Just thought we should start the new year off with a bang. Or a very hearty hubba-hubba. :party

I’m not very good with New Year’s resolutions, but I do try to set up some reachable goals for myself—sometimes at the start of the year, sometimes smack in the middle.

This year, I thought I’d share some of my current & upcoming goals with you…& ask you to share yours in return.

To get under contract again. After I turn in MUST LOVE VAMPIRES later this month, I’ve only got one more Desire to write before all of my myriad contracts are up, & of course I’d dearly love to sell some more books & know what my creative projects will be for the rest of the year.  I’m not worried, mind you, but rather curious & a little anxious to know what the future will bring.  Especially since I would dearly love to…

Sell some of the proposals I’ve been sitting on for ages. I’ve got a handful of really cool proposals worked up for some very cool stories I would love to write, so I’m very much hoping that I can find a home for them in the New Year.  Of course, the question then becomes Which do I submit first? because even though I would love to do them all—& all at once—I am only one person.

Be less negative & pessimistic. Ha!  Bet you weren’t expecting that one, huh?  Do I come across as a little Pollyanna-ish at times?  Yes, it’s true, I definitely have a very Pollyanna streak.  But I think my true nature is to be negative & pessimistic—like Eeyore—because my first reaction to nearly anything is immediate cynicism & grumpiness.  I usually catch myself pretty quickly & can change gears before the negativity gets a foothold, but I would still like to work on it so that my initial, knee-jerk reaction is happy-happy, joy-joy instead of bah-humbug. Hey, it could happen! :tpspspspt

Be more flexible. Physically, sure. Never hurts to be able to touch your chin with your elbow or your nose with your knee.  But I’m talking about being a little less reactionary when plans change unexpectedly, things don’t go quite my way (i.e. as I’m expecting them to go; I’m not that bad when it comes to not getting my own way…so says I, so it must be true :tpspspspt ), or my belongings get moved. Does it really matter if someone leaves a pencil out, even though I like all my pens & pencils to be neatly arranged in their assigned pencil holder?  No, it does not. 2011 is the year to get over it & just put the stupid pencils back myself without grumbling about it first!

Catch up on TV shows I’ve missed. This one will probably end up getting moved to the top of the list because…well, this is me we’re talking about.  But Glee is a runaway smash & I have yet to see even one episode because I want to watch from the very beginning… I have recently discovered that The Big Bang Theory & The New Adventures of Old Christine are hilarious, but I jumped in around season season 19 & would dearly love to start over…  And I’ve heard good things about Supernatural & Human Target, but know I should probably start from episode one with those, too.

So there you have it—I’ve set the bar.  It may be low, but I’m setting it.

What about you?

Ginger Champagne

Ingredients:

3 strips pickled ginger
1 cup ice cubes
1 ounce vodka
1/2 cup champagne

Directions:

Place the ginger strips into a shaker & press to release the flavor.

Add the ice cubes & vodka.  Shake and strain into a champagne glass.  Top with champagne.