Oh, Hi!

There are numerous changes since my last post!

• Met a man, fell in love.
• Moved to Seattle.
• Spent the summer trying to stay cool and sane.
• Realized my savings were rapidly dwindling, found job.
• Took class in editing, have no income yet as a result of that investment.

So there you have it! No time for blog-posting, and hopefully you won't hold it against me. Oh wait, except I did find time to start another blog and occasionally post. What's that address, you ask? sashainseattle.wordpress.com

I anticipate alternating my sporadic postings between these two blogs. Until I figure out which one I like better, or maybe decide that each has their own unique flavor. SashainSeattle is somewhat chronicling my life in Seattle, though that's between apologies for not posting in awhile, and promises to improve. Let's face it... I don't write as much as I want to. I think the only person who realizes and is disappointed (maybe) is Camille.

But here? Why, maybe I should just be silly! I've been having all these ideas of fun things, and this could perhaps be a source of ideas for those willing to take it further! Except I just launched one of those ideas... This kinda looks like a face is where I'll be uploading photos of things that, well, kinda look like a face. Occasionally they'll probably kinda look like something besides a face, but who knows. I sure don't. Anyway! That blog accepts submissions, so please, be awesome, and keep your eyes peeled for things that kinda look like a face. That's one way to make use of your cell phone camera that isn't dirty.

Oh, oh, oh!! But you should also check out the Huffington Post! Bellingham is the best place to eat local in my mind, and so I shared it... and it is most awesome!!! Now you know my HuffPost name, but that's cool. It's not like I post flaming comments or anything to be ashamed of.

Okay. I love you, tons really! But I need to go to the grocery store before I go to work. Loves!

The bees knees and ladies

Ahhh. Today, I had the joys of Katie's company not once, not twice, but three times. And it was fabulous.

We started off this morning walking around her yard and taking measurements and notes to plan a garden. Katie's been wanting a garden for some time, and, well, I've got the time to help make it happen!

Later, I picked her up and we took Shyann (my pooch-sister) to Padden to run the trails with her boyfriend and the students he coaches in long-distance running. It was cold, there was snow still very much on the ground through the horse trails, but as we emerged from the woods and the hills, the sun felt so refreshing. It was a great run, and I'm looking forward to joining up with them more in the coming weeks as a running buddy.

And, of course, it was Wednesday, so our standing ladies night date was in place. We missed Camille tonight (I miss you tons dearie! We need some quality time soon, if you happen to be reading this...). And MAN! It was an intense disc that we were watching! What I love the most about these ladies nights, is that we're really low-key... we get together with some wine and appetizers and watch discs of TV shows that we never watched in high school... yet that we all discover we enjoy. We debate the characters and the situations they find themselves in at length after the disc ends... and it gives us an opportunity to explore our lives and what choices we would make if we were in the same situation.

I always feel enlightened after these evenings. It recharges my batteries. Nonetheless, I'm not up for two late nights in a row... so adios amigos. Hasta manana.

The iron is hot. The induction stove? It's not, and it's fabulous.

Dear friends,

Ah, I've been struck by inspiration! Suddenly, I can foresee away that I can work and still be happy! I just come up with my own business, you see, and do what I want to do in order to work as much or as little as I'd like at any given time! My goodness!

Really, I don't know why that whole concept hasn't struck me much harder, much earlier. I've always understood it, but perhaps I was always too busy trying to figure out what I'd like to do, instead of just realizing what I wouldn't mind doing and making that happen. So... It fell into place for me... My expenses are beautifully low, and in order to not deplete that beautiful ace in the hole called savings, I really only need to work about 10 hours a week. What would I not mind doing for 10 hours each week? Cooking and cleaning. No joke! (Mom and Dad, I can hear your guffaws of laughter. I assure you I'm as serious as I ever am!)

Cause here's the thing! I really enjoy cooking and cleaning when that is what I'm actually doing. And it's really nice to create a more positive living envrionment for people. Heck, I used to dress up and treat myself to clean my old studio in Ballard. I'd put on good CDs, and I'd get lost in my imagination while reliving the old Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle books. Here's the thing... when my imagination has the opportunity to wander, it's like being on the Olympic Peninsula. All these ideas spring up very lush and healthy, and the eco-system of my mind thrives!

