Doug Van Pelt

Happy New Year!

I almost feel like singing that to the tune of "Happy Birthday," but I'll pass.
I do feel like I'm getting a head start on the new year, though, by working this week. These extra 3 days should help me get a jump and really have a great year in 2009. Here's hoping: that I get 3 books published, increase HM's subscription, and who knows what else...

To be honest, I could sit around all day and listen to sports talk radio, wallowing in the misery of the Dallas Cowboys' finished season. But I won't. I've got too much to do today. First, I need to blog; Second, I need to paint the headline for the Readers' Poll layout; Third, I need to start doing the PhotoShop treatment for those 12 images; Fourth, I need to write the questions for The Devil Wears Prada interview I have at noon (I'll probably move this up to second, actually); Fifth, I need to answer mail and clear this pile off my desk; Sixth, I need to mail out some prizes to contest winners (trivia and the email sign-up contest); call the doctors (that sounds so dramatic ... I could just leave that one hanging, but it's about my aching/tight shoulder/neck area and my knee, following up after the MRI results); Seventh, do the "CD Arrival Report" and answer email ... and if I can get all that done, whew! (And, hopefully, I'll "multi-task" some music-listening in the midst of all this... Oh! And I forgot to add about 45 minutes of exercise into this mix.)

I stopped writing hear when I heard the sound of a plane fly low over the office. I ran outside the front door to see my parents flying their plane. They spent the last week with us and are going South to see my sister in Houston. That's so cool.

Well, so I've got plans for my day and plans for this year. One thing I like to not just talk about (in fact, I could just as well not say anything), but do is to simply lay these plans before God, give them to Him, ask for His guidance and blessing, submitting them to Him and using the phrase, "Let Your will be done" as a way of acknowledging that He is in control. While I'm on my knees, I'll pray for our current president and our new president elect.

P.S. I've been adding new "Online Exclusives" at hmmag.com the past few days. The idea is to kind of add a new one each day for the next week. Today might be a Trenches interview.

Posted by Doug Van Pelt at December 29, 2008 09:55 AM