|
About This Author
|
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.
| |
Launch one new Potbelly song per week.
 Goal met, and I have it on good authority that "If It Makes You Happy" rocked. 
Write one new original song per month.
Goal met.
Post at WordPress at least once per week.
Goal met.
Write three Helium article by 6/24/09.
Fail. I needed to achieve this in order to get paid this month; you have to have a balance of $25 in your Helium account to request payment, and I only have about $23. One more article would have boosted me into payout range. Since I missed the deadline, I'll just have to wait until next month to get paid, and it won't take another article to do it. My Internet traffic payments on existing articles will easily boost me over the $25 mark. Therefore, I could cancel this goal.
I'm on the fence over this goal, though. I am back on 2nd shift, and with Keith and I working different hours, I have time to work on writing and music goals in the morning. I'd rather spend the time with him  but since it's not an option, I might as well make productive use of my time.
Submit one short story/article per month.
Pending... and I have today and tomorrow to do this. I had two rejections this month, so I have the opportunity to resubmit both my short story and my article. I just need to find the next market.
Work for fifteen minutes on "Poor Witch" [E] every day.
Fail.
Complete and edit "Poor Witch" [E] by 6/30/09.
In progress.
Read a book in print for fifteen minutes every day.
Goal met! I am reading Street of the Five Moons by Elizabeth Peters. I love this author. MaryLou  sent me a box of books just because she's so darned awesome, and it included a slew of books by Peters. She's so flippin' intellectual, and yet still entertaining. 
Resign from Abbott by 12/1/09.
In progress. It will be interesting to see how this ends up unfolding. My budget plan includes +/- three month flexibility, depending on (1) how much my job sucks starting as early as September, and (2) how much money I want to throw in a savings account before I leave. I'm getting so close!
Maintain a maximum weight of 150.0.
Goal met.
Weight: 146.2
Meals:
7:00am Banana muffin (5?) and coffee (1)
10:00am Banana muffin (5?)
11:30am Banana muffin (5?)
1:00pm Grilled veggies (1) and an English muffin (2) with butter (2)
1:15pm Brownie (2)
5:00pm Granola bar (2.5)
6:30pm Two caramel creams (1)
7:00pm Tea with creamer (2) |
| |
Launch one new Potbelly song per week.
Goal met. I printed lyrics and chords to a slew of new songs; then Keith showed up with his daughter to hear me sing, so I had to give one of his suggestions a go: "If It Makes You Happy" by Sheryl Crow. I've been blowing this goal out of the water, which is good, because I'm blowing the rest of them off completely.
Write one new original song per month.
Goal met, to be highlighted at WordPress tomorrow... yikes. That means I need to find time to record it!
Post at WordPress at least once per week.
Goal met.
Write three Helium article by 6/24/09.
Fail, and I'm having a hard time caring about the $2.50 that I'm losing out on as a result.
Submit one short story/article per month.
Pending.
Work for fifteen minutes on "Poor Witch" [E] every day.
Fail.
Complete and edit "Poor Witch" [E] by 6/30/09.
In progress.
Read a book in print for fifteen minutes every day.
Fail, although I did chat with my mother for a bit about the story and more of her comments.
Resign from Abbott by 12/1/09.
In progress.
Maintain a maximum weight of 150.0.
Goal met.
Weight: ?
Meals:
7:30am Two eggs (4) with ham (1) and cheese (2), English muffin (2) with butter (2), coffee (1), and hash browns (2?)
Wow, that was a huge breakfast. Next time, I'll stick with a single-egg omelette and half an English muffin. 
2:15pm Skinny roast beef sandwich (7) |
| |
Launch one new Potbelly song per week.
Goal met. Meanwhile, my new man (Keith, meow) keeps making song suggestions for me!  I have a list started that includes LeAnn Rimes, Sheryl Crow, and... Poison. (?) LOL.
Write one new original song per month.
Goal met. This one probably won't be a Potbelly song, because it's written for piano.
Post at WordPress at least once per week.
Goal met.
Write three Helium article by 6/24/09.
Fail... but, actually, I wrote one of them. It was really just a matter of editing and uploading, so I forgot.
