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About This Author
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La Bene Vita
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.
December 9, 2014 at 9:12am December 9, 2014 at 9:12am
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I wrote this in a forum post for "Monthly Writing Accountability Challenge" , and then decided it was worth republishing in my blog. Mostly for the writing credit. 
I'm barely keeping up with everything. When you stretch yourself to the max, inevitably, something new crops up. Yesterday, I was ready to quit all my writing projects, because everything else is more urgent. I define "urgency" by "people relying on me." Since my failure to meet writing goals only affects myself, but all my other commitments affect other people, writing falls to the bottom of the list. And before you cry "take care of yourself, too!" I have to be fair and point out that writing was at the top of the list for two straight months. I let other things go in the meantime, and now I have catching up to do.
But looking at my goals and progress against them, I'm not doing too bad. Today, I completed "Day 1: "God Rest Ye, Merry Gentlemen" by Jars of Clay" for "12 Days of "Christmas"" [E] and "I Write in December-January-February" [E]. I have to complete a review now, but I'll do that, because the writer is relying on me. So it's urgent.
Status of my goals:
1. Editing. More than halfway there on 12/9. I'm likely to meet this one.
2. Promo. Already blew the goal out of the water. I hang out on social media, and people post things on my wall all the time, so this is like a self-completing goal anyway. I should make it bigger next month.
3. Reading. I should start giving myself credit for articles because I read those all the time. Right now, I'm sitting at 0 versus a points goal of 9,300. I do have a vacation at the end of the month, so I'm hoping to crank this one out all at once.
4. Reviewing. About halfway. Looking good.
5. Writing. Bleh. 6,700 versus a points goal of 30,000. If I fail at any goals, this is the most likely failure.
I just can't stress myself out over it. The other things going on. I always forget how busy December is:
 I'm a church worship/music leader, and December is Advent (hello?!) - lots of music this time of the year.
End of the year, and we're generating music school budgets for 2015.
Holiday marketing at the music school, at which I have failed miserably this year.
Winter Recitals Dec 19, 20, 21 and Jan 3, 4.
I haven't even thought about Christmas shopping until someone mentioned it in scroll recently.
On top of all that, there's the usual staff meetings at work and church. I'd *like* to find a new gig, but since that only affects me, it's at the bottom of the list. Then there's all the little things, like decorating the studio, hiring another part-time receptionist, implementing the teams idea at work, cultivating relationships with clients and employees, keeping up with email, revamping the school website, learning how to use a new kind of laptop. And I took on the church website again, because I'm a suckerone of the pastors left and I'm trying to help out the other one... ain't nobody got time for that!
In years past, when I complained about how busy I was in December, I pledged to get back into writing in January. But that never happens, either. January is just as busy or busier. Which is why I need to finish my NaNo novel this month, while it's in my head. Because if I don't, it will be gone.
*deep breath*
I need a nap. Another nap.
Cheers,
Michelle |
December 9, 2014 at 8:19am December 9, 2014 at 8:19am
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In a site full of writers, it shouldn't surprise me that the majority of participants in "12 Days of "Christmas"" [E] are selecting songs based on and writing about lyrics. But I'm a musician first, and my selections are all based first on the music. Where appropriate, I'll give a nod to the lyrics as well.
My first choice is "God Rest Ye, Merry Gentlemen" by Jars of Clay.
Here's what you'll hear:
1. A gorgeous classical guitar riff that carries steadily throughout the piece.
2. Rich baritone vocals on the lead line, beginning with verse 1, "God rest ye, merry gentlemen, let nothing you dismay..."
3. A mournful violin and ting on the TRIANGLE (your fave preschool instrument used in real, published music) kicking off Verse 2.
4. An incredibly unique chord progression created by the vocal harmonies of a high tenor through the second verse.
5. The most awesome bass walk of all time at 1:29. It's even better than "Let It Be" which is arguably the most famous bass walk of all time.
6. A wistful classical guitar and violin duet around 1:35, joined by a clarinet at 1:40 and cello at 1:47. CHILLS.
7. Another ting on the triangle at 2:12. Oh yeah, baby. Eat your heart out, Jimmy Fallon.
8. Clever vocal "percussion" on beats 2,3,4 throughout the third verse.
9. The haunting clarinet soaring over the violin, cello, guitar, and vocal awesomeness until the last note.
Since I'm a writer too, I can't ignore the lyrics. Could you ask for a more poetic proclamation of the birth of Christ? Excepting, of course, the nagging sexism, which I would be remiss not to mention. But this arrangement is so musically compelling that it remains one of my top twelve favorites, and I just like to pretend us women should also let nothing us dismay. We are all saved from Satan's pow'r when we've gone astray, regardless of our gender.
God Rest Ye, Merry Gentlemen
God rest ye, merry gentlemen, let nothing you dismay!
Remember Christ, the Savior, was born on Christmas Day
To save us all from Satan's pow'r when we had gone astray.
O, tidings of comfort and joy!
From God our Heaven'ly Father, a blessed angel came
And unto certain shepherds, brought tidings of the same:
How that in Bethlehem was born the Son of God by name.
O, tidings of comfort and joy!
Cheers,
Michelle
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December 9, 2014 at 7:44am December 9, 2014 at 7:44am © Copyright 2025 Brandiwyn🎶Prep starts 10/1! (UN: tuozzo at Writing.Com). All rights reserved.
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Thanks for sharing!
Even better if she can whistle to the tune of Mozart or something. 
Comment • View 2 comments 
, also known as Michelle Tuesday, is a musician, educator and writer hailing from Columbus, Ohio.![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)
