Thursday, December 25, 2008

The Twelve Days of Christmas-Introvert Style: Day Twelve

On the twelfth day of Christmas
my true love gave to me
Twelve guests a-leaving
Batteries re-charging
One well a-filling
No public speaking
Close friends connecting
Plenty time for napping
Six hours a-plotting
One emp-ty house
Four ear plugs
Three note books
Two soothing drinks
And a nice quiet place to just be…


It’s over! You’ve done it! You’ve survived another holiday season—hopefully with your sanity in tact and not feeling like a wrung out dishrag by the end. Your friends and family have feasted, the perfect presents exchanged, and just enough snatched moments here and there that you remember why the holidays are such a magical time, even when you’re not a child.

One of the times I love most is the dead zone between Christmas and New Years. When I was a kid, Dec. 26 was the saddest day of the year. Not so much any more. It seems as if life kind of stops—or at least slows down. It’s a fallow, fertile time when we’ve just capped the year with a celebration and have yet to start the new year with all its resolutions, plans, and intentions. It’s a time for dreaming, reflecting, of reviewing and savoring. If you haven’t had a chance to refill your well or recharge your batteries, grab some time now, while everyone is in this lulled state.

And in order to dream big for next year, today's winner will receive a very cool, very writerly/readerly PaperBlanks 2009 purse size dayplanner! (It's the one on the bottom with all the writing on it.) And the final winner is--Number 20! Jenn Robinson! When you get a chance, Jenn, send me an email and I'll make my final trip to the post office. :-)

Thank you all so much for participating in the Introverted Writer's Twelve Days of Christmas! It's been so much fun. And thank you all for being a part of the Shrinking Violet community. We look forward to an inspiring, well-filling, battery-charging, 2009! (With maybe a teensy dash of public speaking thrown in.)

See you all next year!

Robin and Mary

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

The Twelve Days of Christmas-Introvert Style: Day Eleven

On the eleventh day of Christmas
my true love gave to me
Batteries re-charging
One well a-filling
No public speaking
Close friends connecting
Plenty time for napping
Six hours a-plotting
One emp-ty house
Four ear plugs
Three note books
Two soothing drinks
And a nice quiet place to just be…

And no, we don’t mean Duracell or Eveready! We really can’t state this one strongly enough. It’s something introverts have to be vigilant about during the best of time, but during the holidays, it is critical! Take the time to recharge your battery! Do not risk depleting your reserves! (Yes, that’s an order. Or maybe just a sternly worded warning: Whichever makes you most inclined to follow it!)

When my kids were small and I was stupid, in an effort to accommodate all the various factions of my family I (no lie) put on a Christmas Eve Dinner (14 guests) a Christmas Breakfast (only four guests) and a Christmas Dinner (12 guests). I did that for about five years and then I began getting deathly ill every Christmas. Coincidence? Clearly not. My body was stepping in and saying NO for me when I couldn’t. Don’t put yourself in that position.

And because reading is such a great way to recharge those batteries today’s winner will receive a box o’ books , including The Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney, The 39 Clues: Maze of Bones by Rick Riordan, and The Case of the Left-Handed Lady by Nancy Springer. And the winner is Number 9--Yat Yee!

Email me Yat Yee and I will get those out to you!

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

The Twelve Days of Christmas-Introvert Style: Day Ten

On the tenth day of Christmas
my true love gave to me
One well a-filling
No public speaking
Close friends connecting
Plenty time for napping
Six hours a-plotting
One emp-ty house
Four ear plugs
Three note books
Two soothing drinks
And a nice quiet place to just be…




Of course its critically important to keep your batteries charged (and we’ll get to that tomorrow) but you also need to remember to fill you well; give your soul the food it needs to feel nurtured and aLivE, whether it’s your writing well or simply your personal well. While battery recharging brings us back up to functional levels, filling the well builds up a richness of reserves deep within us; it nourishes our creative spirit.

Is there something that says Christmas to you that no one else really cares for? A local production of The Nutcracker? Watching Love Actually (my favorite Christmas movie EVER), a certain collection of holiday music that makes everyone else groan when you put it on? Fill your holiday well by doing the things that make your holiday feel complete and yours. Remember, this is not self-indulgence, it’s self-preservation. It’s also a way to honor the spirit of the holidays in a way that has personal significance for you.

