To Do List - Very Boring, Feel Free to Skip

This entry is for my own peace of mind.  I'm getting that shallow breath "too much to do--can't process correctly" feeling and so feel the need to regurgitate for all to see the tasks I need to remember "to do."  As I type these words I'm literally thinking, "I'll forget something.  Oh no, make a list of things not to forget to put on the to do list."  Time for drugs.

So this is more of my "calm down, it's all here list."  Pretty mundane stuff so try again tomorrow.  I've got a cute story about how my Saturn station wagon became possessed and trapped Blair inside.  Good stuff.

Here we go!

Dena's To Do List:

Decorating

• Have Blair look at lamps one more time for bedroom and decide yes/no.  I lean toward yes.
• Call Steve and see if we can order tile from Cabinet Lady but have him install.  If yes, call Cabinet Lady and order tile.  If no, see if he will install heated floor and then if C.L. will install tile.
• Call Marty and get on his schedule to contract all this.
• Take 2 days and scrape wallpaper off bathroom walls - asap! 
• Order bathroom faucets (for shower) - get same ones as in guest bath?
• Order sheets for bed (Someone recommended overstock.com)

Conference - Charlotte, all weekend

• Print out the first 15 pages of both "Millicent" and "Sam" - 2 copies of each.
• Remember to bring: handouts/postcards/business cards/camera
• Extras: water/sunglasses/extra contacts/healthy snacks/tea bags
• Pack tonight. What wearing for speech tomorrow?  Will last 2 hour car drive or change once there?
• Go over intro to speech several more times - Remember to bring my notes!!!
• Make self exercise before leave tomorrow - get up early!
• Review conference brochure so can talk semi-intelligently to other faculty w/out embarrassing self by not knowing who they are

News & Record Auto Articles

• Next week - schedule next 4 appointments
• Find antique car clubs / motorcycle clubs / RV clubs - any interesting care for "Tire Tracks"
• Follow-up with Brian for woman who just bought Hummer
• Compose e-mail and send to all dealerships explaining what Tire Tracks is so they may give me referrals
• Delete photos off camera

College PreView Magazine Article

• While at conference this weekend, write 3 profiles AND rough draft of entire article
• Call student back and set time for interview EARLY next week
• Need to interview a female African-American or Hispanic high school or college student who runs her own business.  Call Drena's son, e-mail Robbyn, call Universities.

Website Updates

• New blog page- Readers Cats (need better name). Add in couple of photos/stories I have
• New blog or LIS page - organizations I donate book sales to
• New Blog or LIS media page - media appearances - when and where
• Add NSA confernce info to sites
• Lessons In Stalking Website - need to add e-commerce options that can track codes.  Review bids, award project and move work forward.  Must be done by end of next week!!!
• Dena Harris website - MUST ADD IN BOOK COVER AND LINKS FOR Chicken Soup for the Cat Lover's Soul.  I have no idea how to do this.  Call Melody.
• Netfirms - are stats tracked just for DH site or also for LIS site?  How can I track separately?
• Need to better promote all sites - submit to search engines, etc.
• UPDATE site so says the book is here instead of "coming soon"

Lessons In Stalking  Book

• Call Borders about book launch - NOW NOW NOW!!!
• Book Orders for pre-orders need to go out SAME DAY book comes in
• Follow-up with Shana on time frame for second printing
• Need sign for book signings - one for book and one for "Tell Me About Your Cat" for blog page
• Find balloons with cats on them?
• Guest book for contact list?
• Contact every cat site under the sun and see what media exposure I can drum up - need to devote at least a full day to get this cranked up
• Send out review copies of book - but first need to make a list of where exactly those copies would be set out
• Meet w/Michael & Pam re: sales
• Go through media folder and GET ORGANIZED - track where when I pursue media and results - avoid duplication and annoying people!
• Send copies out to everyone who blurbed the book with note of thanks.
• Press Releases to local media
• Send to Amazon ASAP
• Write note to mail out with book, asking readers to review on Amazon?
• Stock up on shipping supplies - need to be ready to roll...
• Much, much more that I know I'm missing....

Chicken Soup for the Cat Lover's Soul Book

• Remember to take camera to radio interview next week - go prepared with notes and favorite quote
• Follow up on morning TV show interview
• Make sure Dusty Dunn has received copy of book
• Post on blog and website
• e-mail friends - I can get 50% discount but need to factor in time/shipping costs
• Order additional copies to sell or use as give aways at my book signings

Novel & Short Story Article

• Compose outline and questions
• Call Katherine and interview her
• Get 3 contacts and interview
• Need rough draft done by end of October! This one needs work and should have time to sit!!

Public Speaking Book

• Simply must make time for this, starting 1st week in October, back on writing schedule
• Get my sections written then add in stories/anecdotes - pull from contact list
• Find stories/anecdotes - obtain permissions

Teaching

• E-mail and find out curriculum and begin preparing
• Creative Writing Class - need course outline and exercises / syllabus
• Find new exercises for standard P.S. workshop - it's feeling a bit stale, needs new energy

Miscellaneous

• Figure out how to work the stupid cell phone - delete or save in middle of message, get rid of pics and go back to text
• Exercise schedule
• New filing system that will probably have to wait until less pressed for time
• Time spent with Blair and the cats would be lovely

Updates All Around

I don't have enough of any one subject to make a full blog entry so I thought I'd take today to piecemeal updates on different projects.

