To All New Things! Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

This post is a little different because it's not about New Year's resolutions...it's about experiencing life.

We all get frustrated when the goals we’ve set aren’t reached, but sometimes we just have to realize it’s out of our hands, especially when health issues need to be addressed, computer problems arise, a day job gets in the way, volunteer work takes up much of your free time, or you just need a break or you’ll snap. It happens to everyone.

So, instead of focusing on what I didn’t accomplish in 2007, I like to focus on the NEW things I did over the past year, personally and writing related (although most of these can be referenced for research later).

For me, life is about learning and trying new things. So, here is my list of few Brand Spankin' NEW things that I experienced in 2007:

Jan. 1st: On the first day of the New Year, we always do something we’ve never done before. This year we toured the house that The Travel Channel's “America's Most Haunted” calls the number one most haunted house in the United States: The Whaley House in San Diego, CA. It was a great way to kick off 2007! (Didn’t experience anything unusual, though…darnit.)

April 5th-14th: This California girl experienced a New England winter during the spring and survived! LOL. Easter in Maine was colder than their Christmas, as winter got a late start. But fortunately, we packed appropriately. Whew. And we made it out of Boston hours before the Nor'Easter hit, so we were fortunate all around.

My paranormal trilogy is set in Maine, so it was the perfect chance to do a little research and gain some first-hand experience. And oh my gosh, it was gorgeous with the snow blanketing the ground of the colonial village of York (1652), which was where we'd stayed.


Ate Boston Baked Beans at Durgin Park Restaurant (1827)…Delicious, especially when you’re cold!




Ate Boston Cream Pie at the Omni Parker House (1855) where the delectable dessert was first created…it just happens to be my favorite desert. Coincidence? I think not. We also stayed at the hotel so we wouldn’t miss any B.C.P. ordering opportunities. I know, it just gets sad…


June 21st-25th: Visited the absolutely stunning state of Wisconsin for the first time. It’s amazing what rain and snow will do for a place! How wonderful to be surrounded by such greenery all summer long, rather than sticks that resemble trees and dried brush, all various shades of brown, as well as a high chance of fire—much like here.

We also visited the Swiss town of New Glarus and the Norwegian town of Mount Horeb (aka The Troll Capital of the World).






Oh, and Mount Horeb boasts the Mustard Museum—as seen on Mark DeCarlo’s “Taste of America” (The Travel Channel)—where I bought my Poupon U shirt. You know why, right? Because the museum is the campus for America’s College of Mustard, don’tcha know. Hey, we just happened upon it..it’s not like we planned a trip there! LOL


Okay, so this is only a partial list…don’t want to bore you.

What about you guys? What new things did you do or did you learn this past year? I want to hear all about it! Tell me, tell me! :-)

Here’s to an exciting, healthy, and successful 2008 for all of us!

Michele