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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.
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Twenty years ago, I read a lot of fiction. I borrowed so many books from the library each week that they gave me a tote bag.
We had no Internet, texting, or even cell phones.
Today, I read blogs and the news, and it's often shocking and engaging enough to keep me enthralled for hours... much like some of the better works of fiction from my teenage years. I try to read fiction, but I have so little time. And I have to wonder how the book industry is doing. A girl who used to read 10-20 books per week now reads 2-3 books per year. Today's teenagers are too busy on Facebook and their gaming systems to read. Libraries are threatening to downsize or close in the face of failing levies. And, to make matters worse, the printed publication industry is diluted by ease of author submission, distribution (Amazon, anyone?), and access to editor names and addresses, which used to be only available via limited published lists and literary agents.
With no disrespect intended to any of the published authors at WDC, a lot of junk has been published. It's too easy to get published these days. And, as many published authors know, it's too hard to market your works. How many of our published authors actually earn a living off of their printed publications?
Printed publication has lost some of its meaning. The e-reader was surprisingly long in coming, but I believe that's because the hardcore readers among our population resisted. The printed word was such a miraculous human advance. How can we belittle that by replacing it with 1's and 0's that appear, fleetingly to the human eye, as print? The words on my Kindle vanish after maybe ten minutes of inactivity. How will the archeologists who dig up my remains - or, in a more likely scenario, the remains of those who, up until two weeks ago, lived in the northeastern villages of Japan - know what we were reading?
I guess I wonder why people even bother to be authors anymore. We are all hanging on to some ideal of what a successful author should be - published by one of the big houses, on the NYT Bestseller list - but I wonder how much that even means anymore. I haven't done the research. Have any of you? How is the industry doing? Are the big houses hurting? Are we still marketing and selling the printed word like we used to? Or has the market share been snagged up by Facebook, Yahoo, the TV networks, and all of the other forms of human communication that dilute the industry? |
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I am having a meltdown. The second in two days. Yesterday's meltdown was over Thursday's donut debacle, which consisted of my lack of self-control and Chris's excessive generosity (which resulted in her bringing me three donuts when I only asked for one... and me, naturally, eating all three of them.) Today, it's about Chris and Keith blowing off their lessons that they get for free. Then when I told the computer lab attendant, who happens to be the Chris's daughter, to reboot all the computers, Chris came along behind me and yelled at her not to reboot all of them unless she checks them first to see if they're working.
It's stupid little things. I am so  over these things. I blew up at Chris just a minute ago. Of course, I apologized, but I still feel like an ass who can't control her emotions.
I must seriously need a vacation. |
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Thank you to all my WDC friends who commented on my FB post. 
Y'all need to stop reading my blog. Because if you keep up with my progress, you won't have any incentive to spend $29.99 on my memoir/self-help book, "How I Started an Empire and How You Can, Too," slated for release in June 2021. (Yes, I plan to be here beyond December 2012. I have a plan, of course. And six contingency plans. All of which you can read about in my NYT Bestseller, "How to Survive the 2012 Mayan Apocolypse," slated for release in November 2012.)
Reach 300 students at MTMS by 12/31/11:
 It's actually 155. We're still hovering. We had a lot of withdrawals in February, mostly for sports conflicts or because "we're just too busy right now." It's sad, because they all plan to come back in two months, but they won't. And they'll lose all of the progress they've made.  Meanwhile, we keep enrolling new students.
Intermediate business goals:
* Mileage and receipts: DONE except for charitable mileage and some donations.
* Inventory system: Not even started. This may have to wait until after vacation.
* Summer camp fliers published by Friday: Not gonna happen, but I made a lot of progress on planning the camps.
* Budget out renovation: DONE
Develop and market summer programs by 3/31/2011:
In progress and actually coming along nicely. I may miss this deadline by a week... or maybe not... it will be close.
Pick scheduling database by 7/31/11:
Eh. We're hobbling along. We make occasional scheduling blunders due to the limitations of our system, and we usually correct the blunders by tossing Michelle in a lesson room to cover for the teacher we double-booked. Which is better than what one of my competitors (and my former boss) did earlier this week: threw a 15-year-old student in to cover for an absent degreed teacher for whom parents pay extra.
Potbelly: add one repertoire song per week
 I'm good here, especially since I'm down to two days per week. I'll start by cleaning up my repertoire (a WIP with much scope-creep), and then I'll start working on original songs again. I've had the itch to write!!! 
Reading: One book per week.
 Next week! Yay!
Writing:
(1) Blog at WDC daily: Making a valiant effort.
