Merry Christmas

I'm leaving for the UK soon. Today. In a few hours. I'll write when I get back. This is a picture of where I'm going -- York, UK. I hope to have pictures of my own to post when I return.

Merry Christmas everyone!!!

40

What I'm Reading: It Had To Be You by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

What I'm Working On: Vacation. I'm taking off from writing until January 1st, then I have to jump back in.

I turned 40 today. It's really hard to believe that I've been alive for 4 decades. I mean, mentally, I still see myself as about 26. So, when did 40 happen?

Actually, most of my friends have been in their 40's for awhile now. They say the 40's are great, so I'm looking forward to them.

In honor of 40, here are a couple of quotes:

“Women are most fascinating between the ages of 35 and 40 after they have won a few races and know how to pace themselves. Since few women ever pass 40, maximum fascination can continue indefinitely.” Christian Dior

"If life really begins on your 40th birthday, it's because that's when women finally get it… the guts to take back their lives." Laura Randolf

Here's to hoping I get another 40!
M

Impending Birthday

What I'm Reading: It Had To Be You by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

What I'm Working On: Vacation. I'm taking off from writing until January 1st, then I have to jump back in.

My birthday is tomorrow. In its honor, here's a little blogthing.
(I like being called a "Maverick" -- sort of -- but it doesn't really describe me.)

You Are a Maverick

You're a restless rebel with an unpredictable nature. Bright but unbridled, you tend to seek out wild experiences over new ideas. People are frustrated by your great potential, but you love your unconventional life. You're a heartbreaker. People get attached to you, and then you're gone. Your strength: Your thirst for adventure Your weakness: Not taking time for slow pleasures Your power color: Hot pink Your power symbol: Figure eight Your power month: March

What Does Your Birth Date Mean?

Cookies make everyone feel better

What I’m Reading: It Had to Be You by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

What I’m Working On: Holding it together

You Are Biscotti

You are a very direct, honest person. You don't have time for dramatics or emotional pleas. You feel most comfortable in the intellectual realm, especially with science and technology. You are good at understanding difficult subjects. Understanding people? Not so much.

What Holiday Cookie Are You?

Yep, that's me.

Mourning

What I’m Reading: It Had to Be You by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

What I’m Working On: Holding it together

My friend died yesterday.

She was 38. Barely. Her birthday was last month.

She had acute leukemia. What a horrible disease. Two and a half months ago she was healthy, laughing and joking with me at a high school football game.

Last night she died. Her son is 7.

I don’t understand.

It should not have been her.

Not yet. Not yesterday.

Can’t we all have just one more tomorrow?

I’ve never seen anyone’s eyes dance quite like hers did when she would watch her red-headed little boy. Perfect peace. Perfect happiness.

I really think that for just a little while the world should stop. Birds should stop flying. The wind should cease to blow. Everyone should freeze and take a moment to be still. For my friend.

But that doesn’t happen. We’re such fragile, irreverent beings. The world is massive compared to us. It keeps on moving, and we accept that. What else can we do?

Dogs bark. Cars whiz by. The world moves on.

People continue to live. And, of course, she would have wanted that.

But I want it to stop. I want to feel the gasp of humanity at the loss of such an amazing person. Just a pause. To mourn.

And I want to break the silence with a shout of anger. This is not what I was praying for! Did You need her that badly? We needed her, too.

Her name is still in my phone. The text messages to her to say, “I love you.” Her replies from the hospital, “Come sing for me so I can laugh.”

Smile and cry. Smile and cry.

M

Just another quiz....

What I'm Reading: The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo

What I'm Working On: Keeping one nostril above water this holiday season

I'm seriously in a creative slump. It's that time of year when I can't come up with new ideas. I'd love to be super creative and make new and yummy Christmas treats, experiment with new dishes in the kitchen, and write page after page of brilliant prose. But it ain't happening.

It usually never happens in December.

As much as I love the holidays, I find them VERY stressful...so with that in mind comes yet another lame blog.

Enjoy.
M

Having Too Much To Do Is What Stresses You Out About the Holidays

You love the holidays. You love them so much that you end up taking on too many responsibilities. Your heart is in the right place, but you don't have the time to get it all done. Consider doing a little less. Don't bake that last batch of cookies or go for that Christmas Eve shopping run. You'll still be giving the people you love what they want most... time with you!

What Stresses You Out About the Holidays?

Which of Santa's Reindeer Are You?

What I'm Reading: The Lonely Crossing of Juan Cabrera by J. Joaquin Fraxedas and The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo

What I'm Working On: Keeping one nostril above water this holiday season

I've been really preoccupied this December so blogging has been getting neglected -- as has writing. Hopefully, that will change soon.

However, here's a fun quiz for the merry season. Enjoy.

You Are Cupid

A total romantic, you're always crushing on a new reindeer. Why You're Naughty: You've caused so much drama, all the reindeers aren't speaking to each other. Why You're Nice: You have a knack for playing matchmaker. You even hooked Rudolph up!

Which of Santa's Reindeer Are You?

Tis the season

What I'm Reading: The Lonely Crossing of Juan Cabrera by J. Joaquin Fraxedas and A Whole New Mind: Why Right-Brainers will Rule the Future by Daniel H. Pink

What I'm Working on: Procrastinating. I'm very good at that.

I love the month that stretches between Thanksgiving and Christmas. The last days of fall are my favorites. My birthday falls on the winter solstice, and somehow that just seems right to me.

In the spirit of Christmas, here's a little quiz:

What The Holidays Mean to You

For you, the holidays are about celebration. You enjoy all the fun and fellowship that the holidays bring. You celebrate the holidays in a minimalist style. You are likely to only give one great present and decorate your house with a few special items. During the holidays, you feel magical. You love all of the decorations and how happy people are. You like to sit back and take it all in. You think the holidays should be nostalgic and sweet. The holidays bring out your inner child. Your best holiday memories are warm and intimate. You remember special moments more than gifts or parties.

What Do the Holidays Mean to You?

The best and brightest

What I'm Reading: The Lonely Crossing of Juan Cabrera by J. Joaquin Fraxedas

What I'm Working on: Finishing up the tasks that have to be done for my family so I can get back to the writing.

I recently attended a conference where I heard a very well respected leader of independent schools speak. He said something that got me fired up.

First, let me say that while I aspire to be a writer and will keep pursuing that until it happens, I have a bill-paying career in private education.

Back to the story....
This well-respected individual informed us that those people typically going into education are in the bottom 30% of their college classes. I believe this. I don't like it, but I believe it. He pointed out that the "really smart ones" are going into business, medicine, law, etc. I think this is so sad. It's sort of proves that old adage -- those who can do, those who can't, teach.

I don't like it, but in many cases it's probably true. Don't get me wrong, I think alot of really smart people become teachers because that's where their callings and passions lie, but education isn't attracting the best and the brightest.

How much does the federal government spend on education each year?

Almost 60 million. (http://www.ed.gov/about/overview/budget/budget09/summary/appendix1.pdf)

Not alot considering we're spending billions to bail out banks and a fighter jet costs over twice that.

Maybe if our government valued education a little more and showed it with some dinero, our best and brightest might say, "Hmm... medicine or education? Wow, that's a tough one. They're both great careers."

In the meantime, I'll keep living the good life on my whopping salary as I search out the best and brightest to teach at my favorite school.

M