My father used to
gather us (my eight siblings and I) all around on New Year's Eve and we'd write
out our goals, our resolutions to be read aloud. I hated it. I never knew what
to say, because really, I had no desire to change myself. So every year it was
all more of the same. "I'll be more active", "I'll watch less
junk on television and more documentaries", "I'll lose weight". Blah blah blah. All things that should make us
realize how critical we are of ourselves and how difficult it is to be happy
and productive when you're so down on yourself.
But he was adamant, so every
December 31st, we'd sit down and share these goals, and seal the
deal by watching the ball in Time's Square drop at midnight whilst munching on
pickled herring and crackers, black-eyed peas and ham hocks.
It
seems counterproductive to me. Every year starts afresh with the promise of new
things, of rewards and blessings and joy that can be had…if only we do something
differently than we did the year before.
Do
we really think we can be happy in the coming year, if we lose weight, exercise
more, read more books, ask for a raise, find a better job? How is doing all
these things that make us miserable going to make us happy?
How can we expect to be
happier in a new year, if we plan to punish ourselves?
We probably can't.
I
don't usually make resolutions for that reason, and a few others.
But I look around
today, and I know things have to change. I have to work smarter, more efficiently,
and more effectively. So, I have a few writing related resolutions for the
coming year to share with you.
1. Write
1K words a day.
2. Keep
a schedule. This is my "job". I should treat it as such.
3. Connect
with readers via the blog and FB regularly.
4. More
specifically: Revise, expand and republish Be A Bad Boy
5. Complete
projects 2 weeks ahead of schedule
There. That ought to be
sufficient to start off with, huh? Meanwhile, I've coerced some of my fellow
authors into sharing their resolutions for the upcoming year. Watch this space
for posts from Hank Edwards, Laura Harner, Havan Fellows, Tina Marie Westbrook, F.E. Feeley Jr., Raven McAllan, Edmond Manning, Lisa Worral and more!
Bonus:
Pickled Herring for New
Year's and ALL special occasions!
INGREDIENTS
6 new or baby red
potatoes (about 12 ounce)
⅛ tsp salt
8 oz pickled herring
fillets (see note), drained
3 Tbsp reduced-fat sour
cream
2 Tbsp finely chopped
red onion
fresh dill for garnish
freshly ground pepper
to taste
DIRECTIONS
1. Place a steamer
basket in a large saucepan, add 1 inch of water and bring to a boil. Put
potatoes in the basket and steam until barely tender when pierced with a
skewer, 15 to 20 minutes, depending on size. Slice each potato into
1/4-inch-thick slices (discard the ends). Sprinkle the potato slices with salt.
2. Cut herring fillets
into pieces small enough to fit on a potato slice. Place one piece of herring
on each potato slice, dollop each with about 1/8 teaspoon sour cream and
sprinkle with red onion. Garnish with dill and a grinding of pepper.
Note: Pickled herring
are herring that have been cured in salt, rinsed and then packed in a
vinegar-based marinade that can be flavored with wine, mustard, sherry or
cream—any flavor will work in the recipe. Look for it in jars or tubs in the
seafood department at most supermarkets.
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