Ah yes! The novel

Scribblocity: The up side of not accomplishing any of your New Year's resolutions is that you save so much time on the following New Year's Eve. Why I'll have time for at least two more glasses of champagne. So here's my novel resolution:

Finish novel --Set aside at least 5 hours a week for writing; continue to read writing magazines and books; set aside a long weekend for myself as a birthday present (ongoing blog post: Scribblocity will discuss thought about the novel and writing in general)

I did read some writing magazines and books, but as for setting aside time for writing -- hoo boy! don't even go there! A long weekend! Ha! And as you can see, this is the first and only 2010 installment of Scribblocity.

So this year, I'm going to kick start the writing urge with an email blast from Write it Sideways called Better Writing Habits 31 Day Challenge.

I'll make a habit of checking out writers blogs like Courage to Create, Victoria Mixon, The Creative Penn, Word Play, Writer Unboxed, The Renegade Writer, Cats Eye Writer, Make a Living Writing, Men with Pens, Story Fix, and Procrastinating Writers

Read 3 writing books and at least 2 articles in every issue of Writers Digest and The Writer and skim Poets and Writers.

Submit one piece each month

Give myself a long weekend for writing somewhere

Blog twice a month for Scribblocity: step one-- get an on-going photo for the post. Mid-month moaning and Writing Wrap Up

New Year's Eve eve

Well, it's resolution time again. I'll have to pull up my crazy brave list of goals from last year and face the music. Beliefnet has a great list of tips for making simple but effective resolutions, one of which is don' make too many. Now that's advice I can make use of.

Kava, Kava

Since I missed my beginner's yoga class this morning, I can congratulate myself that I did attend two consecutive days at Kava Yoga on Tuesday and Wednesday. The studio is serene in its simplicity, although there is the occasional bus or truck disturbing the peace as it rumbles down 4th Street. Cindy Anderson, the only teacher I've had so far, is nurturing and very good at communicating the essentials of a pose without confusing a perpetual newcomer like me. And the price can't be beat! $10 for 10 days!

Civil War Sites Gear Up for 150th

As a girl who grew up in the midst of the Civil War Centennial, I was amazed and just a little chagrinned to realize that 2011 will mark the beginning of the 150th anniversary of that bloody war. A group called Journey Through Hallowed Ground has created a website with information about the major battlefields from Manassas to Gettysburg. Closer to home, the Drum Barracks Museum in Wilmington housed soldiers and military supplies during the Civil War era. A 360-page book, The Civil: A Visual History, will be released in April with photos from the Smithsonian and eyewitness accounts.

Inner Circle at LAX

Westways had some intriguing information about airline clubs at major airports. Most of them offer day passes for about $50, with the annual fee runs about $500. American Airlines has free snacks and music rooms. Continental Airlines has free beverages and snacks and sells premium wines. Delta has free cocktails and snacks, putting greens and access to frequent-traveler security lines. United Airlines has free beverages and snacks plus wine and sandwiches for sale. US Airways has free beer and wine and snacks and print on demand.

Solvang Celebrate 100 years

2011 markd the 100th anniversary of the founding of the little Danish town of Solvang in Santa Ynez Valley. Exhibits at the Elverhoj Museum of History and Art, a musical about Hans Christian Anderson in August, a Taste of Solvang in March, and the Danish Days Festival in September are some of the events planned for the Centennial Fest.

Presidio Tours

The Presidio of San Francisco in Golden Gate Park was once the home base of the 9th Cavalry, an all-black regiment which patrolled national parks in California and accompanied Teddy Roosevelt when he toured Yosemite. Two-hour tours are offered once a month, detailing the time of the buffalo soldiers.

Shore Leave

Here's a new twist on the cruise experience. Princess Cruises now offers the "Bon Voyage Experience" at the Port of Los Angeles where cruise passengers can invite guests on board four hours before departure for a lunch, a tour of the ship, and a souvenir photo. The cost is $39 per person, which can be applied to a future Princess cruise.

Museums for the Holidays

I'm determined to get to Long Beach Museum of Art for the "A Light in the Shadow" exhibit which ends January 2. Friday is free from 11 to 5, so I still have a good chance of making it.

Over at the Museum of Latin American Art, "Siquerios: Landscape Painter" features the provocative work of the famous muralist. It's free on Sundays from 11 am to 5 pm.

The Art of Travel

Here are some tips from travel experts Paul Lasley and Elizabeth Harryman for making a trip more meaningful: Volunteer at a beach cleanup or other community effort for an afternoon; Take a cooking class; travel with a carry-on; use a travel agent; and spend time in local cafes

Little India

Some spots to investigate along Pioneer Boulevard in Artesia:

Naz 8 Cinemas (in Lakewood)

Cottage Art (decor, clothes and jewelry)
Loveleen Sari Palace
Books N Bits
Rajdhani (lunchtime buffet--thali)
Surati Farsan Mart (sweet and savory snacks -- dosas)
Shan (mutton curry)
Saffron Spot (chikoo, fruit flavor, or malai kulfi, frozen milk dessert)

Napa Happenings

The Napa Valley Mustard Festival runs from January 20 to March 26. The Napa Valley Wine Train offers sightseeing and winery tours. Napa River Inn features Victorian decor while Avia Napa has a chic modern vibe. Places to eat: The Restaurant at Meadowood (St. Helena); Bottega (Yountville); Cade Winery (Angwin)

Whales Ahoy!

San Pedro will celebrate a Whale Fiesta at Cabrillo Marine Aquarium with duct tape and sand sculpture competions as well as speakers, food and music. The event takes place on January 30.

