*Titled as such even though I prefer tea because saying “if we were having tea” sounds so high brow for a Midwestern American, even if I am an Anglophile.

Ah, yes! Another round of If We Were Having Coffee! This is mostly a moment to vent my thanks (and frustration) over the many blessings (and woes) of the last few months. Grab some coffee, tea, or cocoa, and let’s get started…

If we were having coffee…I’d tell you how thrilled I am to not be working in retail this holiday season. Normally December marks the beginning of the never-ending cold (which would lead to the never-ending inability to speak) and constant crankiness and general overwhelming stress. And though I do have some stressors this December, it has nothing to do with customers, illnesses, tinny pop Christmas tunes butchering the ears, management, etc. I don’t know how I lived through four Christmases in retail. It’s like selling your soul.

To all of you who work retail, I am sending you good health and strength to maintain cheerfulness, and I hope you have beautiful, marvelous customers walking through the store’s doors!

If we were having coffee…I would gush about how exciting it is to feel established in the library position. I’m ordering bookmarks for my Top 10 Favorite Adult Fiction Reads in 2016 to use on the staff display, preparing the book club’s list of reads for 2017 (that amazing group chose some great books to read and discuss, and I can’t wait to get started), creating displays to set up throughout the year, and looking forward to Genre Study’s (librarian book club) mystery reads in 2017!

If we were having coffee…I’d tell you that it’s been an absolute nightmare trying to move into this apartment. Back in November, I provided the complex with all the material they needed with my application, and was told I could move in December 1. On November 30, when I still hadn’t heard from them about picking up the keys and signing the lease, I found out they needed more material from me. (Apparently they’d only just realized I’d marked “self-employed” on my application along with the library position, and that requires a lot of paperwork proving I’m a good citizen who pays taxes and doesn’t lie.) This means my move-in date has been delayed till just before Christmas. Hurray! Let’s add on some more tight schedules to the already packed holiday season!

*pours Baileys into cocoa*

If we were having coffee…I’d tell you that despite my frustration with the maybe-move, my generous and loving parents have been very supportive, and the Beau has been incredibly helpful throughout all of this. We’ve moved the boxes and furniture around in the living room to fit the tree. The Beau has indulged me with chocolates and French vanilla and caramel cocoas, watched children’s Christmas movies with me, and lets me spend my agent days at his place so I don’t fall behind on work or stare woefully at all of my packed belongings.

*adds marshmallows to the cocoa*

If we were having coffee…I’d tell you about a neat opportunity I had with choir. Normally the section leaders sing one particular service at church as a small chamber choir. They were low on altos (I’m a mezzo soprano and have a weird range) and the director specifically requested that I join for the semester and into the Christmas season. It’s been a lovely experience and a joy to sing with people who, you know, have degrees in music.

If we were having coffee…I would gush about Tara Sim’s success with Timekeeper! She’s appearing on so many “Best of” and “Top” lists, and the overwhelmingly positive response to her book is fantastic. I’m also very excited for Jared Reck’s A Short History of the Girl Next Door, and all the work going on behind the scenes right now. His cover is gorgeous and so perfect for the novel, too!

It’s not a massive update, but one I still wanted to share regardless. The holiday season can add so much stress, both good and bad, and even though things are okay on my end, you’re more than welcome to reach out and chat about yours! I do my best to find a silver lining in things, and though I’m very frustrated with the apartment situation, I know I’m surrounded by good people who will not leave me out in the cold.

If we were having coffee, what would we talk about? Let’s chat!