A new year - A word - and an explaination

Hi -- it has been a while. Not that I don't like to blog, I do -- but I got into trouble with a "Blogging Obligation" == Let me explain:

I typed to the UHU folks and got a free gluestick -- I only had to write a review. I hated the glue stick, because I really hate gluesticks for most things... not because the gluestick was really bad (it was good enough for my kids...) I just don't like the things. So -- I haven't typed. I didn't want to put that in writing, or was avoiding it, or something. I will write a more "formal" review soon, but there -- it is out, and I can start typing again ;^)*

Now -- for the WORD part. Evidently, folks who follow Ali Edwards have been taking on a little game of sharing their words for the year... this is something that I think many people do: find some word or idea that seems to surface for them, and watch it as it takes form in their lives. Ali does it at the new year, I tend to watch for the change of seasons and do it more often... or to see if there is a natural cycle happening in my life, or the lives of my family. Lots of words pop up, as I began life as a writer...

So -- for the new year, these are two words that are battling it out:

FOCUS:verb
Inflected Form(s): fo·cused also fo·cussed; fo·cus·ing also fo·cus·sing

Some meanings: to cause to be concentrated ; to bring (as light rays) to a focus; concentrate;
to come to a focus; converge; to adjust one's eye or a camera to a particular range; to concentrate attention or effort.

AND a close runner up...

PRESENT: (in all its forms, but especially as an adjective describing a way of being. I also like the idea of a gift that is sitting in front of me -- TODAY _is_ a present! and the idea of Giving or "presenting" something to others...)

Some meanings: now existing or in progress; being in view or at hand ; existing in something mentioned or under consideration; constituting the one actually involved, at hand, or being considered; of, relating to, or constituting a verb tense that is expressive of present time or the time of speaking; attentive; instant; immediate.

If you like this idea, Lisa Strahl's blog has a great post where she and others comment about their words HERE or Stephanie Severin's blog HERE

Happy New Year to you all -- and thank you for being so understanding about my long absence!