Today's Word

calefacient (cal-uh-FAY-shunt) noun: A substance (e.g. mustard) that produces a sensation of warmth when applied to a part of the body.

Interesting word.

But I can't manage calefacient today. Unless there is a calefacient substance that will loosen up my neck and make my sinuses stop hurting. :)

Today is a butterfly day!

They are everywhere! First of the monarchs are migrating and they come through here this time every year. But this year they seem to have brought friends, particularly little lemon yellow friends with black markings that look almost flourescent. They are so cheerful. I want to go somewhere where they gather--like the butterfly garden at the zoo, and take in all the flitting and flight before it's cold again and there are no summer noises or flutters. I do love fall, but winter is...is....ugg!

Oh, I'm not getting very close to my 1,000 today. Does the address on an envelope count? I have to send off the letter for my copywrite course. I'm going to tweak the thing to death. Revision is just another form of procrastination.

I am starting to like the idea of setting aside November to push through something completely. Annie keeps reminding us that we have permission to write just whatever comes through the pen. The more I think about it, the last time I really felt comfortable doing that was before I started school! As soon as we hit kindergarten or first grade, things start having to be "right" before you can get a good grade. We don't have permission to make mistakes, to learn through experience. Mistakes are "bad." Wrong answers don't get funded. And then the only place where this idea of learning as you do is allowed to live to a degree is in the arts, and what is the first thing to get cut when the school budgets are suffering? No wonder we're afraid to take risks.

There's all kinds of things that can happen when you don't limit yourself. My dh learned this early on, and I think he's one of the luckiest people I know. In his mind there is nothing that he can't do. As a result, he's tried so many different things. And he has unique thoughts all the time, because thinking liket he next guy is boring. It's one of the greatest things that came into my life with him--that idea that not all risk taking is bad. There's the type that's fruitless and dangerous, but playing it safe can really set more limits that anyone needs or should want.

So here's to the excitement and the energy of taking a risk. Writing it down. Then later--making it work. Or being blown away that it's more than we ever thought it could be because we didn't think it to death first or play it safe.

Goodness...only half the goal here. Let's see what the prompt does for me today....


Well, I'm not getting anywhere and I think my connection is about to blow. I'd better save the second half for later and do laundry.