Word for the Year - 2020

JULIA SPENCER-FLEMING: You know the broke and woke meme? The former is passe, the latter au courant. Well, after reflecting on wants, needs, what works, what doesn't, I think all of us are ready to say:

Broke - New Year's Resolutions

Woke - a word for the coming year!

Jenn's going to start us off because she encapsulated it so perfectly.

JENN McKINLAY: I don’t usually make resolutions because I’m too contrary to keep them, but I do try to pick a word for the year and set an intention to use the word as a guide. Not surprisingly, when the hooligans were little and shenanigans were rampant, my word was “patience”. I did a lot of meditating on that one, let me tell you. 

Especially when they thought it was hilarious to throw all of their colored street chalk over the block wall into the neighbor’s newly remodeled swimming pool. Yes, I made them don suits and goggles and dive for every last bit. Or the time they thought it would be a real knee slapper to ambush the mailman. I caught them in their hiding spot with a cooler full of water balloons just as he was coming around the corner. Mercy! 

I was having a tough time picking a word this year. So many to choose from and it has to last a whole year! But then, on Christmas, I was baking my usual apple pie. Same recipe I’ve used for years but, weirdly, the amount of sliced apples seemed to have doubled and I ended up making two pies. With the cost of college coming at us hard and fast, I figured this was my sign and that my word for 2020 was “ABUNDANCE”. Let all good things come in abundance this year like a surprise extra pie. Wishing you all abundance in 2020! 

HALLIE EPHRON: Abondanza! I can get behind that!

But for me the word for the year would have to be ENERGY. More to kick projects into gear and keep them going. Write a new book. See to some house repairs. Bake. Hang out with my grandbabies. Right now both of them -- Franny is 6, Jody is 3 -- are here and bursting with said energy. Franny is starting to read and it’s so exciting to see her, reading aloud to Jody, the pair of them nestled together on the couch. 

HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: Word of the year? FOCUS. Focus focus focus. I have so much to do, and it’s great, but  there are lots of shiny distractions and I am DETERMINED (may I pick that word too?) to do better and better and not only conquer my challenges but to ENJOY (picking that, too) it all, as much as I possibly can. Focus, determined, enjoy. And loving abundance and energy, too.  Wishing you all everything wonderful, dear Reds and readers!

LUCY BURDETTE: I’m in for energy and abundance too. However...to be concrete, I resolve to spend less time on social media so I have more time to READ. I love scrolling through Facebook and seeing what everyone’s up to, but the time goes by so quickly and then I don’t get my work done. And don’t get to the stacks and stacks of books on my nightstand and desk. So I guess my one word (actually two) will be CHOOSE WISELY! 

RHYS BOWEN:  My resolution? To learn to say NO. I hate to let anyone down so of course I’ll speak to your book club, come to your fundraiser etc etc. And when I’m run ragged I ask myself why did I say yes?  I have already resolved to do one book every 9 months instead of two a year I want down time just to be, to enjoy family, friends and the beautiful world around me. I don’t want my one word to be no, so I think I’ll choose APPRECIATE. I want to be grateful for every minute I’m given.

LUCY: Rhys, that would be perfect for all of us, I think!

DEBORAH CROMBIE: I am all on board with everyone’s words! Energy, focus, abundance, appreciation. To those I think I would add DISCIPLINE. I am so easily distracted by shiny objects, I already have made more commitments than I probably should, and I don’t want to get so frazzled that I forget that I actually ENJOY what I do. 

JULIA: I've been thinking a lot about my theme for the year. Last year, I realized I had loads of things I wanted to accomplish in my life, mostly professionally, some personally. I want to write a book in a year - and turn it in on time! I want to expand my social media presence. I want to stay on top of the demands of this old house, and I want to get back to exercising and swimming regularly because I am so done with joint pain.

As you all know, I started working with Celia on organizing my life, and as part of that process, I spent a lot of time thinking about what I did that worked, and why - and the many ways I stumbled, and why that happened. I've had some terrific talks with Jessica Crockett aka Jessica Ellicott of The Wickeds, who is the Time Management Queen of New England. So reflecting on all I managed to get done this past year (and the stuff I half-assed or missed altogether...) I've decided my word for the year will be SCAFFOLDING.

I know, it's weird. But I feel I still have a lot of work to do to get systems in place that support my goals and to make them study enough so I don't slip off and wind up spending a whole day reading the news online or starting and stopping a half dozen housecleaning chores. I need scaffolding before I can restore my beautiful building (in this metaphor, my life is the building) and that's what I'm going to FOCUS on this year.

How about you, dear readers? Do you have words, themes, resolutions? Share them with us in the comments!

