Don't mind my hat. It keeps the chipmunks away.

Wheeeehehehehe.....

I've gone a bit loonie.  Loonie? Like the coin? Yes! Mad for money! Mwhahahaha. Or just looney, either way.

In order to accomplish one more thing in the year 2011, I've decided to attempt a mad dash to the end of my novel. At 88,500 words the end is in sight so, of course, as when all things are going well, I've slipped into the hair-pulling "This is a load of garbage" phase of writing. It's all good though. I'm choosing to ignore it. That bit comes later.

My mum is helping me a lot by respecting my chosen temporary isolation - which she reminds me of during her daily telephone calls.

My father keeps trying to tell me, "But it's Christmas, a time for your family. Why don't you want to have dinner?"  My reply to him is: "No, it's crunch time, but I can see where you're getting confused."

My friends are asking me to go last minute shopping with them, but I turn that down as well - which I do feel bad about, because I haven't really done much of mine yet either ("On the 22nd of December??" Shh...it's okay. I've got it all planned out.)

So I want to thank all my family and friends for their patience. For accepting my obsessive time management, and constant scribbling on little pieces of paper during conversation; for overlooking my sudden lapses into thought in the middle of a conversation; for disappearing from all social connection.

I miss you guys, love you all, and I wouldn't be nearly this close to finishing if it weren't for you. See you all in 2012! (And Christmas dinner. I wouldn't miss that.)