:: anne in the attic ::

Create Your Own Countdown

:: Sunday, November 30, 2003 ::

Thanksgiving turned out to be a pleasant surprise. When it just seemed too much either to do a big production or to travel within the space of one day, I opted out of the family plan and resigned myself to having some time instead. Then a funny thing happened on the way to that forum. The universe presented something else. Through a separate invitation, I did something I haven't done in many years and spent the holiday locally with some friends, people I don't necessarily know too well. And it was just what I needed. And I got to hang with some new folks who seem to be the real thing. In my book, there's nothing better.

My life is awash in many changes these days. In the past year, I have done things I never thought I would do. I have made many new friends and lost a few old ones. My closest sibling moved to another city. I ended a relationship without fear. I have lived alone and enjoyed the hell out of it. And I have rekindled my musical pursuits, given that the time needed to bump it up a notch. I have had the opportunity to see and do some things through a renewed spirit because of that. And I am oh so thankful. I know many challenges also await -- they always do. But I feel as though I'm growing stronger, more able to weather what comes, and to weed out the things that don't really matter too much in the long run. (How much this applies to interpersonal realms!) Let the little things go. Ah, this is the curse of the Virgo, to become too wrapped up in the details and thereby miss the big picture. But I am learning. There are great teachers all around me if I am vigilant.

:: Anne 12:16 PM [smartass remarks] ::
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A fairly severe oversight on my part, but I wanted to mention the passing of Elliott Smith on October 21st of this year. He took his own life in a swift and final knife to the chest. He'd been working on his latest album, which he himself had said in an interview was about ninety percent complete. I just hope that the recording company doesn't bastardize his work in order to "put out a cohesive album." Let it be how he left it, period. I own everything he's ever done, having begun to follow his work even before it appeared in such blockbuster films as "Good Will Hunting" and "The Royal Tanenbaums." There was an arm's-length yet intimate style to his recordings: up close and personal acoustic guitar with vocals that seemed almost a whisper at times. And he had a way with words, a restrained, insightful sorrow. Though I pass no judgment on his decision, I will miss him terribly. Thanks, Elliott, for what you left us, and for being willing even to share that.

:: Anne 11:50 AM [smartass remarks] ::
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Enter Winter. A little over a week ago, we had a rather balmy day or two, and then WHAM! -- the temperature dropped, the rains came, and here we are: another gray November. With that turn, work becomes a little harder, a little colder, windier, wetter. Though my total work hours have let up some, the ones where I'm out there in the elements really take it out of me. Samantha is quite content to have me home a bit more, though. I've stocked up on soups.

In other news, our choir had a fundraiser -- a "bowl-a-thon," no less -- and it was a blast. My scores were pretty foul, but it's a social activity that I wouldn't mind. My only worry would be accelerating the incipient carpal tunnel problems I feel coming on these days. My recently-learned guitar style seems to have brought it forth, as well as the last two years casing mail; and just being that much more dextrous means I've awakened often with a painful numbness and had to invest in wrist braces. Dorky.

I'm quite pleased with the level of study in the guitar lessons. That seems to be going well (haven't hit that first real learning plateau yet, but I know I will at some point), especially since I videotaped some of his movements so I could study them later when I had time. We're on kind of a flexible schedule these days, as I never know when I'll have to work late and cancel. In fact I've got a lesson tonight at seven that was rescheduled from Wednesday. He has me working on some Dylan, some June Carter and Gillian Welch (at my request). Good stuff.

In the last two days, I've been a lucky winner in two different raffle/participant events. A friend says those things come in threes and that I should buy a lottery ticket. Today. Yeah. Right.

:: Anne 5:39 PM [smartass remarks] ::
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