Welcome, Happy New Year. I hope all is well with you and your family, as so many lockdowns have taken place because of the virus ramping up with the mutated strain that is spreading faster. Please stay safe while this virus runs its course.
Well, I can’t believe that this crazy year of 2020 has come to an end. I don’t know about you, but I truly hope 2021 is a better year than 2020 was. If not, I might just cry. Positive thoughts, positive thoughts. Yep, I am trying to convince myself things will be better. Only time will tell, but I can pray for the best.
So, what did you do last night?
We had plans to go to a friend’s house for a New’s Year Eve party. However, we decided it was too cold to venture out. Since we have a propane heater, there was no way we would leave it on while we weren’t home. It would be rather chilly when we returned home. Not to mention Rosco would be shivering like a leaf. We couldn’t do that to Rosco; he is an old fellow who is sick. Plus, Rosalee has a cough. We felt it best for her to stay where it was warm. I want to thank our good friends Cheryl and James publicly for the invite. I know we missed some fabulous fun, and it was nothing against them. They have dogs as well as grandkids, so I know they understand. I look forward to the next party with them. Hopefully, it will be warmer.
We still had a good time at home. We laughed at our Uncle, who helped his wife sell Paparazzi Jewelry @ Kathy’s Forever & Always. If you haven’t seen them, you need to check them out. They are funny when they are together. He dresses up in some weird stuff, and he will make you laugh.
How are things in your area?
I ask this because many things are happening. I want to let you know of some things I have heard plus noticed that have been happening in our metropolitan area and in our neighborhood. It is unfortunate news, so if you don’t want to listen to any negative, please skip it down to the next section.
In the largest city near us, Houston, as I read the news each day, there have been several shootings almost daily, sometimes twice a day. This is sad, for they have increased in abundance this year.
Now, in our immediate neighborhood, there have been several nights in which things have taken a walk out of people’s vehicles, so you better have a watchdog monitoring your car; otherwise, you might wake up to nothing. Yes, we were one of the unlucky ones to have stuff disappear out of the back of our truck. The sad part, Rosco, our Rottweiler, never barked. Even the neighbor’s dog didn’t bark, so these thieves were super quiet. We are all talking about getting the cameras you can place outside; they are motioned censored to alert you on your phone that the camera got activated. My husband and I feel it best to know before someone is at our vehicles. Easier to deter someone from stealing than to get your stuff back after the fact.
I believe this is due to people who are hurting from the financial situation of the COVID-19. The economist has been warning that next year is going to be even worse. I pray this is not the case; 2020 has been hard enough for so many already. As it is, they say that millions of people who haven’t been able to pay their rent will be forced out when it comes time to end the government help making the bill come due. I hope lockdowns will be released, and they can get back to work to make some money to help them before they end up homeless.
Now, on a more positive note, what have you accomplished this year?
Yes, this year has been totally crazy for all of us. It has been full of challenges all the way around. But I wanted to share with you some of my accomplishments this year.
Well, the first thing I did pull off was setting up my website. Though,, I have made several changes. For now, I am satisfied with it. Though as my business grows, my website will change with it. My website is where I want it to be the only thing I am looking to do right away is to make a Logo. My husband wants a dragon, and I want something magical, so it will be interesting to see what we come up with.
The next thing I started was my lifestyle/brand blog. I have to say it has done reasonably well this year. Much better than I would have imagined, considering the way this year has gone. I am looking forward to it growing even more in the next year.
I was so excited when The Elite Series Book One – Dragon Fusion got published. This was by far my most significant accomplishment of the year. It has been a learning experience that I believe will continue with each book, and every year afterward.
Another enormous accomplishment that I pulled off was to finish writing The Elite Series Book Two – Dragon Squad. Yes, it is currently in the editing process, which I truly hate. I haven’t figured out who people can edit their books so quickly. I guess the more I do it, the easier it will get. I am happy that I have found a critique partner as well as more BETA Readers to help with my story. Maybe this book will go smoother than the Frist Book.
Then came the start of The Elite Series Book Three – Dragon Quest. I have taken a break from this book to edit Book Two. One Book Two done; I will work on it. I hope to have both totally finished edited by June.
One of the hardest things I had to learn this year was how to set up my email with MailChimp. However, I pulled it off. The next thing will be to figure out how to set up a gift for those who sign up.
The most exciting thing I did this year was my Character Art. Now, I am far from someone who can draw. I will share my chicken scratch of art with you, along with some details about each character, in a blog/vlog post. That way, you can get better acquainted with each of the characters to know them on a more personal level. Yes, eventually, I will probably have a professional draw them out for me, but the money isn’t there right now. So, you get to deal with mine.
New Goals
I am excited to have made a list of goals for the New Year, which I will share with you probably in a video. It would be more comfortable this way, and I feel it will be easier for you to understand exactly what I talking about as I share my planner with you. Now, this is mainly my books list.
Now, I am working on a list of things I want to share with you this next year. The plan is to share two blogs a week; one will contain a YouTube channel video at least once a week. I don’t want to go overboard. I had to put some of these on hold until I figured out my schedule with the kids. Yes, I said kids, who live with us, which I homeschool, and the other I babysit for extra money. They are both my grandchildren I love dearly.
Plus, I am looking forward to sharing all the books I will read within the new year with you. I genuinely hope to get to read double of what I read this year.
I’m looking forward to having several events this year. Plus, I will go live as well, just as soon as I conquer my fear of speaking in front of everyone, haha! You are all invited to join in the fun when they take place. We might just have to make our own fun for 2021, which will make 2020 seem like dust blowing in the wind.
Newsletter
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Karen Carnahan 