I want to extend my welcome to guest author Michele Drier. Hiya! She's guest blogging with me today, I must say that as I read her post, I 100% relate- but I have 2 kids and some crazy pets thrown into the mix too! She's doing a giveaway of the first four books in the Kandesky Vampire Chronicles. Make sure you leave a comment to be entered to win this AWESOME ebook set!
Guest Post:
Christmas is coming at the rate of a run-away freight train.
I don’t understand why this surprises me. Every year, Christmas is on the same date. Maybe not the same day, but after all, December 25 doesn’t change.
I finally woke up to the fact that Christmas is now only twelve days away. Hmmm, that sounds familiar.
My daughter’s already started on my twelve days. She’d given me a subscription to the New York Times (tres coolll!) and I know she’s giving me some underwear (NOT lingerie), a wonky tradition between us.
Now there’s only one big thing on my wish list—work clothes.
Long before, in the dim mists of time (three years and twenty pounds ago); I used to go outside my house to work. In my careers as a newspaper editor and the CEO of large non-profits, I was a professional. Skirts, pantyhose, heels every day.
I still have a closet full of suits, nice pants, jackets, probably 40 pair of heels and business flats. Every so often I go in and look at them, touch them, shake the dust off them and rearrange them.
But try them on? Not. And wear them? Not.
I tell everyone that I’m semi-retired because I don’t know another nice euphemism for how I spend my days now. I spend them in my jammies.
Not just any jammies, seriously disreputable t-shirts made of holes and flannel drawstring pants that would make a clown proud.
That’s right, I’m a writer.
It’s an insidious and addictive business. My commute is from my bedroom to the kitchen (for coffee) to my office (stepping over the cat and piles of paper). I do make an effort every day to wash my face and brush my hair, but after my shower now, I don’t style it, just let it dry with all its weird flips and waves.
The really difficult days are those when I actually have to get dressed and interact with people. First, it’s finding a clean pair of jeans either on the dresser or the couch in the living room, depending on whether I remembered to put them in the dryer.
Then a shirt. Finding one without holes is tricky, but I’ve finally broken down this winter and started wearing the cashmere sweaters I bought for work. Feels a little funny to wear this to the grocery store, but what the hey, it’s either that or have them used as moth food.
I may be able to get myself dressed but I can’t always pull myself away from what I’m writing. The other day in the supermarket I was contemplating the whipping cream display and what holidays were like in Hungary when a clerk behind me knocked over a display of panetonne.
She said, “Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to throw that at you,” and stopped short when she saw my face. “You didn’t even hear that. You didn’t flinch.”
No, I wasn’t even there.
I’m not sure I’d ever want my daughter to be a writer (in truth, she’s an RN in a Neo-Natal Intensive Care Unit and makes more than I ever did. She’s found the only other job where it’s acceptable to wear your jammies to work.)
But I truly do like what I’m doing. My favorite movie is the opening scenes of “Romancing the Stone.”
I need some new work clothes so at least I can open to door when the letter carrier knocks. Now, I just cower behind the fish tank.
So, Santa Baby, as the wonderful Eartha Kitt sang, hurry down the chimney tonight, with new jammies in hand!
Christmas is coming at the rate of a run-away freight train.
I don’t understand why this surprises me. Every year, Christmas is on the same date. Maybe not the same day, but after all, December 25 doesn’t change.
I finally woke up to the fact that Christmas is now only twelve days away. Hmmm, that sounds familiar.
My daughter’s already started on my twelve days. She’d given me a subscription to the New York Times (tres coolll!) and I know she’s giving me some underwear (NOT lingerie), a wonky tradition between us.
Now there’s only one big thing on my wish list—work clothes.
Long before, in the dim mists of time (three years and twenty pounds ago); I used to go outside my house to work. In my careers as a newspaper editor and the CEO of large non-profits, I was a professional. Skirts, pantyhose, heels every day.
I still have a closet full of suits, nice pants, jackets, probably 40 pair of heels and business flats. Every so often I go in and look at them, touch them, shake the dust off them and rearrange them.
