Holiday Story--With Your Help

I do believe this website needs a holiday story!  What do you think?  I may also have a holiday short story contest in December.  We'll kick it off with this though.  I need one word (left as a comment) from each of you.  I will then write a story using the list of words generated from the comments.  Anyone who leaves a comment will get a 5 minute head start on the 200 words or less story contest in December (via email).  I'm not sure what the prize will be in December, but I'm thinking Starbucks ;)

Holiday Spirit

Typically as soon as Thanksgiving is over, I jump wholeheartedly into Christmas planning.  I pull out all of the decor and the house is decorated by the Sunday after Thanksgiving.  The tree is up, the wreath is on the door, and the fireplace mantle is filled with all my lovely holiday knickknacks.

I am usually finished with all of my Christmas shopping by the first weekend in December.  Everything is wrapped and under the tree, family portraits are taken (with furbabies forced into a closeness they do not appreciate for the photo), and Christmas cards are sent out by the second week of December.

I keep to this schedule every year.  I am not particularly religious, but I enjoy the holiday season.  I like the chaos.  I like the hustle and bustle.  I even (grudgingly)  like holiday music, and sometimes I even listen to it in the car. I love planning and executing holiday parties  being surrounded by my loud and lovable friends.  I am not a grinch.  I am always ready for the holidays.

I'm not ready for the holidays this year.  I am not feeling the 'holiday spirit' at all.  Not even a tiny bit.  My personal life is in shambles.  This is probably my last Christmas in the only home I've ever really had and in a house that I love more than just about anything else in the world.  My family is not doing well financially so they made the decision not to exchange any gifts at all this year.  None.  No monetary limit, no homemade gifts, no dirty Santa game.  I know the holidays are not about gifts, but I really enjoy buying the people I love things I know they will enjoy.  I want to buy them stuff.  Even if I can't afford it.  But I know that I can't, because if I do it will make people uncomfortable and upset with me.

I am also unemployed (aside from scattered babysitting/nannying gigs).  Most of the places I have applied for are not interviewing until December.  I do not like not having a job.  I am bored.  I am listless.  I am depressed.  I need something to do.

It's all driving me quite mad really.  So this year I am not graced with the holiday spirit.  I do not feel joyous.  I do not feel blessed.  I do not feel happy.  I must admit that I am more than a little bitter and a lot angry. I am trying to find a way to let go of this negativity and find some joy.

I went to the store yesterday and I found some (joy, that is).  I found a brilliant walk 'n ride on sale for my niece (who will be one in February)!  I know she is going to love it.  I know it will make her smile and giggle.  This simple and relatively cheap purchase made me smile and gave me a twinkle of the holiday spirit I am usually so immersed in this time of year.  I sat down and figured out what to get my other niece (age 6) and my nephew (who will be 3 very soon).

I have decided to throw my annual Christmas party and to make it the biggest and best yet.  If this is my last Christmas in the house I love so much then I will make it a joyful one no matter what.  I will invite my best friends (sisters really) over and we will have a giant party filled with great food, wonderful gifts for the kiddos, and lots and lots of laughter and love.

Thanksgiving: Stuff I'm Thankful For

This year I am afraid I must admit to being a bit of a grinch.  I am not feeling particularly grateful for anything.  I'm in a tough spot, my life is a bit of a mess, and I am SURLY.  I am not very sociable.  I do not want to participate in the holiday hurrah.  I do not want to be surrounded by people.  I do not want to plaster a fake smile on my face and make idle chit chat with anyone.  Told you I was surly.

In the spirit of the holiday, however, I will attempt to say something nice instead of pointing out to the masses that the pilgrims gave the Indians small pox and eventually decimated them.  So here are twenty things I am grateful for:

20. Good hairbows.  I have really thick hair and most ponytail holders snap in half the second I try to use them.  I love the ones that don't break.

19. Warm, fuzzy socks. 

18. Books.  Any books.  I don't even care if I like them.  I just love books.

17. Chocolate.

16. My furbabies. I have pictures of them up on another post so I won't put more up, but my furbabies are fabulous.

15. The fact that I used to work at a museum.  I may have been laid off, but at least I know what it is to have a job you truly love.  I know what it is to look forward to going to work, to have a job that makes you say, "I cannot believe I'm actually getting paid to do this!"

14.  Rally signs like this one (and people who appreciate rally signs like this one):

13. Homemade quilts.  Homemade anything, really.

12. Bikinis.  And the fact that I still look good wearing one.

11. J.K. Rowling and her absolutely amazing Harry Potter books.  These books can transport me elsewhere and take away all my troubles, if only for a few hours.

10. My front porch swing.  It really is a great place to sit and relax.

9. The truth.  It doesn't matter if it's an ugly truth.  I am always grateful when people are honest with me.

8. Red wine.

7.  For getting to go snorkeling in the Caribbean.  Look how clear that water was:

6.  Historic architecture.  And Savannah, GA that does such a great job of preserving its past (and has great food/old houses that make me happy to just wander down the street):

5. Shepherd's Pie.  You wouldn't understand if you've never had it.

4. Charleston, SC.  It is my happy place.  I love every single thing about this city.  I love its storied past.  I love its beautiful and historic buildings.  I love the ballast stone streets (yes, those are ballast stones--not cobble stones).  I love the harbor.  I especially love this fountain:

The next three are not in any particular order.  They are numbered simply to complete the list.

