Wish everyone has a Happy Christmas and that Santa was good to one and all.

It’s taken a bit longer to get this post up than I thought it would, mostly because I couldn’t get the video in the proper format to upload. Click on the link below to view.

tree movie

Like it or not, whether I’m ready or not, Christmas is quickly approaching. Way too quickly. No motivation, desire, anticipation this year at all.

I spent last weekend printing, collating, punching and binding my homemade calendars that I do every year for my family here and abroad and wrote Christmas cards to go with them. That’s been the extent of my preparations for this year.

Last night when I got home from work, I printed labels for my domestic cards. I’m off today so the plan is to put the tree up and if time permits, get a bit of shopping done while I’m “alone”. But we’ll see how it goes.

I cancelled my nail appointment last Saturday because of being unwell (I wonder how long the cold/flu germs will live on those calendars I did?) so re-scheduled for after work on Tuesday. Of course, it picked Tuesday to snow. I made it there in time so there were no worries on that front. I was going to just get my usual French manicure done but the gal who did my nails insisted on giving me a design. So… here it is.

This is the original orientation of the photo I gook of my hand. I’m not sure how well the design shows up on some of my nails.

Hmmm… I should look pretty cute assembling and decorating the tree with a pair of blue mechanic’s latex gloves on. And why wear them? Who wants to damage these beautiful nails?

I don’t.

My favourite time of year. The Scotsman with the aid of various webcams send you out on a virtual hunt looking for the elusive haggii. Hunting season starts on Nov 30 (St Andrew’s Day) and ends on Jan 25 (Robbie Burns Day).  It’s great fun and provides hours of entertainment. And you even have the chance to win prizes!

Click on the link, create your personal user account and happy hunting! http://haggishunt.scotsman.com/

When you see one of these critters, click on the blue “I saw a haggis” button to the right of the picture to notify Farquhar Farquharson, the Head Ghillie of your sighting. Whilst hunting, a dram or two of fine single malt helps keep out the chill.

I have to admit, I’m not the most conscientious person when it comes to writing something on my blog every day. Mind you, I can say the same for writing anything every day. I’m excluding work because there are a certain number of things I must document on a daily basis. I’m talking about creative writing. Using my imagination. There are times when my creative thinking comes in fits and starts and other times when it doesn’t come at all.

But I did manage to get some scenes revised… plot bunnies corralled and such from earlier chapters of my novel. That might sound like revising to some but in order to do it, I had a lot of “new” writing in there. And I’ve got some ideas percolating for another scene I have to write for further along.

I thought when I wrote the manuscript for my second novel – The Anniversary – I was weird because I wrote it as it came to me. If a scene presented itself, I wrote it and worried about how and where it was going later on. However, after attending the workshop a little over a week ago, I found I’m not so strange after all. That was one of the things mentioned to keep you motivated. Don’t try to write linear. If an idea comes to you, get it down and worry about the small stuff later.

Something else that was mentioned is when you have those noctural inspirations, rather than try to write them on paper which you’d never be able to read come morning (especially if you tried writing in the dark), write your thoughts in the air. Supposedly, this will help keep it in your head. Unfortunately, since then I’ve not had a good nocturnal brainwave to be able to test this theory on.

Saturday was Brian Henry day for me. The workshop was on “How to Make Yourself Write”. After going through a long funk over the summer where I had no desire to write and did everything I possibly could to NOT write, I decided I needed this workshop.

Like all the other Brian Henry workshops I’ve attended, this one has me energized and ready to get those words either on paper or onto my computer.

Yeah!!! I’m motivated again!

Well this past Wednesday came and went and still nothing in the weekly paper. I shouldn’t say that… there was a photo of the President giving the Award of Merit to one of the members of the historical society. I’ll wait and watch for next week’s edition and see what happens then.

I was hoping this past Wednesday to have the write-up from my Grenville Historical Society presentation on Home Children gracing the pages of the local weekly newspaper in the community where I spoke. It wasn’t to be. The municipal elections took priority and I was bumped. How rude is that? So now I have to wait until next Wednesday to see if I made that edition.

It’s cold and rainy and miserable today and by all accounts is going to be the same tomorrow. If that’s the case, there shouldn’t be too many little dears out trick-or-treating. Suits me just fine. The dog has a cow everytime someone comes to the door and it’s worse if he’s shut in the kitchen. However, my skeleton family – Boner, Bride and Betsy will come out of the “closet” (shed actually) and take their places in the front lawn along with some headstones, my flying bat aka “Drac”. It’s going to seem a bit strange this year. In previous years, my next door neighbour and I each tried to outdoor the other when it came to decorating… she’s not here this year.

Oh well, I’ve got a good idea in mind that is sure to scare the kids… or at least make them remember my house.

Will try to remember to put pictures up here tomorrow after everyone is set up…

Last night was the big night – the annual dinner of the Grenville Historical Society and I was on the “menu”. Tuesday night, I made a number of hand-outs that would accompany my presentation for the folks who would be there.

It started with a social hour at 6:00 then a delicious roast beef dinner at 6:30. The time capsule put away a number of years ago was opened (after much struggling since the lid had been riveted shut) and the contents revealed – including the executive of the society when the it was filled and sealed.

After a brief break and presentation of an award of merit to one of the members, it was time for me. I was given a glowing introduction by the President and then it was show time.

By the reaction I received when my talk was finished, I did a fantastic job. Folks applauded, commented and the like. There was even a reporter there from the weekly newspaper who took notes and photos during my presentation after which she and I sat and she interviewed me. If all goes well, I’ll be gracing the pages of the newspaper next week.

I have my presentation on DVD so will screen it (and the one from my genealogical society presentation in Brockville) and get it or both on my website or here on my blog… soon.

Saturday, October 16 was the grand finale to this year’s Thousand Islands Writers Festival. Before we got down to the readings and stories by the three authors on hand – Janet Kellough, John Moss and RJ Harlick – retired Judge Cosgrove gave us a brief history of the court house.

Janet Kellough’s book On The Head of a Pin is a historical crime novel set in eastern Ontario during the time of the 1837 rebellion. It was fascinating to hear about local places that way.

John Moss read passages from two of his Miranda Quin and David Morgan novels including Reluctant Dead.

The last writer of the afternoon was RJ Harlick. She read from her Meg Harris mystery book Arctic Blue Death set in the Quebec wilderness and the Canadian arctic.

All three authors gave a wonderful performance. The wonderful afternoon culminated with a wine and cheese party in the atrium section of the courthouse – once totally outside and now glassed in. Very nice, indeed.

I can’t wait for the 2011 Writers Festival!