I hate to admit it, but it's that time of year again!! J.D.'s already talking about us needing to buy a new tree this year (we lost the old one in the move), the outdoor malls here are already strung with lights, Target's all decked out in Christmas and Hanukkah items and Starbuck's has their red cups back on display. Oh yeah, and I'm strongly resisting the urge to buy any eggnog for my coffee these days... I did, however, give into Gingerbread Coffee-Mate a few weeks back. And I've already stocked up on my all-time favorite holiday treat: Dryer's Peppermint Candy Cane ice cream. Go. Buy. It. Most amazing ice cream on the planet.
(Source)
Before I get to my "Things I wish I had but am broke list," how about posting some of
my "novel?" At this point I've written over 7,400 words (think 17-19ish pages single-spaced) and I hate it. I hate making myself sit down and write every day. I hate that all my ideas seem the same and I hate feeling inept with my vocabulary. All normal emotions when forcing oneself to write 50,000 words in a span of 30 days, right? It doesn't really matter. The importance is writing. Editing stages will take flight in the following months. So here is the summary (it's weird to write a summary before the story is even finished):
After her world comes crashing down, Jacqueline thrusts herself into self-exploration in hopes of replacing the job and fiancé she just left. What transpires is a self-destructive move back home that sets Jacqueline back on the path to binge drinking and drug use of her teenage years. Waking up high and without a clue, Jacqueline moves to France only to continue her downward spiral. Seeking redemption and a shot at another second chance, Jacqueline has to make all the same mistakes over again before discovering who she really is.
Up the coast from Beverly Hills, Highway 101 snakes and curls its way through tranquil beach towns such as Malibu, La Conchita and Carpenteria before finally making its ascent into Santa Barbara. The narrow freeway carves through staggering cliffs whose landscape has been eroded by years of ocean-spray, with ledges precariously dripping waves of ice plant down the sides of the towering hills. Across from the highway, as if it were a different land all together, gentle ocean waves lap against the shore like carefree children dancing on tiptoes across the golden sand. A low layer of fog retreats from the shore on its way back out to the twinkling blue ocean from which it came. Sleepily emerging in the late afternoon from the clouds, the sun’s rays trot across stiff white undulating caps through the waters of the Pacific.
~~~~~~
Jacqueline minced her words, grabbed her clutch and wasted no time locating the nearest taxi. Once back at her hotel, she slipped the valet a few bills and jumped into Robert’s car without any sign of Lilly. However, thinking about Lilly and naturally, Robert, allowed for the crashing realization to finally hit Jacqueline in the hotel driveway. Before turning the key in the ignition, she dropped her head on the steering wheel and cried without shame. Nothing would ever be normal again. It couldn’t. Not after partying that hard, could she return to a state of sobriety and take Robert back after sleeping with someone else. Not after he’d gone and broken their fidelity first. After flashes of anger and self-loathing, Jacqueline finally gave in to suffering from the worst pain she’d felt in years. Without a doubt she knew that aside from the hangover, in the pit of her stomach, it felt as if she’d been dealt severe blows to the abdomen over and over again. Her breath felt shallow; every time she gulped for air her sobs and tears would catch her breath and it would all revert to the beginning of this horrible cycle again. The rising sensation of fear and the downward sloping direction in which her life was headed, coupled with the realization that someone could not honestly love her, was too much for one person to bear. Jacqueline cried almost as recklessly as she’d behaved the night before, and then all of a sudden couldn’t shed another tear. She wiped her face, threw on her oversized sunglasses and started the car.
That lightened up the mood, right? Well then this surely will.
Things I wish I had but am broke list:
Jeopardy! for Wii - how sweet is that?!?!
A real camera, which is super expensive I know. So I'll just be taking donations until I can save up for it.
Bike shorts, they're so expensive! But I need the butt padding like whoa :)
Guitar Hero 5 for PS3 (Nerd alert. I'm unemployed, what do you want from me?)
A pizza stone
Piping bags and tips
Silpats. I've always wanted some of these :) Macaron making would be sooo much easier!
...A girl can dream, right?! :)
What do you want for the holidays??
Kati Pineapple Cardigan
