Wow, today is one of those authentic holidays. You know, the kind where you wake up and you can't figure out what day of the week it is because it is so obviously a banner day? I love this slightly disconcerting feeling -- it's very rare.
It is way warm today and the snow is all but melted, at least on my property. But, when we travel to our friend's house later, only a short drive away but 1k higher in altitude, they'll have snow on the ground! My son and I are going to make cut out sugar cookies and decorate them with some very cool decorations I got at Cost Plus, which include microscopic gingerbread men and Christmas tree lightbulbs. This will be my only holiday baking this year.
I'm happy to report that the Christmas cards have picked up and my door is almost covered! As most of them have come in the last two days, I'm beginning to suspect that the majority of my friends and family have converted to sending cards only once cards are received. Does anyone else see the problem with this?
I just this morning realized that, since my husband narrowly escaped having to work on Christmas Day, he has ten consecutive days off! I'm exceedingly jealous. I'm also encouraging him to take our son skiing at least overnight, but, like two peas in a pod, they're both resisting. Homebodies, unite. *Sigh.*
I work for a publishing company and last year we got a huge bag of, like, 30 of our books as a Christmas bonus. I was bummed out that none materialized this year. Yesterday, I was one of about 10 people** in the building working. It was quiet, but not nice and quiet.
We watched Charlie and the Chocolate Factory last night. Is it just me, or was Johnny Depp's appearance, posture, and voice at the beginning of the movie chillingly reminiscent of Michael Jackson? Aside from the cool Oompa Loompas (chillingly reminiscent of Joe Pesci...) I prefer the original. Other than that, I'm still jonesin' for a good Christmas Carol movie -- I think there have been many on our 300+ channels but I haven't exactly had time to watch TV lately, and I fear I've missed my opportunity.
Okay, off to make cookies and feel smug that I don't have to be out shopping today!
*unapologetically politically incorrect
**gross exaggeration
Saturday, December 24, 2005
Saturday, December 17, 2005
Holiday Cheer
Yesterday I got a phone call from my aunt in California. She told me she'd just gotten my Christmas letter and it was "so beautiful" and she loved it and had to just pick up the telephone and call me right that minute! Now, if you knew this particular aunt, the fact that we're not now and never have been close, and just how much she hates to call long distance, you could appreciate this more. Even if nothing else ever happens as a result of my love for writing, at least I have these moments.
Rediscovering CRB
I have just turned in a short story for one of my classes. I'm energized by it because I took the main character from my 2003 NaNoWriMo novel -- the one I actually finished and edited -- and wrote a section of his life. I remember my first writing mentor, when he heard I was going to attempt a novel, told me that he thought I should start with a short story. I'm doing it backwards, which is very like me, actually.
It reminded me of my experience the other day with a new jacket. I'd gone out shopping about a month ago and saw the most beautiful, red floral brocade jacket lined with velvet that I knew would look awesome with the long velvet skirt I was planning to wear to our company Christmas party. I bought it, and have been feeling remorse ever since. So much so that I kept the jacket wrapped in its tissue paper and secured with its gold foil stickers in the shopping bag on the floor of my bedroom until the day before yesterday. Then, I nervously pulled it out and tried it on -- at which point I fell in love with it all over again.
That's how I felt when I sat down to write about CRB.
I started from scratch, and it really was a new beginning as I'm sure I haven't read the book in more than a year and a half. Every time I write this character he ends up very dark, and it happened again! So I intentionally went back and injected some of the humor and affection I feel for him, and liked the result much better. I also wrote it first person. I'm eager to get feedback from the teacher.
It reminded me of my experience the other day with a new jacket. I'd gone out shopping about a month ago and saw the most beautiful, red floral brocade jacket lined with velvet that I knew would look awesome with the long velvet skirt I was planning to wear to our company Christmas party. I bought it, and have been feeling remorse ever since. So much so that I kept the jacket wrapped in its tissue paper and secured with its gold foil stickers in the shopping bag on the floor of my bedroom until the day before yesterday. Then, I nervously pulled it out and tried it on -- at which point I fell in love with it all over again.
