So…posts are few and far between these days, but for my part that is a good thing. I am ever so busy! I think at the moment, I have taken on too many things at once, which is what brings me to the purpose of this post. An update, for any who may still check in.

Right now, I am doing far too many things to list…work, courses, rehearsals, lessons…

However, in January I start to focus specifically on two things. Expressive Arts Therapy and Applied Drama. I’m taking two programs—one leading to a certificate and one leading to a diploma. I am so very excited!

I’ll be learning about dance/movement therapy, drama for autism, music and therapy, creative arts for healing and expression, drama for communities, prisons, hospitals…it is so interesting!

I’m also desperate to travel…so I’ve chosen some low residency programs so I can perhaps fit some trips around my studies and my work—as I will be using my current place of employ to apply some of the things I’ll be learning.

And I have plans for even farther in the future. Once I’ve finished those things, I will be focusing on reaching a Level 3—Child Development Supervisor as certified by the province. That will include loads of child development courses. I’m also going to be looking closely at taking a Peace Education Certificate program and some natural learning experiences or classes. Oh…how I wish I could do it all at once! But as I have recently discovered, it is impossible. So for now, I finish this year up with my courses…and then in the new year, dive straight into arts and drama therapy. Life is good.

Lately I have been…

• Spending one evening a week painting with my Grandpa…he’s working on an oil painting, and I’m just trying out different watercolor techniques. While we paint we have started watching this new Sherlock Holmes program called Elementary. It’s kind of interesting!

• Practising violin and voice…because if you don’t use it, it all slips away.

• Walking my dog—I’ve been trying to get in two hours of walking/jogging with her every day. For her sake and mine.

• Writing poetry a little, or rather, attempting to write poetry. I found a whole pile of poetry prompts and I’ve been trying to write a little every week.

• Studying like mad. I’m taking several courses right now…Peace Education, Non Violent Communication, Learning Disabilities, Understanding AD/HD, and a few more courses on education and child development.

• Working. And planning. And organizing the resources. And re-decorating the space for the children. My life kind of revolves around my job right now…and it is such a good job. Certainly did not intend to be in this small town, much less at home for this long…funny how things work out. But with my job(the place I need to be right now)…and my plans for my personal education…it seems that I’ll be here a while longer.

• Doing a ‘practicum’ for my degree in Applied Drama. Working with a large group of students right now, once a week. It’s been so good!

• Planning out the rest of my education. Going to be doing some teacher training and expressive arts therapy, I think!

• Dreaming about alternatives to school. Dreaming about going on a bike trip across the states to visit alternative schools…

• going on a date or two, just for fun.

• And finally, reading books by Mary Stewart in my spare time. Of which there isn’t much! But life is so good.

To do; recall lost days

(the faded memories of

hazy summer sundays)

       pay last months gas bill

       return Janie’s books

       donation to goodwill

(the things you know you

never use, but can’t ignore)

       sew Rose a blue blanket,

       or maybe green

       call the invisible local

(to see if he’s coming home

sober)

the car parked on the lawn yesterday

the window in pieces, alas, broken

the bottles in the rhododendrons

To do; remember, don’t tread on the

rhododendrons

         get the oil changed

         clean the dirt tinted windows

         dig up the weeds in the lawn

(but the yellow ones seem

so happy)

why does no one ask?

we are solo embers

come see! we exist here

To do; water the backyard plants

         pick up the bills

         watch the time

(yeah, there’s not much left)

        park the car on the drive

        answer the ringing phone

        keep existing here

(like one highway moves

on to the next)

I gazed towards the gentle glow
that was slowly disappearing
stars appeared apprehensively
from their twilit hiding spots.

The ghostly fog in front of me
was my warm breath sliding
into the darkness as I
shifted from foot to foot.

This was a star-trail night.
The moon no longer visible,
the clouds long since gone,
a stunning visage left behind.

Light against dark. Dark
against the light.
Something stirred inside me
my arms outstretched
to embrace the sky.