Blog Post No. 474
It’s hard to not write a post about the holidays, especially since this post is coming out just days before Christmas (which is the holiday I celebrate each year). Writing a seasonal post is becoming a bit of a tradition (like my little birthday and yearly look forward and back posts). I try to keep things interesting, especially with repeat type posts like this one. There is only so much to say about the end of the year holidays and I may have said it all, already. But, let’s see if I have anything new to add. Continue reading “Holiday Season”
I have a terrible memory. Which is funny since a lot of my posts over the last few years have been about me looking back on my past. But really, outside of a general vague sense of my childhood, I have a handful of vivid memories that stand out. For some reason (or several reasons more likely) a number of those memories are about Halloween. Sure, Halloween is over, but I’m on a roll with these posts about my personal past and I hate how the minute November starts it’s somehow Christmas season already. So I’m dragging my feet and trying to keep October alive for one more week. The biggest reason is likely that I love the holiday. I’ve loved it ever since I was a child. It was like Christmas but without the obligations. Halloween is a real holiday for kids (and drunken adults, I suppose). 
Welcome to the last post of 2020. This is when I traditionally write about my plans for next year. Before I got started, I went back and read over my last 
As a child, Christmas was a magical time. I distinctly remember staring at the clock, waiting for it to be early enough for me to get out of bed and go dig through my stocking while my parents somehow pulled themselves out of bed and got ready for the day. (I say somehow from the perspective as an adult now looking back). I always had trouble sleeping. Many nights little Ben would sit up in his bed quietly playing with stuffed animals or listening to tapes on his Realistic tape recorder. (I spent too much time looking for the exact model and I think it was this Radio Shack one). On Christmas nights, I don’t think I slept at all. 
No, I’m not talking about Hanukkah. For those who are celebrating next week, I hope it’s great. For me, the next eight days are my time off. Every year between Christmas and the New Year, my day job is closed. The actual dates fluctuate and since we are a rental facility, there are always a few shifts during that period, but, we are closed for the regular staffed hours. This year, we are closed from the 25th to the 2nd (the 2nd is our de-decorating shift). I have from tomorrow until the 28th before I have to go back. There’s Christmas in there and I’m definitely going to take at least one day to do nothing but play video games with my brother, but the rest of the time is free to work. 
Last week I was invited to a last minute event at 
After a less than stellar summer of writing, I managed to pick things up over the last few months. Christian and I were both coming to the end of our individual projects, so we made an effort to get together when we could and work. I managed to get the first draft of Neon Heart done that way. I put that aside for a few weeks in order to start my novel and give myself some time and space from the novella so I can be very critical when I went back to it. I intended to hit it hard starting on December first (putting the novel aside for the month and getting back to it in the new year. The problem with that plan is that, not only am I really lazy, but the day job decided that I shouldn’t be aloud to do anything but work there (and suffer). 
Did you know it’s already December? It took me by surprise. Christmas is three weeks away. Thankfully I am just about done everything I need to do for that. (One present to go. It’s been a bit of a challenge to track down). Even though the book is out (The new Crime Anthology, All These Crooked Streets) the launch is over, and the ChiSeries is done for the year, I haven’t had a chance to take a break. That is, I have so much work still to do that I shouldn’t have blown off most of last weekend (which I did) because the Day Job continues to sap every ounce of my energy. But that’s as lame an excuse as I’ve heard, so I’ll just say I slacked off even with a bunch of pressing deadlines quickly approaching with the end of the year close behind. 
So, Christmas is imminent. It’s a couple days away, and there is nothing I can do to stop it. At this point, there isn’t much point in trying. Most of the crap stuff is over and the actual day isn’t the issue (for me). I quite like spending time with my family, and Christmas is as good a time as any. Plus, I get fed like a champ and get to hang out with my nephew. Never not good. Before I get too far into this post, I want to point out that I have no intention of trivializing those who actually suffer over the holidays. I’m actually a pretty happy guy who has a close, supporting, loving family. While there are parts of Christmas that drive my crazy, I’ve really got it easy. 
Ben Van Dongen 