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There’s actual snow on the ground.

I live in Colorado, and, sad to say, snow is a rarity anymore.

But even an inch  of snow on New Year’s Day is lends hope for the coming year. Misplaced hope, perhaps, but hope none the less.

2018 has been an eventful year. Some of it good, some of it not.

There’s been cataclysmic drama. Moments of truly relaxing peace and enjoyment. Terror about the what-ifs that is still going on. There’s been writing (a little). There’s been more crafting than writing (because it’s easier to put down a crafting project in response to “Mom/Hon, can you help me with XXXinsert item hereXXX?” than it is a writing sequence, especially when you get interrupted every 5 minutes).

I went to Iceland for Spring Break. I took the first steps of being a caregiver in a very minor role (I imagine that role will expand as time goes on, although I hope not). My hard won victory that I achieved three years ago of getting off my anti-depressants, a victory that involved a dietary overhaul and also had the added benefit of cutting my triglycerides down to non-drug management levels was completely and catastrophically reversed in less than 14 days (from noticeable onset of symptoms to full suicide ideation). The kids got older. My archery improved. I began writing again. I fell. I got up. I fell again. I got up again. I fell another time.

I’m still working on getting back up. Again.

I know I make fun of it with the “School-year Resolutions,” and I don’t normally do New Years Resolutions, because, well, it doesn’t seem to work. Maybe it’s the time of year, or maybe it’s just that I lack the discipline/desire to stick with it.

But this time I think I’ll post something in that vein of “This Year I’ll…” – in part because it’s something to post about, and in part because, well, I don’t know why. It certainly isn’t the “if you tell people, it creates a sense of accountability from yourself”  – I know for a fact that doesn’t work with my brain.

Goals for 2019

1- Acquire employment

This one is harder than it looks. I’ve got a ten year employment gap, which hiring managers keep telling me makes all of my previous experience “irrelevant,” but because 8 years of that previous experience was as a lowly civilian contractor file/shipping and receiving clerk on an Air Force Base, hiring managers also tell me I’m “overqualified” for entry level positions.

2- Write 3000 words a week

This is chump change for a DAILY writing goal for a number of professional authors, so I don’t think it’s impossible, just… difficult, given the current state of things and the fact that I’m a pantser.

3- Knock out some crafting UFO’s

I have a quite a few of these – some were just I lost inspiration and boxed the project up to finish at a later date, others were more of a seasonal or supply issue. I’d like to kill off a number of UFO’s this year, and do it as cheaply as possible.

4- Declutter a bit

I emphasize the phrase “a bit” because I live with two children and a man who insist on keep damned near everything, even if it doesn’t get used. Ever.

 

I’d like to finish the third fantasy book I’ve been working forever on. Then switch gears and move into another romance novel.  Then maybe back to the steampunk, although we’ll have to see how that works. Life being what it is and, all.

Perhaps find a “writing buddy” who’s schedule is about as wonky as mine, so we don’t get caught up in “OMG! we have to meet every Tuesday at 5pm! I have to get through writing this new section by deadline and have edits done for him/her at the same time! AAAUUUGGGHHHHH!”  More like – “So, does your schedule in two weeks have an opening or should we look further out?” kinda thing. I know writing is a solitary activity, but t’s nice to have someone to socialize about it with who isn’t a spouse.

I suppose we’ll just have to see what happens next.