Tuesday, January 1, 2008

Happy New Year!




And now for the mystery mission...

With scissors, tape and various festive items, Child #3 and I snuck up the street. We don't know who donated the original (Christmas) decorations, but we left dear port-a-potty and her gnome dressed and ready to usher in 2008!

Here are a few of my New Year's Resolutions:

1. Take my vitamins daily. Even on the weekend.

2. Play a board game weekly with my children. Be a good role model if I lose.

3. Pass on the joy of reading by giving away a gently-used book each month. At the end of the month, I'll have one of the kids (probably child #4 who has the most legible handwriting) print your name (once for each comment over the course of the month) on a small piece of paper. We'll put all the names in a bowl, pull a winner out and, voila, someone'll get a book in the mail. This will help with Resolutions #4 and #5.

4. De-clutter one shelf or drawer each month.

5. Be timely about trips to the post office.

6. Add new goals as necessary. Perhaps one concerning internet addiction?

For January, there's a choice of books: A GOOD HOUSE by Bonnie Burnard (adult) or SLAM by Nick Hornby (young adult). I often cross-post on livejournal, so those names will be included too. And, obviously, the more comments you leave, the more bits of paper there will be with your name. I'm looking forward to sharing the books. Nothing I like better than passing on a good read.

Wishing you all a wonderful and amazing 2008!!

36 comments:

  1. Happy 2008 to you, Barrie! I hope the new year is good to all of us.

    P.S. Thanks for the comment on my blog - - please stop by anytime! :-)

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  2. I love those resolutions! And I espeically love that you're giving away books.

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  3. Hi Barrie,

    Just wanted to drop in and let you know I gave you some link love on my blog today. :-)

    Happy New Year!

    Smiles,
    Michele
    Writing the Cyber Highway

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  4. ROFL!!! You are TOOOOO funny....I'd forgotten about that port-o-potty!!! I can't believe it's still there!!!!

    Anyway, love your list and I love the idea of giving away gently used books...as a matter of fact, the only good book is one that has been read over and over and over....

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  5. Happy New Year. Thanks for stopping by my blog. I'm a writer too but lately life seems to be shoving me into the artist's realm. I'll check out your web page and such. I love meeting other authors. Good luck with your resolutions!

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  6. Great resolutions!
    And I love the secret mission. After Easter last year, I left Easter eggs around my office at work. Would you believe nobody picked them up!
    If only more people had holiday spirit!

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  7. Happy New Year! I love your secret project!

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  8. Dizzy Ms. Lizzy--and thank you for stopping by here. I'll definitely be popping over to your blog again! And, yes, let's have a great 2008!

    Hi Beck! Always good to see you! Silly as it sounds, I'm actually looking forward to passing along some great books. :)

    Michele--thank you!!

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  9. Sherry--You know, I'm sort of wondering if that port-a-potty is going to become a permanent fixture in my neighbourhood! Perhaps I should start planning Valentine's Day decorations for it! And I'm glad you like the gently-used book idea. :)

    Wendy--thank you for stopping by! No doubt I'll need help with my resolutions!

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  10. Hi Don Mills Diva--I hope you have a fabulous 2008 too! I'm looking forward to reading about your antics!

    PJ--I'm hoping people driving by got a kick out of the decorated port-a-potty!

    Hi Kelly--I'm glad you like our secret mission. Child #3 was somewhat embarrassed at first. :)

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  11. Thanks for stopping by our blog! Looking forward to reading your book as soon as it's published.

    You've made some great resolutions -- especially the vitamins. Yep, we need 'em even on the weekends!

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  12. Hi, Barrie! You stopped by my blog, so of course I had to stop by yours. Am I glad I did!

    Three quick comments:

    1) Fabulous mystery mission!! Love your sense of humor, and the fact that you take your children along to play with your own inner child. You must be a SuperMom!!

    2) Read the story of your book deal (thanks for putting the link front and center). Great story! Parallels my early interest in Franklin W. Dixon (all of them).
    When does your book come out?

    3) Happy New Year!!

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  13. Happy New Year Barrie. The passing on of books sounds like a brilliant idea.
    Hope 2008 is a great year for you.
    :-)

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  14. Happy New Year!!!! Some fabulous resolutions there....

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  15. Your resolutions are quite realistic - although I could never manage the losing at board games one.

    Love the port-a-potty decorations. What a great (and memorable) thing to do with one of your kids!

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  16. What seemingly simple yet significant goals, you've inspired me, Barrie!

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  17. These resolutions seem very ambitious to me. Probably cause I'm a slacker. :) Happy New Year!

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  18. I love what you did with the Porta-potty!!! :) I particularly love the 'Welcome'!

    And free books are always a pleasure.

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  19. Here's to a happy, healthy 2008.

    Can't wait for your books to hit the shelves. I know my daughter would be interested in it. (Shhhh.)

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  20. What a really great way to clear the bookshelves. You are so creative. I am in awe.

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  21. Just blog hopping in this lazy afternoon. Have a nice Day!

    Happy New Year!!!

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  22. Happy New Year. Thanks for taking the time to stop by my blog AND comment. I'm going to add your blog to my blogroll, can't wait to read more.

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  23. Thanks for stopping by my blog. I will definitely keep checking back on yours. I hope you have a great week!

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  24. Happy New Years my AR friend! You have inspired me to post my own New Year's Resolves on your blog in hopes of scoring a new book. Here they are:

    1. To stop hating teenagers for being so stupid and making my life a living he%%.
    2. To eat less than the weight of my left leg in food each day.
    3. To add value to the world by not having any more children.
    4. To only whine on weekdays and only kvetch on weekends.
    5. To stop berating my husband for being a lunkhead and keep it to myself.

    Wow. I feel like a better me already. Love ya, SB

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  25. Sounds like good goals to me. Thanks for stopping by my blog!! Happy New Year!

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  26. What a great list!!! I read SLAM, have it, LOVED IT! Wasn't it good!!!

    And I love that you decorated the port-o-potty for New Year's now too! I think I'm sensing a Valentine theme coming up too!

    How fun!

    And by the way, regarding my "resolution"... I said Monday through THURSDAY, not FRIDAY--I'm not CRAZY!!! LOL!!!

    Thanks again for stopping by Manic's and for the nice comment--I always appreciate them!

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  27. A festive port-a-potty! That's one of the funniest things I've ever seen.

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  28. Happy New Year to you too! Love the decorations on the porta-potty!!

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  29. This is hysterical. I love your resolutions.

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  30. Oh - I love your resolutions. Great job.

    Happy new year - may eight be great!

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  31. Great resolutions. And the photo: LOL.

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  32. Hey, if things don't work out for your book ;) then you and child #3 can become bathroom decor experts and appear on Oprah as a mother/child duo who decorate only bathrooms. Nate would be so jealous. You could call your company, " We So Do Bathrooms". Just a thought.

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  33. Hey Barrie

    I think you missed a new year's resolution - write every day, because if you don't I'm going to have more stars than you by the end of the year :-)

    Add me to the give away of gently used YAs. Your absolutely wonderful mystery series (it's so nice to have you in my critique group) has really gotten me into the genre.

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  34. Those are great resolutions! I definitely would give away books. Someday, probably this coming college semester, I'll start giving away books. It's a least a thought.

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  35. Happy New Year Barrie!

    I did giggle at your resolution #2. My youngest got a timber and glass ball tic tac toe game for Christmas and then proceeded to beat me 14 times on the trot. Humiliated, anyone?!

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Comments are always welcome!