It’s the new year and time to start fresh, right? Maybe not. This year, I’m taking a page from one of my MissDemeanors blog colleagues and saying no, I’m not starting fresh. At this time of my life I’m okay with my habits, and even the ones I don’t like, I’ve gotten used to.

This is particularly true when it comes to the state of my desk. Teapot, strainer and cup, those are essential (Even more essential is the Twining’s Lady Grey tea inside the pot). Calendar (yes, I use a paper one) to make sure I don’t forget phone calls, meetings or other deadlines. Pens, tape (for adding thoughts to my big wall outline), Mr Edgar Allen Poe and his nodding raven for inspiration and then…. well, all the rest. Technically “all the rest” could probably find a home somewhere neat and organized but that falls into the category of no resolutions. I’ve lived with the clutter this long…

The only drawback of this organizational style is the other desktop. The virtual one. I would have included a snapshot of that screen but too many people would recoil in horror. Bits and bobs of deleted paragraphs, possible chapters. Copied sections as a back up before a major revision. Thoughts jotted on virtual notes. It’s all there. Somewhere. I know this is a bad habit because tech support has literally recoiled in horror at the number of files on my desktop. They’ve called me later and said they had nightmares about it. Occasionally I start a folder called – things taken from desktop on such and such date. Like a bottom drawer that will likely never be opened again. I may actually tackle this in 2017. A clean virtual desktop. I’ve found my resolution!