saucy_dryad

* tap tap tap* Is this thing on?

It's been just over two years since I've posted on this account. I was inspired by harpiegirl4 to consider this platform as my primary social media contact.

There was a time when I posted here regularly. Not saying I was particularly articulate or clever, but damn... I said things. And I engaged in conversation with those who - bless! - followed my posts. In the days/months/years since I've abandoned LJ, I've established a presence* on Facebook, on Twitter, even on Tumblr (which I still don't remotely understand). I have a blog that, despite all my intentions, basically serves as a way to make the month of April matter.

So. I'm going to revisit LiveJournal. I'm going to rediscover what made my first foray into social media, into sharing my ordinary and everyday and trying to make it compelling (ha!). I'm going to step away from the single sentence, shared meme, quiz of the day. I'm going to tell you a little bit about me that will - let's be clear - probably be astonishingly dull. It will, however, be of my own making.

Here we are, then. Let's go!

*tens of people know who I am. TENS!

I'm a reader. I adore books. I love to reread them, to share them, to gift them, to treasure them.

I suppose that's how I ended up with several groaning bookshelves throughout my house, as well a ridiculous amount of books stashed in the attic. Once upon a time, I never gave a book I'd read away. It was as if the act of reading translated to a soul-deep bond: I carried part of the story in me, the book forever held the imprint of my hands. Then again, that was also the time that I finished every book I started, no matter how laborious or inane. Once I started working at a book store, the sheer number of books begging to be read - from publisher-supplied ARCs to the stacks and stacks I purchased  - necessitated some discernment. If a book didn't hold my interest, or made me cranky, I put it aside. There was an endless supply.

Along those lines, I accepted that I was holding on to books I'd never reread. Heck, I hold on to books I am sure that, some day, I will absolutely get around to (this is in addition to the entire, double stacked TBR bookcase, my ebook backlog, the books that have been loaned/gifted to me, and what I borrow from the library). I've done several purges over the years. I'd sell them to the used book store, send them to friends, heap them upon my nieces and nephews, donate them (in the small quantities allowed) to the library. Each time, it gets a tiny bit more manageable... and then it all starts creeping back.

Of those books in the attic, many have been there since we moved in ten years ago. Some have cycled through the Great Bookshelf Rearrangings that happen every couple of years. There are books in bags, in Rubbermaid containers, in bookstore boxes (I haven't worked there in nine years). They're languishing in the dark and the dust, unread, when there may be readers just waiting to connect with them. So... as part of the Declutter The Attic! initiative spurred by my sweetie, we hauled all of those books to the living room and sorted through every last one. I'm not decimating my stockpile. I'm keeping the ones I love, or just really like. I'm keeping the ones that were important to my childhood* (those Black Stallion books are going nowhere!). I'll do another pass in a month or so to see if my first decision sticks, and to organize the duplicate copies.

Duplicate copies, y'all. Of so. Many. Titles. There are certain books I clearly wanted in both soft and hardcover (one to read and one to look pretty on the shelves), those I buy intending to -someday- give them as gifts, and those I buy whenever I see them because they're hard to find/out of print. I have three copies of Jane Yolen's (admittedly excellent) picture book Merlin and the Dragons. WHY? Three copies of Terry Pratchett's The Fifth Elephant: one trade paperback ARC, two first edition hardcovers, one of which is signed. Three copies of American Gods: regular trade paperback, hardcover signed first edition, and the British trade. Two copies of the entire Westmark trilogy.

It's time.** Time to let go, to be honest with myself, to get rid of books that are just stuff instead of treasured - or potential - friends.

If I regret any of these decisions further down the line, it's a short trip to the library.

*going through books at my mom's house, I found an entire box of my Nancy Drew and Trixie Belden books. I should just let that go through the estate sale, but... sigh

**there's the teensiest possibility there are other reasons I need to get rid of clutter, to unblock, to encourage positive energy flow. but then you all know that. <3

This time last year, I was running four times a week and about to run a half marathon. Now, I can't run more than a mile without my hip screaming in protest. Not a huge deal (aside from 'my body is supposed to do what I tell it, with no whinging'), but running does help me lose weight. And I need to lose weight. And a lot of my other friends run and do very well with it and though I shouldn't be competitive about it, I sort of am.

Looks as if I really do need to add weight training, but I am not joining a gym simply to use the machines. Whatever free weights and kettle bells I have at home will have to do. Once things are a bit more settled with lawyers and cleaning out Mom's house, I can take a few more kickboxing classes on top of what I teach. Certainly I will do my Sunday yoga until my Sundays are no longer free, which is in about six weeks. I could also be smarter about what/how much I eat.*

Got a bit of extra exercise in today. Yard clean up totally counts! I raked and pruned and hauled wheelbarrowsful of leaves and branches and bits of plants I really ought to have cleaned up in the fall. The upshot is my veggie garden is cleared out, and the strawberry plants are uncovered and cleaned up. I still need to turn the soil; have done it by hand the past two years. May rent a tiller. Herb garden is ready for planting. Flower beds and shade garden are ready as well. It's too early to plant much, but I am eager to go. In the meanwhile, I'll have to satisfy myself with surprise!snowdrops and the other spring bulbs that are popping up around my yard.

Glory-of-the-snow and a budding hyacinth.

*so very unlikely

I was being so good, so focused, about my health and fitness. I can't do much in the way of running any more (short version: December challenge, screamingly painful hip, never really loved it anyway), but I was taking a few kickboxing classes in addition to those that I teach. One boot camp class, one to two yoga classes, two to three walks each week. Looking to add weight training.

Then, as it does, life got in the way. There was lots of driving. There was physical and emotional exhaustion. There were poor dietary choices.

I've been slowly making my way back. Weight training remains an issue, and one that must be addressed, but I'm doing vinyasa strength and flow once a week. Took a private aerial yoga class last Friday.* Today, I decided it was time I got my sorry butt back in kickboxing class. Mind, this might not have been my best decision. I taught two classes today, as well as a small group boot camp session, but hey... have to dive in at some point, right?

It was rough. My muscles felt heavy and slow. My energy was low. But I did it. For an hour, I let someone else call the shots. I focused on my bag, on my form, on getting the job done. It was lame, but when it was over I felt BETTER.

rawr.

Why did no one tell me my hands were so far forward? YOU GUYS!

*TERRIFYING! Also: challenging, frustrating, and fun. But so, so scary. I am old and not bendy and deeply suspicious of the need to hang upside down. I'll be back this Friday.

The good news (or so I hope): I'm reestablishing my presence here, as a run up to starting an actual blog.

The bad news: no witty novel has been finished. A novel or two is in draft form, but I can claim neither polish nor wit.

The other news: I am in the process of training a wild squirrel to eat from my hand. Following that, we will be best friends and have madcap adventures. It's a work in progress.

I've got so much to tell you - several month's worth of things. For now, though, I'll just say that we're two weeks away from opening NYRF '13. I'm glad I'm part of the show, but it has its challenges. Soldiering on...

Not in the best place I want to be for my first half marathon. Over the last two weeks, my training has been utterly derailed. My diet is terrible, I've gained weight, and my digestive system is dark and full of terrors.

On the bright side, I know I can do this. Come Sunday, I'll make it over the finish line. Sure, I will pay dearly, but I can finish. Once this is behind me, I can focus on other things, all of which do not revolve around me running/zombie shuffling for two and a half hours.

That's right. A week from now, it's all kitties, all the time.

She really is crazy adorable.