One of the joys of my unemployment (which I double-speak as "purposefully available scheduling for the benefit of more social time with people I love"), is that I get to, well, spend more time with people I love! Slowly I am struck with how much easier it is to nurture my friendships. And in doing so, I am also balancing the time that I like to have just for me (reading, writing, recreating). Shoot, I'm probably radiating something akin to smug, but I assure you that's not the case!

Sometimes it's just really easy to think that I should really have things in my life "more in place" if that makes sense. Honestly, it doesn't make sense to me. What is so wrong with the fact that I want to create a life in which I'm a truly happy being? Nothing! Nothing is wrong with that! But it is important to me to feel that I'm getting by on terms that are acceptable to me.

Ai yi yi. It's almost two in the morning and I'm absolutely wide awake. It could be because the universe is filled with an inexplicable energy right now... or it could be the 32 ounces of coffee I had after noon today. I'm thinking it's the latter, but there's a definite quality that lends itself to the former and my mood this fine evening (morning?).

This afternoon and evening, I hung out with Liz (Hi Liz!) and her husband and mom, and our mutual best friend Katie. While we were enjoying our dinner, I'd mentioned that I would be writing more with my new freedom. After we knocked down some pins in alleys, we were talking about the Spring Bowling League they were advertising, and how many times one would have to bowl to make it worth it each week (the answer: five games),
and I said,
"Oo, maybe I could do that..."
Liz's mom: "But what about writing?"
Me, sheepishly**: "Okay, I'll still be writing. I'm [getting closer to] writing every day."

So, here's part of the first steps. Taking advantage of the desire to write when I have time to do so. It may be at odd hours... but what better thing to do when I find I can't sleep? Wait, should I be watching TV right now? Cause I'm sure I could find something lovely and soporific on TV. And miss out on the joyous release that comes from expression, miss out on adoring Pandora, miss out on delighting in catching up on Liz's blog (classichousewife.blogspot.com).

I didn't realize how many idea eggs had been laid... but they're all starting to hatch:


So, thoughts:
Business idea - Begin cleaning and cooking, start with an introductory rate as I gain more experience (and figure out if I really want to do that a few hours each week). Benefit of this is that I'll improve at doing these things, which helps my life too!
Fun idea - Bowling league. Seriously. You wanna bowl? Shout out! Know a business that would sponsor a league? I especially urge you to let me know.
General ideas to accomplish writing goals - Know those small little flippy notebooks that are good for shopping lists and jotting notes to one's self? Um, so I have maybe five of those. I need to start using them. And also writing when inspiration strikes.

Okeydoke. Methinks it's bedtime. Finally.


**I instantly made a mental note to ensure that this becomes true with more visible results than the statement "I'm working on setting up my office" yielded a couple of weeks ago. When I can make it in the door and be set up comfortably, you'll be the first to know.

Ahhh, finally!

Dear friends!

I am overjoyed to announce that this dream is far more closer to reality than at any point over the past year! I am gainfully unemployed, and the winds are beginning to blow the right way for me to head out on the road trip. Well, almost... I have some commitments that will keep me mostly in town for the next few months (volunteering, and the wedding of one of my best friends), but then - FINALLY!!!!- I should be able to get going!

As I don't write nearly as often as I once hoped, this blog looks a lot like my journal. ("Dear journal, so much has happened in the past few months since I wrote! Yet I have no time to sit and write, so I'll fill you in later." And then more time passes.) I was struggling a lot in a job I believed in, but there was too much going on in my personal life for me to be as focused and dedicated as I would have liked to be. When my grandpa died three weeks ago, I felt as though everything came to a head. My mind and my heart were with my family. When I would think about myself, my thoughts would be toward the life I wanted to be having... a life with adventure and beauty. A life exploring the wonders of life, love, and the world we live in.

And so it hit me that rather than continue to feel like I was running into this brick wall again and again, I should be making an effort to get over the wall, to walk around it, to knock it down. That the way to do so would be to dedicate a great deal of my time getting my life in order; getting my bus in good condition, and getting myself stronger in mind, body, and spirit to embark on my journey.

I can not express how free I am feeling! At any given moment, I pause, and breathe deep, and feel... like I am soaring. I know that to some what I am doing seems impractical. "Are you completely oblivious of today's economy?" they ask. "How are you going to make a living?" And I don't know what to say to explain that I'd rather be living than making a living. That I have faith in my resourcefulness to get by as a productive member of society in my own right. That many of the expectations people set for themselves serve to imprison them.