That's how I felt when I sat down to write about CRB.
I started from scratch, and it really was a new beginning as I'm sure I haven't read the book in more than a year and a half. Every time I write this character he ends up very dark, and it happened again! So I intentionally went back and injected some of the humor and affection I feel for him, and liked the result much better. I also wrote it first person. I'm eager to get feedback from the teacher.
Tuesday, December 13, 2005
Feliz Navidad
I mailed off my Christmas cards today, whew. I think this may be the latest I've ever sent them. Judging from the doorway where all the cards I've received typically hang, everyone else is running late as well.
This year I was suffering from the rampant inability to make a decision (probably leftover from November's fickle noveling experience...) so my loved ones will be receiving a card and a cheery holiday letter, plus many photos. If you'd like to receive the electronic version of my holiday greetings, comment or drop me a line.
Tomorrow's our department's Christmas get together. This year we're actually doing it at work rather than offsite, which is a bit of a bummer but infinitely more convenient. We're doing the gift exchange/steal the good gift thing, and snacking. I'm going to have to get up early to make guacamole, which I'm bringing as part of a running joke because several people who will be in attendance think only Californians eat the stuff.
Speaking of guacamole, I had a run-in with a real live redneck the other day. This hasn't happened in a while so I thought it worth mentioning. For those who don't realize it, I am of Hispanic descent, half or more depending upon whether or not you think Spain counts. I'm often told I don't look it, so I tend to get more redneck comments than I might otherwise.
Anyway, I was getting my hair done by C. and another woman, K., was too. K. was an out of work teacher and within the first five minutes she told us how important education was to her family, how well-educated she and her parents were, and how well-educated her fiance was, do you get the picture? Somehow we got on the subject of adoption, and K. informed us that her friend just adopted a baby. This is what she said:
"She is adorable. I mean, she's half Mexican, but still, she's really cute."
C. and I couldn't even look at each other for fear we'd lose it. C. also happens to be Hispanic -- how K. missed this I haven't a clue.
So, K. went on to ask me my salary, why I never had more kids, what I do for childcare and how much I pay for that, and then she wanted to know how old I was.
When I told her, she gasped and came and stood about 3 inches from my face so she could get a better look before declaring I didn't have my fair share of wrinkles. Then she wanted to know my "nationality."
I told her, and she didn't bat an eyelash. She then demanded to know if my husband was Mexican, too, or if he was white. Those were apparently the only two options. She then declared my youthfulness on the unfair advantage of my olive toned skin, and moved on to more important subjects, like asking me where she could get good Mexican food in town.
*Sigh*
This year I was suffering from the rampant inability to make a decision (probably leftover from November's fickle noveling experience...) so my loved ones will be receiving a card and a cheery holiday letter, plus many photos. If you'd like to receive the electronic version of my holiday greetings, comment or drop me a line.
Tomorrow's our department's Christmas get together. This year we're actually doing it at work rather than offsite, which is a bit of a bummer but infinitely more convenient. We're doing the gift exchange/steal the good gift thing, and snacking. I'm going to have to get up early to make guacamole, which I'm bringing as part of a running joke because several people who will be in attendance think only Californians eat the stuff.
Speaking of guacamole, I had a run-in with a real live redneck the other day. This hasn't happened in a while so I thought it worth mentioning. For those who don't realize it, I am of Hispanic descent, half or more depending upon whether or not you think Spain counts. I'm often told I don't look it, so I tend to get more redneck comments than I might otherwise.
Anyway, I was getting my hair done by C. and another woman, K., was too. K. was an out of work teacher and within the first five minutes she told us how important education was to her family, how well-educated she and her parents were, and how well-educated her fiance was, do you get the picture? Somehow we got on the subject of adoption, and K. informed us that her friend just adopted a baby. This is what she said:
"She is adorable. I mean, she's half Mexican, but still, she's really cute."
