Toodles, 2012

It has certainly been a year. Between the never-ending election folderol, the pseudo-panic of a non-pocalypse, and hurricanes hitting New Jersey, it has been quite a ridiculous year.

I sent my first horrible query letters (and thank goodness they've improved a little since those original attempts), written 2.5 novels, and for the first time ever, I read more unpublished novels than published novels! Thank you to everyone who let me read their works in progress, and then didn't unfriend, unfollow, or send mail bombs after reading my comments. You people are the best! And I can't wait to see all your books published in the next year or so! I have occasional fits of fluttery heartbeat and bonus feelings just thinking about it.

 

Thank you also to everyone who has read and offered advice and opinions on Running Down the Dragon. I haven't given up on it yet, and I'm grateful to all of you for your support. Let's hope for more great things for all of us in 2013.

And now, on to the last week or so, including Christmas. First of all, I hope y'all have had a great week (either a week of vacation, or at least a few extra days off work. For a lot of us, that in itself is the Miracle of Christmas), or a great holiday, or a great whatever you celebrate.

It was a very Doctor Who Christmas around here. I think a full half of all presents exchanged in our house were somehow related to Doctor Who. I made Helper Monkey a giant TARDIS mug (in addition to the TARDIS travel mug I bought him, and the t-shirt, and...you get the point). But I am especially proud of the one I painted myself:



I even painted the "time vortex" inside. It didn't come out as well as I hoped. You never know what the paint is going to do when they fire it:



Still, it's kind of cool, considering I usually kind of suck at arty things.

 There was also some of this:







It was also a White Christmas for the first time in a while:



And Lulu got a hat that makes her look like a squirrel. Oddly, she loves this hat. It does look cozy.








The worst thing about the last few days, other than my personal anxiety over letting Helper Monkey drive to work at night on winding country roads plagued with black ice and high winds, is arguably this:





Yes, that is, or was, the neighborhood mailbox. We guess it was hit by a snow plow, but it could have been an inebriated sleigh operator. You know how jolly and out of hand things can get this time of year. I'm just glad MY mailbox is in one of the boxes that's still standing. *fingers crossed! We're expecting more snow tomorrow night!*

I hope your year was filled with Amazing Things, and that 2013 greets you with warm hugs and cookies, and then takes off like a rocket to the moon. I eagerly await all your reports of overwhelming success in the new year.







Love, hugs, and mesmerizing eagles of wonder,

Mittens