Reflections before Resolutions: a guest post by Celia Wakefield

JULIA SPENCER-FLEMING: New Year's mean resolutions. Since I've had great help with my goal-setting from Friend of the Reds Celia Wakefield, I asked her to share some techniques for discerning resolutions. "Not so fast!" she said (more or less.) Before setting goals, first you need to sit and think for a while...

New Years Resolutions

First, a happy, healthy and peaceful 2020. I am most grateful to Julia for inviting me to talk with this truly wonderful community and the talented authors whose imagination adds so much to our literary lives. No recipes today. as I am wearing a different hat;the one which won a copy of Hallie’s latest book ‘Careful What You Wish For”, all about the trials of Emily Harlow, Professional Organizer. Yes I was / am a P.O. So it is in the spirit of getting organized around new years resolutions that Julia invited me to offer some thoughts. You might say, “well why not a recipe?” Celia has good food ideas, but that is not what Julia wanted.

In the spirit of true confession I need to add that I no longer make New Years Resolutions. For several years Victor and I would meet with friends in Brooklyn, enjoy a NY Resolution brunch with great food, (there I go again) and lots of bubbles. Then we would settle to the important work of deciding what we had achieved since the last brunch and what we wanted for our futures. There were some high flying thoughts and many unacheived goals despite our efforts to live up to our picture of the perfect us.

I could offer tips and strategies such as SMART goal setting (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, Timely). It’s really more suited for sales forces. But the conversation over brunch today with my daughter (ham, veggie and cheese frittata) gave me some thoughts to share. Olivia, with her consulting and corporate background, suggested she did not like the term ‘resolution’; it's too hard, with not much maneuverability. My daughter would prefer me to reflect.

REFLECTION: A quieter, calmer process with less of the naughty or nice attached to it. This, I believe, is achievable. Consider what did I do that was really successful, fun, different? What pitfalls would I like to avoid in the future including the ones that I accidentally fell into? Did I learn from these experiences? Then there’s space to cast forward. What must be done because - write reasons -. Once the ‘must’ has been cut down to size, there is room for dreams, new experiences and projects to try. Now this may sound a lot like the old resolution thing, but I invite you to consider the how. How can also be seen as time lost or wasted. This digital age has crept into our lives, stealing attention with memes, selling stuff at bargain prices; stating that we are no longer the boss of us. As my younger grandson stated at an early verbal age, “You are not the boss of me, granny”. I can think of several things that are bossing my time, and which I probably would never miss if I was honest with myself.

Now it may be that this seems harder that just tossing out a few ‘good’ resolutions, when asked by a friend but I believe that the end result may be far more satisfactory and hopefully add joy to our lives. However I must do my due diligence first. I went to Google and found just under 200.000.000 hits. How to choose? I couldn’t even use a pin, but I was intrigued by this, written last year in The McGill Tribune: “New Month, new me: Keeping New Years resolution's for February and beyond”. First, I love the cartoon and that is what caught my attention; secondly, Jason is a student and I find it helpful to read what people a lot younger than me are thinking; usually in a new and interesting way. Then I found this fascinating header in my email: “Where Are You Still Using Single-Ply?” “Oh”, I thought, “someone sent me some knitting help”, It turned out to be more interesting than knitting, which I am unlikely to be voted most expert, evah! So I am passing it on too.

But for an easy start, here’s my reflection recipe:

INGREDIENTS: Quiet time - alone. For us New Englanders that means no trying to write while watching the Pats edge their way to their XXXX Super Bowl.

Pen and paper; a tablet is allowed for dates or searches within reason. Don’t get distracted.

METHOD: Block out quiet time, sit comfortably with space to write. While the PC is the best invention to come into my left handed life, I find that lists and thoughts are best done by hand which engages a different area of the brain.

Don’t try to organize thoughts, jot them down as they flow. Reflection allows that changes are part of the process.

Don’t take too long unless you are really getting somewhere. If the muse won’t play the first time around, try later, but do give yourself a deadline to at least achieve some thoughts.

Let us know how it goes and along with that I would be happy to be in touch with anyone who wants to explore this further with me. Please email me at wakefieldpro at gmail dot com.

JULIA: Pen and paper out? Good. Tomorrow we have the marvelous J.P. Smith as our guest with his psychological thriller IF SHE WERE DEAD, and the day after that, Saturday, we're going to share our resolutions for 2020! In the meantime - do you like reflecting on yourself? Do you find it stimulating, thought-provoking, or scary? Do you have suggestions you can add to Celia's? Let us know in the comments.

This Year I Will.....

RHYS BOWEN: It's New Year, time for resolutions. I don't usually make them, but this year I'm resolving to do some things better.
 We always celebrate Three Kings Day with my Phoenix daughter and so I was wrapping presents on Sunday when I realized that I am rubbish at wrapping. Really bad. I know why. I'm always in a hurry, always doing too much. I took a picture of my pitiful attempts!

