I'm about to graduate

 School ends in two weeks and if I get my work done, I will march across the stage to get a master's degree.

Yay!

Now, back to writing and editing homework.

Boston has grown on me

So, maybe you'll stay, a classmate said.

Not.

A.

Chance.

After Phoenix, Nashville, and Boston, I have learned I do not like big cities. (I always wanted to live in New York City and while I'm sure I wouldn't like the big citiness of it, I'd live there because it's NYC.)

Anyway, I am leaving Boston in less than a month. I'll be back to visit, sure, one day.

Back to Boston

 Have not worn a jacket since I got back to New Mexico. Only time I wished I'd had one was when I was at the movies and the theater was cold.

I'm prepared for my return to Boston, though--boots (even a pair of rain ones!) and scarfs.

Am graduating this semester--yay! but what I'm most looking forward to is seeing that MLK, Jr. sculpture in the Boston Common. It was being installed late in the semester, I got a glimpse through the covered fence but now that it's been unveiled and not necessarily liked, I'm eager to see it in person.

One week

 and I shall bid Massachusetts adios adieu aloha.

It went fast but I shall return.

I hear it'll be colder then. 

Oh.

Great.

My Sad Winter Tale, Part 1

I didn't know that on the weekends, the buses run on the hour.  Getting off the train, I was confused where I was supposed to catch a bus and so I missed the one I wanted.

Would not have been a problem but it was cold cold cold. And the wind was blowing. 

I wanted to cry but was afraid my tears would freeze on my face.

My Sad Winter Tale, Part 2

I need boots, my classmates tell me. They're from the area; they know this cold.

Black Friday and Kohl's has boots and boots and boots. And scarfs.

I order boots and boots and a scarf.

Forget to change the shipping address and so they're on their way to New Mexico. 😑

Fall in New England

 is as beautiful as I thought it would be.

(Not looking forward to winter though.)

It was only 7 stops

from when I got on the train and when I realized I was probably on the wrong train. 

Got off at stop number 8, caught the opposite train and got where I wanted to be!

Welcome to Boston, Gwen. ha ha

Three weeks and I'm in Boston

Have a place to stay. That was priority. Now, it's packing. I want to take all the cool sweaters and all of the boots 'cause I will experience cold and snow like I haven't since I was living in Nashville, BUT

I can't.

I have several writing projects that I want to take and spend the time completing (a pile of articles of research to read!). And I want to take some art stuff. And I want to take bear stuff so I can make bears for this holiday bazaar I do. 

Yikes!

Making some hard decisions, but the houndstooth blazer goes. It definitely goes.

I didn't do it then, but I'm doing it now

 A gazillion years ago I got accepted to graduate school to continue my journalism studies. I chose something else (read: someone) and that set my life on a different course.

It was interesting, how I've spent my years. It was not, though, what I had intended. And until I am burned into a pile of ashes, there is still time to do what I wanted to do.

So. . .

I am moving to Boston to get a masters in journalism. Was awarded a fellowship as part of my acceptance. Am excited and scared and proud. When I was writing my essay for admission purposes, I was thinking "Damn, you really are good" and I want to keep building my skills. Cost of living is waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay different from where I'm from, but I will find a way. I will find my way. 

As a student of the college, I can get reduced tickets for the Red Sox games. Am a forever Mets fan because I loved/love Lee Mazzilli, but I like baseball so maybe I'll find the time to take myself out to the ole ball game.

So I'm heading into my third act.

The setting is Boston, MA.

Can't wait to see what happens when the figurative curtain rises!

I'm rarely here

I spend a lot of time on twitter.  Too much.

Well

Got really sick.  Five days in bed, with the humidifier going; vaporub slathered under my nose, across  my chest; bowls with noodles piling up (I only like the broth from the chicken noodle soup but I don't throw the noodles away before warming the broth-go figure).

It was horrible.  I had a freelance job that was time-sensitive and I'd promised to write a ten-minute play for the local festival.  I'd done some judging on a contest last year and I'd said I'd do it again this year.  All I wanted to do was sleep!  Oh and let's add I can't take certain over-the-counter drugs 'cause of the blood pressure medicine I take.  Yeah, it was horrible. (Let's just underline and italicize that for emphasis.  Make it bold too.)

But I'm upright and out of bed.  Back to writing and pictures and bears.

Tabula rasa

A clean slate.

