I enjoyed the mild geekiness of Barbara Ehrenreich's comment on today being her 72nd birthday. "Hey, thanks for all the birthday wishes! It's a big adjustment, turning 72. 71 was a prime number. 72 is 2 to the third power times 3 to the second power. All these factors take some getting used to."

You are awesome for having developed the self-defense skills you already have, especially in being able to cut people off once you realize you need to. Now you are ready to improve those self-defense skills, but no reason to beat yourself up for not having upped them sooner. Again, it is amazing that developed as many social self-defense skill as you have.

Worth restating.

Worth restating.

Mwah.

I've been thinking about this so much, my brain hurts.

A college friend spontaneously sent me a lovely box of art supplies, totally out of the blue.

It was, I think, in response to a random gift I sent her not too long ago. She's an incredibly talented quilter and I found this charming fairytale about a selfish king who learns a valuable life lesson from a old woman quilter.

In any case, it was perfectly timed.

I think I'll curl up with the amazing coloring book and unwind.

askye, I hope you get some good sleep soon.

Think about times when someone you care about asked for help only after being backed up against the wall. When that happens, do you kinda wish that person had let you know there was something you could help with before it got so tough for them? Do you ever wish to help others prevent themselves from getting backed up against the wall?

nodding

Of COURSE.

But, somehow, that does not apply to me.

Honestly, if I could be _less_ mystified about why I am somehow wired to see the logic in this and yet not identify with it, I would.

Beloveds, you deserve every bit as much care as anyone else. You are not worthy because you only ever ask when there is nothing left for you to do; you are worthy of care, of affection, of kindness and respect simply because you are.

I got another job nibble -- an editing test for a company that edits academic manuscripts (this isn't the ESL company; there are apparently many companies that do this). I may be able to cobble together full-time freelance work.

Unrelatedly (or possibly relatedly), it's ridiculously hot, and I have to take my wedding dress to the seamstress today to see if she can shorten it in time for the wedding (she's taking a vacation in a week, which I didn't know about -- poor planning on my part), and run other errands, and I have a migraine from hell. Also, the dog barfed all over the living room floor.

Tuesday, you are on the list.

Beloveds, you deserve every bit as much care as anyone else. You are not worthy because you only ever ask when there is nothing left for you to do; you are worthy of care, of affection, of kindness and respect simply because you are.

Back atcha, WindSparrow.

Oy, Steph. That sounds like a day.

Bonny, when I saw books on Zentangles in the B&N art section, I thought of you and your mandalas and colouring. Have you ever tried them? There's a bit of "buy the instructions" opaqueness at the official website I gave you, but there are plenty of enthusiasts that walk you through their processes (pinterest had good sources). Here are a few:

• Beginner's guide: >[link]
• Official blog: >[link]
• The Flickr pool: >[link]
• Tumblr tag: >[link]
• Mandala zentangles: >[link]

I've only done a few, and not in the traditional layout--I use them to fill block spaces and random backgrounds, but it's a very soothing way of working meditatively. I had been meaning to get back into Celtic knot design, but zentangles distracted me (and then I just got OTT drawing, so...).

Everyone should look! It's guided doodling.