Happy New Year!

2010 concluded in the finest fashion, with a fantastic week-long visit from my parents. Lyla had a wonderful time sharing her days with Ama and Hoogie. We visited the zoo, the museum of science and history, St. Augustine, and Fort Caroline. We ate some great meals and watched some good movies and enjoyed each other's company immensely. There's nothing like having family close, and we definitely recharged our batteries on that front.

In terms of the year, I spent a lot more time focused on my work and my family than I did my writing. Lyla is doing really well, and if we are fortunate to expand our family in 2011, we'll be putting even more focus on the Powell flock.

I wouldn't have it any other way.

It means I'll have to further focus my writing goals and shift my process a little. I'll be writing a little more late at night, and at odd hours, in order to accomplish my modest goals this year: polish the novel I fleshed out in 2010 and compose twelve strong short stories.

I have four confirmed tales coming out in 2011 so far, and I just received the great news an hour ago that a story that made the short list was picked up for an anthology that I was really hopeful of appearing in. It's a sequel to a well-received anthology, and it's very gratifying to get the good news.

2011 could be a year of great change in our family. I'm hopeful that my professional opportunities at Florida State College will continue to blossom, and it's my goal to at least undertake a few courses in continuing education. There have been positive signs of life in Jacksonville's economy, which gives me a little hope for the investments we've made, not the least of which is our home.

I'm going to run more miles this year and catch more fish. I'm going to spend more time outside and even less on the computer. I'm going to read more books and watch more good movies. I'm going to cook some dishes I've never had before and I'm going to finally bake a decent loaf of bread at home.

This past decade has been a tough one on many fronts. Lots of suspicion, anger, dread, sadness, loss and sorrow in the global community. Struggle is a part of life, and we can't enjoy the sweet without the bitter, but it just seems that the last ten years have particularly challenging.

Here's to a fresh start at not only a new year, but a new era in our world--one of peace and harmony and cooperation. One of respect and camaraderie and progress.

I wish you all the best in the pursuit of any goals you might have set for yourselves. Be kind to each other, and take the time to appreciate the moment. Those are two things I'm certainly going to spend more time on.

Thanks, as always, for dropping by from time to time...