So during my 4.5 hour daily commute, I have started listening to audio books. My first was Eat, Pray, Love… and I loved it. It was read by the author, Elizabeth Gilbert, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

I have started on my second book… and I don’t know if it is the subject matter or the person reading it, but I just can not get into it. It is “In Defense of Food” by Michael Pollan read by Scott Brick. And it is BORING.

So besides David Sedaris and Anthony Bourdain, does anyone have a favorite audio book/author?

Instead of a song, this morning it was a phrase: Hot in, hot out. Come on ice cream!

Why, do you ask? I wish I could tell you.

But I can say this: I know you will be a life friend when you can easily talk about bodily functions during dinner.

This morning I woke up with a song in my head. The last time that happened was back when I lived in my studio apartment in Davis. Maybe the day after my qualifying exams? It is somewhere in the archives. I tried to find it, but to no avail.

Last night I thought I was going to have a hard time falling asleep. Mostly because when my head hits the pillow I begin thinking. Mostly about clothing patterns and measurements. Sometimes about savings and financial goals. And last night wasn’t looking any different.

I started thinking about the top I had made and how the neck was absolutely TOO big and what I could have done differently to make it fit better. (Look, I know that more terrible things keep other people up at night. And trust me, when I thought I was going to lose my paycheck – I worried about all kinds of scary things. I am glad for what keeps me awake these nights.) But then, for the first time in a very very long time, I meditated.

Was it Eat Pray Love that is bringing me to this? Probably. Does it embarrass me that it has taken a book to get me back into the spirit? Maybe it should, but it doesn’t.

Do I wish I could do it more often? ABSOLUTELY. And I plan on it.

I would say it has been years since I have truly updated my list of links… like I might not have done it since I first did it 6 years ago. Well since then, I have probably changed focus like a million times and I have a million stored little links. So I thought I would take this opportunity to tell you a little about what I have been reading lately and what inspires me about them…

Spirit House Designs – This crafting lady is one of my most favorite people in both the “real” world and the “internet” world. She has been a loyal and wonderful companion through all kinds of crafty experiments. We’ve even expressed ourselves through the genius of tap together.

Posie Gets Cozy – I have her to thank for my new interest in french sewing patterns as well as quilting.

The Sew Weekly – This amazing lady makes a new piece of clothing every week! (Well almost every week.) She does a lot of repurposing as well as shopping at an antique market that I must someday visit.

Kuky Ideas – I first came here when I was trying to learn how to use Japanese sewing patterns, even though I know NO Japanese. I have since returned because of her illustrations and sense of humor. I love that her daughter loves all of the handmade goodness.

There are more…. and I will do another post like this soon. But until then, these links have been added to my links page.

I know that I have been ignoring this blog for some time now. Part of the problem is that it needs reinvented. I am tired of this thing. I am not talking about new curtains here either. I am talking about taking this blog and knocking it back a few decades. Making homemade wallpaper for the walls. Increasing the amount of craft goodness and less rambling. More cooking!

But here is the quintessential problem. I have no time. With a 4 hour commute, weekdays are out. Summer is always busy (as you can tell in the archives). And quite frankly, I have hit a wall with the wallpaper design and until I can figure out how to make it work, I refuse to move forward.

Someday this will all be what I want.

I am going to be honest here. This commuting back and forth between SR and Sacramento is for the birds. I hope it doesn’t get the better of me.