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Friday, September 23, 2011

Friday Five

Okay, I'm really going to try to stick to five things. You know how things like this go with me. But hey, it's my list so there.

1. I have failed at blogging this week. It has been one of "those" weeks, where you go to the dentist (twice), the post office, and entertain your family who brought you a new bed (which you haven't set up yet). In the same week.

I apologize. I will try to get to some blogs this weekend. But there is that whole new-bed thing, so yeah...

2. I am going to finish my first draft of Book 3 by September 30. I am, I am. Maybe. Hopefully. I've been drafting like crazy, and I still have a long way to go, but hey, I might make it. *checks Google cal*

Yeah, I might make it.

3. I booked my hotel for the tour in California! I'm a titch on the OCD side, and I've been looking for weeks. Finally, I just picked one, and I can't wait for October 17!

4. I have lost 20 pounds. Okay, 19.6, but if we were rounding, it would be 20. So take that, math geniuses. Turns out your body doesn't need 50,000 calories/day to stay alive...

5. I started reading LITTLE HOUSE IN THE BIG WOODS with my daughter last night. She's in first grade, so she can read for short spurts. I have such great memories of those books from my childhood, that I'm hoping this will be something fun for her.

What's on your Friday Five? Drafting? Blogging? Booking hotels? Eating healthier? Reading? Lay it on me.
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48 comments:

  1. Natalie AguirreSeptember 23, 2011 at 5:12 AM

    I didn't think you failed in blogging this week. That's SO awesome about losing 20 pounds. You've really inspired me to get outside and walk more regularly. That's about the best news I have this week. It wasn't exactly a good one.

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  2. StinaSeptember 23, 2011 at 5:19 AM

    Awesome on the 20 lbs, Elana!!!!!

    Wow, everyone's asking tough questions this morning. My brain's still asleep (it's only 5:18 am).

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  3. Alex J. CavanaughSeptember 23, 2011 at 5:27 AM

    Still recovering from Monday's blogfest! I have a manuscript from a critique partner so my goal is to finish it this weekend. Maybe.

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  4. Miranda HardySeptember 23, 2011 at 5:28 AM

    Yeah for the twenty pounds! Awesome! I'm down 10 now, and feeling great. I'll get there. I'm trying to finish up this round of edits, hopefully put a lot of time in this weekend. Have a good one.

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  5. Jemi FraserSeptember 23, 2011 at 5:29 AM

    Congrats on the 20 - that's awesome!!! I've been getting in my walking more regularly - mostly :)

    I actually feel like I'm making steady progress with my story - slow, but steady. Yay!

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  6. S.A. LarsenッSeptember 23, 2011 at 5:46 AM

    It's so exciting to hear you say you'll be finishing Book III. Wow. You're doing an amazing job. Hope I can follow in your footsteps soon...Best of luck always.

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  7. Christina LeeSeptember 23, 2011 at 6:05 AM

    Woo hoo on the 20!!! Go go go on that draft!! That's a good choice for your daughter (looking for soemthing for my son right now).
    :-)

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  8. Anna BanksSeptember 23, 2011 at 6:10 AM

    Yay on Book 3! I know you can do it. (Didn't you tell me that once you outlined, you wrote a book in 30 days? Uh, yeah. You're my hero.)

    Congrats on the 20 pounds! How'd you do it? Because you know, my friend wants to know... :)

    Happy Friday!

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  9. ChelseySeptember 23, 2011 at 6:22 AM

    Awww the little house books were the ones my mom turned to when she got tired of reading ten picture books a night....

    I was two. :D

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  10. MelissaSeptember 23, 2011 at 6:48 AM

    I always need the proper motivation to get through a crazy week. For instance, once you put up the bed you can take a nap in it!

