So I went to pick up Ash today at daycare. She’s had a bad cold for forever and is finally doing better after having been out of daycare for several days. But anyway, it’s naptime every time I pick her up. And I’ve become used to walking into the room and seeing tiny little tots on tiny little mattresses, asleep all over the room. It’s super cute really. However, there’s always one child sitting straight up on her mattress and staring at all the other sleeping children. Yes, that would be my daughter. Every time! Anyway, I went in to get her today and–yes, she’s sitting up while everyone else is asleep–there’s another little girl fast asleep on her own mattress, holding Ashtyn’s teddy bear and coughing all over it. So not cool. And despite everything, Ash seems to be coming down with another cold. I know this is just part of daycare and everything. But I went right over and plucked our teddy bear from the other girl and the lady there said she’d clean it right away–since she and I were both standing there listening to the other little one coughing. Ash also had a mysterious pacifier in her mouth that I’ve never seen before. I am HOPING it was a clean, extra one they gave her. But that will remain a mystery.

It was 15 degrees outside today! I’m serious! Do you know how cold that is? It’s freezing. It’s just super cold. We had snow for a bit this morning then just freezing cold weather. This is the first year in a long time I’ve had a fireplace and I’ve been so excited to use it. However, the outside of it gets SO hot and Ashtyn is so untrustworthy when it comes to touching things she shouldn’t, that even when it’s 15 degrees outside, I have to wait till Ash is asleep at night to turn on the fireplace. Sigh. It’s a good thing she’s the absolute cutest thing I’ve ever seen in my life. 

Anyway, I am fully in Christmas shopping mode. I’m one of those people who loves to make lists of what I’m getting everybody. My sister asked me today what Jeff is getting me, and I told her that I just sort of buy presents for myself while I’m out and tell him that they are to me from him. But everyone likes a surprise gift (of course, if it’s something they like). So I’m thinking I need to tell Jeff that he and I are required to buy one surprise gift each for one another. This sounds like an exciting plan. But sometimes these plans that sound good end up stressing Jeff out way more than when I just go shopping and come home and give him my presents to wrap. So I’ll give this a little more thought.

I’ll be in touch.

Oh! Resolution #3. Begin taking vitamins on a regular basis. (Osteoporosis commercials really scare me.)

Hmm. I’m not really sure. They drink blood . . . they kill humans . . . still, I mean, they’re great. So even with a runny nose and sore throat, I went to see New Moon last night. I loved it for the same reason that most people did–it’s just fun to go and see those characters again and be back in the story. It’s something to look forward to and get obsessed over and, therefore, I like it.

Let me just tell you that as I get older, I have less tolerance regarding people who talk in movie theaters. Seriously, I can’t stand it. It’s like dogs barking!! Luckily, it wasn’t bad last night. Though there was the constant giggle every time Jacob came on the screen shirtless. And we were in a HUGE theater that was absolutely full–and not just of teenage girls! Still, Jacob with his shirt off was apparently super thrilling. Maybe the first time. Not the third, fourth, you know what I mean.

I imagine that Stephenie Meyer must feel like she’s living in a dream. I mean, she wakes up from a dream about a vampire, and it’s turned into this world-wide franchise with lunchboxes and throw-blankets with Edward’s face on them. It’s crazy.

Jeff told me that today we’re taking boxes from the garage to the basement. I feel like I have the energy to lift a pen, and that’s all. This is going to be very difficult. I need to remind him about the runny nose and sore throat situation–he’s obviously forgotten about it.

So, listen, I’ve been thinking about my New Year’s Resolution list. Yes, it’s a bit early. But my list is, unfortunately, quite larger than normal. So I need to start planning now.

Resolution #1. Eat fewer chips and more vegetables.

Do you ever feel like you’re basically living off your last nerve? Hanging by a thread to your sanity? It’s been that way over here the last couple of days. And it so happens that all the dogs in our neighborhood have felt like barking nonstop for the last few days–while I am in this delicate mental position. Not cool.

I know I’m only so very acutely aware of the barking because my nerves are already fraying at the ends and I’m feeling borderline crazy. But all that barking pushes me to the edge. Seriously. I need to start turning on Christmas music or something to drown it all out. But all I really want right now is quiet. Not easy to come by when you have a one year old who grunts instead of talks–and live in a neighborhood where all the dogs are barking 24/7. (Even now, I can hear them and I’m trying to stay calm. Jeff says my blood is boiling and I need to calm down.)

ANYWAY, so New Moon comes out tomorrow. This is such a good thing. I am beyond ready for this vampire distraction. However, I did hear today that a medium size bucket of popcorn is like 700 calories or something and swimming in trans fat. Why do people talk about such things?

Well, I will be at the movies tomorrow–maybe not having popcorn, but I’m pretty sure no one will ever talk me out of Junior Mints. Okay, Ash is taking a nap and there’s a moment of silence outside (shocking)–wait, the phone just rang–talk more later.

Madeleine’s faith puts her at odds with an intimidating rival: King Louis XIV.

Having fled their homeland of France because of the persecution by Louis XIV, the Clavell family seeks refuge in Switzerland. However, the king is not about to let the recently widowed Madeleine, his childhood sweetheart, escape that easily. He sends musketeers to kidnap her and her oldest son, Philippe, holding them captive in his opulent palace. King Louis is suspicious that Philippe could be his son, and he’s enraged by the growing affection of one of his courtiers for Madeleine.

Will Madeleine escape the king with her life or lose everything that she’s fought so hard to keep?

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1595546278/

Have you ever heard Ellen Degeneres’s stand-up about procrastination? My sister and I saw it together a few years ago and loved it and took to quoting it to each other all the time. Well, I saw it again on HBO the other night and loved it all over again. She’s hilarious. Right this moment, I’m procrastinating. I’ve been searching for babysitters/daycare for Ashtyn and am taking a small break even though Jeff thinks I’m still searching high and low.

