Lessons I learned this Christmas

As you may (or may not) have noticed, I have been completely off the reservation over the holidays as far as writing goes. However, I enjoyed every minute of it. But now? NOW? Now it's time to kick it into high gear. I'm going to get this first draft done if it kills me (and most likely it will). 

Since I'm not one to make resolutions because I nearly ALWAYS break them, I did not make finishing my first draft one of those. I'm more of a "I'll get around to it when I feel like it" kind of person (which I know drives all of you task oriented people, my husband included, C-R-A-Z-Y), but I'm setting a goal to finish by March - spring break to be exact. Then I will put down my pen (close the laptop would be more appropriate) and enjoy the break with my hubby and kids and not think once about the MAJOR EDITING AND REVISING that will need to be done.

With this (very loose) goal in mind, I have decided to take a semi-permanent break from blogging. I KNOW, HOW WILL YOU GO ON WITHOUT ME? I may, MAY, post from time to time, but I will not be posting regularly as I do now. I will be lurking, however, and will be commenting, so I'm sure I'll see you bloggy friends around. 

And so, I will leave you with this small parting gift:

THINGS I LEARNED THIS CHRISTMAS

- Being married to a teacher during Christmas is like striking home baked goody gold! 

- If you don't water your tree while you're away on vacation, it will die. Rocket science, right?

- Make sure and remember to lock your front door when you leave the house the morning of your trip, even though you're in a hurry to pick up your husband from work and get on the road at a decent time, after a night of very little sleep because you packed EVERY SINGLE PERSON IN YOUR FAMILY'S CRAP. Otherwise, it will be your fault when the burglars come and rob you of the four things you didn't take with you on vacation. (For the record, no we weren't burgled, we have a very reliable neighbor who locked up for us...love you Mr. Rob!)

- Don't travel with pets. Especially if that pet is about 20 lbs. overweight and only wants to sit on your lap for the 12 hour drive.

- When you plan your vacation to Florida, be sure to check the weather, because it MIGHT be just as cold there as it was when you left Georgia. And your children will be forced to wear sweatpants over their bathing suits - sweatpants that your mother and aunt had to buy for them, because you're an idiot and only packed shorts and tank tops for them to wear because you so wrongfully assumed IT'S FLORIDA.

- Buy at least 3 packages of every size battery known to man if you don't want to have to listen to your children whiiiine because their spiffy new toy doesn't light up and spin and make noises yet.

- Buy tape, for after that spiffy new toy gets batteries and you want to shatter it against the wall because it's MAKING YOU CRAZY. (I didn't really, I swear.)

- Watching my boys and my nephew playing together is the best Christmas present ever. There is nothing like being with family for the holidays.

I hope and pray that this New Year brings you much creativity and motivation! See you in March!!!

Just call me Gumby

So I gave myself a little goal in getting my MS done in a timely fashion. Somewhere in the beginning of October I said, "I'm going to finish my novel by New Year's"! 

Yeah, that's NOT going to happen...unless I manage to hijack Santa's sleigh and fly myself to some remote island sans elves. You know, because there's always THAT option.

No, it doesn't look like my ambitious little deadline will be met (since I'm still a good 20,000 words from where I'd like to be). But you know what one of my New Year's resolutions actually is? 

BEING MORE FLEXIBLE!

So let's see, where does that leave me?

Finished novel? nope (and 99% sure that I won't finish by New Year's)

Packed for vacation? nope

Christmas shopping done? nope

Am I okay with all of that? 

YEP.

I will be out of blog mode until sometime after the holidays due to limited internet access. So in case I don't talk to you until then, I hope you all have a beautiful Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Christmas Jitters

And no, it's not from one too many Gingerbread Lattes from Starubucks.

I hope that you all can forgive me for being so slack in my postings as of late. Writer Wednesday didn't happen because I didn't feel like I had anything worth writing about - in my MS or here on the blog. I've had a really hard time just peeling myself away from staring mindlessly at the walls! I don't know what has happened to my mind as of late. 

It could be the anticipation of Christmas - all of the lists of who to buy for, when to buy it, and how many extra "in case I forget someone" gifts I should buy. Then there's the laundry and the packing for the trip home for the holidays that is inching ever closer to my realm of consciousness. Pair that with the overwhelming guilt I sometimes feel that we make this holiday so darn commercialized and forget the real REASON behind Christmas - but that doesn't stop me from buying! Oh, no! 

WARNING! WARNING! THIS BRAIN IS ABOUT TO SELF DESTRUCT! 

Is it just me? Have you felt this way too? 

Don't get me wrong, I'm not pulling a Bah, Humbug on all of you. It's just a little overwhelming to me at the moment. I'm sure the Christmas spirit will find me (and it usually finds me when I'm on my knees in prayer). I hope it stays with those of you that have it, and that it finds those of you who don't! 

Dear Santa

Hi, Santa. 

It's me, Beth. 

