and I’ll be zipping around like a crazy woman again!

I hope y’all had happy, productive weeks, too.  Lots o’ love,

Myndi

Q&A: Alica McKenna Johnson

I am super-psyched to introduce you Alica McKenna Johnson today.  She’s not new to my blog – you can check out her guest post here – but she’s recently released her novel PHOENIX CHILD, which is super-exciting news, any way you slice it.  This seems like a fabulous time for you to get to know her a little better, don’tchya think?  Check out the little Q&A we had the other day…

ME:  Alica!  Your new book has just been published, which is so very cool.  The day after PHOENIX CHILD was available online, what was the first thing you did when you woke up?

ALICA: Great question!  Nothing too exciting.  I was working, so up at 5:20 AM, opened the computer and logged in.  Then I woke up the first child, checked email, squealed at seeing two more purchased from Smashwords, got kids to bus by 6AM, woke my two personal kids (hubby was also working), woke two more work kids, when they were done in the bathroom woke final two work kids, made breakfast and managed to get them all off to school while obsessively checking Amazon, Smashwords, Facebook, and Twitter.

ME: Holy cow, woman, you are busy!  Six kids, four of which are foster kids (is that the right term?)…it makes my head spin.

Quick, which do you relate most to?  Hamster in a wheel, kangaroo with a pouch full of rowdy joeys, or goddess divine who can breeze through anything life throws at her?

ALICA: It’s actually five kids, did I leave one out?  The term ‘foster’ works, but I’m technically a houseparent  in a group home.  

I like to imagine that I’m a divine goddess, but really I think I’m more a kangaroo desperately trying to keep everything together.  Hey, what happened to my opposable thumbs?  I need those!

ME: Okay, first of all, anybody who’s a houseparent immediately gets rockstar status in my book.  Secondly, opposable thumbs are an absolute necessity.  How else would I drag the offspring around by their ears all day long?  And thirdly, I clearly can’t count, because now I totally see that you listed five kiddos, not six.  Scary thing, isn’t it, to think that I’m responsible for teaching my kids math…

ALICA: Don’t worry, Myndi.  Your kids will help you learn math.  :)

As for rockstar status, I don’t know about that.  Most of the time I’m desperately trying not to lose my temper!  

ME: That’s okay – I’ve heard rockstars have been known to lose their tempers a time or two…

Hey, speaking of homeschooling, you’ve been down that path before, and are looking to start up again.  In the spirit of homeschooling camaraderie, riddle me this: What’s the silliest question you’ve had to fend from non-homeschooling folks?

ALICA: I loved homeschooling, and most of the people we hung out with either home-schooled, or were alternative thinking, so I didn’t get too much flack.  But while we were on vacation in Denver some guy in a shop asked my son some weird question about a quarter – it might have been who was on it, or what the newest state quarter was?  All I remember was thinking he was crazy and a regular school kid wouldn’t know the answer!

My mom used to worry that my son was ‘too smart and active’ to be home-schooled.  And of course, there’s the ‘but what if you don’t know it?’ question.  Umm…I look it up?  I learned a ton homeschooling my kids.

ME: As I’m sure you’re well aware (because I can’t seem to shut my yapper about it), I’m about ready to pop out my fourth child.  You’ve mentioned in passing that you’ve home-birthed more than once.  Again, rockstar status is in order here.  I kind-of dig the idea, but I’ve never been able to get the Hubster on board.  How did you convince your Hunny it was the thing to do?

ALICA: Well, with my first hubby – once I stopped crying, realizing I was unmarried, 19, and pregnant – I said, ‘By the way, you know I’m having this baby at home.’  He wasn’t sold on the idea, but once we went to Bradley Child Birthing Classes, he was good with it.  We felt very secure with the midwife I picked.  Good thing, too, because he almost delivered Logan by himself!

Hubby #2 is as alternative as I am and dislikes hospitals as much as I do, so that one was easy.

I was blessed with a midwife that I trusted, and easy, healthy pregnancies.  I’m so glad I had my babies at home, and have even been invited to attend a few births.  So amazing…and I always hold my breath until the baby cries.

ME: Isn’t that first cry of life the most amazing, relieving thing?

ALICA: It’s amazing.  I don’t think I can describe it.  Just thinking about it fills me with hope and joy.

ME:  How old are your kiddos now, and what’s the one thing that sticks out in your mind that motherhood has taught you?

ALICA: Let’s see…my kiddos are 17 and 12.  What has motherhood taught me?  That being a good parent is more than just how you raise your children, it’s also how much work you’re willing to do to become a better person so you can show your kids how they can be their best.  Does that make sense?

ME: Absolutely!  So much is taught through observation.  I don’t think we can underestimate how much they learn from us when we don’t realize they’re watching.  

