— I took a bellydancing class with a friend of mine on Tuesday and it was extremely challenging, I was turned into a giant tomato-headed sweatball, wearing a drenched Elvis T-shirt, and I was still feeling it the next day. The teacher (who was incredible) handed out little bellydancing skirts to the class, sheer fabric with jangles sewn on, so you could really hear the sound as you practiced your various hip and booty jiggles. I seriously need to work on my shimmies. The whole thing was awesome.
— We’ve had more snow this week, and the weather has been quite cold. I love this time of spring. Dark days. A chill in the air. The sound of geese returning. But still cold enough for blankets and slippers.
— Busy with writing and various healthy projects involving my diet, my sleep, and exercise. My mother was here for a bit, which was great. I miss her. She’s been such a support (my whole family has). I am looking forward to Easter, although I love Palm Sunday too. I’ll see my family on Easter.
— Lots of movies, lots of screenings, screeners, and all the rest. Seen some really great stuff recently. I’ll be writing about some of it in detail, although you can check out my two reviews for Roger Ebert (more to come).
— I have been working on my apartment, which has (let’s be honest) had bad juju from the second I moved in. And then the building half burned down. I have never felt safe here, even before the fire. But now I have cleaned out my closets, changed my schedule radically, and the feeling of the place has started to transform. I am always happier in hotels/motels. I don’t know why. I am trying to get that feeling into my apartment, and it has been working, actually. It’s not a decor issue or anything like that. It’s a great apartment but I have never felt completely right here. Really trying to change that. So far so good.
— Reading a LOT. I’ve been reading some lighter stuff, romantic comedies and short novels, mysteries, fairy tales, which has been wonderful for me. I mean, I still love to read about gulags and tribunals, but I am trying to mix it up a bit.
— Have a road trip planned for April. Very much looking forward to it.
— I put Hope on a diet. She doesn’t understand what’s happening. She’s a good girl.
— Awesome dinner with Brooke and Liz the other night, two of my oldest friends. We met up at Brooke’s, had dinner, caught up, laughed hysterically, supported each other, talked about everything. I am so lucky. To quote Mr. Yeats:
Think where man’s glory most begins and ends,
and say my glory was I had such friends.
