Thanks for all the fish

The sun has set and the last grains of time are rolling through the hour glass. In the Forest, we’re discussing the joys of 2007 and looking eagerly towards 2008. (Plus, there is champagne chilling and I adore champagne.)

Since Christmas I’ve been locked in seclusion in a small hotel room working on my new YA. Now I am home. Is there any word better than that? HOME! I think not.

I’ll post tomorrow with pictures of the Creature With Fangs in full party mode, and a couple of resolutions and hopes and dreams. But before the year is out, I wanted to say thanks to all of you – my family, my friends, people who read my books because they have to – or even want to, and the various strangers who stumble across this blog when they are looking for the other Laurie Anderson.

This online community means more to me than I can properly express in words. So please let me give you a big hug and pour you a cup of cheer and say “thank you, thank you, thank you.”

(BTW – here is your last literary reference from me for the year. The subject line of this post? From the much-missed Douglas Adams.)

Santa’s coming! I know him! I know him!

Isn’t this an awesome day??????

Santa is already getting busy with it.

It’s snowing again.

We have sugar plums and rice pudding for the nisse in our future. And we have to watch Elf (which BH hates) so we can scream out all the best lines.

After last minute hurrying and scurrying, we’ll head out to the back meadow tonight to watch the full moon rise. This is known as the Cold Moon or the Long Night’s Moon. And then I will put on my kerchief and Papa will put on his cap, and we will both settle down to a long winter’s nap.

The folks here in the Forest send our best wishes to everyone and lots of Light in the darkness.

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The 12 Days of You Know What – MWitF Version

I tinkered with the lyrics, you know the tune.

Everybody sing along!

On the 12th day of Christmas, my true love gave to me:

12 months of a patient husband
11 wandering characters
10 journals overflowing
9 thousand emails blinking
8 parties tempting
7 overdue library books
6 social networks friending
5 miles on the treadmill!!!
4 kids doing laundry
3 long to-do lists
2 pots of coffee
AND
1 killer novel deadline

What is your version of the song?

promises fulfilled, words flying, dark gathering

This is the shortest day of the year – a very, very good day to reflect and write.

Looking back on my 2007 goals, here is what I accomplished:

1. No melanoma, no cancer. Yes!!
2. Finish CHAINS. YES!!
3. Blog regularly, don’t let it take over. Check.
4. Finish first draft of YA due in early 2008. (Working on 2nd draft today!)
5. Do more fun things. (Canning! Knitting!)
6. Don’t waste time on stupid websites. (I got rid of a lot of bookmarks and keep a real book next to my computer when I feel the need for distraction.)

Here is what I almost accomplished:
1. Run consistent 9 minute miles by December (I am running consistent 9:15 minute miles.)
2. Exercise at least four times a week. (This was ruined during book tour and spring travel, but I am back on track now.)
3. Complete plot outlines for next two historicals. (Still doing the research.)

And this still needs work:
1. Website overhaul.
2. Deal with fanmail more efficiently
3. Run half-marathon and 10Ks (I did a couple of 5Ks, but didn’t get in enough mileage for longer races)
4. Read more for fun.
5. Ski. (didn’t make time or room in the budget for it)

Unexpected challenge: my brain was so tired in August I could not write. Don’t want to get that tired again.
Unexpected joy: The trip to Poland was incredible. Still thinking about it.

(There are a couple of more personal items, too, but I don’t have to tell you guys everything.)

From now until New Year’s I will ponder next year’s energy and where I want to spend it. The rest of the day for me will be writingwritingwritingwritingwritingwritingwritingwritingwritingwritingwriting.

I leave you with this. Solstice always makes me think of Stonehenge and this is lovely.