HindSight is 20/20 Unless Your Near-sited Like Me

I am procrastinating finishing my last few chapters on my tween paranormal book (which BTW I am loving right now and having so much fun with.)

To me, the hardest time about writing is the beginning. I get great ideas - its just starting them.

I love the moment when you are ALMOST done with a book and it is just pouring out of you. So fast that you almost cant type coherently.

Then my fingers started to cramp.

Damn fingers!

I was sitting here writing (well technically typing) when my hands started to cramp which made me stop for a break which made me start thinking - man I wish i would have learned to type better which led me to this post.

HindSight is 20/20

And in hindsight, these are all the things I wish I had never done:

1. cheat in my typing class. Don't get me wrong I am a fast pecker (wait that doesn't sound good does it?). I am a fast typer with about 5 fingers - 3 on my right hand and 2 on my left (wait thumbs count as fingers - right?). I wonder if I'd done typing class the right way would I be typing faster? Which makes me wonder if I'd be writing faster? Which makes me wonder if I'd crank out books faster? At the very least, I am pretty sure I would have avoided the "claw-hands" on the keyboard.
2. complained about my weight before kids ( I'll throw in another one here - never yo-yo dieted). I have been on a diet for the last 6 weeks, have lost 14 lbs and have 8 to go just to get back to my pre-baby weight (notice i said weight! not shape!) And do you know what? The pre-baby weight is what I used to complain about and call fat. Now, it's the weight I (and my tightish clothes) only dream about. I'm talking if I could just get back into my pair of Skinny-Fat jeans, I'd be happy. The skinny-skinny jeans are a joke at this point. I didn't really start this diet (or now way of eating) to lose weight (though I should have), I started it b/c of the 6 month vertigo thing, thinking maybe if I detox I'll feel better. And it worked! But I had to drop everything - caffeine, dairy, sugar and complex carbs ( I sound so healthy right?), but the drop in weight has been great. Why did I ever complain about where I was - it's crazy cuz I now I realized I looked damn good :)


3. left journalism school to become a business major. I don't think there is much I need to explain on this one - its obvious right? I am so much more happier now writing in jeans and flip flops than I was in my expensive executive suits. But more than anything, I could really use that MFA (instead of my MBA) about now. To think I was only 3 letters (C, D, and E) away from my path! So close!


4. took out a 20 year graduate school loan! yes that's right, this is my last year for those who just grabbed a calculator and tried to figure out my age *sigh*. In graduate school, I had the option of 10, 15 or 20 years. I chose 20 to keep my payments down and of course (just like my parents said -you were right dad!!) I never paid more than I had to in any month. Now 20 years later and probably 100,000$ instead of 20,000$, I can see the end. Only 3,000$. AH! Well at least it will be gone before I turn 40 in 2 years.


5. went out of state for my college degrees. Auburn's grad program (though I loved my time there - War Eagle!) was 4 times as expensive as UGA's. See #4 for further explanation of why this is a regret.


6. bought our expensive car. We bought a BMW before I quit my high-paying, high-fluting executive job. Every month when I write the car payment, I cringe. Why I thought expensive cars were so cool and necessary, is beyond me. Now I just want to get rid of it but of course in this economy - what crazy person is buying a BMR. And those that are, surely don't want my cheerio-infested, grimy handled one. I look forward to the days of old cars, lots of miles, and low payments. Though now my hubby drives it and I have my jeep Commander. The BMW just wasn't me :) You cant be a starving writer and ride around in a BMW. It doesn't fit the image.


7. was late on paying my bills on time. Yes, in this economy on only one salary, credit is key to low interest and loan offers when needed. Now, I am good at paying bills but I wasn't always. Now, I have BillPay at BofA (love it!). And my late-late payments were years ago, but unfortunately still within the dread 7 year window. *sigh*. I just could not remember to pay bills when I was in college, traveling on my job and especially when I was prego - sorry honey but still i did it like 90% of the time. But it doesn't matter - one or two kill you.

That's it for now - my claw hands are back. :)