A forward question

"Are you expecting?" or "What are you having?" and other variations have been asked of me more than a few times this past year. Before some people get excited, or dumbfounded, I am not pregnant. I've put on quite a bit of weight over the last year that has unfortunately gone directly to my 'tummy' and chest. Its actually mostly been strangers asking, two cashiers within the last month. A doctor's office assistant actually thought the nurse prior to his hiring just recorded my weight wrong the first 3 times I'd come in... Now that hurt. The people who know me have asked after not seen me in some time. I prefer this question over any blatant inquiry of my weight. I wonder if that was their intention... I was always the skinny one and people questioned my appetite or the possibility of an eating disorder. So now I'm having difficulties changing my lifestyle so that I can hopefully lose a bit and at least not look perpetually 3 months along. Most frustrating is not fitting into clothes I've had for years and having to actually try on quite a few things not to see if the cut is okay or that it isn't too big... but because I'm just not sure what sizes I wear any more. I have not yet decided if I miss my mother's comments about strapless/thin spaghetti strapped dresses "Honey, you do not have enough imagination to keep that up." I think it simply continues to amuse me.

Well, I could think of other things I would like to bring up but its late. Jorge crashed a bit ago so I think I will join him. I am so glad to not have to get up early on a Saturday!

Oil Can!

I wish I were the Tinman and all I needed to get my joints going good as new was a bit of oil.

I went to a silent dinner on Friday with a friend, it is a group of people who sign getting together to chat. It was so great to get my hands moving and express myself. I sign some with my work but it just is not enough to keep my skills sharp. I will definitely be going more regularly and when I finally get a chance to visit up north I will not be so ashamed to see old friends having let my signing slip away.

It meant leaving Jorge home alone which is a bit strange, being we spend most of our time together these last two years. Hard to think back it was not so long ago we lived over 1000 miles apart. Sometimes we take for granted the simple moments that were once so precious but its what happens when one is able to spend our lives together. At least we know how lucky we are.

Splatters of Ink

I have been meaning to start a blog as a sort of way to hold myself accountable. I want to begin writing poetry again and drawing. One day I hope to take on a challenge for myself of writing a poem a day for a whole year. I am not ready to begin that just yet but for now I'm getting this going.

I titled this first post because of one person who encouraged me a lot years ago to take my writing to the next level. Laura, if you ever come across this, I'm trying to take your advice and get down the beginnings of an anthology. So that's my sort of dedication. I will also use this as my day to day things as I feel like it.