Remind me to pick up notebook paper.

Good morning, sweeties. I’ve had a rather quiet morning, contemplating some changes to my blog to make it simpler and less, oh, pressuresome to me. I know pressuresome isn’t a word, but you don’t mind, do you? With school starting tomorrow I’m going to have less time to post and visit other blogs, but I don’t want to give everything up entirely. I’ve been a terrible blogger over the last year or so; I’ve attended no blog gatherings whatsoever, and I’ve neglected to throw sheep at any of the bloggers who frequent Facebook. Neither have I gone a-visiting many other bloggers at their place. I’ve gotten out of the habit of telling funny stories and I haven’t felt all that contemplative since school started with its accursed emphasis on critical thinking, so my posts haven’t even been poignant. I think I need to shorten things up. I was admiring three bloggers in particular this morning.

Cathy has been struggling a lot regarding the fact that she’ll be saying goodbye to her heart-adopted African son, Tejan. I appreciate her being honest about how she feels; sometimes it’s hard to take a turn into more emotional, sensitive topics, and she’s done it gracefully. Neil Kramer amazes me with his ability to stay consistently funny and interesting, even when he’s going through difficult circumstances. To me, he’s the quintessential blogger (and that IS a compliment), because he also knows how to stay connected with people. People-people are the best bloggers in the world, IF they have a soul, and Neil does. And lastly, I was newly inspired by Jul, who has made her blog as minimalist as possible, while keeping it intriguing and beautiful (not to mention tantalizing, as often - even after pressing “More” - there is no more). Her blog is what I’ve had in mind lately, regarding my own.

To follow-up on my last post, ALL my skirts are now clothespinned to hangers in my closet, ready to be donned this next term so I’ll feel like a woman instead of a recent high school graduate; and all my textbooks are bought and stacked on the table. I feel virtuous and thrifty because I bought most of them used and saved myself thousands and thousands of dollars. (Textbook prices are ridiculous.) I have plenty of money left over from the Pell Grant to buy a laptop in the next month or so, and this makes me butt-clenchingly ecstatic. Steve is going to help me with that; OH, it helps to know a computer genius. And today the Christmas stuff goes back in the boxes. Mal was telling me that in Ireland, January 6th is known as Little Christmas, and is the day when, traditionally, the Christmas tree comes down and the women go out on the town. It’s akin to Mother’s Day, and I think that’s nice. So have yourselves a merry Little Christmas (even if you’re not Irish, or a woman). kiss!