Welcome to the fourth ROW80 check-in!

Note: this posted was scheduled on Friday to go live on Sunday, because I’ll be out of town during the weekend with internet only on my phone, and fumbling the blog on the phone is a pain in the @$$. If things change, if I end up writing during the weekend (which is unlikely) I’ll update the post later ;)

A reminder of my goals:

• Write at least 2k words from Mon to Fri (Sat and Sun are reserved for family!)
• Finish the MS I’m writing (for now, I call it Attitude)
• Edit Attitude
• Outline a novel for NaNoWriMo
• Participate on NaNoWriMo
• Read one book per week
• Blog at least once per week (besides the #ROW80 check-ins)
• Comment on #ROW80 friends’ blogs
• Exercise (I’ll define what and the frequency after my doctor gives me his okay)

Exercising:

Went Friday to the my doctor (foot specialist) with the result of my MRI.
I have cysts behind my knees (big ones) that are probably compressing my nerves and that causes the agonizing pain.
I’ll have to do another exam, more specific for nerves, to confirm it.
If the cysts are causing the pain, it’s a simple solution. Take them out with surgery and it should work. So, now I’m trying to schedule the next exam and get through this ;)
I’ll keep you all updated about it!

Blogging:

Since Wednesday, I had one more post besides this one, so I surpassed my weekly goal.

Reading:

I’m reading Touch by Jus Accardo.
I know, I know. Most people suggested JR Ward or Kelley Armstrong. I did start JR Ward, but idk, I saw how short Touch was and went to it.
Before Wednesday check-in I should have switched to JR Ward or Armstrong already.

Writing:

Wednesday: 1524 words (didn’t reach my 2k goal, but I have a good excuse: it was a holiday, family was home. They demanded some attention lol)
Thursday: 4453 words and I finished ATTITUDE! Yay!
Friday: since I finished Attitude and would spend the whole afternoon at my doctor’s, I decided to take Friday morning off. So no writing today. Which makes me sorta lost, but I think it’s okay (sometimes … ok, rarely!)
Weekend: no writing. With family ;)
But I printed ATTITUDE to start working on it next week. And I’ll also start outlining my next WIP.

How are my fellow ROWers doing?

Have great week everyone!

Cheers,

Third ROW80 update already? Jeez, where is time going?

Anyway, today is a holiday in Brazil. Holy Mary’s Day and also Children’s Day.

A reminder of my goals:

• Write at least 2k words from Mon to Fri (Sat and Sun are reserved for family!)
• Finish the MS I’m writing (for now, I call it Attitude)
• Edit Attitude
• Outline a novel for NaNoWriMo
• Participate on NaNoWriMo
• Read one book per week
• Blog at least once per week (besides the #ROW80 check-ins)
• Comment on #ROW80 friends’ blogs
• Exercise (I’ll define what and the frequency after my doctor gives me his okay)

As you guys may know, I have plans of participating on NaNo, but it’s not set on stone yet. I’ll see how things go, which means I’ll probably decide one day prior to the start date ;) However, I’m already signed up. If you want to be a writing buddy, my username is Juliana_Haygert over there. Go find me!

Now, for check-in …

Exercising:

Still nothing.
I’ve got my leg MRI done on Monday, now I’m waiting on results. Friday, I’ll pick up the results and go to my doctor. Let’s see …

Reading:

I finally finished Matched! Yay! When I was about 75% into it, that I thought things picked up and became interesting. I just wanted to get it done so I could choose another …
And I’m facing a dilemma about my the book: Dark Lover by JR Ward, The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong, The Demon King by Cinda Williams Chima or Touch by Jus Accardo. What do you guys think? Which one do you suggest I read first?

Blogging:

This is the third post of the week and probably will be the last until the next check-in on Sunday. I’ve commented on many blogs during the week.
And I’m Twitter all the time =)

Writing:

Monday: Only 2353 words. I know, I surpassed my goal, but, if I didn’t have my MRI during the afternoon, I would have aimed for 4k …
Tuesday: By 5pm, I had done 5 #1k1hr LOL and, the word count for the day ended at 6211 =)
Wednesday: Since it’s holiday, family is home. But I managed to write 721 words in the morning and I hope to get some more at night.
If I keep this up, I may finish Attitude by Friday. Woot!

I’m feeling pretty good about how things are going. I do hope to continue steady at this. I’m afraid to slow down once Attitude is done. I don’t want to stop writing, but I don’t know if I should to jump in on a new WIP right after finishing this one. Especially since I still have to revise it. I’m open to suggestions: after I finish Attitude, should I focus on editing it only OR should edit Attitude AND start a new WIP?

You can check my fellow ROWers progress here.

Hope all is well with you guys too!

Cheers,

Here we are, the second check of Round 4.

If you want to know about my goals, you can click here.

Exercising:

Still waiting for doctor’s permission. If you missed what I’m talking about, you can click here and read the whole story.

