Saturday, November 27, 2010

You Can't Tie a Rope to a Meat Hook

Dear Lil Sis,

Well, you are sitting next to me right now as I write this, your stinky feet way too close to my face.  You and I are in Phoenix, Arizona, seeing each other for the first time since you moved away from Iowa last December, and we are visiting Dad, and his wife, S.  There have been lots of inside jokes accumulating since we got here on Wednesday.  It's been an interesting visit so far.  Mostly because we had a huge family fight yesterday, and it was seriously so involved that it took until like, I don't know, five or six PM to resolve it, and it began pretty early in the morning.  I really don't want to rehash the fight, and I know that you don't want me to, either, but for the benefit of our readers I will say that a few things have been "fixed" in our family because of the fight.  For one thing, I think S feels more like family (and the fact that you know her name is a step in the right direction), which I finally understand matters to her, and for another thing, everyone's VERY clear on one fact: I don't eat onions.  Yes, the entire fight arose because S cooked onions, and then I puked during her Thanksgiving dinner because of it. 

But anyway.  The trip has turned out better than I thought it would, and maybe what we really needed was a big blow-out fight.  It's weird to think about, that a fight could be a good thing, but I guess there are times where it helps you get your feelings right out in the open or whatever, and everyone can just sift through what's been said and make some sense from it, make a plan. 

Also, my writing career is starting to take off.  That excites me big time.  I'm talking to a few agents, I'm getting help from one of my all-time favorite writers, and I'm publishing essays in great places.  So it's all very exciting.  I'm also super tired all of the time because of my narcolepsy and I'm starting to fall asleep, so I'm going to sign off now.  Sorry this was so boring.  Your turn to take it up a notch.  Let's talk about something very....not boring.

Love,

Big Sis

Monday, November 1, 2010

Dear Big Sis,

Wow. Has it really been more than a month since either of us has posted? A lot has happened for the two of us, I'm sure. I just can't seem to remember all that much of it.

Truthfully, the last month has been relatively tumultuous. I can't seem to reach any stability, and I find that many of my relationships have become volatile. It's not a pleasant feeling. It makes me feel like I'm incapable of stability, incapable of keeping maintaining healthy relationships.

I have been knitting, though. So far I have finished a scarf for S and a hat for K. Both came out beautifully, and I'm really proud of myself. So far S has received his, and he likes it. I really do like making things for people. My current project is a capelet (like a short cape) for M. It's going to take quiet a bit more time, but I think I can manage it. I already started, but I need to start over because it isn't big enough. C'est la vie.

I have a job interview next week! This is very exciting, and I really do hope it goes well. I have been trying to get my life turned around, which means I'm going to bed BEFORE 5am, and getting up at an appropriate time. And doing job applications, instead of putzing around all day avoiding them. They are stressful, but overall I feel better having done them than not doing them at all.

What else... well, the weather is changing outside, slowly. It was 90 degrees today, which I know isn't very Fall-like weather, but it was beautiful. I took a nap in the hammock, until Chris threw some beans on me. Yeah, don't ask. Apparently it's snowing already in Ithaca. God, I miss Ithaca. I miss the first real snow of the year. It's so exciting, and so foreboding. You know that once the snow begins, it doesn't really stop for 4-5 months. And snow is beautiful, absolutely, but there is just too. damn. much of it. In the meantime, I'll be here in Austin, enjoying the warm breezes and smell of slooowly decaying leaves.

I hope you find time to write back soon, as this sporadic posting doesn't bode well for the health of the blog. Love you.

-Little Sis.