The thing is that I love receiving a beautifully wrapped gift. So this year I resolve I will improve at wrapping. I'm sure there are Youtube videos on how to wrap gifts. I promise to study. And next year the ones with the perfect bows will be mine.

This has made me think of other things I am not good at and maybe could work on. Ironing, for one. No. I am not going to watch videos on how to iron. My motto is "if it creases, throw it out and get another".  And Suduku. I am bad at suduku. I don't know why but I just can't do it. I watch other people on planes zipping through a puzzle without putting any alternatives in the squares. And I? I get it wrong three times out of four. "Oh look, I've got three nines in this square."

So now I'm thinking if there is anything that I should resolve to try or achieve this year that I have not tried before. I'm not going to emulate George Bush and try sky diving. I saw a Groupon this week for an axe-throwing class. I was tempted. How lovely to kill someone with a perfectly thrown axe. But I don't think that's me either! Actually can you picture me hurling an axe? I'd be sure to let it fly at the wrong moment and kill the person standing beside me.

But I would like to think of something that pushes me beyond my comfort zone. If my knees are okay maybe I'll hike to the top of Squaw Peak. I've always refused to do it before because it's scary (and steep and no hand rail up the side of a mountain). But I'll try to build up to it (if my knees hold up).

 I'm trying to think of something less demanding that I should tackle. A new craft? salsa dancing? I think we should always push ourselves, don't you?
So Reds any resolutions? Anything you'd like to improve at? Try for the first time?

LUCY BURDETTE: I think I agree with you Rhys, that we should be always thinking about expanding our horizons. It’s definitely not going to be a gift wrapping or ironing for me, though I am not good at it either. I’ve even caught John ironing a few of his own things lately, having given up on me!

Aside from the book I am writing, definitely out of my comfort zone, I have been thinking about adding more yoga and more poetry to my life. I went to a new yoga class last week with my friend Steve and we liked it a lot. For poems, I have subscribed to a list curated by Matthew Ogle. (https://tinyletter.com/pome) Every day he sends a new poem. Some of them are impenetrable, but some I like a lot.

And last, my volunteer gig as the secretary and newsletter editor for the Key West Friends of the library will be ending this spring. I’ve enjoyed it very much, but I’d like to do something next that doesn’t involve sitting at the computer. Maybe volunteering at the local animal shelter? I’ll keep you posted...

HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: ::sitting here thinking:: ::: sitting here thinking:: Well, I'm already surprisingly good at wrapping gifts and ironing, I must say. (Neither of which is going to get me very far, right?)  I love the idea of pushing myself, but--well, you know? Here's what. I am going to try to be more careful about making time for friends. Getting OUT there. I always think everyone else is out there glamming it up, except for me.  Still, I think writing books is pretty darn challenging, and becomes more challenging every time.  If I can accomplish writing an even better book, I will count my self as . a success. And I don't even have to jump out of a plane, thank goodness, to do that.

HALLIE EPHRON: YES to gift bags. And to reusing them year after year. Because one of things I'd like to do in the new year is reduce my garbage footprint. 

This year my husband will retire at the end of the fall semester. There's all kinds of major changes associated with that and my goal is not to get overly anxious about it. I like clarity. Systems! And sometimes you just have to go with the flow. Like driving in fog and only being able to see as far as the headlights...only it's not writing, its life.

JULIA SPENCER-FLEMING; Gift bags. GIFT BAGS. Pop the present in, stuff a little tissue on top, takes ten seconds. Plus, they're reusable! At least they are in my house, where I snatch them away from the recipient within seconds of the present being opened and refold them immediately.

The pushing-myself thing I'm going to do this year (beside the ever-green resolve to start and finish a book within twelve months) is organization. Now, I'm good at home organization. My closets look, and work, great. My pantry is neat, and I can find things when I need to. But when it comes to work-stuff? I'm terrible. Because for years and years, Ross did it! He was one of those people who are naturally gifted at office skills: managing paper, tracking appointments, staying on top of communication. As anyone who has waited a week for me to get back to an email can tell you, that is NOT my skill set.

But I need to manage this side of things, for my writing life, for my new teaching gig, and for household and Youngest-related needs (I just spent a half hour searching for financial information to send to her university. It should not be that hard.) Anyone who has tips or tricks, I'd love to hear them.

