Resolutions for 2015

I don’t normally make resolutions for the new year, but I often make a list of things I’d like to accomplish or changes I’d like to implement or items to scratch off my bucket list. While I like the “fraught with portent” feeling January 1st brings, something about Official New Year’s Resolutions feels fake to me. Maybe it’s because I don’t want to set myself up for failure or be disappointed if I don’t follow through with my stated resolutions. Maybe it’s because I’m afraid of commitment. Maybe it’s because I’m trying to be all zen and in the moment and not stressed out about what’s coming down the pike tomorrow or next week or six months from now. Or maybe I’m just rationalizing my laziness. I don’t know. One day at a time. (Wo)man without vision shall perish. You can’t steer a parked car. If you don’t know where you’re going, how will you know when you get there? AAAUUUGGGHHH!!!

::ahem:::

Now that I’ve gotten that out of my system, here’s my current list of goals for 2015. It’s not a complete list, but it’s what is foremost in my mind right now.

1. Write every day – Except for NaNoWriMo 2013, I haven’t been very consistent with my writing. I tend to write in fits and spurts whenever the muse bites, but I realize this is not the way to improve my craft. In the upcoming year, I intend to write something every day – maybe a blog post, maybe a response to one of Chuck Wendig’s flash fiction challenges, or maybe another chapter on one of my two unfinished novels.

2. Follow the Anti-Inflammatory Diet – I really hate the common definition of the word “diet” (diet is die with a t, according to Garfield), but the more I read about eliminating foods that often cause inflammation and consuming more foods with anti-inflammatory properties, the more I’m convinced that it is worth a try. I’m not getting any younger, and rather than live on NSAIDs, I’d like to try some potentially less damaging pain management strategies for my plantar fasciitis, asthma and achy joints. If I end up dropping a few pounds as a result of a change in my eating habits, so much the better.

3. Get my craft on more often – Now that I’m no longer of child-bearing age, I find myself wanting to create in other ways – knitting, cooking, sewing, weaving. I love making things, but I’m not very good at it usually. In the upcoming year, I want to do more creating and crafting. This has the added benefit of helping me move through the enormous stash of craft supplies taking up space in practically every room of the house. I will most likely display, wear, donate, gift or otherwise dispose of projects as I finish them and as the mood strikes.

Okay, that’s everything on my list right now. What’s on your to-do list for 2015?

Flash Fiction Challenge – the randomized title rears its head

Once again, Chuck Wendig has issued a Flash Fiction challenge. This time, we were challenged to write a <1500-word story based on a title derived from two randomly chosen words from a list he provided (one from Column A, one from Column B). The link to his original blog post (and if you’re not a regular reader of Chuck’s blog, I highly recommend you become one) is here.

I ended up with the title Endless Screwdriver. Here is what I came up with:

 

Endless Screwdrivers

“Dude, remember the Endless Screwdrivers Night at The Beach Shack?”

“No, and neither do you. You were unconscious when Security threw us out. The guy had you slung over his shoulder like a duffel bag.”

“Oh yeah! That was so epic!”

“Epic? No. Foolish? Yes. I’m amazed we didn’t both wind up dead, or in a bathtub full of ice with a kidney missing.”

“Remember that guy who kept trying to pull off your shirt?”

“Vaguely. I remember tracking down the bouncer and getting someone thrown out. How the hell did we manage to not get arrested?”

“Clean livin’, friend. Clean livin’. Remember that girl with the green sweater dress and the tongue piercing?”

“Oh yeah, she was hot. It’s true what they say about tongue piercings, you know. She did this thing where she flicked her tongue …”

“We should totally go back there.”

“What? No, we shouldn’t. Tiny threatened to kill us if we ever showed up there again!”

“Aw, he didn’t mean it. He was just drunk. You know how he gets.”

“I don’t know, dude, he was really pissed when you smashed his entire pack of cigarettes.”

“It’s not my fault he can’t take a joke. Everybody else at the bar thought it was funny, though.”

“That’s not the way I remember it. Anyway, I can’t do screwdrivers anymore. Ever since that night, the smell of orange juice makes me want to puke. I was hungover for three days!”

“You’re losing your touch, dude!”

“Whatever. Endless screwdrivers isn’t it, even if it is cheap.”

“You know, Paco’s is doing two-for-one shots all night …”

“No …”

… and I know how much you like your tequila?”

“No …”

“Come on, you know you wanna. Besides, two-for-one is like a built-in regulator. Once we’re out of money, we have to stop drinking.”

“You do have a point …”

“I’ll text Heidi. She’ll come with us.”

“What? You didn’t tell me Heidi was back in town!”

“I’ll pick you up at 9pm. Wear your dancing shoes! We’re going to salsa!”

“Okay, but only because we haven’t hung with Heidi since that trip to Cabo.”

“Oh yeah, I’d forgotten about Cabo. Dude, that was epic!”