Resolutions 2010
Dec282009
You know, I did pretty good on last year’s resolutions:
Except for this one:
. . not to get another dog.
I’ll put a picture up tomorrow. Mona is huge. Lyle is insane. Milton is going through the difficult teenage years. Wolfie is morose. And Veronica is fed up with all of them.
So this year, I’m thinking more of practical things than the touchie feelie, as in . . .
. . . I will get the junk out of this house for once and for all. And by “junk,” I mean treasures that I no longer need. Of course, it’s amazing what I need.
. . . I will crochet twelve sweaters this year. There’s a group on Ravelry that does a sweater a month–you choose the pattern–and this appeals to me.
. . . I will do all four Liz books this year, all at the same time, like one huge Victorian novel, with snark.
. . . I will exercise with the dogs more because they love it so much. And I am a lazy slut.
. . . I will do more thoughtful blog posts. I have an entire bookmark list that’s labeled “Sources,” as in things I’ve found that I think, “I should blog about that because that’s really interesting.” It’s now well over a hundred links. Maybe I’ll just do posts on sources: Ten Things You Should Go Look At. Maybe that would be lazy.
I don’t know about you, but m 2009 was both wonderful and awful. As last part of the wonderful 2009, I will go now and join Sweetness and Light for our New Year’s Eve party. As part of the awful, I will play LPS Monopoly with them until the ball drops. But basically, I’m just grateful for all the good stuff that happened last year, and even more grateful that the damn year is over. For 2010, I want more wonderful and less awful for all of us.
What’s on your list?
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152 Comments to 'Resolutions 2010'
On December 31, 2009 at 8:53 pm Liz-B said...
Apart from the usual – exercise more and eat less – I am going to finish my first novel. Oh yes and get a job… And I also like the “get the junk out of this house once and for all…”. Can I borrow that one?
Happy New Year everyone!!
On December 31, 2009 at 9:15 pm Patricia said...
Wait — You are on ravelry? How did I not know this? (Why does that sound like I’m stalking you in the crazy way — and not like the the wow, I love your books AND you are my people with the yarn!!) Why am I commenting in form of a question and I can’t stop?
Happy 2010 — to an outstanding year and end of the decade.
On January 1, 2010 at 3:20 am Carol said...
Another Raveler here – I took up crochet this year and am working on a most excellent yarn stash, whiuch means I should also adopt the “get the junk out of this house” resolution, simply so I have more room for the yarn.
On January 1, 2010 at 10:48 am Jenny said...
I love Ravelry. Rox turned me on to it and I’ve been there ever since. Fabulous resource, fabulous people. And a place to keep a record of what I’m doing and my stash. I owe Rox forever for that one.
On January 1, 2010 at 4:41 pm Carol said...
The stash organizing is truly the best part. Especially since I can look it up on my iPhone when I’m out shopping…. I’m LaRubia on there if you want to add another friend.
On December 31, 2009 at 9:16 pm D. said...
Oh Boy! I’m first to respond! Though I strongly suspect it’s because everyone else is out having a wonderful time ringing in the new year and I’m not, I’ll take what I can get.
So my resolution this year is to stop procrastinating. I have a plan. Of course, I came up with said plan in September, but I’m a procrastinator. It’s what we do. You cannot simply jump into something so life changing all willy-nilly.
I’m scared. :O
On December 31, 2009 at 9:18 pm D. said...
Oh great. My first response status was snaked while I was busy fixing typos. There goes all my joy.
On January 1, 2010 at 6:10 am Sure thing said...
I’m also facing that demon called Procrastination (ominous music here).
On January 1, 2010 at 10:49 am Jenny said...
I was going to say that was because it was 2009 and when 2010 arrives all will be well, but then I looked at the time stamp on your post.
It’s a holiday. TOMORROW all will begin again.
Except then it’s the weekend.
On December 31, 2009 at 9:37 pm Briana said...
I have the usual (though not so much for me) diet/exercise things. Um. How about what I really want to do is make time to write and to do more of the things that I like doing? Is it bad that my resolution is so shiftless and hedonistic? Aren’t they supposed to be self-improving?
I don’t care if it is anti-resolution to be so pleasure-seeking. I’m doing it. That’s my resolution. Well, that and my secret resolution to like myself. But I think they are connected, so maybe I’m set for this year.
Happy New Year! I only like Monopoly if everyone cheats. You should try it that way.
On January 1, 2010 at 10:51 am Jenny said...
No, no, pleasure-seeking IS self-improving. It makes you a happier person who is more engaged in life and the things she loves. It should be first resolution, to do things you know instinctively are right for you.
Unless you’re a shoplifter or a serial killer or a Republican in Congress. (I want health care.)
On January 1, 2010 at 12:25 pm Mcb said...
Seconding this statement!
On January 1, 2010 at 12:44 pm Briana said...
No shoplifting, no serial killing, and I want health care too.
On January 1, 2010 at 3:14 pm Judy Long said...
Health care yes!
On January 3, 2010 at 3:42 pm Liz said...
Definitely go for Healthcare! Here in the UK, I’m so proud of our health service – no worries about whether the insurance will cover expensive things/ whether my condition started before the insurance was taken out/ whether the insurance company will agree with my doctor that the treatment is necessary. It’s been enlightening joining Crusie groups and working with an American colleague and seeing what a difference it makes to have Nationally funded health care. (Don’t mean to sound smug, but really people, go for it as hard as you can!)
On January 3, 2010 at 8:09 pm Jessie said...
Put me in the pro health care corner too. If I had health care, my husband could retire thereby freeing up a well paying job for somebody else. And about 5 other guys he works with are in the same situation: they retire and the wife isn’t old enough for Medicare so no health insurance for her so they keep working. Could you imagine how many job openings would be generated – and pretty well paying jobs (they are all professionals) if a decent health package were passed.
On December 31, 2009 at 10:04 pm marly said...
Resolutions are big deals in the sense that if you subconsciously shrug them off, or purposely let them go – I too am a lazy slut – you end the next year feeling somehow less, and not in a good way. I’m not sure animal rescue counts, since then you get angel points, but anyway, you re-resolve or find new resolutions that you haven’t yet consigned to the devil. This year I could resolve to be a better house-keeper, but I’m also a lazy slattern, and I’m afraid I’d have to re-resolve next year. I’m not good at this so I want one perfect resolution that has at least a 75% chance of success. R. has quite a few suggestions, but they all appear to benefit him in one way or another. Mostly another. D., I’m a little scared, too.
On January 2, 2010 at 11:04 pm Micki said...
There are a lot of different kinds of resolutions. There should be the Aim High resolutions, because it’s better to “shoot for the stars and hit the fencepost, than to shoot for the fencepost and hit your foot.” These, if you don’t make it, you shrug and say, “well, I tried. I had good reasons for not accomplishing them, and I am better off than last year.”
There are the Guilt Resolutions that we make because we hate something — housecleaning, diets, etc. often fall into this category. And they are important, but it’s important to make these goals do-able and fun, and also something you can incorporate into everyday life. Because I know many housekeepers with houses that look wonderful to me, but they say, “urgh, this mess???” Make it quantifiable, and make it realistic. And make it just a little better than what it was. Not a yearly resolution, either. These really should be daily resolutions, and sometimes minute-by-minute resolutions in a tight spot. Don’t let the guilt get you.
And there should be fun resolutions. Something that makes you or someone else (or better yet, both!) very happy. Spend the year sampling the Baskin Robbins selection, or vow to buy one really nice, classic piece for your wardrobe every month. (Or kitchen equipment, yum(-:. Whereever your heart leads you.)
(-: Getting off soapbox now. But, remember, it’s OK NOT to make resolutions, too. Just Do It.
