Progress Report #5

Hello Everyone!

First off, I would like to apologize for the brief hiatus that I recently went on. Life happened.

Then the plan was to come back at the beginning of this month, but certain things occurred that I had to work through before I could truly even consider writing about it.

Of the things that happened that caused me to stop, I guess my dad losing his job was on of the bigger deals. It isn't a new story; it isn't anything that we've never heard of before. But it was one of those things that you just don't expect to happen to you. And I guess it didn't happen to me, it happened to my dad, but since he is still financially supporting 90% of what I do (which I'm super thankful for) it added a bit of stress.

He spent June focusing on his health. Now he has a part-time gig at Lowe's mixing paint. It isn't much, but it is something and we are managing.

Then at the end of last month there was a shift leader position open at my store which I applied for, along with one of the other people who has been at the store about the same amount of time i have (I think I joined the staff a week or two after him).

He got it. Don't get me wrong he is doing fantastic and 100% deserved the promotion. But I guess it hurt more than I was letting on because I know it is something I'd be good at. Oh, well.

The good thing is, when I didn't get the promotion, something in my brain just.... clicked.

I knew how I wanted to change my first draft.

I wrote out an outline.

Now, the second draft is moving along nicely, but I'll get more into that in a moment.

We are a couple weeks into this Season's Bachelor in Paradise and I've no idea really whether I'm enjoying it or hating it. What I do know is that "After Paradise" sucks this year for many reasons.

1.) No Chris Harrison.
2.) Too much is going on.
3.) I feel like the lady host (I forget her name) is very good at interrupting.
4.) No Chris Harrison.
5.) They bring on people, but the people really say nothing (which makes sense because they are all still on the show so they can't say anything.)
6.) DID I MENTION THERE IS NO CHRIS HARRISON?????

Dancing with the Stars starts next month, so I'm excited for that!

Now, on to the actual Progress Report!

As I mentioned earlier, I started working on the second draft of my novel.

-Its current word Count is: 52287
I technically have a children's picture book written too, and it is on like its 12th revision. So if there is anyone who wants to be a Beta Reader for it (or is willing to read it to a child, either leave a comment or hit me up-- but it is currently picture-less so be warned of that).

Weight has been moving along slowly, but consistently.

-This morning my weight was: 143.8 lbs
I am so pumped to hit under 140, you have no idea. Hopefully it happens before I go to Nashville for my best friend's wedding, but if it doesn't that's okay.

I'm in the process of thinking the universe is sending me messages because

-Amount of Job Offers without applying for anything in the past month: 4
This has me more stressed than I would like to admit. Like all of them would pay better than where I am currently at for normal salary and three of them would have more consistent schedules. But health insurance for the ones that I have seriously looked at is more expensive. They involve a lot of sitting and computer work, which would then hinder me wanting to sit down and write. I've decided if I'm offered one more then it is the universe attempting to tell me that maybe I should look away from my current position.

I am going to end this post with something I have been putting off for awhile. I'm going to add pictures of me which feels really weird, but for those who are actually following my journey in hopes to see change, it would be helpful I guess.

This was June 2014, prior to me getting diagnosed with PCOS. My weight was approximately 190. And of course it is Hathor being adorable.

This is March 2016 with my little sister. I weighed about 150 at this time.

The latest picture was taken just a week or so ago on August 7th with my mother as we were waiting to see Wicked. My weight was 144.9 lbs.

As I went through the pictures, I realized two things.
1.) I apparently don't take many selfies.
2.) Looking at the pictures side-by-side, there is some obvious change. It helps motivate myself a little bit more.

Until next time (which is much closer of a point in time than last time),

Shelby Hild