(2) Blog at MT.com weekly. Yes, the closing of my Gahanna Potbelly store gave me an easy topic.
Count points: TOTAL POINTS YESTERDAY:
WTF? Like I can lose 20 pounds by Sunday. *scarfs up several donuts from the Dunkin Donuts across the parking lot* |
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Headed to the doc for what I believe is a sinus infection.
Meanwhile, in performance news, Potbelly Gahanna is closing its doors this Sunday. May I ask WDC friends to find my FB post announcing the news and comment on it? Many thanks. It would make a good blog topic. It also makes my weekly repertoire expansion a bit less urgent.
I have to set my long-term goals aside for the week and focus on these shorter-term goals:
* Compile mileage and receipts by Wednesday
* Implement and clean up book inventory by Wednesday
* Publish summer camp literature by Friday
* Budget renovation - I may do this next week
Peace out. See you on the other side of some strong medication (I hope.) |
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Today is the St. Patrick's Day Party and Irish Festival, planned by our volunteer teenage event coordinator, Ashley. She has great ideas! I'm not entirely sure what to expect as far as how many people will show up and how much help we'll need, so I'm hoping it all works out. I'm usually better prepared than this, but I've been sick all week.
Reach 300 students at MTMS by 12/31/11:
156 or so. I had a family drama on Friday night that resulted in a severe lack of sleep, so my day consisted of teaching in a fog, taking a nap, participating in the 13-year-old's birthday party (opening presents and eating cake), avoiding the soon-to-be-10-year-old-and-cause-of-the-drama, and leading praise band. It was kind of a blur. Therefore, I didn't have the time or inclination to check our exact enrollment at any point yesterday. We may have signed someone up in the morning, but I was teaching lessons. In a fog. So who knows.
Develop and market summer programs by 3/31/2011:
Stalled-ish... and now an immediate priority, because after we take down Irish Carnival signage, Summer Camps is our next campaign. It's just time to put them on the schedule and start enrolling.
Pick scheduling database by 7/31/11:
Stalled.
Potbelly: add one repertoire song per week
Yep, but I have lost mah voice thanks to a virus.. I may not sing tomorrow.
Reading: One book per week.
Pending.
Writing:
(1) Blog at WDC daily. Yes, although I cheated yesterday.
(2) Blog at MT.com weekly. Nope. I had some genius ideas in the car, too. Of course I've lost them since then.
Count points: TOTAL POINTS YESTERDAY:
Bleh. Um... granola bar, coffee, chips, tortilla, birthday cake, turkey nuggets, and two slices of pizza. |
March 18, 2011 at 10:46am March 18, 2011 at 10:46am March 17, 2011 at 12:21pm March 17, 2011 at 12:21pm
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Home. Sick. I'm so blessed to have such a competent staff that I can stay home without worry. Meanwhile, I'm drugged up on Sudafed and Nyquil and wasting the day away browsing the Internet for computer lab applications. And working on my long-range business plan. And planning summer camps. And blogging.
Want to start your own business? Make sure you consider "leisure" activities to be what most other people consider "work."
Reach 300 students at MTMS by 12/31/11:
155. Just 20 more, and we get to hire a receptionist! Oh, hallelujah. That leaves me and Chris with more time to work on long-range planning, cleaning up our processes, and hiring more people. It seems like we're interviewing and hiring every flipping month. We're up to 15 employees now.
Develop and market summer programs by 3/31/2011:
In progress.
Pick scheduling database by 7/31/11:
Stalled, because we don't have a lot of time for stuff like this. Our spreadsheet system isn't perfect, but it's working, and we're too busy enrolling new students, training our computer lab attendants, and getting quotes for a renovation. Oh, yeah. Did I mention we're renovating?
Potbelly: : Add one repertoire song per week
Actually, I launched "I Cross My Heart" by George Strait, since I happened to have the music in my folder, thanks to the wedding I sang at on Saturday. It's not a half-bad song, once you take the country twang out of it. I also have "Rosemary" almost ready. I played through it yesterday at PB and realized I have one or two trouble spots to iron out. That will probably be next week's new song. 
Reading: One book per week.
 What's a book? Is that something used by people with free time?
Writing:
(1) Blog at WDC daily: Hangin' in there.
(2) Blog at MT.com weekly: Pending.
Count points: TOTAL POINTS YESTERDAY:
I have no freaking idea. I can tell you that I could barely finish my Mexican meal last night, thanks to quickly developing sinus flu symptoms. It's okay, though, because I'm sure I made up the calories in Girl Scout cookies earlier in the day. I may have to wear shorts and tank tops on the boat instead of a bikini.  |
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Yesterday was actually Saturday. March 12th.