On January 4, 2010 at 3:22 pm CrankyOtter said...
You can always make a goal to hire out the housekeeping once a month! I don’t know what your regular gig is, but if it’s not in the budget, get crafty enough to sell things that will cover the fee. Myself, I’m hiring an organizer. I don’t like sorting stuff by myself. I get distracted and read things when I shouldn’t. It feels like less of a chore if there’s someone doing it with me, so when my friends get fed up, I hire people. I try to remember that it’s not important for me to DO what needs doing, it’s my job to make sure it gets done. The “who” is not the critical portion of that.
Also, for goals or resolutions, you sound like you feel that anything less than full and utter complete fulfilment of a goal is failure. I think it’s healthier to think (like Micki’s stars-fencepost-foot example) that you should measure from where you start, not from where you aimed for.
Also, at work, we do “SMART” goals – specific, measureable, achievable, realistic, time framed.
http://www.career-intelligence.com/management/SmartGoals.asp
“be a better housekeeper” is a lousy goal.
“I resolve to mop the kitchen by the end of every month” is specific, measureable, achievable, realistic (maybe!), and time framed. At the end of the year, if you’ve mopped the kitchen 12 times (and not all in december), you’ve reached your goal! And were a better housekeeper than the one who never mopped, thus meeting your desire.
On December 31, 2009 at 10:08 pm Kelly S said...
My hope (not resolution as parts are out of my control) would be to sleep more which is really up to the cats and to spend more time this summer outside enjoying sunshine, since we get so little of it in mid-MI. I’ve already been exercising about 3 times a week and eating more veggies (but not during the holidays at the folks). Knowing me, the “health kick” ought to end in a few weeks though. It tends to be a quarterly event.
Happy New Year! And here’s looking forward to Jenny’s new releases!!
On January 1, 2010 at 1:30 pm Jennifer said...
I’m beginning to wonder how much of this sleep deficit in America I keep hearing about is due to cat activity.
On December 31, 2009 at 11:26 pm Shangrila said...
Lol-I’m going to hold you to posting that picture of the dogs! You crochet?! I can knit like a mofo, but crocheting not so much! On the days that I lack motivation, I think about Agnes’ to-do list that ends with something like “make lunch for cast of thousands” and tell myself that if Agnes can tackle that list, I can get dressed and do the fucking dishes (or whatever.) Thinking about you writing novels AND making a sweater a month has the same effect: WOW. I have the same resolution re: decluttering the house, and I am also a lazy slut. (Luckily, my dachshund is also a lazy slut-lol!) I am looking forward to your thoughtful blog posts or your posts full of links and all of the reprints and new books coming out in 2010 with your shiny name on them. Happy New Year to you and yours (and everyone on Argh Ink!)
On January 1, 2010 at 12:39 am Becky said...
My resolutions are:
to add activity to my life by playing Wii (since I just spent ridiculous money buying one)
and
to read all of Jane Austen’s novels that I haven’t already read (before someone realizes I haven’t read them all and kicks me out of the romance readers club)
There’s some other crap on the official list, like sticking to a budget and vacuuming whenever the cat hair gets more than knee deep, but those are the important ones.
I too am seriously impressed by the sweater a month idea. I could knit a baby sweater a month, if I really, really had to. (Which, come to thing of it, I do. I have 4 friends having babies between now and the beginning of May. Ugh.) But something that would fit me? No way.
On January 1, 2010 at 12:52 am Library Linda said...
I’m determined to take off the baby weight this year. Before my children hit the difficult teen years and drive me to the fully-fatted medicinal joy of whole milk mochas. And as I contemplate the way to do this in the final hours of 2009 I will finish the pan of lemon bars. So that I can begin 2010 with a clean slate.
On January 1, 2010 at 3:30 am Louis said...
Looking forward to the dog pictures.
My resolution is to make it thru 2010 without problems.
Happy New Year to all.
On January 1, 2010 at 11:29 am Naked Under My Clothes said...
I always like it when you chime in, Louis. You think big without apology or qualifications. Making it through 2010 without problems — that about says it all!
On January 1, 2010 at 1:09 pm Jenny said...
I know, Louis is like salt. Quiet but necessary.
Happy New Year Without Problems, Louis!
On January 3, 2010 at 5:45 pm Naked Under My Clothes said...
Salt — not so quiet anymore: http://flavorbank.com/sp-bin/spirit?PAGE=29
I’m not a grinder of peppercorns or really much of a cook, but I have used some of the spice blends from this place and they’re fun. And no I don’t get kickbacks.
On January 1, 2010 at 3:46 am Judy Long said...
Jenny’s new year sounds like mine except we played extreme life until the ball dropped! My priority resolution this year is to finish my second novel & to actually get this one published. (The first novel needs work.)
2009 was bad & good for me also. The last part was mostly good, though.
Bring it on 2010! Happy New Year everyone.
On January 3, 2010 at 9:09 pm misspiggy don'twannabe said...
DH and I watched shows that we’d taped on the DVR until a teensy bit before 12 when we switched the TV to see the ball drop and sipped a little champagne. It hurts me to see Dick Clark now. I wish everyone would retire on a high – he (Dick C) reminds me too much of my own mortality.
My resolution for 2010 is to go for happiness and not let bad things consume me.
On January 1, 2010 at 4:58 am CrankyOtter said...
Well, since I left my friends’ home where we played Rock Band late into the night (and because I was a guest, they let me spend all our tour money upgrading my outfit) I’ve had time to think about the resolutions.
I’m going to get my condo/papers/homelife organized. To this end, I met with one organizer this week and will meet another next week, then I will hire one of them to come over on saturday (late) mornings to help me dig through all the stuff I know I need to dig through and do something about it. I do not want to have to declutter for 3 weeks before my next party.
I resolve to have at least 4 dinner parties this year – quarterly. This means keeping the condo picked up enough to have people over, and finding things to cook that are fit for guests. I can bake, but my cooking skills are iffy.
So I’ll stick with my strengths and bake too. The year I up and moved, I’d started baking a cake a month inspired by none other than Martha Stewart, although I doubt very much she’d approve of my Leprechaun Cake – with a box of pistachio pudding each in the batter and the cool whip frosting. At least Julia would have approved my my adding Baileys…. This year I’m going to bake at least once a month a NEW bread, cookie, or cake. (I started with shortbread today making one clean and one with half almond meal, instead of my go-to shortcake.)
Also, be better about keeping up my documentation at work. Can’t let perfect be the enemy of good in that case.
Jenny, If the crocheting helps you finish the Liz books, I’m all for it. The sweaters can be Coraline sized, right?
On January 1, 2010 at 5:28 pm Merry the CB said...
Hey, CO, if you need someone to organize your life and home, I’ll send my sister over. She’ll go through all your paperwork and tell you what you need and what should go. Plus, as a bonus, she’ll point out that you need to lose weight, and settle down with a Good Catholic Man, you’re not getting any younger you know, and that biological clock is going to start ringing alarm bells…
Oh heck. Take my sister. Please.
On January 4, 2010 at 3:33 pm CrankyOtter said...
If she doesn’t mind sleeping on a couch in SoCal, I am that desperate. Although I’m pretty sure the organizer I plan to pay won’t try getting me to settle down with the Good Catholic Man!
On January 1, 2010 at 5:33 pm JulieB said...
CrankyOtter, you have a brilliant idea regarding entertaining! And, once the party is over, and the house is clean, it’s seems like everyone rides on neat behavior for days afterwords. Friends, food and calm, what’s not to like?
On January 1, 2010 at 5:42 pm Jenny said...
No, but they can be shrugs. Which works for me just fine since I have that sundress addiction.
