CHAOS!

by Jeanne Adams

The dictionary defines chaos in several ways. It's rioting in the streets and general anarchy in governments. It's also the unformed stuff that creates new worlds and universes. It's a theory in mathematics which predicts (or fails to predict) the actions of objects in motion.

At my house, pure chaos can be defined as the first quarter of every year. You see, my darling husband is a corporate accountant. Doesn't that just give you a perfect picture right there? And he lost nearly a full week to a nasty virus. That's panic-inducing in an accountant. (Chime in here anytime, Donna. I can hear you groaning in sympathy as I write this)

Oh, and adding more fuel to the fire, this year in addition to generally being head-parent-in-charge (HPIC) because of the whole first quarter thing, I have a book coming out in June. I'm knee-deep in getting bookmarks and planning speaking engagements and plotting (ha, ha!) every possible way to promote my book.

In short, my life is a lot wilder and busier than it was this time last year. Did I mention that my youngest son just turned three, and my oldest is about to start Spring baseball, and basketball's not over yet? (Baseball is a HUGE thing in my house, BTW. The men, young and old, are waiting with bated breath for the start of Spring Training.) Yep. So here I am, HPIC/Race Car Driver/Taxi driver....Both the boys have extracurricular activities beyond the ones I just mentioned. Don't even get me started on how much homework they now give to Second Graders. (I'm gritting my teeth over that one...I hate homework. And no, I've discovered I'm NOT as smart as a fifth grader, heck, I'm struggling with second grade math. Since when do you have to learn about rhomboids in second grade? And yes, I know the picture does NOT contain a rhomoid...)

Sorry. Back to chaos theory...So with all of this, I've been trying - and failing - to predict...well anything. Bouts of unexpected flu bugs have beset us, providential fun has changed our schedules, and then there's the weather. Oh, don't ya' just DESPISE those snow days, when you're a writer/parent? It would be okay if there were actually SNOW, but nooooooooo, just ice. Bleech. Heck, I'd go out and play if it were snow. Nobody has any fun on an ice/slush day.

I've also been working with some of that unformed stuff which creates worlds - also known as creativity - to finish my second book and polish a third and begin a fourth. I'm really, really, REALLY looking forward to some time with some writer friends to do some book-plotting. (As opposed to murder and mayhem) I have to do something with the maelstrom of new ideas buzzing in my head.

Ahhh, more chaos to add to the chaos! Just what I needed. Snork!

In spite of all this gritching, part of me thrives on the unpredictable, the spontaneous, and the twists and turns of life. I love it in books too. I love the author who can keep me guessing all the way to the end. I love the storyteller - from Homer to Austen to Christie Kelly - who keeps me turning the pages because I haven't quite figured out...(turns pages)...what....(reads more quickly)...is going to...(OH!)...happen.

Actually, that's the very thing that holds my sanity together. What you might ask, baffled by my strange turn of phrase? Books, of course. A good story can give me a breath of relief from the chaos of MY life, even if I have to read it in the car pool line. (Especially if I GET to read it in the car pool line! Ha!)

I know the Banditas' books - and the blog! - are fast becoming my refuge from the chaos. :> Add to that wonderful list authors like Lisa Gardner, Roxanne St. Clair, J.D. Robb/Nora Roberts, Mercedes Lackey, and one of my all time fav re-reads, Eva Ibbotson. You know life's got me by the throat if I'm re-reading Eva's Countess Below Stairs. Eva writes YA now, but if you can get a hold of this one, it's a great escape! (Anna C., I can see that grin all the way from Oz. Anna is fond of Eva as well) There are countless others. Thank goodness for that, because they don't make fashionable straight jackets for stress-strained writers in the car pool lane. (So hard to drive in those, you know.)

So who takes you away? Who gives you a momentary escape from the chaos? Are you looking forward to Spring Training? (for my dh's sake, I'll say GO CUBS! even tho' I'm a Braves fan) :> Do you thrive on spontaneity, or are you a There MUST BE ORDER kind of person? What's your recipe for keeping the madness managed? (Chocolate? Milkshakes? Wine? Port? More chocolate?)

Lest it go straight to MY hips, (thus adding to the chaos of my who-has-time-to-work-out day) I have a box of Godiva for one commenter!