Goal=Get Out And Live

Distractions are abundant. Right now an adorable one is padding back and forth behind me, making faces that  tempt me to grab the camera and follow him for the rest of the day. Another is wobbling teeth in what I swear is going to be an entirely tooth-less mouth before long. Another is singing a tune he composed yesterday, making me ache to jump to the piano and knock out a few of my own inventions...

But I can't.

See, tomorrow is the deadline. I'm not a procrastinator. I've been nimbly ambling along for an entire month...and now October is almost here. Tomorrow is the last day.

AND (speaking of pleasant distractions) I was awarded the Versatile Blogger by A.E Martin, Cheryl, and Barbara V. Evers. Thank you ladies! Can you feel the love? 

The RULES: 
1. Thank the person who gave you the award and link back to them in your post.

2. Share 7 things about yourself.
3. Pass this Award along to recently discovered blogs and let them know about it!

1. Bess Weatherby: A NYC nanny who's kicking trash and tunneling out her own writing path while working in a world of total insanity. (Meaning NYC.)

2. Mary Waibel: For surviving the upstate NY cold, I applaud you. 

3. Pk Hrezo: If you haven't met her yet, digitally speaking, she's a must. 

4. Matthew Rush: Whose blog is all about the acquisition of Query Warrior Monk skills. 

5. Rachele Alpine: Being another BUSY individual, she finds time to write meaningful blog entries. 


So seven things about myself (as if two weeks ago wasn't revealing/embarrassing enough)...




1. I wrote and illustrated my first book while in the 2nd grade, including a surprise ending. (And no, it wasn't a school assignment.)

2. Once in a universe long ago and far away I was the best unicorn artist in the galaxy. (3 yr old artist, that is.)





3. My brothers were determined to train me into a ninja. (Ask. I know all about stealth and technique.)






4. I had a "My Girl" relationship. Instead of dying he moved to Idaho and builds violins. 

5. I auditioned and made it into a madrigal choir with over 350 applicants for 12 spots.


6. I still can't dance, despite #5.



7. The daughter of a 20+ year scout master, I can pack it, hike it, repel into it, spelunk it, scuba it, ascend it, and rough it. High adventure, you are my friend.  

See what I mean about distractions? Now I want to go hiking. Oh how I miss my mountains...

*Ahem* Tomorrow is the last day. Enough with distractions (you wonderful blog-a-rific world!), I have a draft to finish.

What's keeping you from your goals today? Have you recently reached a goal? If so, what did you do to celebrate?

I'M NOT LISTENING!!!

At my house we’re having NaNoWriMo in July (National Novel Writing Month). Why you ask? (Or maybe you don’t, but I’m going to tell you anyway.) We live in Florida. Who wants to be out in 90 to 100 degrees with 100% humidity? You in the back? Well you can have it! Above and beyond that, I lead a choir, and November (the actual NaNo month)/December are my busy season. Call us freakish if you want, but because we homeschool, we keep any schedule we like—which means December/November and most of January are our “summer” vacation.

Because we homeschool, my 9 yr old, 5 yr old, and 3 yr old are constant. Don’t get me wrong, I love them to DEATH,  but “he hit me”, “she took my toy”, and “he’s breathing my air”, are huge distractons to my coveted two hours of writing a day. Then again, are they?

After my oldest was born, I went back to work for a while. A short while. My baby was growing up, and I was missing it. My husband and I sat down and agreed, we could do without the second income. I would stay home with our children. (And write—of course!) That didn’t mean he was making bukoo bucks. In fact, he was part time, we were both in school, and we gave up a lot of comforts. No big screen TV. No house. No second car. No matching couches…

I’d like to say it got better, but we still limp by on one vehicle, my couches still don’t match, and I’ve pretty much given up on the idea of EVER owning a house—that is, until I make my millions from writing. Ha, ha. (Oh, and no big screen, unless you consider 27 inches big.) The point is, I’m here, with my “distractions”, because they won’t be around for long. They’re the ones that will last even after my five minutes of fame. When the hollowness of attainment and lip-service reviews consume my days, I imagine I’ll be anxious to find a few more “distractions” in my life: the kind that love unconditionally.

What are the true distractions in your life?