It is a soft, soft morning. Or, rather, it was.

I slept until 10 am and I will say, it was heavenly. The past three (four?) weeks of my life have felt like body surfing with a decidedly capricious undertow?exhilarating, sure, but there comes a moment when you must drag your salt-addled ass out of the water and collapse on the sand.

The good news is that the busyness has none of that wretched anxiety that gripped me at this time last year (and didn?t actually release its talons until last April thanks to the magic healing powers of Linda).

No doubt my fledgling confidence will hit ground a few times this semester (er, Autumn, for those living outside the parameters of an academic calendar)?in fact, I have already experienced some waves of profound insecurity, but I?m dishing that off to a full moon.

Yesterday, I ironed my clothes. This is noteworthy because I do not iron clothes or sheets ? just ask my recent guests, they will admit to sleeping in wrinkled, albeit clean, bed linens. Oddly, the ironing board is permanently set up with the iron ever at the ready. Is this a subtle means of self-mockery? Or, perhaps, a savvy time-saving device for those rare occasions when I pull clothes from the laundry pile and attempt to look less like a woman who lives on the street and more like a woman who lives on the street with a modicum of self-respect? Hmm, a question for the sages.

Either way, the results were satisfactory and I have now attended both classes that I will be teaching this semester. On Monday, I launch into my new schedule full-bore.

In short, for those of you playing along at home, I am taking two art classes: one is multi-media, the other is digital applications in printmaking. And, I am teaching two sophmore writing courses at an art college. To make it all the more like a 3-ring circus (because really, who doesn't like clowns and volkswagons?*) each of these classes, those I?m taking AND those I?m teaching, are at three. different. art. schools.

That?s right. Why simplify your itinerary with one-stop shopping when you can add more driving(!) to your already commute-laden schedule? Just say no to ease and simplicity.

Ah, but I jest. It?s all good. Things are a bit overloaded because the teaching gig only materialized last week and, although I was thrilled to land it, I had not planned for it.

Eek. How much more blah blah blah can you stand? Gah. It?s about time I unpack the suitcase that has been sitting on my closet floor since I got back from Ohio so I?m gonna pass the mic to Ollie who?s got something to say.

OLLIE: Last weekend, two kind, sensitive women came to visit and I, most distinctly, heard them say, ?we?re focusing all of our attention on Ollie because he is the neglected dog.?

Amen sisters. Good to know there are people out there who get it. And these women stroked me and cuddled me and lo, it was good.

OLLIE: It?s about damn time someone realized how forlorn I have been. How painful it has been for me when it?s always, ?Oh Henry?he?s so original? and ?Oh Daisy, she?s so adorable.? Someone owes me a big apology?yeah, bluepoppy, I?m glaring at you, bitch.

OLLIE: But then, in a flash it was over. One moment I was wrapped in the loving embrace of two caring, gentle women. The next, suitcases rolled and off they went.

I was left, yet again, to the mind-numbing tribulations of these two.

HENRY: I don?t see why I should be blamed. It?s not my fault that I?m dead gorgeous.

DAISY: This is all just a big misunderstanding. Here, let me lick you with my giant tongue. That will make things better.

OLLIE: Just let me pine, dammit. Can?t a dog pine in peace?

*FULL DISCLOSURE: I hate clowns.

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