I knew today was not going to be fun. After eleven days of relaxing with Matt and the kids, the blare of the clock radio at 6:05 a.m. was painful. The teenagers dragged themselves out of bed, grumbling about how much they hated school. Is there any snow in the forecast? We need a snow day.
I promised myself I would write today. I have a brand new planner, with a lovely page for monthly goals.
I’m on day four and this is the first time I’ve written. I told myself I would write early in the day, so I couldn’t let other tasks take up all of my time. Instead, I went to the gym and the grocery store, walked the dog, did four loads of laundry, and threw dinner in the crock pot. It is now 12:44 p.m. and I am staring at the screen, willing the words to come.
Random thoughts are all I can seem to muster today, but they are thoughts that become words, and I’m one-fifteeth of the way to goal #3.
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2016. As the ball drops at midnight, I yell “Happy New Year!” and give my husband a kiss. Then I reach for my kids, and give them a kiss too. This year, I had to wait to kiss Gwen, as she was celebrating without us for the first time.
I see her at 12:25 a.m., but even that short absence is a reminder of what is to unfold this year. 2016 is the year she graduates high school, and we are both feeling the scary excitement and the ambivalence of leaving the nest. I’ve started writing posts about this many times, and they always fall short. I’ll keep trying.
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The new year marks three years since I began my blog; my first post was January 2, 2013. It was about GoodReads, and the only person who commented (and read, probably) was my friend Dana. Thanks D for supporting me since the beginning!
I’ve published 302 posts in those three years, 33 of which have been about books or reading. The largest category of posts is humor; I’ve written 69 posts that at least one person thinks are funny, even if that person is just me. Collectively, my posts have received 15,965 comments, although about half of those are my responses to commenters.
I really don’t know where my blog will go this year. I publish less often each year (131 posts in 2013, 99 posts in 2014, and 72 posts in 2015). I’m envious of writers who have more words than they can put to paper, but I don’t want to publish just to get something out there. This post is an exception; it’s my “get your ass in gear, Dana, and just start writing” post.
I am starting a new project in conjunction with my blog this year, though. Bev and I are co-hosting the Who I Am project, which is a series of monthly topics designed to help you record the pieces of your story. Interested? Click the graphic below to find out more.
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I haven’t done one of these in a long time – it’s the blogger equivalent of playing tag and show & tell simultaneously. Nicki tagged me in this fun Q & A focused on the number four.
Four names people call me other than my real name: D, Dane, Mom(my), Danita.
Four jobs I’ve had: waitress at Friendly’s, switchboard operator, college admissions counselor, bookstore cashier
Four movies I would watch/have watched more than once: Grease, Dirty Dancing, The Mummy, Guardians of the Galaxy
Four books I would recommend: How about ten? Check out my last post, with my top ten books picks of 2015.
Four places I have lived: the first house I remember, where we lived until I was in third grade; college, four different places, each time with the same roommate; our first house as a married couple; and the home I’m in now – we moved in five weeks before my youngest was born.
Four places I have been: the Colosseum, the Swiss Alps, Alcatraz, the crown of the Statue of Liberty.
Four places I would rather be right now: the Swiss Alps, boarding Space Mountain, a Broadway theater, or getting a facial.
Four things I don’t eat: yogurt, buffalo anything, smelly cheese, raw oysters.
Four of my favorite foods: m&ms, my mom’s lasagna, chicken soup with matzah balls, fresh berries.
Four television shows that I watch: The Walking Dead, Homeland, Jane the Virgin, Game of Thrones.
Four things that I’m looking forward to this year: family vacations, girls’ weekends, summer, hugging my high school graduate.
Four things I’m always saying: Let’s go!, I love you, Give me a hug, Where is my blue charger?
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Final thought: I was productive at the beginning of the holiday break; I finally updated my About page. Take a peek!
so exciting. gwen is all grown up! i have 16 more years to go with my baby…so i can’t even imagine! i keep saying, “oh i can’t wait until he sleeps through the night.” or “i can’t wait until he starts talking so we can converse.” but everyone tells me i will miss these days.
I won’t tell you that…I don’t miss those days, but I do mourn the passing of time a little. When they are small, it seems like they will be with you forever, and now I’m faced with a fast approaching departure from the nest.
Enjoy your last semester with your daughter at home because it will fly by! Has she chosen where she’s going to school next year?
Not yet – still waiting to hear from a few schools. It is flying by!
Good for you to try and tackle your goals! I’ll check out the Who I am project – sounds intriguing!
Guardians of the Galaxy is such a good movie, and I wish I was in a Broadway theatre right now 🙂
Me too! I’m going to two Broadway shows this year though, so I’ll just have to wait.
