It’s January 3rd.  Most people have given up on their insipid resolutions by now.   I, myself, haven’t even started on any of mine – not that I had any to begin with.  My friends had several resolutions for me, though.  I may or may not take them under advisement.

My best friend Deirdre informed me we should write a book together this year.  She’s been saying that every year … but this year I’m fired up, ready and motivated.  Well, that and she held a gun to my head.  She’s got twelve weeks of maternity leave coming up – so she’ll have plenty of creative liberty and freedom.  She’s a way better writer than me, so …

… that being said, I’m resolving to be a better writer.  I’ve had several well-known authors read my stuff and they all tend to use words like … choppy, chaotic and random.  They also use terms like “devoid of any flow,” “bait and switch” and “completely scatterbrained”.   Yep, that’s me.  I write like I think – fast and loose.  Which, come to think of it, is similar to my morals, standards and scruples.

My buddy Cliff thinks I need to be more culturally aware.  He takes me to the symphony.  He suggests art house movies over the usual mainstream fare.  He suggests Indian food over American cuisine.   He thinks I should take a class or something to inspire the right side (or is it left side?) of my brain.  Thus …

… I just started looking in to getting my Masters degree in something.  Probably Marketing 101.  Or advertising.  Or communication theory or that genre.  I barely made it through college the first time because I was mind-numbingly bored with all the pre-requisite classes I had to take.  Once I got in to the broadcasting classes, I was in heaven.  In 2000, I decided to broaden my horizons.  I would take a different class every year – just to brush up on stuff.  I learned how to teach yoga. Very successful.  (Thank you, Davey.) I took a sign language class.  Failed miserably.  Cooking class.  Better, but still didn’t make the grade.  Gardening.  Hated getting my hands in the dirt.  And the list goes on and on …

My resolution last year was “Avoid negativity at any cost.”  It remains my personal motto.  My resolution this year, you ask.   Take more time for myself.  Why?  Ask my friends.  I blame them for getting me involved with things or invited to things, I barely have time to do nothing.  Which is what I’d rather be doing in the first place.

Kiss my ass, 2009.  I need a nap.