Twenty-four out of forty-three must-do or die items finished. This is a lot tougher than working 9 -5 with set ending times and weekends. I'm discovering that with writing full-time, you have to consciously work in your quitting time and you're weekend. And you never get a full weekend really. It's like you're on call 24/7 because a story or a writing mood can hit you at anytime. My goal is to have my story finished by next Monday, before I go to Cleveland. I'm wrapping up some things there (still). Also, I'm making a stop in Erlanger, KY where my orthodontist is and hope to get the braces off. Keeping my fingers crossed. With all that's gone on, this 18 month process has turned into 3 years so far. Due to missed appointments due to traveling and moving. The braces are becoming a part of my permanent identity and I don't like that. My editor sent me the wording for the back of my book with all the blurbs. I'm to correct it and send it back, along with the black and white photo that I want to have in the back of the book. Photos are such an ordeal for me. Yes, because of the braces. Also, because I feel fat and hate to take photos but I think that's an innate female issue. It's like you're born feeling fat and not wanting to take photos because they make you look even fatter than what you think you look like and you become even more disappointed with your image, even though you know you're supposed to be happy with your body the way it is. Yeah, right. Then also, there's the black female issue of hair. No, I am NOT taking pictures with 2 1/2 month old braids. So, this week, I need to find a good braider (the last one sucked!), go buy some human hair, cut my existing braids, unbraid them (6 hours), wash, dry, and straighten my real hair, then go have a drink before spending another 6 - 8 hours getting my hair re-braided. I know, sounds like a lot, and it is. I have to block out a whole day and a half every time I get my hair re-braided. But I'd rather do that than spend 2 - 4 hours Weekly or bi-weekly in a salon and trying to figure out what in the heck I'm going to do with my hair on a daily basis, AND not being able to do anything with it after I do step aerobics and weight training, which is 4 - 6 days a week. So the luxury of just getting up and throwing my hair up in a ponytail or two each morning and going (5 minutes) is worth the day and a half to get it done every three months. So, somehow, I gotta find a new outfit (I HATE shopping), hopefully get my braces removed so I can smile for the first time, get my hair re-braided, and get photos taken by May 1st. LOL Yeah, right! LOL