writing as a way of life

Looooong day today. I'm lucky these days to be able to sleep 5 hours a night. I have no desire to sleep during the day, and the weed only works on queasiness. Damn, it's hard to fill so many hours without needing something, anything to do.

I have started doing some hand work, specifically embroidery. Embroidery was one of the chugim, clubs, offered at my sleepaway camp in Ottsville, PA. I became quite proficient, progressing to doing my work on other people's clothing, a very late-60s thing to do. When I was pregnant and had small children I embroidered a large Shabbat tablecloth, two wall hangings for the kids, and one small challah (braided egg bread used in pairs on the Sabbath) cover which was intricate and took me years to complete.

There are a pair of stop-me-in-my-tracks adorable twins in my community, and their parents seem happy to hand them off to me. They will be one in a few weeks, as much as their beloved mother might not be ready for this to happen. Lauren is formidable, don't get me wrong, but age those children will. I've got some work already going for them, which keeps me from being bored and I can do it and talk with Stella at the same time.

I've been perusing craigslist today and found some interesting possible writing and publishing opportunities. One woman will pay the lucky winner of her contest $50 to write to her, I mean pen and paper write to her and mail it twice a week. I'd love to try that one, what the hell.

Writing is something I can't take any credit for. (Or grammar, obviously. tee hee) It's kind of like what some artists do, it just pours out of them, and I guess Penny is right when she says writing IS my art.

I want to be published somewhere, on line is probably the way to go. I want to write fiction, non-fiction, but always with humor.

Many friends who write for a living have been encouraging me to write, and not just this blog.

I just realized that I have no idea who is reading this. I know some people who start every conversation with 'I read your blog every day,' but what about Kelly's people I've never met and some yoga people I never see, I just don't know who is watching me.

Marshall and I talked statistics today. (Did you know he has a graduate degree in statistics?) If you want to know my 'chances,' as it were, I'll tell you but you need to ask. There's no possible way to rewind the conversation, though, so you might want to be really sure you want to know.

I'm not livin' by anybody's damned statistics. My body is different, my incredible strength and tenacity are different, but still - some days Avi tells me he loves me all day.

Today Rona stopped by to walk Bella and we walked her two blocks together. After dinner, dessert and rummikub I walked her the same two blocks with Marshall. I'm not able to keep warm now, I'm so bundled up all the time. The sky was clear and the stars were bright. The fresh air, I miss it so.

Pray for my best spiritual high in services tomorrow morning.