Nothing like a deadline

I was reading an article last night about having deadlines.

I'm an editor by trade, so I am all about some deadlines. There is nothing like a deadline to make me get going. No deadline, no focus.

Anyhow, this was a story about losing weight. The writer was saying that losing that 5 or 10 pounds can be done faster if you have a deadline, like, say, a class reunion, a wedding, a vacation or swimsuit season.

That's interesting, because I am heading into the holiday season with 5 pounds I want gone. I do not want to be looking at them and 15 of their friends come Jan. 1.

So I have a meal bar in my purse and will pick up some fruit to supplement around lunchtime. And I hope that I do not veer off to the Mickey D's on the way to the Kroger for my healthy stuff.

These deadline thoughts are good, because if you have a smart plan that's realistic and can be broken into baby steps, then you will meet your deadline. By the way, I have a May 1 deadline on my second book. I was up and writing at 6 a.m. and need to do a lot more of that to meet this deadline since I have a rich personal life and a full plate at the office, but I'm not in the business of missing deadlines.

Baby steps. Take a few of those toward the deadlines you set. You'd be surprised at how far a baby step will take you. And here is a link to that article: Weight Loss

Mixing and mingling

It is Monday, and I need to go to work to get some rest. Had great fun over the weekend and late last week, and got some writing in, but we've had something literally every night for nearly a week! The calendar at our place has been full!

Wednesday: Church night

Thursday: Screen on the Green showing at the Mississippi Museum of Art. The Clarion-Ledger and the Gannett Foundation showed "Monty Python and The Holy Grail," and it was a blast. We were handed coconut shells to make the horse sounds. Gotta love an interactive movie.

Friday: Ice skating at media night at Christmas on Ice in Madison. One of the perks of being a journalist. This evens out when election night and early holiday deadlines happen.

Saturday: Going with the Gentleman Friend to see our kids at the Mississippi State-Alabama game. He had his two daughters there, and my middle Dear Son was there with his sweet girlfriend.

Sunday: Church, then a trunk show at my friend Katie's for Noonday Collection, which has some really cool and socially responsible accessories. Got a jump on Christmas shopping. Then I took our rotten but lovable dog for a long walk and got the kids off to UMYF. We were hosting all the kids from the East and West Jackson districts, so big gathering for pizza and worship. Meanwhile, I got to enjoy a dinner out with the Gentleman Friend before the fun continued with a middle-school girl sleepover. Don't worry ... they went to bed at a fairly reasonable hour and got up on time. I made the kiddos chocolate chip muffins and got them on the bus.

And ... wait for it ... Sartoris Literary Group sent me a contract for my second book over the weekend. Now I just have to finish writing it!