C. and I couldn't even look at each other for fear we'd lose it. C. also happens to be Hispanic -- how K. missed this I haven't a clue.
So, K. went on to ask me my salary, why I never had more kids, what I do for childcare and how much I pay for that, and then she wanted to know how old I was.
When I told her, she gasped and came and stood about 3 inches from my face so she could get a better look before declaring I didn't have my fair share of wrinkles. Then she wanted to know my "nationality."
I told her, and she didn't bat an eyelash. She then demanded to know if my husband was Mexican, too, or if he was white. Those were apparently the only two options. She then declared my youthfulness on the unfair advantage of my olive toned skin, and moved on to more important subjects, like asking me where she could get good Mexican food in town.
*Sigh*
Sunday, December 11, 2005
Tuesday, December 06, 2005
Ask Me About My Novel
A couple of people have asked me about my novel, Choosing My Confessions. To tell you the truth, I haven't even read it all the way through yet. But I can tell you what it's about:
A single young woman feels self-satisfied for not acting on her attraction to a married guy. She's very against the whole adultery thing because her dad broke up their family when he went that route. One day she finds out that this guy she's so busy sacrificing for is actually having an adulterous relationship with someone else right under her nose, plunging her into finally dealing with her father's betrayal. She decides she needs to get away and goes on the proverbial road trip to gather her thoughts.
My intention when I started the book was to have her run into some folks on the road who were more broken then she was, and she did. But instead of learning what she needed to from them and continuing on, she sort of collected them and formed unintended relationships with them. Most of them were more interesting than she was, anyway, so it wasn't such a bad thing. In the end, she learned what she needed to learn despite all the distractions.
Eh, it turned out pretty boring really, but I think I will give the whole story one more try now that I know who my main character is, or at least, who she isn't. Sometimes it takes thousands of words to get there, which is why NaNoWriMo can be so very valuable. I mean, would I have had the patience and drive (read: stubbornness) to write her until I understood her if I wasn't doing NaNoWriMo? I think not.
This NaNoWriMo burned me out unlike any other. The only writing I've done in the week since it ended is my annual Christmas letter. I've written about seven pages of that to come up with just the one page that I'll end up sending. Oh, and I've also written some school essays.
Pathetic, I know. But better than nothing.
A single young woman feels self-satisfied for not acting on her attraction to a married guy. She's very against the whole adultery thing because her dad broke up their family when he went that route. One day she finds out that this guy she's so busy sacrificing for is actually having an adulterous relationship with someone else right under her nose, plunging her into finally dealing with her father's betrayal. She decides she needs to get away and goes on the proverbial road trip to gather her thoughts.
My intention when I started the book was to have her run into some folks on the road who were more broken then she was, and she did. But instead of learning what she needed to from them and continuing on, she sort of collected them and formed unintended relationships with them. Most of them were more interesting than she was, anyway, so it wasn't such a bad thing. In the end, she learned what she needed to learn despite all the distractions.
Eh, it turned out pretty boring really, but I think I will give the whole story one more try now that I know who my main character is, or at least, who she isn't. Sometimes it takes thousands of words to get there, which is why NaNoWriMo can be so very valuable. I mean, would I have had the patience and drive (read: stubbornness) to write her until I understood her if I wasn't doing NaNoWriMo? I think not.
This NaNoWriMo burned me out unlike any other. The only writing I've done in the week since it ended is my annual Christmas letter. I've written about seven pages of that to come up with just the one page that I'll end up sending. Oh, and I've also written some school essays.
Pathetic, I know. But better than nothing.
Like A Scene From the Movies
One of my favorite DeNiro films is Midnight Run, and one of my favorite scenes from it is this one where an FBI honcho is eating lunch at a cafe counter and his flunkees come in to give him some news. He looks at them warily and asks, "Is this gonna upset me?"
