Snow's coming. My sister smelled the air, my neighbour stared at the clouds, and they both proclaimed it to be so. I don't have that kind of power. I know it's snowing when I see flakes falling, can tell it's raining by hearing the drops pitter patter, and know that it's hot out when I start sweating. It's that easy.
My fall has been luxuriously lazy. Yes, there has been some very hectic weeks while in production, but I've also had ample time between productions to make up for all that craziness. I've been frivolous with my time. I waste it away on the internet, listening to music, and periodically tidying my apartment. Production weeks can run to a total of 60+ hours a week, so I'm not feeling that guilty about being home in the downtime, at least, not too guilty. But it's interesting, if a full time job is done within a two week period, and there's a following 2 week lull, why do I feel like I'm not doing enough on the downtime? When did I acquire a work ethic anyway?
My sister and neighbor were talking shoes this afternoon, or boots to be precise. High heeled ones. I confessed that I didn't own a pair of footwear that was anything else but functional. Same went with my clothing. Yeah, I have my black sweater that is just slightly see-through, but I always wear a spaghetti strapped shirt underneath. I have a couple of skirts, but I rarely wear them out, unless it's a wedding or a funeral. I have no idea why, but dressing up, dressing sexy is just not my thing. That doesn't mean I can't be sexy though. But I'm not saying nothing more than that.
I listened to Dazed and Confused by Led Zepplin as I made the easy trip down to the reserve for cheap gasoline. I listened to it loud. I used to play that song a lot both on my home stereo (before I pawned it at 24), and in my car (before I sold it to my brother's best friend). If I ever longed to play drums or guitar, it was whenever I listened to that song. I did a bit of drumming on the dashboard this evening, I admit.
I have a good friend who is simply crazy for Stevie Nicks. I like Edge of Seventeen as much as anybody, but I can't say that I feel that same way about every other song of hers. For female artists, I'm a fan of Nina Simone, Etta James, and Dinah Washington. Give me music like that, and I'd light some candles, curl up on the couch and just drift away. I wouldn't need any type of drug or alcohol to enhance that pleasure. But it's an addiction, a good one, too.
I've been busy with some short stories. One is an attempt at the JU writer's club, but the other two are revisions of stories that were put aside for one reason or another. I write a lot, and often, the stories are in varying stages of completion. I dislike revising, though I certainly find it an important task. Probably the most important one. But, since I'm not trying to get my stories published anywhere, there's never been much of a hustle to polish them up.
It's interesting to find old things that I had been working on. I notice commonalities between characters from different stories, and I certainly know what themes are of interest to me. I'm considering merging two stories into one, which, from an outsider's perspective may seem to be an impossible task if there are definite orginal storylines. The reality is both stories each have a very strong character and storyline, but the additional characters are seeming like filler. If I find a way to use the two characters in one story, it would definitely be a richer, and more interesting read. As a writer, it's fun. I am enjoying the process of seeing how it could happen, and of course why it's going to work out.
My drug dealing neighbor got the boot. She's been evicted, and has until the end of the month to move out. Am I happy? Yes, and emphatically no. I am sure that her being asked to leave is not the first time, nor will it be the last for some other landlord. I feel sorry for her child, and I do feel a bit for her. I hope she sees, really sees her life one day, and will take the steps necessary to shake the lifestyle, the need and the abuse.
I've got to go. It just might snow.