Submit one short story/article per month.
Pending.
Work for fifteen minutes on "Poor Witch" [E] every day.
FAIL.
Complete and edit "Poor Witch" [E] by 6/30/09.
In progress.
Read a book in print for fifteen minutes every day.
FAIL.
Resign from Abbott by 12/1/09.
In progress.
Maintain a maximum weight of 150.0.
Goal met.
Weight: 147.0
Meals:
7:30am Whole wheat English muffin (2) with swiss cheese (2) and coffee (2)
8:30am Coffee (2)
10:30am Two eggs (4), whole wheat English muffin (2) with butter (2), two strips bacon (3)
1:45pm Skinny roast beef sandwich (7)
4:30pm Fiber Pop Tart (3)
5:30pm Fiber Pop Tart (3)
8:30pm Dried apple rings (1)
Have I mentioned that I my "Prodigy: Youth Writers' Competition" [ASR] judges? |
| |
Launch one new Potbelly song per week.
Goal met. I went ahead and launched one anyway, "Say a Little Prayer" by Aretha Franklin.
Write one new original song per month.
Goal met! Watch for "The Tower of Wardenclyffe" with lyrics by Robert Waltz  . The video will be uploaded for my WordPress post this Sunday.
Post at WordPress at least once per week.
Goal met! http://michelletuesday.wordpress.com
Write three Helium article by 6/24/09.
Wait, what? ...fail.
Submit one short story/article per month.
Pending.
Work for fifteen minutes on "Poor Witch" [E] every day.
Another fail. *shrug* At least I have two copies out for review, one in the hands of my mother, and one being read by H.C.Paye - All I Need per my Season Tickets winnings.
Complete and edit "Poor Witch" [E] by 6/30/09.
In progress.
Read a book in print for fifteen minutes every day.
Fail. Look, people, it's all about the boy. I'm still making it to all my paid gigs, but the unpaid, long-term goals are just not as important at the moment.
Resign from Abbott by 12/1/09.
In progress.
Maintain a maximum weight of 150.0.
Yep. Last I checked, I was 150.0 in the evening, after eating all day. I've also been going for walks after dinner. I do need to start keeping track of my food again, because I'm going insane with the overeating. |
| |
Launch one new Potbelly song per week.
Goal met/on hold.
Write one new original song per month.
In progress.
Post at WordPress at least once per week.
Goal met! http://michelletuesday.wordpress.com
Write three Helium article by 6/24/09.
Pending...
Submit one short story/article per month.
Pending. Also, I received a (snail mail!) rejection yesterday on a children's article. And I missed a deadline for a church newsletter article I had planned to submit by 6/15.
I have new priorities.
Work for fifteen minutes on "Poor Witch" [E] every day.
Fail.
Complete and edit "Poor Witch" [E] by 6/30/09.
In progress.
Read a book in print for fifteen minutes every day.
Fail! Although I started a new book, I got distracted and never got past the first page.
Resign from Abbott by 12/1/09.
In progress.
Maintain a maximum weight of 150.0.
Weight: ?
Meals:
7:00am Granola bar (2.5) |
| |
Launch one new Potbelly song per week.
Goal met/on hold.
Write one new original song per month.
In progress. I recorded my newest instrumental piano piece, but I still need to find the lyrics that match. I'm not stressing over it, because I have plans to work with Robert Waltz later this week and finish our Tesla collaboration. Therefore, my newest song, which still needs lyrics, may become July's goal.
Post at WordPress at least once per week.
Goal met! Yippee, I met one of my goals! Check it out: http://michelletuesday.wordpress.com
Write two Helium article by 6/24/09.
Pending, and this deadline is approaching... yikes. And it's actually three articles that I need, so I'll change that for tomorrow.
Submit one short story/article per month.
Pending. I just need to find another potential market for "The Butterfly Stone".
Work for fifteen minutes on "Poor Witch" [E] every day.
Fail. I haven't touched it in about two weeks. I don't know if I'll find the fifteen minutes today, but I might try an experiment. I'll be hanging out with a seven-year-old who loves to read tonight, so I may read through some of it with her and see if she likes it. I dunno, though, because I'm working on Mildred's character, and I need to give her a tad more maturity in the beginning of the story.
