Winter has arrived, but I’m not loving it, at least not this year. This year, my winter has been all about nasty, parching wind, dry skin, the stomach flu, out-of-control deadlines and stress. (Aside: my recommendation to y’all—don’t get your house remodeled during the holidays!) I usually get completely into the holiday spirit. I decorate my house, inside and out. I go on extended, fun shopping trips with my family. I listen to Christmas music. I simply enjoy.
But…not this year. Sob! I want to enjoy it, I really do. But I have so, so much weighing me down.
I’m dreaming of a place to go, a place where I can be free of all this insane stress. My mind keeps going back to Hawaii, where my next Samhain book, 10 Days in Paradise, takes place. Balmy warmth. Sun and sand. More than that, relaxation. In Hawaii, people operate on “Hawaiian time”—which basically means everyone’s late for everything, and nobody worries about it. “Oh, you’re fifteen minutes late for our meeting? No worries, brah. It’s all good…”
Ahhhh….today, I just want to climb to the top of a palm tree and stare out over the ocean. Maybe I’m a little nutty, lol, but my life has been so intense, that just sounds so… perfect.
Where would you like to escape in the midst of all this holiday craziness?
A tropical beach sounds just perfect. But barring that, I’d just like some place comfy and quiet where I can hole up with my laptop and a few ideas I’ve been kicking around. Maybe I’ll do what I did when I was a kid and use the couch cushions to build a pillow-fort. I’ll even hang a sign on it that reads, _No noise aloud!
)
(if you can figure out another way to make noise, you’re welcome to it.)_
I vote for a tropical beach too! No bundling up in coats and hats and gloves and boots before even opening the door. Ugh! I’d love to bake a little in the sun.
Hope you can relax and enjoy the holidays.
Oh, Cuba! I sooo miss Cuba right now!
I don’t care where I go, as long as my house is clean and decorated when I get back! Oh, and dinner’s on the table. That would be grand.
Oh yeah, a pillow fort! I can see holing myself up in a cozy, comfy hole with my laptop and a cup of hot chocolate… But…sigh…my kids would find that too appealing. They’d want to jump in, tear it apart, have a pillow fight, spill my hot chocolate all over my keyboard, stain the carpet… Sob! Maybe I could build one in my closet—do you think they’d find it there?
Thanks, Natasha! I’m working on it. There’s a light at the end of the tunnel, but I’m still dreaming about my palm tree, lol.
Jennah—Oooh, Cuba! I’ve always wanted to go there. It’s a little hard for Americans now, though. Someday…
Jody, oh yeah—that would be the icing on the cake. To go somewhere relaxing and wonderful, then to arrive home to a clean, decorated house with dinner on the table! Woooo!!
All I want for Christmas…
Actually I just came home from a week in the Caribbean! [Please don’t hate me!]
There’s something to be said for taking time out during the busy holiday season to get away someplace warm. The only bad thing is having to come home – it’s quite the rude awakening to get on a plane in 82 degree weather, and get off in 27.
Dawn, Don’t hate me either, but Hawaii is exactly where I’m typing this from right now. Unfortunately, we are leaving this AM, but it was great while it lasted. We even blogged about it all week.
http://jamidavenport.blogspot.com
I’ve been checking the weather, though, and it looks like 27, high of 40, 80 percent chance of rain at home for me.
Oooh, Carolan and Pam! I am jealous! Pam, I grew up on the Big Island! I read your blog, how fun! Sorry the wind got you—that happens sometimes in Kona.