Friday Fiver.

1. Off for a walk-talk with my favorite neighbor. We talk as fast as we walk and since we're both C.S. Lewis fans, today we'll talk about Mere Christianity and the opening of the Kilns, Lewis' home, in Oxford. Note of interest: Our pastor, Earl Palmer, is a C.S. Lewis scholar and recently was in Oxford for the dedication. Lewis' study in his home was dedicated to Pastor Earl as a gift from our church for his 50 years of ministry at University Presbyterian Church. A few of Earl's books (he has written several) are now on the study's shelves. I would have loved to be there with them all. But I will be in a few months. I think we'll head to Oxford instead of Cambridge to see the Kilns.

2. I am turning in my W-4 form today. Today is my last official day of fulltime freelancing. I'm not done with anything I thought I'd be done with, but this is a day to commemorate.

3. Expedia.com is not the company that has the roaming gnome, ya'll. That's the other guys. I think we should think up a roaming mascot for Expedia, eh?

4. Did not buy any books this week (if we move, I must stop my usual plethora of book deliveries). Trying to spend all my gift cards and gift certificates though, still have quite a few from Banana Republic and Nordstrom. Argh.

5. If you do not use Pandora.com, you are crazy. It will change your life. How long has it been since I heard Delirious singing Deeper. Or Seal. Good memories.

A life of faith requires a continual renewal of faith. I want to say to all of those reading today who have heavy hearts and BIG issues in their lives (health of their unborn baby, job changes, home building stress), do not fear, God walks with you. No matter what you believe, just know He is there.

Keep moving forward.

End of May.

So the raccoon stayed put yesterday. I only saw his beady little eyes peeking out at me once. Need I say this coon is humongous. I just want him to stay . . . over there!

Ah, life in the suburbs.

I am buried filling out employment forms and insurance forms and finishing up multiple projects. I got so much done yesterday only to receive yet another email from a client from way back who is desperate to get their book to the printer. We've been delayed for months and suddenly there's a pile of work and it all had to be done yesterday. So I have to back off other projects yet again. I hate doing that.

I'm frustrated by my schedule in May. It has been nothing but a total disaster. Thus, I am going to have to go back to my biz plan and retrench AGAIN.

Sanity is important in this business, contrary to the stories told by Augusten Burroughs. Not everyone gets to live like that.

Snatching times to write again today.

How is your writing going?

Keep movin forward.

Hiding From the Raccoon.

So there's this rather large raccoon living in our backyard and because I opened the house up to get some cool air inside before the weather heats up, I can hear him rustling around in our back 40 (not acres, just feet, but a very woodsy 40 feet). I really don't want him wandering inside today. Hope he stays in the shade under the trees.

We got our passports yesterday (I know, how lazy are we?) and I put a rush on mine because I just know with all the people trying to get theirs before year end that I will be biting my nails with fear all summer.

I am writing essays in my free time. Very fun pursuit, helped by a great book, Oxford Guide to Writing, which I highly recommend. Decided this morning that I am thoroughly jealous of everyone going to BEA this year and I plan to be there next year . . . with bells on.

Not much else going on. Phone ringing, work to do, and here comes June!

Keep Moving Forward.

Carry On, Mr. Bowditch

You know how you get super tired sometimes. That's me. I can't figure out why either. So I am talking to myself this morning "c'mon, keep it moving, carry on, let's go" and the title of that wonderful book popped into my head. I need to read it again.

It's psuedo-Monday. Hubby went back to work after a 10-day vacation and he couldn't find his Blackberry anywhere. But last term of school is finally over and the new term (summer term) starts up now. I stood out at our annual Memorial day cookout and talked about the stresses of going to school while working full-time with a college professor. I got some great advice on my impending return to school. I think I'll take it to heart. The professor friend was really encouraging to me, especially about my accelerated bachelor's degree studies, (basically shrinking what's left into the next 12 months and coming in under 5k). Yes, it HAS been done and with all my life experience, should be no problem for me, so now I have to actually study. This summer is the first battery of tests that I can do before I even pick a college (although I have picked a college) and I'll be doing half of it with Todd. He's going to get college credit from some testing too.

I should be farther in my study book, but I'll get there.

In writing news, I'm now a member of WritersView and WVU's Persist and Publish critique group. I'm very excited about both and ready to jump in! I am using Julie Hood's Organized Writer book to plan my very altered business. I also have cleared the way for more writing to happen beginning this Friday, June 1.

WIP status is still waiting on me, but that changes today.

Keep moving forward!