January Goals

If you saw yesterday's post, you'll know I dropped the ball on a LOT of goals.  I'm sincerely going to try to make more of an effort on my monthly ones, maybe even modify them a bit, since several of the Home Repair ones are subject to the spouse's whims.

 -Lose 5 lbs Bleh....scale is going in the OPPOSITE direction; gained a few pounds.  245.

-Buy BP machine Was hoping I'd get one for Christmas; didn't happen.

-Finish Heart Song Made it to Ch 9, so getting closer!

-Do well at GSH Vendor Fair Sold 7:)  5 Wed, 2 Thurs

-Do well at KCPL Author Fair Sold 5:)

-Buy Beautiful Noise tix?? As of this post, Mom is still insisting she does NOT want to go, so have held off.  Will keep working on her....I have until March.

-Have fun at TSO Concert Check!  OMG...SO GOOD!  GREAT time with Erica and Sara!

-Have enjoyable Christmas Check:)  Had X-mas on 24th with kids, then quiet day on 25th.

-Make another payment to Dreaming in Michigan Not in budget just yet; I've been concentrating on paying down my credit card.

-Start chipping away at med bills Not yet.....

-Fix MBA Almost done!  Just have to replace trim, paint vanity, and figure out where to put everything back, lol!

-Cut carpet out of S's room Not yet...

-Upload digital copies to Patreon Not yet....

-Convert 2 VHS to DVD ($44)  Not yet...

-Read more in evenings YES!  Managed to read 7 books!

Books Read:  7

            Print:  7

        E-book:  0

             DNF:  2

2025 Events:

Feb 7th:  Winter Market, 1972 Vincennes, 4-8pm ($40)

Feb 15-16th:  Saluki Con, Carbondale, Il ($80 Pd 12/2)

March 22nd:  SI Con, Benton, Il

March 29th:  Big River Comic Con, Hannibal, MO (Pd 1/15)

April 3-4th:  GSH Vendor Fair

July 20-22nd:  Imaginarium, Louisville, Ky (Pd 9/12)

Aug:  Watermelon Fest

Aug:  CCC

Aug:  Geek Con, Evansville Museum, Evansville, In

Sept 19-20th:  Cil-Con, Effingham, Il ($60 Pd 12/29)

Sept 27th:  Book Nook Book Fair, Peoria, Il ($75 Pd 12/27)

Nov 12-16th:  ICGAHS ($700-making payments)

2026 Events:

April 11th:  Dreaming Dirty In Michigan (Pd $60; still owe $120)

January Goals:

-Lose 5 lbs (beginning 245)

-Send Christmas Cards Check:)

-Buy new soap dish, toothbrush holder Check!, and toilet roll holder for MBa

-Add words to Heart Song Check:)

-Send Future Unknown to editor Check! and pay editor

-Add words to new fairy story Check:)

-De-decorate house Check!

-Buy BP machine

-Pay for SI Con Still haven't received invoice

-Pay for Big River Comics Check! Pd 1/15

-Pay down CC Sort of....but need it for hotel stay 2/15 and start pecking away at med bills Not yet

-Read 6 books Check!  Read 9, lol

-Finish current e-book Check!

(baby steps, right???)

January Reading Schedule:

The Husband List-Janet Evanovich DRR!!  Excellent story!!!

Delusion In Death-JD Robb RR! Lots of visual dialogue; easy to follow

New York To Dallas-JD Robb RR!  Should have read this one first, though; DID referenced it.

Special Circumstances-Sheldon Siegel DRR! I figured out some of it, but did not see the rest of the ending coming!  Very good!

Split Second-Catherine Coulter DRR! Very good, with two exciting stories existing at the same time!  The ring subplot causes one to suspend belief, but the way it played out was well written.

Romancing Miss Bronte-Juliet Gael  DRR....esp if you're a Bronte fan. I wouldn't call myself a fan, but I found this fact/fiction was highly interesting, and it did make me want to find a copy of Wuthering Heights and one of Charlotte's to see if I could actually READ it, or simply skim it, as I do Austen's work. This was always on author interviews..."Bronte or Austen?"  My response was always "Neither...Alcott".

Live Wire-Lora Leigh Interesting story....

A Tree Grows In Brooklyn-Betty Smith RR!  Esp if you're a history buff...excellent look at NYC in 1915

E-book:

Reckless Royals-Emily Silver Good story!