My first post was a get your @$$ in gear too. I’m feeling some tingling like I’m going to really write this year. I HOPE SO! We are all jealous of each other one way or another about something. I am super jealous of your new about me page and your fancy graphics!
And wow, you did a lot before 12:44 even it you didn’t write.
Don’t be jealous – it was a looooong time coming. And I’m starting to itch for a new blog design. Uh oh.
I always do a lot early in the day, but writing isn’t usually one of those things. And it’s all downhill after noontime.
Going to go sign up for Who I Am now, thanks! I’m glad you’re still blogging. That you started. That we became friends from it. So much. Also, I’ve thought about an intro to 2016 post since it was still 2015 but um nada. So you’re winning there 🙂
You will have a post up on 19 minutes though! I’m so glad you still do FTSF – I would miss it. And I’m so glad we became friends too. Last week the fam and I had dinner across from the first place we met for lunch…I told them about it and it made me smile. One of these days our kids will meet too!
I decided to give myself an extra week off before I blog again. Not to say I’m not working or I don’t have the words — I actually used up all of my words today to write two freelance articles in their entirety! But I felt like i needed to get myself on track for planning for the year. As a result I’m feeling really confident about the year — or at least January!
I’m so excited to be partnering with you on the Who I Am Project 🙂
You made up later than I did on New Year’s Eve. I fell asleep on the couch around 11, woke up at 11:50 and went to bed. It must be quite an adjustment to not have had Gwen with you. Such a big year for her!
It is such a big year! And look at you being all productive in January – can’t wait to see pics of your newly organized and painted studio!
Happy New Year Dana! I too am, at this very moment…well, before I got distracted which is my THANWG!, organizing my new daytimer. Anyway, I’m super stocked about the monthly project you are so nice to be providing us with. I can’t wait to dig my teeth into it. I need a prompt for my journaling. You know I’ll be by again, but FYI, I always get a chuckle, so you aren’t sitting there laughing at your witticisms by yourself 🙂
Happy new year to you too, Sandra! I’m glad my blog gives you a chuckle – it’s kinda creepy to laugh all alone.
We are in the same boat! I’m struggling to stick to my daily writing habit, and I’ve got teens grumbling about school. (And a middle schooler and a nine-year-old…)
I love your blog and think it’s fine if you post less often because your posts are always meaningful and/or fun. Keep up the good work. I’m excited about “Who I Am” series – it’s the motivation I need to make writing a priority. Hopefully, it will help you too…
Looking forward to a great 2016! 😉
Me too! I’m so glad we found one another (I think it was through Nicole?) – I enjoy your blog so much. You have such a unique approach and focus; I imagine that your blog is what my blog would be like if I had to do it over again!
Thanks Dana! I appreciate the compliment… lately I’ve felt like my blog is unremarkable. Your comment has me inspired for the New Year! And I’m so glad we met too. 😉
Good for YOU for getting these words down and kicking off your New Year with your first month’s goals! Just seeing your goals, makes me want to set the same ones for me. I’m so not a goal setter- and I really need to be more intentional about my blogging, and my general daily life doings. I agree that I don’t want to post something just to post something, ya know? I want to make it worth my readers’ time. No one has time to waste! It’s tricky. I know… I’ve slowed down a lot too.
By the way- add 1 to your (hilarious enough) 1 who thinks your posts were funny. I ADORE your sense of humor!!
And I’m looking forward to coming along with you in your new “Who I Am” series!
I have a good feeling the right words and posts will come about your emotions with Gwen graduating will surely come. <3
I hope so, Chris. I’m not a big goal setter either, but here was this page in my planner, so I went for it. Btw – FTSF this week is “my word of the year is…” so you should link up! I enjoyed that post a lot.
When I first saw that graphic I thought that was your goal for one day (until I saw the 15 days of writing). I was like FOUR BOOKS!?
Anyway, I think that is a really good monthly goal and I like the idea of a monthly goal, not just a yearly one. \
Reading a book I think you might like called The Hired Girl. Maybe we already chatted about it online somewhere? I’m losing my mind. Can’t remember anything. I love that we are always talking about books and that we share similar taste.
I write less and less on my blog every year, too. I think it’s natural.
I think it’s natural, too. No…we didn’t talk about The Hired Girl, but I just borrowed it from the library! Love when a digital copy is available immediately. Perfect timing – I finished my first book of 2016 this morning, so this will be my second.
I’m also a fan of the About page! It’s splendid.
My two have returned to the land of college and the morning that my son left he was grumbling that he was SO busy this Christmas, he was looking forward to going back and having a rest.