JENN MCKINLAY: I loathe wrapping. Loathe it. I try to buy things that include a gift wrapping option. Yes, I'm that person who will pay others to wrap. In other self-improvement, I would like to work on finishing the home projects. I like DIY home improvement stuff - love it, in fact - the problem is life interrupts and then it takes me months to get back on task. I started redoing my kitchen cupboards over a year ago. I am 2/3 of the way done, which is stopping me from having a new counter put in or upgrading the appliances. I coulda woulda shoulda had this project done by now, but much like painting the outside of the house -- yes, I did that, too -- it took me over a year to complete. Gah! It's maddening but I refuse to give in. There is no feeling like finishing a major home improvement project that you accomplish all by yourself, at least I think so, it's been so long since I finished one...

DEBORAH CROMBIE: I can actually wrap (although this year Rick did all the actual wrapping and I just did the bows and tags--this is maybe because it after ten on Christmas Eve???) so that one is not going on my expanding horizon list. I think I am on Julia's page, otherwise. I want to do lots of things better, including being more organized, and I absolutely must figure out how to write a book in a year! While not a completely new horizon, that would be one not visited for a good many books!

RHYS: I loved hearing that Hank needs to get out there--come out of her shell a little! Right. Who does more speaking engagements than Michelle Obama on her book tour?
And Lucy, you'll have plenty to do trying to tame that new kitty who has just moved into your home.
I am personally so excited that we have just bought a new house in Phoenix and it's been completely remodeled--everything new, so no home improvement to be done of any kind, Jenn!

Now let's hear from you. What are you daring to tackle this year?

The R Word

JULIA SPENCER-FLEMING: January first, 2018. Has there ever been a time when this many people have been so glad to turn the calendar page and start a new year? I don't know about you, but 2017 felt like one long, exposed raw nerve to me. Thank heavens we have the ritual of New Year's Day, a pause in the rush of time, a clean, unmarked sheet of paper. 2017 is done, it's behind us, and we have 365 days waiting, pristine and unopened, to get things right. To do things better. To vote in the midterm elections. (Ha! Sorry, we try to be apolitical here on JRW, but I couldn't resist.)So, Reds, it's time to bring out the "R" word - that's right, Resolutions. I was thinking about the word itself. We're all very big on goals nowadays, but a resolution isn't setting a goal, or saying "I'll aim for x, y, and z." Resolution, according to my American Heritage Dictionary, is "a course of action determined or decided upon." It was the HMS Resolute, not the HMS Goal-Oriented (of course, that didn't stop it from getting trapped in the arctic ice and abandoned.) So what are the course of actions we've determined for the upcoming year?Fortunately for all of us, we didn't do this New Year's Day post last year, and so we are all spared spilling the beans on what we didn't manage to fulfill. (Full disclosure - I achieved NONE of my resolutions and actually reversed one of my 2016 goals by gaining back the twenty pounds I had lost that year!) So what will I tackle in the year to come? Besides trying to lose those twenty pounds for a second time?

I resolve to manage my stress better. I want to make mindful prayer and meditation part of my daily routine. Another part of stress management is regular (joint-friendly) exercise. I will re-up our family membership at the local Y and start swimming again. I may also just keep on watching Hallmark Christmas movies all year - they're soooo soothing and uplifting.

I resolve to not shut myself up in my house and hide. I will try to have lunch, or coffee, or see a movie with friends once a week, especially as the Smithie may be moving out of the house (finally) (Just joking, Smithie, you can stay as long as you like.) (But really, leave.) and Youngest, God willing, will be starting college at the end of August.

I resolve to learn how to do some basic house fix-ups and landscaping chores, and I will buy the tools necessary to do them now I don't have men around. Seriously, I didn't know how I was going to reach the top shelves anymore when my cousin Ron bought me a folding step-stool. It has changed my life.
 
I resolve to write, even if it means scrapping the work-in-progress and starting over. Geez, I hope my agent and editor don't read this.
I resolve to keep making lists, because they are really changing my ability to organize my time! (Evermore not one of my talents.)

How about you, Reds?
 HALLIE EPHRON: Julia, your resolutions are awe-inspiring. Though when you wrote: "Another part of stress management is regular (joint…"
I read: "Another part of stress management is A regular joint…"
which made me think… well, never mind.

JULIA: I do still have quite a bit of the medical marijuana prescribed for Ross. Maybe...?


HALLIE: My resolution is to stay physically active and not become a couch potato. I stopped going to my exercise classes because my joints are wearing and I needed something less bouncey. Hoping gentle yoga is the answer. And regular walks.

FINISH THE DAMNED BOOK! I am aided by the fact that my editor just went out on maternity leave and that gives me an extra month. So no excuses.

Refresh and nurture some relationships that have sadly frayed in the past. And just be less judgmental. Good luck with that. 

HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: Oh, gosh, I don't know.  Jonathan and I were just talking about how easy it is to lose track of friends--everyone is so busy. So we agreed to try harder.

