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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.
November 30, 2009 at 8:14am November 30, 2009 at 8:14am November 29, 2009 at 7:36am November 29, 2009 at 7:36am
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Thanksgiving was nice. I met my nephew Kaden, who is, naturally, *the* cutest baby that ever existed. And I mean, ever. And that's my completely unbiased opinion.
I also wrote a few articles, played some guitar, and ate a lot of food.
 my idea of a "vacation"
Launch one new Potbelly song per week.
 Goal met.
Post at WordPress at least once per month.
Pending.
Launch one new Praise Band song per month.
Goal met.
Write one new original song per month.
Goal met. "Invalid Item" .
Earn at least $60$75 per pay period at Textbroker.
Goal met.
Current Balance: $107.85, $34.36 pending client acceptance, a two $13.75 direct orders in progress, and a $7.70 open order to write. I went ahead and wrote the open order that was due this morning. Due date: 12/5/09.
I might actually be having fun at this. 
Earn at least $25 per month at Helium.
Pending.
Current Balance: $0.00. Due date: 12/24/09.
Resign from Abbott by 6/1/10.
In progress and on schedule.
Achieve a weight of 145.0 by 1/31/09.
Back at it, at least until Christmas. I ate SO MUCH JUNK the last three days.
Weight: ?
Meals:
7:15am Coffee (1)
8:30am Cookie (1.5)
9:00am Coffee (1)
10:00am Cookie (1)
10:45am Cookie (1.5)
5:15pm Almonds (3)
6:15pm Chicken (3), pasta sauce (2), cheese (2), noodles (4), and steamed veggies (1)
6:45pm Apple pie (10?) with ice cream (4)
So much for back at it. TOTAL POINTS: 35
Current real estate goal: Organize garage.
No activity.
Read a book in print for fifteen minutes every day.
Goal met.
Business: Music Instruction Books.
No activity. |
November 28, 2009 at 10:17am November 28, 2009 at 10:17am November 27, 2009 at 11:02am November 27, 2009 at 11:02am November 26, 2009 at 6:02pm November 26, 2009 at 6:02pm November 25, 2009 at 8:00am November 25, 2009 at 8:00am November 24, 2009 at 7:18am November 24, 2009 at 7:18am November 23, 2009 at 7:43am November 23, 2009 at 7:43am
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Launch one new Potbelly song per week.
I have no plans to launch a new song this week. Next Monday, I'll switch to Christmas music, and I may try to add a new Christmas song to my repertoire each week, although it will be work enough dusting off the list I already have.
Post at WordPress at least once per month.
Pending... and I should take my Echo recorder to Maryland for Thanksgiving, because I bet my brother would love to check it out. Maybe I can record something there, since I'll have all kinds of free time.
Launch one new Praise Band song per month.
Goal met.
Write one new original song per month.
Goal met. "Invalid Item" .
Write new lyrics once per day through November.
Fail... and I've decided to can this goal. It was my measly attempt to NaNo in my own way, but it's not a total loss. I wrote several songs early in the month, which just need music now.
Earn at least $60 per pay period at Textbroker.
In progress.
Current Balance: $20.30, with $7.00 pending client acceptance, and two in-progress articles (up to $8.40 and $25.00.) Due date: 12/5/09.
Earn at least $25 per month at Helium.
Goal met!
Current Balance: $52.00. Due date: 11/24/09.
Resign from Abbott by 6/1/10.
In progress and on schedule.
Achieve a weight of 145.0 by Thanksgiving.
Might as well call this a fail. ...by 12/31? Weight loss goals around the holidays are just stupid, though. Maybe by 1/31.
Weight: 153.4
Meals:
7:15am Two strips bacon (3) and coffee (1)
9:30am Coffee (1)
9:45am Leftover piece of pork chop (2) and two mini Reese's cups (2)
1:45pm Skinny roast beef sandwich (7)
4:45pm Apple ZonePerfect bar (3)
7:00pm Cookies and Cream ZonePerfect bar (4)
7:45pm Chai (1)
10:45pm Ice cream (4)
TOTAL POINTS: 28
Current real estate goal: Organize garage.
Nope, though I haven't had a lot of bites on my house, either, which means the whole process is stalled anyway. It's time to lower the price.
Read a book in print for fifteen minutes every day.
Goal met. I like this goal. 
Business: Location. Start looking into real estate opportunities.
No activity.
Business: Music Instruction Books.
No activity. Well, I hand-wrote "The First Noel" in a student's music notebook, so he can learn it for recital. I did not save it on my computer, which means I'll have to do it again at some point. *shrug* |
November 22, 2009 at 3:37pm November 22, 2009 at 3:37pm
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Launch one new Potbelly song per week.
