Coming Up for Air

This morning I'm grateful for the friend in my life who listens to me each morning. We talk about how to remain and continue to be truth-seeking spiritual beings while in this human existence. He has been self-employed most of his life, and in the past several days, he has been a rock for me as I navigate honoring the responsibilities of my craft while remaining true to my time and the other parts of my world which require their own nurturing and care. It's true what they say about writing: you can't edit your own work. When he and I were first discussing this, he asked why not, bringing the simple truth into the light for examination. I'd never put it into words before, and I was grateful for the opportunity to understand this core piece more thoroughly: Because in the same way that you can't know what the back of your hair looks like or what color your eyes are until someone tells you,  you can't edit your own work. Instantly this made sense to him, but -- more importantly -- it helped me know the concept, not just repeat the axiom. 

I'm almost done digging out. The tsunami which threatened to drown me has receded to high- wader stage. Academically as well as editing work, I'm making my way through.

The next two weeks is a whirlwind of medical and legal appointments, culminating in court next Friday. Everything is moving forward by baby steps, and that's some good news, friends.

I went on an electronics fast starting Thursday afternoon. I only meant to go for 24 hours, but it's been brilliant, and I have no idea when I'll go back. I visited a friend in person, socially distanced in her front yard among the flowers. I felt like a person.

I'm reading a book for class that's so good I'm taking a gajillion notes, and it's slowing me down for now, but man it's worth it. Becoming Dad, by Pitts. Also, I'm supposed to be reading Book 3 of The Republic. Yep, might get to that sometime this week.

I finished one Knitting project (a lace scarf for a friend) and began another ( a blanket for Vivian). The roof leaks in three places and I called the management company, who sent someone today to look at it. 

Because I couldn't knit fast enough

I put Vivian's pink coat on hold this summer when I realized she was growing at a phenomonal rate. She is now the size of an average 3 year old, and the coat wouldn't fit at all. So I have decided to unknit the whole thing and reknit it as a cape.

We are back in Grandin Village again, and really loving it. There is plenty of space in the house for each of us, and I'm looking forward to cooking soon. The boys and I are planning a Pumpkin Carving Party for the end of the month, and in-between we are enjoying the place overall (especially the dishwasher!). There is a lot of paperwork, what with transferring schools and the like, but after the summer and beginning school year we had, it's worth it. This morning's trip to work took just around ten minutes, I was baffled; I mean, I had just started listening to the news and it was time to get out of the car. Not a bad deal. Last night we celebrated at Isaac's Mediterranean restaurant, a favorite of mine and a new place to the boys. (Confession: We had decided to go to Grace's for pizza, but it, along with nearly everything except Isaac's was closed on Mondays.) We swooned over the delicious fare, delighted in the live piano music, and enjoyed ourselves thoroughly enough to want to make a regular date of it, which is perfectly fine with me. This morning I spent some time talking with a representative for the local internet company getting everything ordered and scheduled, and the experience, while tedious and long, wasn't nearly as Kafka-esque an experience as the last time I spoke with them five years ago. I also have a land line (which will have no ringer, since it drives me crazy, but will be available for calling out, should we need it) and electricity, and will have heat and water soon. I feel positively enfranchised.

Conference Board Employment Trends Index for September 2009

After a year and a half of declines, the Conference Board's Employment Trends index edged upward. The increase isn't much, only 0.3 percent from August, but after a steady decline since January 2008, even a small amount of positive is seen as good news. Hopefully the decline has been broken, but even if it is we have a tough road ahead on the jobs front: today's number is down 15.6 percent from a year ago, when the index had fallen for eight straight months.

Analysts at the Conference Board aren't sounding the victory cry just yet, either. "While the employment numbers reported by the government last Friday were certainly disappointing, The Conference Board Employment Trends Index™ suggests that the trend of declining job losses will continue," said Gad Levanon, Senior Economist at The Conference Board. "But the road to recovery is definitely going to be bumpy and may last unusually long, given the depth of the recession we have experienced."
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