January 2026 Monthly Blog
Happy, happy 2026!
The sun came out today and we’re delighted.
January 2026 Monthly Blog
Happy, happy new year. The first night of the new year started out with pouring rain but at about 10:00 a.m. the sun came out and made me cheery about 2026. Of course, the change in weather was in honor of the Rose Parade, but I took it personally. I suppose that attitude is what makes me secretly (don’t tell anyone) read my astrological forecast each week as well as my daily choice of Moon Card for my odd Tarot reading. Someone named Jeremy interprets the card. Whoever Jeremy is from the Moon Card organization he seems very concerned with my choices for the day and is able to put a positive spin on each of the random cards I choose. My choice of cards takes about 20 seconds as does the reading based on the choice. In truth it’s probably an AI program.
Speaking of AI programs, I know that I’ve mentioned the friend I have who named her Chat GPT “George.” I have yet to ask my Chat to speak to me in a cultured British accent (I tend to trust the sound of that accent) and name it. Mostly, I ask it to tell me the name of particular plants since I forget the names as soon as I leave Home Depot’s Gardening Center. I started a plant notebook to keep the information, but I haven’t kept it up. At any rate, I feel as if I should name my Chat so I can keep up with my friend. I can’t decide between male or female, so I’ll offer names for both genders. Male names that I’ve thought of include Sidney, Archie, Reggie, and Walter. Female names include Jemma, Felicity, Julia, and Samantha. If you have any suggestions, please feel free to send the names. I’ll wait to choose. It just seems friendlier to call Chat by a name.
Obviously, I learned how to use my “Voice” button for my text messaging and Chat. This has made my communications sound brilliant to me, but the texts do look as if I have a vendetta against the English language. The “Voice” button hears me with a more simplified interpretation of my pronunciation. It makes for a disjointed sentence. If I don’t correct it manually, the recipient has to immediately take a position of hopeful guessing about my intention. It can make for a funny back and forth. I think that it would be funny to write a novel with that kind of messaging between two characters.
I’m still deep into my writing. I changed chapter 11 to chapter 34. Chapter 11 was a good chapter, but I had changed the outline and it fits better towards the end. My new year’s resolution includes finishing the book and then sending it out to my beta readers. It will be such a “yahoo!” I have other resolutions. Do you? Another one of mine is to remember to be grateful. Diana, my daughter, is encouraging me to join a spinal injury support group so that I can meet other people who have had sudden changes in their physicality. She’s right, as usual. Whining about one’s condition only makes it seem worse. Then there’s my third resolution to lose 20 pounds. The loss of each of these pounds will be a major victory in that each has “loved” me for quite a long time. My fourth and last resolution is to keep my desk organized. I use the desk for writing and painting. That means that my writing spirals get moved to the floor or to the bedroom when I’m painting. I love both activities equally so I need to organize appropriately. I misplaced my special blue and white spiral with countless best sentences, ideas, emails, and stuff. I am devastated at its loss. I’m guessing that it went out with the recyclables. It was my fault. I put it down near the recyclable pile so it probably got swept up in the empty boxes and paper bags. This year I will be neat, mindful, and so organized.
Do you have any resolutions? Write and tell us. That reminds me--you are invited to write for the monthly blog. It doesn’t always have to be me. You’re a part of the club and we’d like to hear from you. Also, enter the contest for “first paragraph.” There are prizes for first, second, and third as well as a recognition prize for entering. C’mon and give it a go. One paragraph is easy. Use your “voice” device on your phone or computer. You’ll see how easy it is for an idea to roll right off your tongue. Have some fun with it.
Love to each of you. May the new year be one of good health, happiness, and cozy reading!
Karin Diskin