Happy New Year, Dana. May your charger always be at hand.
I love the random thoughts and the lists of “fours.” My blogging goal for 2016b is LESS. Now that the linkups have scaled back and I’m pretty much giving up on submitting to other sites, I’m hoping blogging will be more fun and relaxing – less stressful. But, I fear having nothing to say and letting the blog dwindle too much.
Where I’d rather be right now? Somewhere beachy, somewhere snowy, Paris, or in bed! 🙂
All excellent choices! I’m with you about submitting to other sites, although I just submitted a piece that I felt might be a good fit. But it’s not going to be a focus anymore. That’s liberating!
It’s funny how posting seems to be less and less each year. I only got to 114 posts last year, and it felt like I was gone too often. Already placed library holds on books from your recommendations…except for The Nightingale. It had 124 holds ahead of me…that got purchased from Kindle. Here’s to a great year full of completed goals!
We seem to have favorite foods in common, although I can only imagine that your mom’s lasagna is amazing.
I love cheese but can’t do ANY smelly cheeses. Except parmesan. But no sheep’s milk, goat’s milk, feta, gorgonzola, brie, etc.
I don’t usually watch movies more than once but I’ve seen all of yours more than once!
Also, where is your blue charger?
Ha! I asked my kids what I said a lot, and that was their answer. It’s true. Someone is always taking my charger!
I LOVE your planner! And I love that you showed up and wrote even though it was hard to get started. I’m dealing with the same problem right now.
I’m stuck, Christie. I read such wonderful pieces and get frustrated that I can’t do the same. But just show up and write, right?
I love my planner too 🙂
Your “About” page is fantastic! And I am very, very excited about the “Who I Am” project. I finally tried oysters for the first time recently. I didn’t hate them but am not willing to jump fully on board either. Space Mountain – YES! Oysters – meh…
Unless they are grilled oysters from Acme Oyster Company in New Orleans – those are DELISH!!
LOVE! Everything about this, especially you Dane. I would rather be getting a facial right now too… Happy 2016! xoxo
You call me Dane, I’ll call you Nix…that makes me happy.
Happy New Year! I find almost all of your posts humorous – so you are not laughing alone! Thanks for the NYC tips, and reminder that the Crown was 5 years ago! Keep on writing; you do it beautifully!
Thank you xoxo
Happy New Year!!! I’m excited to start the “Who I Am” writing journey and received my first prompt today – which of course you already know 🙂
I love all the places you have traveled and I’m looking forward to picking your brain on places to see when we travel to Italy this May!!
Ooh, I would love to chat with you about Italy, Allie. How exciting! Happy new year to you too.
ohhh really nice About page! Okay, I signed up for the Who Am I prompts. You know I loved that idea when you posted about it in October! Can’t wait to have something like this to pass along to my kiddos.
I find that if I list goals (like “read 4 books”) I tend to have negative aggression toward the suggestion and find ways to sabotage. hahaha I’m OBNOXIOUS even to myself. I do love lists though. I mean, LOVE. I even write stuff I’ve done for the satisfaction of marking it off. I make lists for day to day (or weekly), but goal setting…? I usually keep it very simple. Like for 2016 my only goal is to finish writing and publish my next novel.
Happy New Year, my friend! xo
Don’t be obnoxious to yourself! I wasn’t planning on setting the goals, but there were those little circles right on the first page. And honestly, those three goals are pretty basic for me. I finally submitted a piece that I’ve been procrastinating about forever (#1, check!), and the four book goal is easy for me. The writing…it’s doable, and I hope that holding myself accountable will help me get there. Or I’ll bribe myself.
Your next novel – yippee!!! It may be your only goal, but it’s a good one. Happy new year to you too!
Happy New Year Dana! What an interesting new project – looking forward to seeing where it takes you!
Me too, Jenn. Happy new year to you too!
This is hoe the day is going. I lost my comment to you – our whole home network went down. I hope this isn’t like the says, “As January goes, so does the year.” I’m trying to get motivated and really struggling, too. Just spent the last half hour laying on the floor of my foyer. Can’t tell you why, either. Oy!
Let me try submitting this again…
It went through – sorry about your technical difficulties. And that saying is rubbish!
You know I love your new About Me page – seriously best I have seen I think ever! That said I am trying my best to get into the swing of things with 2016, but now yesterday started to feel like I was coming down with something and trying to fight it off as best as possible. But still keep going, because that is what women and moms do I suppose. Wishing you a very Happy 2016 and can’t wait to see more about the Who Am I project! 🙂
Happy new year to you too, Janine. Hoping you and your whole family stays well for the rest of the winter!