And today's winner is Number 71--Deborah K. White. In order to assist her in filling her well, she'll receive a copy of Natalie Goldberg's Writing Down the Bones, and a copy of Julia Cameron's Artist Date Book and an iTunes gift card! When you have a chance, Deborah, email me and I'll get your prize in the mail!

Here's wishing all your wells are filled to overflowing!

Monday, December 22, 2008

The Twelve Days of Christmas-Introvert Style: Day Nine

On the ninth day of Christmas
my true love gave to me
No public speaking
Close friends connecting
Plenty time for napping
Six hours a-plotting
One emp-ty house
Four ear plugs
Three note books
Two soothing drinks
And a nice quiet place to just be…

No public speaking doesn’t really need any explanation on a blog full of introverts. However, I’m going to put out a plea for all the introverted children out there in the world and make a couple of requests. One is the whole Santa thing that Mary alluded to a few days ago. For introverted children, having to get up in Santa’s lap and TALK to this perfect stranger, usually IN FRONT OF other perfect strangers can be the 6 year old equivalent of public speaking.

And secondly, the whole "let’s everybody watch each kids open their presents one gift at a time while twenty relatives watch" thing. I understand that this comes from the desire to not have four weeks worth of shopping and eight hours worth of wrapping over with in four minutes. I get that. But I also so clearly remember how painful it was. Oh the pressure! All those eyes on me! What if I didn’t have the right expression of gratitude on my face! What if it was something I hated—could I pretend well enough to fool everyone?

Surely you’re beginning to see the similarities between some of these traditions and public speaking…

And, because no introvert wants to win anything that has to do with public speaking, today’s winner wins a signed copy of Jane Porter’s Ms Perfect! (Jane is an SVP blog reader.) And the drumroll please . . . Number 100 – Julie Layne!

You know the drill, Julie. Email me and I’ll get your book in the mail!

Sunday, December 21, 2008

The Twelve Days of Christmas-Introvert Style: Day Eight


On the eighth day of Christmas
my true love gave to me
Close friends connecting
Plenty time for napping
Six hours a-plotting
One emp-ty house
Four ear plugs
Three note books
Two soothing drinks
And a nice quiet place to just be…

Because really, isn’t that one of the best parts of the holiday? Seeing those you love, snatching a great heart-to-heart or catching up in the corner while everyone else is drinking too much eggnog or playing with the kids new wii? That’s one of the myths about introverts, that we’re anti-social beings. Not so! We love to connect in a meaningful way, which is why it’s so important to conserve our social energy—so we have enough left to give to those who are truly important in our lives!

Whichever holiday you celebrate be sure to schedule in some time to connect with those you hold dear.

Our prize today is three books written by three people we hold dear, Shrinking Violet interviewees Brent Hartinger, Cecil Castelluci, and Jacqueline Woodson. And the winner is . . . Number 48! Sabrina!

Email me Sabrina so I can get those out to you!

Wishing you all lots of warm and wonderful moments with those you love...

Saturday, December 20, 2008

The Twelve Days of Christmas-Introvert Style: Day Seven

On the seventh day of Christmas
my true love gave to me
Plenty time for napping
Six hours a-plotting
One emp-ty house
Four ear plugs
Three note books
Two soothing drinks
And a nice quiet place to just be…

Do I really need to explain the benefits of napping? I thought not. Whether it be a long luxurious 2 hour nap where you sleep hard enough to get bed head, or quick refreshing pick-me-up of a 20 minute cat nap, we hope you find some time in the busy days ahead to allow yourself a luxury of a nap.

One of the greatest things about being a writer is that naps refresh the subconscious and allow it to make important breakthroughs in our writing. Which leads to one of the major perks of being a writer: Writer + nap = work. (Or at least, that’s what I’ve managed to convince my family.) What’s not to love about that?

And to ensure the ultimate napping experience, today’s winner--Number 12, Kimberly Lyn!--will receive a lavender candle and bath salts. Email me Kimberly Lyn, and I will get those right out to you.

Sweet Dreams!

Friday, December 19, 2008

The Twelve Days of Christmas-Introvert Style: Day Six


On the sixth day of Christmas
my true love gave to me
Six hours a-plotting
One emp-ty house
Four ear plugs
Three note books
Two soothing drinks
And a nice quiet place to just be…

Okay, so the plotting is probably a pipe dream, especially during the busy holiday season. But don’t forget there are other kinds of plotting; plotting for a few hours solitude, plotting for a quick escape, plotting to get everyone to leave early. . .

