I have no New Year’s resolutions; I rarely make them because I know I won’t follow them. So instead, I make a few goals, and if I’m diligent (and lucky), I achieve them. Before I reveal those goals, here is a recap of 2009:

• January: La Princessa (daughter) got married; Spokane had a huge snowfall that closed the campus for only the 2nd time in 40 years but the second year in a row; finished writing 3rd novel (The Secret Dreams of Sarah-Jane Quinn).
• February: I got really sick and missed almost a week of work.
• March: I got really sick again.
• April: La Princessa moved to Kentucky with her husband; I began the revision of my first novel (The Wyckham House, which I finished writing in July 2007.)
  
• June: La Princessa came home–at my expense; glad to have her back but sad because of why; financial aid applications at work increase by 45% & staff furloughed without pay 4 hours a week…so much for summer travel.
  
• July: Missed seeing high school best friend/sister at Grand Coulee Dam on Fourth of July. Missed it by THAT MUCH! Took a much-needed vacation and DID NOTHING but read; almost lost a friend through mutual stupidity.
  
• August: Started walking the neighborhoods with Long-Suffering Spouse every night. Life is good. Something is BOUND to happen to mess it up…
• September: Began what I thought was final year of college, only to learn a class was added to degree so I have to go an extra quarter; I was bit by a dog on a walk with Long-Suffering Spouse.
• October: Dog bite mostly healed; still lumpy in places and itches like crazy; I rammed foot into side of ladder to the loft…twice–doc says not broken but I think that’s bullshit…am on crutches for several days, then a cane; Forever Nocturne’s fourth issue released, featuring a fantastic interview with novelist Vincent H. O’Neil and our first-ever Tworror contest (Twitter horror).
  
• November: Still limping from “breaking foot;” finally finished awarding Fall quarter files at work and started on Winter quarter; have to take an on-ground class Winter quarter instead of online class AND a PE class (to qualify for my scholarship), so I will not leave the campus until 7 or 8 every night until the end of March.
• December: Work has not slowed down; I still have not sold a book; I am still limping; the dog bite still itches; La Princessa…oy vey, let’s just leave it at that; and I’m still not done with the revision of The Wyckham House. BUT…I have met some fantastic people who have left their footprints on my heart, so overall, I’m thrilled with 2009.

Now to deal with 2010…

As I said, I make no resolutions, mostly because I don’t like to make promises that I can’t keep. So instead I make a few goals that I think are attainable. Here are my goals for 2010:

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• I am going to start weight-training again. With work and school, this will cut into writing time, but I’m going to have to make that work somehow. I love lifting; I just hate going places, but I will do it. I WILL.
  
• I am going to sell a book. Period. ‘Nuff said.
• I am going to finish my 4th novel and start on the 5th, which I am going to plan from start to finish (don’t die of shock, please).
• I am going to finish the remodel of my house and finish the landscaping in the back yard, regardless of whether we get furloughed without pay again this year, and I will make my house ready for a writer’s retreat in 2011.
  
• I will spend more time with my best friend.
• I will not be so impatient with everyone, including the cats and the dog.
• I will make it over the Cascades to see family–I have great-nieces & -nephews I have hardly ever seen; some I have never seen.
• I might go to church once in a while. Trust me, this is a big step.
• I will try to socialize a little more.
• I will try to be a better friend, a better wife, a better mother, a better cat-herder and dog-lover.
• (Edited in at advice of Wendy) I will try to not physically harm or otherwise maim myself in 2010.
  

I think that’s about all I’ll be able to manage without imploding.