 To realize everything doesn't have to be PERFECT.  That walking might be the solution to everything.  And that even though you might be (briefly) trapped in the ice, that goal-oriented is good.  As long as the goals are flexible.

To be optimistic, and kind, and patient. Patient patient patient. (And not be inwardly critical. Yeah, that'll happen.) And persevere. But book will get written. I don't even have to resolve that, I think. It just will.

And yes, as you said, Julia, we do not do politics here. But every day, I am going to chant: diversity, vulnerable, evidence-based...and etc. Ha.

But I am not going to resolve to cut down on caffeine. Because..why?LUCY BURDETTE: Oh no Julia, please don't scrap the WIP--I feel certain the story is there and we're desperate to read it!

Resolution: Spend less time on social media. Sigh. And put into action the things I really believe in (many have to do with those banned words.) I'm pretty good at exercising, but the stress management part needs work! It's such a waste of good energy to worry things over and over and over...

DEBORAH CROMBIE: Yes, Julia, the JOINT is helpful for stress management, LOL.

I am with you all on most of these resolutions. First, FINISH THE BOOK. Prioritize!!!

To that end:

Take regular walks. Or even bike!  (We got our bikes out a couple of weeks ago and it was so much fun!) 

I'm already spending so much less time on social media that I'm missing keeping up with friends, so it's hard to find a balance there.


Be more organized. Make lists. Structure my time better. Go to bed earlier. Get up earlier. Read more. Make a list of what I HAVE read!

Say "NO" more often!!! (Proud of myself for already turning down half a dozen speaking engagements for next year. I can't write and organize speaking events at the same time.)

Do my bit to improve our situation (vote, contribute) without letting the news distract me from everything that is good in my life and in my community.

Pay attention to what's around me.

Make more time, somehow.

And keep up my journals!!!!

Oh, and become a better cook.

(Um, have I gone overboard, here?)RHYS BOWEN: Oh yes, Debs: learn to say NO more often. How many times have I agreed to go and speak somewhere because it seems rude to say no. Then one day I wake up and realize I have to fly to DALLAS to give a speech at a luncheon. How ridiculous is that?  So I will try to cut back on events this year. Only do things that make sense and bring me joy.

That will be my main resolution: only do things that bring me joy. Life is too short to be stuck with boring and miserable tasks.
Also: make enough time for friends and family.
Take time for myself every day, just to drive to a nice view, walk on a beach, go have a massage, sit alone and drink a coffee.... just to rewind.

Not worry too much about the state of our country and the world. Things will sort themselves out... but encourage everyone I know to vote! 

And most important: do something good every day, even if it's as small as telling the bank teller that you like her necklace or letting another car go first at a stop sign. But also telling my husband and family that I love them... and showing it.

And making sure I laugh at least once a day.

INGRID THOFT: I live in Seattle so a joint isn’t required.  I can just inhale when I walk down the street!

First and foremost: FINISH THE BOOK!  But also, don’t beat myself up about the process of finishing the book.  I’m a “control enthusiast,” as my husband likes to say, and I find it difficult to accept the messy reality of creating something.  The starts and stops, false starts, and detours are part of getting to the final manuscript, but it's a challenge to go with the flow.  I resolve to take the process as it comes. 
 
I’d like to get better at meal planning.  Since I live right by Pike Place Market, I tend to take a European approach to food shopping and planning, but I think it would take less mental energy if I thought about it a week in advance.

And yes, voting.  We all need to resolve to vote!

JENN McKINLAY: Resolutions. I love them. I love New Year's Eve more than any other holiday because I love the idea of the life do-over, plus, champagne and fireworks! My resolutions are pretty simple compared to years past. For the longest time I had two resolutions -- be the best mom I could be and get published. Well, I feel as if I've accomplished those goals. While not perfect in either category, I can honestly say I've done my best. 
 

Now, that the hooligans are older and need me less and I've gotten published and have been encouraged to spread my wings and write whatever I'd like, I want to turn inward, slow down, breathe. The world has had me in a constant state of outrage for so long that it's become my normal state. I don't like it. It taints everything. So, while a walk through Seattle (LOL) would be helpful, I think I am going to try to be more mindful of what I can do - support candidates I believe in, vote, attend town halls and meetings, write letters, etc. - but also make the time to meditate, find joy in the small things, spend time with my family and friends, and to keep living my best life by treating it like the grand adventure that it is. 

JULIA: A grand adventure, indeed,  Jenn. How about you, dear readers? What are your resolutions? Any suggestions for my joint stress management?

Resolution: Changes in Attitude

LUCY BURDETTE: First of all, Happy New Year to our wonderful Red family! I'm grateful for each one of you. And now, with a new year beginning tomorrow, I thought I'd share my resolution...