3. My family.  They may drive me insane.  They may be dysfunctional.  I may, in fact, avoid them at all cost today, but they are my family.

2. This lady.  Her name is Samantha.  She is a Leo.  I am an Aries.  We were, therefore, meant to be the best of friends.  She will run away with me to historic cities at a moment's notice and she loves seafood as much as I do.

1. These ladies.  They are Laura, Amy, and Emily.  I have known them for years and years.  They're family, not just friends.  I can cry on their couch at 2:00 AM when my world falls apart (and they can cry on mine).  I can eat at Cici's with them once a month every month just to keep our old high school tradition going strong.  I can tell them anything, absolutely anything.

I am also, of course, thankful for all the rest of my friends and for all of my readers.  Thanks for reading this blog and have a very Happy Thanksgiving!

Ready, Set, Knit!

I am feeling crafty.  Arts and crafty!  I think I'm going to knit a scarf.  I made an impromptu trip to Wal-Mart (that store we all love to hate) for a new pair of knitting needles and some thread. 


I got these: (size 15)

 And this: (bulky--6 weight)

Now I'm going to start my scarf!

Ready, set, KNIT!!!!

Kid Craft: Turkey Napkin Holders

This kid craft is quick, easy, and fun.  It's also just in time for Thanksgiving! 

What You'll Need:

• flat wooden craft spoons (or Popsicle sticks)
• paint
• paper towel tube
• scissors 
• orange pipe cleaners
• glue
• black magic marker
• red felt

Instructions:

1. You will need either 5 craft spoons or 5 popsicle sticks.  Paint them different colors--I recommend yellow for one of them (this one will be used for the turkey's head/face)
2. Cut a 2 inch section out of a cardboard paper towel tube. Paint it brown. This will be the napkin ring/turkey's body
3. Bend the pipecleaners until they resemble 3-toed turkey feet and poke them through the 'body'
4. Draw eyes on the turkey's face with a marker
5. Glue a piece of red felt to the face for the wattle (or use a red marker to draw one)
6. Glue the face and tail feathers to the body and enjoy your turkey napkin holders!

A Chat with Jeremy C. Shipp

I was one of the last people I know to jump on the twitter train.  I thought twitter would surely be a waste of my time.  Boy was I wrong!  I have been welcomed into a supportive, nurturing network of smart, caring, and witty writers on twitter.  Now I'm in love with this social network. 

One of the wonderful writers I've befriended via Twitter is Bram Stoker award finalist Jeremy C. Shipp.  Despite his success, Jeremy is quite down-to-earth and is always willing to lend a hand (and some much needed advice) to other writers.

Here's the interview (all 3 questions were chosen from my own reader's panel--thanks for the great questions guys!):

Q: If you had one piece of advice for aspiring writers, what would it be?

A:  Read and write everyday.  Oh, and eat lots of peanut butter. And if you're allergic to peanuts, almond butter works just as well.

Q:  When did you know you wanted to be a writer?

A. In 4th grade I wrote a rather long short story about an everything-eating alien named Chomper.  At this point, I had an inkling that I wanted to be a writer. But my muse didn't trap me in a corner until I was 13. At 13, I wrote my first novel and I've been writing almost constantly ever since.

Q: How do you overcome writer's block?

A: There are days when I feel as if my muse ran off to join the circus and writing is the last thing in the world I want to do. When I feel that way I write anyway because what I'm usually experiencing is a mental block. And mental blocks are lies.  To feel completely uncreative doesn't mean that you can't create.

Jeremy's newest book is a collection of short stories entitled Fungus of the Heart.  Raw Dog Screaming Press provides the following synopsis of the book:

Readers of Jeremy C. Shipp’s fiction will be familiar with his minimalist, breakneck pacing, his surreal forays into political satire, and his seamless blending of science fiction, fantasy, and horror. Now, in his fourth book, the Bram Stoker Award finalist expands on what many critics and fans alike have long considered the most compelling aspect of his work—relationships. This story collection explores how a person’s desire can infect their every action and interaction with others. The desire to protect. The desire to hurt. The desire to be desired.

Fungus of the Heart explores what happens between people when society breaks down and the rules go out the window. Haunting and heartbreaking, pithy and potent, the quirky inhabitants of Shipp’s bizarro world will carve an indelible line from your funnybone to your spleen to your emotional core.

Here are 2 more questions from our interview, both concerning the book:

Q: Did you face any significant challenges while writing this book?

A: I wrote most of the stories in this book with the collection in mind.  However, I also wanted to include a few of my older tales.  Deciding what of my older work to incorporate was somewhat difficult because I had to make sure that each story fit thematically, stylistically, rhythmically.  I'm very happy with my choices.

Q: Where did you get the inspiration for Fungus of the Heart?

A: When writing this collection, I thought about the relationships in my life and I asked myself various questions.  How far would I go to save my wife? What does it mean to be a true friend? What's the importance of personal boundaries?

Fungus of the Heart is a collection of short stories, stories that often contain surprising twists.  Shipp creates dark realities and even darker characters.  You can buy your copy online at Raw Dog Screaming Press.