Monday Musings: Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Yippee for the Holidays

November 30, 2009 by

I’m not a seasoned black Friday shopper by any means. I ventured out on the darkest of all shopping days a few years ago to pick up a certain special present, and got a first hand look at the 7th level of hell that is 150 people fighting over the three personal DVD players that were advertised in the paper. So, this year, when my hubby suggested we hit the sales, I was less than enthused. “We need a game plan” I said more than once. “What specifically are you looking for” I repeated again and again in the days leading up to the event. And on Friday I insisted he go get a paper, peruse the ads, and come up with some sort of map. “It just isn’t a regular browse to shop kind of day.

I guess Black Friday at 5 a.m. is something one has to see for themselves to believe.

For the 5 hours spent shopping (that’s including the 90 minutes spent trying to get a quick breakfast at I-HOP) we did catch a few deals and finished a small part of our Christmas list. Worth the experience? Aside from the long wait for pancakes it went rather smoothly.

Me? I’m much more a Cyber Monday kind of shopper. This next week I’ll be surfing for the online deals, that often come with free shipping, with coffee in hand and let the mail man bring the gifts to my door. Of course, shopping on line does have its own set of hazards. I’ll let Foamy explain. He does a better job.

Filed Under: Life Tagged With: , , , ,

Surviving Stress and the Holidays

November 25, 2009 by

When I read awhile back that many people find the holidays the most depressing time of year, it didn’t really surprise me, nor did the fact that it’s the time of year most suicides are committed. A time of year that is supposed to be filled with celebration and family, can be painfully lonely for some and stressful for those get obsessed with details.

motherI mentioned in Monday’s post that I’m one of those people who can let the stress of the holidays weigh her down and I’ve also made a commitment this year to be less of that ‘control freak.’  Yes, I recognize that my stress comes from my innate desire to control every aspect.  I want the tree to look perfect. I want a big, delicious meal served to a large, loving family.  I want all the gifts to look perfect under the tree, and everyone to ooh and ahh over how appropriate they were.  I want rooms full of smiles.  I need to please everyone.

So, is there an easy answer to avoiding the stress? I don’t know, but I do have a plan.

  • Time management – In the following five weeks of the ‘holiday season’ I will be trying to implement time management. Time will be carved out of each and every day for me to concentrate on my writing and the associated career.  I will also allow specific time for the chores that need to be accomplished and the activities. This will also make the ‘list making’ side of me happy as I will do my best to plan my shopping trips (Grocery and gift) to make as few trips to the store as possible. I will pick one or two days to do all my holiday baking and shop so that one trip to the post office will be all that is needed to mail out gifts and cards.
  • Letting go what I don’t have control of –  Of course, I will put forth my best effort in all I do, but will accept that my best is going to have to be good enough. I can’t please every one all of the time — no one can. But I will do what I can to help and please others but draw firm lines and set boundaries so I don’t take on more than I can handle adding to the stress.

Whether or not this little plan will work is anyone’s guess and I don’t blame any of you for setting up a betting pool and picking the date that I totally melt down. Here’s hoping instead it’s a season filled with joy that is intended.

Filed Under: Life, Writing Life

Monday Musings: Being Thankful

November 23, 2009 by

‘Tis that time of year when we’re supposed to sit down and reflect on everything we’re thankful for. That can be a hard thing to do in this day an age.  I know I’m not the only who feels like their life is a huge rat-race. Like you struggle day in and day out to progress two steps, but slide three back. Laundry and housework is never done, the to-do list had become a to-do novella and to it all off you’ve been hit with the seasonal, new illness.

being_thankful_cardBut the fact of the matter is there are blessing to behold everyday.  Of course, there are the obvious ones. I may have that stupid head cold that’s been hanging on for weeks, but it could definitely be worse (health wise).  I have my family around me (And know that with each passing day, my children are getting closer to striking out on there own and that may not be the case). As a family, we have a decent income (believe me I know this is a blessing in this day and age).

