8 - 10am          get dressed, breakfast

10-10:30am      NPR news

10:30-11am      Weekly Rotation: brainstorm blog drafts, pay bills, travel writing, photo editing/posting

11-2pm            dissertation research, drafting, academic articles, conference opportunities

2-3pm              lunch break (websites, social media, professional e-mail)

3-6/7pm           creative writing, research/reading for that purpose, some drawing (audiobooks? NPR music?)

7-8pm              dinner, workout

evening            personal email, Skype calls, movies/TV with Alex, Russian lessons, etc.

(bills once a week, email daily, schedule calls)

Skype call rotation

• Hoffmans
• Brockmeiers
• Claire
• Tihleigh
• Amy A/W
• Jaime/Todd
• Bryce
• James

Dinner Ideas:

• what's fresh at the market?
• plan leftovers ahead of time (2-3 meals)
• read to each other during cooking/clean up
• add quinoa for more protein and low calories

Activities

• exercise daily with Alex
• ballet classes (once I've learned some Russian)
• get involved in a women's group or otherwise find group of friends
• seek out local libraries, librarians, higher ed professors/researchers

Goals

• complete dissertation
• complete PhD
• obtain adjunct teaching position at university
• complete novel (Godmother)
• learn Russian enough to 1) order food, 2) shop, 3) talk with locals