SUMMER GOALS

The end is in sight. I can actually see summer. Today was the last day of teaching for the 2011-2012 school year, and it has been a long grueling stretch. Now we're in the the final exam stretch.

As I look ahead to next week when I will no longer have the structure of the "daily grind" so to speak, I realize that I can not go through another summer without created structure. I did that last summer (Although I did take several classes and workshops) and it got me no where. Last summer and this school year, however, did teach me the value of schedules and goals. Yes, one would think that at my age I should already know that. Not so. While my children were young and living at home, I lived their schedule of scouting, sports, YMCA day camps, and activities at our local community college. When they had graduated, I taught summer school for a few years. Again, a summer scheduled by someone else. So last summer with no one telling where I had to be or what needed to be done, I floated through the summer and by August I had nothing to show for my "summer off."

In beginning the transition from a teaching career to a writing career, I have been reading numerous articles and blogs that talk about setting goals and schedules. As a night owl, I have been working to set limits on the time I go to bed so that I can rise and get things done.

What to get done?
1. Get the first draft of my first novel completely finished
2. Develop a schedule and keep to it for blogging
3. Organize all of the miscellaneous things I have written
4. Develop a method of recording what I send out and to whom and with what result
5. Reading for myself (I've been doing good at this in the evening before bed)
6. Reading and preparing for the next school year (each English level has a new anthology for next year and I have two levels and very few pieces carry over)
7. Learning to eat healthy and get exercise
8. Gardening in Northern Illinois and getting my lawn healthy
9. Clean and clean out the stuff in my house that I no longer need, use, or want (Do I hear garage sale?)
10. Learn to carve out time to just sit and enjoy life

Wow! Is that too much between now and August 27th? Have I missed anything? I'll just have to see.

So, in the vain of getting my blogging more regular, this Sunday, look for an entry on the "Sunday Edition" page of this blog and let me know what you think.

SUMMER BEGINS

As Monday morning dawns, my idea of summer begins. Why? 1. Pools open up 2. Smells of neighbors grilling fill the air 3. It's light enough and warm enough to take a walk after my daily grind is over. 4. It's light enough and warm enough to sit out in the morning with my dog and enjoy that first cup of coffee. 5. I can leave my windows open all night and not freeze. (Yes, you got it - I hate air conditioned air.) 6. Fresh fruits and vegetables are abundant. 7. Life slows down. 8. Garage sale signs start popping up on various street corners. 9. I actually have time to write like I want to. 10. My job-job is on hiatus and my passion has time to grow. So, as summer begins, what are your favorite things to do.