Yes, those are the big things to hold dear, but there are countless little things too. Lazy Sundays, curling up with a good book and good coffee. Playing games of Scrabble or Monopoly with the family and laughing so hard my side hurts the next day is the type of blessing that can get overlooked in the grand scheme of things.

…And believe it or not, I’m grateful that I get to fix a big turkey dinner this weekend, have family over to the house, and then spend the rest of the weekend putting up the Christmas tree and the rest of the decorations.

I’m one of those people who can let the Holiday consume them with stress.  I can turn into a real scrooge complaining because nothing is as big, bright, and jolly as it should be. On Thursday, when I’m reflecting over the many blessings in my life, I’m also going to commit to really trying to remember them through the busy season and the rest of the year. Let’s face it,  remembering how blessed we are shouldn’t be reserved for just one day a year.

Filed Under: Life Tagged With: , , ,

5 More Minutes…

November 20, 2009 by

Despite, or maybe because, I celebrated my birthday this week, it’s been one of those where I feel like I’m spinning wheels in the sand.

It seems that I’m finally recovering from the three weeks of icky, coughy, sniffly crap and this weekend promises to be relaxing. So next week I will be back, in full force, with the regular blogging schedule. Until then, enjoy another episode of foamy the squirrel and give me 5 more minutes…

Filed Under: Life

Monday Musing: Coffee Please

November 16, 2009 by

Somehow Monday mornings are harder to face than the other days of the week. Even if I didn’t have a busy weekend, even if I spent a majority of the time relaxing with a good book or watching old movies.

All I want is good, strong coffee to get the juices flowing and the blood pumping. Nothing fancy and something very easy to order.

Oh… the video says it better than I could:

Filed Under: Life

Stranger Than Fiction

November 13, 2009 by

There’s an old adage about writing: The difference between fiction and reality is fiction has to be believable.

Whether it’s in my own writing, something I’m reading, or a movie I’m watching there’s an expected level of trust. We’re going on a journey and the characters created are going to act according to the parameters set. Even if those parameters aren’t of this world or time. My favorite books to read are paranormal, fantasy, etc. It’s rather easy for me to accept a world with vamps and wares lurking around every corner, but put me in front of one of those action/thriller movies Nicholas Cage likes to star in and I will probably throw my hands up about 2/3 of the way through and say “you just went too far.”  I could accept the breaking into an FBI database, hijacking an airplane, landing it on the strip in Vegas, but THAT! Come on.

That doesn’t mean I’m going to accept everything throws at me in paranormal or fantasy novel either though.  The world that is initially set up, needs to make some kind of sense and the progression needs to fall in line. It’s all kinds of upsetting if at the apex of the conflict a super-natural character all of a sudden develops a new skill she didn’t know she had just to wrap everything up nice and neat.

But the funny thing is real life rarely plays by those rules.

Real life can throw a curve ball out of left field that knocks you off your feet without warning.

Real life can deliver a sucker punch to the gut that draws your breath away.

Real life can shower down numerous blessings, and fulfill your wants and desires to your heart’s content.

And it can do all of this without the benifit of rhyme or reason. It simply is. It simply does.

Filed Under: Life

Published at Blogcritics: Win the Daryl Hall and John Oates Box Set

November 9, 2009 by

If you’ve been dying to get your hands (and ears) on Do What You Want Be What You Want, the new box set from Daryl Hall and John Oates, here’s your chance. Blogcritics is going to give two lucky readers the set and all you have to do is follow the rules and fill out the entry form.

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Filed Under: Blogcritics Links, Music Tagged With: , , ,

Monday Musings: Fine Line Between Sympathetic and Sleazy

November 9, 2009 by

As a writer trying to get published I find myself dissecting other works. Whether it be books, television or the movies; when something resonates with people, I try to pull it apart to see why. What is so appealing about this scenario, characters, or plot-line?In the same vein, when it comes to TV, I don’t have a lot of extra time to watch, so something has to resonate with ME, before it makes it onto my ‘must see’ list.