And today’s winner is Number 60 - acpaul! And just in case acpaul is superb at this sneaking in time for yourself routine, ac will receive a copy of The Plot Thickens by Noah Lukeman, President of Lukeman Literary Management. And, in case that is too left-brained for you, a copy of Take Joy, by writing maven, Jane Yolen.

Email me with your snail mail address, ac, and I will get your prize out to you.

Here's hoping all your plotting is productive!

Thursday, December 18, 2008

The Twelve Days of Christmas-Introvert Style:Day Five


On the Fifth Day of Christmas
my true love gave to me
One emp-ty house!
Four ear plugs
Three note books
Two soothing drinks
And a nice quiet place to just be.

Okay, we can’t fly in and clear your house for you, but we sure wish we could! (Or, you know, you could fly in and clear ours. . .) However, we can give you something to do should you be lucky enough to find a few minutes peace and quiet.

How about a nice quiet bath and, of course, some books to read in the tub? Number 103, Mim, wins today's prize of lavender bath salts and two YA fantasy books: The Bewitching Season by Marissa Doyle, and a signed copy of Here There Be Dragons by James Owen. Drop me an email Mim, and I will get those right out to you.

Wishing all of you a nice empty house, at least for a few hours!

Robin and Mary

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

The Twelve Days of Christmas-Introvert Style:Day Four


On the Fourth Day of Christmas
my true love gave to me
Four ear plugs
Three note books
Two soothing drinks
And a nice quiet place to just be.


Because honestly, ear plugs are the new black for introverts. Especially if the TV is blaring, the kids are playing too loudly, or the snow-blower is going down the street. For all of you, we wish for you Q-U-I-E-T this Christmas.

And today's number is 18! TadMack wins a box of the softest, almost non-detectable earplugs available. In fact, they're even named HEAROS. (Clearly an introvert was involved in that product development meeting!) But because earplugs don't quite have the necessary pizzazz, you also get a copy of a terrific new book I've just discovered, The Cabinet of Wonders by Marie Rutkoski.

Email me TadMack, and I will get your package right out to you.

Yours in quietude,

Robin and Mary


(If you're just tuning in, you can check out the details of SVP's very own version of the Twelve Days of Christmas posted here.)

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

The Twelve Days of Christmas-Introvert Style:Day Three

On the third day of Christmas
my true love gave to me
Three note books
Two soothing drinks
And a nice quiet place to just be.


Give yourself some time this holiday—even just fifteen minutes—to do some writing or dream or make big plans for the coming year. If your time is too frazzled to actually make progress on your manuscript, consider personal journaling or maybe even character journaling. Journaling your character's thoughts and feelings can be a great way to stay connected to your WIP without having to actually produce pages. In fact, one of my favorite writing exercises one year was this: Choose a character you’re currently working on and write his or her Christmas wish list.

This simple exercise just opened up so many layers of my character for me. So if you absolutely can't find time to write, don't despair, there are other alternatives for staying in touch with your work when life gets in the way.

And since every writer (or reader, for that matter) needs a steady supply of notebooks for jotting down that random bit of dialog that comes to them while driving, or the title of that book they want to read, today's prize is a set of three Moleskine notebooks!

And today’s winner is. . .liquidambar! Email me LA, and I will get it right out to you.

Mary and I wish all of you a holiday season filled with inspiration and a little bit of time to act on that inspiration!



(If you're just tuning in, you can check out the details of SVP's very own version of the Twelve Days of Christmas posted here.)

Monday, December 15, 2008

The Twelve Days of Christmas-Introvert Style: Day Two



On the second day of Christmas
my true love gave to me,
Two soothing drinks,
And a nice quiet place to just be




Maybe tell everyone you’re going Christmas shopping, but instead indulge in an hour alone with a warm, soothing drink as your only company. No, it's not being selfish; you will have more energy and heart to deal with all your holiday demands if you take care of yourself! Trust us on this.

And today’s winner is . . . Celise! who will have a couple of those soothing drinks on us via a Starbucks gift card. Email me Celise, and I will get it right out to you.

