I am attempting to make up a countdown list of things to do before I get overwhelmed by my Christmas list.  These are all things that need to be done before Christmas... my list of things to do after Christmas is not quite as long, but it will probably grow before things settle down for the new year.  I think you all know where I am coming from on this, little bro will be arriving at midnight on the 22nd (actually 23rd, if you want to get picky) and, as usual, his feet will be moving before the plane lands.  He will get a few hours of sleep, grab something to eat, and go Christmas shopping.

I am going over the 75% mark on the writing of Hunter’s Challenge and, if all goes well, I should have it done in time for Christmas.  Even if I am not Eniko won’t see it until January because it will have to be reworked.  I know what is going to be in the rest of it, so writing it won’t be the stickler, finding time to settle down to it will.  Today I am pre-making all the ingredients that will be needed to put the pies together the day before Christmas.  That won’t take as much time as gathering the will to do it with will.  (not to mention the chance, as the gruesome twosome chases back and forth across the house).  Yes, the challenge is, to keep Thena off the cupboard while I try to roll out the dough for the pies.  I figured, 3 years ago, that if the different companies can roll out their dough ahead of time, then place them into pie shells to be used later, so can I.  (and it works).  

Tath and Thena don’t know it yet, but they are getting company today.  My niece is coming, and she is bringing her 3 cats and 2 pugs.  There will be no safe place in the house for the next 24 hrs…. yes, they will all be having a hissing good time.  I can just see it now… Thena will be ready to rumble, and Tath will go hide, especially as they both know that it will be nail trimming time as well.  The air will be blue when that gets done... Thena’s language can make a sailor blush.  No, she does not like to get her nails done, and yes, she is not shy about letting you know about it.

I have almost finished all my Christmas shopping.  (at least I think I have.)  The pre-ordered arc copies of Tratchars have been sent off, except for a couple.  This time it is the Canadian copies that were late getting off, they haven’t gotten here from the printer yet.  I have been informed that the final edit for Earwen’s Song will be returned next week for my attention as early as Monday.., which means we all know what I will be doing that day.  It will then get shipped off for formatting.  (Good thing there is no rush on that.)  Into the Demons Lair will arrive sometime shortly after the holiday, or during it… not sure there, and go straight into Morganna’s hands, after I am through with it.  I am assuming that it will be ready to go into formatting by the end of February, or thereabouts.  By then the 2 short stories and Hunter’s Challenge will be working their way down the editing lineup.  By that time, I will be working on Kings of the Empire. 

Well, I should let everyone free to tend to their own lists, I am sure we all have them at this time of the year.  Enjoy your shopping, and the weather, which has been great here lately, but is now cooling off.  It is supposed to be winter, after all, and this is Canada.  We are at a point of saying that if we don’t get snow before Christmas, we will barely qualify for having a white Christmas.  Wishing everyone a great one for now, and dry roads, I am off and running, I want to get those pies rolled out before the extra 3 cats come to help Tath and Thena.