That's how I felt a few minutes ago. I was making minestrone soup. Cooking a hot meal is one way I can wind down during an arctic storm, and smelling hot soup simmer is very gemutlich when it's 3 degrees and falling.
So I was just beginning to relax, and my son comes in to give me some news. He opens up his school planner and says, "(Teacher) wants you to read this and sign it TODAY."
"What is it?" I asked, eyeing the planner warily.
"I don't know!" Ah, the nonchalance of a third grader. He padded back into the family room, and I was left to finish putting herbs in the soup, all the while glancing across the room at the planner and thinking, with great trepidation, Is this going to upset me?
My husband is leaving work early tonight due to the storm. He'll have hot soup and buffalo burgers with us, and I'll let him deal with The Note.
Yes sir, the beautiful thing about being married: passing the buck.
That's how I felt a few minutes ago. I was making minestrone soup. Cooking a hot meal is one way I can wind down during an arctic storm, and smelling hot soup simmer is very gemutlich when it's 3 degrees and falling.
So I was just beginning to relax, and my son comes in to give me some news. He opens up his school planner and says, "(Teacher) wants you to read this and sign it TODAY."
"What is it?" I asked, eyeing the planner warily.
"I don't know!" Ah, the nonchalance of a third grader. He padded back into the family room, and I was left to finish putting herbs in the soup, all the while glancing across the room at the planner and thinking, with great trepidation, Is this going to upset me?
My husband is leaving work early tonight due to the storm. He'll have hot soup and buffalo burgers with us, and I'll let him deal with The Note.
Yes sir, the beautiful thing about being married: passing the buck.
Sunday, December 04, 2005
Ice Ice Baby
Today we had our first weather-related car accident. It was my husband, not me, and the Mazda, not the new car. The car slid on an icy street and he lost control, smashing into a curb. And this despite studded snow tires.
My husband called me when he got to work and told me about it, and I braced myself for a big dented fender. When he got home (early) tonight, I ran out to the garage to look and I couldn't even see the problem. He had to point it out to me. It looks like nothing, but apparently has affected the alignment, and the car won't go over 35 mph. So he's going to try to get it fixed tomorrow. Though, judging by the local news tonight, he'll have to get in line.
I'm half expecting at least a snow delay at my son's school tomorrow, as the high tonight is supposed to be 2 degrees (it's 7 degrees now), and that means lots of slippery roads before the sun has a chance to melt the ice.
I sure hope I can sleep tonight. Last night I was up three times for no apparent reason and I really need some rest. It's going to be a cold, snowy, busy week.
My husband called me when he got to work and told me about it, and I braced myself for a big dented fender. When he got home (early) tonight, I ran out to the garage to look and I couldn't even see the problem. He had to point it out to me. It looks like nothing, but apparently has affected the alignment, and the car won't go over 35 mph. So he's going to try to get it fixed tomorrow. Though, judging by the local news tonight, he'll have to get in line.
I'm half expecting at least a snow delay at my son's school tomorrow, as the high tonight is supposed to be 2 degrees (it's 7 degrees now), and that means lots of slippery roads before the sun has a chance to melt the ice.
I sure hope I can sleep tonight. Last night I was up three times for no apparent reason and I really need some rest. It's going to be a cold, snowy, busy week.
Saturday, December 03, 2005
Welcome to My World
This was the scene we woke up to this morning. It was beautiful, and I was thankful for the snow, but moreso that it had waited until after our TGIO party last night to begin, so everyone stayed safe on their drives back to town.
Isn't Snoopy stylin' in his little coat? Maggie's built for snow, and doesn't need one.
Thursday, December 01, 2005
Aargh!
I just settled down to do my homework and discovered I left the book at work! (At least, I hope it's at work! Otherwise, I don't know where it is!) I don't know if I should try to do it from memory, or just cram it in tomorrow between work and the TGIO party (yeah, right!)
*Sigh.*
*Sigh.*
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