We’re supposed to get our first measurable snowfall later today. I dragged out the snow shovel, the one that still looked usable out of the pile I used last year. I’ve got to get around to getting a good metal one. The plastic ones are just not up to the challenge. I suppose aluminum is the practical material, good strength to weight ratio but secretly I yearn for a titanium shovel. Must look into it.
I bought a copy of John D. Brown’s book, “Create Story Ideas That Beg to Be Written: The Simple Secrets to Start Producing Terrific Ideas Today.” I heard about it on Larry Correia’s podcast “Writer Dojo.” Recent problems I had outlining some stories made me wonder whether I was missing the boat on standard operating procedures for brilliant authors. So, we’ll see.
I’ve gotten through all four of my favorite Christmas Carol movies and last night began round two with the George C. Scott version. Most satisfactory. And I had the first season’s viewing of, “The Holly and the Ivy.” Very enjoyable. I’m in the mood for some old Alfred Hitchcock movies, the ones from England. I think I’ll start with, “The Man Who Knew Too Much.”
We had Princess Sack of Potatoes over for a sleepover on Friday and Saturday. She went home this morning. We must have played Candy Land with her thirty times between her grandmother and me. It is remarkable how much repetition a young child can tolerate. But much more interesting was a game she made up with her toy animals. She has a wooden box full of plastic rhinos and elephants and even spiders, grasshoppers, scorpions and snakes. In this morning’s version I was the king, the rhino and someone had stolen my money and I interrogated various animals and each time I was assured that the cheetah or pig or scorpion couldn’t have stolen my money but certainly it was the next one she picked out. And on and on through each iteration. And in each case her defense of that animal’s innocence was heart felt and convincing. Eventually I became convinced that I was being played. All of these animals were obviously in cahoots. But what would come next? This high powered public defender was running rings around the king. Would I next be accused of having stolen the money from myself? Luckily Camera Girl broke up the game for breakfast. Who says it’s good being king?
It’s remarkable to think that it’s two weeks to Christmas Day. And despite the destruction of western civilization I’m quite looking forward to it. Maybe that’s what it was like in fifth century as the barbarians were at the gate. Sure they would burn the city to the ground and take all the gold and silver as spoil but you still had to celebrate the holidays in some manner or other. Sure, Incitatus or Biden is emperor and the CDC has subcontracted to the CCP to infect the world with a gain of function bat virus so they could force us to take their mRNA poison on the government’s terabuck. And America is right on board with the Ukraine, COVID lockdowns, transgender insanity and global madness. But I have countless things to feel happy about and grateful for this Christmas. Friends, food, family, life and love.
Sure we’re surrounded by the depraved but most of the damage they do is to themselves. In a way knowing these people are driving themselves to madness is encouraging. It proves the laws of the universe are still in full effect. This is still a very wonderful life. So here we go. A new week started and things on the upswing.