Complete and edit "Poor Witch" [E] by 6/30/09.
In progress.
Read a book in print for fifteen minutes every day.
Fail. I just need to decide what I'm reading next; I'm thinking another one of the books MaryLou sent me.
Resign from Abbott by 12/1/09.
In progress.
Maintain a maximum weight of 150.0.
Weight: I hit my goal, and then haven't weighed myself in a week! I may or may not weigh myself this week either, but by next week, I'll start back up again to make sure I'm maintaining. The previous weeks' worth of entries  do not include complete lists of my food intake. I've had grilled filet mignon, brats, chips, potato salad, Steak 'n Shake... a lot of fatty and high calorie foods. This week, I'm back on track.
Meals:
6:30am Granola bar (2.5) and coffee (1)
9:00am NutriGrain bar (2.5)
1:45pm Skinny roast beef sandwich (7)
8:00pm Red Lobster! Yummeh. Maine lobster tail in butter, about four scallops, maybe four shrimp, a couple bites of rice, and four or five large pieces of broccoli. And a biscuit.
9:30pm Small scoop of ice cream |
| |
Goals.
Yeah, so I haven't blogged. I've been dating instead. It's all about priorities.
Resign from Abbott by 12/1/09.
In progress.
Maintain a maximum weight of 150.0.
Weight: Still on day shift.
Meals:
9:00am Bob Evans (quite a bit)
1:45pm Skinny roast beef sandwich (7)
6:45pm Granola bar (2) |
| |
Goals.
I've combined these so I can assign one colossal "fail" to the lot of them. But it's okay! I'm fine with it. I'm in talks with 88 Keys to cut back my hours teaching lessons, too. I'm doing too much. It's time to back off and schedule in some "me" time.
Resign from Abbott by 12/1/09.
In progress.
Maintain a maximum weight of 150.0.
Weight: ? Day shift - waking up too early to remember such details as weighing myself.
Meals:
6:45am Cheese (1) and deli ham (2) |
| |
My goals have shifted priority a tad, thanks to meeting my weight loss goal on 6/14/09.
Launch one new Potbelly song per week.
Goal met/on hold.
Write one new original song per month.
In progress.
Post at WordPress at least once per week.
Pending.
Write two Helium article by 6/24/09.
Pending.
Submit one short story/article per month.
Pending.
Work for fifteen minutes on "Poor Witch" [E] every day.
FAIL.
Complete and edit "Poor Witch" [E] by 6/30/09.
In progress.
Read a book in print for fifteen minutes every day.
FAIL. I've been socializing and relaxing... a LOT. Yesterday, I went to a local park to lie on a blanket in the grass and listen to a band play Fleetwood Mac songs. It was pure bliss.
Resign from Abbott by 12/1/09.
In progress.
NEW GOAL: Maintain a maximum weight of 150.0.
Weight: ??? um... I overslept and had to run out the door. 
Meals:
9:00am Deli cheese (1) and ham (2)
9:30am Half Panera everything bagel (4?)
10:00am Half Panera asiago bagel (4?)
2:00pm ZonePerfect bar (4)
3:00pm Chai (1)
5:30pm Wendy's five-piece chicken nuggets (?) and kids-size vanilla Frosty (?)
7:15pm Strawberry bar (2) |
| |
GOAL: Reach 145 lbs by 6/30/09.
Weight: 146.0
Exercise: None
Meals:
10:00am NutriGrain bar (3)
10:30am Coffee (2)
1:45pm Skinny roast beef sandwich (7)
2:15pm Tall, skinny, hazelnut latte (2)
4:30pm Chai (1)
6:30pm Special K bar (2)
8:30pm NutriGrain bar (3)
9:00pm Chai (1)
Launch one new Potbelly song per week.
Goal met/on hold. Song list soon, when I have time.
Hey, has anyone else had problems hearing my last two recordings posted at WordPress? I received feedback that my last good recording was "Eleanor Rigby", but that recordings since are hard to hear. I don't notice a difference, but that might be the software on my computer. The URL: http://michelletuesday.wordpress.com and thanks in advance for checking it out for me. 