John by our post

In Key West we have been assigned a horrible parking space. (I know, first world problem, but hear me out.) The driver must back in, with only about 6 inches of clearance between the car mirrors and two enormous concrete pillars on either side. I confess that I have avoided driving just because of this parking problem. But a couple of 
weeks ago, I watched John as he swung gracefully out toward the opposite cars, and then glided backwards into our slot. 


“You consider this a challenge, don't you?" I asked in an accusatory voice.

He grinned and agreed that he did. And right then I decided since I have no other options, I might as well try to take that approach too. 

Set that story aside for a minute.

In September, I was diagnosed with a disease called Meniere's. The experts seem to think it involves too much fluid in the inner ear, resulting in vertigo, nausea, and tinnitus along with some deafness, among other symptoms. Though it could be a virus or any number of other possibilities. It's not life-threatening, but it is life changing. For example, it's important to reduce stress. (As one of my "spin" buddies said, "I actually didn't feel like I was that stressed until I got Meniere's and uncontrollable vertigo!!!!!") 

There's no cure at this point, since no one has a good grip on what actually causes it. But the main treatment is a low sodium diet, a diuretic, and staying away from caffeine, chocolate, alcohol, and salt. (Maybe you heard the screams as this was explained to me last fall.) And using a list of drugs to help manage the dizzy episodes when they recur. (Which they do.) 

Lucy in 2013

This has been a hard adjustment, as I’m used to feeling healthy. And I love food. I write about food, I talk about food, I get enormous pleasure from cooking and eating good food. I identify as a foodie. I boast that my maiden name “Isleib” means “is stomach” in German. So while I’m trying to do what I was told would help, I’ve done it with a lot of grumbling.

 


I'm no Pollyanna. I do have days when I feel lousy and tell my hub that maybe it's time to push me out into the harbor in an old leaky boat.

"But wait," I say, "I'd better take the old cat with me--he'd be too much for you. You guys don't really connect."

"And Tonka will want to go with you, no matter what the circumstances," says John. "And you aren't leaving me behind!"

And then we laugh like crazy imagining the Coast Guard or the Navy Seal divers coming to scoop the four of us out of the harbor. And I start poring over the No-Salt cookbooks again.

This is where the story of the parking space comes in. Somehow this year I am going to try to adjust my attitude about having this bizarre chronic disease, and about eating. No salt? No problem.
And that is my resolution, a change in how I view this condition, from yawping and yammering to acceptance.

How about you Red writers and readers? Are you facing any big challenges this year? Or do you have tips to share about surviving one in your past?

Lucy Burdette writes the Key West food critic mysteries. KILLER TAKEOUT, coming in April, is available for pre-order now.

True Confessions: Our 2012 Resolutions Revisited

HALLIE EPHRON: We all made resolutions for 2012, and the wonderful thing about a blog archive is that I can go back to this day, a year ago, and see what we promised ourselves. So how'd we do? I had three resolutions:
Finish the damned book.
Lose weight.
Chew more slowly.

I'm two for three... if you count two pounds as "losing weight" (I do!) In April, that book I was afraid I'd never finish comes out. Look for THERE WAS AN OLD WOMAN in April.  It's a doozy. And how nice to look back and remember how lost I felt about that book, just like I'm feeling lost now with the next one.

Here you go, ladies, fess up! Did you(I cherry-picked or we'd be here all year...) --

RHYS, did you...
Have adventures.
Be patient with John's "little failings which are too numerous to mention here.
Take up a new sport.

RHYS BOWEN: I guess I can count falling and fracturing my pelvis as an adventure--not one I would have chosen, but certainly one that made me incredibly grateful for all the things I take for granted--being able to walk, drive myself, dance, play with grandkids. John's little failings... uh, I try.

Did I really say take up a new sport? What was I thinking? I guess my new sport had to be learning to use a walker! But I hiked 5 miles yesterday and maybe more today so all is well.

RO, did you...
Pay more attention to the library  in Tanzania.
Spend less time online.

ROSEMARY HARRIS: I did! And...maybe I didn't.We went back to Tanzania in February and we've committed to funding for another year so the library is still very  much in operation. We always need books though, so that's an ongoing challenge.

In the last six months I spent less time online but that had less to do with a conscious decision than just not having enough time. Oooh, Hallie, very sneaky of you to dig these up!

JAN, did you...
Exercise LESS.
Be more productive as a writer.

JAN BROGAN: Actually, the technical resolution - in my head if not in the blog - was to play less tennis. SO YES, I DID play less tennis. The fact that I tore my ulnar nerve was EXTREMELY helpful in that regard. In fact, I even wonder if I kept pushing my elbow into injury for just that reason. As of last July, I haven't played ANY tennis. 

