Revise, revise, revise!

A beautiful morning, much needed massage, catching up with an old coworker and now incredibly huge progress in the revision of my thesis. The sun is shining again even though during my run this morning around 845, the clouds became dark and the breeze picked up (ideal for a run) but it never did more than a quick sprinkle. About to head home now, get ready for a night of work and to put away the laundry that I did yesterday and make a healthy dinner for tonight. Was bad and not only ate two donuts, but had a cookie for dessert after a healthy lunch. Oh well. I did go for a run and have been doing very well. I am trying to find this new place of dedication. I talked at the beginning of the summer about writing out a writing schedule - keep dates and times like I was attending a job. Maybe it's Panera where I am most productive. They have bottomless coffee and internet and the kind of constant hum that is neither too loud or too quiet but just right for those breaks I need from my own thoughts but boring enough that i am forced to delve into my writing. I'll set some future dates up between me and Mr. Panera... I know that I need to begin thinking about and working on my context piece - which isn't nearly as fun as writing my own story - more of a research paper...something I was never good at doing. But, the sooner I get it done, the better I'll feel. I no longer feel as if the task of reaching 40 pages by August 1st is so impossible. And with these revised and reorganized pieces I now feel like I can totally devote my energy and time to new chapters. Love love that feeling. I'm excited to finish it and begin writing other new things after this. I'm excited to be in a new place and have a writing schedule that isn't going to be graded (oh so much scarier...submitted!). But that's the whole point - to do things that are scary but exciting. What are you doing that is exciting today?

Slept in...again

The one major downfall of my otherwise perfect job...is that I am there late. Sure, I go in at 5, 4 at the very earliest, but I am often turning my key to enter the door close to 1:30, 2, 3a.m. sometimes. Then I have to do the shower and brushing of teeth and checking of various facebook and blog sites...and retire to sleep long after all the other normal people have. And, as a person that absolutely loves my sleep and gets downright angry if I don't fill my 8 hour quota - I am creeping out from under my covers at 10, 11 and on particularly blasphemous days, noon! I always have good intentions of waking at 8:30 or 9 to get some writing done, get an early start at the gym, or whatever it may be I want to do before the day gets hot and breakfast foods are no longer appropriate, but more often than not, I give in to my needs of sleep. Maybe someday I'll have a normal job - or crazy of all crazy thoughts - maybe I WON'T have a job, and I can dictate my own schedule!

New Dedication

Hello Blogging World. I feel as if I have been a fair (or stormy) weather blogger. I know that my mother and father are pretty much the only people that read this but I also know how cathartic it is to write here. So I hope to rededicate to a more consistent blogging pattern - let's call it the great place of preparation for my departure, shall we?

I woke up hesitatingly, not wanting to crawl out of my too-comfortable bed for the yoga class I've been planning on attending since last week. But, with the ever-so convincing mantra now forever playing in my head "You never regret working out, but you certainly may regret not going." So I went. And it was wonderful. I needed it. And it was challenging in a way that reminded me that there are things that I can learn and be challenged by in this town. I so easily get lost in the idea of "this town is absolutely pointless and there is nothing here that I can be interested in or have fun doing." This pose was certainly the hardest and scariest I've ever done - but stoked to have been able to do it!

That silly notion was also put to rest when J and I went kayaking yesterday for a couple of hours. It is something I've always wanted to do here and knowing this, J (did his best) to set it up after my return home from Austin. It was a perfect day. Light breeze, full sun, pleasant kayak-renter-guy. And I loved it. Got a great tan and arm workout in the process too. So there, second thing that can be enjoyed in this town...

Began thinking about all the things I will need to do to prepare for my next great adventure and I believe working and saving are going to be the biggest parts of that. Oh, yes, and also the whole "finishing of the thesis" thing. I would like to reach 40 pages by August 1st. Let's see how that goes. I will also not consider this blogging a distraction but more of a jumping-off point. Something that gets my fingers warmed up for typing and my mind flowing with words and ideas. Because, let's face it - you readers (mom and dad) are much easier people to please with my writing than my director and professors are...so there's less pressure but more freedom to just, well, write.

Back to the Beginning

I just returned from a week long adventure deep in the heart of Texas. I spent three days and nights in Austin, and four in Beeville with my brother, sister-in-law and their two kids. It's been over three years since I've been back and a full twenty five since I was born there. Returning, alone, was something that I felt I needed to do, explore and return to my roots. Of course, I wanted to see my family - but mostly I wanted to see what the city of Austin was all about. I'd heard nothing, I repeat NOTHING but good things about it and everything they all told me was absolutely true. I will load many pictures soon and share more stories later - but for now, let me say, my heart has found a new, second home.