writing

The End

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I was working on the back cover art and came up with the illustration shown above.

Feedback from my family:

“That first little chameleon is so cute!”

“Um, that second one is humping the dad.”

“Yeah, why’s she humping his dad?”

Lots of laughing.

I started over. There were murmurs that the second baby chameleon was doing something x-rated to the sibling.

“Move the second chameleon up higher, she still looks like she’s humping her dad.”

<Heavy sigh>

Despite the pain, feedback IS valuable.

I’m going with this one:

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I just need to make the cover and I’ll be ready to start the self-publishing process…

Excerpt from “Kevin the Complainer”*

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Ms. Meretta was teaching a new math lesson.

Kevin looked out the window. The storm subsided and the sun was out. He wished he could be outside, playing Kick and Cover.

“Kevin, pay attention. You need to learn this,” Ms. Meretta said.

Sighing heavily, Kevin muttered, “I knew this was going to be a bad day.”

 

 

*my second self-published children’s book – check out “Esther, Mia and the Stars“!

 

 

Person, Place or Thing?

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I showed my husband this illustration for my next book, Kevin the Complainer. This is Ms. Meretta, Kevin’s teacher. (My favorite teacher of all time was Ms. Meretta and she’s becoming a mainstay in all my books!)

Husband – sans glasses – squints. Awkward wait time follows.

At last he says, “Oh! I thought that was a chestnut!”

 

Deep Work*

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Sketches for Book 2 illustrations

Doing deep, meaningful work requires a lot of time in quiet solitude.

I’ve been procrastinating and distracting myself from my deep work (National Board Certification, writing and illustrating Book 2).

So, I shall remove the distractions: posting and reading feeds in social media (FB, Twitter) and checking (and re-checking) the news. Honestly, reading the news and getting upset is not helping anyone. But somehow, I believed that being up to date on current events was being good citizen. As long as my vote is informed, I’m good.

Now, on with the deep work…will you join me? What are your distractions and excuses?

 

 

*Cal Newport

Bullet Journal and Financial Tips

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Thought I’d take a chance and be vulnerable. Share.

Above, my journal entry for yesterday and today.

Below, my financial tips that have helped my husband and me reach our goal of $1,000,000.

I know it’s totally taboo in America to talk about salary and net worth. But I really want to help people who struggle with money. 

I’m a teacher, for Pete’s sakes.

I don’t make a lot, but I also don’t spend a lot. I started my career in radio and I made $17,000 a year. I ate pasta for breakfast, lunch and dinner until I developed a food allergy. Of course, I was unable to save for retirement during that time. I don’t have regrets: I met Gloria Steinem (she’s a goddess!), the lead singer of Simply Red (he was a jerk) and Lou Diamond Phillips (swoon)!  I befriended Steve, our Program Director, who encouraged me to be a writer. So, I don’t regret that year, but it was an entire year that I did not save or invest money.

My next job: administrative assistant in a money managing firm. Wow, did I learn a lot. I learned about stocks and investing and I started my 401K.

There are two things I recommend you do ASAP:

  1. Start a financial spreadsheet with every asset you own…how much you own. Also, keep track of your debt (credit cards, mortgage, etc.) and make a plan to pay them off immediately.
  2. Another Must Do: start an IRA. Contribute to your company’s 401K.

If you can, find an excellent financial advisor. We did this and I attribute much of our success and wealth to him. You’ll need to do research and be financially savvy. NEVER simply hand over your finances to someone. ALWAYS know what is going on with your money! And don’t be shy about telling him/her what you want to sell and what you want to purchase.

Owe Vs. Own

Guess which one you want to grow?

Maybe you have a lot of debt. Maybe you have no debt but very little savings. Whatever you dream for yourself, you can do it! Just make a plan and begin.