December News

I'm actually caught up in my Shamanism course, just have to type everything up.  Caught up in Ecology too.  The rest I'll work on this week.

I'm almost ready for Christmas.  I am getting a few things in the mail, then it's time to wrap gifts!  We are putting up the (faux) tree and decorating it tomorrow.

I'm learning.  The question isn't "Will I create today?", but "What will I create today?"  Some difference!

"Lifelines" Book Party and updates

We had our "Lifelines" Book Party yesterday.  We only had five guests, but we had a great time anyway!  I sold two of my books and another one today.  One of my mom's friends told ghost stories (like on Coast to Coast radio) about UFO's.  Spooky!

I did Reading #6 for Runes Practicum and sent it off to the person who requested it.  I'm so behind in school I don't know if I'll ever catch up.  :(  We have a lot to do for Ancient Rites this month, meditations and papers, etc.  I did finish my embroidery for Buddhism, still have to write the play to go with it.  Still lost in Ecology, still haven't written my essay for Tarot. 

I've been doing so much marketing and chats, planning and blog writing for Lifelines, haven't had time for schoolwork.  Not only that, I had a three-day DVR class right before Thanksgiving.  I made a couple friends at least.  Jed has been watching football today, now he's going to watch The Two Towers, one of my favorite movies. 

Lifelines Poetry Anthology Released Today!

Lifelines poetry anthology by the Poetic Muselings, published by Inkspotter Publishing is available today on Amazon.com. The poets are Michele M. Graf, Margaret Fieland, Anne Westlund, Mary W. Jensen, Lin Neiswender and Kristen Howe.  The cover collage is by Lin Neiswender.

http://tinyurl.com/dy2z6wo

 

Fall Update

School:  I have the week off, fall break.  This is definitely a good thing for a number of reasons.  One, my computer is giving me grief.  Two, you'll see below under life.  Three, I've got to set up for the kiddies for Halloween at the Convention center tomorrow afternoon.  I'm thinking about dressing up as a kitty for Halloween.  I've just got to figure out the ears... 

I've been working on an embroidery project for Buddhism for a month now.  That's way too long.  All those french knots are really getting to me.  Ancient Rites, the Shamanism program I'm still in is going well; we're on the second year of that.  Tarot is going slowly.  Runes Practicum is going very slowly.  And I'm completely lost in Ecology.  Such is life!

Life:  I'm getting published!  The online poetry group I'm involved in is publishing a book of poetry with a small press out of Canada.  Not only that, I'm getting published in my grad school's journal, five poems and two or three pictures!  This is so awesome!  Mom says she wants to buy 15 copies of the poetry collection, hard copy.  Wonderful support!  Well, we are finalizing the book, should be out soon.  The journal is going to come out Mid-November.

My boyfriend is finally admitting he's my boyfriend, so that's a step in the right direction.  Of course it helped that I announced I was his girlfriend!  Life is strange.  :) 

Fair Pictures

Reggie, Benjamin, Mom and I went to the fair last weekend.  Here are some pictures!

The Doldrums

It's been a crappy couple of weeks.  I don't know exactly what's wrong.  Family tensions.  Obligations.  A garage sale.  I haven't done my homework for a couple weeks.  Just can't seem to concentrate.  I've done crafts and a little bit of writing, but that's about it.  And mindless surfing the web has been happening too.  :(  It's like I'm in the Doldrums with no wind and no direction.  Not that there hasn't been anything good.  I stayed up until 4am talking to my brother last night.  Mostly we talked about our extended family and school.  I started typing up a play that I thought I was never going to touch again.  It's called The Victorians. I'm not depressed, just very scattered.

May 4th

Today would have been my dad's birthday, if he was still around.  We toasted him tonight with cheap Rose.  He would have liked that.  I had a lazy day today.  I didn't get anything done homework wise.

Got my crafty stuff organized and purged.  Now I have some stuff to get rid of, not a lot.  Just some beads, embroidery floss, an iron-on pattern and a few other things ready to go.  I messaged a woman on coachcreativespace who needs craft supplies.  I found my papercrafting scissors tonight, which is really nice.  I've been finishing up old craft projects lately which is really unusual for me to do.  I mean, I usually let them languish. 

Haven't done much writing lately.  Went to the library and checked out a Stephen King short story book.  This is really brave of me as I read fiction very very slowly.  I'm going to reward myself every time I read two short stories.  I think I may have ADHD, but there's no way I'm going on more drugs just for that.  I'm on enough drugs (legal ones) already!

Imaginary Deadlines for Real Homework

Easter went well.  I had a rough couple of days on Friday and Saturday, family conflicts.  I'm shifting gears a little bit.  Starting an ecology class this week, self-study.  I think that makes all my courses self-study right now.  I'm doing better with the imaginary Friday (homework) and Sunday (response) deadlines.  I'm so tired today!  My cat threw up hairballs last night, 3 times!  I gave up sleeping after that.  I watched Lilo and Stitch and embroidered.  Went to bed at 5am.

We had our second Crafternoon at church.  This time two ladies joined me.  Last week it was just me and Mom.  It was OK.  I finished two motifs on my jacket of peacock feathers.  I wonder if it's a talent to know how to function when you can't really function.  I know now I can embroider for two hours on five hours of sleep!  I might have to bag the April PAD poems.  I hate giving up.  I've only written 6 and posted 5.  We'll see.

