For a number of years now, I’ve tried to live my life in a linear fashion. I’m not suggesting I used to live it in contravention of the arrow of time, but I was focused on accomplishing A before I moved on to B. Sounds logical and obvious, and I suppose it is, but I’m coming to realize life doesn’t exactly work that way, at least not for me. What I was really doing was putting off all sorts of things until I had achieved a set goal. So I’d place all my energies into a manuscript and skip the gym. Or I’d go for a run and give up going to a movie. Worse was when I’d plan to write, want to see a movie, felt like a run, and wound up doing none of them. What’s become apparent to me is that I need balance. With a little planning (and that’s huge for me – I used to not know what I was having for lunch five minutes before I ate) I’m starting to be able to walk AND chew gum at the same time.

So not so much a resolution as a burgeoning realignment of priorities that let’s me have cake and eat it too 🙂

I’m very proud and at the same time feel incredibly fortunate to have spent the last ten years of my life working with so many writers and veterans to tell the stories of soldiers at war. I just happened to see this photo tonight on one of my author’s Facebook pages. I think it’s the first time I’ve seen a photo of one of the books I edited in war zone with a soldier. You can see a lot truly amazing photos of the war in Afghanistan here: http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2010/12/afghanistan_december_2010.html

Here’s hoping 2011 brings us one step closer to peace on earth.

After a wonderful holiday with my folks and brother in a somewhat frigid Florida, I am waiting for my flight back to NYC with fingers crossed. Seeking comfort for my vigil, I’ve taken up residence in Delta’s Sky Priority lounge. Lot’s of munchies and an open bar. And people complain about waiting at airports 🙂

Happy Holidays to one and all and here’s to 2011 being the best year yet!

Chris

So I got the bright idea the other day to combine two of my favorite snacks into one. I’d already made a hot chocolate, and not just any hot chocolate either, but hot chocolate with peppermint for that extra holiday flare. But as I started to sip I realized I needed something to nibble on, and as I’m single I had to settle for a bowl of cereal. I poured myself a bowl of Shreddies (a Canadian breakfast cereal of little squares of woven whole wheat goodness) and then thinking one plus one equals a glorious hot snack on a cold, blustery day I poured my mug of peppermint hot chocolate into the bowl and voila, created glop. I somehow managed to turn two independently wonderful things into one unpalatable mess.

The upside to all this? I almost, but not quite, overflowed the toilet when I flushed it.

The other upside? No oven mitts were harmed in this kitchen disaster although several paper towels and one unfortunate dish towel weren’t so lucky.

At least it does in my case. My brother, Mike, visited over the holidays and while he was here he helped me organize my apartment. My soup is now arranged by type. There’s a chicken row (noodle, with rice, with wild rice, cream of, and possibly dumpling). Then there’s the vegetable row (hearty, hearty AND healthy which makes me wonder about the just hearty one, classic, with lean meat, with noodles, and with extra vegetables which makes it vegetable vegetable soup). I have a lot of soup. Cereal has a whole other shelf. What’s really amazing is that a lot of this used to be piled on top of the fridge, but my brother found a way to fit it all in my cupboards. Spatial reasoning is apparently not my forte.

Mike’s inspired work in the kitchen propelled me to tackle the living room and in the course of some serious tidying up I discovered that I had room for another bookcase.

Another.

Bookcase.

A place.

To store.

MORE BOOKS.

I think a beam of light illuminated my head and angels started singing. I had room for another bookcase! There is a santa! So, I went shopping and found myself a very sturdy, four shelf solid wood affair which is now already half full.

Naturally, now I’m wondering if I can find room to fit one more…