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  11. Christine FonsecaSeptember 23, 2011 at 6:54 AM

    1. CONGRATS on the WL! That is awesome.
    2. I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE YOU!!!! Is it mid October yet???
    3. Week = INSANE!!!
    4. YOU WILL FINISH!!!!!!!
    5. That's all :D
    (yes, this is not in the right order - but dude, I'm exhausted!)

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  12. UnknownSeptember 23, 2011 at 7:09 AM

    You can absolutely be done by Sept. 30th. Awesome stuff!
    I love the Little House books, and loved sharing them with my son a couple years ago. We decided to have a pioneer week (Monday sewing day, Tuesday churning day, etc.) We didn't make it past Monday. Nevermind.

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  13. L. Diane WolfeSeptember 23, 2011 at 7:12 AM

    Congrats on the weight loss! It takes SO long for women to start shedding the pounds. When my husband and I lost weight together 9 years ago, he'd lost over ten pounds before I lost my first. But I felt vindicated when he only dropped two sizes and I went from a 12/14 to a 2! Boo-Yah!

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  14. AnonymousSeptember 23, 2011 at 7:38 AM

    Yay. Congrats on the weight thing. That's way cool.
    Friday Five. Hmmmm.

    1. Still going strong on the Wasteland Blog Tour. It's super fun.
    2. I WILL finish editing book 2 by Monday (I hope)
    3. I had tons of fun on my first book signing. Woot!
    4. Nutella is the best thing ever invented to cure chocolate cravings.
    5. I'm going to try and run eight miles tomorrow (Yikes) with my BFF (we're training for a 10-mile run in November)

    Happy FRIDAY! Enjoy your weekend.

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  15. Jessie HumphriesSeptember 23, 2011 at 7:39 AM

    20 pounds! That is awesome. I need to do that...but this cookie I am eating for breakfast would be so disappointed:0.

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  16. Maria ZanniniSeptember 23, 2011 at 7:47 AM

    Congrats on the 20lbs.

    I am running around like a headless chicken trying to get everything squared away before Monday.

    Knee surgery. Let the whining begin.

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  17. B.E. SandersonSeptember 23, 2011 at 7:53 AM

    Way to go on the 20 lbs! You rock. And good luck on getting Book 3 done by 9/30. You can do it.

    I miss reading with my daughter. But now she's up at college, reading textbooky stuff I wouldn't want to read again if someone paid me. Enjoy this time, Elana. It goes by too fast.

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  18. Shannon O'DonnellSeptember 23, 2011 at 8:08 AM

    You are NEVER a failure at blogging, Elana. Ever. Congrats on your 20 lbs! That's a major accomplishment--I know because I have lost 24.8 since May. Mot. Easy. :-)

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  19. Nicole ZoltackSeptember 23, 2011 at 8:30 AM

    Come to PA! I know it's not close at all but seriously, the east coast is great.

    And congrats on losing 20 pounds!!!

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  20. Matthew MacNishSeptember 23, 2011 at 8:32 AM

    Congratulations, Elana! That's great news on the weight. I've lost 17.4 myself, but it's funny I pay attention to fractions of a pound, because I can lose a pound or more just going to the bathroom.

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  21. EmilySeptember 23, 2011 at 8:59 AM

    Congrats on the poundage and where in CA are you coming? Hopefully northern?

    Also reading Little House to my girls. They love it...I'm constantly reminding them to behave more like Mary and Laura. Ya know, to be seen and NOT heard.

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  22. Julie HedlundSeptember 23, 2011 at 9:15 AM

    Congrats on the 20 pounds. Woo hoo! My daughter and I are reading Little House in the Big Woods as a mother/daughter book club right now. I feel as if I've been waiting for this moment my whole life!

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  23. Kimberley Griffiths LittleSeptember 23, 2011 at 9:17 AM

    Congrats, Elana on the 20 pounds, that's awesome!!! Your week has been my past four months. SO EXHAUSTED. Blogging has almost gone out the window for me completely. I *am* on Facebook and do Mixed Up Files since I'm a *big wig* there and gearing up for a new school year of SPELLBINDERS. Launching a new book and writing a new book at the same time with tight deadlines is a killer. I have to draft 100 pages in the next week!!