So overall, I have exercised less, even though I have started running again (only a couple of times a week) and I've been way more productive as a journalist. A little more productive as a fiction writer.  The new year's resolution this year is to finish my first draft of my historical novel.

JULIA, did you...
Swim at least three times a week.
Keep better in touch.
Finish the next book.

JULIA SPENCER-FLEMING: I can't believe it's been a whole year and I still haven't finished the book! Clearly, for 2013, I need to come up with some concrete ways to a) stop procrastinating, b) better manage my writing time vs. my motherhood/volunteer/other professional obligations c) be accountable for my word production. Any suggestions are welcome.

I've been a tiny bit better at keeping in touch with my family, worse at staying connected to my friends, but a lot better at communicating what's going on with my editor and agent - so overall, I'll put this in the plus column.

Except for this summer (when we do lots of things outdoors) I have been swimming at least semi-regularly, and my knees have continued to thank me for it. So this coming year? More of the same, except with specific goals instead of those open-ended resolutions.

HANK, did you...
Banish fear.
Envision yourself differently.

HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: Well, yeah, I kind of did! In a kind of a sometimes-fearless way. (Interesting that those were among my resolutions. Good ones!) I do think I had some realization that we only have one life and if we don't go for it now, when will we? I even had an experiment, I will confess, where I went to a party and just said anything I wanted, without a filter.

And I do envision myself a bit differently, tentatively, carefully--someone told me I had to allow myself to "get big," like cats do when they're angry. Wow. That really works.

SO I'm keeping those resolutions for the next year, too! And being fearless about THE WRONG GIRL,  which I'm very happy with. (And the new book, for which I have NO IDEA. But I am not afraid!)

DEBS, did you...
Do the best you could.
Remind yourself often that you were doing the best you could., and wish all our friends and readers and very happy and productive new year!

DEBORAH CROMBIE: Hallie, good on you for reminding us what we resolved last year. And now that my curiosity is piqued, I'll have to go back to that blog post and see what else I SAID I was going to do. I know one resolution was "finish the book," and like you, I did. By the skin of my teeth, but I did. I think I also resolved to have more productive work habits, and to be more organized. Not sure I achieved either. But, hey, I FINISHED THE DAMNED BOOK. (And it's good, too. THE SOUND OF BROKEN GLASS, out February 19th!)

Oh, and I lost ten pounds, although that wasn't a resolution. I'm calling it the "Stress over finishing the damned book diet."

LUCY, you escaped last year by seconding Rhys's list. Sneaky. So how'd you do?

LUCY BURDETTE: Geez, that was kind of lame, wasn't it? And you guys let me get away with that? And meanwhile poor Hank was supposed to banish fear? Yikes!So I did have some adventures--a week on a bare-bones sailboat in the British Virgin Islands, when I am a weenie about the open sea and scary sea creatures, and get easily seasick (and did!) Snorkeling I think should count as my new sport...

Let's see, what else? Two books in one year was a big adventure:).

As for being patient with my John, I think I'll add that back onto this year's list because being kind to your life partner is always a win-win, don't you think? And I'm going to take one from Hallie for this year--chew more slowly--and one from Debs--remind myself that I'm doing the best I can. If I am. (And I'll try...) Happy new year everyone!

HALLIE: So how about the rest of you? Did you do what you promised yourself, or are you pushing those resolutions into 2013... or just accepting whatever tomorrow brings?

Ring in the New!

RHYS BOWEN:The Old Year Passeth!

Don't they seem to go around quickly these days?
Later today I'll be completing my yearly ritual for New Year's Eve. I have a special note book and every year I write down my hopes, plans, dreams and resolutions for the coming year. So the first thing I'll do is to look at last year's list and check off those things I have accomplished and note those that didn't come to pass.

It's interesting looking back over the years and noting how my aspirations have moved from being centered on money and career to more spiritual matters. Friends and peace of mind and good health seem to matter more than making a zillion dollars from my writing (although I have to confess I do want that NYT bestseller before I hang up my pen. And an Edgar would be quite nice too--although I have been nominated which is almost as good)

So my list for this year will go something like this:
Make the most of every day. Don't waste one minute doing things that don't bring joy and satisfaction, unless these things are absolutely necessary, like mopping the floor occasionally.
Try to learn something new every day.
Stay fit and healthy. Maybe take up a new sport?
Treasure my family and friends and make the effort to stay connected with those who are far away.
Treasure my husband and try to be patient with his little failings--too numerous to list here.
Have adventures.
Laugh a lot.
Be silly with my grandchildren.
Never act my age.
Oh, and write a number one best seller!

Do you have lists for the coming year?

HALLIE EPHRON: I hate new year's resolutions. The whole idea of the gives me a toothache. Still, I do make them. Every year, right up there with finishing the damned book is losing weight. One I manage to do; the other not so much. To which I'd add: stop kvetching especially about things I cannot control and chew more slowly.

