touch my own skin

It's beautiful out this morning. Clear blue sky, lots of sunshine, in the mid-sixties right now but it's supposed to be nearly eighty degrees this afternoon. I'm enjoying these last warm days before we really settle into autumn, but I'm also excited that Sunday is supposed to be fifty-five degrees and drizzly.
The busyness continues. Last night I played my clarinet for four hours, covering for someone else at a pit orchestra rehearsal. And you know? I really enjoyed it. Only ten musicians; it was really a chamber ensemble. I'd love to do more of that sort of thing. Tonight I've got drinks with a friend, and the second half of a volunteer copyediting project. Earlier this week I finished a proofread and did the first half of the volunteer project. This weekend I'm starting my next copyedit, for a friend of a friend. I'm also seeing two wedding photographers with my friend K, doing yoga in between those two appointments, and seeing The Craft at Nitehawk Cinema. I love that movie!
On the writing front, I'm hoping to get through chapter 6 this weekend. And get some more short stories emailed to my writers group. I really need to be going deep into my writing for the next couple months, to apply for that workshop.
I fly to Oregon in two weeks! Hurray! I'm really looking forward to seeing everybody, and am hoping it'll be a nice quiet visit.
I have to be honest: Lately I've been entertaining thoughts of a little house in the country with a big garden and some forest. Doesn't that sound lovely? To live more in tune with the world around you, to spend your time crafting and creating and gardening? Someday, universe. Someday I'll make it happen.
and now, I'd best get to work. Happy Friday, and Blessed Be!

my love has concrete feet

I've not slept well for the last two nights, so I feel a bit vague in my head. I'm sure it'll pass, but it's frustrating to be tired and lethargic when I have so much to get done. Last night it was mostly Zoe who kept me up, plus a sudden downpour early this morning. The night before it was partially Zoe and partially a strange dream or two (including one where my partner-in-crime and my best friend were driving me to the airport but then decided we had to stop for church service, and I was really frustrated and couldn't find my pocket watch, and then they disappeared and I thought I was going to miss my flight), but it was mostly my new recurring dream. Once every week or two, I dream that there's someone in my apartment. It's the same someone every time. Sometimes it bothers me, sometimes it doesn't. Next time I wake up from that, I'm jumping straight into a ritual to figure out what's going on.
I'm slamming through a lot of freelance work right now as well, so there hasn't been any writing or much of a social life. I did go to paintball on Saturday evening for my partner-in-crime's birthday party, followed by the bar. Paintball was more fun than I thought it would be, honestly. And I walked away with only one humongous bruise and several little ones!
Even though I'm so busy, I'm still trying to simplify, to get back to the things that are important to me. After I finish this copyedit tonight I'll have more time, so yoga twice a week will start again, and I'll start back up with both novel and short story writing, as well as clarinet and bass. Don't worry, I'm not doing all of that every day. There's not time for that. My music concept right now is clarinet Monday/Wednesday/Friday and bass Tuesday/Thursday. Weekends are up in the air. I think I need to approach my writing the same way. Novel work on clarinet days, short stories on bass days, weekends are flexible. I'm going to try it.
I think my trip home will happen sometime around Halloween. My goddaughter's baby should be out of hospital around then, and I think it's decent timing for the other people I would like to see. Now I just need to find a reasonably priced plane ticket.
Here's what I've been listening to lately: the Romeo + Juliet soundtrack, Amanda Palmer's Theater Is Evil, and "Heavy in Your Arms" by Florence + the Machine.
And now, time to drink some coffee and get a lot done. Blessed Be, everybody!

the same secret door

I survived last week, just barely. Made it through the band concert. Finished the rush freelance project. And then spent Monday and Tuesday this week in a complete fog, which means I've got a lot to do at work now. This week has been good so far: a screening of Serenity at a local bar, Beltane ritual, and some time on my novel. I'm considering this the first official week of unfucking my life, and so far, it's been good. I'm starting simple. Work on my book, finish a project or two around the apartment, make sure to take some time to just relax. As long as I hang on to my zen about things, I'll get everything finished just fine.
And speaking of, I should get going with my work. I'm hoping to do some filing and recycling this week, but that involves getting enough work done first.
Blessed Be!

Agh

I don't usually do this, so please be patient with me. I'm just here to blow off a little steam. So far, this is just not my week. I've spend the last twenty-four hours just feeling stressed and overwhelmed. And I'm managing to feel that way without any freelancing going on. I broke my partner-in-crime's towel rack this morning, and was late for work. I have a to-do list about a mile long at home, including several things that have been put off for way too long (i.e., balancing my checkbook). Work is, well, very worklike right now. And on top of all that, for the duration of my hiatus from freelancing, I'm not allowed to do any writing or typing at home! UGH! I am really just offended at the state of my life right now. And why is it that I always feel like I'm somehow the only one with all of these responsibilities and all of these things to take care of? How does everybody else get away with doing so little all the time?
Blah. I'm totally disgusted. I want to work on my book, and clean my apartment, and watch some Buffy. I do not want to sit in my office all day.
Okay. Whining done.