-Yet the Sea is Not Full-

#5: ICM's Christmas tree. It's silly, I suppose, but knowing I can manage to get a 7ft tree off the car, into the house, upright, and decorated (without ending up in the ER) makes me so happy. Self sufficiency meets holiday magic. What's not to love?

In no particular order, 10 things that made me giggle, smile, or squeak this week:

1. The best 17 seconds ever, aka A Talking Boat

2. I'm seeing The Desolation of Smaug, at midnight tomorrow night in one of those marathon events that begins with An Unexpected Journey a few hours prior. Headed there with several friends who I knew first from fandom but have grown into special people in my real life. I do not have my act together enough to do any dressing up, but I'm rather Hobbit-like anyway, so I'm just gonna go as a Hobbit in a human who just got out of work costume. Oh, and speaking of The Hobbit, THIS is awesome: Elevenses And Then Some: How To Prepare A Feast Fit For A Hobbit

3. tuesdaymidnight and I solved Cake today while at work. What is Cake, you ask? If you have to ask, you’ll never know. If you know, you need only ask. Or something like that. Okay, not actually anything like that really. (It's not worth explaining. But just know that we did it. We solved cake and, probably, saved the world as well. All in a day's work, my friends. All in a day's work.) And actually, now that I think about it, I'm pretty damn grateful for Tuesday in general. But this week in particular. Because of soup, chapstick, and gintrfffffffffffffffffffffger go spectacularly with satellites. *brain jar nudges Tuesday*

4. bsmog, sapphirescribe, coolbreeeze and I took a fun holiday mixology class last weekend where we learned how to make a few seasonal cocktails and then went to a really great dinner afterward. It was a lot of fun, food, and laughs. My "meat window" (annual non-vegetarian time) extends through the end of the year, and I have been taking advantage of it. (No, my meat window doesn't have curtains!)

5. My Christmas tree (see above). I spent several days this week working from home because of bad weather, which meant I could work and enjoy my days curled up by the tree, with my apple cider candle flickering merrily after it got dark. (That said, I do spend a lot of time these days saying, "Don't eat the tree, Clara. Clara, don't eat the tree! Clara, stop eating the tree. Please stop eating Christmas, Clara. Clara! Stop! Clara!" Ridiculous cat.)

6. It snowed. Okay, it snowed for maybe an hour and it wasn't enough to cover the grass, and it was about 1/8 of what I was supposed to get, but it snowed. It did. And I have truly been starved for snow. (I know you warm weather lovers must believe I've crazy, but after leaving my beloved Maine where 90inches/year is the norm, being down here near DC leaves me longing for it. Imagine moving from your warm climate to a place that never got hot; you'd probably the crave the sun, no?) Anyway, when it *finally* changed from rain to snow, I honestly started crying. Like, actually weeping. (And I am not a crier by any stretch of the imagination.) I went outside and just stood in it. Because...snow. <3

7. My lovely friend sapphirescribe podficced The Shoemaker and the Elves for me, was my hols fic from last year. :)

8. I took a chance and reached out to one of my very favorite authors last week, and not only did she humor me by responding in detail, but it has turned into a week of discussions about writing and fandom and stories and a slew of of other topics. I know that this isn't everyone's cup of tea, so I'm especially thankful she waded through my initial flails so that we could share some great conversation. I hope we can continue to do so. (So, thanks, lettered.)

9. I finally came up with an idea for hd_remix. It will be a fun challenge, but ultimately should be very doable for me. I'm excited to get started on the detailed plotting and writing. And of course hd_erised and all of the other fests currently posting. I try to review consistently at least in the fests I participate in as a writer, and I'm trying to keep up with some of the others as well.

10. I've already received several holiday cards, christmas cookie recipies, and little gifties from so many friends! One reader even made a paper ornament out of one of my stories (thoughtfully avoiding any smutty bits; that might have been difficult to explain if someone looked closely) to hang on my Christmas tree.

It's the little things, isn't it? And these are just 10 of them that made the start of December a little brighter. Wishing you laughs and smiles of your own. I hope you can find some time to revel in the magic of the holiday season. After all, I *know* we're all believers in magic. :)

Evergreen

A/N: Dear reader, I know that Christmas day is almost gone, but I wish you a beautiful holiday season, filled with deep love, much laughter, and quiet peace. Thank you for reading my words throughout the year; I look forward to many more. And now, a bit of seasonal C/E romance, just for you. It's my small attempt to, you know, make the yuletide gay. :)

This was originally written for a LJ comm filled to the brim with those who understand exactly why E will always belong wrapped up in C's arms...

The Shortest Day, by Susan Cooper

And so the Shortest Day came and the year died
And everywhere down the centuries of the snow-white world
Came people singing, dancing,
To drive the dark away.
They lighted candles in the winter trees;
They hung their homes with evergreen;
They burned beseeching fires all night long
To keep the year alive.
And when the new year’s sunshine blazed awake
They shouted, reveling.
Through all the frosty ages you can hear them
Echoing behind us - listen!
All the long echoes, sing the same delight,
This Shortest Day,
As promise wakens in the sleeping land:
They carol, feast, give thanks,
And dearly love their friends,
And hope for peace.
And now so do we, here, now,
This year and every year.

This poem was written for the Christmas Revels, a production of song and dance and Yuletide celebration that began decades ago at Harvard in Cambridge, MA, and has now spread to cities nationwide. I’ve attended this interactive production for many years, and never fail to leave untouched and humbled by the earth and the celebrations of the season. This poem is read every year, in every city, toward the conclusion of every program, and so, I give it to you on this winter solstice. Welcome, blessed Yule.