I know you're really busy with all the "who's been naughty and who's been nice" business (and for the record I've been REALLY, REALLY NICE). I just wanted to drop you a little note to say, "What's up?" and give you my Christmas list this year. I know, I'm a little old (In fact, you might remember that my birthday is Christmas Eve. No? Oh, then I guess it was just those people who enjoyed giving me my birthday/Christmas present all rolled into one every year. My mistake.). Anyway, I thought I'd give it a go, since the boys were doing theirs. 

So, here goes:

- Earplugs, because that's what every parent of preschoolers needs when forced to drive a total of 24 hours in the car with said preschoolers to visit family for the holidays.

- Another set of earplugs, you know, in case I lose the first set or decide to share with the hubby (highly unlikely though).

- New knives, since my old ones are getting kind of dull, and I'm thinking I might need to gouge my eyes out in hopes that I won't have to see how much weight I've gained over the holidays from eating my mother's irresistible cooking.

- An easy bake oven, because I don't like my grown-up oven...it's not easy, and I think it might hate me.

- An endless supply of new sponges, because mine just get really gross really fast, and I can't ever seem to find one that doesn't smell.

- For Tyler to potty train himself. I know this is a long shot, but I figured I'd ask anyway.

- Some new underwear, since my dog seems to really enjoy chewing up EVERY PAIR I OWN.

- A new dog

- A pony (because I've never gotten one, even though I've asked for one EVERY SINGLE YEAR, SANTA.)

Well, I think that's it. Thanks, Santa.

Love,

Beth 

It's getting a little TENSE in here

No, I'm not really talking tense in the high-strung, freaked out way. 

I'm talking about tense, as in past, present, future, etc. 

My novel is written in the present tense, but I find myself slipping into past tense every once in a while - and I'm not sure why! And my internal editor gets all "Hey, crazy lady, you're doing it again. Now go back and change all of that past tense crap you just wrote." And my disciplined I-will-finish-this-novel-if-it's-the-last-thing-I-do writer self gets puffed up and is all, "Hey, internal editor...SUCK IT!"

Does this happen to you? When you catch it, do you fix it? Or do you trudge on and fix it during the revision process? I already know what some of you (I'm looking at you, Katie Ganshert! ;p) would do, but feel free to chime in anyway!

Lessons I learned this Thanksgiving

I thought I'd make this a holiday tradition, since Lessons I Learned This Halloween was such a hit. So without further ado, I give you...

Lessons I Learned This Thanksgiving

1. You CAN get a hangover from Turkey. However, the remedy is definitely NOT more turkey.

2. I don't care what the doctors say, the tryptophan in turkey will get you EVERY TIME. In my case, it knocks me out for three days.

3. It doesn't matter that they have about 1,000 options of Thanksgiving Day yumminess to choose from, my children will STILL ask for Peanut Butter and Jelly.

4. I will NEVER be able to make a Thanksgiving dinner as good as my Mom's. I'm not even going to try. My family will be lucky if I can make them turkey sandwiches without something going wrong.

5. Don't wait until the last minute to try and make Pumpkin Stuff. Why? Because there will be a NATIONAL FREAKING SHORTAGE of canned pumpkin.

6. By all means, watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. However, under NO CIRCUMSTANCES should you try and imitate the Radio City Rockettes. Just trust me on this one.

7. Next year I'm buying handcuffs so that I can keep all of my family here. It's just not the same without them around...sniff.

I truly hope all of you had a lovely Thanksgiving. You have my blessing to put up your Christmas decorations now! :P

We Interrupt Your Regularly Scheduled Broadcast

Apparently, I have an alter ego.

I've decided her name is Lizzy, because that sounds like a good thirteen year old name, doesn't it? Also, my full name is Elizabeth, so it's not too far of a stretch. Lizzy has decided that she has ohmygoshohmygoshohmygosh A LOT to tell you all. So, I'm going to let her take it from here.

What's up people?! So, I just had to pop in here and let you all know that I totally saw New Moon last night (the midnight showing - booyah!). IT IS AMAZING. Like, more amazing than Twilight - and that was PRETTY DANG AMAZING. You all totally need to go out and see it...TWICE! 

Taylor Lautner got all kinds of ripped up to play Jacob in this one, and he does not disappoint AT ALL. Too bad he's all hung up on Taylor Swift (love you Tay Tay!) :( Plus, there's like, totally more Edward than I thought there'd be - can somebody say BONUS! The Volturri are totally creepy, natch, and the wolves are incredible. Chris Weitz is a genius...he deserves an Oscar, or at least a Moonman. I'm already counting down the days until Eclipse comes out, and in case you're wondering, it's 222! TTYL! xoxo Lizzy

Well, that was interesting, wasn't it? Before I go, I have a few people to thank for gifting me some truly special blog awards:

Thank you, Jessie, for the One Lovely Blog Award!

Thank you, Jennifer, for the Honest Scrap Award!

Thank you, Roni, for the Best Blog Award!

If I didn't have my family arriving this evening and an entire house to clean before they arrive then I would be handing out some awards myself, but that will have to wait for another post. 

Posting next week will be light, as I will be taking some time to enjoy my family here for Thanksgiving!

Happy Friday!