Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Happy Holidays Everyone! - Santa brought me a Nook!

I just wanted to take a quick moment and wish you all Happy Holidays and the best for each of you in 2011. I have been so busy with the family events and Christmas prep that I have not posted in a few weeks, but I promise it shall pick up now that there is some light at the end of the tunnel.

On a side note, I got a NOOK for Christmas.  Does anyone else have one?  Like it?  Hate it?  Have any tips or tricks?

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

I'm the World's Worst Mother

So it turns out, I am the worst mom on the planet.  Or at least, that seems to be what my daughters want the otuside world to believe.  Kinda like this lady.  Remember her?



Today is my prime example.  I get up at 6:45am and as usual, my girls are getting ready for school.  Now anyone with children knows what a hectic time this can be.  Making sure papers are signed, lunches are made, everyone is dressed, teeth brushed, etc. 
Innocently enough, I ask my daughter Shelby (10 yrs) where her coat is. 

"I forgot it at school."

How this is even possible when it is 20 degrees outside is beyond me.  When you walk outside in that temperature, you automatically ebgin to shiver, rub your arms to stay warm.  You'd think you would notice the missing layer at that point. But, Shelby can be a bit scattered, so this is not a huge shock.

"Ok, where is your backup coat? The one from last year," I ask.

"I lost it last week."

"You mean to tell me you have no coat at all???"

"No, but I got my sweatshirt." She holds up a red sweatshirt with a zip front."

"If you don't bring your coat home tonight, you are grounded.  You can't go around without a coat, Shel, it's winter!"

After some pre-teen grumbling, she says, "I'll bring it home, I promise."

Then teenage daughter, Caey comes upstairs ready to roll out the door.  Her coat, you ask?  The thin windbreaker she got for volleyball.

"Where the heck is your coat.  You can't go out like that?"

"I can't find it. Haven't seen it since last winter."

"Are you kidding me?"

"Nope. I looked downstairs. It isnt there."

"Just great."

Now they are both standing at the bus stop with either no coat or a windbreaker waiting for the bus in the howling winter winds. I can hear the teachers and bus driver now.

"Doesn't your mother know you don't have a coat?  Are you that poor?  Does she know it's 20 degrees?"

Yup, worst mother ever.... that's me.

So ask me what I did at lunch today?  Yup, that's right.  Mom went to Target and bought two new winter coats, a pair of snowpants for the lil one, and some hats and mittens. 

The irony here?  I would be willing to bet at this time next week, I will be having the same morning conversation and watching my unorganized, half-dressed daughters standing at the bus stop in little but their clothing and wondering how I became sush a sorry excuse for a parent.

*Sigh* Happy Winter everyone!

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Nanowrimo 2010 Draws to a Close

As the hectic month of writing frenzy comes to an end, I find myself perplexed by the prospect of reading the 50k words I just wrote.  I have never before just typed furiously with no thought to looking back or editing it while I write.  It's not that I believe that what I wrote is total crap, it is more a concern over the amount of time and work I put in vs how much I will actually end up keeping.  I guess no matter how you slice it, words on the page are words on the page, and a damn sight better than where I was at the beginning of November.

And now I undestand why December is Nanoedmo - (National Novel Editing Month).  Im not even sure if that is a real thing, but I saw it on a blog I follow today and it seemed so appropriate.  That is what my December is looking like.

That in addition to catching up on my crit circles and all the posted works I didnt take the time to read in November, and creating shorts for two contests with the same deadline for the end of December. 

Then, of course, that is that little holiday they call Christmas.

But, Im sure my kids will understand when I tell them Santa took a sabatical to edit the Great American Novel. Right? :P