Mundane chores are dumping all over my home-for-Christmas holiday spirit. Roaming dust bunnies, dead Halloween plants, overflowing compost bins, and so many more small jobs need attending to. But they’re in stiff competition for my time. I’ve also got to promote my first book, nudge the second book along to publication, and complete the third all-important final installment in the trilogy.

Yikes.  I could use an elf or three.

I’m surrounded by far more meaningfully employed and less time-challenged friends. They’re chuffed with delight at the sight of their finely decorated trees and homes.  These friends have already dispatched their Christmas gifts to faraway places.  Their Christmas baking is neatly packed in pretty tins. Their turkeys are already on ice.  Receiving their perky Christmas cards makes me want to throw up my hands in defeat.

I’m insanely envious.

This will be the third Christmas since I embarked on the project that has become the all-consuming Gift Trilogy.  In 2010 it was still a fresh endeavour and I busted my butt to make the holidays happen without a glitch.  2011 saw the new, and decidedly not improved me, beg off of all but fireplace mantel decorations and a plug-in pre-decorated tree.

This year I’ll endeavour to find a better balance. 

I’ve laid out the gifts that need to be mailed and found boxes that fit (I’ll post them this week).  I’ll schedule a day late in the week to clean the house then decorate al la Martha.  I’ll groom the dogs and write out the Christmas dinner shopping list.  But Christmas cards won’t happen and neither will Christmas baking. Molly-maid will do a drive-by, not the usual dust the ceiling fan-type of job. Those compromises are the path to sanity for me this Christmas.

Eventually the dust bunnies will be corralled, the compost will give up its gold, and Christmas will happen with all the tinsel and turkey trimmings.  But the new me includes writing, so somewhere along the way a twitter or blog post will roll out. The second book’s cover art or a catchy tag line will be born, and the third book will continue its journey to completion.

So, here’s to enjoying the holidays with friends and family, good food, some nog and a laugh or two while keeping the mundane to a dull roar.  I’ll still write – it seems to be a part of me now – but I’ll also decorate and cook and wrap and drink to the good health and happiness of all my better-organized friends.

Cheers!