Can I tell you something major? I turned thirty this week. It’s shocking really. THIRTY. Wow. I’m wondering how it is I got this old and still don’t know how to do so many things. Anyway, more on that another time. This week was pretty crazy. I flew home from VA Monday. We had layoffs at my job this week. I turned thirty on Wednesday. Jeff passed his Series 66 today.

I just took about a three-hour break from writing this post b/c my best friend (who is also thirty and knows how it feels) called. We were talking about humiliations from childhood that we didn’t realize were humiliations until now that we can look back on them. I so love talking to someone who can remind me of what we did at camp when we were twelve. Michelle’s one of those soul-mate friends I can’t live without. But it’s so crazy that we’re thirty and now we talk about what our daughters are doing. Somehow it feels just right because we’re both in that place.

I saw that movie Julie and Julia with Sara while I was in Roanoke. It’s really good so you should see it if you’re that person who likes girl movies with hilarious moments that all girls can relate to. Sara and I kept practically crying with laughter. Which was okay because we were two of four people in this fantastic old theater downtown. I really liked that the main girl wanted to start something she actually finished. Because regardless of what it was she did, finishing was an accomplishment. I absolutely love it when one of the books I’ve worked on and edited for months finally comes out and I can see and touch the finished product. I think life without any sense of accomplishment must feel a  bit oppressive. I probably need more accomplishment and less procrastination. Hmm.

So I took one of those crazy, last-minute sort of trips this past weekend. It was a family thing and I needed to go out to Virginia pretty quickly. Thankfully, the trip went fine. Now I’m home. That was about five days away from Ashtyn. I was so excited to see her at the airport. I have to admit, I was rather hoping she’d missed me terribly and would light up at the sight of me. However, the guy next to her and Jeff (who was holding a sign and waiting to pick someone up) was far more interesting than I was. She did smile at me, but she couldn’t spare much since she really needed to be intently watching this driver-guy. Well, even if she didn’t quite give the reaction I hoped for, I, in turn, was overjoyed to see her and smothered her with hugs and kisses and all that mommy stuff. By the end of the night though, she did reach for me when it was time to do the bedtime thing, which was nice and appreciated. I cannot really tell you how beautiful she is. Words cannot express how cute this little girl of mine is. I am so lucky. 

Anyway, there’s a lot going on with my family at the moment. The weekend was super busy. And now I’m back to work and home, and I’m still super busy. In fact, the foreseeable future is super busy. I may need to start drinking energy drinks.

The drive to the airport was spent with me and Sara brainstorming over this fantasy series we want to write. It’s mostly Sara brimming with ideas, and me occasionally reigning her in or offering a suggestion here or there. Brainstorming ideas, especially for a fantasy book, is just great because the sky is the limit when it comes to plot. Anything is possible when magic is involved.   We did have time this weekend to swing by Given’s books in Lynchburg, the best bookstore ever. I was devastated to find that Osaka has been torn down though. There’s a pile of rubble where it used to be. But Given’s is there. Liberty’s presence in Lynchburg is, mmmm, how shall I say this? Oh, right. OVERWHELMING. The town should be called Liberty. Seriously. It’s everywhere.

Anyway, I was reminded that I just love Virginia. It’s so, so green and beautiful. And I miss it. But I really missed Jeff and Ashtyn like crazy the last few days. So it’s good to be home. But I suppose Lynchburg will always be a tiny bit like home to me too. You know, something about Candler’s Mountain and Movies 10 just stays with LU students.

Well, I suppose it’s been a while since I posted. I really am the worst person ever when it comes to blogging or twittering or updating my status on facebook. The only thing I’m consistent with is email and that’s because of work really. But seriously, twittering every time I step outside of my house or turn on the TV is just not that appealing. My life is not that interesting.

Anyway, so what’s going on over here? Well, we took a quick trip to Texas, which was fantastic except that it was about 104 degrees every day. Seriously. I think for those of us who grew up with that sort of humidity and heat, it may be just slightly more bearable. But I really can’t imagine growing up somewhere like Colorado and then moving to Texas. Don’t get me wrong. I’m a loyal Texan. But the humidity and heat can be overwhelming. So it was fun, just hot. And now we’re back. We’re never there long enough to do all the things we’d like to do, which is unfortunate. But seeing my family is always my priority and that’s what we were able to do this time and it was great. Of course, Ashtyn was the primary attraction. Everyone adored her, naturally. I mean, come on, she’s adorable.

Sara wasn’t there this time around since she’s married and everything and living in Virginia. So I really missed seeing her. Laura and I were able to spend time together scrapbooking, which is something I like but never seem to have enough time to do. So having sister time and scrapbooking was extra fun.  I like photo albums and scrapbooks because I’m just not that great at remembering stuff. Jeff and I were in Europe the year before we got married, and I made myself write down what we did everyday. I’m so glad now because I wouldn’t remember anything by this point. Despite this fact about me, I’ve never been one for consistent journaling. I had maybe two journals from when I was younger and I threw them both away right before I got married. I scanned through them and realized that nothing I’d written was anything I really needed to remember.

I read this great quote today from Pride and Prejudice. “Think only of the past as its remembrance gives you pleasure.” That’s great advice. But for some reason, it’s those unpleasant things that often stick with us, which is also unfortunate. But I think it’s true that as time goes by and the distance between you and those memories gets larger–they become easier to ignore and sometimes even easier to forget. At least, that’s how it is for me.

Anyway, next week we’ve got ICRS in Denver and I’m super excited about that. And what else is going on next week? How can you not know this? Harry Potter releases!! Yay! I cannot wait. So I’ll be in touch after and let you know how much I loved it.