Bring it On

I made it past the dreaded Christmas holiday. Chris and I celebrated in our usual fashion--we call it "Mas Chris" (Spanish for "more Chris" --you got that right?) and just let it be all about him. Although, he, as is our tradition, was the one in the kitchen whipping up a pan of mouth-wateringly good paella and pouring the Tempranillo. We also have a custom of sipping on some Madera wine from 1904. Yes, 1904. The wine keeps that long (and after the bottle is opened as well...it's like magic wine!).  Throw in a fews books, a nice fire going, a snuggly beagle on his cashmere throw on the couch...and yeah, we survived nicely.

And now, on New Year's Eve, I'm very much in my happy place. My happy place looks a lot  exactly like this:

This is Wind 'N' Sea beach in La Jolla, California. Truly one of my favorite places on earth. I took these photos (with my cell phone no less) on my walk this morning. I'm here in a friends condo, finishing up the manuscript for "The Dog Lived (and So Will I)" memoir.  (4 days to deadline!)

Walking the beach is good for the creative (and all other types of) energy. And today on my walk I encountered at least six puppies (Christmas gifts?) and a whole bunch of adult dogs. Dogs on a beach? Pretty much my favorite thing.

2 Cavalier King Charles spaniel puppies with their moms (dog and human!) on the beach

And in a few short hours my favorite person on earth will be joining me. Not a bad way to end 2011.

As for 2012? Bring it on. 

Happy New Year to all!

P.S. The savvy readers among you at this point are thinking, "Wasn't she just in Maui?" And the answer is yes. I have very kind, very generous clients who share their beautiful vacation homes with me from time to time and all seem to want to help me get this memoir finished. I am rich in friends. But, um, I better get back to work on that memoir lest they all think I'm a fraud!