On January 2, 2010 at 12:00 pm Jenyfer Matthews said...
There are lots of wonderful dinner foods you can bake – quiches and lasagnas and bries leap to mind. Enough wine and everyone will think you are a brilliant cook
On January 4, 2010 at 9:51 am Laura said...
Entertaining more was my resolution two years ago and the one resolution I have been able to keep up for three years now. My experience is that people are so thrilled with the dinner invite that they don’t care what you serve, just that they aren’t cooking. My favorite way to entertain is Sunday dinner (lunch). I have all Saturday to clean, do prep cooking, and rest up and then Sunday evening to return to the house to close to its normal state of clutter.
On January 4, 2010 at 3:34 pm CrankyOtter said...
Ok. Lasagna for sunday lunch it is… Sounds like it’s possible. I even have no-boil lasagna noodles in the pantry waiting for an excuse…
On January 1, 2010 at 6:21 am Sure thing said...
I started de-cluttering last year (yesterday:-p). Already gave a dvd and some CDs to the library. I’m doing this first because its the thing I’ve been procrastinating about.
I’m using Peter Walsh’s “It’s All Too Much” as a guide.
The quote from “The Way of F**k It” – “All things manifest from nothing. Leave space, lots of space, in your life” is to keep me on track.
So my list -
Clean out and keep it that way.
Do things now instead of later.
Do things I want to do, and stick to my guns.
HAPPY 2010.
On January 1, 2010 at 6:26 am Sure thing said...
I’m not gamer but joined some for New Year’s Eve and we played Rock Band. I did ok on the singing even though I have no range but I failed on drums!
On January 1, 2010 at 11:01 am Jenny said...
As it turned out we watched Looney Tunes again, and the girls let us watch our favorites: Wile E. Coyote (mine) and Marvin the Martian (Lani), and then we watched the first Foghorn Leghorn because we had to learn the dialogue so we could use it on the kids–”You’re built too low, son, the fast ones go right over you, gotta keep your eye on the ball, I say, eye [points to eye] ball [makes ball shape with fingers].” Then we watched PePe LePew and told the girls about men. Then we turned to the networks to watch the ball drop and didn’t see the ball drop, it just disappeared. Highlight of the evening: there was a painting on the wall of the house in one of the cartoons that was supposed to be a Picasso and it had boobs. I said, “Look, boobs!” and Lani said, “Where?” and we rewound it, and Sweetness said, “Yep, boobs,” and Lani said, “And Porky Pig is naked, which is just wrong,” and we discussed the subtext. For about sixty seconds until Lani sent Sweetness for another bottle of wine, the small ones. She’s doing the Advent Boozle calendar again. Only two left now, which would be sad but it means SCHOOL STARTS AGAIN ON MONDAY.
Already, 2010 is looking good.
On January 1, 2010 at 11:03 am McB said...
Another raveler here. Best of luck with the sweaters. I can’t work fast enough to make that pledge but I am pledging to do more of the things that bring me inner peach and my crochet is one of them. Also doing things like watching Thin Man movies with girlfriends. I began my quest to declutter my life two months ago and there is still too much of it. But there is a dent or two, enough to give me incentive to continue, one day/thing at a time.
On January 2, 2010 at 7:25 am Reb said...
I’d forgotten about inner peach! I love inner peach – wishing you lots of it, and everything else that makes you laugh.
On January 1, 2010 at 11:08 am Jennifer said...
I made my mental list of resolutions days before reading this list, but suddenly they seem… well used. There are four this year, though, which is shocking for me, since I usually just pick one and then actually stick with it. We’ll see how this goes.
-Clear out all the junk in the house and make money doing it. I’m going to try to use Ebay as a means to purge rather than binge.
-Exercise my child more because she loves it so, and myself more because I love my body and want to keep loving it.
-Take what I’ve written in the last few months and see if I can actually grow it into some form of book. This is my first attempt at anything like this, and if I can just have something complete by 2011, I’ll be happy.
-Learn to sail. Lake Michigan is RIGHT THERE!!
Happy New Year!
On January 1, 2010 at 11:14 am Jenny said...
Oh, and the twelve sweaters a year? Some are shrugs which will go fast. Also, when I get stuck on a book, I can crochet while I think it out. It’s all good. And I have to get rid of this stash.
On January 1, 2010 at 12:13 pm D. said...
I would like to offer a formal Thank You for turning me on to Ravelry. I went over and joined and the site looks excellent. Just what I needed, more projects!
On January 1, 2010 at 11:53 am AgTigress said...
Looking forward to the dog pictures: I have lost track, so it will help me sort them out in my mind. I know who Wolfie, Veronica and Milton are, but I can’t remember what Mona and Lyle are like.
2009 was a miserable year for me, full of loss and sorrow and anxiety, and 2010 had better be better, though as I am way behind on a book contract, it isn’t starting off too brilliantly.
Twelve sweaters a year sounds a bit of a challenge, even in crochet, which generally grows faster than knitting, though not always when I do it, because I knit faster than I crochet. I have been obsessively knitting woolly winter hats while watching old episodes of CSI over the last few weeks. The hats came in useful as extra Christmas presents, but I can’t seem to stop, and Christmas is over now. Anyone need a knitted hat?
On January 1, 2010 at 1:12 pm Jenny said...
I crochet while watching old episodes of NCIS, some of which I can say the dialogue with the actors, I’ve seen them so many times. (The Halloween episodes are always excellent, especially Abby as Marilyn). If we’re not sisters, we’re at least cousins.
On January 1, 2010 at 1:31 pm Becky said...
I have such a girl crush on Abby! Thanks to her I’ve added a few touches of perky goth to my life, and they always make me happy.
On January 1, 2010 at 3:19 pm Judy Long said...
I love it that Abby bowls with the nuns!
On January 1, 2010 at 4:40 pm Mcb said...
Abby as Marilyn was priceless! I’ve loved NCIS from the start. Great characters and dialog and, you know, Mark Harmon *sigh*
I crochet while watching tv shows and movies, but my favorite time is while listening to audiobooks. Books AND yarn, how can I lose? When I discovered that audiobooks could be downloaded to a player is the day I decided that maybe I really did want an iPod after all. Agnes, btw, makes great audio.
Louis doesn’t just comment, he writes haiku.
On January 1, 2010 at 1:04 pm robena grant said...
This year my resolution is to slow down and think before acting. I’ve always had the philosophy that I was like a cat with nine lives and somehow no matter what ridiculous shiny thing caught my eye I could somehow have it and everything would work out. But no more. No more spontaneous stuff. No more procrastination either as that is the dreaded flip side. This year I will weigh the pros and cons before making any major decision, and then I will move forward with caution. Boring. I know. Necessary. Absolutely.
Happy New Year to all, and may 2010 be a sweet beginning to a great decade.
On January 1, 2010 at 2:09 pm r. said...
Happy New Year to all on Argh Ink. I’ve just been told I’m not the only one who knows every NCIS show forwards and backwards. Great show. Marly loves Bones, so we watch both. Now, for 819th time. The gift of the underappreciated underwear was only meant to be a joke, so she would’nt guess Wild Ride was coming later. It worked better than I had planned. Holy Crows, you should have seen the look on her face when she saw that underwear. It was funny, but a little scary. I think her eyes turned red for a few seconds. Now that I know what it takes to go from pond scum to hero, and it ain’t roses, Ms Crusie, maybe you could write a little faster? That’s the best road to hero status I’ve ever found. There must be more – any ideas out there? Oh yeah, I hereby make a resolution never to design underwear again. Also, to clean out my sock drawer and to CALMLY explain football plays. And to ask to read drafts before I get asked to read them. I still don’t get that, but what the hey. Hope everyone has a great 2010. PS. Also glad to hear I’m not the only man to write in.
