Holiday Eating Tips

Too funny, had to share.

1. Avoid carrot sticks. Anyone who puts carrots on a holiday buffet table knows nothing of the Christmas spirit. In fact, if you see carrots, leave immediately. Go next door, where they're serving rum balls.
2. Drink as much eggnog as you can. And quickly. It's rare. You can't find it any other time of year but now. So drink up! Who cares that it has 10,000 calories in every sip? It's not as if you're going to turn into an eggnog-alcoholic or something. It's a treat. Enjoy it. Have one for me. Have two. It's later than you think. It's Christmas!
3. if something comes with gravy, use it. That's the whole point of gravy. Gravy does not stand alone. Pour it on. Make a volcano out of your mashed potatoes. Fill it with gravy. Eat the volcano. Repeat.
4. As for mashed potatoes, always ask if they're made with skim milk or whole milk. If it's skim, pass. Why bother? It's like buying a sports car with an automatic transmission.
5. Do not have a snack before going to a party in an effort to control your eating. The whole point of going to a Christmas party is to eat other people's food for free. Lots of it. Hello?
6. Under no circumstances should you exercise between now and New Year's. You can do that in January when you have nothing else to do. This is the time for long naps, which you'll need after circling the buffet table while carrying a 10-pound plate of food and that vat of eggnog.
7. If you come across something really good at a buffet table, like frosted Christmas cookies in the shape and size of Santa, position yourself near them and don't budge. Have as many as you can before becoming the center of attention. They're like a beautiful pair of shoes. If you leave them behind, you're never going to see them again.
8. Same for pies. Apple. Pumpkin. Mincemeat. Have a slice of each. Or if you don't like mincemeat, have two apples and one pumpkin. Always have three. When else do you get to have more than one dessert? Labor Day?
9. Did someone mention fruitcake? Granted, it's loaded with the mandatory celebratory calories, but avoid it at all cost. I mean, have some standards.
10. One final tip: If you don't feel terrible when you leave the party or get up from the table, you haven't been paying attention. Re-read tips; start over, but hurry, January is just around the corner.
Remember this motto to live by:"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO HOO what a ride!"Have a Great Holiday!

There Be Idiots

Yes, even during the holiday season. I belong to several writer lists. Several writers have told of people who write them nasty letters, post tacky things on their blogs and other lists and generally act like they've been offended when a writer is published or does something the people don't agree with. I know a lot of writers who no longer give out phone numbers or look at anyone Else's manuscript because of the same kind of people who believe because someone is published, they owe other writers their critique time, for free. They've even threatened to sue because one person read a Civil War story and mentioned the Civil War in one of their own works.

I see the same thing with some reviewers who act as if the writer set out to irritate the reviewer on purpose and say unnecessarily venemous things about the writer and their ability. I don't understand the mentality. I assume it's a power thing, one of those "because I can." It's like the "Girls Gone Wild" idiot who is in jail and wants to sue three women (who have no money) because they have a little mom and pop winery in Northwestern Oklahoma and called it "Girls Gone Wine." As if they are a threat to his exploitation "business."

I have to feel sorry for everyone who is bashed by someone else who is on a power trip of some kind. Just be nice, guys, there's room for everyone in the sandbox. Play nice or I'll kick sand in your face.

Jealousy or Waning Self-confidence

Yes, to Rinda and the fact that reading some of my favorite authors can give me a complex regarding my own work.
Some of the ones that stand out are:
Dean Koontz and his striking imagery.
Jim Butcher and the pacing of action in his Dresden series.
Charlaine Harris and her humor-she can put humans and vampires in the most delicious predicaments.
Kim Harrison's world building.
Stephen King and his ability to make you care about his characters before he does something horrendous to them.
Self doubt always creeps in, however, it just takes one reader saying how much they like what you write for that doubt to go back into hiding.

Christmas is coming, read Dickens' Christmas Carol or other Christmas stories, something with a little romance. Watch It's a Wonderful Life, cry over the little girl's flower. Watch "Meet Me in St. Louis" to have a "Merry Little Christmas". See the mean Santa in A Christmas Story--"You'll shoot your eye out, kid." "Little Women" isn't really a Christmas story but it's a treat. Time to immerse ourselves in the season.

Writing Through Christmas

I have too many people in the house right now. It's not their fault, they have no electricity and I do. My daughter-in-law is so frustrated. They cut down a real tree and haven't been able to enjoy it in the dark and cold that is their house at the moment.

Not having a great effect on my writing, but that's not the only thing putting me behind on that front, it's a combo of family, weather, trip to Houston, Christmas and etc. However, things will settle down I know and I'll be back in the writing routine.

Now I sound like a Scrooge, but I'm not and I've always loved Christmas, but this year has been a little stranger than usual. Also don't have the usual baking done, didn't get cards sent but I'm determined to enjoy the holiday even if I have little to no control this year.

Christmas is Coming

Whether we are ready or not. So this year I'm working hard with the idea of enjoying Christmas however it comes together. You see, I'm a control person, a list person, who wants this, and this and this done by such and such a time. The week I spent in Houston put me behind for Christmas shopping. I barely got started on the 7th, just got the decorations up, but then the Ice storm hit. A week without power. Just came back on Friday, now my son, who has no power, and his family are staying with us. Thank God for warmth and light.

So if the baking isn't completely done, we'll survive. If the lights are not up on the house, we'll enjoy the lights inside. If we can't make it to a party or holiday performance, it will work out. The reason for the season doesn't change, no matter what extraneous things get in our way.

Am I getting writing done? Not so much, but that too will change. Things will get back to as close to normal as they ever do and life will go on. Keep writing anyway, even if it's simply a poem about the weather. And remember, you can't choreograph those sugar plums, they will do what they want anyway.

Tagged

TAG--you're IT!
Okay, Amy Shojai (http://amyshojai.livejournal.com/) tagged me in a previous post and shared these rules:

Rules:Link to the tagger and post these rules on your blog. Share 5 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird. Tag 5 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs. Let them know they are tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

1. I love sweet pickles and cheese and braunscweiger sandwiches.
2. I hate the echoing sound that a basketball makes in a gym, especially combined with the squeak of the sneakers.
3. I find it very irritating to hear "Hear Comes Santa Claus" when the singer says "Here comes Santy Claus."
4. I snuck into drive-in theaters when I was a kid and would sit on the swings to watch movies.
5. My grandmother told me true-crime tales for bedtime stories when I was in grade school.



Ginger S., skilled blogger http://mizging.blogspot.com/
Tabitha Shay, writer of the best witch books http://tabithashay.blogspot.com/
Rinda E.,Blogger extraordinaire whom I hope has power back on http://relliott4.wordpress.com/
Sally O, poet and writer with the most beautiful books. http://spinningpearls.blogspot.com

More About Ice

Still have thousands of people without power, including us. Snow predicted for Friday evening, heavy. The games continue. Seeing fires because people don't use common sense when trying to get heat, but they're desperate. Tree damage is horrendous, and houses and cars when trees split and hit cars and structures. Blocked roads due to limbs breaking over the streets.

I have heat at my MIL house so I can't complain but sure do miss electricity for my computer and hair dryer, hot water, and the ability to cook easily. Miss the microwave. I'm so spoiled. Batteries and lamp oil impossible to find right now. I will remember to put together a bin with those kind of supplies for the next disaster.