What's more interesting is what I'm not writing about.  Probably.  Not really.  Tease!

Good News

I'm completely finished with New Testament class!  All I'm waiting for is my final grade, then I can sign up for another class.  My best friend, Star, has just started taking classes in computers, online.  I'm so proud of her!  Tonight I finished revising all 24 Rune Poems.  Yay!  I'm planning on self-publishing a book of Rune Poems.  I still have more work to do on it.  I've made major headway. 

Spring Pictures

Some recent photos of my new neighborhood:

 

the neighborhood deer.

pussy willow bush, photo darkened with camera program

close up of a bush.

Spring Semester

I turned in my Luke homework, a poem, process notes and a photo of the Madonna and Child embroidery.  Waiting to hear back.  Shadow Work looks like it's going to be a good class.  I'm tempted to sign up for another class, but I guess I'll wait until I finish New Testament class.  I just have my homework for John to do now.  I read about half the Gospel today.  I'm also taking Ethics and Professional Practice for Divination and the Runes Practicum, but those won't start for awhile. 

I just want to learn everything!  I know I have to pace myself though.  If I take too many classes I get bogged down.  If I do too many go at your own pace classes I don't get much done either.  I've been looking into writing classes, but I'll have to take those in between semesters.  I'm considering doing some more Modern Rituals homework.  I've let that slide over the past year or so.  So not really sure if I should get back into that or not.  I just got stuck at a certain point.  Happens!

St. Patrick's Day

I already turned in part of the Shadow Work homework.  I'm thinking that I'm really going to like that class.  Finished the embroidery for Luke, but stuck for a short story idea based on that particular Gospel. 

It's St. Paddy's Day!  Not feeling so hot.  Stopped raining for awhile at least.  Jean Jeanie's birthday is today.  Her son is visiting from Wyoming.  Will probably spend some time with her tomorrow.  Waiting to hear back from Zinnia about the bake sale and youth group.  I'm having a really busy week.  Posted some Rune information on the Divination group.  I'm getting to be a faster typist.  Finally!

Coffee Fueled

I realize I haven't been blogging very much lately, well, at all.  Tonight I'm fueled by caffeine.  At McDonald's today I drank a tall iced coffee. Very strong, but tasty.  I don't usually have any caffeine at all, so I will probably be up late tonight.  Going through a stressful time right now.  The details won't make anyone feel any better, so I'll keep them to myself. 

I bought some cheap computer speakers today.  They seem to work pretty good so far.  I've been playing on the creativity website where I hang out.  Will probably go back and post some more there tonight. 

Grad school starts in a couple weeks.  I'm waiting to get some books in the mail.  Really looking forward to Spring semester.  I'm in a pretty good mood, but like I said, it's probably a caffeine high.  Better get better at turning homework in on time.

Not making much progress on the Luke gospel homework.  I'm almost finished with the Madonna and Child embroidery.  Can't seem to buckle down and do the reading.  I'm hoping to finish the reading and the writing by the time school starts.  Then all I'll have is John to do.

Well, that's all for now.

Spring Semester Registration

Making progress!  I've turned in homework for Matthew and Mark for New Testament class.  I'm embroidering an apron with religious symbols and words for the craft part of my NT homework.  I'm going to give it to Zinnia for her birthday in early fall.  I registered for my Spring classes already.  I'm taking Ethics and Professional Practice, Divination Practicum (Runes) and Shadow Work, which is a Shamanism class, the book looks good for that one.  Plus another student at school who got her degree already is teaching it.  I'm so competitive.  OK, I'm not that competitive. I'm doing so much independent work, I feel like I'm just competing against myself most of the time. I'm sure Ruby knows her stuff!

I'm still waiting to hear about Peer Counseling Training.  There's a class coming up.

Things at home are improving.  I'm getting along better with my family.  I wish I saw more of Star.  She's got a new life now with her boyfriend, Yeti.  He is tall!  :) 

Frustrated

I had a moody, uncomfortable day today.  My family is having some serious financial problems.  I guess that makes us like millions of other Americans.  I've been so irritable today.  It's incredible.  Well, the day didn't start out too good.  In other news...  I tried to go buy embroidery floss today and yesterday, but the quilt shop was closed.  I'm pretty frustrated.  I'll just have to stop by there tomorrow.  The speakers that came with my receiver didn't work when I tried to hook it up again, so I ended up plugging the computer speakers into the headphone jack.  I either need to get another set of computer speakers or get the right ones to work.  My brother, Jed, is going to help me with that tomorrow. 

Award Season

It's award season again.  I've been inviting some friends over to see Oscar noms from Netflix.  I saw The Black Swan with Jean Jeanie last week.  I thought it was really good.  Not so sure about all the fantasy elements.  I think I'll have another Oscar Party with ballots and prizes.  I'm waiting for my transcript from Nature U. to get uploaded.  I'm sure my grades will be fine.  I just want some closure on the semester.  Fall 2010 semester was nearly a disaster as I was moving during part of it and took on too many classes at first.  Life is going pretty good.  I ordered this book, Order From Chaos, and it is helping me get organized, potentially.  So I'm trying this new system.  I think I'll give the book to my Pastor, as she has problems staying on top of things too.  That was one of her goals, better scheduling.  We are doing goals/resolutions in the adult youth group at church.  My idea.  Of course!  Well, I have blogging on my to-do list for today.  Guess I should put it on other days as well.  All for now!