August?

Wow, where did August go? it's the 21st already. Wasn't yesterday the 6th?
Well, life has been busy. Or, occupied, at least. I've been sick; last week was a total wash, outside of work. But since the last time I blogged I have managed to finish draft zero of Emmelina and the Rat King and draft zero of the Winter Queen. I've received feedback on Nor from four people, so this weekend I'll dive into my last round of editing on that. and I've only got one freelance project going right now, so I'm not totally overwhelmed in my free time.
My parents are coming to visit for the first week of August, which I think will be a lot of fun. Any thoughts on what I should do with them?
(You know, I always have so many ideas to blog about, but then when I get here my mind goes silent!)
Two bands I'm considering seeing this fall. First, Rodrigo y Gabriela. They're so amazing! Such brilliant guitarists! Second is a band called Murder by Death that I'd never heard before today. A coworker was listening in his office and I was immediately intrigued. They're sort of indie Americana stuff. And their cellist is the hottest girl ever.
Anyway, there's been a lot of drama this summer. It's unpleasant, honestly. Friends breaking up, business partners splitting, family drama for some people, unemployment for others, friend drama for yet others . . . It's tough stuff to deal with, and it just seems like there's been a lot of it this summer. Hopefully the autumn breeze will blow all of that negativity away soon and we can start the next season cleansed and uplifted. I'm going to spend more time on my spirituality this fall, that's a sure thing. I find it harder to connect with the God and the Goddess here in the city. Not as much Nature, and I'm not comfortable practicing outside. I've got to make more of an effort though. I miss being more spiritual. Honestly, I miss the circle I used to practice with, too. And find it mildly disconcerting that two of the three others from the circle have gone back to Christianity since I moved to the city. That said, I don't need anyone else in order to practice. What I need is just to devote more energy to my connection with the world and the positive energy and the God and the Goddess.
Last night I had a strange dream: first there was something about catching two gorgeous large tabby cats (Maine Coons, perhaps?). Then there was something about these vines that were sent to me, that were wrapping around my arms to immobilize me, but I somehow ripped my arms out of them and knew that I had to disappear if I was going to solve whatever it was I was trying to solve. (Maybe something before that about driving away from a school-type campus, like Sheldon? It was night out?) Then I entered this huge underground compound to look for someone. I was with two other people, I think, both men. And there was a man playing the neatest upright bass I'd ever seen, and so I stopped to talk to him about it, and my two companions were really pissy about that. I wish I could remember more of this dream, it was really trippy and interesting. I think my younger sister was there at some point. Possibly my other sister as well. Agh. I'll try to remember more this evening. . . .
Also, three more books to report:
Ursula, Under by Ingrid Hill. This is huge, epic fiction, spanning two thousand years of ancestors who culminate in this little girl who falls down an abandoned mine shaft. It's poignant, and lyrical, and beautiful, and I felt very involved the entire time I was reading. I really, really enjoyed it. But in the end, I passed it on to a friend. A book like this is a serious commitment, and I just couldn't see myself undertaking it again anytime soon. But I will absolutely recommend this book to anyone who likes serious fiction.
Falling Boy by Alison McGhee. I enjoyed this one much more than I thought I would. It's about a boy who is paralyzed from the waist down who works in a bakery, and his relationships with the other people in the bakery. The slow unfolding of how everyone is related and the intricacies of their interactions is remarkable to watch. And the central mystery, how the boy was injured, is kept a secret until just before the end. This one's a keeper, I think. A good study on how we respond/react to the people we love; how we can hurt or heal them, even without realizing it.
The Boundless Deep by Kate Brallier. This one was also a pleasant surprise. Good writing, firmly rooted in the history of Nantucket. The characters are interesting and fun, the whaling history is fascinating. This book made me yearn for a trip to Nantucket. A keeper! (But fair warning for the more modest readers out there; this one has some steamy scenes!)
All right. Time to wrap it up and head home for the weekend. Stay dry!