p.s. have you ever made breakfast and lunch all before noon?  No, not brunch...but two separate meals.  As I am still in my pjs, I smell lunch cooking.  It was just one of those "fire under my assets" morning.  Have a great Thursday!

It's gorgeous out in my neck of the woods today. I have my hood on, my tea scalding, and cinnamon roll in my belly. It's gray, it's brisk, it's fall.

I was thinking (as I was driving, which looks like it will be my main "write that!" muse, except I imagine it will be dangerous to keep a list whilst driving these curvy forested roads) that fall is seriously the supreme-est of seasons. I have always tried to pinpoint exactly why that is, but I realized yesterday (as I was driving) that fall is simply smarter than the other seasons. It's more modest than the skin-bearing summer, more poised than gregarious spring, and more colorful than the white winters. It means going to the symphony, wearing smart jackets and boots, donning deep read lipstick or more eyeliner than usual. Fall is dramatic; fall is subdued; fall is everything I hope to be.

Today I leave to be with my sister in San Diego (she's 7 months prego with my 5th niece). I should be getting ready to head out to the airport, but just had to mention a few things.

I am finding myself easing into the beauty here. I finally got the internet all set up yesterday and got the spice rack and tea cupboard in working order (these two things are obviously very important to the feng shui of the kitchen). We met my lovely old neighbors for Chinese and brought them back here to sit around fire and drink tea into the wee hours of the morning. All of these things are contributing to the peace I know this place will offer me.

I've also realized what a tremendous comfort YOU are to me. For those of you who've confessed to it, I know your eyes reading my words and offering me friendship and support from afar. Sure, many of you cannot drive to my doorstep and drink my tea (or build me a fire, or save me from serial killers), but you can speak my greatest love language...words of great encouragement. You have born witness to my life and even now, if I had to move to a truly remote location, I know I will have you. This comforted me much more than I anticipated when I began this blog two years ago this month (at the bidding of YOU whilst around a fire).

And lastly, I wanted to mention that since today is the first of October, I will be resuming my 12-month challenge. I looked at my list this morning and decided that this month I will shoot 25 images a day. I know you are all eager to see pictures of this place so it will be good soul-work for me to capture my new house through my own lens. I look forward to sharing these with you.

Off to pack and head out.

See me here...woot!

Also, things are super crazy around here...but oh so fun. We have our lovely cousins Adam and Erin staying with us and have been seeing the family as well as planning for my 1920s birthday party on Saturday...PLUS seeing other wonderful people coming to town.

But I'll give you this report of my birthday - I was seriously so moved by how people doted on me. I gorged myself on the words of love that came at me from every direction. I felt like I was at my own funeral of sorts, not in a morbid way, but when people are praising the deceased. Truly, when I go through times of weeping on the bathroom floor from fear of abandonment and paralyzing loneliness (yes, it happens even to the most happily married), I will have this deposit of affection to ward off the demons. I love you. Thank you.


I treated myself to an massage at a local school (so cheap!) and then Joel took me to sushi before we met up with Gomes' to attend Othello. Lordy, was it amazing...a perfect birthday treat as it is my favorite of the tragedies...so much more mature than Romeo and Juliet and so much more simple than Hamlet and King Lear. Anyway...

More birthday reports to come...I hope the rest of your week carries you deeper into the understanding of who you are, how you are loved, and what you have to offer.

crm

Well, I was supposed to be published in the 5th edition of Antler Magazine, but production has been postponed until September. The editor, Andi, explains it here. So hopefully you'll see my article there in the future.

In the meantime, I have been asked to contribute to their daily blog. I have written a few and hope to see them published soon, so you can keep your eye out for that too!

Joelio and I are off this evening to camp on Whidbey Island, WA. I am so looking forward to it! Have a great rest of the week.

Oh fabulous, fabulous Friday. Today I woke up feeling so much better than yesterday. I had successfully confronted a small part of my journey and awoke with anticipation at my lunch with friends and my previously-scheduled facial.


But there was much more to this momentous day in my personal history. This morning, before I left for lunch, I was sitting at my computer with my coffee when all of a sudden and email pops up from the editor of Antler Magazine(which is a totally wonderful publication in the style of fashion magazine, but featuring artists of every sort). I had sent her a little "look at my blogs" email quite a few months ago, but today I got a positive response back AND, ANNNNDDDD a request to write a few articles!!!!!



I could hardly contain myself. I hadn't been that high on adrenaline since, well...ever really. As I replied to the editor, I realized that this may actually be happening for me. Writing for a living, or writing professionally, or writing at all and being able to put it out there is in every regard a dream come true. Even if I totally botch up the article* and nothing comes from it, I will never forget this day and will always consider it a success!

It feels UNREAL!

So I feel totally pampered in a very real way today. It feels like if this writing thing could be real, then my being laid off in February and the fight for this new lifestyle of staying at home and pursuing my soul's interests will have all made more sense to me. To have the luxury to attend to your soul AND meet success there, shoot...that is the ULTIMATE self-care in my book.

How's your pampering going? Remember, this challenge extends through the weekend until Monday, so keep it up!

~crm

*She mentioned doing an article on the top 5 older (i think she means 'classics') books that readers need to read. I think I'll be okay...:)