Pick up the pen.

Write the life you want in the coming year.☺

Well

The years just fly by, don't they?

Met some people who will contribute to my life next year. Making plans to utilize those connections.

I made some progress and I didn't.

But there's tomorrow and the one after that. And maybe in 12 months, I'll be back here celebrating those things I didn't learn this year. Let's hope!

Hanging out at the Observatory

Waiting to see Mars and if the clouds clear,  Saturn.

Yes, my love affair with the planets is still strong.

Oh, and the moon.

It went by fast, huh?

Can't believe the year is almost gone.

I've been busy and I've made some progress.

Maybe come December, I won't be crying about what I didn't do! HA!

Blood moon and Mars

Look up Friday! Just keep looking up!

6 months down

That was so fast!  Yeah, need to double up some if I'm gonna reach those goals I'd set 6 months ago😂😂😂😂😂😂

A Summer of Planets

Missed Saturn this week , but Mars will be in opposition in July.  Plus eclipse and a blood moon!

The company that made my telescope keeps taunting me with emails showing me better telescopes. Want a newer, bigger, better one but it is so not in the budget. Hopefully, holiday bear sales will be enough to get me a new one when Jupiter is in opposition again next year.

Hoping hoping hoping

Lebron Lebron Lebron

Whatever it takes.

It is all temporary

Lebron's got to be tired

Can he get some help, please?

Went outside last night for something

and when I looked up to that beautiful crescent moon above, everything was alright.  It really was.

An ocean of No No No

Rejection on all fronts. Bears, writing, pictures, personal. Knocked off center for a second.

Breathe.

Every no is a yes.  Breath. Look for that road that leads there.

I hope you did not miss Jupiter yesterday

In opposition, the sun shining on it made it visible.

Infinity War

Haven't seen it yet but I know what happens. Nobody I thought would die does except for a person who was mentioned over on Twitter and I can see why it would be necessary; from a writing standpoint, the stakes are raised.

Looking forward to the Stan Lee cameo.

Can't believe there is another avenger movie coming out next year.  Black Panther 2 is what I'm waiting on.

No, nothing compares to you, Mr. Nelson

I love Nothing Compares 2 U.

Prince singing the song he wrote is wonderful. His family is busy putting out unseen footage and audio. Glad they shared this.

What to do, what to do

Meteor shower and I can't decide to stay up or go to bed and get up at the optimal time for viewing. The last time I wanted to see some celestial event, I went to bed, setting an alarm to get me up at the optimal time, but when the alarm went off, I kept hitting snooze 'cause I didn't want to get out of my comfy warm cocoon of a bed.  Missed it. Yes, I was sad.

I don't want to be sad tomorrow. But I have to work and I don't want to be tired either!

Infinity War

Tony Stark and Captain America are goners, I bet. Hopefully, Black Widow because she is not a strong or necessary character. Just my opinion.

Have some catching up to do on the movies I didn't see. In order. Was seriously confused before because I saw two out of sequence.

And no, I didn't know you don't leave at the first roll of credits.

Just don't.

If you've a minute,

you should go check out that crescent moon in tonight's sky.

Excited

Mercury and Venus visible this month!

Saw Venus the other night

Love. love. love the night sky.

Later on this month, Uranus is to be visible close to Venus. Hope I'm situated where I can see it!

Had to keep the stitches in longer than originally told but they are gone now and I can get on with my life.  Really difficult not having use of the finger (couldn't type, couldn't cut material or sew).

OUCH!

Cleaning a very sharp knife and I sliced my finger.  Had to get stitches. That did not bother me.  The shot to numb the area did. Well, the needle carrying the numbing solution.  I hate needles. A LOT.  I didn't marry this man because, back in the day, the state required blood tests and I weighed my dislike of needles against my like for him.

It is rumored that Al Capone didn't like needles, and that he died from syphilis because he refused treatment via needles.

Anyway, for a little over a week my life is going to be a tad difficult without that operational pinkie.

Black Panther

is amazing.  Go see it.  I'm going to see it again. And maybe again after that.

Tomorrow is the only thing between me and "Black Panther."

Marking it on the calendar

Jan 31st.

The moon and I have a date.

The 1st day is always easy

Up and doing those things I said I was gonna do.  The trick is to continue and make it a habit, which ultimately becomes one's life.

