*lol* Hmmm, everyone always claims that this is a great outlet for stress, and a way to mass communicate with friends in regards to how one's life is going at any given time.
I'll summarize...

CHAOTIC.

That's pretty descriptive I should think. Classes for fall quarter just began, and like an idiot, I elected to take a course that seems jam-packed with writing. Luckily, I tend to excel at the blarney (what Irish lass isn't?) so papers have never been especially difficult. The reading will sucketh mightily, as the course is Writing about Literature, so it's sure to be chock-full of deadly-dull classics that bore one to tears. *sigh*

In the midst of this, I'm working with a local celtic music band. I'm *finally* moving in the musical direction I've wanted to all along. Not that I didn't appreciate the fun and frolic that the TWW provided, but there was almost an attitude in the music community that what we were doing wasn't "real music." Hmmm, now, granted, we weren't playing any instruments, but I'll place my Acappella 3-part harmonies against an instrumental arrangement any day as far as "difficulty" goes. It's damn easy to cover up a sour note or three with an instrument. 'Nuff said there. *lol* Along with learning new songs and singing with men, I'm also learning the bodhran with one of the greatest players I've ever heard, Rich Teachout. He's an incredible teacher, and I'm learning faster than I ever thought possible. I thought learning an instrument was months of dreary practice exercises before you ever got to play a 'real" song, but I'm already playing full-on practice sessions with the rest of the band. I have no doubt that they're going easy on the "newb"... Our first gig is in two weeks. Rich asked me a couple of days ago if I ever experienced stage-fright. I told him in just singing songs, or working an audience, I have no qualms about getting in front of a crowd of thousands. However, I admitted that I was feeling a few butterflies regarding playing an instrument for the first time. Not that I think that I'll totally freeze and be unable to do the job, but just that I might let the guys down. They've been wonderfully supportive. All three of them have been professional musicians for years, and have been playing their instruments for what seems to me like forever. I feel like a toddler by comparison. *chuckle* I am however, very much looking forward to the performance, if nothing else; just to "get the first one over with." I feel that once it's out of the way, I will not feel so out of place, at least that's my fervent hope! The songs that we've been working on for me to sing lead on totally kick a$$, and I'm excited to perform them live and get some audience feedback on how we sound.

Izzy and I have hit a couple of local Faires and left mayhem and merriment in our wake. Iz got the...brilliant (heavy sarcasm) idea last month to take up equestrian archery. (I've since taken away her access to Evan, Jack, Jim and James to see if that helps clear her head.) Luckily, she took to it quite well, and I've had to pull no arrows out of my rear end, nor have I had to make any sudden leaps to safety. (I'm eternally grateful. *snicker*) She purchased a Hungarian and I purchased a Mongolian Horse Bow from Seven Meadows Archery. So now I've added daily archery practice into my already shrinking available schedule hours.

So, that's enough for now. I can readily see how addicting this blog-thingy can get...but I canna say I'll keep at it with any amount of regularity. I'll try to swing by and update as I can. If any of you are in the Washington Area, feel free to check out my calendar, I'll be posting any B.O.W.I. (my band) gigs there; I'd love to see ya!

Kiss, kiss -
Bonnie