Christmas time has always been one of my favorite times of year. Sleigh bells ringing, people singing and the unapologetic right to stuff your face. Peppermint bark, almond biscotti, sugar cookies and gingerbread men…

And goodwill towards men…of course!

I find myself especially appreciating the cheer and bustle of the holidays this year. All the bad tidings about the economy are nothing compared to what I feel when I see young men give up their seats to older people on the subway. Or the time a guy chased me for half a block to return the metro card I’d dropped. Or the friend who drove me home one night when I missed my train even though it was 40 miles out of her way.

It’s been a rough year for a lot of us but when I start to feel down I try to remember all these good things. Then I send up a thank you for all that I have.

To all who wander past my page – May your holidays be bright and your New Year full of potential.

Tidings of comfort and joy.

Minx

Is it just me or does everyone suffer from this crappy feeling of utter desolation that creeps up on me every winter? I make all these grand plans. I brainstorm. I plot. I make checklists, dang it.

But come December 1st every year the result is the same. All I feel like doing is curling up with a cup of hot cocoa and Jane Eyre. Why I feel like reading about a mad wife in the attic when I’m already blue, I’ll never know. They say misery loves company? I suppose you can’t get much more miserable than a mad wife in the attic.

I’m crossing my fingers for this to pass so I can get to the fun stuff. Namely writing the sequel to Hellbaby.

Minx