Week 31…

For two months I found myself wanting to do precious little than sleep, or numb my brain by streaming way too many true crime videos on YouTube. I went to work, was my charming and effervescent self, and then during the weekend I felt overwhelmed — not just by the unknowable future — but by the sequence of events that allow me to be a functioning member of society. A sampling:

I have to get out of bed — and what should I wear? Oh wait, I can’t wear that, it’s in the hamper. Should I do laundry? Yes, I should do laundry. Oh man, I’m stiff, I should do my PT exercises. Should I shower before I do that? No. I’ll get sweaty. Should I do my laundry when I’m stretching? No, because I need to wash these clothes after I sweat in them. Ugh, I already feel gross. And I’m kinda hungry. Should I eat something before I stretch? Oh shoot, I forgot to take my pills. Oh wait, I needed to refill that prescription. Ugh, I’m tired. I just want to stay in bed. Maybe I’ll just listen to this meditation to slow down my bra– oh, right, I was going to purchase movie tickets. Nah, I don’t feel like going out tonight. Alright, probably should get out of bed since it’s… IS IT NOON ALREADY?! I am failing at Adulting 101.

tl;dr — this was a deep freeze. Thankfully, the two hobbies that I could not forsake were walking and reading, and from both I have drawn the strength and inspiration necessary to wander a circuitous path back to myself.

So, without further ado, here is what I’ve read since I last posted:

• If This Be Magic: The Unlikely Art of Shakespeare in Translation
• The entire English translation of the Smoking Behind the Supermarket with You manga (thanks, Birdie)
• Night Train – a collection of ZKVs (very short stories) by Dutch author A.L. Snijders that scratched my brain in the exact right spot
• Strange Houses, Strange Pictures, and Strange Buildings (thanks again, Birdie)
• Hooked: a Novel of Obsession by Asako Yuzuki
• Sleepless Nights by Elizabeth Hardwick
• All of Dungeon Crawler Carl (Jeff Hays is Princess Donut the Queen Anne Chonk; also, thanks a lot, Birdie)

As to where I’ve wandered? All over Golden Gate Park, and its surrounding districts. I love living in West San Francisco. Karl has become a close personal friend.

I’ve also started writing letters and postcards again — this is both the curse and blessing of having access to cute Japanese stationary.

Going forward, this blog is going to look different. I want to write in any and all forms that strike my fancy. That means slice-of-life posts, creative exercises, bad poetry, the odd burbling stream of consciousness. Etc, etc, etc.

Ultimately, I have always viewed writing as the means through which I can translate my heart and soul. And there is no write or wrong (pun intended; I’m back, babes) to do that.

SF Neighborhoods/Places Explored: “Only one is a wanderer; two together are always going somewhere.”

Soundtrack: Meg’s Android Mix; currently “Somewhere Out There” ❤

Bus + Bench Book: See above.

Lesson-Learned: Not all who wander are lost… but it’s dangerous to go alone.