The kitchen is a disaster, but we earned it. The dishwasher is full of plates that were full of a delicious feast just 24 hours ago. The sink is full of dishes that won’t fit into the dishwasher, on account of that feast.
For the last few days, my house has been filled with the love and warmth of my family, the warmth and comfort of a roaring fire, and the delicious smells of roasting turkey, baking bread, and the faintest hint of the Christmas tree in our living room.
What passes for winter has arrived in Los Angeles, and while the sun does its best to warm us, a gentle but persistent chill wind consistently blows most of the warmth away. Our dogs are extra snuggly, and more reluctant than usual to get out of bed. The cats are tucking themselves into us when we’re on the couch, even though they don’t want food.
I needed the break from everything, this Christmas. I needed to force myself to stop working, to feel free to goof off. I played Rock Band for the first time in about a year. I watched several movies. I caught up on Mad Men and some other series. I have a stack of comics that have been piling up for months, that I’m dying to get into … but when I read, my mind drifts and does its best to write its own things, to tell its own stories. My notebook of ideas is slowly filling up again.
I texted a friend, who worked with me on the Wil Wheaton Project, and told him that I’m having a great time editing Tabletop, and that writing for the RPG show is awesome. “I’m so happy just writing and not being on camera,” I said. Maybe I’m ready to semi-retire from on-camera work. I don’t know.
The house is currently quiet and empty, except for me and the dogs. Ryan’s coming over to play Splendor in a little while, and Anne and I are going to the hockey game tonight.
I should take a shower, but I have this amazing bedhead, and I haven’t been able to bring myself to murder it with water.
I have a lot of creative ideas that are pulling me in a lot of different directions. I want to make a lot of things, and I can’t seem to pick one and go with it until it’s done … which means that I’ll need to just make a decision and do it.
It’s time to get back to work. It’s time to get disciplined. It’s time to make things. It’s time to write.
But first, I have to clean up the kitchen.
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i’m sick .. but your’s day sounds funner lol lol by the way Mr. Wheaton u really do write well .. (if u can hold my attention then u do) plus i used to be a content editor lol lol 🙂 blessings to u .. my Mom lives in LA .. 🙂 i miss her .. 🙂
Happy Holidays! Glad to see you doing so well, and with so many ideas. Thank you, as always, for sharing your life with us.
I also feel pulled in many different directions at the moment, I look forward to hearing how the feeling settles for you.
I’ve been doing the same thing at home over Christmas…what ever I want followed a more of the same! Much needed after this crazy year.
““I’m so happy just writing and not being on camera,” I said. Maybe I’m ready to semi-retire from on-camera work. I don’t know.”
What ever you decide, if you do it with your heart and believe it’s the right thing, it will be awesome. Even if you are the only person on the planet who sees it. If it builds you up then you will build others up too, it’s in your nature. You have earned the ability to chase your dreams, express your love, embrace your family and fulfill your desires.
Here’s to looking forward to the adventure ahead in the new year. Thanks for what you do.
LOL! Murdering bed head by water. Awesome. Have fun at the hockey game. Relaxing feels awesome doesn’t it?
Kinda think whatever you put your efforts too, you do well. Have fun no matter what it is.
Curious: With your downtime, have you been able to finish the Harry Potter series yet?
It’s that step away from the daily grind that allows a person to relax and let those new ideas flourish. I think I know how you are feeling. Two or three sentences of a tall tale to my great nephew led me to a new story although my first novel waits to be edited and the blog needs re-worked. Ideas are reproducing like mad as are the dust bunnies. As long as no one has to mow yet life is good. 🙂
Happy holidays Wil.
Thank you for being one of my blog inspirations.
Quoylette aka- The Head Duckie
ofrobotsandduckies.com
And as much as your wife supports and encourages your creative work and imagination, she will appreciate your help doing the dishes…
please dont retire just yet, i will be filled with sadfaceness 🙁
Happy Holidays!
I like it (sometimes) when I forget my hair isn’t combed. The experience gives people a rare moment to experience wonder.
The way you write and put your thoughts together are the gifts of a true writer. I look forward to reading your blogs and really appreciate you sharing your life and thoughts with all of us. I am really glad that you have such a rewarding, fulfilling, busy, productive career and someone who loves you. Miss Eureka, but slightly forgave that channel for letting you get wiped out in an awesome way in Sharknado 2 🙂
Love the dishwasher comment. Took me three loads after Thanksgiving with a house full of teenage boys.
How are you guys loving Splendor? I got totally hooked on it October of this year now that I have moved to a VERY active gaming community in Austin, TX. We jokingly call it “crack” as we’ve had as many as three full games running simultaneously between our usual stuff we like to do for gaming. I’ve even bought Black Fleet hoping it will be fun as well.
As far as you getting off camera – please consider how much fun you are when you are on “The Big Bang Theory” or on “TableTop” – you (and your often losing) is the heart and soul of “TableTop” we need you. You’ve brought so many of us back into gaming.
I mention you and “TableTop” just about weekly – either in recommending an episode for people to watch to learn game play or in discussing the latest episode in determining whether one of us might buy the game to try it.
I know writing is important. I just hope you consider keeping those irons in the fire – you’re still doing so well with them! Balance is there for you to find and remember you are living the life many of us can only dream of as geeks!
Belated happy holidays, Wil! I completely sympathise about the backlog of dishes. I’m still trying to catch up myself. Christmas was low key for us, we instead had all the fun on New Year’s Eve and the wee hours of New Year’s Day.
My wife and I must’ve bought each other a combined total of around 40 pounds of games for Christmas and we happily shared them with our best friends while others were out partying. Qwirkle, Castle Panic, and Anti-Monopoly were the games of choice with an attempt to play Terra Mystical for the first time at 2am which didn’t make it any farther than getting things set up. I definitely can’t think of a better way to spend the holidays!