On January 1, 2010 at 3:25 pm Jenny said...
We have lurkers. Louis is the only one who posts regularly, but there is darkness in the underbrush.
Hi, Bob.
On January 2, 2010 at 11:16 pm Micki said...
r., if you should ever be giving seminars on The Road to Herodom, can I sign my husband up? LOL! He doesn’t give me books for Christmas; I’m not sure if he thinks he’s cheating by getting something easy, or if he’s reluctant to feed my habit . . . . (-:
On January 3, 2010 at 8:45 pm r. said...
I’m the last guy in the world who could give a seminar. It was great making that arc happen but just luck that I didn’t know how scarce they were or I’d have never even tried. The only thing is, what do I do to equal that, much less top it? On the other hand, she says that one gift will cover any and all strange, weird, and just plain wrong gifts I may come up with in the future. Wow. Who knew? I thought about passing the idea onto my buds, but then I thought, Nah, more fun to watch them struggle. It probably sounds mean, but it’s a guy thing. For your husband, though, just tell him to read these entries. Tell him I guarantee it’ll be an education. I started when we got hooked playing Name That Book. One of the best things I ever did.
On January 4, 2010 at 5:52 am Micki said...
(-: She’s right — don’t waste time trying to top it — if the Perfect Gift shows up again, though, you’ll know it, and you can pursue it (-:. Luck favors the prepared and all that, though.
On January 4, 2010 at 12:29 am Joleesa said...
My husband doesn’t get me books anymore. He wants me to join a twelve-step program. “Hi, my name is Joanna and I can’t stop reading, even when the book is terrible…”
On January 4, 2010 at 5:53 am Micki said...
LOL, is there a 12-step program? I might need it too . . . although, I’ve learned in the last few years that there are too many great books out there to waste time in the middle of a lousy one. But I do admit, it’s got to be pretty lousy (or sad) to make me stop reading.
On January 1, 2010 at 2:50 pm Lilah Pierce said...
I want to finish my first novel. That’s my biggest goal for 2010. I’ve been working on it so long that I’m incredibly anxious to feel the accomplishment of finishing.
On January 1, 2010 at 2:55 pm gin said...
A hint for everyone whose resolution is to declutter: commit to getting rid of one thing a day, every single day for six months or a year.
“Getting rid of” can be any form of getting it out of the house: trash, recycling, freecycle, donation to charity, ebay, etc. Also, there’s no rule that you can’t get rid of more than one thing on any given day, but don’t save up the “extra” throw-aways as credits for future days. If you get rid of ten things today, you still have to get rid of another thing tomorrow and the next day and the next day. It’s all about getting into the habit, and maintaining it until the project is done.
Getting rid of just one thing a day doesn’t feel overwhelming, but even if you only toss something like a worn-down stub of a pencil, it feels good because you’ve met your goal for the day. You won’t notice a difference right away, but it does add up — that’s thirty things a month, even if you just do the bare minium — and it doesn’t burn you out the way more intensive decluttering does. It does get harder over time (but having established the habit helps), since the first few days it’s usually pretty obvious what one thing can go, whereas there’s less to choose from as time goes on. Which is the point, after all — having less stuff around.
I decluttered about five years ago, anticipating moving houses, and it took a couple years, and I still need to watch for things piling up again, but it really is freeing, and I really haven’t missed anything I got rid of. And there’s more room for my quilt-supplies stash. Which I only get rid of by way of making kids’ quilts to donate to Linus Project or something similar.
On January 1, 2010 at 3:24 pm Judy Long said...
I love decluttering. I weeded out 4 trashbags & a box of stuff just two days ago. For me when it’s over I feel lighter. The good thing is this time I can actually see my desk so I have a place to write. Today I got the printer hooked up. Major accomplishments already in 2010 – humor, har. (just reread Agnes).
On January 1, 2010 at 4:46 pm Mcb said...
The one thing a day is my method, too. And anything counts. If I get rid of something from the back of the fridge, it counts. Usually I end up ditching several things at once, but needing to find only one thing means there’s no excuse. The lamp I gave away to a friend last night counted.
On January 2, 2010 at 11:17 pm Micki said...
I’m doing this. I’m setting up a calendar and giving myself a gold star for each day I do this. This is definitely do-able (-:. I hope I will get rid of a bunch of dead plants today.
On January 1, 2010 at 5:24 pm CatScott said...
I’ve got a lot of the yoojzh going on too. Exercise more/eat less….yeah, sure. No more procrastination….whatevs. De-stuff….oy vey.
Where to start? I think I’ll start by finishing Bob’s Who Dares Wins. I think that will seriously help with goal attainment in the O’10.
Plans for the O’10 so far….
start my own consulting business
pay down my debt – damn IRS
write more
take a class or two to refresh my grammar – I’m like the Teflon Grammar Girl
step up my photography – maybe a class there too
find time for all these classes
I think that’s a good start.
On January 1, 2010 at 5:48 pm JulieB said...
Well, I wish all of you the best with you posted plans. My first thing was to not start on New Years. I figured if I called it a resolution I might sabotoge myself, so I actually tried to focus on eating healthier during Christmas. I didn’t count points but I did buy lots of fruit and veggies and have become more optimistic about trying to shed a few pounds that have crept on since starting back at teaching. I think it worked, because I’m not in the bad-head place I was thinking about it before.
So, aside from adding CrankyOtter’s idea of entertaining quaterly, my whole emphasis is to shift the part-time job portion of my life to just that — part time. I’ve been working on lesson plans for 16 months, and I intend on making them start to pay off timewise. I have been neglecting my health and sanity, it terms of excercise, writing, and my writing group and so I’m going to make a plan to reconnect for 32 days in a row. (Thanks Stephanie) The holiday compnay has left, I’ve played the Wii with my son today, I’m going to check in with my group and start plotting. I’m not going to set a time limit, but I have to do something for each area each day.
On January 1, 2010 at 6:44 pm Carol Anne said...
Rid the house of stuff
Stay healthy
Save for the rainy day
More music
On January 1, 2010 at 7:02 pm MJ said...
Gin, I love the one-a-day decluttering approach.
My resolution may sound…oh, I don’t care how it sounds. It’s to woo my husband. This year we began the shift to empty-nester-hood (college kid will be home in summer, so nest is not fully empty), and I think it’d be nice to fall in love again.
Best wishes to everyone!
On January 1, 2010 at 7:28 pm D. said...
MJ, that is perhaps the best resolution I’ve heard all year.
On January 1, 2010 at 7:58 pm JenK said...
A couple of years ago I resolved to drink a beer on the couch with my husband at least once a week, which invariably led to sex. Oh yes- the beer and sex resolution.
Best. Year. Ever.
This year I’m resolving to think less and do more. It’s going to be a tough one.
On January 4, 2010 at 5:07 pm Mombo said...
Jen, I love this resolution. This year I found Frederick’s of Hollywood and my resolution is to shop online with them more often. They really helped the Beer and Sex Resolution.
On January 2, 2010 at 9:24 am Briana said...
MJ — I left a long comment including TMI (?) about my parents, but mostly just wanted to say…
It can be done!
and…
Good Luck!
On January 2, 2010 at 11:19 pm Micki said...
Lovely!
On January 3, 2010 at 7:45 pm MJ said...
Thanks for the encouragement, everyone. JenK, I love the Year of Beer and Sex!
It’s funny how I can’t proclaim this resolution to family and friends, because I don’t want them to get the idea DH and I are Having Issues, or cause our kids to think about us Having Sex. But since none of those folks are Arghies, I get to let you all in on the secret. (:
On January 4, 2010 at 12:42 am Briana said...