Goal met: "I Hope You Dance" by Leann Womack.
Post at WordPress at least once per month.
Pending.
Launch one new Praise Band song per month.
Goal met.
Write one new original song per month.
Goal met. I'm fairly satisfied with the most recent melody revision I made to "Invalid Item" .
Write new lyrics once per day through November.
Fail.
Earn at least $60 per pay period at Textbroker.
In progress.
Current Balance: $20.30, with $7.00 pending client acceptance, and two in-progress articles (up to $8.40 and $25.00.) Due date: 12/5/09.
Earn at least $25 per month at Helium.
Goal met!
Current Balance: $52.00. Due date: 11/24/09.
Resign from Abbott by 6/1/10.
In progress and on schedule.
Achieve a weight of 145.0 by Thanksgiving.
Trying-ish.
Weight: 154.0  Got those digits backwards, somehow. 
Meals:
SUNDAY
8:30am Coffee (1)
9:00am Two brownie bites (3)
10:45am Pumpkin bread (3)
2:30pm Raisin Bran (3), skim milk (1), nuts (1), two Fig Newtons (3)
5:00pm Cheese (2) tortilla (3)
7:00pm Pork chop (5?), butternut squash (1), green beans (1)
8:30pm Ice cream (5?) with hot fudge (2?)
TOTAL POINTS: 34
SATURDAY
8:30am Coffee (1), one piece bacon (1.5), English muffin (1) with butter (1)
12:30pm Party food (a LOT)
7:30pm Chips with guac and cheese dip, guac salad, two wings, margarita
TOTAL POINTS: A LOT
Current real estate goal: Organize garage.
No activity.
Read a book in print for fifteen minutes every day.
Goal met.
Business: Location. Start looking into real estate opportunities.
No activity.
Business: Music Instruction Books.
No activity. However, I have a new student, a 7-year-old whose mom enrolled him in voice lessons, but she really just wants him to learn any kind of music. The music program was cut in his school thanks to the same two-time failed levy that put my friend Emily and her husband both out of work. In the process of teaching my new student (Michael), I am formulating curriculum ideas in my head.
Writing them down would be smart. But I have two Textbroker articles to write and desperately need a nap, so, maybe later. |
November 20, 2009 at 8:06am November 20, 2009 at 8:06am
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Launch one new Potbelly song per week.
Pending. Today is my last day to try, because tomorrow I get pre-empted for the OSU/Michigan game... which gives my manager an extra day to get my damn microphone fixed.
Post at WordPress at least once per month.
Pending... and I need to start noticing the date.
Launch one new Praise Band song per month.
Goal met.
Write one new original song per month.
In progress.
Write new lyrics once per day through November.
Fail.
Earn at least $60 per pay period at Textbroker.
Goal met!
Current Balance: $31,64, with $28.70 pending client acceptance. Due date: 11/20/09.
I'm starting off my next pay period with a direct order.
Earn at least $25 per month at Helium.
Goal met!
Current Balance: $40.00. Due date: 11/24/09.
Resign from Abbott by 6/1/10.
In progress. The manager from BD's Mongolian Barbecue stopped into Potbelly for lunch yesterday. He really liked my playing, left me a tip, and asked for a business card. He's been wanting to set up a musician in his store for dinner. I didn't have any business cards - gotta get on that - but I gave him my contact information. Between Textbroker Direct Orders and potential music clients, I might end up with full-time employment without teaching lessons. I'm watching the frequency of client interactions increase exponentially, and I can just project out that by this time next year, I might be declining business.
Wow.
On the Abbott front, next week is a 2.5-day week in the form of Thanksgiving. The next three weeks are regular work weeks, and then a 3-day Christmas week, and then a 5-day vacation, and then it's January. If all goes according to plan, I'll be taking vacation days every week at that point until it's time to leave, which means these upcoming three full weeks are the last I'll ever spend at Abbott.
Wow.
Folks, if you want to escape the rat race, you actually can. You just need four things:
(1) something you enjoy doing that can earn you some money,
(2) the ability to live on said money if it's less than you're used to earning,
(3) a plan, and
(4) the drive to see your plan through to completion.
And maybe (5) a goal-tracking blog. 
Achieve a weight of 145.0 by Thanksgiving.
Trying-ish.
Weight: 153.0
Meals:
7:30am ZonePerfect Indulgence bar (3) and coffee (1)
9:30am Nuts (1) and coffee (1)
10:30am Coffee (1)
1:45pm Skinny roast beef sandwich (7)
3:00pm Chai (1)
5:15pm Apple ZonePerfect bar (3)
7:30pm Fiber PopTart (3)
9:45pm The other PopTart (3)
10:45pm Veggies (0) and nuts (5)
Current real estate goal: Organize garage.