If you're just tuning in, you can check out the details of SVP's very own version of the Twelve Days of Christmas posted yesterday here.

Saturday, December 13, 2008

An Introverted Writer’s Twelve Days of Christmas

Guess what, violets? We have a special Christmas treat for our dedicated readers. We are going to post every day for the next twelve days to try and give each of you a little calm during this frantic holiday season. As we introduce you to the Introverted Writer’s Twelve Days of Christmas (something we’re pretty sure most of you will identify with) we’ll also be giving away prizes! We’ll have books and soothing drinks and more books and all sorts of writerly stuff.

And here’s the good news: because we’d like to create one little spot in your holiday world where no exhausting social energy is required, you don’t even have to comment to enter! If you’ve commented in the last three months, you’re already entered!

However, if you haven’t commented before don’t despair. Just go ahead and comment during the twelve days of Christmas and you’ll be eligible. So without further ado, The Introverted Writer’s Twelve Days of Christmas:


On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me,
A nice quiet place to just be…



Don’t forget to find a quiet spot in your day, even if it is just for five minutes, and allow yourselves to just be…still, calm, centered. At least for five minutes. A true gift to yourself.

And today’s winner* is…Barbara Shoup!

Barbara, today's prize is a copy of Clarissa Pinkola Estes' Women Who Run With the Wolves. This is one of my new favorite books that I think every writer should read; a terrific guide through the thorny thicket that is creativity and helping us learn how to dare BEing a creative person. It's also a terrific source for new internal arcs and journeys for our characters. Email me and I will get it right out to you.

Love and holiday blessings to you all! Be sure and check back tomorrow...

Robin and Mary

*I've made a list of all those who've commented since 9/1/08, in the order in which their comments appeared, then the day's winner is selected by a random number generator. However, if your comment was anonymous and there is no way for me to contact you, I did not include your name.

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Writing Buddies – Where, What, and How

One intrepid blog reader wrote to ask for some follow up on our recent post regarding Writing Buddies. How, this Shrinking Violet asked, does an introvert find one? And what does one look for in a writing buddy?

We thought these were such great questions that they deserved their own blog entry.

Where:

My first suggestions would be to check out local/regional chapters of some of the national writing organizations such as Mystery Writers of America, Romance Writers of America, Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, etc. The thing is, even if you don’t write in one of these particular genres, you can still learn an awful lot through their organizations; plotting, craft, characterization, and information about how to approach editors and agents and publishers.

Here is a link to the regional chapters of SCBWI. They don’t have regular monthly meetings, but they do have schmoozes and critiquenics and day long workshops where you will undoubtedly meet other writers, many of whom will be introverts.

RWA also has a number of local chapters, most of which have regular monthly meetings. You do have to belong to the national chapter first, which requires annual dues.

Here’s a link to MWA’s regional chapters, many of whose meetings are open to non-members, so you can try them out before committing.

Just as a note as to how valuable cross pollinating with different genres can be, I didn’t sell my first children’s book mss until after I’d belonged to both SCBWI and RWA for a number of years.

Another great meeting place can be your local adult education classes or community college classes. In fact, that’s where Mary and I met.

Or use larger conferences or day long workshops as a chance to try and meet people who might be interested in forming a critique group.

If none of those avenues bear fruit, check with your local bookstores, librarians, and community centers to see if they know of any writers’ groups that meet locally.

Of course, there is always the internet. I know a number of popular authors have yahoo groups or forums and it turns out some of their biggest fans are aspiring writers, so that can be a good point of commonality from which to start your search.

There are also tons of yahoo writing groups, the Verla Kay boards, etc. In fact, the sheer number of them are overwhelming so maybe some blog readers can help out by recommending some of their favorite online writing groups and communities?

How:

Okay, this is probably the hardest part. You’re at a workshop or conference or even sitting in a classroom with all these other people. How in gawd’s name do you make the first move? The truth is, you’ll most likely have to create a stretch goal for yourself to meet new people.

The thing is, like a best friend, you won’t necessarily know your writing buddy at first sight. The idea is to meet enough other writers so that you have a chance to form a deeper writing relationship with someone who you find you have a lot in common or develop a mutual affinity for.

Basically (to coin a phrase) you might have to sniff a lot of flowers before you find your one true Violet.

