A Toast to 2010

Greetings and a happy 2010 to all friends and family. Mary Lou and I are off and running literally. We continue to spend week mornings exercising our brain and body- Mary Lou on the newspaper, and me in my writing. Then on to Rec center where we meet friends for a workout.

News years resolution! Yes, I have resolutions every year. And do I keep them. Can't say I am 100% successful, but have some successes every year. New years resolutions are one thing I have always done and each year write them on a card and post them in my bathroom. Take stock of my progress or lack of it periodically. That has just become a part of my lifestyle. End of each year I make note of my accomplishments and my failures and make out new ones. Most years I have as a top priority, health- Last year I succeeded in exercise plan, failed some on eating. It read " limit sweets, carbohydrates." I failed on the sweets. I like chocolate too much. Did better on the "eat more fruits and veggies." Mary Lou's garden really helps. Held my weight- that was a winner.

Other items on my resolution- related to writing--- failed for the most part. Getting book length story published, but I did get it critiqued and now going to edit it and placed that resolution on my 2010 list. Also on my writing related list is to copy edit, Space Romance entitled "The Darma Decision," and identify someone who will review it. It needs a lot of work. That will follow my updating of "Brass Notes Over Wolf Creek." This is a youth fiction story long enough for book. Another part of my writing goal is to redo "The Visitor," a fantasy short story published in MacGiffin Journal. I have it almost ready for trial and then distribution as a serial story for newspapers. Newspaper serials by the way did well for me at Christmas. Surprised, since I now newspapers are undergoing big changes and hard times.

In addition to the above writing goals for the year is to develop plot lines for an adult novel. Right now I have several general ideas but have decided not to write so much "off the cuff," but rather get characters and situation more in mind before I write scenes and episodes. If you know me, you know I am good at spouting out with words.

So all to say, resolutions do work for me. My final tally on success for 2009 was about 50% or success in three of the six areas I identified.

This year I have added- travel to places I haven't been and return to three as well. I do have my preferences and one is Sanibel- planning that in March.

Best Wishes to all- keep writing- keep jogging- keep the brain working and new vistas visible in 2010. Do like to hear from you.