Reach 300 students at MTMS by 12/31/11:
Honestly, I have no idea where we are. Chris stayed late yesterday and caught up some paperwork and scheduling, so the numbers are probably available. *shrug* I'll check it out tomorrow. Poor dear was depressed the latter part of the week.
Develop and market summer programs by 3/31/2011 3/21/2011:
I still haven't ironed out summer camps. I feel like we're almost there, because I have tentative pricing, scheduling, and curricula worked out, so theoretically, I could just put the damn things on the schedule and start advertising them. We have a St. Patty's Day Party and Irish Carnival a week from today, so when I'm done advertising that, we'll roll out summer camps.
I have one week. {e:sternlook}
Pick scheduling database by 7/31/11:
Potbelly: : Add one repertoire song per week
 "From This Moment On" by Shania Twain, and I decided that "Cross My Heart" by George Strait isn't horrible... but now, I must learn "Rosemary" by Lennie Kravitz. A Potbelly regular has asked me twice now. How embarrassing that he had to remind me.
In related news, I have a stalker. Okay, that was actually a joke, because when she introduced herself and told me, "I've been following you," she went on to explain, "but not in a stalker way."  She asked if we could collaborate sometime. I had a similar conversation a year ago with Potbelly patron Luis, with whom I jammed once or twice until his existing band mate flaked out. Basically, Luis wanted the three of us to become a band. But after Band Member #3 (whose name escapes me since I never actually met him) missed two out of two attempted jam sessions, we discovered that he got in trouble when his wife found out the new band member was a girl. Se la vie, but I thought of Luis again recently, because after two months or so of Cody (MTMS teacher) complaining that he couldn't find a decent drummer for his band, I suddenly remembered that I knew a drummer (Luis) who was looking for a band a year or two ago.
Meanwhile, here's another musician who wants to collaborate, and she said she doesn't want to earn money, just have fun playing music. It might be really fun, but I just don't have time. I almost wish I could just give her a job or something, but we just hired four computer lab attendants, so right now I don't have a job to offer her. She does not (yet) have a degree in music.
Reading: One book per week.
No progress. I am stalled. I took a nap this afternoon, which is becoming something of a Sunday tradition.
Writing: Goals TBD:
(1) Blog at WDC daily.
(2) Blog at MT.com weekly. This is my last "check" before I have to actually write another post.
Count points: TOTAL POINTS YESTERDAY:
At Robert Waltz  's suggestion, I've laid off the consumption of students (at least in the purely nutritional sense), but Sundays = church = candy and baked goods. I almost managed to sneak out the door with nothing but a little brownie bite, until another freaking Girl Scout handed me two more boxes of cookies I forgot I ordered. |
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Reach 300 students at MTMS by 12/31/11:
We had a couple more end-of-month withdrawals that we should have seen coming, because they had not yet paid for the month. We dropped back down below 150 to like 148-ish. We have some work to do!
In related news, I sent a resignation to Abbott this morning. Technically, I was still on a 12-month personal leave of absence, which is up at the end of the month.
Develop and market summer programs by 3/31/2011:
In progress. I sent a proposed schedule to two teachers involved in the summer camps. I also need a marketing strategy to boost summer enrollments. According to Chris, who has been in this business for years, February is something of a peak, and enrollments start to drop off.
Pick scheduling database by 7/31/11:
In progress. Chris did look at a database with a customer yesterday, but she pretty much nixed it for the inability to manage scheduling adequately.
Potbelly: : Add one repertoire song per week
Yes, by accident. Keith's niece asked me to sing at her wedding. Wednesday, I was given the title "From This Moment On" by Shania Twain, so I printed it and launched it at Potbelly yesterday. Now the bride wants to use a CD for that song and gave me a list of three other songs to choose from, none of which I've ever heard of. Nothing like the last minute! So I may have a song to launch next week, too, if I can find one I like and make it my own. They're all cheesy country songs about cliche true love, so I'm not sure they have much potential for my repertoire. I can handle the Shania song.
Reading: One book per week.
I did read like a page, before I passed out from yesterday's margarita.
Writing: Goals TBD:
(1) Blog at WDC daily.
(2) Blog at MT.com weekly.
Count points: TOTAL POINTS YESTERDAY:
Another margarita last night and no exercise this morning because of the snow. And probably because of the margarita, too. Cruise! Cruise! Cruise! Sheesh. |
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Reach 300 students at MTMS by 12/31/11:
152
Develop and market summer programs by 3/31/2011:
In progress. I think we're close, so I should just go ahead and get these on the calendar.