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  24. Stephanie McGeeSeptember 23, 2011 at 9:27 AM

    Congrats! Drafting and grocery shopping and job hunting are on my docket today. Sigh. Hope you have a good weekend!

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  25. J.R. JohanssonSeptember 23, 2011 at 9:36 AM

    What a crazy week for you. I think you get a pass for not being as active as *you* think you should be. (overachievers, grumble, grumble) ;-)

    Congrats on the new bed and 20 pounds though! That's fantastic!

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  26. Windy AphayrathSeptember 23, 2011 at 9:46 AM

    Congrats on the 20 lbs and much luck on the Sep 30th goal!

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  27. Kelly BrysonSeptember 23, 2011 at 10:24 AM

    To the dentist...twice? Not fair!
    It's been a rough week here, my daughter got in a bike wreck (no car invloved, she's missing some skin but okay) but she's doing better. Great job on the weight loss! I'm trying to get out of this chair and walk around some too!

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  28. KrispySeptember 23, 2011 at 11:09 AM

    Sounds like a busy, busy week! Congrats on the -20lbs though!!! Go you for eating healthier. :) I was a total fatty last week, but my excuse is that I was on vacation.

    I spent way too long finishing a vlog last night. I should've done it earlier in the week, but then I also wasn't expecting to go to a 2 Door Cinema Club show yesterday. Now, I'm sleep deprived. Ah well. Weekend!

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  29. Nata Cynthia ArtistadonnaSeptember 23, 2011 at 11:19 AM

    congrats on the weight loss !!!

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  30. Christine RainsSeptember 23, 2011 at 11:37 AM

    Congratulations on your weight loss! I need to get exercising again. I know what those busy weeks are like too. I just finished reading POSSESSION yesterday. Fantastic book. Your world building skills are incredible. An added bonus: there was a wait list at the library for your book! :)

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  31. Nichole GilesSeptember 23, 2011 at 11:58 AM

    Okay, so your blogging failure makes my success look sad. But. My 5:
    1. Took daughter to the DLD where she got her permit (on the 4th try).
    2. Am about two days away from finishing a final polish of a ms so I can send it to betas and write a query. *squee*
    3. Planted 75 bulbs in my front flower beds. Only 75 left to go.
    4.Washed, sliced and froze nectarines, peaches, and raspberries. Not a lot, but they didn't go to waste!
    5. Caught up on laundry, and will spend tonight folding the mountain of clean clothes.

    Congrats on all your stuff, especially the 20 lbs. That's AWESOME!

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  32. Marsha SigmanSeptember 23, 2011 at 12:14 PM

    That is some great news! The weight loss...not the dentist. I hate the dentist.

    SOS over here. Writing, working, kids, sleep?.LOL

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  33. MeredithSeptember 23, 2011 at 12:17 PM

    Aw, Little House in the Big Woods! I LOVED those books when I was little. What a fun thing to share with your daughter! Congrats on being so close to finishing your draft!

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  34. Megan LallySeptember 23, 2011 at 12:50 PM

    That's funny that you set a deadline for the end of the month because I did too! My husband gets back from his Air Force tech school then and I know I'm not going to get any writing done after that. :-) So I'm trying to finish my rough draft before then.

    Congrats on defeating the scale!

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  35. Angela BrownSeptember 23, 2011 at 1:08 PM

    YAY for the 20 lbs. May they find other places to reside, preferably not me as I have a host of pounds who have overstayed their welcome by a decade.

    Here are my 5
    1. Walking, like for real, not just strolling for 5 minutes
    2. Blogged daily and got crazy by doing 3 blogs yesterday
    3. Got in the Can You Hook a Teen blogfest and did my Campaign challenge (who the heck new "synchronicity was a real word and not a band name?")
    4. Read The Incredibles, Bambi and The Lion King 1 and 1/2 with my chipmunk.
    5. Met a couple of cool online buds to do some writer critting.

