Friday, December 31, 2010

New Year's Eve


So it’s that time of year again, where we ponder what’s been and what’s to come. Amazing to think that I sat here a year ago and made my resolutions—which I stuck to, a first for me! One year on—where did the time go?—and I have new resolutions that I’m determined to pull off. I had doubts yesterday, because I’m a realist and know that one thing I’ve decided to do is going to be hard work, but who knows, maybe I’ll achieve that aim. The others are easy and I know in a year’s time I’ll be able to say I accomplished them.
I used to look at the past with regret, but now I look upon it as a time to reflect, see where I went wrong and how I can make sure I don’t make the same mistakes in the future. Although some things have been difficult, I can’t say I’d change them otherwise I wouldn’t be the person I am now. What about you?  
Some personal aims of mine are to become stronger and less of a doormat. I’ve been working on this for years, and I think now I’m at the point in my life where I realise I matter too. It isn’t all about everyone else all of the time. There has to be give and take, a space for me in this world where I can indulge myself and not worry about what everyone else wants from me or what they think about me taking time for myself. So, although I’ll be the same person, the words “no” or “do it yourself” will be in my vocabulary a lot more. I think because I’m easy going, it isn’t difficult for people to just assume I’m there, that I will always drop everything for them. I now don’t think so. Times are a changing!
So, do you have any resolutions you know you can stick to? I’m not talking about giving up smoking, losing weight, or creating world peace here. Just a small thing that is attainable, a goal that you can reach with a little hard work and patience. Please share!
Tonight we'll be staying in. We don't go out and get roaring drunk on New Year's. We're rather boring and usually end up in bed way before midnight. Maybe this year we'll be different and stay up, see the New Year in with a cup of tea (LOL!). Are you off out anywhere? If you are, where are you going? If not, what are your plans? (I'm terribly nosy. Sorry!)
Today I’m giving away a book bundle. One commenter will win 5 of my books from any of my pen names. This week’s winners will be posted later on today.
HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!

53 comments:

Unknown said...

Normally the DH and I don't make it 'til midnight. Only twice in the last seven years do I recall us being awake and once was our wedding day! :)
We're going to dinner and a movie for our anniversary. After we'll attempt to stay awake - maybe.
Happy New Year Natalie! Thanks for everything this year.

Desirée Lee said...

I gave up on the losing weight resolution years ago. I'm fat and that's that.

My resolution for 2011 is to get four new book contracts. I think that is attainable.

I'd also like to do some more book events this year. I've been looking for events here on the left coast that aren't exorbitantly expensive to get a table at.

As for my plans for ringing in the new year, I'll probably be home alone. My car isn't fixed yet from it's run-in (literally) with a deer last week driving out of town to visit my sweetie is out of the question.

Carpe Noctem,
Des


Author Desirée Lee
Putting the Romance Back in Necromancy
http://www.desireelee.com

SiNn said...

honestly I never go out onnew years cause well i dont drink either so illbe stayin in spending the newyear online with my fiancee liven in different states sometimessucks but has its perks
everyyear onnewyearsday we make pasta and plan aparty since my birthday is the 3rd we celebrate with my nephew thats all ill be doing this holiday and the weekend

mortalsinn@yahoo.com

She said...

Don't usually make resolutions. I plan on cleaning my house and getting rid of stuff I don't use or want anymore. For New Year's Eve I'll be staying in and watching Dick Clark (if I stay up that late.) I might just go to sleep early.

Natalie Dae said...

Oh, have a fab time, Amber, and happy anniversary!

You're welcome. Any time.

:o)

Natalie Dae said...

Oh no, Desiree! That run-in sounds scary. I'd have pooped myself.

Aww, sad to think of you alone. And yes, those goals are attainable. Good luck, you can do it!

:o)

Natalie Dae said...

Have great fun then, SiNn! And happy birthday for the 3rd! We share a star sign, I think. Mine's the 9th.

:o)

Natalie Dae said...

She...what's Dick Clark?

Same as me...reckon I'll flake out way before 12.

:o)

She said...

Natalie,

Dick Clark created American Bandstand back in the '50's for ABC. He was called the world's oldest teenager. He knew his music. Unfortunately, he had a stroke about 4 years ago and aged rapidly from that but he'll be on ABC New Year's Eve for his annual party. I think Ryan Seacrest co-hosts with him now.

Natalie Dae said...

She...awww, I can't watch because I'm UK. Thanks for letting me know, though. And sorry for bothering you. I should have bugged Google instead.

:O)

Tess MacKall said...

