Let the festivities commence!

Guess what, everyone!? I have off for Christmas break!

Sound the trumpets, ring the bells, burst out into spontaneous song! Nothing but Christmas spirit, New Year shenanigans, and other festive activities to come! Wondering what's on my agenda? I shall tell you!

1. Eat food. Not just any food, mind you. This morning, two giant muffin/scone/bagel/cookie baskets arrived from my favorite local restaurant. One of them was delivered by a classmate, and I was conveniently still moping around in my Disney princess pajamas, so naturally I stayed in the kitchen while my mom did all the talking. Regardless, our fridge is overflowing with baked goods. AND I CAN'T EAT ANY OF IT. I gave up dessert for Advent, and I am counting down the minutes until I can feast on scones and tea.
2.  Do homework. Yes, I have it. My AP Government teacher assigned us the biggest chapter of the year to do over break. Hoping to knock that one out ASAP...
3. Watch Downton re-runs (specifically, ones with William Mason in them). My mother and sister may be in love with Matthew Crawley, Tom Branson may be Dreamy McFly, but William is where it's at. I like to pretend Season 2 never happened, we're happily engaged, and I own a horse. Cuz he's good with horses and I always wanted a horse so therefore I should have a horse. Did I mention we're engaged?

I've been in love with him since he walked on camera for all of thirty seconds in the first episode. Even though my sisters tease him relentlessly, he's still #1.
4. Watch Emma. My friend Anna got it for my sister and I for Christmas. We opened it in my car, started screaming, and called Anna on the phone and left her a message of us screaming.
5. Celebrate Christmas, of course! That means attending Mass several times over, opening gifts, rocking out to Christmas carols, having my best friends' family over, and watching the Doctor Who Christmas special. Which leads us to 6...
6. Freak out over Doctor Who. New companion. New outfit. New theme song. New TARDIS. Should I go on?

8. Have a Happy New Year. We're visiting two different sets of cousins, which means an excursion to the beautiful Longwood Gardens followed by a murder mystery dinner theater. *sigh* Holidays are great.
7. WRITE! Most of my free time is merely an illusion, even during break, but that doesn't mean I'm not fitting in time to write! In fact, I'm planning a session for this evening. I do best just before bed... Too tired to criticize myself, my mind filled with the stuff of dreams. My best work comes after midnight.

How about you? Any plans for the break?

Home is behind...

... the world, ahead. (J.R.R. Tolkien)

Be careful with those plates.

And before you ask, I haven't seen The Hobbit yet, yes, I know Martin Freeman is in it, and so is Benedict Cumberbatch, and Richard Armitage, please stop rubbing it in. Thank you.

Good song, eh? I know, I have impeccable taste. Just wait til you see what little gem I have for you at the bottom of this post. DON'T SKIP AHEAD. Ruins the surprise. Kind of like peeking at your gifts before Christmas.

Speaking of Christmas, I love it. I have been one big bowl of Christmas spirit. I smile my face off at store employees and wish anyone and everyone a merry one. (Tongue twister?) I have baked 3 batches of snickerdoodle bars, with more to come. I've been singing, wrapping, and shopping like a sir. How are YOU getting in the Christmas spirit?

Speaking of Christmas spirits, I tried to impart my love of A Christmas Carol on my 5th grade co-op class today. I think I scared them a little with my random outburst of "MANDKIND WAS MY BUSINESS!" and the video clip of Marley's ghost.

But seriously. I'm supposed to be talking about my writing, right? Welp, I chose my title for today for a reason. Home is behind, the world is ahead. At least, it feels like it for me. I'm sticking my head out a little further of my shell and writing a good deal more now that NaNo is over. I really needed November to jumpstart my love of writing once more, and I've churned out a little over 1,000 words in the past two days.

The good news? It isn't all terrible. I mean, I really like what I've written. There was a bit about voices being snipped like thread (copyright, property of ME)... Good stuff! The bad news? I have no idea where I'm headed. That's where the world part comes in. I feel like Bilbo Baggins, leaving the comfort of the Shire and delving into the wild world. I don't know what's coming. I know what my ultimate goal is (*ahem* eventually publish something), but there are all these obstacles and side adventures, if I may call them "side adventures". Maybe I'll encounter goblins. Or Gollums. Or Rings of Power. Who knows!? I certainly don't! Until I figure it out, I will keep reading, keep researching, and keep listening to Bing Crosby Christmas songs until the cows come home.

Now, for that little present I promised you. Behold: my childhood!!!

If I ever fell ill, if I ever grew bored, the 1977 Hobbit awaited me. I had nightmares about Smaug coming to eat me, lived in perpetual terror of the goblin song, and didn't understand half of what was going on, but nonetheless I have seen this film multiple times. So yeah, Merry Christmas. Enjoy!

Just envision Sherlock and Watson saying these lines. I think I just took care of your Happy New Year too. You're welcome.