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Yes, it doesn’t make sense, but dreams never do. I had to share this because you said “after you say Magenta it’s hard to go back”. I understand what you mean. That word haunts me to this day and I smile every time.

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But my thoughts keep going to Jill, and how we could all bring her to be stunning. I was thinking she needed sparkle in her life. Long dangle earrings,maybe necklace (need measurements for her neck please) dripping in Austrian Lead Crystals, have some fabulous new ones called cantalope, change color they do, cool green to peach. In the silver lace they would add so much.

Wonder if Jill would share?
Jill could end up being the best dressed bird in Ohio.

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Also, am thinking it might be possible to crochet little fishnet stockings for Jill…

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I wanted to cry. I had to stop doing community theatre (I have a BA in Theatre) when our financial picture dictated that if I wasn’t getting paid for it, I couldn’t afford to be away from home at night. That was over 10 years ago.

I don’t write much anymore (I’ve never gotten paid for that, either) because it takes away from time with my hubby and 5 kids. On the other hand, I feel more and more on edge and crabby and grumpy every day I don’t put something on the screen.

I’ve been working either full or part-time or homeschooling my kids for the last ten years. Nothing else, except for a little writing here and there. I managed to complete a “absolutely adequate” (thank you, Julie Andrews) novella that I am slowly rewriting. I have done one flash-fiction story with huge plot holes, and I have started more stories than I can count. I haven’t finished anything else.

I get about fifty pages (or less) into it, and start feeling guilty and _ridiculous_ again and don’t do anymore. My husband is supportive, and tries to make me sit at the computer, but I still feel guilty. Stupid, isn’t it.

Cheri, I will try to take your advice and JUST DO IT.

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Will you post Jill’s measurements? The Flamingo, not the donor. Well, I guess someone might want to make Jill the donor something, too. Never know. There are enough of us hanging around who do crafty kinds of stuff, and it might be fun to come up with something for your flamingo pal to wear. Seriously.

Wow. I wish Google would get this sign in thing fixed. By the time you’ve signed in with your Google account, your comment is long gone. Pain in the a**. With all the brain power they’ve got working there, you’d think they could fix a few of these annoying issues.

Usability. Another one of my hot buttons. /;+) Well, f***! Three tries and I’m still not signed in. So, I’m posting as bgina, since that’s who Blooger seems to insist I be.
ZaZa

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Indulgences v resolutions….hmmm. I’m wary of making either. Not much good at keeping them. But I’ve decided that I’m going to ditch some guilt next year, which will be very indulgent of me.

I will NOT feel guilty that I put the clothes in the dryer instead of hanging them on the line like all the other good mummies. I HATE hanging out the clothes and neither the family or the clothes will perish/suffer so I need to build a bridge and get over it.

I will NOT feel guilty for having a cleaning lady or making my husband iron his own damn clothes even though realistically I could find the time to do it myself. The older I get the more things come under “life’s too short”.

I will NOT feel guilty if I have to write on the school holidays (which I always seem to do)no matter how much they look at me with eyes that say “you are ruining my life”. I am trying to build a career from which they will(hopefully) one day benefit. I will smile sweetly and say one word “inheritance”.

I will NOT feel guilty for sleeping in till 7.30 when good mummies have been up since 5am sowing the chaff and baking home made bread for their darlings lunches. I do not do mornings. Never have. I need to accept this and move on.

Okay, so they’re just a few off the top. Funny how much guilt is mother associated huh? Does my husband feel guilty when he misses the school play because of work – nup!

I’ve also just realised that the above venting has been very self indulgent so this blog has been extremely enlightening. As always.

Nadine book? Woohoo! Just reread “Faking It” a couple of weeks ago. Yes please.

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Will you ever do a collage workshop? How about one down in Texas? It’s tolerable in the spring here!

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I’m leveled with the flu too…and a bunch of other things during this holiday season so I know what you are going through. Lucky for you, you dont have to go to a corporate office every day because you ran out of sick days.

Alas, have a safe and happy new year and I’ll try to think about the good in 2006, too. I am always jumping a head.

Enjoy and best wishes!

ML

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I think many of us are so driven to succeed, or to keep the promises we’ve made to ourselves, our families, our editors or agents (if we should be lucky enough to have those) that we don’t schedule time to just be. I like your idea of indulgences and think I might indulge for myself.

