Chattering Teeth

Tell me, anyone reading this...do people still laugh in the outside world? I miss the laughter.

Day Three of the upstairs vigil continues. It is, quite literally, warmer outside than it is in the downstairs of our home. Walking from the heated upstairs down our staircase, the chill hits you on the third step. By the time you get to the bottom, you are squealing and racing for whatever it is you ventured down for, the only thought in your mind to return--as fast as possible--to the upstairs warmth.

(Oh, excuse moi. My husband passed by and wants it noted for the record that he does NOT "squeal" and "race." Fine, it's just me).

I think it's in the mid-40's downstairs. My husband rolls his eyes and says I'm exaggerating and that it's more likely in the low to mid-50's. However, this is coming from someone who I could probably use to solar power our home. When we're in bed at night, I don't even have to touch him to receive warmth. I can hold my hand about 3 inches from his back and feel the heat radiating from him (This is what I do at night when he's asleep and I'm bored).

So the fact that Mr. Sun thinks it's mid-50's means it must really be in the low 30's down there.

The part is supposed to be in at noon tomorrow. Or rather, that's what time they said to call and see if it's in. They're toying with me. They know I have no heat and am fully dependent on them so what am I going to do about the wait? Cop an attitude? I think not.

The cats are a little freaked out that we don't leave the upstairs. Too much together time is apparently not a happy thing for our furry friends.

So I leave you now. But think of me, trapped in my attic, as you enjoy the full reign of your house.

Lucky bas---s.

Dena

Muy Frio

Our heat went out late yesterday afternoon and it's just like our first year in the house--we're broke and freezing our asses off.

When we moved, almost ten years ago, into our 1907 home with the 6 fireplaces (none of which are operational), we were enchanted with the high ceilings, crown molding, and hardwood floors. Being young first time home buyers, it didn't occur to us to check out those pesky little details like heat and plumbing.

The home had oil heat that came up from floorboard heaters in every room of the house. At least, that was where the heat was supposed to come from. Our first winter in the home we couldn't get the thermostat above 52 degrees. We carried room heaters with us from room to room, barricading ourselves in the living room with the doors shut and heater cranked, only the tops of our eyes emerging from blankets. It was a hard winter with more snowstorms than NC had seen in years. Normally a huge fan of snowdays, I remember being depressed one such day because it meant I couldn't go to work and be warm.

This time around we're in much better shape. We've since done over our attic space into an office, sitting area, bath, and guest bedroom and have a separate heating/ac unit upstairs. So last night when the repairman informed us the little wheel thingee isn't cranking anymore (he was more detailed, but that's all I remember) and that replacement parts won't be in until Monday, we grabbed our pj's, the cats, several good books and headed upstairs. Coming downstairs this morning into the icy cold was a bit of shock, but we cranked the oven and opened the door, set up the bathroom heater, ran long, hot showers, and we're good to go.

I do want to see a TV program tonight though, and the TV is downstairs. So I'll pull out the blankets, mittens, and extra space heaters so we can warm the room up enough to enjoy.

It will be romantic. Just like the good old days.

What You Don't Know About Me

I have a dirty little secret. It's called The Gilmore Girls.

That's right. You heard me. I like the Gilmore Girls. No, not just like, but LOVE. Lorilai, Rory, Suki, Luke, the whole Stars Hollow gang--I love them all. It's my happy show.

Other poor TV choices of mine include Survivor (all the people on every season annoy the hell out of me but I haven't missed a season yet), The Amazing Race (I have to stay up an extra hour past my bedtime after the show ends b/c I'm so emotionally drained after each episode), and--God help me--American Idol. There's no excuse for that last one. It's just sad.

I have comfort movies too. My all-time favorite movies are Terms of Endearment, Children of a Lesser God, Pride & Prejudice, and The Sound of Music. Not bad choices. However, when I'm sick with a stuffy head and it hurts to read or think, there is one movie I turn to to make me feel better....

SHAG-THE MOVIE.

Can't help it. Something about bad art makes me feel better. Plus, I want to be pretty like Phoebe Cates.

And quickly becoming a new favorite of mine is Napoleon Dynamite. We broke down and bought the DVD. Now whenever we're in a store and we pass some particularly tacky item I nudge my husband and whisper menancingly, "I want that." (See scene with clipper ship).

Improv class wrapped up last night. I was told I catch on quickly to what's supposed to be done, but I need to work more on the mechanics of each doing it. Seems I'm a little uptight. Imagine that.

I've got great info for an article comparing the art of Improv to the art of writing though. One more thing for the "must get done now list."

Meeting a friend for coffee this morning so off I go. Everyone have a great day.

Excellence On Demand

Here's my favorite part of being a writer: having to be creative on demand.

I'm writing a speech for a company and have been staring at my computer like a dullard for the last two hours. I'm trying to come up with a genius way of explaining a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis that will both engage and amaze an audience.

So far, nothing.

I've learned not to panic. It will come, usually at some inopportune time like when I'm in the shower far away from pen and paper or when I'm half asleep. I'd rather have the shower. When I'm half asleep I always manage to convince myself I'll remember the solution I thought of and then I wake up the next morning and find all I remember is that I had a great solution, but retain no clue as to what it might have been. This has happened more times than I care to recall. I've probably lost my chance at winning the Nobel prize because I didn't feel like sitting up and turning on the light.

My problem is I'm not patient. I want the answer to my problem NOW so I can finish the speech, e-mail it off, and move in a nice linear fashion to the next item on my never-ending "to do" list. (In case you can't tell, I'm a big fan of checkmarks).

It's so odd I'm a writer. I've never thought of myself as a creative person. I can't sing, draw, act, paint, sculpture, dance, or some days even walk in a straight line. Some of my writer friends are what I call the dreamy variety. That means they sit in front of me and sip coffee out of big mugs and wear far-off expressions and say things like, "If I didn't write, I'd die! It's like the words are in my blood and I just have to get them out on paper. I have no control--they just come flowing out of me."

Yes. I'd like to beat these people with a sharp stick.

I rarely have that feeling that the words must come pouring out of me. My feeling is usually more one of, "I conned my husband into letting me stay home and work as a writer so perhaps I should scribble something down to at least make it look like I'm trying."

Writing for me is like exercise. I don't enjoy doing it, but I LOVE the feeling when I'm done. I think that's why I'll make it as a writer. I have a stick-to-it-ness that I think is necessary for the craft. I enjoy the challenge.

It's like being a vegetarian. I don't eat meat because I think it's insane the cruelty we subject animals to before we eat them, and I really don't think eating semi-tortured animal meat can be good for your body. But aside from the moral issue, there is also a big ego part of me that likes being vegetarian because it's something not everyone can do. Some people just don't have the willpower for it and I do and I LIKE that feeling.

That's how it is with writing. I may not be the fastest or the most creative but I DO it, and a lot of people out there claiming they want to be writers don't have the willpower for it.

All that being said and done, if anyone out there has any good ideas on how to talk about a SWOT analysis, how about e-mailing me? If I don't get back to you right away, it's because I'm sleeping or in the shower.