“I love the the Lord, he heard my cry. And pitied every groan. Long as I live. And troubles rise. I hasten to his throne.” ~ Whitney Houston with The Georgia Mass Choir, “I Love The Lord” from The Preacher’s Wife soundtrack
Whitney Elizabeth Houston August 9, 1963 – February 11, 2012. Two Emmys, six Grammys, 30 Billboards and 22 American Music Awards.
One life. Lost.
Writing/Craft
- 1,500 words of new fiction a week either on novel WIP or short stories. 934 words on the short story I started on Tuesday. Goal not done, though I spent time digging in yesterday and starting to fix the outline issues I needed to address on the novel WIP. I feel much better about it now.
- Read at least one chapter a week of a craft book. Done. Very helpful for addressing plot issues.
- Read at least one chapter of a novel each week. Done.
Social Media
- Blog three times a week. Four done plus two ROW80 updates. Two were way cool guest post opportunities via Nicole Basaraba’s Uni-Verse-City and Natalie Hartford’s Life Out Loud sites. If you missed them, please do check out We Want to Make You Scream: Writing Horror and Rehab for Writers in Hiding.
- Read, comment and share at least 10 blogs a week. Done, though leaving comments via my tablet (where I’m usually checking from on breaks during the day) is hard as is “liking” posts sometimes (it randomly makes me have to log in). I’ll use the tablet for making short comments and set aside time later for longer comments via laptop.
- Check Twitter and Facebook at least once daily. Done.
Healthy Happy Living
- Exercise at least 30 minutes a day, three times a week. 1/3 done. I started feeling feverish, exhausted and achy on Wednesday so I cancelled my strength training hour after work and went home to rest. I’ve been fighting off a bug (no appetite, irritated throat, tired and achy) since then and just started feeling more “me” yesterday, minus the sinus headache, and got in 30 min. on the treadmill. I’ve been feeding the slacker exercise bunny chicken soup and ice cream and he is content.
- Finish my poncho project via crocheting one hour a week. I feel asleep while doing this Wednesday night. Maybe done? Heh.
- Enjoy watching one movie a week without multitasking. Just finished. 🙂
How are your WIPs coming along? Have you needed to go back and retool an outline? How are your supporting goals going (reading, exercise, social media, etc.)? Be sure to check out the updates of others via the blog hop.
Barbara McDowell 
Sounds like you’re doing well, Barbara. .. So tragic about Whitney Houston. What a phenomenal voice… and her smile! I always loved her smile. I guess she battled demons too big for anyone to see. 😦
I am about to pull my WIP out and get to it..
Enjoy your week.
Good work on your WIP, Darlene, and your goals for the week! I’m still in shock over Whitney’s death. We’ve seen her struggle played out in the media and yet, just like with other artists, hope for recovery is there. I guess we’d be inhuman if we didn’t have hope.
Sorry to hear you’re not feeling well Barb… 😦 And also the sad news about Whitney today. I seem to be in the same boat as you, all other goals on track, but the WIP is just to daunting isn’t it?
Yes, Nicole, I was torn on writing more on the short story to make my goal count or heading into fixing the outline issues. The outline issues feel like they are stopping me, so I pushed over there. Bouncing back and keeping the vitamins steady.
You shared a sweet tribute to Whitney. I’m so sad about her death. You finished your week strong. I know that feels good. I’d love to see the poncho you made. I’ve crocheted for years and took up knitting last year. I made my first baby sweater for my newest grandson, Grayson. It’s so cute!
I’m sad about Whitney too, Ali. It hurts my heart.
Thanks to ROW80, I’m almost done with the poncho (yeah!), though I think I should go back and undo my last row. I fell asleep on what I was doing and didn’t count. It might be off balance and end up leaving a hole as I keep going. Thanks for your comments and support!
My elderly aunt (who has since passed) my daughter, ( she was maybe nine or ten ) and I went to see The Preacher’s Wife at the movies. What good memories my daughter and I have of that snowy, cold, Indiana day. Three women, three generations, huddled in a movie theater, grinning at the plotline and listening to one of the world’s great talents sing.
Which begs the question: How many of millions and trillions of memories did Whitney Houston make for people all over the world, over all these years with her voice and talent? We can’t even begin to possibly count them. She’ll be missed.
I think you’re doing great on your goals Barbara. I’m good with my WIP but I’m terrible at checking in on Twitter and Facebook. I need to make a goal for that.
