We all know that the five senses are important to writing. I never feel I incorporate them enough. While I’m primarily a visual person in RL, I’m pretty sensitive to scents, and love to wear perfume. Unfortunately the woman I work with is allergic, so I’ve abandoned my Chanel No. 5 in the interest of keeping my job. The most aromatic I get on weekdays is from applying Gold Bond Skin Therapy Lotion, which works wonders on my dry elbows and feet. It has a very pleasant smell that so far has not made my boss sneeze. But I miss eau de cologne.

My first grown-up perfume was Arpege by Lanvin. My parents always bought it for me for Christmas, but I can’t even remember what it smells like anymore. I was a Charlie girl in college (cheaper), tried Shalimar but it stuffed me up. Chanel No. 5 and 19 are old favorites, but I also loved something called Champagne, which had to change its name because of conflict with the wine trademark. I’ve worn Beautiful and Sunflowers and Green Tea. I like floral and citrussy things, but can’t deal with musk. One whiff of something and I can be instantly transported to a different time and place. Who will ever forget the sharp tang of Clearasil at a high school dance or the soft scent of baby powder on a little bottom?

My interest in aroma must be genetic. Distant relations manufactured Murray and Lanman’s (my maiden name) Florida Water, which has a pretty bottle. (That monkey above thinks so too. The illustrations here are from vintage advertising cards.) In doing research on the product, I’ve discovered some people use it in witchcraft rites. I don’t think my dead relatives would approve. *g* I prefer something less spiritual on the men in my life—Old Spice will do just fine. My current hero Edward’s signature scent is lime; his heroine Caroline wears jasmine.

Are you a perfume person? What do your characters smell like? What’s your favorite scent? I love fresh-cut lemons and oranges. Peonies and lilacs. Raspberries and blackberries. Coconut sun lotion and ocean breezes. Fall leaves and summer rain.

I was an English major. My college even tapped me for the English honorary society. I took a million English courses, but just one in Shakespeare in my sophomore year. I had a dreadful teacher who must have been in the middle of a bad divorce or something. He seemed to hate Shakespeare, students, and women in particular. I have absolutely no recollection of a damn thing except I got a B. It might even have been a B-, the bastard.

I’ve pretty much avoided reading Shakespeare since then, but I’ve been to numerous stage productions and movies, even the highly energetic and amusing The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) in London. I recently spent a delightful Saturday afternoon watching some of the BBC’s Shakespeare Retold mini-series, watching Much Ado About Nothing and Taming of the Shrew in nine nine-minute increments on YouTube at my computer instead of writing like I was supposed to. Set in modern-day England, the familiar plots got a distinctive twist. If you have the patience and frugality to follow my example, I highly recommend you do so, if only to enjoy luscious Rufus Sewall in high-heeled boots and eye makeup. Or you can order the whole four-part series on Netflix like a normal person.

Fess up. What classic English literature have you shunned?

I’m not juggling quite so many balls as I used to. No kids at home, no elderly parents to take care of, no 4,000 square foot house to clean. No smelly basset hound, no volunteering. I only work 27 1/2 hours a week, although believe me, it feels like 40+. So why does it seem there aren’t enough hours in the day to do things?

Since it’s a new year, I’m supposed to make New Year’s Resolutions. But when I make them, I always break them. I’m not good at setting limits and goals, and I hate the guilty feeling I get when I fall short of my own expectations. But there is one thing I was determined to do before 2009.

Clean my closet. My seasonal-appropriate clothes are all in the small bedroom I call the Writing Room. (Note the capital letters—it’s where Important Issues are Addressed, as well as where I get dressed every morning.). My desk wasn’t so bad, but the closet—let’s just say I lost my favorite red handbag in there for a year and had to go out and buy another red handbag because every woman should have a red handbag. The initial impetus for the Pre-New Year’s Resolution was to search for the black tank top and the black sweater that I knew was in there somewhere. I won’t bore you with a list of the other stuff I found, but it was an educational experience. So now I’m ready to face the new year, a lot smarter and dressed in black.

What have you been putting off in your own life that you’re determined to tackle in 2009? (My dresser is next, I promise.) How are your writing goals coming along? What’s in your closet? Do you own a red handbag?

Many congratulations to Stephanie, who is the randomly selected winner of my MRMR Second Birthday/Anniversary contest! Please e-mail your mailing address to maggierobinson8@yahoo.com Many, many thanks to all of you who visit and comment. My year would not be the same without you.

No, it’s not my birthday. That’s October 8. I’m a Libra: diplomatic and urbane, romantic and charming, easygoing and sociable, idealistic and peaceable. Sounds just like me. (Perfect, right? Not like the Libra negatives:indecisive and changeable, gullible and easily infuenced, flirtatious and self-indulgent, which cut a little too close to the bone.)

But it’s MRMR’s second anniversary, which makes this blog a Capricorn:practical and prudent, ambitious and disciplined, patient and careful,humorous and reserved. (The dark side of Capricorn says pessimistic and fatalistic,miserly and grudging, but my idealistic Libra self won’t pay any attention to that. My husband is a Capricorn, by the way. Pity me.)MRMR—two whole years of me nattering on and on on the Internet. Amazing. Or something.

So, it’s time to celebrate the New Year and this portentious anniversarial event with the promised naked men and a contest. What’s your sign, baby? How true are its attributes to you? Do you read your horoscope every day? Do you believe in the Zodiac or think it’s a bunch of B.S.? I’m reading Gallileo’s Daughter by Dava Sobel right now. When Gallileo discovered new heavenly bodies, it didn’t only just affect the Catholic Church and its earth-centric teachings. All doctors in Gallileo’s time were well-versed in astrology, as they needed to cast their patients’ horoscopes and mix up their medicines ‘at the right time.’ With new stuff in the sky, they had to throw out their charts and start fresh. Just another reason to be grateful to live in the 21st century and get our drugs on demand in the drive-thru instead of waiting for the moon to be in Venus or wherever.

One commenter will get some things from my romance stash, and a book thong made with my very own romantic—if clumsy—hands.

Happy New Year (and happy birthday today, Terri)! Party all week long and check back on January 7 when I announce the winner and ponder the wonders of the universe without a telescope.

New Year’s Day is every man’s birthday. ~Charles Lamb