Seriously. I’m bummed my comment disappeared. I’m in my early 30s. Called my parents and my mom answered, giggling. “Your dad is trying to have his way with me!”
Oh, lordy. She passed the phone to my dad. “I don’t know what she’s talking about. She had half a glass of wine and she’s the one making the moves!”
“Um, great, Dad. You two have fun. I’m going to go scrub my brain with bleach now…Talk to you later!” Like maybe when I start losing my memory and forget this awkwardness!
But I also think it’s kind of sickening wonderful and cute.
On January 4, 2010 at 7:46 pm MJ said...
Aww, yes, it’s sweet. And kids really should be grateful their parents…have fun. Or else where would the kids be?!
On January 1, 2010 at 7:59 pm Emily said...
It’s nice to know I’m not the only one who can recite entire episodes of NCIS, although my pastime of choice while watching is crazy quilting (it’s like bucket chemistry quilting… if you get it wrong, it was meant to look like that, and anyway, it adds character). What really freaked me out was watching Ben 10 with my four year old one day and realising that one of the characters sounded like Ducky. David McCallum gets around a bit. What freaks me out even more is listening to that episode over and over again (what can I say, the boy’s obsessed and I’m a bad mummy) and every time I look up expecting to see Ducky I get a tall, thin, time-travelling professor. It’s just wrong.
We’ve had the decluttering forced on us by a possible move. I’m choosing to regard it as virtuous of us, but really it’s throw out all the junk or pack it and move it. But this year, I swear I’ll be more active. Honest. And walk everywhere instead of taking the car… why is everyone laughing?
On January 1, 2010 at 8:05 pm Lora said...
Here’s my list:
Lose the Newlywed Nine (okay that’s a misnomer mine’s more like, um, sixteen) so my mother in law will quit gaping at me aghast and gasping “Oh GOD, you’re not PREGNANT are you????” (yeah, christmas was a friggin blast this year)
Finish novel, revise, and query (yes that’s like 3 resolutions but I am *much* more likely to do that than to lose the sixteen pounds)
Grow out my hair again for Locks of Love
Learn to crochet blankets so I can make baby blankets for my five or six pregnant friends
Get my grandma to teach me to crochet those groovy little doilies cuz I don’t like to set pointy picture frames on the entertainment unit that cost me a fortune
(plus I will be probably the youngest person ever to crochet a doily since the first world war)
Dump the watercolors and learn to paint with acrylics
On January 1, 2010 at 8:13 pm helen said...
Funny how decluttering and finishing a novel are such common resolutions for writers (Me too!) Clearly, one goes in hand with the other. But here’s a guy with a novel approach to resolutions:
http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/movies/article/744752–one-man-s-quest-for-root-of-the-female-psyche?bn=1
On January 1, 2010 at 10:33 pm Skye said...
I decided to do goals and not resolutions because I can keep working on goals after the end of the year.
1. Stop lurking and participate. This place is way cool. (I, too, have watched Buffy obsessively and have a vocab far younger than I am.)
2. Post to my own blog at least once a week.
3. Finish my first novel. Every writer has to write their first novel. Even tho’ this one of mine looks a lot like bird-cage liner. Short stories are easier.
4. Actually make friends and find work — I moved from the Oregon Coast to Houston last year, just for fun and sunshine and heat, and haven’t managed either, due to having used up all my adventurous spirit for the year by getting in a car a driving until I stopped.
5. Go back to Oregon and clear out my 1 1/2 storage units. It’s still clutter even if it’s in a really large box.
6. Figure out how to get ARC’s of Jenny’s work! Will trade sex for ARCs?
7. Work on being less shy. And repeating “I am a great writer” every day. : )
On January 2, 2010 at 10:16 am Naked Under My Clothes said...
I’m impressed with your drive (physical and emotional)…if you can move that far by driving till you stop, you can find work and make friends and de-lurk, seems like. Now that you’re rested.
Not that life is logical or anything.
On January 2, 2010 at 1:57 pm marly said...
Skye, I’m in awe, as well. I’ll bet 2010 holds wonderful things for you, since courage like yours should be rewarded. And as a former lurker here, it’s like discovering a group of friends. So, welcome friend.
On January 2, 2010 at 8:33 pm Becky said...
Hi, Skye! I’m in Houston, too. Maybe we could get together for a movie or lunch or something. Also, West Houston RWA has their January meeting next week. It’s a great group, very welcoming of new people, and they’ve got what looks to be a good program planned.
On January 2, 2010 at 11:02 pm Skye said...
Thanks folks! I appreciate the awe and all that.
Hey Becky: getting together would be cool. Hmm. What’s a nice, won’t-spam-the-whole-group way to contact you?
Oh, and I am a crocheter, so thanks all for the talk about Ravelry.
On January 3, 2010 at 1:26 am Becky said...
Well, that’s easy then. When you join Rav, look me up! My name over there is beckyg1115. There’s a private message system, so we can make plans without broadcasting it to the whole internet.
On January 1, 2010 at 11:03 pm SueG said...
Happy New Year to all the Arghies (like that much better than arghanauts). I AM going to declutter this year. Already shoveled out the quilting room. It still needs organization, but it has been downsized. I also gave the “kids” a move it or lose it, for all the stuff that still lives here even though they don’t. The closets now actually have room in them.
I am also going to work on my UFO pile and get some quilts finished. There is always another one in the idea stage well before any of the previous are finished. It’s a sickness, I know, but it makes me happy!!!
Books and quilting, I can’t live without either.
The eating better/losing weight thing is always there, but…my husband and I started the day after Thanksgiving and didn’t do too horribly over Christmas, so maybe there’s hope.
The MOST important thing I plan for 2010 is to spend more time with my entire (very large) family. We lost our 19 year old nephew on the 21st of December and it really brings home how most everything is “small stuff” except for the people you love. He died in his sleep, (health issues from birth), and our hearts are broken.
Hug your loved ones often. Big hug to you all.
On January 2, 2010 at 12:22 am marly said...
I’m so sorry. I wish I had better words.
On January 2, 2010 at 3:29 pm SueG said...
Thank you Marly.
On January 3, 2010 at 5:46 pm Naked Under My Clothes said...
What Marly said.
On January 4, 2010 at 12:39 am SueG said...
Thanks
On January 4, 2010 at 11:28 am Naked Under My Clothes said...
I just made an informal list of the people I know who are having difficult holidays for similar reasons. It was eye-opening — so many people.
Thanks for the reminder to not take our loved ones for granted. There’s a worthy resolution that doesn’t need a new year.
On January 1, 2010 at 11:36 pm Chelle said...
Okay, NCIS and Mark Harmon. Luuuuv that show! I googled his sexiest man alive photo for Sunshine and thought her eyes were going to fall out of her head! LOL.
Resolutions:
1. To take 5 minutes a day to STOP and BREATHE. I tend to rush from one thing to the next juggling ten tasks and I forget to do this.
2. To write my stories for me first. And enjoy them.
3. To not get frustrated when the career changes I’ve planned this year don’t stick to my time table. (Patience is not a virtue I’ve aspired to.)
4. To stretch. Another thing I rush through that’s given me bursitis in my hip. Ouch!
Happy New Year everyone!!
On January 1, 2010 at 11:44 pm Lora said...
oooh love mark harmon. got moonlighting season 2 for christmas and if you have not seen his 3 episode arc from the 80s wow he was the perfect man (my husband got tired of hearing me say that during the episodes lol)
On January 2, 2010 at 3:38 am Sheri said...
I don’t make resolutions because I never keep them. Maybe I should make a resolution to keep my resolutions, but that seems somewhat redundant. Anyway. I am going to have gastric bypass surgery this year. It’s a big deal but I am excited to finally lose the weight. My best friend is on her thrid year and looks fantastic and is very supportive so I have an excellent mentor to help me.
