I’m headed out to the Dames Bond end-of-the-year celebration tonight. I love Mary B and I always love the Dames Bond meetings. She’s done such a terrific job of infusing the group with her warmth and generosity! I’ve made some great professional and personal connections there (including Katawi; MotoMedics; Cindy Dunigan, whose new site will debut around the new year; Brenda Direen and it’s where I first met Liz Lessner) but the real value has been the supportive spirit and camaraderie that makes every meeting a pleasure.

You guys know that in-person networking can be hard for me but Dames Bond is the exception to my rule!

I think tonight there’s gonna be some torch singing, too, which my jazz-centric, showtunes-loving heart adores. I just need to figure out what I’m going to throw into the raffle!

I’m not writing lately. I had a minor breakdown about it yesterday (to Brett’s exhausted distress). But there isn’t any time. Between work and life (you know, feeding and clothing and otherwise making sure people are able to walk around upright) there really isn’t time. Or space in my head.

• Our cable is gone so I’m not watching television.
• The election is over so I’m not obsessed with political blogs.
• I AM trying to get back with my exercise routine but I figure that’s not negotiable seeing as how if I drop dead from a heart attack there won’t be any writing anyway so I probably should try to get and then stay fit.
• I’m neglecting the kids about as much as I feel comfortable with in order to get the work and working out done.

Oh I don’t want to do this — list the reasons I haven’t been writing. I wanted to whine about NOT writing. Because I’m not. And I’m frustrated.

Here’s the more positive part of it — I’m back in touch with some of my writing friends who went missing when their own busy lives took over and I’m meeting some new ones. I’ve got a writers event to go to on Wednesday (thank you Lia!), which I’m really looking forward to and hopefully the peer pressure will do me good.

For me, a lot of writing is a head game. I can find time even when there isn’t any when I have time to think. I’ve been jacking up my work efforts so much that all writing thoughts tumbled right out of my mind. Brett says I should pull back on the networking/marketing a little bit and focus on writing but damn, it’s hard to do. I get worried that I won’t be able to make my financial goals and the holidays are staring at me with their greedy little eyes. (Not to mention Noah’s birthday just a month after.)

Oh me of little faith!!

Thanks to Susan and Phoenix Rising who shared some links with me to share with you:

Queers United: Listing of Prop 8 Protests and Rallies

Join the Impact (their twitter) Columbus doesn’t have a listing yet but I’m keeping an ear out. I’ll be seeing someone from Stonewall Columbus on Wednesday (I think) so I’ll ask her about it.

No on 8 has far-reaching social media presence

Also Mormons Stole Our Rights and Gay Marriage for All!

Yesterday we homeschoolers headed out to a Wexner Center school program for the Frog Bride. Afterwards the performers had a Q&A session and the kids asked lots of great questions (Noah wondered why there was only one actor in the show). Me, I wanted to know how in the hell those guys make a living and if it’s a real living or one where they still need to borrow money from their parents.

When I did that talk at the GCAC, I told the artists that they need to become their own patrons. The way I see it, people who get to live purely creative lives are few and far between and PARENTS (particularly mothers) who get to live them are even fewer. But many of us can live partially creative lives if we play our cards right. I mean, I’d rather sit around all day and think deep thoughts and write those deep thoughts down then stare at my page and sigh and go daydream for awhile and then come back and edit before I go back to staring into the middle distance. Unfortunately I have to make a living and I also have to wipe tushies, buy groceries, yell at people who leave their soccer shoes in the middle of the kitchen floor, discuss the merits of High School Musical II vs. High School Musical I and otherwise live my life outside of my head most of the time.

I have been itching lately to write but life has conspired against me. Having lots of work is a blessing even if it’s a creative curse and in this economy I’m grateful for my over-scheduled calendar even if it means I’m feeling a little run ragged. So it goes.

I’ll admit that I was feeling jealous of that guy hopping around the stage like a Frog Bride and jealous of the musicians accompanying him but I was also feeling inspired.

What I told the GCAC crowd is that creatives are good at finding creative solutions, right? We can find inspiration in odd places (like catalog copy or writing up a brochure) and we can also build skills when we stretch our corporate muscles. Plus we’re driven enough that we manage to squeeze the good stuff in around the mundane details of actual in real life living.

At least that’s what I tell myself when I’m cursing my calendar but blessing my billing. There’s time for everything if I’m willing to work in fits and starts. (And neglect the children some — they don’t mind. It means more television for them!)

But this freelancing I’ve been doing, I’ve learned a lot that’s benefitted my creative career not the least is to find opportunity and (important part) be willing to reach out and grab it. I’ve also learned a lot about marketing, a lot about networking and reminded myself of how much I enjoy public speaking and direct service with clients. To grow myself professionally I’ve had to stretch myself personally and since a creative career is a career (meaning I’ve never wanted to be Emily Dickinson) what I’m getting out of this less creative one has so far served me well in other ways.

Anyway. This is a buck myself up post because I’m itching to write this one essay and just haven’t had the time AT ALL and am looking at more work coming down the pike.

Julia made me read the Tipping Point (remember she bought it for me because I was so lazy about reserving it at the library) in part because she wanted me to see that the many many many small things I was doing would actually come together at some point and also because she wanted me to see that I’m a connector.

I love to fix people up, it’s true. I like to introduce people who might like each other or might need to help each other. It’s not all altruistic. Because I’m introverted, I don’t have the energy to keep up with everyone I’d like to keep up with (I also don’t have the time) but if I consolidate my friendships/acquaintanceships, then my friends can help me keep up with each other! Like if I introduce Person X to Person Y and they hit it off, then either of them can let me know how the other one is doing, keep me in the loop, etc. and I won’t feel so guilty that I haven’t seen one or the other in awhile.

I like to throw parties and invite my most disparate friends, too, because I’m a great believer in making mutts out of playgroups. It’s wonderful to have time with only the like-minded folks but it’s invigorating to throw a whole new perspective into the mix now and then. Suddenly you find out that you’re like-minded group has a pocket of people with an interest you didn’t know about. And wham-o, bam-o — you’ve got another interconnected friendship going on.

It’s the part of networking that I like. I’m not so hot at the large group meet-ups (although I’m getting better) but I do like meeting new people and figuring out who I know that maybe they’d like to meet. And when they hit it off? I feel like Madison does when she puts the whole Thomas the Tank Engine floor puzzle together and then dances around the room with satisfaction.

I may not really be a people person but I am a person who likes people and it’s fun to see people I like hit it off.

Edited to add: Rereading the post I linked to above makes me realize how far I’ve come just since March, which inspires me to think how far I’ll go likely by NEXT March. Listen, oh ye introverts among us, if I can do this anyone can.