Who's Dick Clark? Lord, lord. okay.

You know what I'll be doing. Sipping champagne and writing. Made my plan a couple of weeks ago.

Whatever you're doing at midnight is what you'll be doing all year long.

I'll be writing. lol

Happy New Year Nat! Looking forward to spending another year with ya hon and hugging you not too far down the road too.

Harlie Williams said...

We are childless this year and plan on grilling some steaks outside, popping a few firecrackers and going to be early. wink, wink....

As far as resolutions, just being a better wife, mother and all around better person is what I strive for every year.

Happy New Year from the great state of Texas!

An Open Book said...

We usually stay home, make snacks, watch a bowl game and enjoy the quiet evening together. As for resolutions...never make them. Not sure why- dawne.prochilo at yahoo dot com

Regina Carlysle said...

Aside from the whole 'world peace' thing, I want to see my family happy and healthy this year but that's not really a resolution but a hope. :-) My resolution is to write every day (baring an emergency) and hopefully have at least five books out this year. We don't go out and party big either. We hang out, see the year in and that's about it! Exciting bunch, huh? LOL.

Natalie Dae said...

I'll have to stay awake then, Tess. I don't want to be snoring all next year hahaha.

Yep, we'll stick to our guns and meet our goals. WHOOP!

:o)

Natalie Dae said...

Harlie...LMAO @ wink wink. You go for it LOLOL.

:o)

Natalie Dae said...

Hey Dawne! Well, that sounds like a good evening to me. I love staying in.

Have great fun!

:o)

Natalie Dae said...

Those are attainable goals, Reg. YOU CAN DO IT! Yee har!

I like boring. It's safe and yummy.

:o)

Anonymous said...

My family and I are staying home tonight. As we do each year, we will stay up and watch the sparkling ball drop in New York, I think it is, on TV. That's as exciting as we get!
mom1248(at)att(dot)net

Babyblue22 said...

A group of us usually go out after we bring in the New Year with our family. But this year I'm really not in the mood for it. It's been a long year and I've already made a few changes for the better and I definitely intend to keep the negative people/energy out of my life in the new year!
This year is for me and my son to start our new lives!

Happy New Year Everyone! I hope you all reach your goals and have a wonderful year!
~Afshan

Anny Cook said...

Gonna stay in as usual. Might read or write.

When I was a girl, we went to church on New Years Eve and at midnight the entire group would have a prayer service to pray for world peace. I sometimes wonder if that wasn't more productive than partying. Heh.

Anyway, we stay in and see in the new year together. Happy New Year, ladies!

Madison Scott said...

I let myself be a doormat too, Nat. I HATE confrontation and usually let myself get walked on rather than risking it :(

Happy New Year.

Linda Henderson said...

I don't really do resolutions, I just say I'll try to do things. This coming year I'm going to try to take better care of my health. I tend to put off going to the doctor to long then I'm really sick. I've spent most of the month of December sick and I don't like it. So I'm going to try to be more diligent about my health next year. Happy New Year to all.

Susan said...

I'm flying home today from a short vacation in San Fran. The flight is supposed to arrive a hour or so prior to midnight, so I sincerely hope that I am home, unpacking at midnight!

I never do resolutions, as it seems like when it is stated out loud or written down, it never happens. LOL I do like the idea of thinking about the past year and not only reflecting on what went wrong to see if there is a way to prevent it from happening again, but also on what went right and what needs to be done to make it happen again.

Joyous New Year to you!

D. F. Krieger said...

My plan include...writing! My husband works today, and has to be at work again at 3 a.m. (He's Navy) so we shrugged it off as being just another night.

My Resolution is to get at least one novel published. I wouldn't mind a couple more articles too.

My Dream Wish is that my husbands ship stays in the ship yards a little longer so we don't face any deployments this year.

Happy New Year's Eve Everyone!

LORETTA CANTON said...

Happy New Year to all of you. I'm staying in with my daughter and will be sleep before 12.

loretta

lbcanton@verizon.net

Natalie Dae said...

Patsy, I had no idea what that ball was until a friend told me yesterday. He'd asked what we were doing, whether we were going to watch the ball drop, and I said, "I BEG your pardon?" Didn't realise it was something you guys watched hahaha!

Have fun!

:o)

Natalie Dae said...

Go you, Babyblue! Here's to a fab year ahead for you and your son!

:o)

Natalie Dae said...

World peace, Anny, or Mystic Valley. If only...

Have a great night, love.

:o)

Natalie Dae said...

Hey, Madison, maybe you ought to join me in being non-doormattish?