No activity.
Read a book in print for fifteen minutes every day.
Fail.
Business: Location. Start looking into real estate opportunities.
No activity.
Business: Music Instruction Books.
No activity. |
November 19, 2009 at 10:57am November 19, 2009 at 10:57am
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Launch one new Potbelly song per week.
Pending. Who the hell cares? My microphone isn't working anyway.
Post at WordPress at least once per month.
Pending.
Launch one new Praise Band song per month.
Goal met, with another scheduled next week.
Write one new original song per month.
In progress, and getting better, thanks to the non-functioning microhone. Did I mention ?
Write new lyrics once per day through November.
Fail.
Earn at least $60 per pay period at Textbroker.
Goal met!
Current Balance: $31,64, with $28.70 pending client acceptance. Due date: 11/20/09.
Earn at least $25 per month at Helium.
In progress.
Current Balance: $19.00. Due date: 11/24/09.
Resign from Abbott by 6/1/10.
In progress.
Achieve a weight of 145.0 by Thanksgiving.
Trying-ish... with maybe some turnaround?
Weight: 151.8
Meals:
10:00am Fiber English muffin (1), butter (1), two strips bacon (3), fresh mushrooms (0)
10:15am Coffee (1)
1:45pm Skinny roast beef sandwich (7)
4:00pm Chai (1)
7:00pm Bob Evans cranberry pecan chicken salad (16), 1.5 slices pumpkin bread (6) with butter (2), and half a piece of apple dumpling pie a la mode (8)
TOTAL POINTS: 44
OMG, that salad has 45 grams of fat... in the "SAVOR" size.
Current real estate goal: Organize garage.
No activity.
Read a book in print for fifteen minutes every day.
Fail.
Business: Location. Start looking into real estate opportunities.
Fail.
Business: Music Instruction Books.
Fail. |
November 18, 2009 at 11:01am November 18, 2009 at 11:01am November 17, 2009 at 8:23am November 17, 2009 at 8:23am
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Launch one new Potbelly song per week.
Pending.
Post at WordPress at least once per month.
Pending.
Launch one new Praise Band song per month.
Goal met, and I've made plans for several launches in December. Advent/Christmas, you know.
Write one new original song per month.
In progress, working on "Invalid Item" . It's hard to do at my Monday/Tuesday store, because the crowd is light, and I'm highly amplified. In contrast, my Thursday-Saturday store is typically crowded, and the manager always turns my volume way down, so I can get away with muttering, humming, and otherwise trying things out! I'm working there tomorrow this week (because I'm pre-empted Saturday for the OSU/Michigan game), so I may get the chance to work on it.
Write new lyrics once per day through November.
Fail.
Earn at least $60 per pay period at Textbroker.
In progress. I completed an article this morning worth $7.99. I think it was four minutes late, and I'm not even sure how I managed that, because I thought the article would automatically get snagged out of my queue at the deadline. The article I signed up for this morning has a five-day deadline, which is much better than those stupid 24-hour varieties.
Current Balance: $17.70, with $7.99 pending client acceptance. Due date: 11/20/09. I think I need to work faster. 
Earn at least $25 per month at Helium.
In progress.
Current Balance: $7.50. Due date: 11/24/09.
Resign from Abbott by 6/1/10.
In progress.
Achieve a weight of 145.0 by Thanksgiving.
Trying-ish.
Weight: 153.6
Meals:
7:00am Fiber English muffin (1) with butter (1), small piece bacon (1), 1/4 cup eggnog (2), and coffee (1)
9:30am Nuts (1.5) and coffee (1)
1:45pm Skinny roast beef sandwich (7)
7:00pm Champps: Tomato soup (3?), half turkey club sandwich w/o mayo (8?), and a big ass stupid pile of chips that I should have told them to hold off my plate (6?).
7:30pm Tall, nonfat, peppermint white mocha (6)
TOTAL POINTS: 38.5
Current real estate goal: Organize garage.
No activity.
Read a book in print for fifteen minutes every day.
No activity.
Business: Location. Start looking into real estate opportunities.
I sent an email to some friends in the arts, and one wrote back with some really good suggestions. Technically, that's not something *I* did, but, hey: I made the bed, and now I'm sleeping in it. (You know how I love those cliches!)
Business: Music Instruction Books.
No activity. |
November 16, 2009 at 7:55am November 16, 2009 at 7:55am
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I dropped my phone in a margarita.  I find myself suddenly phoneless.
