Definition of insanity: Doing the same thing over and over, and expecting a different result.

When the results you get are not the ones you wanted, it's time to try different things. This can start very small; if a major overthrow of the system seems too traumatic to contemplate, think of a small change you could make. Maybe a small change in writing process, or how you begin your day. Make a minor adjustment. Big change can begin with a tiny effort.

I do have some writing-related posts coming up, on writing discipline, sanity, and sustainability. But for today, a parenting bit.

We spent the first five years of parenting reading various books, laughing hysterically, and asking why nothing worked.

You can bid on four signed books from me to benefit Jo Leigh!

I'm not really here, I'm writing. But popping up to say author Jo Leigh's benefit auction is now live. Proceeds go to help with medical debt from her late husband's lost battle with cancer. If you'd like to give a real gift of love this season, please consider buying something from the benefit auction. (Link via PBW)

And at the top of my list, two healthy kids. Happy Thanksgiving and a safe weekend to all those traveling.

My weekend has been full. Kids, house, laundry (oh the laundry), changing sheets, final pre-turkey shopping, cleaning things that held still and bathing things that didn't. Today I decided why wait until Thursday to eat the good stuff and put the ham in the oven with baked brie and put mashed taters and green beans on the stovetop. I mean, the point of Thanksgiving is the leftovers. As in days when I don't have to cook and nobody cares! I'm all for starting the season of no cooking with no repercussions early.

The Typealizer diagnosed my blog as belonging to an ESFP: The Performers

People thought I was nuts, writing novels with infants under foot, then toddlers. "You'll have more time when they're older," people said to me. Ha. I knew that was a Writer Myth. When you have an infant, maybe you only get 5 hours of sleep on a good night, but they nap twice a day and go to bed early. That's prime writing time, right there. Assuming you can stay awake, which I managed to do more often than not assisted by the power of caffeine and the astounding cost of raising small people. (Writing time is money when it's what you get paid for.)

"In the midst of the word he was trying to say,
In the midst of his laughter and glee,
He had softly and suddenly vanished away---
For the Snark *was* a Boojum, you see." - Lewis Carroll, The Hunting of the Snark

I haven't softly and suddenly vanished away, but no time or brain cells for blogging. I have to steal time to brush my teeth around here. But go read Lewis Carroll, he's a genius.

"To seek it with thimbles, to seek it with care;
To pursue it with forks and hope;
To threaten its life with a railway-share;
To charm it with smiles and soap!

"For the Snark's a peculiar creature, that won't
Be caught in a commonplace way.
Do all that you know, and try all that you don't:
Not a chance must be wasted to-day!