I want to fix my house up and de-clutter. Tonight we took the first step and pulled the wall paper in the hallway down–it’s been coming up in places for awhile now and my son’s cat keep tearing at it so we each just grabbed a strip and starting ripping it off! It was fun! Next to go is the carpet in the living room…
No more pets. Jenny, you and I are on the same page here. I have way too many creatures living under my roof and it is hard to keep the house clean. (I need a good vacuum that won’t clog up–anyone got any suggestions?!) I keep telling myself when the kids finally move out two or three of the dogs will go as well as one of the cats and several birds, but sadly that won’t be for another year or two… (sigh)
On January 2, 2010 at 9:50 am Lora said...
sheri: get a dyson on sale at target they are remarkable. i love mine more than any woman should care about a vacuum
On January 2, 2010 at 12:22 pm D. said...
I second the Dyson. I have the purple one with the ball called “the animal.” No kidding. It’s a wonderful thing.
On January 6, 2010 at 3:27 pm Mombo said...
I love my purple Dyson too. I bought it on Ebay and it came with a 3 year guarantee.
On January 2, 2010 at 6:55 am Berni said...
You’re on Ravelry, too? Wow, it’s everywhere. I use it mostly for patterns and occasionally the group discussions.
Do you really want to crochet 12 sweaters? Wouldn’t you rather be writing more books for us, your devoted readers? I mean, I love yarn as much as any Ravelry member (okay, maybe not as much as the truly obsessed), but I’d hate for crocheting to cut into your writing time. I really love your books.
On January 2, 2010 at 2:07 pm Jenny said...
If I write 24/7, my brains dribble out my ears. Crochet is good.
On January 2, 2010 at 2:37 pm Stephanie said...
Not to mention that there’s research that connects handwork [knitting, crochet, quilting] to other creative processes. Something about blending the right brain -left brain, as well as, giving you time to just mull. There are bunches of articles about it but Zen and the Art of Knitting is a readable book on the topic, if anyone’s interested.
On January 2, 2010 at 4:49 pm Lora said...
@Stephanie you are so right. I had to do a paper for my Brain Research grad class about the medically protective properties of hobbies and only dance, reading, and knitting/crochet had substantiated proof of reducing the risk of dementia!
On January 2, 2010 at 7:26 pm Jenny said...
This makes me feel so good. There goes any guilt I had about crocheting. Not that I had much.
On January 2, 2010 at 9:05 pm McB said...
This surprises me not at all. I think it must have something to do with repetitive activities that create or follow a rhythm. The human brain seems to find it soothing and liberating.
On January 3, 2010 at 1:11 am SueG said...
So…not only is my quilting a sickness, it doesn’t have the medically protective properties of knitting/crocheting; since I don’t do either of those (used to crochet, until quilting took over my hobby/work life), and dancing is so not gonna happen, guess I’d better READ MORE. My house is overrun with books, time for my husband to build more bookshelves!!
On January 4, 2010 at 12:35 am Joleesa said...
Those things are also good for helping people on the autism spectrum focus! As well as bouncing a ball in rhythm for a set period of time.
On January 2, 2010 at 6:37 pm Melissa Blue said...
To push myself as a writer. The last thing I want is to do is get too comfortable.
Be more sociable. Though a family member pretty much said, “when hell freezes over, maybe.” So, I’ll have to to move mountains with this resolution.
On my list every year is to tackle grammar & punctuation and make it my slave. Moving mountains…
Get myself off my vampire schedule. I’m African American and I’m starting to have a pallor.
I may come up with more while being more sociable. So we shall see.
On January 2, 2010 at 7:28 pm Jenny said...
Mel, you’re sociable. You’re talking with us all the time.
Oh. You mean with actual people in real life. I don’t think writers so that. Same thing with the vampire schedule. I only see sunrises from the other side, when I stay up too late. Getting up to see a sunrise? Who does that? Besides the ex-military.
On January 2, 2010 at 11:02 pm Judy Long said...
I am so happy to hear you say that about the vampire schedule. Right now is about the time I start to come alive; 9pm my time. I will often be up until 3, 4 or 5 am & if possible, sleep until 11am. I have taken to calling it insomnia as I am tired of other people’s reactions. Really, I’m happy this way.
On January 2, 2010 at 11:28 pm Micki said...
Oh man, when I hit about 35, for some reason I turned into a morning person. Not a particularly happy morning person, but one who woke up with the sun — and I’m far enough north and in a crazy spot in the time zone, so that can be 4 in the morning in the middle of summer . . . . Maybe one of my resolutions should be to get blackout curtains. The sun rises about 7′ish right now, and it’s not too bad. The sun sets about 4:30, which is pretty freakin’ awful. Can’t wait until March . . . when we finally get some decent sun.
On January 3, 2010 at 12:37 am Melissa Blue said...
Yes, unfortunately real people. With the Internet it’s much easier to be ON. You could have all the coffee you need to have coherent sentences. Much easier to smile below the wrist. Also if you ever think Mayday, Mayday you can click that X in the corner and bail.
Not so much in real life. I have to stand there and try to talk around my foot hanging out of my mouth.
Also, the night is wonderful. It just feels like you have the world all to yourself. Mornings are dreadful. Period. Though Monday mornings hold a special place in hell. But again, I’ve got a pallor going.
Sigh.
Here’s to 2010 and a tan.
On January 3, 2010 at 11:38 am Chelle said...
@Melissa Blue: “Smiling below the wrist.” Love that!!!
On January 3, 2010 at 11:23 pm Melissa Blue said...
I picked up that lovely phrase from Trish Wylie. She is a goddess.
On January 3, 2010 at 11:43 pm D. said...
Mel, I think you and I might be twins. If it weren’t for the fact that my pallor is caused more by my Irish ancestry than anything else, I’d be sure of it. I’m still trying to figure out a way to get my kids to let me sleep in after I’ve stayed up half the night reading or writing. They’re so uncooperative.
On January 2, 2010 at 8:00 pm Karen J. said...
I decided a few weeks ago that my New Year’s resolution this year was to stop reading E!Online. Focusing on the often sordid and just plain sad lives of celebrities seemed like a recipe for some seriously bad karma. I confess, it was the Tiger Woods situation that pushed me over the edge. Having struggled my way out of a miserable, abusive, soul-sucking imitation of a marriage in the last few years, I feel pretty strongly about the right to work through it without people constantly speculating and spreading rumors/gossip for all to hear. It made me sick to my stomach to realize that by following these types of stories that I was contributing to their being reported as “news”. So, I now resolve to only follow the salacious lives of fictious characters
.
On January 3, 2010 at 10:10 pm Jackie said...
Great idea Karen. And congratulations for successfully moving on.
On January 2, 2010 at 8:04 pm Karen J. said...
Make that “fictitious” characters.
Why is it so easy to spot the typos AFTER hitting submit?!?!
On January 2, 2010 at 11:08 pm Lora said...
@Karen I confess to a people.com obsession with which I regularly lower my IQ. Although it is kinda fun to pretend I’m superior while I read it by picking out grammatical errors. Maybe that makes it worse….
On January 3, 2010 at 1:16 pm Kate said...
I plan to do my nano writing this month. I really want that 50,000 word accomplishment this year. I also plan to learn how to spin my own wool. I love knitting and plan to do more of it this year. I want to work on enjoying my children more and complaining about them less. I believe this is a good start.
I may do updates later on in the year.
On January 4, 2010 at 2:44 am Sure thing said...
“I really want that 50,000 word accomplishment this year.” – Me too.
On January 3, 2010 at 1:32 pm Sharon said...
