About me and/or for my benefit
Pen wins. No question.
I’d heard it before and never paid much attention: pencils write slower.
Last night (or early this morning, rather), as I was racing to capture images before they left my dream-memory I was repeatedly frustrated in my attempt to speed up by the simple… physics (I guess you’d call it) of scraping particles onto paper, rather than rolling ink.
My hand is already too slow to keep up with my brain. I need a pen.
(Jay tells me) You actually have to be familiar with Hamlet.
I found this to be a royal HOOT.
I was rubbing my thumb over my fingertips as I did some on-line reading (yes, it’s impossible for me to be still) and I was struck for a moment because I couldn’t feel with the tips of my left fingers.
I had to think a moment before realizing, Oh, they’re from all my guitar playing lately.
In the past I’ve only noticed calluses as they’ve (messily) gone away, so it was fun to notice my playing is having some effect.
For almost two weeks now I’ve been playing my guitar every day. I have no structure to my blips of practice, and so I’m probably advancing slower than I could, but its “clicking” better than ever before and I enjoy practicing like never before.
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I find it interesting that I dove back into guitar a week after I had storytelling off my plate (and I was thankful to be able to focus on writing as my single “creative” endeavor), but one of the benefits of having nothing set in stone is that I can follow my inclinations and see what happens.
Guitar has been a nice balance to my writing as a physical, musical act to balance the stillness and (relative) silence of the novel. It’s also been nice to take into the room where the kids play or pack to the park so I can get some time while still being available to my children.
Have I said lately how much I love my job?
Tell me anything else I could be doing that marries so perfectly my responsibilities and my inclinations.
Real-life resumes.
We had “unseasonal rains” all last night and the first half of today, stirring up enough silty mud to create a nice slick slime on the grounds where the Renaissance faire was to be held today.
It was canceled on account of the rains, so I didn’t do any (public) storytelling today.
Anyway, I am dying to get back into my novel, but I’m holding back until I get my house back in order
But then, Ah, *then.* All the sparks that have been nipping at me will be given their own little fire pits and we’ll learn how much flame they contain.
Writing— the novel, this blog, picture books, the works, has basically been on hold these last few weeks due to the storytelling performance I have coming up Saturday.
More dabbles and drivel to follow. The same only-click-if-you-feel-like-wasting-time warning applies.
So here’s the list I’ve mentally refered to for a while, lined out for my own clarity and the entertainment of others.
These are roughly in the order I’m interested in them, except for 4 and 5. Those are about the same level, I don’t know which I’d choose first. Probably depends on what oppertunity was availible at the time.
My favorite “wedding tip” for the bride and groom (note I said wedding tip, not marriage tip): The groom should carry a little bottle of hand-sanitizer (like Purell) in his pocket, and share with his bride after the receiving line or wherever else it seems appropriate.
Especially if she is wiping her eyes without a tissue after shaking all those hands and hugging a mass of people, she is at a major risk for catching some cold or virus from somebody there.
Easily avoidable. Think of it as safeguarding your honeymoon.
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Sallie has a very interesting quote from Oswald Chambers at the bottom of a thoughtful post.
Beware of harking back to what you were once when God wants you to be something you have never been.
I sometimes wonder if I would really do any of these (besides the momming and the writing) even if I had the oppertunity. And on that level I am actually thankful I haven’t been called upon to make that choice now.
As I grow older and get to know myself and my Father’s voice better, I expect I will more accurately be able to discern where exactly he wants me, and then I will have the sweet confidence I have now, that I am in the center of God’s will for the season I am in.
And I relish the peace that comes with that.
Okay, can everyone please answer this one:
What do you think of people adopting an alternate, “performance,” name?
Would you want to know the “real” name at the same time, and/or does that make things cluttered?
I think I mentioned I’m telling stories at a local Renaissance Faire at the end of this month, and I’m making costumes for my kids and me.
I’ve never been to one before. I know some folks are uncomfortable with the idea– because of the potential for weirdness, I guess– but I’m jumping at the chance to do a dress-up day with my family.
It’s a trial-run sort of a faire, the first in town, I understand, and whether it goes anywhere will depend on the reaction to this one. I hope by making stories available I can contribute to its success.
Since “Amy” is such a modern name I was considering taking an alternate name for the faire, and then (as my mind invariably does) I tracked that question into a bigger one: whether to build a storyteller-persona of sorts.
That is, for the many traditional or medieval tales I love I could play at being a teller of the day. It’s a fun thought.
Okay, okay I’ll say the name (it’s probably a bad sign if I can’t even get started.)
Though I have this idea that if I were once convinced in myself this was the way to go, I could “own” it with little difficulty.
Lady Jane.
I wanted to do Byrd Janet.
Janet from my middle name (Jane) and Byrd from the old way of addressing a lady. It would be the same as saying Lady Jane, but somehow my ear likes the other better. This would be due to my familiarity with the rhythm of the name in the story of Tam Lin. (I am currently Miss Amy to children, so it’s not that much of a stretch, in theory.)
But Jay insists I use one of my real names, so Lady Jane is all I could come up with, really. Any other suggestions?
I’m not sure “lady” is even the right thing to call a storyteller, but I could really think of another title. Storyteller Jane?
What do you think of the alternate-name idea?
Could you call me (or hear me refer to myself as) Lady Jane with a straight face?
Would it add to the package or be distracting?
Well, it’s Alaska, so I guess it’s to be expected that the explosion of newness that comes with spring should be delayed…
But just today I was marveling at the number of “beginnings” that have tumbled into my life in the last… chunk of time. Any of them could be a post of its own, but for my own record-keeping, here they are.
I talked with Jay about all this at the playground, today, saying how surprised I was at the number of starts just now, and how I was thankful it came while we were going through such a peaceful time.
His observation was that it seemed a peaceful time because I’ve been (almost) carefully guarding my time with God. And I think he’s right.
It’s a very encouraing thought.
So label me impulsive. Two big projects started the same day I thought of them.
This one finished the same day I started.
It’s amazing how much more willing and eager I am to be outside once I’ve located a good sunscreen ;)