Pick scheduling database by 7/31/11:
In progress. Sort of.
Potbelly: : Add one repertoire song per week
Nope, although I've been listening to the 9-year-old's Taylor Swift album, and I subbed for one of the songwriting classes this week, so I'm back in a I-wish-I-had-time-to-write funk.
Reading: One book per week.
Nope.
Writing: Goals TBD:
(1) Blog at WDC daily. Still better...
(2) Blog at MT.com weekly: After three months, that would be a big, fat YES.    Well, except for the "weekly" part.
Count points: TOTAL POINTS YESTERDAY:
Yeah, I blew yesterday's plan. First, I had a margarita. Then I had like 6 points' worth of ice cream instead of 3. Plus I'm pretty sure I nibbled on more snacks than I'd budgeted. And today, I didn't jog because Keith and I carpooled last night (yay for saving gas dollars) but then I had to leave early to catch a ride with him. So no exercise today, either.
I suck at this game.
Today's Meal Plan: 30 points
7:00 Fiber granola bar (1) and coffee (1)
8:30 Girl Scout cookies (3)
10:00 Snack (3)
2:00 Snack (4)
4:00 Snack (3)
5:30 Snack (3)
7:00 Soup (6) and one breadstick (3) at Olive Garden NO SALAD!!!
8:30 Ice cream (3) |
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My premium membership is up on April 15th, and I have decided not to renew. I went through this last October, and although I need a webpage for tracking "October Novel Prep Challenge" [13+] progress, I had decided to host the page offsite. Then I realized that I can't use the {suser:tuozzo} tag on an offsite page, so in the end, I went ahead with a six-month upgrade and hosted the progress page at WDC.
This year, I have decided that if you don't know your username, you aren't smart enough to play the game.
So on April 15th, I downgrade to upgraded (heh... that was fun), which means portfolio spring cleaning is in my future.
Reach 300 students at MTMS by 12/31/11:
We cleared 150, which means Chris earned her raise to full-time status.  Next stop, 175 and a part-time receptionist.
Develop and market summer programs by 3/31/2011:
No activity.
Pick scheduling database by 7/31/11:
No activity.
Potbelly: : Add one repertoire song per week
Not lately.
Reading: One book per week.
No activity.
Writing: Goals TBD:
(1) Blog at WDC daily. Not consistently
(2) Blog at MT.com weekly. Not in months.
I guess I'm not sure what I've been doing the last four days. I suppose when you consider we dropped to 136 by the end of the month, then made it back up to 150 by yesterday, it justifies all the phone calls, emails, payments, enrollments, withdrawals, and related paperwork. We are also integrating four new employees.
On the weight loss front, I am up to 165 pounds, which is 20 up from my rock-bottom weight of 145...which was two summers ago. I plan to start walking in the mornings, and the 9-year-old has agreed to join me. There's nothing like a 9-year-old to hold you accountable, believe me. And here's my food plan for the day:
7:00 Fiber granola bar (1)
8:00 Coffee (1)
9:00 Banana (2) and coffee (1)
11:00 Snack (3)
1:30 Lasagna (5) and Girl Scout cookies (3)
3:30 Rolls with butter (8?)
5:00 Apple (2) and piece of cheese (1)
6:00 Crackers (4)
9:00 Girl Scout Cookies (3)
That's 3034 points. Tomorrow, I will eat 28. Now, 'scuse me while I dress out for the cruise around the 'hood.
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Reach 300 students at MTMS by 12/31/11:
We dropped to 138 after withdrawals, then made it back up to 147.
Develop and market summer programs by 3/31/2011:
We've done some research, planned our days, coordinated our rooms, set tentative pricing, and brainstormed a little about curricula, staffing, and marketing. But I still feel a long way from ready. We need to be marketing now and enrolling next month so we know which to move forward with and which to cancel.
Pick scheduling database by 7/31/11:
This seems like a good deadline. Summer camps will be well underway, we won't be ramping up for fall yet, and we'll have time to get it ready.
Potbelly: : Add one repertoire song per week
*thumbdown* Nope.
Reading: One book per week.
Oh, yes. I forgot I was reading a book.
Writing: Goals TBD:
(1) Blog at WDC daily.
(2) Blog at MT.com weekly.
I can't even keep up with summer programs, expansion projects, and other long-term planning due to day-to-day administrative tasks. Blogging is wayyyy down on the list right now.
Count points: TOTAL POINTS YESTERDAY:
I AM GOING ON A CRUISE FOR SPRING BREAK. And I'm sailing from Miami. Miami, Florida. During Spring Break.
Crash diet. |
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Comment 
, 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)
