Virgo:: My songwriter friend Darius has created some fine music, but he periodically goes through phases when everything he produces sounds contrived. It's not writer's block he suffers from. During his bouts with bad composing, he's often teeming with ideas. The problem is that he gets caught up in a vortex of too much thinking. He can't stop his mind from tinkering endlessly with every raw impulse that wells up. Recently he joined the Immersion Composition Society, an organization that helps "talented basket cases" and "tortured geniuses" cut through their tendency to over-analyze and thereby reconnect to their pure inspiration. One technique: Musicians agree to take on firm deadlines that compel them to create songs wicked fast. I hope you find the equivalent assistance for your own field of expression, Virgo. The time is ripe for you to dissect less and build more.

Yeah, I've been a little stunted on the jewelry-making end. I blame general twitterpation and NRE for that. I've been doing okay at commissions, where there's a clear prompt, but on anything freeform, I've been a little bit flighty. Ah well. I plan on doing some non-commissioned work tomorrow night.

Whew. So I definitely slept for about 13 hours last night. I got home at about 5:30, stripped off my work clothes, and passed right out. I got up at 11:30, had an English muffin, and went back to bed. Got up again briefly at 3am. Watched half an episode of BSG, fell back asleep. Clearly, my body needed lots of sleep to recover. On the plus side, I feel a lot better today. Still pushing fluids pretty hard, and that helps.

Thank you to everybody who offered "get well soon" wishes-- things seem to be mending quickly. Also, if I missed anything important, poke me, plz.

Got up this morning, opened my Sephora package. Guys? When I'm feeling too gross to open up a Sephora package, you know I'm sick. Anyhow, I oohed and aahed over my first makeup splurge since the early fall, and I'll do the usual review post after I get to try everything out. I think I'm already a fan of Cargo's liquid eye shadow, but we'll see how it wears. And I got another Urban Decay Primer Potion-- I'm on my fourth tube, and it's easily the best beauty product I've ever bought.

Aside from that, tonight is Skinny Bitches night. I have to work on a commission. Life resumes as normal.

In the meanwhile, entertain me today! A meme: ask me questions. Keep me awake. Please and thank you.
(counterword, no being insufferable!)

1. What do you think of _____________ ?
2. When did you last ____________?
3. __________ or ___________ and why?
4. What did you ______________?
5. What's your favorite ______________?
6. How would you ______________?
7. Who would you most like to ________ ?