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Invigorating morning. About 40 degrees outdoors this morning with a rising sun that may chase the chill away. Good to see the people of Team Mettle last night. R and I walked over to his place, which is really nicely appointed. Then we walked back to my place, which is not nicely appointed. When R left, he took a header down the garden stairs. It was really dark outside and there were no ambient lights. He tripped at the top and sailed off into the darkness. Glad that he didn't seem to be hurt.

I spent some time last night putting up the TeamMettle blog. Sent the invites out this morning to the other team members. Will be interesting to see how that works out.

Dreams last night--three parts again. First dream had me up on the top of a ladder. Not sure why I was up there, but I had gotten myself into a position where I was standing on the very top of a ladder and couldn't easily get myself back down. I knew if I wasn't careful that the ladder might tip. Somehow, I managed to get down. There was someone else in the nearby rooms, but I didn't ask them for help.

The second part involved me preparing some trays of appetizers. There were several people milling around and making wiseacre suggestions, but I was the one who seemed to be charged with assembling the trays. There was a young woman sitting across from where I was working. She and another woman pointed out a mark on the edge of the tray. The mark was supposed to mean something about where the tray was supposed to go, but they were telling me to forget it.

In the third part of the dream, the trays had been assembled and delivered. The young woman and I went for a walk. At one point, I had to go to the toilet. She came in with me and we both managed to use the one commode somehow. It was awkward and messy, but we managed.

About then, I awoke to the sound of the house heating system turning on. It was blowing cool air and ran for a while and then shut off--no heat involved--just noise and drafty air.

I got up and went to the real toilet, cranked up my mini-heater, and went online to send off the TeamMettle bog invitations.

I noticed last night that the Recover Post feature has reappeared on the Edit/Post screen. It appears to be working this time around and not producing all sorts of crazy results. I set up the TeamMettle blog and even dared to click the Recover link to see what it did. It worked as previously advertised.

Have downed my supplement-laced kefir/juice concoction for my pre-breakfast regimen. Still early (for me) and I'm feeling hungry. May pop out for a bite of something less liquid. Perhaps a pastry--it's been a while since I've indulged in the morning--maybe even an order of french toast. Mm!

It's also R-day (for rent). Starts off a new cycle, a new spin, oh what a lovely mood I'm in.
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Started reading a WAD book about how to write short stories. It's a step-by-step way of proceeding, which I desperately need. It's quite formulaic, but so is life, I think. Actually, I really don't know what I think and therein lies the rub. I see myself taking the next 6-7 months and grounding myself in what I need to understand in order to produce work on a regular basis.

The book assumes that I will be keeping two notebooks--a journal not unlike this blog and a second that captures research results, etc. (somewhat like my New Ideas document that I started). I think I can use the computer for both of these notebooks even though the author suggests keeping a tactile version.

My issue is that my handwriting has become so illegible that I'm not sure putting on paper makes sense. Better that I be able to read it instead of having to decipher, I believe. I'll start in this way and see where it takes me. If I find I need too use real notebooks, I'll do so. It's all a learning exercise right now.

Had a delicious falafel pita bread sandwich for lunch. Good mix with last night's dinner (rasta pea cookup and, yes, bread pudding).

The writing book starts off with some tasks using index cards. I did get some cards and won't start off trying to do them on the computer. There's several reasons he suggested getting the cards and I'll go with him on this since it will involve only limited writing by hand.

Gorgeous day today. But I have other things to focus on. More later--after I kick off the writing exercises.
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Started the writing exercises--the 10 cards with something I feel strongly about on each card. I need to review them and there was nothing that was really surprising. They are 10 themes that seem to permeate my years so far. Need to assess if they're worth continuing/keeping in front of my face.

Got one team member on board the team blog, and a second coming. Hope to get all there. It makes a lot of sense.

Went to chiro this afternoon. He asked me if I could spell my name backwards. I surprised myself by being able to pronounce both my first and last names in reverse. It came to mind instantly. Amazing. No cognitive dissonance with that bit of data.

Have to let my current landlords know that I'll be moving on in a month or so. Sad, but no way to make this place work out.

Dance class tonight. It was a bit draggy. But was exposed to two more new dances--Que Sera waltz (easy) and one that goes with a Shania Twaine piece of music (easy intermediate).

Back is still acting up. Was good most of the day, but started aching later on. It too shall pass.

Ach! Need to wrap this up and head for the bed. Getting close to midnight already. Dream time.