Hope you’re feeling a bit better by now. If not, a nice hot toddy of lemon and honey, with a generous helping of Brandy should do the trick.

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Will you be bringing Flamingo Jill to New Zealand? I love Sheri’s idea of the flapper outfit, and how appropriate for a flapper to have wings. Hey, maybe we could craft a Maori costume for Flamingo Jill for her NZ sojourn (Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries and excess luggage allowances permitting her entry of course) and an Aboriginal one for the Aussie trip. D’ya think she’ll have time to learn a poi dance or to play the didgeridoo?(sp?)

Thanks for the heads-up on an indulgences list. I like to have goals for each year, and love to tick them off (or ignore those unachieved until I can reassess some other time), but too often we forget soul replenishment.

I gave up my day-job this month to write full-time in 2007 (and beyond) and indulgence-wise I want to:

1. Have a six-weekly facial or massage with my favourite beauty therapist.
2. Get back into doing mosaic work.
3. Spend more quality time with my family in the evenings and weekends.

Happy indulgences to everyone for 2007!

Yvonne

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But you know what? I think you have reached that point in your career (and life) that you can feel free to do some other stuff. If you want to paint, go for it! Sew those outfits for Flamingo Jill–I can imagine that she will be the best-dressed flamingo on the block! (Personally, I’d like to see her in a flapper dress with beads and fringes and fishnets, but that’s just me!)

I am glad that 2007 will be less demanding on you physically. Travelling is difficult at the best of times, and when one is a homebody at heart it can become even more distressing to both the body and soul.

So make 2007 the Year of the Soul. Feed your soul with the things that you enjoy doing, indulge your senses, celebrate life. Don’t worry. We’ll still be here when you get back. Heck, some of us may join you! I could go for some indulgences right about now….

Hugs!

Sheri
Rescue Cherry

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Hope you are feeling better Jenny and that you have a very Happy New Year.

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I think what makes me angry is hearing you say that it is ridiculous to “waste” time and effort on your other talents. Who the hell is telling you that? Or are you doing that to yourself? I’ve seen pictures of your collages and they are truly magnificent works of art. I don’t know about the rest of it — drawing, painting, sewing, crocheting — but obviously you are one of those lucky people who are incredibly creative and talented in more than one area.

I think this is the part that really sent me over the edge: Remember why I used to love it. Remember what it used to be like to create things just for the joy of creating them. And coming as it did right after this: …the things I really, really want to do but never get to, the stuff that I’d kill to do but never get to because it’s too ridiculous…

Why is it ridiculous to spend time and effort on those others areas of creativity and not ridiculous to write? Are you really saying that pursuing a talent is ridiculous if it doesn’t translate into commercial success? Yes, I understand the need to meet deadlines and make a living. But if you no longer got paid for writing (God forbid), would it too become ridiculous fun and a selfish pleasure? Would you stop doing it?

I’m sure that’s not what you meant and maybe you’re just downplaying your other talents. But as someone who has absolutely no talent whatsoever in those other areas and stands in awe of those who do, it really rubs the wrong way to hear you be so dismissive about it. Maybe I’m just reading this completely wrong and, if so, please forgive me.

If you want to call something an indulgence for which you’d love to make more time, then fine, that’s one thing. But don’t say in the same breath that it is ridiculous. That’s beyond self-deprecating, it’s an insult to creativity — yours and everyone else’s.

Geez, here I am yelling at you and you’re sick. Sorry. Just part of my non-existent charm. But damn it, Jenny, hearing you say that really pissed me off.

Well, it IS still The Year From Hell, so in a couple more days you can just put this comment behind you with all the other bad stuff. I’d resolve to be nice in the New Year, but I know my limits.

I do hope you feel better soon. Go create something.

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1. Spend more time with people who make me laugh

2. Find 5 new fabulous authors to add to my “must read” list

3. Spend 7 full days doing only what I feel like doing instead of what I know I need to do (note: they don’t need to be consecutive days, can be a series of long weekends)

4. Take up crocheting again

5. Get rid of things in my drawers and closets that I don’t like, even if they are still perfectly wearable.

I can work with that list.

iztax (they tax is’s now? Guess I’ll have to switch to ain’ts.)

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And I have to say …… oooohhh, Nadine’s book! Thank you.

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