I have no idea how long ago I had decided that I had to write an easy DIY theater book for teachers and home-educators. It was one of those things that I just had to do. Had to. It's been years since I started thinking about it, then writing those thoughts on paper, then typing it up, then deleting what couldn't go in there, then editing some more, then formatting it--it's been years. TODAY I finally pushed the Publish Button. It's 12:48 am and the only thing I can think is "I did it" (said with much surprise). Somehow it doesn't matter that it took me so long; it doesn't matter that I didn't get it published through a traditional publisher (what's so traditional about anything I do anyway?). The only thing that matters right now is I did it. I realize that millions of people will never read it. But  that's okay. I've now left a legacy and that feels good.

Here's what I want to get done: (UPDATE: I actually managed to accomplish a few things!)

1. UPDATE: COMPLETED! Write The Encounters of Paul Bunyan, a play to be performed by twenty-three 9 yo during the summer at CET. (This MUST get done, not just a "want.")
2. UPDATE: COMPLETED!Format and create a cover for my book The Other Art: Theater Skills for Every Child, Home Edition.
3. UPDATE: COMPLETED!Upload it to Smashwords
4. UPDATE: COMPLETED! Format and create a cover for The Other Art, School Edition.
5. UPDATE: COMPLETED! Upload it to Smashwords.
6. UPDATE: COMPLETED! Complete the editing of White Fire.
7. UPDATE: COMPLETED! Re-edit White Fire.
8. UPDATE: COMPLETED! Format and get a cover for White Fire.
9. UPDATE: COMPLETED! Upload it to Smashwords.
10. UPDATE: COMPLETED! Write a new children's show for me and Chris to perform in August at Double Play Saturday.
11. Write a  new children's show for December's Double Play Saturday.
12. Complete a second draft for White Fire 2...which title alludes me right now.
13. Complete a second draft for Thirina's Desert...and decide whether I think it's worth editing beyond that.
14. Finish my last NaNoWriMo novel...and the name is totally gone out of my head. And I don't feel like looking it up.
15. Start a Kids monologue book.
16. UPDATE: COMPLETED! Get my Short Scripts for 2-3 Kids, which is already on SmashWords, onto Amazon.
17. Submit one of my picture books and get Steven Kellogg to illustrate it. (I love his pictures)
18. Learn how to illustrate well so I can create the illustrations for the rest of my picture books.

And while I'm at it, I'd also like to:

1. totally declutter the shed, the garage, the attic, and the office. I suppose my closet could use a going over too.
2. Landscape the front and backyards.
3. Build a new deck.
4. Create some pathways through the field.
5. Plant the upper field in trees--don't know what kind yet; or maybe timber bamboo.
6. Make a plywood cut-out of a panda or two and paint them and put them among the bamboo.
7. Fix up the barn.
8. Make a strong, deep, tall fence for the dogs.
9. Grow veggies all year.
10. Create a  fish hatchery in the back field.
11. Cross stitch a few gorgeous pictures and give them away to some special people as gifts. (Yes, I already know who but they can't know...because I might just finish the projects.)
12. And play more games.
13. And spend more time with family and friends.

(None of these items include anything on my bucket list.)

So, let's see, if I were to use Milo's pencil--the one he got from the Mathemagician (everyone should have at least one copy of this book; I've been through three or four in my lifetime and I want to get the Kindle version, too)--I could figure out how long all these projects are going to take...and maybe I could just live forever, too. :/

Next post will have to be: How I Whittled Down my To-Do LIst So I Didn't Drive Myself Insane!