Where did 2025 go? It seems like just the other day I was typing a post welcoming in the first Monday of the year. I didn’t come close to accomplishing what I had hoped. It happens. I am not going get all depressed as that’s been part of the problem.
I have to admit I’m not exactly looking forward to the new year. I should explain. I’m not bummed out there’s going to be a change in numbers. That’s cool. Time marches on and that BS. By not looking forward, I mean I’m not making plans. I beat myself up when I make goals and totally fail. It’s like my book sales. Yeah. They sucked in 2024, but I ended up the year making almost $50 this last month.
One of the things I know about self-publishing is that while it is about quality, it’s also about quantity. Since my illness and surgeries two years ago, the energy just hasn’t been there. It’s time to stop beating myself up–figuratively–over it. It is what is. Hence, my current “philosophy” about doing what I can and not sweating what I can’t. Now…the interesting part will be whether or not I can follow through. Ahhh, my head. It really is a mystery up there.
In the meantime, I’m crunching out the last few audio books of the year in order to meet my Goodreads Reading Challenge, is is way down from my usual. I’ve adjusted the final number a couple of times–usually shifting it to more books. It currently sits at 128 and I’m listening to #126 so I’ll likely make it and might even get to up it again. I’m marathoning Kristen Ashley’s Avenging Angel’s series. The antics of this “second generation” of Rock Chick/Hot Bunch couples makes me laugh. A lot. There’s a new release in the series and since the books make me smile and occasionally laugh out loud, I figure it’s a good way to ring out the old year.
Christmas was excellent even though I had a bad cold. Everyone had “early” Christmas at home and then the Kids came here for stockings, inter-family gifts, and turkey sandwiches with pie. It was laid back, easy, and fun. I’m lucky. I have a great husband, a marvelous daughter, a great son-in-law, and a grandson who is waaaay too smart for his own good. 😉 Toby did well with all the people and commotion. Hopefully, by next Christmas we can put up a tree with presents under it.
That’s pretty much the sum total of my week and end of year summation. I hope all of you had a wonderful holiday and that Santa was good to you. Share your favorite gift! Mine is the GC to Shoe Carnival from Howie Mandel. I have a new pair of Sketchers in my future!
Silver James 
2025 is whooshing out of here like the cops have a warrant for it’s arrest. Not making plans for the year sounds like a plan… err, by that I mean it sounds like a good idea. Yay for better sales in December. Here’s hoping that carries over to 2026! Yeah, the quantity thing is harder to achieve every day, it seems. Yay for books and reaching your goal. Bummer about your cold for Christmas Day… that’s a sucky present… but yay for having an excellent day despite it. Santa didn’t bother to stop here, but we had a nice day. Any day that includes stuffing my face full of ham is a good one. Yay for new Skechers! Enjoy!
Life is what it is. We’ll see what happens. 😉 As long as I have coffee, good friends, and good books, life is good, right?
This Christmas zoomed by. The only gift I got was watching the family open theirs. My gifts will come throughout 2026 in the form of carpeting for my living room, end tables and nightstands and other projects in the house. Most importantly, Dad is still with us and recovering nicely. All in all, it was a very nice Christmas. I still have my tree up and it will stay up throughout January.
I always, always look forward to your blog posts. You and my little sister have inspired me to get back to my own blog on a more regular basis. Looking forward to 2026!
Awww. Thank you. That makes me feel special.
I totally get the no presents. LG and I just buy our own because we know what we want/need–or we give GC if it’s for projects.
So happy about your dad. Enjoy him every chance you get. And enjoy that tree! (Psst. There were years ours stayed up year-round. 😆)
I’m like you. I never do resolutions because I think it’s stupid to set myself up to fail. Goals – that’s another thing. I’m all for them. My biggest goal for the upcoming year is to be more positive.
You’ve done well with your Goodreads challenge. I’ve failed mine. It’s just been too hard to read with hubs and everything else. I really miss always having a book in y hand.
We were all healthy for Christmas. C & C had bad colds but were cleared up by Christmas. C gave me a bottle of wine from the winery where they will be getting married in May and A gave/is taking me to see Macbeth at the Hanna theater (the oldest theater in Cleveland) on March 30th.
Enjoy your Sketchers. I love slip ins😊.
Have a wonderful day!
I should join you in that whole more positive thing! Yay for good Christmas with family and wow! Macbeth! What a wonderful experience. And wine to enjoy before or after.
I get the whole “finding time to read.” If not for audio books I wouldn’t be anyuwhere close. When I read-read, I’m asleep within 15 minutes or my eyes are so watery I can barely see. Even on the computer. Which is a pain when I’m tr;ying to read a WIP. Oh well.
Hope your day has been filled with awesome and y’all aren’t catching all the winter weather. I admit I haven’t looked at national to see who’s getting hammered.
The cat wet on my Sketchers!!! 😭😭😭