Running in a Hamster Wheel
Posted by Gail Barrett on 19 Nov 2008 | Tagged as: Chit Chat
So here come the holidays, and I am hopelessly behind schedule — again. My neighbors have already strung lights on their houses. People are flooding the malls. One woman I know is busy baking and freezing cookies — whereas I dread opening the mailbox because I know that any day now, some organized soul will send me that first holiday card.
And, of course, I’ve done nothing — no gifts, no cards, no decorating, no baking. The freezer is empty. The fall leaves still haven’t been raked. My house is torn apart from my unending painting project, with ladders and paint cans everywhere (update: the upstairs is finally done!).
Worse yet, I probably won’t do much. I’ve got a deadline to meet. My characters are stranded in the mountains — injured, in danger, far too aware of each other for comfort, and I’ve got to get them out. I can’t leave the house to go shopping when they’re consuming my thoughts.
The thing is, I LOVE the holidays. I love the music, the decorations. I have holiday dishes I never use, holiday recipes I never try out.
And every year I vow that this won’t happen again. Next year I’ll start shopping in September. I’ll get the cards addressed in October, have the baking done by Thanksgiving. And then in December, I’ll just sit back and relax — or finally host a holiday party with that fabulous homemade eggnog…
Instead, here I am with December looming, and I’m more behind than ever. The decorations are still in their boxes, the cards unbought. I seem to be spending my life in a hamster wheel, spinning wildly, unable to ever catch up. I’m now resigning myself to the knowledge that at least I won’t have a lot of post-holiday clean up to do…
So how about you? Are you hopelessly behind like I am? Or are you one of those organized souls? If you’d like to commiserate (or offer holiday tips), I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Oh - and I forgot to mention my greatest distraction: To Protect a Princess is on the shelves! I’ll be signing both of my Crusaders books (Heart of a Thief and To Protect a Princess) with Nora Roberts/JD Robb, Kathryn Caskie, Elaine Fox, and Dolly Nasby on December 6th, 1-3pm in Boonsboro, Maryland, so if you’re in the area, please stop by! For more information, or to get signed copies via a virtual booksigning go to: ttpbooks.com.
And happy Thanksgiving, everyone!