2010!

Wow, what a year!  Time flies when you are having fun.  Of course, it seems that time flies even if fun is not a component.  Those of us that parent teenagers are all too familiar with that concept.  More on that later...maybe not tonight, but at some point, parenting a seventeen year old daughter will fill enough pages here I am certain.  It has been said that the end of the year/start of a new year is the perfect time to reflect...think about what we have achieved and what we still need to work on.  Goals to set!  New Years Resolutions!  Christmas presents to return...wait, that's another topic for another day as well!  Blogging is new to me, so patience, grasshopper.  Good things come to those...ok, enough cliches for one paragraph.

Instead of a recounting of events/achievements/failures/aspirations, I think I will reflect a little on what I learned in 2010.  Hopefully this will cover the aforementioned categories as we go.

1.  I learned that the publishing business is a complicated business.  There are no road maps or sign posts and opinions on the right paths to follow are almost as numerous as those with the opinions!  Pepper Jack was launched in June 2010, self-published through Author House, a print-on-demand company.  I will say they have been great to work with, very supportive and not to pushy when it comes to trying to sell me things along the way!  Knowing what I know about self-publishing versus traditional publishing, would I have done the same thing with Pepper Jack?  I think so...it was time for it to be out and Jackson and Jessica's story to be told.  They are still talking to me by the way, so look for a sequel to be coming sometime hopefully in 2011.  In the meantime, I am finishing up the writing on "St. Christophe" and hope to have updates on it soon!  Note to all...if you are an agent/publisher or know a good one, I am entertaining conversations on what to do with this next novel!

 2.  I learned the worst/best job in the world is parenting a teenager.  I have three of them now and depending on the day, hour, and which teenager, I am doing a great/mediocre/crappy job being a Father.  I'm a great Dad...movies, sports, fast food I totally rock at.  But being a Father is a different job altogether, one that I am still learning and one that I am not sure I will ever have the answers for.  Thanks to all the other parents in my world for the advice/direction.  I have taken all/some/none of yours and appreciate it immensely! 

3.  I have learned that selling a house in a down economy and the worst housing market since ______ isn't a whole lot of fun!  My house is still for sale dear readers....a charming 4/5 BR, 2500 sq foot house that needs a bit of work.  New Years Resolution #5 on the unpublished list. 

4.  I think that Jeff Long may be a fantastic athletic director.  I will be mixing in some sports related blogs as well as I am a HUGE Razorback fan. Those that know me remotely well know that already, but to those that are new readers/followers.  WOOOOOOOOOOOO PIG SOOOOOOOOOOOOIEEEEEEEEEEE!  What an amazing year.  BCS Bowl in Petrino's third year.  Top 5 Recruiting classes in football, baseball, and basketball as of today.  The baseball program annually has a realistic shot at Omaha and the College World Series.  Now if we can just get basketball back to where it was, all will be right in Hog Land!  And to the doubters:  Yes, Petrino built the program to where he wanted it in three years, but he had a different cupboard left to him by the Right Reverend Nutt than John Pelphrey was left by Stan Heath.  A separate blog on this soon!

5.  I have learned that the older we get, the more we realize the importance of family in our lives.  Some of us learn earlier, some later, but as long as we all get to the same party, then its all good!  While it didn't seem as Christmassy this year as it could have been, it seemed more important than ever to have the family around for trimming the tree, cooking and eating together on Christmas day, and saying Merry Christmas to each other!  I hope yours was a great one!

As a new and starving author, I welcome thoughts, comments, and constructive criticisms and will answer e-mail if you send them!  I hope everyone has a happy and healthy New Year!