Short Cuts - I think my regular readers (and friends and family) know that I have a problem trying to be succinct. I wrote long stories, I tell long stories, I take zillions of photos. This also feeds my inability to just keep up. "BACKLOG" seems to be my middle name. But in an effort just to give you some highlights, I just remembered that the column I wrote for my high school newspaper was called "Short Cuts" and was just quick highlights in a box on the front page.

So, in honor of that long-forgotten column, here are some quick Short Cuts.

Weight Loss slowed this month. But I left October at the same numbers I entered, so I'll take the break even mark. Clearly I need to exercise. But in good news, several people have complimented me that they see an improvement. That has to count for something.

Steampunk was the theme for a birthday party one week before Halloween, and so it also became my Halloween uniform of the year. I found two of my clothing purchases on clearance racks, finally found a bowler hat (which I adore!), some great new heels to add to my shoe collection, bought and painted some goggles, and found jewelry in my own collection that matched wonderfully. I think I'll continue building a steampunk costuming collection for future events. The outfit looked fantastic when I was able to go (last minute) to a Dr. Horrible Sing-a-long. And I wore it again to the Halloween party thrown by Saul and Amy. (Photos forthcoming, of course.)

Another major effort lately has been a revised attack on Organization and Finances. I remembered how much I love to do filing-by-three-ring-binder, so I'm making a concerted effort to clutter-bust at home, one grocery-bag sized pile at a time. I'm daydreaming about furniture rearrangement at home, to take the best advantage of the storage space in my loft bed: Maybe I just need shelves up there? My desk already looks better at work, the bills are organized again, and I can walk through my bedroom. Soon I'll be able to sit on the small couch again, and next I want to get rid of the 2nd cardtable of clutter in my room.

I took the time to attack two small repair projects this week, which made me feel a measure of competence and success. First, I finally made a camera sleeve so that I can easily pop my camera out of a belt pouch and take a picture, yet not scratch the camera nor fumble with a draw-string bag. Second, I accidentally snapped a bracelet (twice!) this weekend, so this morning I figured out how to rewrap the wire-connectors, and managed to completely repair the bracelet. Win!

I've also been actively spinning the last of my copper-and-purple-and-green lace-weight silk yarn as well as participating in some other textile projects this month. Yesterday, I dropped in at the Southern California Handweavers Guild Fiber Day, helped at the Griffin Dyeworks booth, and generally enjoyed More String, Better. Sometimes I forget how much this soothes my soul and feeds my love for creating.

I managed to finish my second (ever) "Real" Scroll, where I did the design and layout, illumination painting, and custom calligraphy. I just barely delivered it on time for the deadline cutoff, and picked up a VERY special SECRET next assignment. I have about two months to finish this one, but it will require some special custom image painting, which makes me nervous. But I plan to buck-up and deal.

And finally, Mateo is touring with a theatre troupe, and stopped off for dinner with friends last night. I got to spend nearly an hour giggling with my nephew Benji, flipping him in "circus tricks," then just lounging and socializing with my "family."

Next up: Continued house clutter-busting and cleaning, Coronation/Queen's Champion this weekend, more Calligraphy and Illumination this week, some website re-design and updating work, some newsletter work, and I cannot forget that I want to bring exercise into my weekely routine. Ugh. So much! Well, time to have lunch. More later, my dears.

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Today's Blessing That I'm Thankful For: Cormac: For the pavilion, the tickets, and a fantastic evening out with friends. Thank you, dear.