Monthly Archives: January 2016

I decided to make a resolutions/goals list this year. I don’t really expect to fulfill it all, but I figure having something to shoot for is better than wandering around lost and confused. I’m mixing up personal and professional goals because that’s how I roll.

1. Pay off at least two credit card balances. I’ve let these creep up after being free of credit card debt about five years ago. Two balances are low enough that I can pay them off quickly, though. Update 8/14: Paid off card #2!
2. Stop adding to credit card balances. They’ve been mostly steady this year, but I’d like to get them all headed consistently toward zero. Update 12/19: Balances continuing to drop. Go me. 😀
3. Set up an office space. I’m planning to buy a desk and chair this weekend, and getting those assembled and in place will be about 75% of this goal. Update 12/19: Things kind of fell apart later in the year, and now I’ll be moving soon, so I’d say this one was about 50% accomplished.
4. Get a massage at least once a month. I have a monthly membership that I’m not using often enough. If I’m not going to, I should just cancel it—after I use up the extra credits! Update 12/19: I managed this through October, when I put the account on suspension for a few months. I can still get a massage, though, and I’m planning on one more before the end of the year, which will be 11 out of 12 months.
5. Start doing stretches/yoga regularly for my neck and back problems. More reliance on movement, less on painkillers and heating pads. Update 12/19: Haven’t managed much of this, though I’m a little bit better at maintaining my posture and not slumping over the computer.
6. Get a mammogram. I’m way overdue.
7. Weed out and donate clothes/shoes I never wear. Update 12/19: Pretty much everything that isn’t used is gone. I’ll get the rest as I pack to move.
8. Buy new clothes, especially tops and dress pants. About a third of new clothes I buy end up not working when I actually start wearing them, so the wardrobe turnover is an ongoing issue. Update 12/19: I bought more new clothes in November, and I’m in pretty good shape now. Until spring, that is!
9. Finish unpacking and get the last boxes out of my space. I plan to accomplish a good part of this by getting rid of more stuff. How the heck did I end up with this much STUFF?? Update 12/19: I made some progress here, and will make more before I move, but not nearly as much as I’d hoped. I never did get all my boxes taken care of.
10. Finish and submit/publish three new stories. I’m shooting for three novels, but I do have a germ of an idea for a short novella for Christmas, so we’ll go with three total. Update 12/19: I self-pubbed three novellas and have a fourth coming in early 2017.
11. Republish two stories after rights reversions (and on more than just Amazon this time). Update 10/4: Story #1 self-pubbed this month, on Amazon only so I can try KU. Story #2 published with Dreamspinner in September.
12. Go to Walt Disney World. Planned for the week of the Dreamspinner author workshop. Update 6/19: Went to Animal Kingdom for the first time in March, and hit the other three parks over Memorial Day weekend. 😀
13. Attend the Dreamspinner author workshop.
14. Attend the RT Booklovers’ Convention.
15. Attend the Council of Science Editors meeting (for the day job).
16. Plan and execute publication of the Daily Dragon for Dragon Con 2016.