But try them on? Not. And wear them? Not.
I tell everyone that I’m semi-retired because I don’t know another nice euphemism for how I spend my days now. I spend them in my jammies.
Not just any jammies, seriously disreputable t-shirts made of holes and flannel drawstring pants that would make a clown proud.
That’s right, I’m a writer.
It’s an insidious and addictive business. My commute is from my bedroom to the kitchen (for coffee) to my office (stepping over the cat and piles of paper). I do make an effort every day to wash my face and brush my hair, but after my shower now, I don’t style it, just let it dry with all its weird flips and waves.
The really difficult days are those when I actually have to get dressed and interact with people. First, it’s finding a clean pair of jeans either on the dresser or the couch in the living room, depending on whether I remembered to put them in the dryer.
Then a shirt. Finding one without holes is tricky, but I’ve finally broken down this winter and started wearing the cashmere sweaters I bought for work. Feels a little funny to wear this to the grocery store, but what the hey, it’s either that or have them used as moth food.
I may be able to get myself dressed but I can’t always pull myself away from what I’m writing. The other day in the supermarket I was contemplating the whipping cream display and what holidays were like in Hungary when a clerk behind me knocked over a display of panetonne.
She said, “Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to throw that at you,” and stopped short when she saw my face. “You didn’t even hear that. You didn’t flinch.”
No, I wasn’t even there.
I’m not sure I’d ever want my daughter to be a writer (in truth, she’s an RN in a Neo-Natal Intensive Care Unit and makes more than I ever did. She’s found the only other job where it’s acceptable to wear your jammies to work.)
But I truly do like what I’m doing. My favorite movie is the opening scenes of “Romancing the Stone.”
I need some new work clothes so at least I can open to door when the letter carrier knocks. Now, I just cower behind the fish tank.
So, Santa Baby, as the wonderful Eartha Kitt sang, hurry down the chimney tonight, with new jammies in hand!
About the Author:
Michele Drier was born in Santa Cruz and is a fifth generation Californian. She’s lived and worked all over the state, calling both Southern and Northern California home. During her career in journalism — as a reporter and editor at daily newspapers – she won awards for producing investigative series.
Her mystery Edited for Death, called “Riveting and much recommended” by the Midwest Book Review and a Memorable Book for 2011 on DorothyL, is available in paperback at Amazon and B&N.
Her paranormal romance series, SNAP: The Kandesky Vampire Chronicles, is available in ebook and paperback at Amazon. The first two books, SNAP: The World Unfolds, and SNAP: New Talent, received 4 stars from Paranormal Romance Guild. The third and fourth books, Plague: A Love Story, and Danube: A Tale of Murder were given 5 stars. The first four books are available in a boxed set at Amazon. The fifth book, SNAP: Love for Blood, will be released Dec. 15.
Visit her website: http://www.micheledrier.com or facebook page, http://www.facebook.com/AuthorMicheleDrier or her Amazon author page http://www.amazon.com/Michele-Drier/e/B005D2YC8G/
Michele Drier was born in Santa Cruz and is a fifth generation Californian. She’s lived and worked all over the state, calling both Southern and Northern California home. During her career in journalism — as a reporter and editor at daily newspapers – she won awards for producing investigative series.
Her mystery Edited for Death, called “Riveting and much recommended” by the Midwest Book Review and a Memorable Book for 2011 on DorothyL, is available in paperback at Amazon and B&N.
Her paranormal romance series, SNAP: The Kandesky Vampire Chronicles, is available in ebook and paperback at Amazon. The first two books, SNAP: The World Unfolds, and SNAP: New Talent, received 4 stars from Paranormal Romance Guild. The third and fourth books, Plague: A Love Story, and Danube: A Tale of Murder were given 5 stars. The first four books are available in a boxed set at Amazon. The fifth book, SNAP: Love for Blood, will be released Dec. 15.
Visit her website: http://www.micheledrier.com or facebook page, http://www.facebook.com/AuthorMicheleDrier or her Amazon author page http://www.amazon.com/Michele-Drier/e/B005D2YC8G/
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