Back before our society became focused on keeping up with the Joneses, our work was spent in the fields, growing crops to provide food for our families. Working with the Earth to live, instead of working to acquire things that work against it. And please don't feel that I'm saying there's anything wrong with the jobs that do not work directly toward providing life's necessities (food, water, shelter, love), but there is something wrong with feeling miserable and disheartened a vast majority of the time.

Anyway. So, yeah, musings. I've got to dash - I'd like to attend a meeting on the development of the old GP site.

Will write more soon, I hope/promise,
Love and peace,
Sasha

If this blog were a houseplant...

...it would be totally dead right now. Unless it were a cactus, those things thrive on neglect.

Anyway! So, HOWDY! Life's been full of changes. Quit my job. Tried out unemployment for about 96 hours before exploring the world of blueberry farming. Season wrapped up, was unemployed for 48 hours, then got a job in a non-profit.

And now? Now I'm thinking about making that work if I can do it and be happy. And if it doesn't work? If I'm not happy? Well, hmm.

I went to brunch the other day with a guy who regularly takes off in his Westy. I know that there are ways to incorporate road trips with working, and it really comes down to a good fit and making smart choices.

The biggest thing I've learned? That there's no need to figure it all out right this second. Whew. That was easy.

Ch-ch-ch-changes!

Hello my friends,

Well. Wow, where to start?!? With the bus trip for sure.

So much has been happening in my life recently. One of the goals of my trip was to figure out what I wanted to do with my life. I'd been steadily waking up to the fact that my position was not the best fit, at least in terms of providing the challenges that keep me excited and eager to head in to work. As I wasn't meeting those needs for challenge in my job, I began volunteering.

Volunteering is fantastic! It's the best way I've found to give back to my community, which I have loved a looooooong time. That's right Bellingham, I'd sleep with you every night if I could... it's just sometimes I want to spend the night some place else. Sue me.

Anyway, volunteering has opened my eyes up. So much, that I'm afraid to sneeze for fear my eyes will fly out of my head! What all this means - in terms of the road trip - is that I feel good working for non-profits.

One non-profit in particular I find so completely inspiring. I want to learn all that I can about them! They've inadvertantly also set me on a path I'd like to explore... developing a non-profit for neighboring Skagit County that can help increase awareness of Skagit farmers, while facilitating many of the connections that will maintain a sustainable community.

I love bringing people together. My head is this great filing cabinet that stores away information that often proves useful. "Oh Jackson, you're intereted in starting a downhill inner-tubing club? My friend Bertha is an avid downhill inner-tuber, and she could help you get that started! At the very least, you two might want to have dinner together, I think she's your type." Okay, no, I've never set anyone up romantically... but when I somebody says they're looking for a painter, I give them the number of a painter I know. I like giving him business, and I know that he'll do a great job at a reasonable price. My parents, whenever they mention a major home project, I burst with ideas, many of which they'd appreciate, and many of which can also be completed with the help of people I've met since moving back to town three years ago.

Yeah, Skagit, it ain't exactly Bellingham. But it's beautiful down there, and it sounds like there's a need. I'm applying for some AmeriCorps positions to learn more about the operations of non-profits, and I'm interested to see if positions are flexible enough to allow me a regular time each week in which I can volunteer within the community.

Soooo, bus trip temporarily on hold. With gas becoming such a hot commodity, I don't mind that. Leaving my current employment 5 months ahead of schedule throws a wrench in the finances, and when I'm only earning about 35% of my current income, I'm not inclined to spend money on something that isn't doing the world a whole lotta good anyway.

On top of these directional changes, my car got a death sentence from the mechanic. It's still running, but I feel as though it's on borrowed time. Soooo... what do I do? I've contemplated selling the bus. If I can get what I paid, then combined with my current savings I can do a savings-secured loan and pick up a used subaru. I'd still be able to live out of that for the trip... or if I postpone the trip a few years I can keep my eyes peeled for a diesel and use biodiesel on my trip, which would make me very happy indeed.

When I tell people that the trip plans are changing, I get the sense that they think it's not going to happen. I'm not sure how I feel about that. Cause let's face it, when I set my mind on doing something, I'll do it, unless it compromises the safety and happiness of myself and others.

So... as my heart is urging me to discover what I can do within the bounds of my community, that's what I'm going to do.

More later, gentle readers, I promise. (Later meaning a few days, so please keep your panties untwisted if you're obsessively checking for updates this evening.)

;-) s.

A lot has been happening...

...too much to write at this moment, and there are some changes afoot. I'll write more, soon, and explain. I promise!