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  36. ali crossSeptember 23, 2011 at 1:24 PM

    Ooh, the post office. I feel your pain. But hey, a new bed! That should ease some pain, right?

    have a great weekend, Elana!

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  37. Bethany ElizabethSeptember 23, 2011 at 3:39 PM

    Sounds like a crazy busy week - congrats on the weight loss!

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  38. ShannonSeptember 23, 2011 at 4:03 PM

    Doesn't feel like you failed at blogging. =)

    Big congrats on the new bed and the weight loss! 20 lbs is amazing! Great job!!!!!!

    Wait, just a little more !!!!!!

    <3

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  39. Mart RamirezSeptember 23, 2011 at 4:45 PM

    I wanna say you did blog this week? I'm the one that failed this week. No need to apologize:)

    #2 YES YES YES you are. I believe in you. Yo. Can. Do. It! You've got what 7 days? Anything is possible.

    #3 Cool! What part in CAli? I'm from Cali. Hope u enjoy!

    #4 That is TRULY awesome! WTG! My hubby is a personal trainer and so when he sees success from his clients it excites me too. I love it! Keep it up.

    #6 Aww yes, Elana. You are def creating beautiful memories for your little girl. Sweet!

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  40. Mart RamirezSeptember 23, 2011 at 4:45 PM

    kklj

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  41. UnknownSeptember 23, 2011 at 5:25 PM

    The Little House books were my favorite too, and some of my first memories of my parents reading to me.

    As for five:

    1. Double birthday for my mom and sister on Sunday
    2. Depositing at the bank before I'm overdrawn (again)
    3. Calling my loan company (tomorrow, really) and throwing myself on their mercy.
    4. Research for work
    5. Looking over lesson to teach Sunday School.

    Whew! Methinks I'll go write this on my own blog. http://dverted.blogspot.com/

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  42. Lydia KangSeptember 23, 2011 at 9:25 PM

    Little House in the Big Woods is one of my favorite books of all time!

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  43. TaffySeptember 23, 2011 at 9:26 PM

    Congrats on the weight loss and having to buy new jeans! :)

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  44. Enid WilsonSeptember 24, 2011 at 6:01 AM

    You've been very busy. Congratulations on all the wins.

    This week:
    1) Finished writing a chapter for a competition
    2) Reinstalled a computer
    3) Won a small project
    4) Did some cold calls
    5) Connected the computer to network.

    Every Savage Can Reproduce

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  45. Roland D. YeomansSeptember 24, 2011 at 10:46 AM

    That's great about losing 20 pounds. It is such a hard thing to do with temptation always so near.

    It's wonderful to share a favorite book with your child, isn't it? The first page of THE LAST UNICORN just begs to be read aloud to a child. I tried to make the first page of my own BEAR WITH 2 SHADOWS magical and lyrical because of UNICORN.

    And since this is YOUR blog, you set the goals, so there truly is no fail. But there is that pesky thing called LIFE. Live yours to the fullest, Roland :-)

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  46. Donna K. WeaverSeptember 24, 2011 at 1:54 PM

    Congrats on the weight loss. I started South Beach Phase 1 today after too many fun vacation days. Ugh.

    I love the Little House books.

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  47. Ronald L. SmithSeptember 25, 2011 at 7:43 AM

    I think you're a pretty prolific blogger so don't beat yourself up about it.

    First draft of book three. You can do it!

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  48. UnknownSeptember 25, 2011 at 8:08 PM

    Oh, I am so proud of you! I'm trying to lose weight too, but it's so freaking hard. Ugh! Congrats on the tour. You must be so excited. And relax about blogging. I fret about it too but we all understand. Life happens. You just gotta roll with it.

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