I have no resolutions for the new year- my husband has enough for both of us! It makes me tired to just listen to him. He has all these projects planned-including a big addition to the house. I told him that I did not want any more house to clean but he said I would get used to it! When I suggest a trip he says he can’t go anywhere as it would put him behind schedule! Future projects include another pond, a cabin by the first pond and restoring many Caterpillar tractors. He makes me feel guilty when I sit down to read a book and I really feel bad when I take a nap-altho not guilty enough to give up the next nap! If I do make a resolution it would be to spend more time with the people I love.
My de-cluttering occured when I went thru menopause-I put a big box by the front door and put everything in there that I did not want anymore. I encouraged friends to go thru the box and take anything they wanted. At the end of the week, that box went to charity and another box took its place. I also gave away all everyday dishes, silverware and linens. We use the “good” stuff now all the time. I also made the kids remove their items from the house-for some reason they thought we should erect a shrine of their items and keep their bedrooms as historical galleries!
On January 3, 2010 at 2:03 pm Carol Anne said...
I love that. Put a box by the door and fill it with stuff. Then it goes to charity. I started the “if ‘it’ is at the bottom of the stairs, ‘it’ needs to go upstairs, if ‘it’ is at the top of the stairs, ‘it’ needs to go downstairs.” It works because we are only two now. Guess who takes up and down?! There are still a few shrines in the closets, soon to be gone! The only problem is the very sentimental things. I guess I must be ruthless about the treasures. How does one do that? Photo, scan, save?
On January 3, 2010 at 8:34 pm Jessie said...
Sharon, I too am married to someone who does projects. And I finally had to tell him that his projects were not my projects. And since one of my projects is to shop for food and have dinner on the table almost every day – which can get tedious, that it is okay for me to have fun time – and my fun time is NOT doing another job that he has come up with. After I said it enough times and actually had a period where we took turns: I shopped and cooked one week and he cleaned the kitchen, and then the next week it was his turn, he finally decided what I do with my time is up to me with no helpful suggestions from him. Now he is pleased when I spend a day sanding on my limestone sculpture and does not say, you know if you worked on that more, it would be finished.
On January 6, 2010 at 3:38 pm Mombo said...
I have one of those husbands, too. Bless his little busy bee heart. He farms 80 acres, works full time at an outside job and has a whole list of improvements to the house and yard. When we moved to this place I told him I wasn’t farming any more. I’ve had to repeat myself quite a few times but he’s getting it. He just gets after me when I spend several days reading or writing. He wants me to exercise more and he’s right about that. Not that I’m going to do it, but he’s right. I guess he could have way worse habits than constantly improving our home.
On January 3, 2010 at 4:57 pm Eve said...
How about auctioning off the things/treasures you no longer need? And then donating the proceeds to charity? We cherries would go crazy for all the quirky goodies you surely have.
Just a thought. Good deed for 2010.
On January 3, 2010 at 5:03 pm Sharon said...
My dad, who is 84, says a couple spends the first 25 years collecting stuff and the second 25 trying to get rid of it!The “treasures” are a problem-some we have offered to the married children. If they want the item -great. If not, we take a photo and then sell or give the item away .Example-a silver gravy boat that was a wedding gift. As you can imagine, it was sold. Good luck on the “upstairs/downstairs” thing!
I am also with Jenny-NO MORE DOGS!! Our daughter is a veterinarian and she is always wanting us to take in another dog.”Your home is so big you could have at least 5 small dogs.” So far we have kept the amount to one-but she constantly tries-”he’s lonesome, another one or two will be no problem,etc.” We stand firm and donate money to the local shelter!!
On January 3, 2010 at 10:23 pm Terrio said...
In recent years I stopped making resolutions because I never accomplished them anyway. But I’ve done better is hitting my goals these last few years, and I’m the biggest I’ve been in ten years, so resolve I must. Though someone elsewhere called it recalibrating today, and I like the sound of that better.
So, eating better and moving more top the list. After that, finishing this first book. Reaching THE END is the only thing I haven’t managed to do in the last few years, and now with the distraction of school out of the way, there are no more excuses. I’ve recently embraced plotting and storyboarding (yes, I’m slow to catch onto these things) and can’t believe the difference it makes. I WILL finish this. Dang it.
My next big life goal is to buy a home of my own, but looks like that will wait yet another year. *sigh*
On January 4, 2010 at 12:05 am r. said...
Marly says I should have added something when I replied to Micki and she’s right. I read Wild Ride. I was only going to check it out since, let’s face it, it’s kind of cool to be able to read something when other people have to wait. So I read the first few chapters a few days ago, and finished tonight. I don’t think my opinion counts for much, but here goes. If those Grimm Brothers each got a great sense of humor and wrote a book for adults, it might be something like Wild Ride. I guess I’m not giving too much away if I tell you it’s about a war, a weird strange war with oddball soldiers. I liked it a lot and you’d have to be a stone not to laugh. I guess the title says it all. I don’t know what else to add, except it’s going to be a lot of fun for a lot of people. And I really don’t know what to say to authors, but great job Ms. Crusie and Mr. Mayer.
On January 4, 2010 at 12:20 am r. said...
Oh yeah, I forgot one of the things I wanted to say – Wild Ride would make a killer movie.
On January 4, 2010 at 12:40 pm Kate George said...
Here I am, in on the end of the conversation as usual. First, you can never have enough dogs. My husband does not agree with me on this point, but it’s a fact. I have three Big Yellow Moose. He’s young, eats everything including the inedible, and runs through the radio fence to follow me whenever I drive off in the car and forget to either let the other dogs out, or put him in. He loves me more than life itself.
Midnight. Black (duh) probably a lab cross has pretty little white spots on her toes and chest. Very independant. She’s the boss but also old and arthritic. Makes me sad.
Zoe, beagle cross. Bays like a hound at everything. Lazy, lazy, lazy. Would sleep in her bed all day if I let her. But loves to run when she get’s outside. Used to eat everything.
What I need now is a lap dog to keep me company all day. Really little purse dog. Like a mini pug – my friend has one of those! (I actually have one real life friend who’s not a writer!)
I don’t keep new year’s resolutions. I’m horrible at them. BUT I do have a goal. I took Bob’s writer warrior class and my goal is to keep my goals in my head so I spend less time on things that don’t further my goal.
And right now, I’m 20,000 words behind. so I’d better go. OH – btw, I too feel like a stalker, even though I hadn’t found Ravlery yet. Like Jenny is a long lost sister, or cousin. If she came to dinner at my Grandma’s she’d fit right in. Is that weird, Jenny? It’s a strange phenom, how when you read someone’s writing a lot you feel like you know them. But don’t worry, I don’t live near Iowa, or is it Idaho – see I’m no threat. I’m totally geographically challenged!
On January 5, 2010 at 12:42 am Jenny said...
Actually, if you’ve read my books, you probably do know me. And if you’ve read Wild Ride you really know me and Bob. We decided it was too damn hard to make up characters and learn each other’s, so I made Mab exactly like me and he made Ethan exactly like him. Our agent read it and said, “My god, it was like listening to the two of you.” That scene in the restroom where he’s trying to be tactful and she says, “I do, as usual, want to kill you”? That’s the real Bob and Jenny show.
Of course you can’t read that scene until March. Uh, sorry.
On January 5, 2010 at 2:31 am marly said...
I’m crazy about Mab and Ethan. So, who’s Oliver? I definitely fell hard for him.
On January 5, 2010 at 5:12 am Jenny said...
Oliver comes from the same place Phin came from, a little higher and to the left of Never Never Land. They did not exist so I had to make them up.
On January 5, 2010 at 10:15 am marly said...