ROSEMARY HARRIS: Oh dear...I don't. If I did I'd have everything on mine that you have on yours. Perhaps I would pay more attention to the library that my husband and I started in Tanzania. I've left so much of the work to him. He's been amazing since I started writing and I never thank him enough.

And..maybe I'd add some smaller things like..spending less time online!

LUCY BURDETTE: Rhys, I love your list--would love to borrow it for 2012!

JAN BROGAN - I may be the only person on the planet who is making a new year's resolution to exercise LESS. But it's true. And Hallie, I just did a story for Monday's Boston Globe with tips from a wellness coach and psychiatrist on new year's goals, and one key is to make really big new year's "visions" without deadline that you later break down into flexible, manageable goals. So my VISION is to be more productive as a writer.How I attain that is flexible. Hmmm... maybe I'll try exercising LESS. See? Doesn't give quite the same toothache. And so much easier to achieve. Kind of. In a way.

JULIA SPENCER-FLEMING: I'm still laughing over Rhys's resolution to be patient with John's "little failings which are too numerous to mention here." My resolutions:

1. To keep up with swimming at least three times a week (it really is helping my poor knees.)

2. To be better at keeping in touch (this one is my perennial, and I never seem to decrease the amount of time it takes for me to return phone calls and emails.)

3. To spend more quality time with my husband (important as the nest is slowly but surely emptying out) AND

4. To finish the next book!

HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: I am banishing fear. Seriously. The whole "life is not a rehearsal" thing. Here, now, I love it. Everything doesn't have to be perfect. I do the best I can, and care, and I'm so grateful.

Jan, I'm with you on the vision idea. I'm already pretty organized, focused, productive. But this year, I am going to envision myself differently . I think 2012 is going to be a year of big change, and I embrace it completely. Exciting, wonderful, new. Bring it on.

And I'll be delighted see what wonderful things happen to us all.

DEBORAH CROMBIE: I make the same resolutions every year. I can prove it. All I have to do is look at my journal. "Write faster. Exercise more. Meditate. Worry less. Take more time to enjoy every day." I manage to do some of all these things, and not enough of any. So I think maybe this year I won't write anything down. Like Hank, I'll just do the best I can, remind myself often that I'm doing the best I can, and wish all our friends and readers and very happy and productive new year!

So a very happy New Year to all our Jungle Red friends. Anyone else want to share their resolutions?

On No Discipline Whatsoever

Okay, maybe they weren't the best New Year's resolutions, nor the most ambitious, but I was sincere about them. Really, I was.

1. No eating after 9 p.m. at night. I was doing really well with that one until last night. I had one of those cinnamon sugar graham crackers. The good news was it immediately gave me a stomach ache. So after one small lapse, maybe I'll get back on track. Unless I'm watching television late at night. Then all bets are off.

2. No email until after I've already written five pages of my novel or the book proposal. I was actually doing pretty well with this one BEFORE New Years. But this week is my blog week, and the first thing I have to do in the morning is get up and post. For some reason, these leads to checking email. Plus I have a new computer AND a new email system. So what human could possibly resist the novelty factor?

3. Be green and use all cans of tennis balls at least twice before throwing them out. I tried this, but most people I play tennis with insist on opening their own fresh can of balls if you offer a used can. So it isn't any greener and it just seems cheap.

4. Stop telling my kids what to do. They are grown ups for goodness sakes. That was the idea behind the resolution. But this week I remembered that I'm still helping to finance them. And if I let my son shop for his clothes without me (on my credit card) he comes home with stupid stuff that is the wrong size. He hates shopping. I can't help myself. I have to go and save him from himself.

5. Buy less at the supermarket. Especially produce, which almost always goes bad because I buy too much. I've already had to throw out wilted parsley and a very funky looking lemon. And my first grocery bill has not yet gone down a penny. But then again, my son is still home from school and he eats a lot. Right?

Okay everyone, what new year's eve resolutions have you already broken???

And for those you who have resolved to watch less television, if you are in the Providence area today, January 7th , I'll be reading from Teaser and talking about mysteries with the talented Mark Arsenault at the Providence Main Library, Empire Street, Providence, RI at 7 p.m. We would love to see you there!

And Congratulations to Ruth McCarty, who won a copy of Brad Park's new book: FACES OF THE GONE.

And a reminder from Hank: WINNERS!! SECOND NOTICE!!

Margie B! You win Toni'sKelner's book! Email me and send your snail mail address.

And Plastic Santa! You win a copy of Quarry, the new and wonderful collection of short stoires from New England writers (okay, including my On The House.)

Send me your snail mail!