While I’ve heard good things about the Showtime series Californication it took word of a story arc featuring Rick Springfield to get me to tune in this season. (Yeah, I know, big surprise there too.) The semi-autobiographical, bigger-than-life character the singer/songwriter/actor is taking on has made me giggle, I must say. It’s been a lot of fun. What’s surprised me though is I’ve found myself pulled into the main characters, their stories, and Hank Moody (David Duchovny) in particular.

californication-_david_duchovnySo, the real question is why?

My local writing group has been talking a lot lately about appealing characters, rooting interests, sympathetic heroes, etc. and on the surface poor Hank is the kind of sleazy, stereotypical guy’s guy who can’t keep his pants zipped and is driven by his need for carnal satisfaction. I shouldn’t care what happens to him, in fact, I should probably wish some unconventional, painful death on him. But I do care, and I want everything to work out for him.

Why?

The answer came to me while watching last night’s episode.

I care because Hank cares.

Despite what the student in his class thinks, he does care about whether or not she continues to pursue her education. He cares about his friends, his daughter, and most importantly ‘the soul mate’.

I don’t kn0w if this charecter archtype could be pulled off in another scenario and work as well.  There’s a delicate balance to be walked and it’s a fine line between sympathetic and sleazy that Hank Moody walks. But as long as I feel like Moody still cares, I think I’ll care enough to continue watching.

Filed Under: Life, TV, Writing Life Tagged With: , , ,

Published at Blogcritics: Music Review: Daryl Hall and John Oates – Do What You Want Be What You Are (Box set)

November 6, 2009 by

It’s no secret. When it comes to music, I get nostalgic. Step into my office or ride with me in the car and you’re just as likely to hear me playing an album that came out in the ’70s or ’80s as you are to hear something released last week. My kids would be the first to agree if you accused me of being lost in time, but I protest.

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Filed Under: Blogcritics Links

Romance (or not) in Song

November 6, 2009 by

So has everyone heard how much my kids rock yet?

Birthdays stopped be fun a handful of years ago.  You know how it is, as women we cross that magic number and suddenly we’re on the ‘back nine’ of our lives pouting because we took way too many strokes on the ‘front nine’.  Celebrating and parties are something I dread. Who wants to be reminded we’re another year closer to a pine box? But I think this year is going to be fun, because on my birthday my kids are taking me to see Bowling for Soup.

Bowling+for+Soup

I’m sure you’re asking yourself what a mother (nearing elderly status) who spends every free moment writing romance novels could possibly see in this group of pop-punk adolescents. If you’re familiar with their songs “Girl All the Bad Guys Want“, “Life After Lisa” and “Running From Your Dad” I’m sure you’re asking yourself, “Where’s the romance in that?”

The kids will tell you I love their music because they wrote the song “1985” about me, but that’s not true (on any level).  (But I do l-o-v-e the song. If you don’t follow any other links, have never seen this video, and remember/love 80′s videos, you must click on this one.)

It may be true that you’ll never find a hero in one of my stories that would be proud about getting “drunk and having sex with all your friends” (“Emily”) but music, sort of like the novels, doesn’t have to be about real life. I suppose there’s an argument that their lyrics probably hit closer to reality than most books do, especially if we’re examining a college dorm, but it’s not some ‘slice of life’ factor that draws me to Bowling For Soup. It’s more about the escape from reality.

Music should be fun. It should make you smile and forget about the stress of everyday life.  It might not provide the same journey as a book, but it can take you to a faraway place where you’re still 18 and still have your whole life ahead of you.  So, yeah, when my birthday comes around, I’ll be the ‘old woman’ in the crowd, laughing, dancing and singing along to every song.

Maybe I’ll get lucky and they’ll do one of their few romantic ones. Like “Belgium” (See Below)

The video is from a live performance. Sound isn’t the best, but it’s fun — especially with the addition of the pop medley in the middle.

Filed Under: Life, Music, Writing Life Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,
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