I finished it–finally! Mansfield Park is now under my literary belt. And I enjoyed it. Not so much as Pride & Prejudice, but hey, it’s Austen. Next year I’m targeting Northanger Abbey and Sense & Sensibility (squeezing them in amidst all those other must-read books).

Just got back inside, having been in charge of ‘holding the ladder’ for my husband as he climbed up to put uber-bright and colorful LED lights on our house. I’m free-ee-zing, and it’s only forty-five or so degrees out there. But our house looks very festive now. I still have to add the mini white doves in the holly tree and my wreath to the door, but other than that, we’re ready. Inside is also done and it seems a lot more crowded in here now–Christmas stuff crammed in to all the main living areas. I love looking at the lights on the tree. My MIL gave me a tree-spinner a few years ago, so we turn in on and watch it spin and it’s just lovely.

I braved the mall today–too many gifts unaccounted for–and shockingly, I forgot until I was at the mall that there were going to be crowds. I figured it for any other shopping day. And mostly it wasn’t bad–parking was the worst thing about it–particularly as I scored a number of good gifts. Yay! I’m still not quite finished though, so I may be going out tomorrow too even though it’s been slated as a day to write (and clean the bathrooms).

I’m working on a difficult chapter right now, and am anxious to hammer it out. My CP has read several versions and insists that none of them are quite right, none of them are as interesting as they should be…that I’m losing momentum I’d been building, etc. So I’m really trying to tread carefully, getting just the right balance. And so far, I’m not sure I’m accomplishing it. I did only have one hour today, so I can’t quibble too much. Hopefully tomorrow I’ll hit the target.

Once again, writing and reading are coming last. I am still trying to finish Mansfield Park. Since it was a library book, kinda falling apart, and sort of a full-attention read, I didn’t bring it along to S.C. I wouldn’t have gotten much reading in anyway. I only read about twenty-five pages of the new Eloisa James novel. I was busy watching performances by my niece, reading stories, getting a makeover (by my niece), and having a pretend sleepover. And even now I’m having trouble finishing. I have only about forty or fifty pages left, but whenever I get the chance to read, I’m so tired, my eyes are falling closed. This weekend though, definitely. I’m going to finish it.

Writing has actually been going a little bettter. I hardly have any time for it, but I’m trying to squeeze in a half hour here and there, and it’s almost as if the pressure has fallen away. I don’t expect to accomplish much, so when I get some good editing time in, I’m actually very satified. My goal is to keep this up for the weekend. I’m hoping to decorate the house for Christmas (and deal with a hundred other things), so maybe I’ll just sneak in to the computer every few hours and try to make a little progress. It’s all I can hope for right now, I think. I knew it would come down to this–December is just crazy.

I took my son to the orthopedist today and his diagnosis was confirmed. The bright spot was that they trimmed down (cut in half) one of their padded slings that gets held in place with Velcro, and he seems to be much happier with this arrangement. Particularly because it’s black (one of his favorite colors–think Darth Vader), and it doesn’t have silly animals on it. There’s a Velcro strap wrapped around his body in place of the Ace bandage (which I prefer, not having to deal with those little metal clips–whatever they’re called). So today he’s in a better mood. So I’m in a better mood.

Now…before my boys come running in, I’m going back to write (revise) for a few minutes. Have a great weekend!

I spent the morning at the doctor’s office with the little one, discovering that his arm is broken. He fell out of a hammock over Thanksgiving week and his brother landed on top of him. He complained and cried for a little bit, but we assumed it was just bruised and tried to be careful of it. But finally, I decided to make an appointment.

My son was it tip-top spirits through it all–even through the discovery of the break–until it was time to don the Ace bandage, wrapped around his chest and arm and the teeny, tiny little sling. Then he bawled, and it was so pitiful. He had all these ideas in his head that he’d suddenly become some sort of outcast, and that people wouldn’t like him, wouldn’t talk to him, would make fun of him.

Of course it didn’t help that when I walked him into class they all swarmed around him. But it was actually sweet. They were all clearly concerned about him (and of course curious). Hopefully it goes well. He’s supposed to keep the arm at a ninety-degree angle across his chest, but before I dropped him off, he was constantly using the arm in a sling as sort of handhold, thereby pulling it down.

Ugh. I dread tonight…