Thursday Thirteen – New Year Resolutions

Oh yes, my little chickadees, it’s that time of year again!  It’s time to take stock in what we accomplished (or didn’t) in the year that’s gone by.  It’s now time to look ahead and plan for the future.  So, with that in mind, here’s my list of things I’d like to see get done in 2008! 

1. Get a mamogram – Looks like an odd thing to put first – doesn’t it?  And while I don’t have a family history of breast cancer – I’ve put off getting my baseline mamogram for long enough. (So, now all you family members & friends who remind me ALL the time to get this done, can get off my back!) 

2.  Curb my inner pack-rat – I think our house move this year brought this more into focus for me.  I am a pack-rat.  Maybe not a full-blown hoarder yet, but it’s coming if I don’t get a handle on it now.  It’s hard.  I’ve seen shows on this behavior and at some point many “hoarders” need therapy and medication – I don’t want that to be me.  I will learn to throw stuff out and organize!

3. Exercise – I know it’s important.  I know it’s going to benefit me in the long run, but I’ve yet to actually get off my duff and do it.  I might need a push every now and again, but this year, I’m going to exercise! 

4. Up my patience level. Yup – a tough one for me, cause if you know anything about me – I have no patience for stupidity, for people who don’t think and act for themselves, for anyone on the pity train well past their time to get off, etc. etc. etc… I think I can be more tolerant. (Okay, I might need earplugs or become blind – but it’s worth a shot, right?)

5. Keep my agorophobic tendancies from overwhelming me. Yup, there it is, I’ve said outloud.  I’m agorophobic.  I go out of my way to stay home.  My family and friends have begun to call me and invite me OUT and force me to make plans.  When I think about it, I see that this could be a problem – but when I’m home (writing) I don’t feel the need to leave.  Maybe having my groceries delivered is a bad sign?  I will leave my house and my desk in 2008 on a regular basis.

6. Show my family & friends I love them.  Nope, it’s not enough to toss out the occasional “I love ya” – actions speak louder than words, and let’s face it – life and time is fleeting.  Say it now.  Show it now.  Even if that means letting the writing sit and turning off the computer after dinner to sit and talk.  I think this is a resolution I can handle!

7. Save. Hmmm. We just bought house that needs some work – is this even possible?  I am going to strive this year, to say NO to something impulsive and bank the money instead.  Might just be that second White Chocolate Mocha Latte at Starbucks, but it’s a start, right?

8. Submit second novella. Since at the writing of this resolution list, I plan to have my first novella sealed and out the door by the end of the year – I’m going to plan to write a second in the latter half of 2008.  

9. Start and Finish my planned novel.  My next idea is brewing and I’ve begun plotting in my head – which hopefully will make it to my plot board by January 1. 

10. Procrastinate Less. I’m laughing as I write that – is that a bad sign?

11. Be a better critique partner – Surprise, surprise, I can be quite blunt and honest in my critiques.  Not that this is necessarily a bad thing, but a little praise goes a long way.  I can do better in balancing the negative with the positive.  Hear that girls?

12. Have more confidence in myself – In my writing as well as every other aspect of my life.  I have many good points, it doesn’t do anyone any good to dwell on their faults for too long.  I need to have more faith in my own ability as a writer, stand on my own and not allow others to water down my voice. (I am NOT saying any of my critique partners do this, it’s my own weaknesses I’m talking about here!)

13. Expect success! – I will send out queries.  I will send out partials, which will lead to sending out fulls and finally becoming a published author!  I can dream it, I can do it!

So what’s on your resolution list for 2008?

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1. Jennifer Leeland
2. Tempest Knight
3. Savannah Chase
4. Jennifer Shirk
5. Gina Ardito
6. Heather
7. Red Garnier
8. Angelle

 

Christmas Tag

This Christmas meme is from Kristen Painter. So blame her for getting it started, and Jennifer can now share the blame as she tagged me!. And away we go:

1. Eggnog or hot chocolate. IS A TIE ALLOWED?  I love my eggnog, love it spiced with rum…but, who can pass up the chocolate?

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just put them under the tree?  Wrap ‘em up baby!  Nothing like the sound of presents being ripped open, paper flying and the mess on the floor!

3. Colored or white lights on tree/house? We decided to go with an artificial tree this year and bought one pre-lit with hundreds of white lights!  It’s the first year we’ve gone “white” and we put the colored lights outside.  Love it!

4. Do you hang mistletoe?  Sometimes, if I can find it in the stores and if I have just the right place to put it.

5. When do you put your decorations up? We usually start the weekend after Thanksgiving.

 6. What is your holiday dish (excluding dessert)? Corn Souffle – my kids eat it like it’s candy.  It wouldn’t be a holiday without it!

7. Favorite holiday memory as a child. Baking Christmas cookies with my Grandmother and putting up the tree with my family.  It was an artificial tree my parents still have (going on 40 years now!)  We’d dance to Christmas music on the stereo, we’d pull the branches out of the box and pass them assembly line style to my Dad, who then put the tree together.

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? I think I was about 8 or 9.  But I had a younger brother and sister, so half the fun was playing along for them.  So, I was well into my teens by the time no one in the house believed.  It always made the season just a little more magical to think of flying reindeer and someone giving just for the joy of speading happiness and good will.

