Ink Woes

July promises to be a very, very busy month. I have tons of projects that are either midway or ready to get started and I'm actually excited to get going. In my list:

• Start the first draft of my new non-fiction book

• Write the intro for my sold book

• Earn at least $500 a week from my ongoing clients

• Start the first draft of a picture book I've been thinking about for ages (I just joined a critique group so I can work on this alongside others)

• Start posting 2x/week or more to my blogs

That seems like a fair number of goals, but I'll add more as I figure them out.

In February 2008, I enrolled in an (accredited, 100% real) online university with the goal of obtaining a degree in criminal justice. I expected the classes to be challenging, but some are downright painful. I still have two courses left to complete my first semester, which I should have finished eight months ago! (I'm not dumb. Life got in the way and I had to take a break). One of the advantages of online education, however, is flexibility, which means you can step away when things get tough and come back only when you're ready. With the move to Vietnam and everything that implied, I wasn't in the right place (emotionally, financially or mentally) to keep up with my studies, so I took a break. Until now. Last month, I requested an extension, paid my overdue tuition and got the books out again.

It felt good.

If anything, this is proof that it's never too late to go back to school.

Despite what it may seem at first view, I do more than just write.

Honestly.

I also try to survive in a new country, deal with the heat, move more often than any normal person in the world should, try to keep up with my emails, send letters to those who refuse to get an email account, save money, plan a trip to Bangkok, go shopping (nothing fun, I'm afraid) and even manage to watch some of the new movies coming out (loved Up and Star Trek!).

Oh, I also fell climbing the fence (don't ask) and now my left foot is twice the size it's supposed to be, all nicely black and blue and really painful. So I'm hopping around the house like a kid, except that it's nowhere near fun, especially when stairs are involved.

(Yes, I'm whining)

So anyway, I haven't been doing much physical stuff lately because of my foot (although all the hopping must count for something, right?) but that doesn't mean I haven't been busy. I do have some writing projects that need attention, including some work for my regular clients, coming up with an intro for my soon-to-be-published fitness book and starting the outline for my next project. Despite the chaos that is my life right now, at least the writing is under control. Right now anyway.

Actually, I can't remember a time when I haven't been broke. It's just ridiculous. I know you've heard it before: it's not about not making enough money, but about spending whatever it is I do earn. No matter what my income is, it's always gone by the end of the month. The funny (or sad) thing is that I've survived on as little as $200 a month but then spent $1,000 the next month on things I can't even remember buying. I don't really shop much, I don't have any vices, I'm a vegetarian... You would think I'd be able to make ends meet somewhat, but it hasn't happened.

My next book (which is in the planning stage) is actually about it. I'm giving myself a year to save $10,000 and blogging my way through the whole experience. Don't think it's possible? I think it's more than possible. I think anybody can do it given the right mindset, good planning and enough determination. And if there's something I am is stubborn. If I want something bad enough, I'm getting it. So feel free to come back here for quick updates or stop by the official 10000 blog and follow me through this journey. I'll even let you make fun of me when I start whining about the whole thing.

Now I live here:

How's that for a change?

I plan on staying around for about a year, hopefully trying to figure out what to do with my life, my career and some other odds and ends. Mr. Journey (just because he needs a name and I can't come up with anything better right now), my dog and my cat are also here.

It's been a hell of a ride so far. I arrived in Hanoi in February and since then so many things have happened... Some really good, some really bad. In the end, I guess that's life, and you take what you get and make the best of it. So for now, this is my story.