Here I am again

Amazingly, I’m still in one piece, despite a busy Christmas season. And it’s not over yet.

You see, my December looks like this:

Mom’s Birthday: 22nd
Christmas Eve (opening gifts): 24th
Christmas Day (Church and lunch): 25th
Uncle’s birthday: 26th
My Birthday: 28th (Money transfers welcome. ;-P)
New Year’s eve: 31st.

So as you can see, I’m not really getting time to sit still to blog without appearing to be anti-social.

Still, I’ve written a synopsis and revised my query again and again. I’m thinking I should send it to Query Shark before contacting agents, but that’s a story for IWSG.

In the mean time, I’m reading my friend Michael Offutt’s novel, Slipstream, at the moment, although the above-mentioned makes for some slow going. Ooh! Speaking of which, Oculus, the sequel to Slipstream is out, in case you’ve been living under a rock or missed all the posts about it this month. Go check these books out, if you haven’t yet. Mike’s one of my best CPs and he definitely knows the craft.

Alrighty then! I better get going again before my family sends out a search party.

See you again soon!

Who else have some important birthdays coming up between now and New Year’s eve? Anyone else still have family visiting?

Oh Christmas Tree

I wanted to put this post up last night, but because of the nature of the Christmas holidays, I wasn’t able to, but I just have to show off this year’s tree.

I admit that it looks a little bare in daylight…

But at night, it is magical:



Before I sign off, I want to ask that you please think of/pray for my friend Helen, who lost her husband in a car accident yesterday. She’s about to enter a massive battle, as the accident has triggered a serious illness that she had when she was younger.

This really got me thinking, as we forget how fortunate we are to have everyone who is sharing Christmas with us. So if you haven’t yet, go hug them and tell them you love them.

*HUUUUUUUUUUUUG!*

I love you.

Merry Christmas. 

What I did today

Today was spent making one Christmas present (and about four attempts of a quarter of another one). Fun, until the second present started annihilating my right hand. This took seven hours.

My mom and I decorated our Christmas tree. Looks cool, but isn’t finished until I finish the presents. Sigh.

And we did all of this listening to carols. Awesome in the beginning, but by hour four it started to grate. Still, I can say that for about three hours I was pretty dang cheerful. Maybe it was that second bookmark that ruined it.

So needless to say, I didn’t even look at any of my writing. I’m thinking that a few hours of this mind-numbing repetitive motion might just be good for my writing, but darn, I’m starting to feel the stirrings of frustration now, because I haven’t written nearly enough.

Does it happen to you at all that you do something that has to be done, that’s food for you because you’re taking a break, and all you feel is annoyed?  

Today is (was) going to be a short post.

As Christmas approaches, my to-do list lengthens. As such, this post shortens. ;-P


Today will be taken up by unpacking a fridge after our one maid filled it with plates. The fridge being coffin-like in volume.


Luckily I have a slave (my younger brother) to help me move the ceramic plates somewhere else.


When that’s done, I get to bake! Hopefully. I’m thinking lamingtons and more traditional treats named Jan Smutsies and Hertzoggies.


For those of you with zero South African connection (me excluded), Jan Smutsies and Hertzoggies are basically small soft cakes with apricot jam baked in between. Incredibly delicious. Ask nicely and I might even post a recipe.


But to intrigue you, I present:





Hertzoggies (the tops are made of coconut)


and…



Jan Smutsies.


Ask really REALLY nicely and I might throw in some other kick-ass traditional South African treats.


But I digress. After that I have to pack a suitcase for a week and move into my mother’s room to make space for the family. Which means I have to plan what I have to wear. For almost a week.


I don’t even plan what I wear to weddings and funerals. Sigh…


But I will suffer this trial for the sake of Christmas.


Speaking of trials. I’m also very likely going to have to stay off blogger until Tuesday.


I’ll try to sneak in some blogger time.


But it is beyond likely that I will drop off the face of the blogosphere until next Tuesday. Starting now.


No wait!










Have a blessed Christmas! May your time with your family be as wonderful as it can possibly be and my the love of Jesus Christ fill your house on this Holy Day.


With LOTS of love,


Kiss Kiss,


Hug Hug,


Missing you already,


Misha




P.S. Commencing drop from blogosphere in. Ten. Nine… AAAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaa………


……………


Thud.