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? YES!

10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree? This year with white lights, lots of tinsel, ornaments the kids have made and lots of lenox and precious moments ornaments!  And of course, the yearly ornament we buy to commerate something special – this year it will be buying the new house!

11. Snow! Love it or dread it? HATE it!

12. Can you ice skate?  I used to go skating all the time, but it’s been years, so I have no idea if I can still skate or not. 

13. Do you remember your favorite gift? I’d have to say my first christmas with hubby when we were dating and he bought me a fur coat – I knew the poor guy was doomed! 

14. What’s the most important thing about the holidays for you? Spending some quality time with the family and buying presents.

15. What is your favorite holiday dessert? Cheesecake and cookies!!

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? Decorating, christmas carols and watching all the sappy holiday movies! 

17. What tops your tree? It’s always been an Angel.

18. Which do you prefer, giving or receiving? I know, I know, but I’d say this is a tie.  I love to see the faces of those I buy for – the kids especially.   But, man, I do love to see something for me under the tree on Christmas morning too!  (Does that make me bad?)

19. What is your favourite Christmas song? “Do you hear what I hear?”.

20. Candy canes. Symbolic and decorative, minty and love to make mine into a little point at the end and stab people as they walk by me (I’m evil that way!).

21. Favourite Christmas movie? Hand’s down – It’s a Wonderful Life. 

22. What do you leave for Santa? Cookies and milk.  (Last year, I think we put out the bottle of scotch too!)

Okay so as with any meme – I’ve got to pass this little gem on to a few of my favorite bloggers.  Here ya go girls – Merry Christmas.  I’ll be hopping over to these blogs to see their answers!  Gina, Angelle and Jennifer.

 

Thirteen Christmas Traditions I Love

 

 1. Decorating the tree! – Some years everything goes on the tree – some years we keep it to a color theme…it always looks different, and like a little girl, I could sit and watch the lights for hours.

 2.  Baking!  – I think the holidays bring out the baker in most everyone.  The need for something sweet, the joy of making it with your family.

3.  Gingerbread Men! – This is separate from baking because one of my family’s favorite holiday traditions is the hosting of our annual Gingerbread Men party.  Since my oldest was one (he’s 16 now) we’ve hosted this party with our best friends family.  My girlfriend and I roll out the dough, the kids (7 of them) take turns decorating.  We eat pizza, drink and the cookies are great.  It’s an all-day/family friendly event.  We’ve watched the progression from small kids decorating to teenage boys making mutants and anatomically correct versions – the pictures through the years are priceless!

4. Pointsettias.  What’s not to love.  The bright red, whites and now even pink.

5. Christmas Carols.  Yup, I’m a dork.  I’d sing them all year if it was socially acceptable.  I love them all, the slow religious ones, the silly ones, and I even enjoy all the different versions by the artist du jour.

6. Wrapping Presents.  I love to wrap.  The pretty paper, the bows.  Big gifts, small gifts – even those stocking stuffers – I try to wrap everything!

7.  Egg-Nog.  Non-alcoholic and alcoholic – love it!

8.  Mistletoe.  What kind of self-respecting romance writer would I be if this didn’t make the list?  (Which reminds me, I haven’t seen any in the stores yet – I’ll to be on the lookout, cause the house decorations just aren’t complete with it!)

 9.  Christmas Lights.  I can still remember driving the neighborhoods in the back seat of my parents car.  Ooing and Ahing over the houses that really go all out for the holidays.  Now with blow-up decorations, lights in abundance and all sorts of huge displays – you don’t have to go far.

10.  Christmas TV specials.  As a kid, we’d count down the days to watch Rudolph and Frosty on TV.  Now with DVDs my kids can watch them anytime, but it still makes me smile whenever they’re on.

11.  Live from Rockefeller Center!  Okay, I’m a NY girl.  Nothing says Christmas to me like the huge tree in NYC.  If you get the chance to see it in person – take it.  It’s awe-inspiring.  If not, watching it on TV is a great start to the holiday season.  (And if you do get to see it live, don’t forget to stroll the streets – all the major department stores have holiday windows that are sure to bring out the child in you!

12.  Hot Chocolate & Candy Canes.  Guilty pleasures.  Plunk a candy-cane into a steaming cup of hot cocoa on a cold winter night – yummy!

13.  Santa.  The big jolly guy in red.  No list of traditions would be complete without him.  Whether the kids believe or not, just seeing him sitting on his throne in the mall, standing on the corner collecting money for the needy or watching him on TV – he embodies the spirit of the season.  Reminding us the holiday is about giving.  But not only about giving gifts, but of giving of yourself to make the little slice of the world around you a better place.  He reminds me to spread joy, to share happy moments and give something back to those less fortunate.

What’s your favorite holiday tradition?

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Misty Linky and I don’t get along…leave your link in the comments and I’ll add you here.

1. Jennifer Shirk
2. Lia Morgan
3. Savannah Chase
4. Zee
5. Angelle Trieste
6. Jennifer Leeland
7. Alice Audrey
8. Tempest Knight
9. Kaige
10. Gina Ardito
11. You’re Next!