Launch one new Potbelly song per week.
Pending.
Post at WordPress at least once per month.
Pending.
Launch one new Praise Band song per month.
Goal met.
Write one new original song per month.
In progress, working on "Invalid Item" . I marked this complete yesterday, but honestly, while I have the entire chord progression down, I'm still working out the melody. If I get it launch-ready by the end of the week, I can kill two birds with one stone!
Write new lyrics once per day through November.
Fail.
Earn at least $60 per pay period at Textbroker.
In progress. My $7.70 article was accepted, and I signed up for an $8.40 article (in progress.)
Current Balance: $17.70, due date: 11/20/09. Gah. I have some catching up to do.
Earn at least $25 per month at Helium.
In progress.
Current Balance: $7.50, due date: 11/24/09.
Resign from Abbott by 6/1/10.
In progress.
Achieve a weight of 145.0 by Thanksgiving.
Trying-ish, but bordering on utter failure.
Weight: 153.4 
Meals:
7:00am ZonePerfect Indulgence bar (3) YUMMEH!
7:30am Coffee (1)
8:30am Almonds (1) and coffee (1)
10:30am Mini Snickers bar (0.5)
1:45pm Skinny roast beef sandwich (7)
6:30pm Chai (1)
7:30pm Six or seven pieces Donatos pizza (14) and three pieces garlic bread (6)
Yep. I'm a {e:pig}.
11:30pm Three wings (3)
TOTAL POINTS: 37.5
Current real estate goal: Organize garage.
No activity.
Read a book in print for fifteen minutes every day.
Goal met, and I finally finished Silhouette in Scarlet. On to Trojan Gold, the next Vicky Bliss mystery by Elizabeth Peters.
Business: Location. Start looking into real estate opportunities.
No activity.
Business: Music Instruction Books.
In progress. I've been working on some Christmas songs for my kids, for which I will own the copyright and eventually publish for my music students.
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November 15, 2009 at 8:32am November 15, 2009 at 8:32am November 14, 2009 at 9:02am November 14, 2009 at 9:02am
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I am going to be SO BUSY this weekend.
Launch one new Potbelly song per week.
Goal met.
Post at WordPress at least once per month.
Pending.
Launch one new Praise Band song per month.
Goal met.
Write one new original song per month.
Goal met. I set "Invalid Item" to music during a busy lunch rush at Potbelly yesterday, because my $*#(@+ manager had my volume way down again. I figured, what the hell? Why not write a song. So I did. I planned ahead by having recent lyrics typed up and printed, for just such an emergency.
Write new lyrics once per day through November.
Fail.
Earn at least $60 per pay period at Textbroker.
In progress.
Current Balance: $10, with $7.70 pending.
Earn at least $25 per month at Helium.
In progress.
Current Balance: $7.50
Resign from Abbott by 6/1/10.
In progress.
Achieve a weight of 145.0 by Thanksgiving.
Trying-ish.
Weight: I may add this later, if I weigh.
Meals:
8:30am Fiber frosted miniwheats (3) with milk (1)
9:00am Coffee (1)
Current real estate goal: Organize garage.
In progress. I got rid of the old hamster cage, dug through the Christmas stuff for initial inventory, and swept the leaves out of the garage.
Read a book in print for fifteen minutes every day.
Goal met. Good book.
Business Brainstorm.
Goal met. Okay, that's not an actual goal! I just had one, and it targets next summer. I have a list of related intermediate goals, and I may post them one by one just to keep them in front of me. |
November 13, 2009 at 8:32am November 13, 2009 at 8:32am
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Launch one new Potbelly song per week.
Goal met.
Post at WordPress at least once per month.
Pending.
Launch one new Praise Band song per month.
Goal met.
Write one new original song per month.
Pending.
Write new lyrics once per day through November.
Fail.
Earn at least $60 per pay period at Textbroker.
In progress.
Current Balance: $10.
Earn at least $25 per month at Helium.
Pending.
Current Balance: $0
Resign from Abbott by 6/1/10.
In progress.
Achieve a weight of 145.0 by Thanksgiving.
Trying-ish.
Weight: 152.8
Meals:
7:00am Ice cream cake (4-ish) and just under a half cup of egg nog (4! Holy shit.)
10:00am Coffee (1) and nibbled leftovers from the Japanese Steakhouse (3-ish)
1:45pm Skinny roast beef sandwich (7)
7:00pm Apple ZonePerfect bar (3)
10:00pm Almonds (2)
10:45pm Ice cream cake (6-ish)
11:30pm Almonds (1)
TOTAL POINTS: 31
On top of Cracker Barrel and Iron Chef Japanese Steakhouse yesterday, I ate about a half a can of wasabi soy almonds (OMG, those things rock) and of course the double-chocolate ice cream cake from Coldstone, which we got for Keith's birthday
Current real estate goal: Organize garage.