I have less than 3 hours

To:

Lose weight

Write a book

Revise that stack of stories

Pay off my credit cards

Cut all the bear material I have

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

Maybe I'll just roll those things into 2018 and actually DO them

So excited for 2018!

It's gonna be way better than this current one.

Why?

Because I plan to work and make it that way.

I am an infrequent viewer of The Voice

but when I do watch a season of it, I am always disappointed with who won😒

A few weeks more

I will be so happy for 2018.

This was a challenging year.  I finally learned the lesson holding me back in some areas of my life. Curious for the instance where I show Life I do get it. I hope I graduate from the sandbox to the playground.

Today

was a very good day.

Lucky Duck

Went to Arizona last weekend to help my youngest son get out of there.  He's headed to NYC.

Yep, I'm gonna find reason to visit A LOT.

November is writing and sewing

A novel and lots of teddy bears.

Racism is everywhere.

I love talent competitions

Love this from The Voice.  Best Cover I've heard so far.

Determined

2018 will not get here without me getting some things done.

I am going to finish my aquatic-themed bathroom.  Need a storage cabinet, a table, a betta for the tank, and one or two other fish for the small aquarium.  Would love to have a fern in there but they hate me.

I will get all that bear material cut. Have done a lot of sewing, but will probably not get all the bears sewn. That's okay.  Has to be.

I have some weight to lose so I need to get running. Hate that I've waited till it's getting cold!

National Novel Writing Month. Gonna do it this year; my life is such that there is the time and little distractions.

Two months and some days. Gonna use that time wisely.

This is the part of the year where I make a mad dash to finish stuff before a new year.

bedtime

I've been staying up till 4 sewing bears.  On the nights, I'm not, like tonight (this morning, whatever) I can't fall asleep 'cause my sleep pattern's all messed up. (Insert sad face here).

Binge watching Hulu till my head hits the pillow.

I was turning the knob on the car radio, trying to find something good.  I couldn't get past the rock station, which I never listened to unless The Eagles were playing, because of the beat and the guitar in the song playing.

I'd caught the tail end of the record and, unfortunately, the dj hadn't mentioned the artist.

I pulled into the parking lot of Circle K, parked, and ran to the pay phone.  I called information for the station phone number and then called it.

What was the name of that song you just played, I asked.  To help him, I said the one word I'd repeated to myself to help me identify the song--breakdown.

It's called Breakdown, he said. (Ha!)

That began my love affair with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.

Damn the Torpedos was one of only two 8-tracks I would own in my life and I played it relentlessly and religiously in my car until the machine ate the ribbon up.  No matter.  Bought 45s.

I'll have to pull them out and throw them on the turntable.  Be very sad that he's gone but very glad he left something meaningful in the world.

SAM SMITH!!!

Someone needs to tell Adrian Peterson he needs to take a seat right there next to Ray Rice.

I love this guy

An exceptional day

it has been!

I wish favorite musicians would stop dying

Goodbye.  Thanks for the music.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6MbPWzIFUk

Got a new calendar

Cannot believe this year is almost over.  Starting making plans for next year; things I want to do, like traveling.  Reading the books I have before I buy more (ha!) 

I seriously cannot believe how quickly times flies.  Just yesterday I was saying goodbye to 1999!

There should be a remedial Civics class for adults

I cannot believe how many people think the First Amendment gives them the right to say anything, and without consequence.

The educational system in this country is so failing.

News Flash:  The First Amendment says the government cannot keep you from saying what you want. 

And say what you will, but it may cost you something.

White People!!

Not all, just some--

I try to be nonviolent but sometimes I wish I could reach through the computer and slap some commenter upside the head.

Keep your racist opinions for your next KKK meeting, why don't cha?

116/75

My blood pressure.  YES!

Years of trying different medications and combinations and giving up salt (I LOVED SALT- would put it on ice cubes and suck them) and giving up bacon (except for bits in salads)/(I LOVED BACON-once ate 14 pieces at a breakfast buffet 'cause I could).

One time my blood pressure was 228/145.  Stroke territory. "I'm not sure I'm letting you go back to work," the doctor had said when I'd went in on my lunch break.

Until I got well, I hadn't known just how bad I was.  So much better now.

116/75. I like that number.

From Di Riseborough-Intuitive Life Strategist

Donald Trump is so uncouth

UGH.

The hardest lesson for me to learn

Me before others

The world is so crazy.

What is happening to us?