Sunday, December 31, 2006

The Resolutions

  1. Write Rookie Reiner (yeah, I should think so... I'm contracted to do it now!)
  2. Increase writing income by 10-15%
  3. Learn to do my own taxes
  4. Reach the milestone of 300 published articles (I'm at about 210)
  5. Finish my ICEA coursework and attend the September convention.
  6. Finish two more Book Proposals (one horse book and one non-horse book)
  7. Set up new accounting system.
  8. Pay off two credit cards, the line of credit and cancel one card.
  9. Move. (as in... out of this house...)
  10. Write more about common things people care about and less about politics.

Out with the old..

It's been a tumultuous year. (Note to self: check for spelling of tumultuous)

Full of change in my home, in the organizations I volunteer with, in the industry I write about. Some changes have been good and some bad. Before I write my resolutions (or 'aspirations' as I've heard them called), I feel I must look over 2006 to see just what has gone right and what has gone wrong in my writing career.

1. Right: Signed with my agent.
2. Right: Worked on my proposal with my agent and sold my book to the publisher.
3. Right: Gave birth in the middle of doing #2.
4: Right: Increased my income by 10%, right on plan.

1. Wrong: Didn't take enough time to write That Editorial that got me in so much trouble, just a sentence or two to explain one point MAY have saved me some headache.
2. Wrong: Let myself be bothered by the pettiness of others.

So the rights are winning, two to one. This is ok. More good has come of 2006 than bad. I think that next year I'll try to be less opinionated. Not to avoid controversy, but because I really don't care as much about the politics in the industry anymore.

I want to focus on the people that love the industry, the new people coming in with their squeaky clean, brand new enthusiasm. The people who give back to the industry, the ones who love the horses and not just the sport.

On one of my lists someone made a very good comment: People involved in some sports are so passionate about the sport because it's all they have. It's like their religion.

That made a pile of sense. People who can become so nasty when involved in the politics are to be pitied - that they have lost the ability to see past the commandments of the political arena. Thou shalt not break bread with those you disagree with. Thou shalt not listen to any opinion other than those that support your own.

I vow not to be this person.

I learned this year that you can be unbiased, but if you appear to be biased then you are biased. People who perceive you as biased will always do so.

I have learned a great deal from the husband: Major Man. He's helped me see that sometimes people will dislike me just because I do my job. He's helped me to understand my own biases and helped me to overcome them.

It was a good year. Here's to a new year with all the love of last and less of the heartache.

Tuesday, December 26, 2006

Didn't he go to college?

The other day I caught my husband doing something very, very odd.

He was following the directions on the Kraft Mac & Cheese box. I mean... does ANYONE do that?

Sunday, December 17, 2006

Tis the Season to be BUSY!

The other Sunday our pastor spoke about the song, Joy to the World. It begins "Joy to the World, the Lord has come.." and yet we often feel no joy at this time of year. It's stressful to be buying Christmas presents on a budget, to welcome family into the house so that all the stressors can be right on top of one another.

I'm trying very hard this year to be relaxed. To remain calm, to find the joy in my life. Some days are harder than others.

I've been reading a book called "Raising Your Spirited Child" and part of the book involves doing a little quiz on behalf of your child to determine his level of 'spiritedness'. M. scored quite high... but when it came to the parent's quiz... I scored even higher! Yes, I'm a spirited parent.

This apparently comes as no surprise to my family who laugh and say "Tree. Apple." while drawing a straight line in the air from head to toe.