Fail.
Read a book in print for fifteen minutes every day.
Goal met. One of these days I'll actually finish "Silhouette in Scarlet" by Elizabeth Peters.
Also on the entertainment front, Keith and I went to the movies, and the dude at the counter highly recommended "Zombieland" as an A+ comedy. At the opening scene, with melodramatic sprays of blood and stringy intestinal organs flying everywhere, we worried that it would be as stupid as "Tropic Thunder," the movie we watched about a week ago on DVD. Understand that we rarely watch movies together; our entertainment consists mostly of football, with the occasional "So You Think You Can Dance" (which Abby loves), and Sponge Bob episodes with Blaine in the morning. So to watch two dud movies in a row, especially on Keith's birthday, would have been an utter disappointment. During the opening credits, I gave it ten minutes before I planned to march back out and demand tickets to a different show. Fortunately, "Zombieland" started to get funny, ramping up with the appearance of Woody Harrelson. The twist when the sisters arrived on the scene surprised me (although, I haven't seen the trailer to know whether it hinted at the twist.) It wasn't the best movie I've ever seen, but I definitely enjoyed it. |
November 12, 2009 at 7:59am November 12, 2009 at 7:59am November 11, 2009 at 8:10am November 11, 2009 at 8:10am November 10, 2009 at 7:53am November 10, 2009 at 7:53am
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Launch one new Potbelly song per week.
Goal met: "Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word"
I was in a mellow mood yesterday. The crowd was light, and I have an amplifier in my Gahanna Potbelly, so I can quiet songs and be heard, which is when my vocals really shine. I had lots of good attention yesterday. One woman did that double-take while standing in line, the one that says: "Oh! A live singer! How did I miss that when I walked in the door?" Then I heard her ask the sandwich guy about me, because he answered, "Mondays and Tuesdays," which is when I play at Gahanna. She listened to me while she ate and applauded after every song. And earlier in the set, two girls left a napkin on their table:
"Dear Musical Artist - We really enjoyed the afternoon delight. I was going to request "Smelly Cat" but you are way too talented - and we didn't want to offend you. Have a wonderful day - and thank you! -two blond girls."
Smelly Cat I need to add this to my repertoire!
Post at WordPress at least once per month.
Pending.
Launch one new Praise Band song per month.
Goal met.
Write one new original song per month.
Pending.
Write new lyrics once per day through November.
Fail, Fail, Fail. I bow to NaNo'ers who are writing 1,700 words per day. I can't even write twenty or so lines of verse.
Earn at least $60 per pay period at Textbroker.
In Progress! I wrote my Direct Order, but the client still needs to accept it.
Current Balance: $0
Earn at least $25 per month at Helium.
Pending.
Current Balance: $0
Complete one Prep challenge per day until complete.
Fail.
Resign from Abbott by 6/1/10.
In progress.
Achieve a weight of 145.0 by Thanksgiving.
Trying-ish.
Weight: 151.6 Hope?
Meals:
7:00am English muffin (1) with butter (1)
7:30am Coffee (1)
8:30am Coffee (1)
10:00am Half bagel (3) w/2oz cream cheese (2) Training class at work.
11:00am Hershey's mini (0.5) Class
12:00pm Kale/butterbeans/sundried tomatoes (2), strawberries (1), one whole pita (3?), half cup hummus (4?)
12:30pm Fun-size Butterfinger (1) Class
1:00pm Candy (2) DITTO
3:00pm Popcorn (1) and cookie (3) DITTO
7:00pm Tuna Helper (2)
8:00pm Junior scoop peach sorbet at Graeter's (3?)
TOTAL POINTS: 28.5 Better than I thought.
Current real estate goal: Organize garage.
Fail.
Read a book in print for fifteen minutes every day.
Fail.
On the plus side, I made it to all my jobs yesterday. Mondays and Saturdays are my busiest days, because I work three out of four jobs on those days, not counting freelance writing. Other days are light because I only work two of my jobs.
I know how that sounds, believe me. Many people have no job at all, and I have five? It's true, and I can't complain about my bank account. However, four of the jobs are part-time, and even combined, they only total about 20-25 hours. So, really, when you think about it, I'm doing the only charitable thing I could conceivably do: Give up the job that will earn somebody a full-time salary. Go me. That's just the kind of giving person I am.
I can think of some other WDC-ers struggling with career decisions who need to consider the charitable aspect of voluntary non-employment, too. |
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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)
