September Resolutions Review Part One

Write five book reviews	Enjoy a family vacation	Go for a canoe ride	Schedule a book launch for Story of Hope	Take a line dancing class at the gym
Create ten buttons	Figure out what to do about my job	Make thank you cards after birthday/ birthday party	Speak to library about doing story hour for kids	Have a personal training birthday session at the gym
Enjoy Justin’s surprise	Brainstorm ways I can give back (Rockland Literacy?)	Free Space	Use more journalism and cover current events in my blog	Discover three new favorite Youtubers
Host a birthday party	Work on publishing Story of Hope	Play more games (like Dominion)	Work on  inking comfort books	Do something cool with my hair
Attend a wedding weekend	Work on my five novels (one a week)	Start a Winnie the Pooh knitting project	Convince Justin to see Resident Evil	Wait until my actual birthday to open cards and presents

September was probably my favorite month this year. Vacations, weddings, birthday parties. Of course there was the stress of quitting my job and the backlash from significant people in my life (NOT my parents or Justin) But I enjoyed most of it. Here’s a brief rundown.

September Resolutions Accomplished:

• I did a lot of reading this month. They were a mix of beach reads and essays. On my vacation alone I finished four books. Hotel Nantucket, Zero-Sum: Stories, The Unreality of Memory and The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (that was a book club book)

• Oh I’ve created way more than ten buttons. My favorites are the Winnie the Pooh ones and a picture of a bird that says “I’m good in combat. I’m good at panic attacks”

• Justin presented his surprise to me at a lovely restaurant that had once been a house. He got us tickets to see Harry Potter and the Cursed Child  with (pause) TOM FELTON on Broadway. Tom Felton played the original Draco Malfoy in the movies and he is also hot. And yes, a good actor. So I’m looking forward to that.

• My birthday party went off without a hitch. After a week of worrying about the weather, I took a chance and held it on Saturday instead of the raindate. The only bad thing was my best friend had a cold and couldn’t come. But other than that it was so much fun. I think everyone had a good time. We even had a karaoke machine. My dad made a toast and all my friends gave these testimonials about what a good friend I was. When I blew out my candles I felt like the luckiest girl in the world.

• My two best friends got married. The night before the wedding my male friends kidnapped the groom and took him to play pool. The girls all went to a bar. I didn’t drink  but the bride had several shots of the “White Dress” (a play on White Russians). The wedding was beautiful. I danced, I took many pictures in the photo booths, I ate delicious finger foods, I drank Shirley Temples, and when I started feeling sleepy I switched to coffee. I was sitting next to a friend who didn’t drink alcohol at all either and we chugged caffeine to give us a party vibe. But my favorite part was when we switched into sweats and had the afterparty. It was outside and mercifully the rain had stopped. There was a bonfire and we could roast smores. There was also an abundance of mocktails and mixers for people like me which I appreciated. I had a margarita and a mojito. When I hugged my best friend goodnight, I had tears in my eyes. I was just so happy for them both.

• I loved the family vacation. Every morning I got up and went out on the deck overlooking a beautiful, tranquil lake. I’d take my journal and a library book and I spent some time writing and some time reading. I said I read four books but I also filled up half a notebook. When I wasn’t reading or writing I was playing games with the family. We played poker using bananagram tiles as chips to gamble, we played werewords (a mix of Werewolf and 20 Questions) and alot of Dominion (a big deck building game with a lot of cards). On the last night, we went out to eat and the waitress stuck a candle in a tiramisu and my family sang happy birthday. My little brother got me a beautiful Winnie the Pooh bookmark.

• I haven’t figured out what I am going to do about a job. My friend suggested selling things on Etsy because I craft (especially making cards). If I become better at it that could be a possibility but there would be no way it could earn me a living. My dad is encouraging me to focus on my writing. I am very excited to be working on research essays. I’m learning so much. And it makes me feel like I’m putting my time to good use.

• There is a tutoring center right next to my gym. I’ve thought about inquiring if they need tutors or teachers or someone to help students edit essays and with public speaking (both things I’ve had extensive experience with). I don’t have a college degree so I’m not sure if that would be an obstacle. Still, I’ve contemplated taking a business card and sending over an email.

• My editor is currently formatting Story of Hope. I get a month of revisions in October which will probably go to tinkering with the ending. It’s just such an epic story. It needs an epic ending which I'm hoping the truth (as it is a memoir) will provide.

• I did work on my novels but I’m going to put them on the back burner for now while I work on my research project. I would like a name for my research project. For now maybe i can tentatively name it Project X. 

• I did go in the kayak once on vacation. The only reason I went only once is because when my dad and I went in the kayak it was practically sinking. The water washed over my legs and we were practically submerged. It was like you were floating on water. But you were unable to use it without getting your entire lower half wet.

• I started the thank you cards. Didn’t get very far yet. I have a lot of people to thank!