Happy 2011!

The object of a New Year is not that we should have a new year. It is that we should have a new soul and a new nose; new feet, a new backbone, new ears, and new eyes. Unless a particular man made New Year resolutions, he would make no resolutions. Unless a man starts afresh about things, he will certainly do nothing effective. ~G.K. Chesterton



I have made resolutions. Many are private, but one I will share here:

WRITE.

I resolve to write and to submit work this year. I *will* get a contract for something somewhere reputable if it's the last thing I do.

What's something you're resolving to do this year? Or, are you resolving to not resolve anything?

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You Appreciate Diversity

You are cosmopolitan, but you don't make a show if it. You are proud of your taste, but you keep that pride to yourself. You are responsible and restrained. You've gotten far in your life from being disciplined. Right now, you value your own needs most. You believe it's time to take care of yourself. You are bright and curious about the world. You feel like you're in a bit of a rut, and you're looking for a little something more out of life.

What Does Your New Year's Eve Say About You?

Aside from the fact that I'm SO not cosmopolitan, this is pretty close.

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Random Saturday

We spend January 1 walking through our lives, room by room, drawing up a list of work to be done, cracks to be patched. Maybe this year, to balance the list, we ought to walk through the rooms of our lives... not looking for flaws, but for potential. ~Ellen Goodman


see more dog and puppy pictures

It's finally snowing here. Quite a bit, actually, but not the blizzard of the century -- thank heavens! It's supposed to be followed by extremely high winds, so I'm hoping I won't lose power. That sounds all "doom and gloom", but I tend to be one of those "hope for the best but prepare for the worst" kind of people.

Anyone from Kansas out there? I need a really tiny, remote, out in the middle of nowhere town to use in a story. Help?

My dog has started doing this wonderful thing in the early mornings when I take her out. She'll stop her potty pacing, stare off into the woods and growl. Yeah -- for someone like me who has a very VERY vivid imagination, this isn't fun. I really wish she'd stop.

Have you noticed that it's staying light later than 4 p.m. now? Summer is right around the corner!

I still love my Nook. I downloaded those 16 free books from Harlequin last week. I started reading one last night, but realized I'd already read it. I need to delete some stuff off of there (like my own stories) to make it easier to find the other stuff I have on there. My only complaint with the Nook is that the PDF files name themselves in random ways, so I can't always readily see what a book is. I've decided that, despite the nearly unlimited storage space on the thing, I'm only going to keep "keepers", just like I do IRL. Why keep something on there I'll never read again, yanno?

"Agnes and the Hitman" is my fave book by Jenny Crusie (and Bob Mayer of course)... I read it again over the past couple of days trying to feel inspired to write "Drive Me Crazy" (and yes, you have to have a slightly warped sense of humor to enjoy "Agnes", but I most certainly do) and it is an absolutely perfect romantic comedy. Perfect. *sigh*

I've gained almost four pounds since Christmas. Must. Stop. Eating. Chocolate. It also doesn't help that I'm nearly sedentary because of all the crappy weather we've been having.

Didn't make resolutions this year. I've decided I'm into shorter term goals any more. I may do month-to-month ones. Like this month, I need to stop eating so much chocolate! And I need to find time in my crazy day to write, edit and promote. Good goals, those. They should probably be more specific, though. I'll work on it. Did you make any resolutions?

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The True You Values Harmony

You want your girlfriend or boyfriend to be more relaxed, calm, and composed. With respect to money, you spend carefully and save your pennies. You think good luck depends on maintaining good relationships with others. The hidden side of your personality tends to be satisfied to care for things with a minimal amount of effort. You are tend to think about others' feelings a lot, perhaps because you are so eager to be liked. When it comes to finding a romantic partner, you base your search on information from your friends.

Who's The True You?

Ehhh... so so...

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Happy New Year!

We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day. ~Edith Lovejoy Pierce

Resolutions.

Every year I make them. Mostly, because if you have no goals, how do you know if you've done what you wanted to do?

I try to make them reasonable. I try to choose those that make me stretch a bit, but aren't so impossible that I give up.

I make more "business" goals than "personal" ones.

This year? I have to recognize how busy I am with everything, and keep things just within reach of my fingertips.

Some things are out of my control, so I won't say, "I will get published with XXX house this year."

My resolutions?

Personal:

1. Raise a happy, friendly, obedient dog.
2. Raise a happy, intelligent, interesting daughter.
3. Eat right, exercise more (note: I'm more interested in being healthy than being thin).
4. Learn how to make more meals my husband likes to eat.

Business:

1. Find a home for "Kitchen Matches".
2. Finish "Camilla" and submit to a particular print press.
3. Write the two vintage short stories (set in 1933 and 1942).
4. Finish the fantasy I began during NaNo, and find a home for it.
5. Figure out promotions for "Liv" and apply toward all future releases.
6. Build LASR to be "the" reviews site on the web.
7. Learn better how to write in HTML/CSS.
8. Find a way to afford (and justify)going to RWA in San Francisco in July.
9. Practice writing articles and find homes for them.
10. Write something every day.

That's it. It should all be attainable. We'll see how it goes.

What about you? Do you set goals for yourself? Do you find that goals energize you or stress you out? I love to have goals set -- it's like a map to help me find my way. I think it's one of the reasons I enjoy doing NaNoWriMo so much: I have my eye on the goal.

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Your Daily Dakota -- her new favorite pastime:



And, as a bonus shot, I give you the reason Santa should never, ever bring Sweetart candy canes:



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And OH MY HEAVENS HOW DID I FORGET???

My next story, "Don't Fence Me In" releases TOMORROW!!! You remember, the one with the lovely cover?



If it's any incentive to buy... Judy tells me it makes her cry every time (yes, she's read it...right now she is my one and only crit partner!).

You can read a blurb and an excerpt (both at my website).

I should probably think of a promotion of some sort... Crikey. Where does the time go? Anyone have any thoughts for a great promotion I can set up in less than a day??

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You Are An Intro-Extrovert!

Sometimes you're social - sometimes you're shy You've got a bit of an Introvert / Extrovert split going on You enjoy all sorts of situations. Parties, small groups, and alone time. Too much of one, and you'll long for the other. You need variety! Chances are, you've got both serious and fun friends - and they don't get along.

Are You An Extroverted or Introverted Girl?