November In A Nutshell

November makes a rather sad little nutshell.  I wasn’t feeling well for a lot of the month and was generally struggling with lack of productivity but – anyway – here it goes!

Thanksgiving Vacation

What did YOU do for Thanksgiving?  We took a road trip to Cocoa Beach Florida.

Listening to this song is mandatory.  I listened to it on the car.  🙂  WE WERE BUSTING OUT, PEOPLE.

And – I got to go the beach – for the first time in too long.

It was pretty cold and I only got in to my hips – but it was glorious to simply stand there with the water pulling and tugging at me and the sun beating on my back.

The beach is one of my favorites places.  Standing on the edge of that limitless horizon, that ever-changing face of the ocean always fills me with joy – but even more important and more rare, more urgently sought after – it is one of the few places where everything inside me quiets.  My spirit is finally at rest.  My body takes a breath, and stands still.  I’m able to simply stand and rest and enjoy.

We also did our shopping excursions the day before Thanksgiving, a little used bookstore revealed several treasures, as did Books-A-Million and Bath and Body Works.  “grins”

And then a drive to the Kennedy Space Center to pick up my science-minded sibs and my parents and I stopped for ice cream at – wait for it – this place.

Obviously, we HAD to get ice cream here – and oh my goodness, it was absolutely utterly delicious and definitely memorable.

I can definitely recommend eating soft serve mocha ice cream that has emerged from a store worthy of Candy Land while a balmy Florida breezes ruffles your hair and while watching a glorious sunset shot through with a rainbow.

 As far as Thanksgiving Day, I hung out in a hotel room and watched the Macy’s Day Parade.  Parts of it were fun, other parts made me want to weep for humanity.  There are days at home when I simply go off the schedule and sit in front of a TV with a bag of chips but I always feel guilty and pressed when I do – because there are things I’m supposed to be doing.  It was nice to just chill and have NO PRESSURE to do anything else.

Thanksgiving night, I spent floating in a hotel pool.  My twin and I had it all to ourselves, gazing up at a Florida night sky as palm trees rustled above us with speakers played easy listening music:

People say I’m lazy
Dreaming my life away
Well they give me all kinds of advice
Designed to enlighten me
When I tell them that I’m doing fine watching shadows on the wall
“Don’t you miss the big time boy, you’re no longer on the ball?”

I’m just sitting here watching the wheels go round and round
I really love to watch them roll
No longer riding on the merry-go-round
I just had to let it go

– John Lennon –

Forget the turkey and dressing.

We’re talking Easy Living in Florida, baby.

The five inch cockroach that tried to share the pool with us and that might or might not have bitten me couldn’t even put a total damper on the evening.  I found out later that cockroaches don’t bite – so that’s a relief, anyway.  It just FELT like it.  

The day after Thanksgiving we visited another used book stores – and it was absolutely AMAZING.  I could have happily spent the entire day there.  And I did find some lovely treasures here.  😀

Christmas Prep.

Yes, even this little Grinch has started making some holiday preparations – in the one thing she DOES enjoy – giving presents.  I’ve had a grand time shopping and and spent an evening in a wild frenzy of wrapping.  I’m SO neat.

But aren’t they beautiful?

Writing

After all the grand plans I made in October – I am still in a dreadful quagmire of writer’s block.  I did manage to write a flash fiction and squeeze out a couple thousand words on random works in progress.

Pretty pathetic considering this is the Month Of Many Words.   But as I said . . . not feeling up to snuff and major writer’s block.

I also got three flash fictions rejected – which is good experience.  It was also nice that the editor sent them back with a personal note, saying how good they were and how much she enjoyed them – they were simply overbooked for that month and mine were too long.  These stories will not go to waste in either event and I will try submitting them a few times elsewhere before setting them aside for a future Wattpad venture.

Facebook Party.

I participated in a Facebook party promoting Indie Authors and Small Business Owners.

Singing

After months of not practicing, I’ve finally returned to practicing every night.  So far I’ve managed to do it two nights in a row consistently and um . . . missed a couple.  “head desks”

I really hope in the next few months to start posting songs to Youtube again.  “crosses fingers” and at least one for Christmas – but in the meantime – for those of you who haven’t seen my Youtube channel yet – here’s a Christmas song from last year to tide you over!

You can follow me on Youtube – right here.  

Giveaway Winner

I won a giveaway!!!  I NEVER WIN ANYTHING.  I can only remember one other time in my life when I won a Raffle – and that was more of the thrill of winning – the prize was more “meh.”  But THIS I really wanted.  An ebook copy of Cloaked by Rachel Kovaciny.  I am so excited to read this one!

And that’s about it, campers.

How was your November?  What did you do for Thanksgiving?  I’d love to hear about it in the comments.

Until then . . .