La Bene Vita

Thursday: Technical Writing and Abbott Resignation

I took a four-session technical writing course at work (compliments of Abbott) and learned something interesting that I didn't know. The traditional two-spaces-after-every-period rule had something to do with typewriter fonts, and are no longer "required." It's a hard habit to break, because after years of practice, that thumb just automatically plops down two spaces at the end of every sentence.

Re: my goals, I signed up for Legerdemain 's fabulous contest, "15 for 15 Contest --- Closed"  [18+]. There will be a daily writing goal associated with that beginning 9/18.

Advertise "October Novel Prep Challenge"  [13+].
Goal met. The same plug sat at the top of scroll for over twelve hours yesterday.

Update "October Novel Prep Challenge"  [13+] entry log.
Goal met! ...and this goal comes down tomorrow, which is good, because my blog is getting cluttered with goals.

Learn one new cover band song per week.
In progress. I've been listening to my YouTube playlist at work every night this week.

Launch one new Potbelly song per week.
No activity, because I didn't play yesterday.

Write one new original song per month.
In progress x2 (see below.)

NEW: Launch one new Praise Band song per month.
Y'all are never gonna believe this, but I'm bouncing around the idea of writing one. I mind-mapped the concept, with lyrics tied to the scripture for 9/27. I don't know if I'll have time to actually see it through, but wouldn't that be two birds with one stone??

Work on music instruction books for fifteen minutes per day.
Fail.

Post at WordPress at least once per week.
Pending. My brother (who, apparently, uses digital recording gear professionally - who knew?? ) recommended a unit that will make my WordPress recordings much higher quality. My parents said they would supply the gear for my birthday (which was last week) and Christmas, so I just need to order it or go pick it up at Guitar Center. Busy, busy...

Write one Textbroker article per week.
Yikes. I signed up for one, and it has a 10-day deadline, so I've been putting it off.

Submit one short story/article per month.
Pending... and I think I may take this one down till after NaNo, too.

Read a book in print for fifteen minutes every day.
Goal met! I read while waiting at the doctor's office. But as soon as I finish the book I'm on (Silhouette in Scarlet by Elizabeth Peters), I'm going to take this goal down till after NaNo.

Resign from Abbott by 12/1/09.
In progress, but because Keith and I are looking at houses together, and because we dream big (), I might decide to stay a few more months. I had been toying with staying through January or February anyway, because, let's face it: money is nice. Plus, with the new year, I get three new weeks of vacation, which makes the extra time bearable.

If I resign in time for the summer, I could start picking up evening gigs during the week.  A solo acoustic act is perfect for an outdoor patio at a bar, and that's summer work. Then in the fall, I can add music students in the afternoons.

I still have close tabs on the budget, but I've been leaning toward a few more months for awhile now. So, I'll change this goal to 6/1/2010, with the understanding that I could leave at any time after 12/1/2009, if it really sucks.

Maintain 150.0 lbs.
Goal met! Even according to the doctor's scale!

Weight: 148.2

Meals:
7:30am Nut clusters (3) and coffee (1)
9:45am Pizza (4)
11:00am Coffee (1)
1:45pm Skinny roast beef sandwich (7)
2:15pm Chai (1)
4:15pm Dark chocolate mocha ZonePerfect bar (4)
4:30pm Chai (1)
7:00pm Plain salad (0), seafood salad (1), tomato and mozz salad (1), cranberry and pecan salad (1), pesto tortellini (1)
7:30pm Tall, skinny hazelnut latte (2), half pecan bar (1.5), half brownie (1.5)