ROFL
Yah, I promised to cut my blogging time down but have broken every single commandment set for myself. Good luck!

Good luck on cutting down blogging! I completely understand.

GREAT idea about having a kid cook dinner once a week so you can write more. DING! Why didn't I think of that?! I think I might have to steal that. All in the name of raising self-sufficient adults, right? The fact that I'll get in a bigger word count is a side benefit. Or something. :D

Dearest Cuz,
I am so glad for you that you have made a resolution to limit the blogging. While I find it terribly enjoyable both reading and writing, I also have learned to appreciate it more when I do not feel the guilt and remorse of not posting on a regular (or even semi-regular) basis. It will make all your 'gems' just that much more valuable to us.
Roxanne

Oh, and by the way, I love the picture of your dad holding Callie. Even though they both hate to admit it, there is a strong family resemblance between our fathers. How cute are they!
Roxanne

Hmm. THAT idea is one I might need to steal. Maybe TWO days a week even. I am determined to re-write and polish ms #1 and get it shipped off to some other pile of slush -and I am determined to have draft number one of future ms #3 complete before Spring is out. Unless I find a job, in which case I will extent my deadline through June.

Hmm....

I am so happy to see you got your blog template back and working.

And, I'll miss you on Tuesdays, but it will be worth it when you have another book.

You're a smart lady. I'm just curious as to why you chose Tuesdays? I might have to do something like that, because this "I'll blog less" resolution is so relative, it's kind of not working out.

It's good to limit yourself a little, I have faith in you Heidi!

Yay for getting more writing done-- I can't wait to read it. And since I never read Vogue, your confession was unnecessary on my part. Still love ya!

I am catching up on all the holiday posts and as usual you have distracted me from my job with laughter!

I've noticed that "blogging less" is a fairly common item on people's lists of resolutions. I love how yours is so specific and there is a purpose. It seems much more doable that way. Best of luck to you!!

Love you guys! Going to respond and then I guess I had best unload the groceries from the car--Jess--it certainly is risky but I'm giving it a try, anyway. We'll see. Kristina-thanks (you should know)! Annette--actually, I have The Spouse commited to the dinner thing (daughter doing dishes)but I like your idea better! Woo hoo! Good thing I don't eat what they eat (my special diet and all) Roxanne--you crack me up! I am sure everyone would love it if I blogged less! And, yes, those two are two peas in a pod but so much better! (okay, so I like peas better than I used to!) Heather--good for you to have accomplished so much at such a young age! Most people who want to write books never do. Or if they do, they don't finish. Or if they finish, they don't submit. So, yay you! Lara, thanks, you are so sweet! Erin--I chose Tuesdays b/c I have more energy at the beginning of the week but Mondays are so busy and crazy with catching up after the weekend. By Tuesday, I am exhausted from Monday's catching up but still mentally competent b/c I'm not so behind on my sleep. We'll see how it goes. Kelline--thank you! Becky--the Vogue reference is a bit vague, I see--that's what the link was for. In fact, does anyone know what I really meant by the Vogue thing? I didn't think so. . . . Jen--thanks, and I'm glad! Laughing is good! Lisa--since you only post on Tues Thurs and Sat I might just have to cheat and read your Tuesday post (shhhhhh!)

Tuesdays OFF? All my best posts are on Tuesdays!!! (Kidding)

Happy novel writing!

I love it@! balance baby, I have such a love/hate relationship with that word.

you can do it and I wish you well on Tuesdays, may the creative writing fairies smile down upon you in plethora (did I spell that right?)

Yeah...
Love the fact that you're wheeling and dealing in order to maximize your computer time!
And making the kids cook, another excellent idea!

I'm wondering if anyone will notice that I don't actually write if I try to make this same arrangement at my house?

Good for you - we'll look forward to the blogging when we can get it and the novel too (after a reasonably sufficient amount of Tuesdays of course)!

You are hilarious! I will miss you on Tuesdays, but have fun writing!

My daughter wants to know if your husband finds the clock annoying?

One of my resolutions last year was to blog less which worked out about as well as Steve Evans being nice to everyone on the blogs (his infamous goal last year).

So if you can't blog, you'll have to call. I can't do without you. (Although I'll give you Tuesdays off and maybe even kick in some chocolate for the cause. :)

Heather--I know! I about had a nervous breakdown when I realized that but I'll just have to get up at 12:01 AM and read your Tuesday post whilst The Spouse slumbers as there is not putting off the best of the best! Stacey--balance would be good but I am already composing a blog post about how I'm having a nervous breakdown about this whole thing. Abra--it gets worse. There has been even more wheeling and dealing attempted--not sure if it is all a done deal or not yet. Still, my plate is way lighter than yours right now. Hang in there!!! T--LOVE IT! LOVE IT! Why didn't I think of that sooner? I could be cuddled under a blanket with all the books that have been waiting for me to read them (I read exactly half a book in December if you don't count kiddie books) and magazines and cups of cocoa could cuddle with me. Oh man! I missed the boat on that one. I love how you think! Randi--you are so nice to say that! No one will even notice I am gone. Or they will and be glad and relieved and say Phew! to themselves repeatedly whilst wiping sweat from their brow b/c just keeping up with my comments that I make in my own comment section is enough reading of one bloggist in one day. Jami--I sent you a love email.

