Friday Grand Fiver

Because it's February 29 and it won't be February 29 again until 2012, this is special Friday GRAND Fiver. Everybody shout!

1. ABC is taking over SCRUBS from NBC. Huge news in today's Hollywood Reporter. Prince Harry is being taken off the front line in Afghanistan thanks to Drudge Report's scoop on his being there in the first place. Way to go, Drudge, endangering his life. The Prez made an appeal about us not being in a recession, surprise at the price of oil, and predicted the GOP would hold the Oval Office. I believe the first one myself, so I'm not pleased that he opened his mouth about it at all. I think we'll be okay and that things will turn and head back the other direction, but now all my credibility is shot to pieces.

2. Decided against the upcoming three-month writing class. I just had a check about it. You know? When it just doesn't feel right? So I'm not gonna do it. For the money, I could take another associate to lunch a couple times in exchange for his feedback instead. And get a few nice dinners at Boka Kitchen for myself as well (that place has amazing food, I'm telling ya!). Nice to have that settled.

3. My brother is in Jordan today at Petra. It's an amazing place just from his pictures. I can't imagine actually being there (and this is his second time!).

4. I talked with my novel editor on the phone yesterday and hope to get some feedback shortly. Feeling better about that. I have been thinking that time was a wasting and I was getting antsy to get back to work on the book. Especially when AWS is already plotting her third novel now. I'm never going to catch up!

5. Work is caught up. Next week should be slightly more intense. Tax busy work is caught up and will be finished today. All in all a very productive week. I plan to spend the weekend working on web sites copy and fiddling with my client management database. So fun. Thank goodness for thin mints!

Currently listening to: San Francisco (Global DJs)
Currently reading: Business Writing (James Davis)

The End of An Era

If you've read this blog for long, you know I have emphatic opinions. One of my most emphatic opinions is on free-market economies (thanks to years of watching people debate Keynesian theory versus the theories of von Hayek and the Chicago school).

We lost a great thinker in that field yesterday: William F. Buckley, Jr.

I'm proud to say I proofed one of his books about five years ago and have been in awe of him ever since. He was a great thinker, a great American, and even if you don't agree with free-market economic policy or his other more enigmatic beliefs, you have to admire the guy for his life's accomplishments (he published George Will, David Brooks, and Joan Didion) and represented a thought process that blossomed with Reagan and Maggie Thatcher. (Yes, I know about McCarthy, enough already.)

Goodbye, WFB, you will be sorely missed.

And then the new show that I was kinda interested in bombed: Quarterlife.

They are going to yank it before it airs its second show this Sunday. Boo. I'll have to get the episodes off Netflix in a few months or years. I thought it was more realistic than Gossip Girl, which is turning into a blathering infestation on the CW. And I love the CW!

Okay, in better news, it's Thursday, things are going well, and I'm making some serious progress on my Q1 goals (corporate writing web site, editing web site overhaul, data entry work, essay class work) as well as researching a possible writing class for the next three months. I have had some serious luck with really good teachers, so I want to continue that trend.

Currently reading: The Martha Rules (Martha Stewart)
Currently listening to: Regina Spektor

Mid-Week Mayhem

Remember the tax forms I couldn't find all through January and February? My CPA dealt with those (thank goodness for a CPA; no wonder I couldn't find them) and then I got hit with another form yesterday that is my responsibility, but I know for a fact the state of WA never sent me the original form to file. Grrrrr. Running a corporation is definitely more paperwork.

Interesting news from the WSJ today about a click recession in January. I personally don't think we're in a recession, but this is definite news of a change in consumer behavior. Does it mean people are buying less right now? Not sure. I see consumers buying more. We're definitely trying to decide.

And then a very interesting article on Martha Stewart (my touchstone/mentor to building a business and brand that doesn't rely on just me; yes she went to jail, but her business sense in all other areas besides insider trading is quite solid, I assure you). I am proud to say she is a mentor for me. Her book, The Martha Rules, provided me with my first glimpse at a company, started by a woman, built entirely debt-free--a true bootstrapper.

I realized about six months ago that as my business stands now, it will collapse without me (it is a true services business) and I need to build something different if I'm going to spend any more time with it. Where did I get that idea? Martha Stewart and Seth Godin. Those two have guided me so wisely through the rebuilding in 2007 and the expansion planned for 2008. Now I know what I need to do in 2009 and 2010 and beyond and hey, just maybe, this little tiny thing that started in August 1995 in my Mom's teeny-tiny sewing room and on a borrowed computer can actually partially fund our retirement. I'd like to pull some equity out of this 13-year business. So, thanks, Martha and Seth. Cheers.

Currently reading: Bootstrapper's Bible (Seth Godin)
Currently listening to: Jack Johnson

It's A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

Good morning, writing buddies.

I'm feeling really good. The latest revision of my essay is off to my essay coach and she's extended our class another week. I can't wait to hear back from her.

Surfing my news sites yesterday, I realized I forgot to mention this NYT article (from 2 weeks ago). The heirs of J.R.R. Tolkien have not received one penny from the Lord of the Rings movies and have sued New Line Cinema. Lessee, how much money did those movies make again? Oh, 6 billion dollars? And you can't pay the author's family their requested 7.5%? Methinks someone is a bozo. As someone who has been to Oxford and visited C.S. Lewis' home where Tolkien talked about these books (sure not Tolkien's apartment where he wrote LOTR, but close enough), I'm appalled. New Line has jeopardized a possible two-movie deal for the Hobbit by their actions. Stay tuned. This one is going to get interesting.

Other than that, I'm reading and writing and keeping up on my to-do list. Crossed off a whole lotta items yesterday, which was good.

And I'm bouncing off the walls because of the very good writing session last night to polish the revised essay. I am feeling pretty good!

Have a great Tuesday!

Currently reading: Seven Years to Seven Figures
Currently listening to: Third Day

Cheers to Monday

Already starting in on my to-do list, which I made up last night. A few things have gone haywire, but that's to be expected. We'll make it.

Finished everything on my weekend to-do list with aplomb. It felt great.

Essay writing going full speed ahead. Waiting on feedback from essay teacher as soon as I send in another revised version. I'm drilling down to a scene and it helps so much!

Researching certification programs as my job will reimburse some of my college expenses. This is good.

But I'm trying to figure out how to jam it all in this year. Fun!

Must run, have to email an author.

Currently reading: Oxford Guide to Writing
Currently listening to: Elgar