MY 2010 NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS (in no particular order)

or

HOW I PLAN TO GET MY NOVEL PUBLISHED, IMPROVE MY HEALTH, AND SAVE THE WORLD (have not technically come up with a plan for that last part)

1) READ READ READ! I couldn't wait until Stephen King's UNDER THE DOME was delivered (I was sooo excited! The mail carrier, on the other hand, got a hernia), but other than that one snowbound day, I've had little time to read it lately. I also have so many other books that I'd planned on reading. I MISS reading! Reading makes you a better writer. So sayeth Stephen King :-}  My big hope is that 2010 is much less hectic and less overwhelming and I have time to sit back and enjoy reading.

2) Less Pringles, less chocolate, more salads.

3) Get some tablets and pens and do some writing on actual paper for a change. Yes, it's true that my handwriting is illegible, but deciphering my chicken tracks would be great mental exercise.

4) Update my blog on a regular basis. I should have done that all along, I know. Funny thing is, once I get started, I enjoy it. It's the "get started" part that's hard.

5) Back up my stuff on disks more often, rather than waiting until panicky virus or trojan attacks (Quick, quick, where are my blank DVDs?!!! AGGGHHHH!).

6) SLEEP! I've got to stop trying to get by on 4 hours or so of sleep per night. Quite simply, I feel like crap.

7) Do something for myself once in a while; not for other people, not for furry people. Even if it's just soaking in the tub for an hour (while reading!), or playing around in Paintshop Pro, or buying myself a bottle of something bubbly and alcoholic (Mmmmmmmmm ...)

Bear in mind that none of these go into effect until January 2, 2010. I know, I know -- a lot of people (Most people? All people?) start on January 1. But that's a holiday, and I can't wrap my mind around change on a holiday. It's a day off, and I'll be too busy. You know, eating Pringles and chocolate and watching parades or marathons or something.

Also, said resolutions are subject to later revision, alteration, or flat-out deletion. Who knows, scientists may eventually conclude that Pringles strengthen our immune system. And besides, maybe lettuce silently screams when they rip it out of the ground. How cruel.

Look out, world, there's a snowstorm a-comin' ...

Up to 18 inches of the stuff, I've heard. So today was the inevitable run to the supermarket to load up on food supplies. You know ... microwave popcorn, potato chips, Diet Pepsi. A big ol' bag of 9 Lives cat food. The important things in life.

The snow is supposed to start about 7 a.m., and as I write this, it's after 4 a.m. I have no idea how it got to be this late. I started reading Stephen King's UNDER THE DOME, heard cats crying to be fed, and realized that almost 3 hours had gone by. Damn good book. But, hey, Steve -- you owe me 3 hours of sleep! Good thing I'll be snowed-in tomorrow (ok, technically today). I see much snoozing in my (near) future. On the couch, squeezed in between cats, no doubt, while a blanket of snow pretties-up the neighborhood. Not a bad way to spend a day.

Assuming the power stays on.

I knew I could find something to worry about if I tried hard enough ;-}