Magic

~Albus Dumbledore

 

A little magic happened tonight.  Not only did I write on the story that had me stumped yesterday, but I cruised right through an addition to the next story in my line-up.

 

Magic really does exist.

Nothing to Writing

I am supposed to be writing right now.  But not on this....

I am stuck on a story that I am trying to continue for my writing group.  I have been thinking about it for days.  Where is this supposed to go?  How do I get there?  What do I see happening?  What is the bridge that I need to build to lead up to the grand finale?

Ugh!

This quote from Ernest Hemingway totally sums it up.

"There's nothing to writing.  All you do is sit down at a typewriter--and bleed."

Only a writer would know EXACTLY what he is talking about!

When you write, you are not just sitting down, with the words pouring out of you like an overflowing pitcher.  You fight for every word.  Every sentence.  Every thought.  How do they blend together?  Does that sound right?  This sentence needs to have a choppier rhythm, while this one needs a languid fluidity.  Not enough description.  Too much description.  Too obvious.  Not obvious enough.

Sometimes I sit for an hour, staring at the computer monitor, rolling words around in my head.  Sometimes nothing comes out.

But sometimes, every once in a while, magic happens, and the words roll out so fast I can't even keep up with them.

Those are the days I live for.

I need me some magic about now.

The Best Christmas Ever

In case you didn't notice, Erica is making a heart shape with her hands. It's own of her new poses for pictures.

 

We had a really wonderful Christmas together.  Following a delicious dinner of ham and cheesy potatoes, Christmas Eve entailed the traditional kids photo in front of the tree.  They then each opened a present from Grandma Terry, who had flown in for the week.  It was a pair of new pajamas for everyone.

 



Erica was just a little excited....

She kept doing this silly dance once the presents were opened and the Santa hats were brought out.

 



Elise got into the action too.  I had a hard time getting a shot of the kids in their jammies because she was moving so much!  Here she is actually moving her legs open and shut over and over again.  She definitely caught on with the idea that something fun was coming!

 

On Christmas morning, Eric and I were awoken to little feet running up and down the stairs, then Erica bursting into our room and saying in a really loud whisper, "Mommy! Santa really came! Santa really came!"

 

We had a wonderful morning opening presents and enjoying our fun new toys.  After lunch and a much needed nap, we headed to Mukilteo beach to burn off some steam.

 

It was such a beautiful day!  The sun was shining and it was relatively warm, so the kids enjoyed throwing rocks in the Sound, climbing on washed up logs, and playing on the equipment at the beach's playground.

 



 

The day after Christmas, we took the entire family to see the new Disney movie, "Frozen."  It is very rare that we take everyone to a movie, so it was a special treat.  I know that I really enjoyed the movie, and I think everyone else did as well.  Now Erica keeps insisting that she wants to have "white" hair, like the Frozen girl.

 

On Saturday, Terry and I went with a few of my friends to see the Broadway musical "Oliver" at the 5th Avenue Theater, in downtown Seattle.  We had such a fun time together, and I was so glad to get to share that experience with her!

 

I will remember this Christmas break as a time spent with those that I hold most dear.  It was a simpler year, with simple gifts shared and received.  I was a little anxious about what the kids would think about receiving fewer gifts this year, but I shouldn't have worried.  A few days after Christmas, Ethan came up to me and said, "This has been the best Christmas ever!" 

 

I couldn't agree more, Ethan.

Books

I have a curious dilemma, one which I haven't encountered for a number of years.

I don't have time to read anymore.

My life has suddenly been encumbered by so many other activities that I have lost those precious moments, curled up on the couch in the front room, a blanket tucked snuggly around me, a glass of Diet Dr, Pepper sitting on the end table next to me, delighting in and devouring the written word in front of me.

It is a strange situation to find myself in, as I have always (at least over the last twelve years) found the time to read nearly every day.  Now I spend my free time sitting bundled up in my bed with the laptop balanced on my knees, reading blogs, writing blogs, working on web pages and websites, or working on stories which are in various stages of development.

I am even behind in my book club books.  I ALWAYS read the books for book club!!  It's my club!!

So today, in celebration of New Years, I curled up in a fuzzy blanket on the couch in my front room, with my Kindle fired up, a bowl of fresh popcorn and a glass of Diet Dr. Pepper fizzing on the end table next to me, and I READ!

I finished a book that I have wanted to finish for a while, and it felt great! Then I opened up the next one on my list and started on that one.

It felt like a vacation.

I should do it more often...

Happy New Years, and Happy Reading!!!