Currently 5.2.13

Making me happy: all of this sunshine! It's funny how the sky changes with every season-- I'm not talking types of weather, here. I mean the colors and textures of the sky itself. In winter, we go through months of grey, bleakness when the sky droops so low you'd think you could just stand on your tiptoes and touch it. And if you did, the brush of your fingertips would trigger the fall of those snowflakes you know are just waiting up there, waiting to fall down and blanket the ground again. But then, suddenly, the world takes that final turn and the clouds part for springtime. The sky sheds its grey cloud-shell and reveals the softest blue. That blue in turn triggers the rush of greens and pinks below, as life stretches and blooms once more. Next thing you know, the days are filled with birds chirping and blossoms floating on the gentlest breeze. And all I want to do on those days is sit on my balcony with a cup of sweet tea and write, write, write.

Listening to: Astronautalis. Recently, I signed onto my Itunes account to be greeted by that infernally perky little pop-up-- Itunes has an update! I grudgingly agreed...not realizing that doing so would completely revamp the program. Of course, nothing can ever stay the same. Things must be constantly updated, improved, tweaked. As my computer unveiled my new improved Itunes program, I was informed that I suddenly had access to some ephemeral Cloud. And I don't mean clouds like I was just talking about a moment ago. This Cloud apparently floats in cyberspace, containing all the songs I ever downloaded to Itunes and even Napster...years and years ago when Napster was the go-to music source. I sat there, staring at my monitor, wondering where all these songs had even gone... who knew they were being saved abovesomewhere, as computers and internet services changed below. It was the craziest sensation, scrolling through the music flailings of my 14 and 15 year old self, trying to find what style I liked. So much for as simple little software update! But I have to say, I'm somewhat happy this happened, this flood of old music. Because I rediscovered one of my favorite bands: Astronautalis. Nothing quite helps me tap into my creative roots like the upbeat rantings of Charles Andrew Bothwell as he rails about Persephone and that fated pomegranate, a philandering doctor, or a fated love on the high seas.

Watching: The Following. Mark and I just caught the final episode of this spine-tingling, nail-biting suspense. I'm pretty sure I just sat there on the couch, slack-jawed and staring. I mean, I don't even know what to say. Seriously: it was simultaneously the best and worst series I've ever seen.

Reading: Louse Erdrich's The Painted Drum. When I first started reading this novel, I wasn't too sure about it. It's written  (so far anyway) in three parts, from the perspective of three different Ojibwe Indians. The first two sections are in first person...while the third section is in third person. The first section, focusing on the character who rediscovers the painted drum and leads us into its story, was hard for me to get through. Somehow, Erdrich managed to get several chapters in without me knowing the person's gender, age, or name. I'm not a lazy reader...so I don't think this was due to skim-reading. I don't really like floating about in the narrative, wondering what's going on....wondering if I'll ever know what's going on. But I was determined to stick it out. Now, I have to say, I'm glad I did because the story has taken so many interesting and beautiful turns, somehow tight-roping the line between mythical legend and simple family story. I'm curious to see how it ends.

Writing: The antics of a fledgling assassin, a politically-ambitious vampire, and the lord of the Underworld himself. There may also be a pirate or two and, who knows, perhaps even a few damsels under some distress. Sound confusing? Yea, it is to me too.

Anticipating: My sister coming to see us! Her flight gets in tomorrow around 6:30. Looking forward to showing her around DC, doing some antique shopping in downtown Frederick, and eating at some of our favorite new restaurants. I'm still trying to figure out how to cram all the fun things I want to do into two and a half days.

image credit: via Pinterest.