Blogging/Twitter:

I had a post out on Thursday, plus this one. So that added to 5 posts this week.

I’ve commented on other blogs to the point of losing count … and I kept commenting lol

And twitter … I’m on twitter all the time ;)

Speaking of twitter: I’m trying to follow all ROW80 members on twitter—yay for writers’ support! So, if I didn’t follow you yet, let me know.

Reading:

I’m still reading Matched by Ally Condie. It’s not capturing my attention. I hate when that happens. Normally, I devour a book within hours. Not this one =(

Writing:

Thursday: Four #1k1hr, plus some writing at night, to a total of 5031 words.

Friday: Wrote 3075 words, worked on a query and polished a first chapter for submission (ah!)

Saturday and Sunday are family time over here, but something unexpected happened: my husband had to work this weekend. That left us a problem: I’m in no condition to take care of my daughter alone (because of my leg), so my mother-in-law spent the weekend with us and took care of my daughter. I tried to stay clsoe to them, but they didn’t stop! When they went to the neighborhood’s playground, I was left alone with time in my hands. I read, I wrote 2 blog posts, I researched and I wrote. So:

Saturday: Wrote a blog post, researched, did one #1k1hr and wrote 1700 words.

Sunday: Did two #1k1hr in the morning and got 1593 words down. I plan to write more at night, so my word count will be higher when the day is done. UPDATE: I did one #1k1hr at night and got 1456 down. Total for the day: 3049 words! Woot!

I think things are going well over here—but it’s only the first week … I hope I can keep this up till the end =)

How about you? Are  you having fun yet?

Cheers,

My first #ROW80 check-in! Woot!

It’s been only 3 days, but it’s been wonderful and exciting so far! I’m very happy and excited about meeting so many fellow writers. I bet I’ll meet even more until the end of the challenge =)

So, where to begin …

Let’s start with EXERCISING

Well, I haven’t been doing any of that, orders from the doctor (that’s why on my goals it says after the doctor okays it).

However, I decided to explain a little about that here to my fellow ROWers (I’ll try to be quick). If you aren’t interested in this topic, feel free to skip to the next one.

Last year, in May, I ruptured two feet ligaments and had to quit ballet. Lots of physical therapy later, the doctor said I had to try and go on, enduring the pain, or would have to go through surgery. But, no ballet for me. I went back to normal life, but exercising was not fun anymore. I wanted to dance ballet. Anyway. A month ago, my ligaments started hurting again, out of nowhere. I didn’t twist my ankle or hit it anywhere. The pain started spreading through my whole foot and my shin—and the numbness started.

It hurt so bad, I went to the ER. They doc there said I had to see a foot specialist. However, he said that, because of the numbness, it was probably related to the spine. He gave me meds and sent me home, where I scheduled an appointment with my doctor, Dr. S., the foot specialist who treated my foot last year. Four days later, I went to his office and he too told me it looked like spine. A spinal disc herniation, to be more precise. He ordered a MRI of the spine first and scheduled a MRI for the leg later, in case it was not the spine, but he was 99% sure it was. Meanwhile, total bed-rest.

Some days later, I did the MRI on my spine. A couple of days later, I got the results. It said I have a Schmorl’s Node on my spine and that could cause, in the future, a disc herniation, but it can’t be whatever is causing the pain and the numbness on my leg. And let me tell you, it’s getting worse. I’m taking some heavy painkillers and still I can barely sleep at night because of the PAIN!

Anyway, now, I have leg MRUI scheduled for next Monday, the pain is killing me (lol) and I’m still resting as much as I can.

So, that’s my reason for not exercising. Yet.

I hope to find out whatever is causing the pain (and the numbness and the inside-out burning sensation), treat it, and go back to exercising.

Since I can’t dance ballet, I’m thinking about trying Yoga or Pilates. Let’s see.

Next topic, BLOGGING and TWITTER

I blogged more than expected. And I have another post coming up tomorrow.

I also commented on many blogs of our ROWers friends. And some other blogs that I usually read/follow.

And Twitter … well, that thing is addicting! Evil being! I’ve been tweeting for a long time, but, damn, I don’t want to turn it off! LOL

On to READING

I’m reading Matched by Ally Condie.

I’m about 40% in and, let me tell you, so far I’ve been forcing it. I read so many reviews, heard so many people raving about how wonderful this book would be, that I think I was expecting more.

Well, I’m not done yet, so I’m hoping things will heat up ;)

Finally, WRITING 

That department is going well.

Monday and Tuesday I wrote a little over my quota (2k per day).

But today was awesome. Today alone I did four #1k1hr and got down around 4k words. And I plan to do one more tonight lol

This #1k1hr is addicting too and I plan to participate on them whenever I can.

Gosh, I wrote a longer post than I intended to. Sorry, friends!

To finish, I just wanted to let you know I’m very excited and happy to be a part of round 4 of #ROW80. Having loads of fun so far!

I hope  you all are doing great =)

Cheers,