  • Look around for people who seem friendly or open, who make eye contact with you, who smile.
  • Also keep an eye out for other introverts; they may be thrilled to have someone make the first move.
  • It might be smart to join an existing writer’s group for a short while to get a feel for the members and how they treat their writing and critiquing.
  • If there isn’t an existing writer’s group in your area, consider starting one, but maybe on a short term, temporary basis just to see how it works so you’re not committed to something that ends up not working for you.
  • With internet groups, after lurking then participating in the community for a while, you will start to get an idea of which posters you seem to have a lot in common with. When an opportunity presents itself, you can begin a conversation “off list” and see where it goes.

What:

Lastly, what qualities does one look for in a writing buddy?

The truth is, writing buddies are an awful lot like friends; only it is a friendship that revolves around writing. In some ways, you will be more vulnerable in this relationship because you’ll be sharing your writing and goals and dreams and opening yourself to feedback, so many of the same guidelines for starting a new friendship will apply to beginning a writing buddyship.

You’ll want someone who:
  • Gets you and your writing. Understands your thematic core and creative vision for your work.
  • Who enjoys your writing as a reader.
  • Who is able to engage in a healthy give and take, always kind and sensitive but who will say the hard things (gently!) that you need to hear.
  • Someone who, over time, becomes as invested in your writing career as you are.
  • You do not need someone who writes in the exact same genre as you do, as long as you enjoy each others work.
Mary, do you have some thoughts you’d like to add?

And anyone else who has thoughts on where or how to find a writing buddy or what to look for, please feel free to add them in the comment section!!

Monday, December 8, 2008

I Wish I May I Wish I Might . . .

I know I can safely confess this here-- as a child, Santa Claus scared the bejeezus out of me. I wished to God I was Jewish. Or that my parents belonged to any other religious persuasion that didn't involve this annual torture. I dreaded going into Sears anytime in December because HE might be there. I hid in the bathroom as long as I politely could while my extraverted sibs lined right up salivating. ( I know you'll all so get this.)


WHY I HATED TRIPS TO SEE SANTA
1). He was extremely loud
2). His clothes were too red
3). I was supposed to sit on a stranger's lap???
4). I was always worried that the elf might try to kiss me when I wasn't looking
5). When it was my turn, all the other kids and their parents stood in line watching
6). Stood waiting.
7). Stood listening.
8). Santa wanted to know what I wanted, and there was no confidentiality like at Confession.
9). And he almost always wanted me to "SPEAK UP, Honey!"
10).Being an INFJ, albeit a young one, I had a sneaky feeling he wasn't all he was dressed up to be.

So, in case any of you have a similar dread about your wish list, Robin and I are going to make it easy for you! Starting today, we will be accepting your Holiday Wish List for Marketing & Promotion in 2009. Wow. I know!

Whatever your socio-politico-economo-spirito views about December are . . . you must agree that it is a very potent and magical time of year. The quality of quiet, light and stillness never fails to stir me. I'm in Texas for this entire month, and I'm looking forward to falling asleep tonight to a symphony of rain and thunder, with a cowdog Hank snoring next to me.

What magic are you ready to have in your life? If you weren't feeling a little shy about asking, what would you ask for?

I'll start, and let's see if we can get Robin to come on line and post hers. :-] And, we'd love to hear from you! I happen to know for a fact that at least one New York editor, publicist, and agent read our blog, and an awful lot of people in all sorts of roles in the biz, so here's your chance to put your wish out there. You just never know. . .

Mary Hershey's Marketing & Promotion Wish List for 2009
* I want Michelle Obama to start a monthly Kid's Book Pick and interview the author at the White House, which would then be aired on national television. This will translate into ginormous $ale$ and well-paid school visits. I get to go first, but then I want every single one of you featured you in the ensuing months. (If Michelle is too busy, Ellen DeGeneres could do this, too.)

* I want to interview all these people for SVP: Anne Lamott, Ann Patchett, Henry Winkler, Marion Dane Bauer, and Cynthia Rylant.

* I want the-secret-thing-that-I-just-applied-for to come through.

* I would like Random House to hire a nice eco-friendly blimp to make the rounds of major cities for a few days each month advertising my books. And if they could shower school grounds with Whopper's during recess without head or eye injury to anyone, that would be swell.

