Tuesday, November 26, 2013

The Christmas Shuffle

Bare in mind I have nothing against Christmas.  MOST people enjoy everything it has to offer.  The REASON, the lights, family and friends, cooking, baking, gift giving....etc.  So why do I feel like Christmas is for everyone else?

The ROOT of Christmas happiness starts at a young age.  For me, it was the silver tree with the spinning lights.  The Christmas Santa on our roof that fell over regularly and every day my dad crawled on the roof to make Santa stand up again.  It meant delicious brownies with an orange frosting handmade from my mom's friend, and toys.

I still have my Pebbles doll--as I was a Flintstone Fanatic, and in heaven for several years.  My life evolved around their "play village," a yellow record of the Yabba-Dabba-Do song and eating.  I know it would be considered a collectable, but the poor doll has nearly no hair left since her hair was rubbed bald by me.

The flip side, speaking of records, were the ARGUMENTS.  My brother fought with  my dad, my dad often had to leave to go into work, my mom wanted more than my
dad had given and my brothers teased and tickled me into begging for mercy.

The whole Christmas day of happiness lasted nearly an hour for the gift exchange,
and then life returned to normal for the chubby kid ( Me).

It normally meant a family in turmoil.  I hated Christmas for years.  Not until my children were born-- did Christmas become remotely fun again.  My now X-
husband wouldn't even get out of bed Christmas morning.  (He hated Christmas because his dad would get on a sugar buzz and be hateful.)  My girls were set
to open their gifts and their dad-- wanted to put it off until say- 2:00 p.m.

I got the show going with hot coffee, cocoa, cinnamon rolls and a bribe.  Once my girls open their gifts, they were content playing the rest of the day.  We had a tree then, but now I haven't put one up in 15 years.

Christmas for me now is usually spent alone, watching t.v. and waiting for the phone to ring.  Maybe an old friend will call.  Last year, my meds were seriously out of control, and I was crying my eyes out-- so this will be a much improved season.

Cooking a turkey is so much easier.  A True Thanksgiving Blessing.   I have been giving gifts and food to my friends- those that work and yet can 't get a head.  Yes, me, sharing what I pick up, for little money.

This "depression head" is getting better mentally, and more able to see the holidays for what they are.  Tomorrow I will cook ahead, and enjoy what I can.  Christmas is a month away- so I will put thoughts of it out of my head-- think of the shuffle when it comes.









Thursday, November 14, 2013

National Writing Month

 
Poor Me
 
As if working my buns off to have some art quilts and other textile items ready for  holiday art shows isn't enough, I also added the National Writing Month challenge to my agenda.  Now, I had heard of this for several years and knew a few people who were into doing it.  But at long last, I was going to it myself.
 
The idea is to complete a rough draft of a novel (50,000) words in a month.  You aren't suppose to edit it, and they have more experienced writers to encourage you if you get stuck.  Some libraries have writing groups that meet up and every part of the country is suppose to have a mentor or two if your writing goes way of the Titanic.
 
My novel, I admit was in my head for years.  I had started it several times and go to about page four and then promptly gave up.  I have been writing since I was a teen and have had a few things published, but novel writing- well, it is hard to do. 
 
Let's say you want to describe an orange.  Well, I would say:  "I want and orange." she said.  Well, I've pretty much given up on reading novels, because, it is so hard for me to get through all the words commonly used in many descriptive novels. 
 
Here, in an annoying novel,  "An orange is a rough but tender, sweet sphere of robust color.  A combination of both red and yellow, laying on a plate with a half-eaten slice of cheese, also the same color.  Now, I wonder would the man she adored enjoy the orange as much as she did as an evening snack, or would he want something from her kitchen she didn't have to offer him." Dah-Dah da-da.... you get the idea.
 
Anyhow, it gets worse, I want my novel to be about family--
think (dysfunctional-relations).  The novel is called Wellington House.
 
I am writing a story where the older sister has all the burden of the sick parents, as the younger ones get to play and do whatever they want. This never really happened to me- so I am using my imagination, but exchange one  main character for another and you have my life story!!  If  you make it to the end you can submit and compete with other writers.
 
One of the characters has a troubled love life.  I've never read #The Shades of Grey book, so I got it at the library for some "research" for my novel.  The only copy they had available was in large print, so yes.... I have the phone book size version.
I can imagine it now:    He gently caressed her, inserting his **nis  into her
(turn the page....)--- **v-Gina.   I'll let you know how my research goes and if you have a favorite part let me know.  I want my novel to be about the good stuff!

#    www.nanowrimo.org/