My solstice will not be a quiet one, with a house full of teachers tonight and family tomorrow, but Chrismakkah might be this year! I need the down time because I’m also trying to complete these TWO measurable creative goals with which I started the year:
Finish the audiobook of The Winning Family (thanks for bearing with my first launch attempt back in May), and
Submit to one agent each week, since last year I edited a chapter a week of my memoir Ten Days, Ten Pounds—finished in February—and hopefully pique some interest.
Just a few steps to go on each one…I’ll make it!
I took a minute to look at my Substack stats though, and my heart is touched. I get few likes or comments so I often wonder if I’m talking to myself…but behind the scenes I can see that my fall Museletter got over 1500 views! (When I go to rock concerts, which I was lucky enough to do 6 times this year, I often scope the big crowds and try to imagine what 1500 unique human beings look like in one place.) Also when I miss a week a bunch of you come looking for me, aww! I’m also feeling so loved by my nineteen $upporting $ubscribers who, with their appreciative dollars (or special requests), help me feel valued (even though I know my worth is not measured by money) and pay for postage stamps.
I’m surfing into holiday mode by counting my blessings this year (better vitamins, more perfume, operas and dinner parties, the three strikes that time I went bowling with the teachers, one plane and one train trip, a new gown that fits, galas, lickable shoes, literary events and museum trips, movies and dinner parties, dancing every week with wonderful women, and that awesome birthday party) while I keep my hands moving, and at night drifting off to old Christmas stories on the Sleepy podcast. How good the good things are! I enjoyed all my protein and fiber and fat but my mouth fell in love with a pavlova and mochi pancakes and Turkey Benedict on stuffing waffles. Aren’t we all so lucky to have internet connections and educations and cups of coffee or nice tea, time to express and read each others’ thoughts and express our own?
This year was MUCH less heartbreaking than the past few in which I lost so many friends and family members. Still, I mourn the loss of three bright literary lights and good friends: Kimberly Manning Aker, the great Trina Robbins, and that unique-in-all-the-lifetimes being, Yodassa Williams. I’ve got special stars on my tree for each of them.
Caption Contest Winners
Thanks for everyone who suggested captions for Dave’s grumpy Santa cartoon! The winner was…me! (Because cards actually had to go into the mail that very day.)
Post-election, it really did seem like the results were reversed. Ironic to admit how much comfort I’ve found in being an election denier. (Whether or not Starlink twisted the vote, Elno certainly did through his lying, cheating, and buying.)
Speaking of which, this was last year’s card, which also featured an angry Santa…. and of course, we’re all even angrier with him this year!
inside…
Dave, my favorite blogger and husband (who is testing out Substack with me), had a lot of cartoons in him this year. In his mind, Mad Santa was going to say something about coal in stockings, but that thought came out in another cartoon.
Our brainstorming sesh went something like this:
Me: In the olden days don’t you think it would have been a good thing for poor kids to get coal in their stocking? It meant their moms could cook another meal.
Dave: And somehow over the years “poor kids” turned into “bad kids”?
Me: OMG do you think the fossil fuel industry is behind the whole idea of “bad kids?”
At which point I wrote a whole article in my head that ties into The Winning Family about how it’s in the best interest of autocrats to shame children since good parenting builds self-esteem which leads to and supports democracy! Yes, it would be a comedy feat to prove the fossil fuel industry is behind child abuse but…I just might attempt that when I switch from creation to promotion!
Speaking of which, we’re cobbling funds together to properly launch the audiobook so it reaches parents who needs it next year. Here’s that pre-order link if you’d like to help out! Order by Christmas/first day Hannukah and I’ll throw in a free ebook in time for a digital gift! ($upporting $ubscribers will, of course, be able to listen for free.)
My Zumba guru, Tanya Leake, who I have watched grow a beautiful wellness business that I align with and promote through my own Flab Lab Department of Vitality, (tee hee, I even took that picture of her in the high-heeled sneakers), had the best greeting at the end of her last newsletter:
may well have to borrow the " Merry Everything, Happy Aways"
perfection
You are talking to yourself. We can all hear you though.