Monday, January 28, 2008

The Latest Item on My Wish List

Confession: I hate to shop. You won't find me scouring catalogs looking for the perfect furniture (I still don't have a coffee table) or coveting pretty frocks (I'd be hard-pressed to describe a frock) but I did come across a must-have item that made me scream, "I'll take TWO!"

So, now I just have to wait to see if the concept will become a reality. Honda, if you're listening, there are two dogs in Charlotte who NEED this car. Please make it available in the U.S. soon.

Friday, January 25, 2008

No Rest for the Wicked

You know the cliche, "The road to hell is paved with good intentions?" It describes my experience with keeping this blog updated: No matter how many times I add "update blog" to my to-do list, other things crop up and I never get around to it.

The New Year is off to a great start. I'm working on some interesting assignments, I've gotten work with new magazines and new editors and I'm in the midst of several time-consuming (but rewarding) volunteer projects.

I'll be in NY in April for the 2008 ASJA conference. It'll be my fifth year at the conference and I've always gotten a lot out of it, personally and professionally. This year, I decided to take a more active role - and before I knew it, my involvement was, er, quite involved.

I started with one small project - coordinating editor goodie bags - and grew from there. All of a sudden, I'd committed to moderating a panel (Environmental Journalism: Writing Green) and overseeing editor/agent sign up for Personal Pitch sessions - a task that involves securing participation from editors of national magazines and huge publishing houses to meet with ASJA members for mini pitch sessions (it's the writer's equivalent of speed dating). I'm working with a co-chair and together we have to fill a whopping 2,256 nine-minute slots! Needless to say, I have my hands full.

I submitted a book proposal earlier this week. While I'm waiting (with fingers crossed) to hear back, I'm working on articles for Parenting, Shape, Arthritis Today, Backpacker, Natural Solutions, Rotarian and Charlotte Magazine. Keep your eyes peeled for my byline in upcoming issues.

One of the biggest challenges I'm taking on for 2008 is Hike for Discovery. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society runs the program which brings hiking enthusiasts together raise money - and awareness - to help people dealing with blood cancers. There are weekly training hikes (starting next month) culminating with a hike at the Grand Canyon in May.

The dogs are racing around the house which can only mean one thing: it's time to start the weekend - and in our house that means bundling up and going for a long walk before settling in with a movie...

Tuesday, January 8, 2008

New Year, New Goals

There is a new calendar hanging on my office wall which can only mean one thing: It's time to set goals for 2008.

For the past several years, I've set aside time on January 1 to set my goals for the year. This year was no exception. I curled up on the couch with the dogs, a cup of tea and my notebook and prepared to outline all of the things I wanted to accomplish over the next 12 months.

Normally, I am pretty private about my goals: I tell the hos what I hope to accomplish work-wise, I talk to my financial advisor about all money-related goals and my pack at the park knows all about my goals to have Molly trained as a therapy dog. Otherwise, I keep my goals hidden away in a notebook for my eyes only. This year, I'm changing that.

I've decided to post my goals online. It's my hope that putting them out there for the world to see will help me be accountable. Here's the list:

Professional Goals
* Have proposal for hiking guidebook accepted by publisher
* Submit non-fiction book proposal
* Submit anthology proposal
* Teach at least two classes
* Focus on features, not FOBs
* Attend two conferences
* Write more articles on dogs and eco-friendly topics
* Travel less

Personal Goals
* At least one international trip
* Take two creative classes
* Participate in Hike for the Cure
* Earn the title of "World's Best Auntie"

There are a few other goals I'm working toward this year but I'm not willing to send them out into cyberspace (a girl has to have a few secrets).

Go ahead, ask me how I'm doing. And, if I'm falling behind, feel free to kick me in the behind to get me going. I need all the help I can get.

Other things I'm looking forward to in 2008:

*The arrival of my neice or nephew in May
*A trip to the Florida Keys with KT
*E, kayaking partner and dog-sitter extraordinare relocating to CLT
*A trip to Portland
*ASJA (aka 'the hos reunited') in April

Now it's your turn: What are your goals for the New Year?