Winter Update

Yeah, yeah, I know. I was going to write at least one entry per month.

And meditate every day. Which I have done almost every day.

And something else.

But it's Winter in the Pacific Northwest. Short days, long nights, lots of rain (and some snow!). Kinda cold. Everything sort of slows down. Including me.

Sara and I did take an eight day road trip in the middle of December... just the girl and me, four dogs and a bunny. We traveled with the travel-trailer that Jerry built on my 10' X 6' utility trailer (potty, almost-queen size bed, wood burning stove), and had enough friends along the way that we could shower and sleep in real (stationary) beds 2 or 3 nights. The trip involved a 24 hour marathon-drive-all-night start so we could get to Long Beach in time to show the Irish Wolfhounds, then a Bar Mitzvah and Party the next day, four or five different dog parks and 3 different Dog Beaches, family, friends, and lots of time to talk and hang together. I may have enjoyed it more than Sara, but I have greater stamina for sitting on my ass than she does.

And on March 3 and 4, Sara, Jake, and I traveled to Ashland to watch the Oregon Shakespeare Festival "Midnight Productions" stage a reading of Jake's play. Fabulous actors, interesting directing, and a real great "talk back" between the actors, the director, some Festival community members, and Jake.

I'll keep it to that brief description. Really out of respect to you... who wants to read a middle-aged mother proudly going on and on about her amazingly talented son?

So, what else? I've entered another poem in a competition, and will get to have it published in an anthology. That makes two poems, same anthology, different volumes. I think that is pretty cool. I'm currently learning the skills necessary to make one of my poems into a children's book -- instead of "greeting cards" think "greeting book"... My brother, Marshall (the graphic artist), is my coach.

Sidney and I are feeling like the COAST autism tool is actually going to be published at some point in our lifetimes. We are working with a local company, Iris Media, in writing a small start-up research grant that we will then parlay into a much larger, four-year grant. I'm looking to give up my UO job after June 15, 2013, and would be very happy if I had lots of work (and a little income) in researching the COAST.

Let's see... Other possibilities in the "Hmmm, what will I be when I grow up?" bucket? I took the LSAT on February 11. Got a score I expected (embarassingly low) and decided I'd try it again -- but actually prepare for it the next time. But, apparently my score wasn't as embarrassing as I thought, because I've received two emails this week asking me to apply to different law schools. One even offered some pretty good scholarships.

Still, I'd like to see what score I can get after studying.

Will I go to Law School? Possibly.

The other thing that has me intrigued lately is the possibility of being a school administrator in an Arab country (Abu Dhabi and Qatar are recruiting heavily from the UO) or Argentina. Lots more money, all tax free, housing provided, a three year contract. And I could be a car ride away from other countries... With lots of time off to explore.

See, the things that bubble around in my old brain when I meditate? I know, I know, I'm not supposed to be thinking. I'll go meditate on that and get back to you..