Jolly Holiday Greetings

After a leisurely morning unwrapping gifts, oohing and aahing at everyone's presents, and sitting down to a brunch of eggs and French toast, we loaded up the car and headed to my sister's house to celebrate the holiday with my side of the family. Thanks to the new tollway, the trip took considerably less time than usual. Back home again, our stomachs bulging with prime rib, scalloped potatoes, lasagna, salad, shrimp, and cookies galore (including Frango mint fudge cake homemade by yours truly), we're upacked, in our jams, and lazing about the house. As I type, the girls are helping P set up our new Wii. Sounds too fun for me to stay at the keyboard much longer. Signing off so I can go join them. On the writing front, I took today off, but plan to return to my regular holiday writing schedule tomorrow. Care to join me? I start at 5 a.m., give or take 10 minutes. Be there or be square. Bring along a tankard of caffeine to share.

Holiday Writing Experiment, Day 8

What a difference five days make. Since moving the alarm across the room, I've written 17 pages of creative. Seventeen! Most of it is discovery draft quality because I'm exploring a part of the story that's new to me, but hey, I'm not complaining. In fact, I'm doing the happy dance.

Holiday Writing Experiment: Day Three

Argh. Day three of my Holiday Writing Experiment, and have I gotten up early to write any of the mornings? Um, no. I've reset the alarm each time.

So, new tact. Moving the alarm clock so I need to get up in order to turn it off. And considering the very real possibility that this too, is part of my creative process, that I've been pushing so hard through this current write through that my characters needed breathing space, and time to talk amongst themselves before I sat butt in chair again for any appreciable amount of time.

The proof will be in tomorrow's writing. More later.

Holiday Writing Experiment

Sitting butt in chair this time of year has become problematic with all the holiday hoopla and end-of-year concerts. Seems as if I have no choice but to reactivate my Summer Writing Experiment, and rename it for the holidays. Beginning tomorrow, I'll be up at o'dark thirty. I'd better set the timer on the Mr. Coffee.

Amusing the Muse--Gingerbread Houses Tonight

My muse has something else to concentrate on today (rather than wallowing in the dreck dredged up earlier this week thanks to E's doctor visit downtown.) Tonight's the annual Gingerbread House-Making event at church.

This morning, I headed over to the church to help mix-up the royal icing needed to "glue" together 27 houses. I also set up pre-made plates of house trimmings (peppermints, dots, M&Ms, candy canes, licorice, marshmallows, etc.) to ensure everyone has what they need ahead of time.

Part of the charm of the evening (and a key reason my muse is so amused by it all) is watching how each person approaches the process. A good number of kids go straight for the candy, eating all the choice pieces before they begin to decorate. Others plan out each bit of trim, coordinating colors and candies with a precision that'd make an architect proud. Some show an amazing ability to think outside of the box by constructing something unexpected like a Christmas train or forest scene.

What amuses me most about the evening is seeing how many of the adults immerse themselves in the activity (some enjoy it so much they come every year, bringing additonal supplies from home), and give themselves permission to play.

My guess is that the opportunity to play is what brings so many people out for the event each year. I suppose we all need down-time this time of year, don't we?

I'd Rather Be Writing, Part 2

Okay. So, the drive downtown took nearly two hours thanks to the overnight snowstorm. It should have taken 45. We managed to make it to the Dr's office with 10 minutes to spare.

Bottom line: the blood work looked fine. Dr. L wants E to have an outpatient procedure done over Christmas break for another developing issue. We need to follow up with the Johns Hopkins folks for possible surgery there. Stopping now because I'm already sounding too much like a Merry Medical Christmas letter.

E seems to take all these tests and procedures in strides. "What doctor are we seeing now, Mom?" she often asks on the way to our next appointment. As for me, I'd be lying if I claimed to be used to it all. Like I said yesterday, I'd rather be writing.

I'd Rather Be Writing

The alarm's set for o'dark thirty tomorrow morning so E and I can drive downtown to meet with the kidney guy. In addition to hearing results of various check-up blood tests, we hope to hear the verdict on an existing medical condition that will likely mean surgery in another state. Hard to be yoga about the issue when it's my kid; she's been through so much already. Sigh. Not looking forward to getting up so early. Not looking forward to hearing THE NEWS without Phil. Not looking forward to morning drive time on snow slicked roads. Quite frankly, I'd rather be writing.