This time of year, it’s crucial to keep the momentum going. I’ve found that I do best if I take a running start at the depths of winter. I know I’ll slow down eventually (February in Seattle is a study in hermitage), and hopefully I can keep as much oomph going as possible on the various projects I’m working on.

One project I’m not working on much is Warmies. There are a few pre-made sets still available, but I’ve turned down three different opportunities to make more and sell then at bazaars, because I’m just sort of tired of looking at the things. I realize it’s the holiday season and that I’d probably be smart to milk it for all its worth, but I’m tired and busy and this pony is sick of her one creative trick.

This is the first Christmas since 2000 when I haven’t made most of my Christmas gifts. This year, everyone gets wedding photo stuff. I’ve had some fun with the process, but it certainly costs more than making things from scratch, and the creative juices don’t really get flowing for me when I sit on my computer and layout photobooks and various photo gifts. Click click. Whee! Click.

I’ve made some major progress on my book proposal, although I’m disappointed to find that I do my best writing in a slightly intoxicated state. I suppose I am not the first writer to discover this about themselves, and I don’t plan to pull a Hunter S. Thompson anytime soon (…and now, for my next trick, I will continue typing while ingesting peyote buttons and GHB, while taking a percocet suppository!), and at this point I’ll take whatever help I can get to get this book proposal moving forward. Goal: to have it in the hands of the agency by the new year. Swear to god I can do this.

Andreas has a phone interview tomorrow for a very exciting job. Let’s all cross our fingers for him.

Work is going well, although it gets cold as hell on the 21st floor of a historical building. When the wind blows from the south, the windows whistle. To deal with this, I got a little space heater that sits on my desk and blows hot air on my hands all day. It’s like living inside a blow dryer, but quieter.