(no subject)

( Русский язык )

Ugh. Sniffly.

So, we took Murdock to the spay/neuter clinic this morning. He spent most of the morning before that curled up asleep in my lap warming my legs and purring. I miss him already, but we're going to pick him up tomorrow morning, so it's not like it's that bad. But, my kitty! It's amazing how quickly I've gotten attached.

Oogh. Something I meant to talk about yesterday but didn't on account of choking on my taco. In the past couple of years I've been involved in a project with some friends of mine for self improvement. In a moment of wacky pith I called it Courtesan School, because, hey, glamourous and mysterious and historical and one of the books I have on the practice suggested a good easy set of traits to remember and aim for. What it is, is a kind of self-improvement school. Aiming to do and be as badass, graceful, what have you as we always wanted to be. We've had some rocky points. Both for ourselves and for other people who've been in the project and then decided it wasn't for them. But it's a little amazing, in the past year I have (in no particular order):

Studied three languages, improving my mastery of each. Developed an exercise routine I can stick to, and do. Gotten in better shape, I can lift more, walk longer. Kept yearly doctor's appointments (or non-yearly, as needed). Developed better time management skills. Improved my diet. Improved my skin quality. learned how to apply makeup to my specific advantage and, importantly for me, learned how not to be afraid of it. Learned to knit, spin, weave. Developed new coping mechanisms, relaxing mechanisms. I've learned how to be more positive, more resilient. Allowed myself to collapse sometimes, and learned how to get back up again.

It's kind of amazing, how... well, all of it, really. But also, when you put your mind to it, what you can do. Especially when you look back on it, each little step not seeming that significant and then you look back and go, holy shit. I did all of that?

Damn.

(no subject)

( 日本語 )

I cannot switch keyboards tonight for the life of me. I just went through Russian and Spanish before finally landing on Japanese. I have, however, determined that I have only two chapters left, after which there will be a giant sized review. Possibly the plan for this review will be to write down all the grammar points in brief, maybe the way they're listed in the chapters, and then make sentences with them. Or paragraphs or something. That seems like a decent plan, which means we get to see if it survives the first engagement with the enemy.

The other lesson plan for tonight involves getting used to things again. That'll be interesting. And involve a lot of Pink Floyd.

I picked up a Yuletide pinch hit that also looks like it's going to end up being pretty big, which means no more pinch hits for me until I finish these two stories. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing. Although I do expect to get a fair chunk of things done tonight, both the stories are coming really fast and hard. Joy! Um. Things and stuff.

I am turning into such a knitting freak these days you have no idea. I got a not-full ball of sock yarn (Trekking XXL, for those of you who keep track) in shades of pink thrown at me today, for the purposes of pink arm warmers. Which I think I will make just because I can, dammit. And because pink on a lot of black is amusing, and I do wear a lot of black. Of course, this comes after the pair of arm warmers I'm finishing up, the pair of arm warmers I'll hopefully finish up for the Elf Lord this weekend, the green scarf I'm working on... yeah. I am turning into a knitting fiend. Which is good, because I am also a spinning fiend. And it is all very awesome.

Okay! Now I'm going to go be awesome to the tune of lots and lots of Pink Floyd. Shit, this means I should probably learn how to read music, doesn't it. Fuck. I haven't done that in twenty years or so.