Blessed Solstice

Tonight is the longest night of the year. After tonight, the days start to get longer. Yay!

Most Pagans I know celebrate this day by focusing on it being the shortest day and longest night. They celebrate the fact that the sun is returning and the days are getting longer. They celebrate the triumph of the light over the darkness. Which is all well and good. It’s their way of celebrating and I would never tell anybody that their way is the wrong way (unless it is).

I, however, celebrate the longest night for what it is – the longest night. For years I have contemplated holding an all-night vigil on the Solstice, not to anxiously await the first glimmer of dawn, but to celebrate the night in all its glory.

Not this year, but maybe next. We shall see…

My presents are almost all wrapped and beneath the tree is getting a bit stuffed. Once I have the last of the gifts wrapped, I’ll post pictures. It looks very happy and festive. We also have just about all of the shopping done. We just have a couple more things to buy and we are done for this year.

Holiday cards are starting to pour in and my DVD shelf where I’ve been hanging them is looking very bright and festive as well. Last year, for various reasons, I didn’t feel the holiday spirit at all, but this year is more than making up for it.

Now to go finishing wrapping presents and hanging cards.

Lazy Weekend

This past weekend was a very lazy weekend. It was the first full weekend my husband has had off since September, so we slept in, I made breakfast brunch on Saturday, we lazed about the house, played video games, and returned some of the three years worth of bottles and cans we have filling up the dining room (don’t ask, we’ve just been REALLY lazy about it). I’m finally playing Dragon Age Origins. It’s a fun game, I love the different character interactions and the way those interactions change depending on your actions. I’m annoyed with the character Morrighan because it seems like nothing you do ever makes her happy. Although, I do love her jabs at Alistair. *grins*

I didn’t do a single bit of writing this weekend and only thought about it a little bit. I love weekends like this because now I’m re-energized and ready to jump right back in. I’ve never understood writers who write Every. Single. Day. and don’t burn themselves out. My brain occasionally needs a rest. I’m sure someone somewhere will say this means I’m not a “real writer”, but eh… *shrugs* We all run the race at our own pace and in our own way.

I have the first five chapters done and am now pondering chapter six. I think I shall throw another dead body into the mix. Then Alex and Sam get to have a date night. 😀

The Blahs…

It’s been unseasonably warm here and, as much as I hate being cold, I love winter. I love snow (unless we get monster snowfalls like we did last year) and I love that first cold, crisp inhale that steals your breath away when you first walk out the door. You don’t get those when it’s 50+ degrees out. It was supposed to snow last night, but all we got was rainy slush that’s already gone.

I’m slowly working on filling all the holes and getting Book 2 up to First Draft stage. It’s slow going because I’m at that point where I want to be working on new stuff instead of old. I’m almost at the end of Chapter 5. I’m not quite sure what’s going to happen after this chapter. I had one thing in mind, but it would work better further in. I may just stretch Alex’s day out a bit more and make this the end of her day.

I’m in need of a new computer monitor. The one I have now is the same one that came with the computer way back in 2004. I’m starting to get major headaches if I’m on it for too long. Which makes writing my own stuff and reading a friend’s ms a challenge.

There’s also the matter of getting this damned hard drive changed. I think I’m just going to bring it in to a computer repair place and have them figure out what’s wrong with the new hard drive because it’s getting ridiculous. I bought the new h/d two years ago and I still don’t have it in yet. I’m getting a bit miffed by that fact.

Okay, I’m done whining. Time to go throw laundry in the washer, do some dishes, and get some writing done.

Lisa Didio

My friend and submission partner, Lisa Didio, has announced the launch of her brand spanking new website. Head on over, check it out and stick around because she’s going to hit it BIG with her YA series which is currently out on submission to editors.