posted: December 23, 2001
Thank the gods.
If I had to endure such a combination of saccharine sentiment and performance pressure more than that, I'd be in the bin. I like reindeer. I like lights. I like silly songs and hot apple cider. At the moment, I can't say I like Elves very much, but that's probably because they have been visited upon me recently by a project employer with the same degree of resultant joy as being kept in a dank cave and fed only crackers and stagnant water for a month while enduring endless lectures on statistics and demography. I'd rather have gone to the dentist every day for a week.
Work has been a bit hectic, but I don't know anyone who doesn't find themselves under pressure to "do this one more thing before the holidays" so I can hardly complain. Well, I can, but it's not unique, so what's the point? I have been beavering away with another Fantasy project while attempting to go Christmas shopping, and that has been a bit odd.
I suppose the clerks in the shops must have found my muttering "werewolves and vampires and org charts, oh my..." under my breath somewhat disconcerting. I knew I was in trouble when I started wondering what to buy the fictional characters for Christmas. Really, what does one get for a despotic vampire, a psycho mercenary and an Elven assassin? Body amour? or chocolates? Do you invite the alpha werewolf to the Christmas party? Send Christmas cards to the drug lords and crime bosses?
And then I had to shift gears and buy presents for one-year-old twins and seven nieces and nephews. I hope their parents won't mind the hand grenades....
I wrote this just after completing the cultural background for Moon Elves and while still working on a now-defunct noir fantasy project.
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