Most of the family just left. My daughter, her best friend, and the friend's baby are still here. It's starting to feel calm now.
We had both our sons, our daughter-in-law, and three grandkids for several hours. There was so much food that we're all stuffed. Leftovers abound for tomorrow.
If you're not an introvert you'll never understand, but we can be good in crowds. It's easier when you have familiarity with those in the crowd. There comes a time when you need the silence to recharge your batteries. That's where I am right now.
Christmas was wonderful, and everyone seemed like they received some very nice gifts. I particularly like my new Doc Marten shoes, a stoneware baking pan, and leather card wallet.
As nice as Christmas is, I'm glad to be finished with it. I enjoy a day or two of Christmas music, but over two months gets to be a little much. Maybe now we can retire the Hallmark Channel for another year. I won't miss all those advertisements that indicate everyone else is getting diamonds and automobiles for Christmas, and therefore I'm a slacker.
We've had cartoons on all day for the grandkids. I may need to watch some chainsaw massacres to balance my emotions out.
The Lisa & Bunny Christmas card post was well received. I may have to consider another one next year.
I don't know if I can steal any editing or writing time tomorrow, but I'd like to. How did Santa Claus treat everyone in Blogland?
Entertaining Stories 
Things were surprisingly busy for not doing anything, but my mom is recovering from elbow surgery. Think the weekend and next week will be a little calmer. Then again, I do have the book coming out next week, so don’t quote me on that.
I know what you mean about familiar crowds and then needing some silent days to recharge. Never watched the Hallmark Channel. What’s on that?
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I’m ready to host you whenever you say. Hallmark is nothing but romance type stories. Christmas ones this time of year.
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I’m waiting to see what happens with a potential family outing next week. My plan is to have things ready to go by Tuesday. The thing is that I signed up for early January promo stuff, so I need to publish before then to get the link. Really hoping ‘Crossing Bedlam’ runs smoother.
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I’m in the habit of getting artwork in hand, then writing blog tour type stuff, and only then moving towards publishing. These days I need to write a few from Lisa’s POV since she gets lots of invites. I already have two posters of her to promote my next book, but I don’t have the cover yet.
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I was thinking of doing that, but the January promo slots were getting claimed on the sites. Need to take advantage of being a new release, which only lasts for 30 days. Should be easier on the next few books.
Very cool about the posters. How many uses to you get out of each Lisa picture?
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Some of them are book specific. I cropped a few and re-used them anyway. The paper doll face, in front of some flames, made a great Twitter image to promote Notebook.
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Cool. Great to have multiple uses for a promo. 🙂
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We had a nice quiet Christmas. Not too many gifts, but very thoughtful ones.
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Sounds wonderful to me.
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Merry Christmas!
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We had two Christmas dinners this year. The first was with my dad’s wife and one of his old friends (dad passed away in April) and my daughter and her family…it was all about the kids…a big ham with all the trimmings. Tonight it was friends and family, my husband’s brother and his girlfriend, my stepson, my dad’s wife and his friend, one of my girlfriends from my nursing years and her 81 year old ex husband who is twenty years older than her. We were having a really good time and after desert decided to take a walk down the street to see the four choo-choo-s a man runs in his yard every Christmas. Walking back, half the party got lost, took a wrong turn, I had to take the truck out looking for them…but it ended well. Just another story to tell next year.
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We’re there adult beverages involved before the train watching? We had a traditional to us breakfast that involves a very rich deviled egg casserole. The kids opened presents. We came home, opened ours and started cooking. Our dinner was a fabulous prime rib roast. No shortage of leftovers around here.
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Oh yeah…tonight was filet mignon and crab legs. Can’t go wrong there 🙂
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Glad to hear you had a good time it was mad here too though only four of us yesterday off to see the youngest son and his family today there will be 7 of us today. Arrrrrrrrrrgh! Xxxxx
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For introverts even a few hours between can be very helpful. Maybe it’s a nice drive, then you’ll be on point for the family.
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Hey Craig, glas you had a good day. We had a fun filled family day with little Bean delighting in a new puzzle, Duplo and a box full of wrapping paper. I agree that time to withdraw and reflect is a must. I too need some research time and I’m sure I’ll find it at some point but today it’s a Boxing Day walk by the coast 🙂
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That sounds nice, depending on weather. Even an hour or two helps reset for the next appearance.
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We do not celebrate Christmas, of course, but had a rigorous walk up the mountain and dined at an amazing restaurant near the top – completely off the beaten track and with glorious views across the valley – even without snow, Italy is beautiful! I burned a ton of calories, but probably ate more… LOL Our family vacation is flying by so fast! Glad to see you are also enjoying family time… There’s nothing quite like it!
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Sounds wonderful to me.
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I know exactly what you mean. Its wonderful to be surrounded by loved ones, but you need the quiet time just to breathe when they are gone. At least, that’s how I always feel. I dont do crowds. I avoid large events because I just can’t handle masses of humans squeezed into one place. I dont freak out or anything. I just prefer wide open spaces. Empty ones. 😁 This Christmas was just how I like it… me, the hubby, kids and dog. New Year will be wilder; we have the tradition where a good friend and her kids come over for a few days. The kids all run wild together, and lots of good food and wine is consumed. My friend and I always get out for a walk round some ancient place or other, no matter the weather. I’m looking forward to it, although I know I will welcome in the quietness as the New year begins, when they have gone.
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That’s pretty similar to my style. Ebb and flow is wonderful. Flow all the time doesn’t work for me.
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Yeah, great way of putting it Craig!
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Quiet Christmas here – ‘drugged’ the dogs with tons of yummy treats as it was too wet and muddy to go outside much. Even though this is my first season totally on my own, I managed to have a good time, some lovely food and an orgiastic Star Wars stack (movies 1-6) to work my way through with no interruptions from ‘company’ – Perfect for the Queen of Solitude! 😀
I also finally managed to finish off the presents (delayed due to an ‘on demand’ – durr!!! ink cartridge crisis) ready for the family dinner date tomorrow, so the rest of this week is now all about me, me, me! I may even finish my anthology… 😛
Have a lovely quiet holiday week in the run-up to 2016 and a wonderful, fun-packed NY! 🙂
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I’m jealous of all that quiet time. I get mine in half hour bits here and there.
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True, indeed, Craig!
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We don’t really get “stuff” for Xmas until we get to MIL’s. I’m hoping for a ceramic teapot this year. Of course, if I don’t get one, I do have the Xmas cash my daddy sent, lol!
My mother mails handmade stuffs, so I’ve got a lil snowman ensemble and my favorite confections 🙂
The kids get actual gifts from everyone, though, and that’s the part I enjoy the most. Their happy faces 😀 The boy one even brought them a gift this year, so I guess he’s getting quite big 😉
I’ll need the downtime probably three times in the next week. After my nephews leave, after Xmas at MIL’s and after everyone has come here for a gathering.
It was a lovely day, Craig, and I’m glad you enjoyed yours as well!
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So what’s a gal got to do to get that deviled egg thingy recipe Craig? Sounds yummy! So glad your holiday allowed some down time. I’ve never thought of myself as an introvert, but I “get” the bit about familiar crowds. I’m much happier with people I already know, but sometimes even they are too much.
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Drop me an email at coldhand (dot) boyack (at) gmail (dot) com. I’ll type one out for you.
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Awesome! I’ll do that soon, thanks Craig!
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It’s great when they visit; equally great when they leave. Totally understand.
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