When the universe breathes.

The sun was bright and the sky was brilliant blue.

The universe filled her lungs and blew soft intermittent puffs of wind at the trees, kicking the snow off of the branches above in sheets of twinkling, blowing magic.

Saturday was gorgeous. It was just the sort of warm edge-of-winter day that makes hope for spring soar.

I had a shiney weekend, and you?

Night Flying

Last night I went night ice-skating with my friends Maria and Julie and their bevy of lesbians. I am not much of an ice skater having only done it a handful of times in my life... but I was feeling stressed out by statistics and the fact that I had to walk away from the house. I am real sad about that, but I just couldn't do it. Anyway, I needed the break and ice skating presented itself. I am so so glad I went! It was gorgeous and fun! The movement is a lot like skating on skis, so I was able to figure out how to move forward briskly (eventually). Not so much on the stopping part, but I didn't fall!

Also, Maria and I took a moment to wax poetic about the evening, as we sometimes do and a poem was born! I am so pleased with it that I am going to share it!

But first, I am going to paint a little background for it. Maria once went on a trip and memorized a poem for me as a gift. It was among the most precious and thoughtful gifts I have ever received and was called Sanderlings http://www.geoffbartley.com/geoff_bartley_026.htm. A gorgeous read (particularly if it is read to you), that I heartily recommend. At any rate, Maria and I were racing across the twinkly twinkly ice discussing the loveliness of the full moon and how graceful Julie is on ice skates and in general. Flying across the ice and musing about the moon with Maria made me think of night flying both in action and in words and a poem was plucked out of the universe whole. Here it is:

Ode to the fullness of the moon,
and the grace of my lover.
Light reflected off her blade
cuts quick;
cuts clean to the heart of me.

Thank you again for the poem Maria! For both of them!

Conundrums and Spring.

Well, poop.

This here is my conundrum, which is not so much a conundrum as a situation. It involves the Housey-house which I made an offer on and want so much. I am in the process of making a decision on this house. The recommendations from the inspector came to about $8k in repairs (!) Plus the old furnace that will need replacing, probably in the next year or two. They've offered me 6k @ closing and I'd need to mortage or come up with the rest. I love the place, but I'm not sure I can swing the extra 2k + furnace. I outbid three other people with my offer and don't think I have anything else left to work with. I have to redo my budget. Again. Possibly thrice. I hope I can make it work... if not, well, then not.

I say that with a resigned sigh because, well... I have been trying to figure out a way to make it work all night and haven't been able to. So, at the moment, I am thinking that the answer is not. Not unless I figure out a way to do it in the next hour. I must decide. Today. By noon.

Plus, finish my statistics midterm which is kicking my ass.

*however*

It is now officially spring, and I cannot do anything but delight in this fact. To celebrate, I went for a nice tromp yesterday evening for about an hour through the park. By the time this dilly-dallier got outside the day's bright sunshine had faded... but this start to spring needed honoring, so I bundled up and walked forward.

On the way I saw some things that made me wish for a camera:

• It was snowing lightly and very cold. The melted water flow from the day's sunshine combined with the quick freeze made these very lava-esque ice flows on the ground that were just beautiful (but quite treacherous to traverse)!
  
• A handsome young boxer mix with his ear-flap hat wearing human.
• A very long blond branch that had been mostly stripped smooth of its bark. I helped it get fully stripped and then felt inspired to prop it up vertically against the biggest darkest tree trunk I could find. It made a gorgeous contrast and ended up being visible from the departing gates of the poetry garden. It was a very Andrew Goldsworthy moment!
  
• The pale and tender heads of hopeful snowdrops poking through the ice, yearning toward the sun.

Happy spring, y'all

Crimson

Wrapped in damp shades of grey,
the contours of this day
shift and move.

A blending of shape,
without edges or hue.

Behind these eyelids,
the enfusing warmth
of an imagined shoulder
beneath my cheek
is a drop of
saturated color.

Crimson,
expanding slowly
onto moistened paper -

It blossoms;
It spreads;
It becomes.

Things To Be Happy About

My surgery went well!

I had it Wednesday which makes it the day before yesterday. I feel fine! I was a real nervous nelly, but everything went fine and I am recovering well. My belly's a little tender and crampy, but the bleeding is less than it has been in months and the cramping is better than it has been for a very long time. Also, I have had a lot of friendly visitors stopping by to bring food and hang out, which is all very sweet and heart warmy. All things to be happy about.

Also, and in other news, I bought a house (hee!). Or, rather, I put an offer in on a house and it was accepted but the inspectors came today and said it needs some things, so I am waiting to get the inspectors report. Let's call it cautious optimism at this point. I'm excited, I really love it! (Yay!) Cautious optimism and potential house ownership = something to be real happy about.

I have pictures of the new place (I sent the link out to some of y'all), but I am not posting them here until cautious optimism makes the transition into "omigod, I need to pack!" I'm just superstitious that way.

Now. It has been midterm break and I have allowed myself to get very distracted by new house/surgery stuff (among other things) ...and I must get back to work! Just wanted to give y'all the exciting news before I ran off to read! School work requires a lot of reading! Statistics will have to wait until tomorrow.