Robin LaFever's Marketing & Promotion Wish List for 2009

(a-hem. . .)

Can't wait to hear from all of you! And as always, if you want to put your wishes out there in Universe, but want some privacy, you can email me at Here's my 2009 Wish List!

Grace and peace,

Mary Hershey

Thursday, December 4, 2008

Finding One’s Tribe










Due to the recent Thanksgiving dinners and the pending requisite holiday gatherings, I find myself thinking lately a lot about tribes. It seems to me that introverts are especially susceptible to needing to find their true tribe, and feeling like a square peg in a round hole when they haven’t.

Usually around the holidays, I am struck by how the family I grew up in is definitely not my tribe. As introverts—not to mention creative types—many of us were a puzzle to our parents, if not a downright thorn in their side. Where did they go wrong, they wondered? Why were we so quiet/shy/withdrawn? And how could we even begin to explain it to them?

So while we belonged to our family in a cursory way, it was easy to never really feel like we truly belonged or that they really understood us.

Consequently, one of my personal all time favorite fairy tales was that of the ugly duckling—the child who never fits in. I treasured it’s message: to hold on until others like myself showed up.

It is so important to find a tribe of like-minded people who don’t just tolerate us or are willing to put up with our introvert-ness, but who get it. Because the truth is, if viewed through an extroverted lens, we will always come up lacking. We are not extroverts. We are not even extrovert-lite. We will never get the same rush of well-filling energy from groups of people that they do. It is too easy then, to take a shaky step on over into feeling inferior, like something is wrong with us.

Which is why learning I was an introvert, an INFJ specifically, was such a boon to me. I was supposed to be that way. It was my official type, my psychological tribe, if you will. Granted, only 2% of people are INFJs, but that didn't matter; I would just have to work harder to find other, hidden tribe members.

Who knew they'd all be violet? :-]

Monday, December 1, 2008

Attention Introverts! Please Report to Your Charging Stations

Turns out that turkeys are not the only victims of the Thanksgiving holiday-- introverts are falling by the droves.  I just imploded in an LA Borders bookstore where I was trying desperately to do some Shrinking Violets research and fill my dry-as-dust well.  But there were people there TALKING-- not only to each other, and to people on their yellulars, but some were talking to themselves.  And there was loud music and a lot of extremely loud chewing coming from the cafe.

I fled.  Which is why I can't do the truly arresting piece I was going to do on the strange similarities in the marketing trajectories for Twlight and Fancy Nancy. And how you could use that to information to infuse your next book's marketing plan with the exact same kind of rocket fuel.  Man, it was going to be a good one!  I really hate for you to miss it.

But, I am now officially Out of Order.  Spent. Only one bar showing.  After four days of family time, celebration time, alleged "down time," I am face down, doing the Dead Woman's Float.  Thanksgiving is way harder than going to work. And, I didn't even cook! I made raw Bliss Balls, and salad, for god's sake. Didn't travel that far. Still it did me in.  We really should wear Medical Alert bracelets so that when we're found unconscious, our rescuers would know what to do.  Introvert Alert:  To resuscitate, remove from all sources of talking.

So, while you are missing some brilliant advice about promoting your work, I'm calling the gang all in.  Everybody!  Back to your charging dock.  We've got to get juiced up again. In case you're too far gone for self-care, here are some ideas to get you started.

Turn OFF all your psychologically-pleasing-rectangular-devices.

Find a closet, a flashlight and a good book. 

Nap with a cat or other self-possessed animal.

Play solitaire. (Instruct the Queens, Jacks and Kings that there will be no talking!)

Ballroom dance by yourself.

Go for a walk/hike/kayak/cross-country ski/Ididerod.

Put your hoodie on backwards and pull it all the way up.

Take yourself, a good disguise, and a big, fat magazine out to lunch. 

Climb a tree that has a lot of big leaves for privacy.

Go somewhere new and get lost on purpose. Revel in it!

Sit in an empty church, synagogue, mosque, or confessional.

Take a bath with the door locked.  Bolted.  Chair jimmied under knob.

Repeat as needed.

A word of caution, friends. We are just three short weeks in front of yet another flood of holidays.  Rest up!  You've got to pace yourselves. 

Reporting live from the Comfort Inn, which is way short on comfort, but blessedly quiet--

Mary Hershey

(Charging)