Write one new original song per month.
In progress.
Post at WordPress at least once per week.
Goal met.
Write two Helium article by 6/24/09.
Pending.
Submit one short story/article per month.
Pending.
Work for fifteen minutes on "Poor Witch" [E] every day.
Fail. Again. Ooh! Ooh! But my friend Tony, the ex-art teacher who just got laid off by the stupid Reynoldsburg School District, gave me a drawing of Mildred that one of his students did, and it's BAD-ASS! I'll try to upload a picture. He asked me for some characters awhile back, and I gave him writing snippets. Tony himself did an amazing drawing of Wisdom, my lead character from The Butterfly Stone and a peripheral character in Poor Witch. Then, he had his class draw Mildred, and this kid was going to throw away his sketch. I just can't even begin to describe its awesomeness. You have to see. And you shall. Soon. Muh-hahahahaha!
By the way, this drawing, which I'm in love with, actually shifts my own view of my character. I'll need to do some characterization in the story to make her match this drawing, because it flipping rocks.
Complete and edit "Poor Witch" [E] by 6/30/09.
In progress.
Read a book in print for fifteen minutes every day.
Goal met.
Resign from Abbott by 12/1/09.
In progress. |
| |
GOAL: Reach 145 lbs by 6/30/09.
Weight: 146.6
Exercise:
Meals:
1:45pm Skinny roast beef sandwich (7)
4:30pm Chai (1)
5:00pm Five tortilla chips (1)
5:15pm Raspberry brownie (3)
5:30pm Chai (1)
7:00pm Raspberry brownie (3)
8:30pm Chai (1)
Launch one new Potbelly song per week.
Goal met/on hold. I should compile the new song list for y'all.
Write one new original song per month.
In progress.
Post at WordPress at least once per week.
Goal met.
Write two Helium article by 6/24/09.
Pending.
Submit one short story/article per month.
Pending... but since last month's submission was REJECTED yesterday (   ), I can submit that story to someone else. Much easier than, say, polishing another story for submission or, gasp!, writing a whole new story. I guess I've been on a nonfiction kick with my Helium and Textbroker articles.
Work for fifteen minutes on "Poor Witch" [E] every day.
Fail. Again.
Complete and edit "Poor Witch" [E] by 6/30/09.
In progress.
Read a book in print for fifteen minutes every day.
Goal met.
Resign from Abbott by 12/1/09.
In progress.
I overslept today! I normally wake between 8am-9am, but today, I rolled over and found that I'd slept till 11:11am. I'm supposed to LEAVE for Potbelly at 11:00. Sheesh. The power went out last night, and by some coincidence, I'd put my phone on silent last night, so even my backup alarm didn't go off. I was supposed to teach a make-up lesson to a drum student from 10am-11am today, too, but fortunately his mom loves me. Gonna try the make-up again tomorrow... ...and give him another freebie lesson to make up for my FAILure. Gah.
But I think I needed the sleep. I feel awesome! |
| |
I love Tuesdays. I teach lessons, and I don't have to go in to Abbott until 7:30pm.
GOAL: Reach 145 lbs by 6/30/09.
Weight: 147.4
Exercise:
Meals:
9:30am Deli turkey (2) and toast with peanut butter and honey (4)
1:45pm Skinny roast beef sandwich (7)
2:00pm Tall, nonfat white mocha (6)
4:00pm Coffee (2)
7:00pm Peanuts (4)
8:45pm Chai (1)
11:30pm NutriGrain bar (3)
Launch one new Potbelly song per week.
Goal met last week, with the launch of over a dozen "new" eighties songs. This goal is on hold until July.
Write one new original song per month.
Actually, I completed the instrumental (piano) part of a song I've been playing around with for two months or more. I need to match it up with some lyrics.
Post at WordPress at least once per week.
Goal met, but apparently my last two recordings are super quiet. Figures. *kicks Creative* I was trying new software and hardware for recording. Gah.
