Monday, November 30, 2015

Day #278 - #296: Finishing Strong


Well, I guess November was my time to take a break away from blogging. As I indicated in the previous post (from over two weeks ago) I've been putting my nose to the grindstone at work, so there's been very little time to focus on creative projects.

However, I'll do my best to articulate what I've been up to this month.



  • Hamilton - the original Broadway Cast Recording. Musically, this double album has consumed my life since my birthday. 
  • I finished the big stack of argument essays. Now I'm waiting for final exams.
  • Family time... we have been enjoying the holiday season. (Oh, and my mom visited!)
  • Friendship time... we've been reconnecting with our friends in Orange County. Joel bought us tickets to an Escape Room! And Joshua and I are getting very excited about the new Star Wars.
  • Walking time... Since the beginning of November, we have been walking the dogs around the neighborhood. It's a four mile hike (ruffly), and the dogs are constantly annoying me in new ways, but Cheri and I still have a good time.
  • Drawing time... Yes, I have managed to carve out some creative time... I'm not going to meet my self-imposed deadline (to finish by Dec 18th) but I might be able to finish before the spring semester begins. 

Oh, and we had a lovely Thanksgiving at Joel and Elysia's home. The Eklund's stopped by in time for desert. Fun and food was had by all.

As the title of this blog post suggests, I am planning on finishing strong -- meaning that this December I will double my effort, posting everyday, and pushing one last time to reach my extra income goal. I'm probably not going to make it, but I've been having fun trying.



Hope your holidays are joyous, and that 2015 is finishing strong for you as well.

Thursday, November 12, 2015

Day #276 - #277: The Semester Home Stretch

Ten days have emerged and faded since last I posted a blog. This lapse is partly due to my slacker ways -- and partly due to the fact that I'm in the trenches of essay-land. I've almost dug my way out of the pile. (Sorry to mix metaphors.)

November finds me focusing on the job of being an English teacher and a productive faculty member who dutifully attends curriculum meetings (in which I do my best to pretend I am a grown up).

Very little creative work has been accomplished in the last ten days. Every once in a while, I sketch some of the Duck Town characters, just so I stay in practice.

A few interesting details in my personal life (which I am writing down more for me than for you, dear reader...)


  • my daughter Emily turned 14
  • my mother visited us during Halloween (and now she's visiting us this weekend as well)
  • I hurt my wife's feelings, sincerely apologized, and I still feel quite guilty
  • I've been reading Don Quixote for World Literature
  • my daughter Mackenzie went to work with me on Wednesday
  • her visit made me reminded me that I am an untidy slob (mostly my car, but partly my office.)
  • I finished watching the complete series of Star Trek: The Next Generation
  • I might be working on a holiday themed radio play
  • I went to the dentist for a cleaning, and I'll need to return for a crown prep
  • I graded a ton of poetry essays
  • my daughter Mackenzie turns 17 tomorrow
Oh, I received a royalty check from Amazon Publishing for $104... so that means we get to slightly raise the challenge total! 

Challenge Total Update: $9861.70

With a little luck, we'll reach $10,000 by Jan 1st. (That's only the halfway point -- but that's a lot more than farther than I ever imagined I would get!)