Yes, trillions of memories, Kate. As they started showing music video clips and playing songs, I flashed back to each grade and what I was doing when the songs came out. There were several I’d even learned and sung–in the hallways at school, with friends, for auditions. So many of us now share those memories and rites of passage. It is too soon for me to watch all of her videos in full…even to listen to the songs. When I am able to, I will rejoice in all the happier times.
Thanks for the goal support. I must attack the WIP more this week. 🙂
I can’t watch any of her videos in full right now either. Love hearing your Whitney memories. I wonder if she knew how much she affected people? I hope so.
Keep up the great work this week Barbara, the balance between social media, our busy lives and working on the WIP is tricky. Take it day by day.
Yep, I keep having to change the channels or radio stations. I was like that with MJ also. It is just too soon to immerse myself fully because it makes the loss is even more clear. I hope she did know how much the fans did love her and stay fans. Just because someone has not put something out for a bit doesn’t make us go away.
Thanks for the writing support, Kate. I hope to dig deep back into the WIP this week.
So sad to hear about Whitney’s passing. What a loss.
You are making good progress toward your goals. I have always known that those who set goals accomplish more. Unfortunately, I’ve never been one to set goals for myself. I have been busy working on my WIP and, for now, that makes me feel quite content. I’m getting there slowly.
If focusing on your WIP and getting that progress done works for you, then you are doing fine, Laura. The goals setting works in keeping me prioritized. I don’t want to fall back into a pattern of not setting aside time for my WIP or exercise. Thanks for stopping by and commenting.
You are moving along nicely Barbara. I think investing and working on the plot elements of your WIP counts very much towards your word count. I’d score that one a success.
You are rocking the social media these days. Wahoooo. I loved having you at my digs and all the amazing comments and conversation. It definitely ranks as one of my most fav posts. Thanks again soooo much for putting it together.
I gave up on the exercise this week myself. Just tossed in the towel and figure I’ll get back to it next week. LOL!!!
Hope you feel better and fight off the bug!!!
I loved reading your ROW80 update, Natalie, and seeing your gave up exercise to clean and write. Sometimes the balance skews, but we are still productive in other areas. Thanks for the guest post opportunity. Loved hanging out at your digs as well! Wait. I think I’m still lurking around looking for Valentine’s Day candy. Hubs is getting you some, right? *hand out* 😉
Whitney, yeah, very sad loss. She was one of my favorites growing up, her voice was simply unmatched and rare. She will be missed by many.
You had a great week and good idea to take it easy with the exercise. While normally I encourage people to press on there, limits do exist and we should always be careful with our health. Your move was a wise one. Now if you could just learn to crochet while napping.
Have a great week, Barbara 🙂
I better add crocheting while asleep to the goals. That would ROCK my productivity, Gene. 🙂 It did prove to me that I was really coming down with something and not fit to push myself. Hopping back on the exercise wagon this week.
You are so right about Whitney’s voice. Her singing was so effortless. I loved hearing her because she would sing showing the beauty of her voice and could sing a song quiet the entire time versus some singers that bellow from the first note. One of the greats.
Barbara, nothing worse than being sick in the dead of winter, with sad news on the horizon. It was quite a shock to us out here too. So tragic to see such talent cut short like that. I remember her first video in that white dress, singing about believing in yourself… that was our graduation song in high school.
Lovin this ROW80 update too, dahlink!
Thanks for the ROW80 love, Jenny! Yes, feeling half there in winter isn’t fun. And our winter this year has been all over in terms of temps, snow, rain, sunshine, etc. that it has thrown my sinuses for a loop. I vote for more sunshine and an early spring. 🙂
I remember those early videos too and the beauty of her and her talent as the highlight. She was also breathtaking in The Bodyguard.
So sorry you aren’t feeling well, but am glad you are resting and taking care of yourself. It’s so important. Looks like you are making good progress on your writing goals.
Take care of yourself.
So sad about Whitney Houston. When my husband read the news to me I was shocked, as if I knew her personally. She had an incredible talent.
That is how everyone I’ve spoken to felt, Bridgette. I was with my mother when I saw it go across the screen and we both screamed out, “oh no!” It hit like family because her talent and down-to-earth personality radiated like that to all her fans. No matter what we heard, we still rallied for her to be okay. I hated that her voice seemed to be hurt during her 2009 album release and concerts, but wished her the best in what she could still do.