So, those were my music goals, which are the primary focus of my life. What follows is my writing goals, and I have decided to cut back on any writing goals that don't have the potential to earn me a decent income with respect to time invested. I've been sick, and I blame stress.
Write one Helium article per week.
Fail, and I have a new goal here: I need to write two articles this month, so I can earn the minimum to get a payout at the end of the month. After that, no more Helium articles, and this goal comes down. For the curious, I've earned about $200 at Helium since February, and I've written over sixty articles.
Write one Textbroker article per week.
Fail. I did sign up for one, but I released it when I got the last-minute gig on Saturday night. Well, it appeared again, and I grabbed it again, so I'm going to try to write it today. But after that, I probably won't write for Textbroker anymore either, unless I happen to have free time. Textbroker is a tad more immediately lucrative than Helium. Again, for the curious, after this article, I'll be at about $50 total earnings in two months, and that's for about nine articles.
Write one Marketplace submission per month.
Pending, and this goal is coming down.
Submit one short story/article per month.
Pending, and I may hang on to this one for a bit, but it's next on the chopping block. I still have a print magazine article submission pending response, as well as an e-zine submission for my fantasy short story, "The Butterfly Stone".
Work for fifteen minutes on "Poor Witch" [E] every day.
Fail. This is the writing goal I should be focusing on; it stays.
Complete and edit "Poor Witch" [E] by 6/30/09.
In progress.
Read a book in print for fifteen minutes every day.
Goal met, and I like this goal. It's relaxing. I'm still working on Midnight Hours by Vivian  .
Resign from Abbott by 12/1/09.
In progress. |
| |
GOAL: Reach 145 lbs by 6/30/09.
Weight: 148.0
Exercise:
Meals:
10:45am Tea with honey (1) and toast with peanut butter and honey (3.5)
Ugh. I've been sick with abdominal pain since last night. It was really bad. I didn't go to church this morning.
12:00pm Cheez-its (3)
12:30pm Coffee (2)
4:00pm Coffee (1)
4:30pm Cheez-its (1)
5:30pm McDonalds ice cream cone (3)
9:30pm Chicken noodle soup (2)
10:15pm Dried beef (1)
10:30pm Cherries (3)
Launch one new Potbelly song per week.
Goal met. I launched somewhere between a dozen and twenty new songs, all from my expanded eighties repertoire. I'm good for a few weeks.
Write one new original song per month.
Pending. No time.
Post at WordPress at least once per week.
Goal met.
Submit one short story/article per month.
Pending. No time.
Write one Marketplace submission per month.
Pending. No time.
Write one Helium article per week.
Pending. No time.
Write one Textbroker article per week.
Pending. No time.
Work for fifteen minutes on "Poor Witch" [E] every day.
FAIL... you guessed it. No time.
Complete and edit "Poor Witch" [E] by 6/30/09.
In progress.
Read a book in print for fifteen minutes every day.
Goal met.
Resign from Abbott by 12/1/09.
The gig: it rocked. It was a private party, very informal, and they loved me. They were all singing along to a lot of the songs, and they asked me to stay an extra two hours, which I quickly negotiated a new price for and agreed to. Although, after two hours playing Potbelly at lunch, and then five hours playing this private party last night, I thought my fingertips were going to fall off.
In other news, I told the owner of the studio where I teach lessons that if she ever wants to sell her business, she should let me know. She said, "Really?" I explained that I was saving to leave Abbott, and that I would love an investment opportunity. She said, "I'll think about it." I could tell by the look on her face that she was dead serious. She's had a lot of heartache in the last year or two, and I think she just wants out at this point. |
© Copyright 2025 Brandiwyn🎶Prep starts 10/1! (UN: tuozzo at Writing.Com). All rights reserved.
Brandiwyn🎶Prep starts 10/1! has granted InkSpot.Com, its affiliates and its syndicates non-exclusive rights to display this work.
|
Even better if she can whistle to the tune of Mozart or something. 
Comment • View 1 comment 
, also known as Michelle Tuesday, is a musician, educator and writer hailing from Columbus, Ohio.![Merit Badge in Music
[Click For More Info]
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
[Click For More Info]
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
[Click For More Info]
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)
Not.