Back to this book of yours.  What did it feel like when you got to the place with your manuscript and realized, “THIS IS DONE!”?

ALICA:  At first I was shocked.  I just stared at the computer screen.  Then I jumped for joy and told everyone I could think of.  Then I realized I still had to edit and revise, and then I wanted to cry just a little bit.  Okay, a lot.  But after some moral support and chocolate, I pulled myself together.

ME:  Mmmmm, chocolate.  Favorite kind?

ALICA:  Is there any bad chocolate?  LOL.  I do prefer dark chocolate, and I like quality chocolate.  No cheap stuff for me.

ME:  …can we still be friends if I admit I have a love affair with Hershey’s with almonds?

(silence)

ME: Um….back to PHOENIX CHILD, shall we?  *grins awkwardly and throws Hershey’s wrapper behind sofa*  Give me a fast run-down of what the book’s about.

ALICA:  PHOENIX CHILD is a Young Adult Urban Fantasy.  Sara lives in a group home and is trying to make the best of her life in the system.  Waking up the morning of her fourteenth birthday, she finds her appearance has changed, and she has powers – like bursting into flames – that she doesn’t want.  

Soon she finds a family.  Not only others like her, but an uncle she never knew existed shows up in her life.  Confronted by the evil that killed her parents, Sara has to decide if she will let her fears win, or find the courage to accept her destiny and save her people.

ME: Sounds totally fantastic!  Who do you think would most enjoy PHOENIX CHILD?

ALICA:  I hope I have written a book that will appeal to teens and adults.  I know so many adults who love YA that I didn’t want to focus on just one age group.  

ME:  Where can folks purchase your book?

ALICA:  You can purchase PHOENIX CHILD at Amazon and Smashwords.  Both places have a free preview – 30 pages, I think.  

ME: Lovely!  Thanks for stopping by Alica!

ALICA: Thanks for having me, Myndi.  I’ve had a great time.

ROW80 Check-In

Hi!

*waves hello*

I can’t believe it’s Wednesday already.  Time is flying by the closer I get to my due-date.  Little Miss Took will be here before we know it…EEK!  :)

So, I did manage to take a look at my goals…I can’t say that they changed all that much, but my thoughts are a little more organized, and I did set up some boundaries as to when/where/how they’ll get done.  That’s a good thing.  Pregnancy hormones can cause sensibility-blindness, and I these days I need a clear reminder of when it’s okay to shut off one area of my life to focus on another.

Here’s what I’m looking at:

WRITING:

*Work on the WIP after the kids go to bed in the evening.  Trying to do any serious work while they’re vying for my attention just doesn’t work.

*Stop beating myself up for not getting to it during the day.  That’s just the way my schedule is.  It’s not good or bad; it just is.

BLOGGING/SOCIAL MEDIA:

*Read and promote other folk’s blogs 1 hr/day in the morning while the kids are working on quiet projects.  This is Monday through Friday only.  Cut myself a break on Sat and Sun.

*Write one blog post/day 4 days a week in an effort to stockpile blogs for baby’s arrival.  Write these during SweetZ’s naptime.

*Schedule guest posts for when baby arrives. *cough* Any volunteers out there?  :)    *hugs* (and a HUGE thanks to those of you who’ve already volunteered!)

*Reduce blogging to three times a week (not counting ROW80 check-ins), and switch my ROW80 check-ins to Wednesdays.  No blogging on weekends anymore.

HOMESCHOOL:

*When it’s homeschool time, focus on that.  Social Media and Blogging and the WIP are on the farthest burner during that time.  Family first.

EXERCISE/HEALTHY EATING:

*Go back to the five minute ‘test mile’ theory.  I’m in the heat of the last trimester energy drain, and it’s okay that my body is tired and demanding rest.  *mantra* I am not a wimp.  I am not a wimp.  I am not a wimp…

*Allow myself to nest, and make lists, even if it drives the rest of my family nutso.  :)

*Continue with the whole foods breakfasts, and add in lunches.  This goal is so very YUM!

 I’ll let you know next week how it’s working out.  ’Till then, happy ROW-ing!

P.S.  There’s still time to send me your photo for the I Am Beautiful…Just the Way I Am campaign!  Send me your pic at myndishafer at rocketmail dot com.  I need ‘em by Feb 24; the follow-up post will run Feb 28!  

ROW80 Check-In

Hi happy Row-ers!

I’m keeping it short today.  Last week was up and down – lots of school demands, lots of preggers fatigue.  I think it’s time to re-evaluate what I can realistically get done in the months before and after Little Miss Took is born, and readjust my goals/schedule.

But I’m not going to do that today.  I’ll get it done by Wednesday, and post an update then.  Today, I’m spending time with the family, catching up on blog writing/reading, and working a little on the WIP.

Happy ROW-ing this week!

Big grins,
Myndi