As usual, I laughed out loud at your final line! I think a Tuesday off is good. You pack so much into the other days that it will just make us want to read you more when you come around!

I have read about time with family being important, in some magazine, so let me know how it all works out!

Oh my goodness!!! I need to take you shopping with me in NYC. You haggle and then haggle some more!! I love it!! But, sadly, I totally understand! I will cry myself to sleep tonight with a huge box of chocolates.

I think the difference between people who are naturally gifted writers and people who think that they could write something worthwhile, if they really worked at it ...someday, is the same as the difference between people who have to make resolutions to blog less and those who have to make resolutions to blog more. I fall into the latter category. In November when I tried SO hard to blog everyday, I felt the quality of my posts really increased, but since then, I have been just barely keeping up with things that in the back of my head I think "I should blog about that," and the quality of my writing has really suffered, so what I am getting at is in an effort to conserve time for your more time-worthy pursuits of actually writing, don't feel like you have to keep up with my blog, because it has digressed to just pictures of the kids and keeping up with family milestones.

Good luck. =)

Kazzy, you funny funny girl. April, I would love to go to New York with you (or anyone). But, ummm, what are you saying? I'm a good haggler? That I cut a good deal? Maybe a little too sweet? Being too selfish here? Yah, I get what you're getting at all nice and sweet and making me feel good and then slipping in the insult all passive aggressive-like. Crash has taught you well! (JK!!) Heather, am I such a big whiner? I want to keep up with your blog. I won't read any blogs I don't want to. If I show up, it is b/c I want to. Absolutely! (but thanks!) Amanda--thanks! I figure day one should be a breeze. After that, not so much but we'll see.

You make me smile. I love your humor!

Enjoy your Tuesday breaks!

Rebecca,--thanks! Love you!

Oh my goodness. Now I understand why everyone is so up in arms.

May the force be with you.

And since you're not going to be reading this tomorrow, I'll just wait to tell you that we'll miss you, but we want you to be rich and famous so we'll sacrifice. sniffle sniffle. WAAAAAH!

Your resolve to cut back on the amount that you are blogging is all in the name of good literature, my friend, so it is definitely a goal worth keeping! I think your last concern should be commenting on others' blogs. I know that I will still visit your site, with or without your comment love.

-Francesca

PS: I have GOT to get me one of those clocks. I am positive that my productivity during the day would skyrocket.

You are such a hoot! Good luck with the new plan! And for those others of us also blogging less, we appreciate you cutting back so we don't miss out on as much!

It'd be more fun to have Wooster as a butler. Or Roy.

I'm reading/writing this on Tuesday. Promise you're not really there? It's not like we'd know if you were cheating and surely you could live with just a little sneak at your comments....after all, you read Vogue and we all know what type of person reads Vogue. The cheater pants kind of person!
Good luck keeping to it and enjoy all that chocolate!

I need to figure out ways to do more serious writing done. Your ideas are pretty inspirational. Good luck!

Yay for writting a new book! You go girl!

I'm seriously coveting that alarm clock. That is the coolest invention ever! Are you really lucky enough to actually own this little gem?

Hey, I'm back! Yay! And my blog did not implode whilst I was gone! Double yay! Crash--thanks for the support! Francesca, wow! that's really sweet--thank you! Kimberly--you crack me up! Such a sweet way of saying Would you blog less already so I don't have a million hours of reading to do each day? Reed--no doubt. However, having Dr. House for a butler could be a little traumatic first thing in the morning--today I was told that everything today would go as I desire. I like the sound of that! Dr. House would probably just beat me with his cane. Meanwhile, Roy doesn't buttle. Megz--I really wasn't here yesterday. And I really don't read Vogue--that was an unaccountable lie esp. since I never said that I did (did I?)--Beck, yes, I agree--you should write stuff and get paid for it! Alyson, is that clock not wonderful? I do have it, it was a Christmas gift from The Spouse and I adore it--only--I'm afraid I might learn to hate the sounds of Jeeve's voice 'ere too long. THat would be really sad. So far, though, waking up is an adventure. You can get them online but they are imported from England so they are a wee bit expensive. Love it, though!

I meant you haggled in a good way....really. Getting everyone to help out for a day so that you can write. Not the haggling that would get you locked in a van in NYC trying to buy knock-off purses (like what happened to my sister). That would just be horrifyingly funny (to me).

WELCOME BACK!!!!!

Great links to Jeeves, Heidi!