Inspired.

I am stalking a new author. Well, stalking is a strong word. I prefer to say I am emulating her. I have no interest in plagerizing her work, camping outside her house, or dressing like her....but I really enjoy her blog, enjoyed her book and plan on reading more, and enjoy her wife/mother/writer philosophies.

On her blog she posted this:

Learned - How to manage my writing time to be more productive (remember those 4 book years?)

Changed - my relationship with food. It's fuel, not a friend or a reward.

Figured out - a way to spend more time with Hubba Bubba

Completed - 2 novels

Stopped - Obsessing about weight

Started - A solid exercise habit

Acquired - Fabulous vacation photos...

Given up - Facebook games. I do them when I am on the phone...but still, they take up too much time!

Visited - Disneyland, Las Vegas, NY, & Hawaii (hey, dream big!)

Left behind - Weight issues, for good.

And then challenged her readers to do the same. So.............here I go: (The credit for lighting a fire underneath my azz to do this is given to Jenna Bayley-Burke. Here's her blog address to check her out: http://www.jennabayley-burke.blogspot.com/  Check her books out. Very sexy, lots of fun.)

So here goes....over this past year (2010) I have:

Learned - That being myself might not always rule in my favor, but it is always, always best to be who I am, instead of changing myself to suit the situation or people around me.

Changed - My perspective on my writing career. It is no longer a hobby that might become a career if the stars align. It is now a career I am determined to succeed in. Whether it be through self-publishing, grneral publishing, or ebooks...I will get out there.

Figured out - That I cannot fix my son, I have to go on this journey with him, and just wait to see where we wind up.

Completed - 1 Book, and 2 unedited books. (Maybe that doesn't count as completed.)

Stopped - Being close with toxic friends.

Started - Listening. (It's harder than it sounds.)
Acquired - A remodeled basement, bathroom, newly landscaped front yard, a B&N Nook, a laptop, and a blue tye-dyed snuggie. :)

Given up - Sugar sodas. I now drink diet pop. This may sound pathetic to a better person than me, but it is big news in this chicks world.

Visited - Disneyland. (We can only afford one vay-cay per year, and that one took 3 years to save up for.

Okay, so now... I am going to write my goals for this coming year. The answers I think I will have this time next year. (Fingers and toes crossed)


Learned - How to jog. I currently cannot run unless there is an axe murderer behind me, and since that doesn't happen often...I don't run.

Changed - My weight. Good lord, I am sick of being overweight.

Figured out - How to get my word counts under control.

Completed - 3 more books.
Stopped - Letting snarky, backbiting people with nothing better to do control my social life.

Started - Working out and not hating every second of it.

Acquired - An agent, book deal, an actual paycheck that comes from my writing, and (because I earned an actual paycheck) a Vespa.

Given up - Sugar.

Visited - The Oregon coast. (This year's vay cay is 3 days in Lincoln City, 3 days in Cannon Beach, and 2 days in Seattle), Montana (Great Falls....you can imagine how much I am looking forward to it. *big eye roll*), and possibly Xmas in Springville, Utah with my in laws.