1. The Battle of "You Know."  As mentioned in a prior post, I am trying to break myself of saying "You know" and "okay" in everyday speech.  Progress is being made in that I'm catching myself saying it (4 times last night at Wendy's in about a 20-minute time frame--sheesh!) but I haven't yet stopped  saying it.  That will come.  I'm also expanding the "no-no" list to include "actually."  I start way too many sentences that way.  "Actually, I think you're right."  "Actually, I think we turn left here."  There is just no need.
2. Big Cat Book Project.  Completed and turned in.  I'm very happy with the final product and they seem to be too.  The release date for the book is April 2006.  For a person with little to no patience, I chose a really poor field to enter.
3. Lessons In Stalking.  My first ad for the book came out in the November issue of Cats & Kittens.  The editor there was good to me and not only placed an ad, but gave me a book review and put a picture of my book in the Table of Contents for people to flip to the review.  I'll just sit back now and wait for the orders to start pouring in. =)
4. Decorating Diaries.  We meet with the bathroom woman this week.  I don't think that's her official title (at least, I hope not) but lucky her, that's how we refer to her since we'll be selecting the cabinets and tile with her.
5. Cats.  They're lucky their cute.  I spend 10 minutes every morning going around the bottom half of our home, opening windows to let in fresh air.  We have the old fashioned windows that swing out vs. up, so to open a window means pushing up the storm window, shoving the window open, locking it, then pulling the screen down.  Not to mention bracing most windows with a post so they don't accidentally slam shut on a kitty tail.  My point being, a fair amount of work is involved.  So what do the cats do?  Hunker down in the air-conditioned upstairs for five-hour siestas.
6. Public Speaking.  I'm signed up to do an October workshop for the WGOT and the library on Public Speaking Tips for Writers.  However, looks like my Saturday magazine writing class is not going to make.  The college instructor said the gas prices were really hurting attendance at non-mandatory classes--people just can't afford to drive out to them. It's schedule again for November so I remain hopeful I'll still get the class--and some magazine writers--going.

And finally, Dena's tip for the day.  Throw out your scale.  We got rid of ours about 2 months ago because it was never right and would show a six pound weight gain or loss from day to day--talk about mood swings! But I feel great without it.  Now I actually go by how I look and how my clothes fit vs. a number on the scale.  Yeah, yeah, the experts have been saying that for years but who listens to them?  Trust me--much happier life with no scale.

Okay, Speaking Can Be Like, Hard. You Know?

I gave a 30-minute speech on Wednesday to my Toastmaster's group.  The speech was the "stock" speech I deliver at job clubs and business luncheons in the area with tips for being a more successful speaker. 

Overall, I was pleased with how the speech went and how it was received.  However, it was pointed out that while I have excellent control over not saying "um" or "ah," I do have the verbal tic of saying "Okay" and "You know?"

I knew I had these so it's no great surprise.  Still, it was a little bit like having cold water throw on me to have someone else point out my flaws.  But everything for a reason.  I have 4 months to get these tics under control until I present at NSA University.  So I've asked Blair to help me and point out every time I say "okay" or "you know," even in casual conversation. 

"Do I get to throw things at you when you do it?" he asked.

Yes, he's a joy to live with.

But this is an alert for family and friends as well.  Yell or blow a whistle at me or something every time you hear me say "Okay" and "You know."  I'm thinking of setting up a charity jar and putting a dollar in it every time I mess up.  I am loath to part with money so perhaps that will do the trick.

You know?

Invitation to Speak....

Here's my exciting news I mentioned in an earlier post.  I've been asked to speak as a faculty member for the National Speakers Association (NSA) winter meeting at Loes Ventana Canyon Resort in Arizona.   The event is being billed as "NSA University" and has 4 tracks members chose may choose from: branding, marketing, performance, writing.  I'll be on the writing track along with two other faculty members and the three of us are responsible for 14 hours of class time including panel discussions, small group interactions, writing practice, pre-program assignments, etc.  It's an all expense paid trip plus they'll buy 100 copies of my book, and I can sell more copies in the bookstore. 

NSA is big time.  One of my long-term goals is to be eligible to join their group.  These are people who more often than not are making a living from their public speaking practice.  One way to become eligible for membership is to have earned $25,000 in the last year from speaking appearances. (Um, gee, I haven't earned that, but I was given a free lunch at my last speaking appearance.  Would that count??)

I am nervous about speaking in front of professional speakers, but not overly so--at least not yet.  We'll see how I'm doing in January.  I look on this as a "practice what you preach" opportunity.  I'm forever telling my students, "Audiences don't care about perfect. Audiences care about real."  And "Be yourself. Do the best you can.  Giving a not-so-great speech is not the end of the world."

Good advice.  But of course, I also want to kick-ass. =)  The Dean of our writing program is working on curriculum that we'll then refine.  I  am SO excited.  This is a fantastic networking opportunity.  I can't wait to see what comes of it.