New Year, New Plan

New Year, New Plan....

I'm not a big fan of New Year resolutions because, honestly, they never get kept.

And I'm even less a fan of setting myself up for failure.

But after seeing this copy of Woody Guthrie's 1943 "New Year's Rulins" I felt I could at least come up with some guidelines if not actual resolutions. He seems to have a handle on how start a new year.

So here goes:

1. Less sitting, more walking.  Work has too much sitting, but work also has a walking track around it.  Problem meet solution.

I'm fortunate to live in a place with so many walking trails in town. 

And even more out of town. 

Guess there's a reason Vogue magazine has listed 

Salida as one of the 9 U.S. destinations to visit in 2018.

2. Less social media, more socializing.   Visit with more people than screens. This goes along with No. 46 on the list: Have a dinner party. I like the concept of a "crappy dinner party" where the emphasis is on visiting and enjoying everyone's company rather than impersonating Martha Stewart. (Face it, Martha has a slew of helpers to pull off her magical events. The rest of us don't.)

Enamel plates make for easy clean up.

And they are fun!

3. More fruits and veggies, less bread and butter.  This one will be a challenge. It may have to be more fruits and veggies and the same amount of bread and butter.  That would at least be an improvement, right?   (Woody's No. 6 basically.)

4. Less mindless TV watching, more reading.   The TV is background noise that sucks me in.
Although when it is below freezing and dark outside, it's nice to have a little background noise.
(Just finished When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi. Contemplative and sad.)

5. More color.   Look at this closet. You would think I'm in mourning. Actually I just like black and gray  but ...but... some days a little more color would be nice.

One wine sweater and a denim shirt and a LOT of black, white and gray.

The plan is to do better for Spring. 

6. Write more.   I used to be very faithful about blogging twice a week.  I miss that routine.  Working will probably make the twice a week schedule difficult, but once a week should be manageable.  Let's see.

Inspiration abounds!

O! And one more....
"Dream good."  I like that one.


Happy new beginnings.

No. 74: Finish this book

No.74: Write in my book

No. 74: Write in this book....

This book:

I totally bought it on a lark at Anthropologie after Christmas.  Having a December birthday always gets me a good discount at Anthropologie for the one month that I seldom buy myself anything. But this year I planned. Made a point of going after Christmas and seeing what was on sale and using my coupon. And what did I buy? This book and a new coffee mug because I inadvertently left my favorite ones in Colorado. (Also from Anthropolgie...)

I bought the book because...why not?    Writing prompts are good. Makes me think.

And then I sat down to write. Some of the pages are divided in half, some in quarters. The ones that are in quarters I think "Well, I only have to write a tiny bit. This morning I'm busy but I can squeak out a few minutes to write."
But you know what? It's never a "few minutes". I get into it, lost and then surface an hour later. I think this is true whenever you create, whenever you are totally into what you are doing.

So I am writing in it a couple of times a week, trying to get myself into a routine. I think I might be better off heading to Starbucks or somewhere that is not my house. I need to go to my studio that I don't have.  But so far I have just been at my kitchen table or in my bed, scribbling.

And what have I written? Here's a sample.

The prompt:  Set something on fire.
(Well, you just never know what will pop into your head.  Honestly, I totally understand what Michelangelo meant when he said "Every block of stone has a statue inside it and it is the task of the sculptor to discover it."  The stories are in there, they just need to be put on paper. And maybe I have a tiny evil streak....)

The match sparkled, sizzled and then settled into a slight flame. She hesitated.
"Will I need more?" passed through her mind before dropping her one lit emissary.
Hitting its target, there was a brief flash before the lone match died out.
Or did it?
Smoke wafted.
Her nose crinkled as the combined odors of accelerant and hair filled the air.
Finally.
He'll be gone for good. Or so she  thought.....


It's gonna be a fun book.