Yes, we can do this!

Have a great evening and a fab year to come!

:o)

Natalie Dae said...

Good for you, Linda. Make sure you stick to that too!

Have a great night and new year!

:o)

Natalie Dae said...

You've got it, Susan!

I think you need to email me to claim last week's prize, don't you? Oooh!

Have a great night once you manage to get home!

:o)

Natalie Dae said...

D.F, your dream wish made me want to cry. I hope you get it, love.

Have fun writing tonight!

:o)

Natalie Dae said...

Have a great night, Loretta!

:o)

Cathy M said...

Happy Anniversary Amber!

It's pretty low key around here too. Hubby and I will go out for an early dinner then back home to watch a movie (he gets to pick this time). And we don't usually make it to midnight either, lol.

As for new goals,we have an empty bedromm now that one of my boy's moved into his own apartment last month. So I want to turn it into my office, with a place to set up the laptop and a seperate area to work on some of my scrapbooking projects. Hey, I am only 15 years behind!

A personal goal would be to cut back on my computer time, and engage more with the family, and of course, work on those photo albulms. Tired already just thinking about it.

Happy New Year Everyone

caity_mack at yahoo dot com

Evie Balos said...

My new year's celebration usually consists of a late restaurant dinner with a group of friends, but this year I wanted to stay home with family and watch the Times Square shows and countdown.

As for resolutions, I actually listed mine on my blog, in the hope that I'll be compelled to commit to them.

There are two that I'm sure I'll keep: Cleaning out my desk drawers, which are overflowing with all kinds of old stuff and swearing less while driving, lol.

Happy New Year to everyone!

*yadkny* said...

I'll be staying in with the family watching movies, reading, and eating junk, then when it's time for the ball to drop we'll watch that and then it's off to bed. Nothing really exciting for us, but we like it that. At least we know we'll all safely enter the new year together:)

Happy New Year Everyone!!!
yadkny@hotmail.com

Cathy Tudon said...

We will be going over to my sister's house to ring in the New Year and then back home, as my DH has to be at work at 8:00 a.m. the next morning....

That's fine as I can think of nothing better than curling up next to my sleeping hubby with a good book on my ereader..

Happy New Year everyone..:)

Dianna C said...

I am working and away from home but I have stopped for the night and will be hiding out in my rig hoping that noone knocks on my door to bother me. I will also be reading a book and maybe watching a movie before I snore in the new year lol

Fedora said...

We're having dinner with friends, then heading home to crash :) Don't plan to stay up, nor allow the kids to ;) As for resolutions, I tend to try to come up with a couple goals, but try to keep them potentially doable--I find when I make resolutions, I often break them all too soon!

Happy New Year, everyone!

Jen B. said...

Be strong. Learning to say No is one of the best things you can do for yourself.
Tonight I plan to stay in and go to bed early. I have a bottle of Sparkling Apple Cider that I plan to share with my kids.

Gabrielle Lee said...

Hope everyone has a wonderful night. We are staying in this year. Everyone in the house is either sick or just getting over it.

elaing8 said...

I am not doing anything but sitting online. And right now talking to my sister on skype. I'm hoping to stay up past midnight but I had to get up early today so I don't know if I'll make it

Happy New Year everyone

Zina said...

Went and watched True Grit with the family and I'll prbably be in bed even though it's only 50 min until the new year, we're watching a Bob Hope Classic..Son Of Paleface. My new year res. is to keep up better with housework.
Zina

Natalie Dae said...

That's a good point, yadkny, all being safe together. Hope you had a great evening!

:o)

Natalie Dae said...

Yay, Marilyn. Sounds like the perfect evening to me! Hope it went well.

:o)

Natalie Dae said...

Dianna...hahaha @ snore in the New Year. I did too. I tried to stay awake but just couldn't.

:o)

Natalie Dae said...

That's right, flchen. Doable is better, because then when you accomplish them you feel great! Hope your NY eve was fun!

:o)

Natalie Dae said...

Too right, Jen. B. It takes a while to learn, but once we do it's a good feeling to stand up for yourself.

Hope the cider was yummy!

:o)

Natalie Dae said...

Gabrielle...sorry to hear everyone is poorly. Here's hoping you all get well very soon!

:o)

Natalie Dae said...

elaing, hope you had fun! I love Skype. I can't find my mic and headphone set, though. GRR.

:o)

Natalie Dae said...

LOL Zina. I had the same thought this morning when I looked around the kitchen: Oh God, I really need to tidy more often!

:o)

lisa said...

LOL That is soooo right!!