He's already seen it, so I can post it here.

While I do enjoy being funny, it's very satisfying to write a love poem that is well-liked by the recipient.

I have no idea what form this is, or if it even is a form.  I started out trying to write a terzanelle, but the form didn't suit what I was trying to say, so I re-worked it a little bit.  I wanted to keep the imagery more than I wanted to stick to any particular form.  I think it worked.

One stray ember started the fire
Just a small thing, but it can't be cooled--
Now, I was well-versed in the ways of desire
So I told myself that I wouldn't be fooled.
And yet, I let myself become enkindled
Just a small thing, but it can't be cooled.
But I wouldn't be trapped, gathered, or spindled
I had always been told to be wary of fire
And yet I let myself become enkindled
Enmeshed, ensnared, enchanted, enmired.
I'm too far beyond the point of salvation
I had always been told to be wary of fire
But I crashed headlong into the conflagration
Now for you, I burn, but you are my light
I'm too far beyond the point of salvation
Now this consumes me, eternally bright
One stray ember started the fire
So now I'm well-versed in the ways of desire
And for you, I burn, but you are my light.

I need a second job.

There are too many pairs of cute shoes, and too little money here.

Phobias

I like to talk about things that scare me, because there's a lot of fodder for entertainment there.  A lot of the things that scare me are absolutely ridiculous.  A few weeks ago, I was talking to my mother and sister (The Wonder Kid), and we were talking about the fact that I spent several years sharing a room with The Wonder Kid due to her terror of the dark.  On the other hand, I was "absolutely fearless" as a young child, according to my mother.  Actually, that's true--I wasn't afraid of bugs, or of the dark.  It's not that I didn't think there were monsters under my bed, it's just that I was convinced I was magical and could defeat any challenger.  If Hogwarts were real, I would've been a prime candidate back then.  (I was also convinced when I grew up, we would have unicorns, and I could become a unicorn breeder.  I have never taken LSD in my life because I have never needed it.)

Anyway, as I have grown older I have developed a few startlingly virulent phobias, whether through bad experiences, culture, or OMG WTF IS THAT THING.  However, I am working on some of my fears (sort of, mostly in counter-productive ways).

Boyfriends Deciphered by Dungeons & Dragons

As requested, I made a sequel.  Oh, what fun!

So you're looking for a boyfriend.  Or, congratulations, you found a boyfriend!  (That wasn't so hard now, was it?)  And whether you met him in church, in a bar, or at a sci-fi con (I personally recommend the last one--I mean, how often do you get the chance to date Wolverine?) you may need a little bit of guidance.  And if you, like me, are into gaming and other indicators of geekdom, maybe a manual would help.  Here's where I come in:  I've had several boyfriends, and countless dates, I've even been married (though unsuccessfully)--but I guarantee you I can classify the male gender for you through this handy-dandy guide of D&D alignment.

Katrushka's

Male Alignment Manual

Girlfriends Deciphered by Dungeons & Dragons

 So you're looking for a girlfriend--or perhaps, congratulations, you've found a girlfriend! Whether it's your first, your first after a long time, or the next one in a string of women whose hearts you've broken (ha, right), you're seeking some guidance.

Well, while I haven't had relationships with women, I am a woman myself, and I've played Agony Aunt to countless male friends during the advents, durations, and demises of their relationships with women.  Perhaps more importantly, I am a gamer, and I thought it might be helpful to write a manual for those of you who are bewildered by the fairer sex.  This guide will help you differentiate between women you should grip tighter than your +1 Vorpal Blade of Rat-killing (that sounds so dirty) and women you should run away from as if they were a grue! ...and of course, points between.

So without further ado, here's Katrushka's

Guide to Girlfriend Alignment

How to Act like a Lady

Yesterday was my roommate's birthday.  Tonight, we are going drinking for her birthday.  As you do.

I am dressing as much like a hooker as possible.  As my ex would say, I look "positively tarty."

...no, it's not about music or poetry.  But it's still a very rockstar thing to do.

omg 2 posts in a day--and this one with music!

As promised, here are some music clips I have recorded with The Collaborator:

This one is a cover of a now-defunct band called The Marvelous 3.  They were a fairly big regional band around here when I and the Collaborator were in high school.  We saw a fair few of their shows--it was always a blast!  That song is called "Every Monday."

This one is an original called "You Meant More."  The Collaborator: music, guitars, other instruments; Katrushka: lyrics, vocals.

I do follow up on my promises.  Eventually.

Brittle bits.

Though I am a pretty happy person overall, I, of course, have my down periods.  What I have always found interesting is the so-called "artist's temperament."  Of course, I tend to believe that temperament is exaggerated in portrayals of artists, though I have known some serious nutbars who nevertheless produced excellent work.  However, there does seem to be a touch of truth to the 'moodiness' of those in the creative fields.  Or let me put it this way: the vast majority of my friends can be broken down either into hearts-on-their-sleeves or robot-folk, and their choices of careers and hobbies seem extremely stereotypically aligned with their emotional makeup.  That's all.  Anecdote is not data.

I said all that to say that I wrote some sad things because I was sad.  One was written a few weeks ago, and another was written tonight, because I can't sleep.  And both of them are fairly short.

I am so terrible at updating. My bad.

I'm going to try to do better here.  My college semester started a couple of weeks ago, and while it's not going to be incredibly difficult, it will be pretty work-intensive.  I don't know what possessed me to take 15 credit hours while working 40 hours a week, but there it is.  I do want to get out of school before I turn 30.

In music-and-creative-junk-I-do news, I've started a project that I've entitled--drumroll, please--the Southern Music Project.  ...I am going to do my best to come up with a better name if this takes off, I swear.  Anyway, it consists of about 11 people now, mostly concentrated in my city, but with a few people in other cities around the South.  We're a small collective of lyricists and/or musicians, most of whom have been in bands before but are currently not in a band, who desire to write and record music together...without having to be in a band.  My whole reasoning behind this collective was...well, many reasons...

1.  Musicians are flaky.  I love my pure-musician friends, but I am a bit Type A regarding making it to practices/being on time, and so I need a project where I can control that mo' betta'.

2.  I don't have time for a band right now, with a weekly practice, and weekend gigs, or weekday gigs, perish the thought.  Most of my non-work, non-school free time is going to be given over to the boyfriend/friends or reading, or moving into/fixing up my new house...or, well, anything but being in a band with four other people who may or may not understand the concept of dependability and punctuality.

3.  I want to be in almost total control, and I am.  (Except my collaborative partner, The Collaborator.  He is the other boss of this show.  Fortunately, he listens to me.  Mostly.)  Yes, I realize this makes me a Musician Nazi.  I don't care.

So hopefully soon--you will hear the Southern Music Project's version of "The Octogenarian Project."  I very much like the word Project.  It makes me sound so important!

'Til next time.