It’s that time of year for resolutions and goal-setting. I was going to avoid making New Year’s Resolutions–I never seem to keep them. Plus, I figure if they’re important enough to rank as a New Year’s resolution, why am I waiting until the new year to do anything about it?
But as a writing circle facilitator for SCN, I wanted my circle writers to think about what they want and expect from our circle over the next year (that exercise is as helpful for me as it is for them). So if I ask them to reflect upon their 2008 writing resolutions, it’s only fair that I do too. 
- Write when I feel like it. This year, I’m not telling myself to write for 10 minutes every day or crank out 5 pages every week. That doesn’t work for me. I’m discovering that my creative energy ebbs and flows. So this year, I’m going to let myself write when the urge strikes and not try to force it. This also means I need to honor that urge and not put it off because I haven’t something else I can be doing.
- Publish a monthly podcast. I want to produce a podcast I’m proud of and that other SCN members find helpful. And I want to publish it on time, with no gaps. And, heaven forbid, without our newsletter editor having to yank the write-up from me at the last minute!
- Go deeper when I journal. My private journal over the last year or so has become very, um, boring. I get in a hurry and just write about what I did or what’s happened to me. There’s nothing wrong with that, but I’m not finding it very fulfilling. So this year I want to go deeper, delve more into my spirit and self when I write.
- Be a good writing group facilitator. I want my writing circle members to get as much from their SCN and writing experiences as I have, so I want to be a good circle facilitator. Things like posting my monthly prompts on time, responding to each writer in a meaningful way, and encouraging our members to keep up their own writing activities.
- Start a Houston writing circle. I’ve been working with an SCN colleague to launch a local Houston SCN writing circle but haven’t managed to get it off the ground yet. I crave more interaction with my writing sisters, so this year will see the launch of our new circle.
So there we go! These resolutions are general enough to keep, but important and specific enough to be attainable.
One of my latest addictions is surfing (and unfortunately shopping) on Etsy. I stumbled on a really cool Etsy shop today: Claudia’s Creations, Upcycled Handmade Products. Her “Upcycled Plastic Bag Large Round Tote” was featured on the Etsy homepage. This is such a cool idea! She crocheted plastic grocery bags together. I love the concept!
A while back I created an Etsy store so I could start selling some of my bead creations. My hubby and I refer to it as supporting my habit. 
I’ve added a couple more pieces and named the endeavor DaisyLady Designs. Check it out!
When I logged in tonight, I noticed that someone marked my little shop as a favorite. OMG!! Somebody <hearts> my stuff! *happy dance*
Over there on the right-hand side of the screen, you’ll find a shortcut to my most recent additions. I’ll even be selling my wares at the upcoming Story Circle Network conference!
Some time ago I posted about finding a cool blog called Booking Through Thursday. It’s a weekly meme all about books. Books! Woohoo! And because I can’t sleep, I’m posting my first BTT.
Last week we talked about the books you liked best from 2007. So this week, what with it being a new year, and all, we’re looking forward….
What new books are you looking forward to most in 2008? Something new being published this year? Something you got as a gift for the holidays? Anything in particular that you’re planning to read in 2008 that you’re looking forward to? A classic, or maybe a best-seller from 2007 that you’re waiting to appear in paperback?
Okay, first let me preface this answer with this minor detail: as far as I can tell, I own at least 130 books that I want to read. That I know of. These days I tend to be easily distracted with my reading. Growing up, I was a monogamous reader–only one book at a time, thankyouverymuch. But over the last few years I’ve become a mood reader–whatever strikes my fancy and don’t hold me to just one, thankyouverymuch. So, let’s see… books I want to read in 2008… That I know of.
New in 2008:
- Sign of Seven trilogy, books 2 and 3 (to be released in February and November), Nora Roberts
- V: The Second Generation (to be released in February), Kenneth Johnson
- Presentation Zen: Simple Ideas on Presentation Design and Delivery (Voices That Matter)
- The Sugar Queen (to be released in May), Sarah Addison Allen
- Book Three of Genesis of Shannara (to be released in September), Terry Brooks
From my existing TBR pile:
- I Am America (And So Can You), Stephen Colbert
- Atonement, Ian McEwen
- The Belgariad, David Eddings
- Mists of Avalon, Marion Zimmer Bradley
- The Sword of Straw (The Sangreal Trilogy), Amanda Hemingway
I should face it–it is impossible, by the laws that govern this universe, for my family to own a normal pet. My childhood friends can attest to this! I joke quite a bit about having a defective dog. Tex is an, um, unique dog. He doesn’t squat to pee, he’s afraid of tubes (so you can imagine how much he enjoys the Christmas wrapping marathon!), he snorts, and he’s flatulent. Folks, when I say flatulent, maybe I should instead say rotting from the inside out. The dog can peel paint off any wall! Oh, and he’s vegetarian.
About a year ago, he started chewing on his legs, so much so that he cut himself up and the sores became infected. Our vet referred us to a verterinarian dermatologist. She said based on his age and symptoms, it was likely a food allergy. But can the dog complete a simple 4-week food trial? No. He is lightning quick when food scraps and paper products are anywhere near his mouth. And by near, I mean with 20 feet of his location and 5 feet up. He’s a big dog.
Anyhoo, he’s been on a strictly vegetarian diet for about 8 months now. But that wasn’t helping as much as it should. So I relented and sent him in for a skin test. Poor dude! He’s tattooed now. They shaved about 6 inches of fur and marked him up with a blue Sharpie. Turns out he’s allergic to 12 common allergens here in the Houston area, mostly mold spores and weeds. Yeah, cuz mold spores and weeds are so unusual here, that’ll make it easy to avoid! *smirk* Oh, and cats. The dog is allergic to cats. And he lives with three of ‘em. So as of today, our dog is taking allergy shots. We’ve spent more on treating his allergies than our own.
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