Gertrude Stein Play Bears Repeating

International City Theatre will present Loving Repeating ... A Musical of Gertrude Stein from January 18 to February. The idiosyncratic writer influenced most of the literary circle in Paris in the 20s including Fitzgerald and Hemingway, and her lifestyle was eccentric to say the least, so the potential for drama and comedy is ripe.

What! A Little Dickens!

Riverside goes Victorian for the Dickens Festival from January 21 to 23 with costume balls, place, lectures, and more. The activities are centered around the Convention Center and other downtown locations

Morro Goes to the Birds

Bird lovers flock to Morro Bay for the annual Winter Bird Festival. This year, it runs from January 14 to 17. There are over a hundred field trips offered with expert guides to explore the habitats of native and migratory species.

Plaid Tidings to You

Yes, it's over a month away, but still not too early to add the Scottish Festival to your calendar. From February 18 to 20, wooly goodness, from tartans to sheepherding, will be on view at the Queen Mary. There'll be bagpipes and Highland dancing and traditional food and (ahem) drink as well as competions and kid-friendly activities.

Books, Glorious Books

Here's a random sampling from the LA Times recommended lists

We Took to the Woods by Louise Dickinson Rich

The Tree by John Fowles

Five Skies by Ron Carlson

Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris

Los Angeles: Portrait of a City

Our Kind of Traitor by John Le Carre

Broken by Karin Fossum

Emily Dickinson's house m-plus-e.com

My Hollywood by Mona Simpson
Take One Candle Light a Room by Susan Straight

New year, less pounds

Yes, the year must be changing because I have this irresistable urge to shed some pounds. So what am I going to do about it?

Serve dinner on salad plates, and serve dishes with a teaspoon; Use tall thin glasses; store snacks in individual serving pouches; serve from the stove instead of from platters on the table

Examine my eating habits: overeating at mealtime; binging at parties; stuffing things down in the car or at my desk; indulging at restaurants; snacking without thinking

Choose three things to change: give up potato chips, throw away half French fries, only eating dessert if I buy it separately

Include a fruit and vegetable with dinner and lunch

Don't eat white foods at dinner.

Fill half your plate with salad or veggies.

Have a sweet or salty afternoon snack only if you first eat a piece of fresh fruit

Drink one glass of water before every meal or snack

Order only two items other than the entree at restaurants

Never eat in front of the TV

Eat a piece of fruit on the way to work every day

Save desserts for weekends

Freeze half of what you make, and serve the other half

mindlesseating.org

Scrimping and Saving

Here's some advice from Sunset on trimming the waste from your lifestyle.

Get rid of junk mail: dmachoice.org; catalogchoice.org; for first class mail marked address return reguested, you can write "refuse" on the envelope. You can track the sender dwon via phone or email and thell them to take you off their list.

Websites: besimpler.com; zerowastehome.blogspot.com

Shop twice a year (April and October) at a thrift store to replace items that are discarded.

Wardrobe: 6 pairs of shoes, 7 tops, 7 pants, 2 skirts

Buy in bulk and bring your own jars, fabric bags, and canvas totes; even cheese and meat go in jars

Freeze bread

Clean up with microfiber cloths instead of paper towels

Step it up Los Angeles

Looking for guides to all the stairways of the city? Dan Koeppel leads a Big Parade up and down 101 of them in May.

Public Stairs lists stairways all around the world.

Check out these books: Public Stairways of Los Angeles by Bob Inman and Secret Stairs: A Walking Guide to the Historic Staircases of Los Angeles by Charles Fleming

Lunch deluxe

1. Toss mixed green with thin slices of roast chicken plus canned chickpeas. Pack separate containers of lemon vinaigrette and whole grain croutons, then toss at lunchtime
2. Canned albacore with curry mayo and chopped grapes stuffed into a whole wheat pita. Add a pineapple, kiwi and coconut salad
3. Bacon, avocado, sprouts, hummus, and tomato in big whole wheat tortilla. Tuck in baked chips and a sports bottle with pomegranate juice.

Coffee Yum

Simmer crushed seeds from 1 cardamom pod and 3/4 cup low fat milk in a small saucepan over medium low heat for about 5 minute, stirring occasionally. Heat 2/3 cup water almost to boiling. PUt 3 tbsp. finely ground coffee in a drip cone set on a large mug. Pour water over grounds. Strain milk into coffe. Stir in sugar if you like. Serves one.

Retreat Treats

If I only had the time and/or money, I know where I'd like to go.

Shambhala (2 miles from Denver)

New Camaldoli Hermitage (Big Surrr)

Spirit Rock (Marin County)

Ranch at Live Oak Malibu

Glen Ivy Hot Springs (Riverside County)

Red Mountain (St. George, Utah)

Esalen (Big Sur)

Ten Thousand Waves (outside Santa Fe)

Rancho La Puerta (just over the border from San Diego)

Hawaii Island Retreat (northern tip of the Big Island)

Breitenbush Hot Springs (Oregon Cascades)

Easy Peasy Cheesy

Nobody does cheesy like L.A., right? Here're some places to get some quality cheese.

Campanile 624 South La Brea Classic Grilled Cheese ($16)

Wally's Cheese Box 2107 Westwood Blvd. The Classic ($7)

And don't forget to cut the cheese in S.F. American Grilled Cheese Kitchen
Mousetrap ($8.50)

DIY Data

Good places to start before tackling a homespun, homemade project.
unconsumption.tumblr.com
scrapaction.org
dollarstorecrafts.com
destinationdiy.org (Julie Sabatier)