End of the ROW

There’s a finish line here somewhere. I just know it.

We made it to the end of this round of ROW80*. Break out the champagne. Or something.

Officially, ROW80 was up on the 21st, but I wanted to finish out the week for my goals…mostly because I forgot about the last week of ROW80 being a half week when I was working up Sunday’s goal list.

Overall, this round was a mixed bag for me. I feel like I was much, much slower on my writing than I would have liked, but I was solid on all my other goals.

And there’s some insight on my personality right there. I can do well on most of my goals and still bemoan slow progress on one goal. Silly, really. I need to celebrate the wins, then figure out how to make those wins in my weaker areas (lately, writing).

So, not a mixed big. Overall, the ROW was successful. Go me.

Let’s take stock, shall we? You can see last week’s goals here.

That’s How it ROWs

I see you up there, goals. I will get you.

You know how, when your foot falls asleep and goes numb, then wakes up with that horrible pins and needles sensation? You know it’s going to pass, but it drives you nuts until it does. You just have to remind yourself, it will pass.

At the moment, that’s what I’ve got going on with my motivation and enthusiasm. They’re waking up, so that’s good. It’s just not the most comfortable experience.

Add a nice bit of jury duty (still ongoing, by the way) on top of all that, and it makes for an interesting week, goal-wise.

Anywho, let’s see how much go there’s been in my ROW* since last check in:

Every ROWse Has its Thorns

For the last few weeks, I’ve been struggling to keep my productivity up. It’s partly a (temporary) lull in motivation, partly some minor life upheaval, and partly creative fatigue. I’m thankful things are beginning to turn around. The effects of the minor life upheaval have dissipated, motivation is beginning to revive and the creative well is (slowly) refilling. I’m looking forward to regaining a happy momentum…the sooner the better.

This experience has reminded me that I need to plan for dips in motivation and creative fatigue. Both are normal parts of any goal-oriented journey. And I’ve realized that I can’t always rely on momentum alone to keep me going. Friction, my friends, is the enemy of perpetual motion machines and mental processes (different kinds of friction, I know…but, whatever).

Now, I just need to put a plan together. No problem, right?

Sure.

In the mean time, let’s see what’s been going on with my ROW* since last check in:

Wherefore Art Thou, My ROW?

O ROWmeo, ROWmeo…

It’s not really my ROW I’m searching for, it’s my motivation. It snuck out in the middle of the night. Probably to party. I expected it to come slinking home just before dawn, shamefaced at abandoning me and ready to get back to work. Alas, my motivation has stayed away.

I keep standing in motivation’s yard, calling up and getting no response.

Right now, I’m working (not very well) on fumes.

Despite the drag I’m feeling from lack of enthusiastic motivation, I keep on keeping on. I’m sure, pretty sure anyway, that I can coax motivation back if I just keep going.

How Do You Make Love Last?

Have you ever wondered how to make love really last?

The couple below, married 70 years in the first video and 75 in the second. Their advice is sweet, funny and very real.

*They might be the slightest bit questionable for watching at work, just so you know. 

 

Here’s the updated video from this year:

 

What’s your favorite thing about this couple? What advice do you think is the most helpful?

You Win Some, You ROW Some

Whaddya mean the finish line is still three yards away? I’m comfortable here.

Here we are again, another Sunday ROW80* check in.

I’m a little disappointed in my progress this week. I didn’t miss by much, but what I did miss was due to poor time management. I’ll be working on that this week.

You can see last week’s goals here and the updated writing goals here.

Here’s where I’m at now and where I’m going:

Writing

Last Week

I finished the STO2 and M scenes and worked up editing notes for LLF and the scene that comes right after (let’s call it NA).

I should be pleased, as I hit my updated goal. Still, I’d like to be faster and more efficient with these scene rewrites. My problem is that I’m often putting my writing off until the end of the day, when I’m tired and short on creativity. I need to put the writing first…even if it means getting up a little earlier.

ROW the Line

It’ll all about balance…

Welcome to another Sunday ROW80* check in. Time to see if this week’s progress balances the goals or is ready to fall to its doom.

I’m calling this week another win even though I’m more tired than enthused. I hit all of my goals…or will by end of day.

Let’s see where we’re at, shall we?

Writing

Last Week

The scene I’ve been working on forever the last couple weeks has been the bane of my existence (although I’m quite sure there will be others…and probably very soon). You might think, because it’s a rewrite, it would be no problem. It was definitely a problem.

ROWmancing the Goals

It’s that time of the week again, folks. Yes, I’m talking about the Sunday ROW80* check in. Time to evaluate the progress so far and decide whether to continue in the same direction or chart a new course, if necessary.

Your goals are right through there. Head on in.

I’m calling this week a win. I fell down on some of my goals (mostly because I didn’t think about balancing everything I needed to do last week), but I made it through my biggest challenge.

Let’s check in, shall we?

ROWses Are Red…

…Violets are blue.  We all know setting goals is good for you.

It’s been a very long time since I participated in ROW80 and a recent post by Nicole Evans detailing her progress on her long and short term goals inspired me.

The current ROW80 round began July 3, but folks are welcome to jump in at any time. So here I go.

Goals

Writing

Long Term Goal: Complete the “official” first draft of my WIP manuscript by the end of this year.

Short Term Goal: Finish the scene I’m currently reworking (let’s call it STO) and begin the next.

Cello

I’ve got a strings camp coming up next week. My daughter, who plays the violin, and I are both participating. She’s been playing for 2.5 years, and I’ve been playing for 2.5 months, but the camp is for all levels. We’ve both been working on the music for several weeks now, and most of my cello goals revolve around gaining the skill necessary to make it through the camp and the finale performance.

Is Minecraft Taking Over the World?

My kiddos have a secret language.

It bears a certain resemblance to our native English, involving words such as Creeper, Enderman, Ghast,  slime and Steve, yet remains exceedingly difficult to decipher. After exhaustive research (i.e. I asked my lovely children what the heck they were talking about), I have discovered what this language is…

Minecraftese:  (noun) a modern, rapidly evolving language spoken by cult members players of the video game Minecraft, sometimes referred to as Minecraftian or Mine Latin.