Rain

 Yesterday the sky was a sickly taupe color and the rain was so heavy that the gutters overflowed.  Parts of the yard disappeared under water.  It felt like the sky was falling down with the jarring sound of alerts about tornadoes and evacuations coming on my phone.

But today, at least right now, there are patches of blue sky reflected in the left over puddles.  There are even moments when the sun comes through.

The shortest day of the year is behind us and already a few minutes of light have been added.  It feels like a reminder that no matter how dark and threatening things feel, it will get better. 

I don't make new years resolutions, but just put the wish out there that the new year will be better than the last.

More rain is supposed to come  today, but not the same kind of downpours.  And then the sun will come out again and I won't have to turn on the lamp in my writing room-- the light coming in the window will be enough.    

Plotting

           I’m a writer. A novelist. I try to use everything around me in my life, plus whatever comes into my head to research, in plotting a story or series.

            So of course I’ve started pondering how I can use my broken wrist, and how to deal with it, in a story or more. I’ve some ideas. I always have some ideas. But nothing concrete yet.

            Meanwhile, I’ve also been pondering another series idea for Harlequin Romantic Suspense, one I’ve already contemplated with my editor. More research to come next year, but I’m considering how to approach it now.

            If you’ve gotten the impression I’m not writing a lot now, you’re right. But more to come. That’s who I am.

            Meanwhile, I’m typing a lot of this using both hands, sort of. The fingers on my left hand are more mobile, and it doesn’t hurt quite as much to use them as it did a day or two ago when I still could only use my right hand.

            Anyway, today is Christmas Eve. Merry Christmas, everyone!

Holiday Lights!

 

 The weather has been sunny and mild. The only clue of the season is how short the days are. The humidity goes way up at night and the pavement has wet spots in the morning.  All that moisture has made the grass turn a spring green.

But it's about to change with a forecast  of rain next week--just in time for Jakey's birthday and Christmas. But the days will start adding minutes of daylight instead of subtracting.

It is getting harder to concentrate on my manuscript since with all the holiday stuff and taking care of year end business things to get ready for next year's taxes.  Somehow I got hooked into dealing with all that.

We're behind in decorating. I thnk Jakey and my son wore themselves out with the Halloween decorations--some of which are still up. There is a greeting committee of  Halloween solar lights as we come in the back gate. 

So far, the only decoration was done by me.  I bought a wreath from IKEA years ago.  It was after Christmas and really cheap.  This year, I finally opened the box.  It's supposed to be battery operated and all I had to do was loosen one screw to open the battery compartment.  Except--well, the screw wouldn't come out.  It wouldn't turn at all.  I thought it was me, but my son had no luck either.  He was all for giving up and tossing it.  Not me.  I was determined to get it to work so I took a hammer and smashed the battery door off and put some batteries in and viola, it worked.  It even has a timer and goes on for six hours and then off. The battery compartment doesn't even show.

 I have to say that I smile when I see it on the door.  When there's a will, there's a way. 

Coming Back Slowly

            Well, I got a cast on my arm yesterday. My wrist is still broken and doesn’t feel great, but hopefully it’s improving. Did you know that some casts are no longer plaster but fiberglass? That’s mine. I’m now typing somewhat with both hands, but still slowly.

I’m still thinking and plotting and looking forward to improvement—and hope to start writing a little more this week. My husband probably has to remain my chauffeur a while longer but that’s been working out okay so far. And both of us play with and otherwise take care of the pups, as usual. Plus, there are holiday parties going on, and a lot of people come over and ask what’s wrong with my arm. So far, I haven’t used the creative part of my brain to come up with something more interesting.

And by the way, Happy Hanukkah!