Nuts. I’m lucky enough to have a great guy, but still….nuts.
On January 4, 2010 at 2:03 pm colognegrrl said...
One of my resolutions is to come by here regularly again. I got sort of distracted by a blog/project called “Wardrobe Refashion” where people pledge not to buy new clothing for a certain amount of time but to reconstruct what they have, use up their material stash for sewing, knitting, etc., or buy second-hand. Personally, I did not make a pledge but I discovered that I have a lot of rarely used stuff in my closet which is great for refashioning (serving my resolutions of de-cluttering plus saving money). It’s very inspiring but time-consuming.
But I also want to get back to writing – after my last manuscript was accepted for publication (February 2011, what a long time to wait), I sort of fell into a black hole. I wouldn’t call it writer’s block, it was more like “geez, how many more novels do I want to write before that one comes out – I might as well take my time”. But now I’m back on track. I wrote the first 2,500 words and I’ll keep on writing.
The only thing that separates me from most people here is that I definitely don’t want a dog. I’m a cat person to make up for it.
On January 5, 2010 at 12:44 am Jenny said...
Congratulations and welcome back, CG! Also we have cats. They stay in the upstairs apartment with Lani and the girls but they do come down to kill mice which they then take up to Lani for approval. They also taunt the dogs, most of whom ignore them, but they make Milton absolutely insane. It’s like Wild Kingdom here. (Is that show still on? Am I the only one who remembers it? Well, as Sweetness often points out, I’m old.)
On January 5, 2010 at 10:29 am Kate George said...
I remember Wild Kingdom! I actually trained a dog for the guy that starred in that. He was old at the time, although still doing the show. The dog was sweet. Funny, I don’t remember what breed now. They said I could come visit them anytime, which I didn’t because I was younger and innocent and didn’t know how to take advantage of strangers! Silly me.
On January 4, 2010 at 3:31 pm Jana said...
There were to be no resolutions for me this year. The problem? They work. Too well. Once made, they must be completed, right? With a vengeance? Lest I succumb to the dreaded lazy slut? So in previous years I’ve managed to de-clutter my house, compete in triathlons, run a half marathon, and draft a novel. But imposing Type A behavior on a lazy-slut Type B personality like me is, well … stressful.
But you all have inspired me. So my resolutions this year, designed to keep the fun in my writing life are to
1) Complete at least one sentence a day on my WIP. Anything more is gravy.
2) Be a better Arghie by lurking less and commenting more. The idea is to become more fun and interesting by association
Sorry, but no knitting or crocheting. That would be a serious ARGH for me. Here’s hoping Lora’s medically protective properties of hobbies lend themselves to tennis, running, swimming, biking, and hiking.
On January 4, 2010 at 3:35 pm Jenyfer Matthews said...
and quilting!
On January 4, 2010 at 3:34 pm Jenyfer Matthews said...
Colognegrrl – I love the refashion idea, and though I’ve never joined a formal group or made a resolution about it, I certainly practice it from time to time. My most recent success was converting a pair of jeans with a little too much flare at the bottom to slightly flared capris with a decorative stitch around the ragged hem. Love them
I’m not much into make resolutions – I intend to keep most of my vices, thanks – but this thread inspired me to give it some thought and I finally came up with one that pleases me. I’m going to try a new recipe at least once a month – I can do one more often if I get really interested but once a month is minimum. When I get busy I get into menu ruts and figure this will be a way to mix things up a bit. We’ll see how the children like it soon enough. First one is tomorrow
On January 4, 2010 at 4:58 pm My Baby Sweetness said...
I was doing a search on you to see if you had any new titles coming out and found this site. I feel like a kid writing a fan letter, but I’ve been a fan a long time(just reread Welcome to Temptation for the umpteenth time!) and was excited to find your blog. I’ll be back!
On January 4, 2010 at 7:45 pm Lora said...
HELP!
Can *anyone* tell me what happens in “Bet Me” on pages 211-218, cuz the new paperback I just got at Barnes & Noble is missing pages! It skips from 210 to 219. So what happens? Min and Cal just stepped out on the street outside Emilio’s. He’s going to “explain”. Did my grandma get a hold of this and tear out a dirty part or what????
Argh!
On January 5, 2010 at 12:46 am Jenny said...
It’s not dirty but it’s the reason she leaves him. Take it to B&N and they should replace it. REALLY sorry.
On January 4, 2010 at 8:30 pm Sheena said...
My boyfriend proposed on Christmas Day, so my resolution this year is to get through a move (including taking my cat to a non-pets townhouse complex – we will need get permission for her and build her an enclosure) and a wedding without either having a nervous breakdown or alienating half my friends and family. And to ENJOY the whole process and not lose the glow I’m walking around in at the moment.
On January 5, 2010 at 12:47 am Jenny said...
Congratulations, Sheena! Thank god you don’t have to choose between the cat and the future husband.
On January 5, 2010 at 8:01 pm Melissa said...
Thank you all for the inspiring resolutions/goals/recalibrations to review. Might have to steal the weekly beer/sex, could be quite the spark. I am doing the “she’s 9, you can’t call it baby weight anymore. really.” thing this year and it’s not as challenging as it has been in the past. I think it’s because 40 is on the horizon – and not the distant fabulous looking one where I’m published and writing full time, but the “it’s just over there and you’re still not where you thought you would be by now” horizon. I will write more every day. and marly – not going to lie… a little piece of me wants to tie you to a chair and make you tell me everything! But alas, I shall wait until March and then marvel at the Wild Ride. Thanks Jenny (and Bob) as always for another fun year – looking forward to what 2010 brings!
On January 5, 2010 at 8:52 pm marly said...
Melissa, I would feel the same – Having this arc is probably a “once in a lifetime” thing. I don’t want to tantalize you too much, but, oh my gosh, is it good! It seems like a bit of a departure at first, and then you just fall into it. R. said it was about a war, and from a male viewpoint, I can see what he means. But that’s a little misleading. It’s the main characters first and foremost, thrown into this wild scenario. I’d say more that battles are fought on lots of levels. Oh heck – that sounds odd, too. It’s the people in the book that are so funny, and flawed, and human that will have all of us doing multiple re-reads. R.’s right about one thing – it will make a terrific movie. Can’t wait until everyone here has read it.
On January 5, 2010 at 10:10 pm Jenny said...
Now if only everybody agrees with you . . .
On January 5, 2010 at 10:11 pm Jenny said...
If it makes you feel any better, I didn’t even start writing until I was 41. You have PLENTY of time.
On January 6, 2010 at 3:48 am Carol Anne said...
There is hope for some of us now, well…there are some who do not hit their stride until 50… and go on to a wonderful career. 41 is a mere babe now.
From the glowing reports by R and Marly, it sounds like a best seller and a movie too.
On January 6, 2010 at 11:37 pm Briana said...
Really? I hope it’s not too weird that I find that REALLY heartening! I write — I write a journal/blog for friends, I write kids’ books for fun for my small friends, I write freelance for Mayo Clinic (sometimes), I write some faith stuff online….I write, but not (yet) to the point I want to write to. But I have time, maybe, since you said that. Whew!
On January 7, 2010 at 2:43 am Jenny said...
Well, I really didn’t have anything to say until I was 41. Then you couldn’t shut me up.
On January 7, 2010 at 1:09 pm Steff M said...
Let me second that… Whew! I never had the urge to write until I turned 40 and when it hit I thought I was nuts and treated it like a big secret. I always thought writers wanted to be writers their whole lives and I’d always been content to be a reader. Your blog has been so informative on the writing process and the fact that it doesn’t just spill out of your head, perfect the first time. Thank you so much for that.
And I’m very jealous of Marly – March can’t get here fast enough!